Grace

Waiting outside for friends, Jonas suddenly heard alarms echo across campus. Notifications began appearing on his phone as uncertainty spread through the evening. New to campus and separated from the residence halls, classrooms, and friends, he found himself unsure of where to go next. What began as fear slowly settled into peace after opening a group chat he had joined only days before.

They say in times of stress, your body turns to fight or flight. Jonas knew he couldn't pry open a locked door, so he took off running, choosing the flight response. Eventually ending up off campus, at a location he had never been to before with the sun setting. His phone was buzzing, especially the Wingspan thread. They had a Zoom link open for anyone who needed prayer. He had hardly met anyone in leadership, but felt a strong pull to join the call. In a time like this, he needed to lean into a community he had just met and found Christ’s love in the darkness. From that call, Pastor Elizabeth picked him up and brought him to Wingspan’s student center to wait out the lockdown and pray. “It was the willingness to pick me up and help in whatever way I needed.” Jonas remembers, “I felt included and wanted in a ministry setting that I hadn’t felt in years.” Eventually, campus officials announced the alert had been a false alarm and Jonas returned to campus, but the impact of Wingspan stayed with him.

He had found a fellowship of students who cared about him, about others, and about Jesus. It felt a little strange stepping back into a church group. But seeing everyone work for a common cause, and to seek theological understanding with one another, reminded him of what he had been missing. 

Before, he had seen churches make arguments for what they believed and he felt the need to argue back. But the grace offered to him from Wingspan has shifted his stance. Rather than shielding up for an argument to try and win, he offers grace to himself and digs farther in his personal relationship with God. 

“I’ve always known my faith was inclusive and would protect the vulnerable, but I was so cynical.  Since Wingspan, I’ve been a lot more focused on meeting people where they are instead of expecting people to be where I am.” Jonas says “Inclusivity isn’t just for minorities, it’s for everyone. Including those who have been left out. That doesn’t mean excluding those who have traditionally been in power. It’s an open table for everyone”

College students are carrying more than backpacks onto campus. They are carrying anxiety, loneliness, church hurt, big questions, and the deep hope that somewhere out there cares for them.

Wingspan is becoming that place for students like Jonas. A place where people show up for one another. A place where students are fed. A place where students can encounter the love of Christ without needing to hide.

Would you consider helping us continue this work through a financial gift to Wingspan? Your support helps us keep the doors open, meals warm, group chats active, and communities of care growing for students in Wilmington.

Because sometimes ministry looks like worship.Sometimes it looks like a shared meal.And sometimes it looks like answering the phone and reminding a student they are not alone.

If this sounds like a ministry you would like to participate in, we invite you to donate through https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/eeb32444-596f-46e7-b16d-b6dc934f4f80 or by mailing a check to WingspanILM

4403 Oleander Drive 

Suite C  Box 143

Wilmington NC 28403