Maura O’Hare chose to attend Coastal Carolina University partly for its reputation.

“To think about who I was a year ago is crazy because I never would have thought I’d go to Jesus in my time of need,” she said. Her transformation started with a simple care package handed out by a fellow student, an on-campus initiative by Baptist Collegiate Ministry to connect with and support students during finals week.

Finding Community

O’Hare was surprised by the kindness she found upon attending BCM. “If it wasn’t for a few girls coming up to me when I first walked in, I probably wouldn’t have come back,” O’Hare said. The students encouraged her to come back and to join a small group Bible study. “Before the group, I had never really opened my Bible,” O’Hare said. She was learning more about Christ than ever before because of the group’s accountability as they read through Hebrews.

Salvation that Inspires

She was invited to Converge, an SCBaptist weekend event to challenge and equip college students to passionately and sacrificially follow Jesus. She began to understand that she needed to be saved, but she was worried because it seemed like everyone else was already saved. “That’s when my heart opened up, and I realized I could come just as I am to Jesus,” she said.

Since returning home to New Jersey for the summer, O’Hare’s life change has influenced her sister, who recently accepted Christ as well. “My life has completely turned around since Converge,” O’Hare said. She was recently baptized with two other friends, led a Vacation Bible School class, and, this fall, will help lead BCM on Coastal’s campus.