Student Blog Written By: Abby Rice, Fellows
When I arrived on campus nine months ago, I was carrying a quiet but honest uncertainty about evangelism and what it actually meant to love people the way Jesus does. I think I believed evangelism was mostly about doing the right things or saying the right words at the right time, but I wasn’t fully sure how that translated into real relationships. I also carried a sense of hesitation in community—wondering how deeply I was really meant to know people, or how open I could be without it becoming uncomfortable or forced.
Over this year, God has reshaped that understanding completely.
I’ve learned that thinking, living, and multiplying like Jesus is not about performance, but presence. It’s about being willing to step into people’s lives with sincerity, consistency, and love that isn’t dependent on convenience or familiarity. Jesus doesn’t just send us to people; He invites us to actually see them, know them, and stay with them.
Jesus doesn’t just send us to people; He invites us to actually see them, know them, and stay with them.
One of the clearest moments that shifted me came during our time in Brazil, working alongside Lifeshape Brazil. I didn’t really know what to expect from them at first. I thought we would simply work together for a short time and then move on without much connection. But God completely surprised me. I ended up not only growing close to them, but genuinely loving them in a way I didn’t anticipate. Even now, I’m still in contact with them, which is something I never would have expected at the beginning.
One specific memory that stands out was at a camp with high schoolers where we were trying to create chants together. We spent over two hours working through it, laughing constantly, messing things up, and starting over again. At the time, it felt simple, even a bit chaotic, but looking back, it was one of the most powerful moments for me. There was a point where it stopped feeling like two separate groups and started feeling like family. In that space, I saw a glimpse of God’s heart—how He builds unity through joy, patience, and shared life.
Another moment I will never forget was canoeing in the river during a heavy rainstorm. The water was rough, the weather was intense, and yet there was so much laughter and joy in the middle of it. It didn’t feel like a “perfect” situation, but it felt deeply alive.
Those moments in Brazil helped me understand that evangelism is not confined to structured conversations—it often happens in shared life, in joy, and in simply being together.
Through these experiences, God has anchored in me a deeper love for people and a clearer understanding that He is the one doing the transforming. I didn’t manufacture those relationships or moments—He placed me in them and opened my eyes to what it looks like to truly love others.
As I look ahead, I am preparing to continue into my next season of life through university. I desire to carry this same posture of disciple-making into whatever environment I enter. Practically, that means choosing presence over distance—investing in the people God places right in front of me, whether that is classmates, roommates, or friends I haven’t met yet.
The first step for me is simply to be intentional: to listen well, to stay consistent, and to look for opportunities to point people toward Jesus in everyday life.
I want to influence my next environment not by being the loudest voice, but by being someone who reflects Jesus in the ordinary. That looks like choosing to show up, to care deeply, and to live with a quiet faithfulness that invites curiosity about God’s love.
To everyone who supported and prayed for me this year, I want to say thank you. Your investment has not just impacted my experience—it has shaped my understanding of God’s faithfulness. I’ve seen that He uses community, obedience, and even uncertainty to reveal His heart more clearly.
I am grateful that you believed in what God could do through this journey, because I can honestly say He has done more than I expected.
We believe that when a student is rooted in truth, they become a catalyst for the Kingdom wherever they go. Help us continue to forge disciples who possess the resolve to stay faithful and the tools to make disciples. Your investment in the Multiply Fund makes this transformation possible.