College is a daunting endeavor. Terrifying and horrible even, especially in the eyes and mind of pre-freshman Olivia.
As someone who thrives off of consistency, going to college (even one 10 minutes from my home) was simply horrifying. I hated the idea of it to the point that one week before move-in, I was looking for ways to get out of attending at all. I looked up gap year programs to prolong the distance between me and college, and I searched for ways to go straight into the work field without it at all. Inevitably, I ended up moving into my little dorm room and faced my fears – and boy, am I so glad I did.
Ozark Christian College is one of the biggest blessings I have ever received.
The community I found at OCC amid the chaos that is becoming a more independent young adult was transformational. I encountered friends from all stages of schooling who embraced me and loved me deeply. I was mentored and shepherded by amazing professors who invested in my life and well-being.
There is a unique culture at OCC, and I believe that God smiles often while watching this campus.
I see glimpses of Heaven often at Ozark: individuals using their separate giftings and devoting their whole lives to worship their Creator while inviting others to do the same thing. It is a melting pot of ministry, and it was just recently that this became even clearer to me as I was sitting in an all-girls class on the first day of school, listening to my peers share their ministry goals.
One friend is training to devote her life to children in the church, helping to raise generations of believers, who from a young age will be able to understand how much Jesus loves them and will learn how to revolve their whole lives around that truth.
Another friend is training at Ozark to research and write commentaries so others can learn how to decipher Scripture and interpret the Bible well.
One friend wants to become a wife and mother and dedicate her ministry to serving her family well while serving her local church. Her passion is to raise a family who will love Jesus holistically.
Another is training to travel cross-culturally and teach English as a second language while sharing the gospel of Christ to her students.
There is a girl training to become a PE teacher and exemplify Jesus to her students in a less obvious yet incredibly important ministry setting.
Another, wanting to enter into young church settings to help them get on their feet and develop ministries that will benefit the congregation and community.
There is a girl who is training for women’s ministry to help women understand their identity through the eyes of their Maker and how deeply loved and chosen they are.
And a plethora more that I could spend the entirety of this writing on, but the point is clear:
God is in the works of developing unique Christian leaders and ambassadors for Christ at Ozark Christian College.
And He surely is on the move, alive and active, and incredibly creative in the ways He is cultivating ministerial roles and passions in the hearts of students there.
I am deeply moved as I think about the individuals that I get to learn alongside and the giftings the Spirit has equipped them with that they will continue to grow into throughout their time at Ozark.
I am incredibly humbled when I think of each professor, each with their own unique story and equipped with their own unique gifting, pouring out their hearts and dedicating their lives to equipping the future leaders of the Church.
Ozark quickly turned from the scariest decision to a place that feels like home.
A place of transformation.
A place of hope.
A place of creativity.
A place full of life and love.
A place that daily reminds me of the goodness and faithfulness of God.
written by Olivia Honey
Ozark Christian College
Many people want to serve God and make a difference with their lives, but they aren’t sure where to start. Ozark Christian College prepares students for the kingdom assignment God has for them. Ozark’s 15,000 alumni serve in all 50 states and in 100 countries around the world, carrying the gospel to every corner of the globe as ambassadors for Christ.
