Simmons Hall resident advisors at California Baptist University are hosting an evening once a month dedicated to sharing testimonies with the women of the living area throughout the spring semester.
Each month, two of the RA’s from different halls sit down and share what Christ has done in their life.
In February, Brianna Collingwood, senior sociology major and RA for 3D, and Breanne Schlenger, senior psychology and sociology double major and RA for 2D, shared their stories with women who attended the event on the third floor of Simmons Feb. 21.
“We really want to get to know the residents,” Schlenger said. “We want to let them know that just as we want to know them, we want them to know us and part of that is being vulnerable and open.”
The idea behind sharing their stories is to help the freshman women see how Jesus has worked in their lives and therefore, encourage them in their faith.
Schlenger said her favorite part of sharing her story is hearing back from students about how what she shared impacted them and how God is using her experiences, good or bad, for his purpose.
Libby Otten, freshman communication disorders major, said she attended the event because her RA was speaking and because she is on the Living Area Council (LAC) for Simmons Hall she was encouraged to come to set an example for the rest of her hall.
“It’s cool how they (the RA’s) are willing to open up to us–to share the things they are struggling with and the victories they have overcome,” Otten said.
Otten emphasized relationships throughout Simmons Hall require a lot of dual effort put in by the RA’s and residents.
An event like this was one Otten said she saw as important to bring all the residents of Simmons Hall together for encouragement.
Collingwood expressed some struggles with preparing to share her story with the women and the rest of the RA’s.
“At first I was like ‘Nope, I don’t need to share, I don’t want to,’” Collingwood said. “I couldn’t see how sharing my story would benefit others.”
Through encouragement from her fiancé, she said she eventually realized, her story was beautiful because of what Christ has done in her life.
“The Lord has been faithful to show me time and time again that he is faithful even in the little things,” Collingwood said. “Being OK to use my words in order for him to speak to other people is a huge blessing.”
