Curiosity

Sitting in her dorm room between classes, plucking through self-taught banjo lessons, Julia might look like a beginner—but she’s no stranger to new beginnings. She thrives in the energy of a fresh start and finds joy in building something from the ground up. Much like Wingspan, her story is one of collaboration.

Julia grew up in a United Methodist church, where Sunday mornings were routine and the choir’s voices felt like home. While most of her peers were busy with youth group, she gravitated toward the older women in the church kitchen—the ones who shared stories and wisdom between casserole prep and coffee refills. That’s where she felt most connected, listening and learning in quiet ways. “I was going to church because it’s what I was supposed to do,” Julia says. “It was the formation I needed before really digging deep into a relationship with God.” Even then, she was searching for something more; a space where faith could be explored, questioned, and truly owned.

While studying at UNC Wilmington, Julia visited her sibling at UNC Chapel Hill and tagged along to a campus ministry gathering. As soon as she walked through the doors, something shifted. “All the people here are queer and happy to be here,” she remembers thinking. “So many LGBTQ people in one space that are so faithful to God. I had never experienced that before.” It gave her a glimpse of what campus ministry could be, a place where faith and authenticity met, alive with possibility. She left with a sense of hope, stirred by the Spirit and the energy of something just beginning.

Back at UNC Wilmington, she went searching for that same spark. When she heard about Wingspan, a brand-new ministry just starting to take root. It was another chance to step into something new, to be part of building a community from the ground up. Newness didn’t scare her; it lit her up.

At Wingspan, she found a rhythm that felt like home. She helped shape the community, where conversations about faith flowed as naturally as laughter. One night, she led the entire group off campus to a contra dancing class; because sometimes, joy and movement say what words can’t. Julia wasn’t looking to be in charge, but her steady presence and bold ideas helped shape the culture. Wingspan gave her the space to show up fully, and the trust to lead in ways that were uniquely her own.

Now, Julia has transferred to NC State, where she’s active in the Presbyterian Campus Ministry. From Chapel Hill to Wilmington to Raleigh, from United Methodist Church kitchens to Presbyterian pews, these organizations have quietly undergirded her faith every step of the way. “Campus ministry is like having a giant family of people I’ve never met.” she says, a patchwork of belonging that stretches across schools and seasons. Each ministry has looked a little different, but each one has helped her listen more deeply to God’s voice. Today, Julia is exploring a call into ministry herself, with plans to attend seminary in the future—ready, once again, to begin something new.

Julia’s story is a testament to the power of new beginnings, and to what’s possible when different ministries, across campuses and denominations, work together to make faith matter. From kitchens and choirs to small groups and Spirit-filled worship, each community gave her a place to grow. Wingspan is proud to be part of that story: a fresh start that’s rooted in shared purpose, sacred curiosity, and the wide welcome of God.