Becoming
Samantha is as calm as they come. But don't let her relaxed demeanor fool you, she is always up for an adventure and shines on the dance stage. She’s quiet by nature, but give her a purpose and she becomes fearless.
In a clergy family, even when Samantha wanted to stay quiet, people found her. They’d spot her in the hallway after worship, catch her by the coffee, slide into the pew beside her. Someone always knew her name, always saw her as a familiar presence in the church. She never had to worry about being lonely, there was always someone there who knew her and saw her as a comfortable presence in the church. “I’m not naturally outgoing,” Sam says, “but being the Pastor’s daughter meant others would seek out conversations with me. I didn’t have to worry about being left out.”
When she came to UNC Wilmington, she was one of the few students who already knew about a brand new campus ministry, WingspanILM. Her mom mentioned it to her and wanted to be sure she knew there would be a faith home for her in college.
When she entered Wingspan, it was the first time that she wasn’t known as the Pastor’s kid. If she wanted to be known here, she couldn’t wait to be found, she had to step forward. This was a group where she would have to put herself out there and make an identity for herself. Something that challenged her reserved nature. What she found was that even though the group looked different than her home church, the Spirit of God was as familiar as the sound of “Amen.”
Quickly, she found Wingspan to be a place where she was safe to put herself out there. Where everyone was open to meeting new people, where differences weren’t obstacles to relationships, but opportunities for growth.
“This is my first time not having my mom as my pastor,” Sam recalls, “hearing familiar Bible stories have taken on a new meaning. I love having my mom as a Pastor, but college is a time to explore different perspectives. I definitely hear the Bible in a new context now. It engages a different part of the brain.”
This new comfort and context has encouraged Sam to jump in headfirst to Wingspan’s community and leadership. She has taken every opportunity Wingspan has offered. She served in El Salvador, planned our semesters during retreats, and stood in front of 800+ youth to speak to the power of Campus Ministry. In just one month, Samantha will head to Mexico with Wingspan to serve a farming community south of the border. And this past Fall, she was elected by Wingspan students to serve as their secretary.
When you see Samantha at Wingspan, you won’t see her waiting for someone else to approach her, you will find her walking across the room to greet someone else. Her calm nature is a gift to first-timers, unsure if this “church group” is right for them. Now, her calm becomes courage, an open seat, a remembered name, a steady welcome, so the next student doesn’t have to wonder if they belong.
