My return to The INN

For the first time in nearly six years, I returned to The INN. It was like returning home to the birthplace of my relationship with Christ. It was truly special for me and I enjoyed it very much.

It sure doesn’t feel like six years have past since I last visited. And it sure doesn’t feel like it’s been nearly ten years since I first stepped foot in the door there. The INN was one of my favorite parts of college. It was where I got ‘plugged INN’ and connected with other believers and strengthened my newly-found relationship with Christ.

I have so many great memories from that place. All those great memories flooded my mind as we entered The INN. It was just like old times… kind of. Only this time: we were practically the oldest ones there; it was past our bed time; we only knew two other people; and we didn’t have an exam, paper or assignment due the next day.

Even though I’m not the target audience of The INN anymore, I’m still going to say that it is a magical place where Christ is moving and changing the lives of students. It was awesome worshipping God with so many students so late at night.

So why did we go? I recently reconnected with a friend of mine who I hadn’t talked with in several years. He’s on staff at The INN now, and on Tuesday he was speaking (giving a sermon). Abby and I have wanted to visit The INN again for quite some time and this was a perfect opportunity to do so. He rocked! The best part is that he was a part of the men’s bible study group I led my last two years in college. That was special for me.

How did I find The INN? I still remember the summer day after high school when my mother-in-law told me about The INN. She said that she had heard good things about it and that I should check it out when I was at Western. So as a freshman, in a new town, at a new school, with a bunch of people I’ve never met before, I got up enough courage to go to The INN. On my very first night there, I signed up for my first bible study ever, and by the very next week I was in a group with a bunch of guys I didn’t know. The leader of that group was Steve Moore, whom I’m still really good friends with to this day. Steve was an amazing witness for Christ. He was unlike anyone I’d ever known, and still is. God put him in my life on purpose.

By my junior year, Steve encouraged me to lead my own group. Despite being incredibly nervous, I did. During that same year I also went on my first-ever mission trip through The INN.

God used The INN to change my life; just like he is still doing to this day with current students. I did things while a part of The INN that I may never have done otherwise. I’m thankful that college students still have the opportunity to be a part of The INN like I was, and to strengthen their relationship with Christ like I did.