From Shook Freshman to Loving Jesus and Leading in Ministry as a College Student with Lauren Barker

Lauren was raised in a Christian family and was intentional to get involved in a faith community when she went away to college, but says she was “shook” during her first year of college.

In this episode, Lauren shares how she navigated the difficult ...

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Transcript

David: 0:34

All right. Well, I am here with Lauren Barker, Lauren, so great to have you on the podcast today.

Lauren Barker: 0:41

Yeah. Thank you so much for having me. I'm super excited.

David: 0:45

Yeah, well, me as well, just excited, just to tell the world a little bit about you. Lauren is a student, a student leader at, uh, uh, every nation campus ministry in Philadelphia and is a, health professions major at temple university. So, and then a junior, as far as, you know, your progress through university goes, so Lauren, um, exciting, and I'm just really thrilled to talk to you today, Lauren, of course you and I have gotten to know each other over the last several years through your experience, uh, locally with campus ministry, um, that I am involved with and help to lead, but. I'm just excited because you know, this has been a remarkably challenging time as we record this, we're still in sort of pandemic mode. I know, even before we actually hit record that we were talking about just some plans for winter and you were just talking about like, and, you know, we thought that we would basically be able to do, you know, this plan that you had, but it's like, wow. COVID is still, you know, around it's still affecting our lives. And so just such a weird time, but. Lauren. I'm just thankful that we can connect and just talk a little bit. So Lauren, if you could just share a little bit about your background and how it is that you came to follow Jesus and how it is you got involved in campus ministry.

Lauren Barker: 2:04

Yeah, sure. Um, so I got saved at 12 years old. It was at church camp. Um, but I think I didn't really have like a strong foundation in the Lord. I didn't have a strong relationship with him. I definitely put a lot of other things. Ahead of him and made that my priority, especially in high school, like academics, I was like, so, so concerned of getting into college and getting the perfect grades and just like sports as well and friends. So I definitely put my relationship with God on the back burner, not really my priority, but I knew that I wanted to have a stronger relationship with him. And I knew I wanted. That hunger and that fire again, especially going into college where a lot of things can happen in your faith can be swayed one way or another. So I just wanted to find a campus ministry. I wanted to get plugged in into a community. So I was praying with my mom, like right before college, um, just asking the Lord that he would provide that for me. And so, uh, freshman year of college, I was like super excited. I went to the temple vest and I saw all these different clubs, all these different orgs. And I ended up finding another campus ministry that before ENC and I started going there, I started going to Bible studies and everything, but I kind of found out soon that the doctrine was kind of offered. We just had different doctrinal beliefs. Um, but. I think I realized then that my relationship with God wasn't as strong as I thought it was because my faith was so easily swayed. Like it, my foundation of what, like everything that I had been taught and everything I believed was like shook to its core. Um, so I really started just. Praying asking God to just show things. To me, reveal revealed things to me. And, you know, I just started really reading my Bible, like actually reading it and studying it because before I would read it, but it would be like to check. Of like my to-do list or something. And so I really started to want to read it and enjoy spending my time with, with the Lord. Um, and so I even like downloaded the concordance app on my phone, um, just to like get the different translations and everything to really like, to really study the word. And I think through that, I was able to like, Rededicate my life to the Lord and really focus on just surrendering my life to him because before then, I didn't think I truly surrendered my life to him. So that was like freshman year, 2018. Um, so next semester, like 2019 is when I found ENC at temple Fest again. And that's where I met joy and got plugged in that way. Um, and then. Becoming a student leader. Like that was just a whole other thing that I was like super surprised about. Um, his Brittany, the other campus minister, um, she called me one day in the summer and she was like, yeah. So canvas ministers and I've been talking and just praying about it and we think you'd be great as like a student leader as a small group leader. And I was like, Oh, really? I was like so shocked. Um, I guess I didn't really realize what it was or what it took to become a student leader. Like, it wasn't all that much, but I was like, I feel so under-qualified like, I feel like you should be asking somebody else. Um, but she was like, no, like just like, think about it, pray about it. So I did, and I talked to my mom and everything and. Like from that time up until now, I've just really learned what it means to be a leader, what it means to be a student leader. And it doesn't mean like you're telling people what to do, or like yes, people look up to you and look up to you as a role model. But that doesn't mean like you're putting, like, I put too much pressure on myself. I think like the Lord doesn't even put that much pressure on me. Like I definitely do it all to myself. Um, and I think that just being a leader is. Doing your life, living your life for the Lord and just having people live it with you. And I guess I didn't really realize that at the time. Um, I do now, but yeah, at the time I was like, Oh, I don't know if I should, like, I'm super scared, but yeah.

David: 6:27

Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah. Lauren, thanks for sharing some of your story there, you know, a number of things that you said, I think are really interesting and just encouraging number one, just how you shared, or even being very intentional when you were making that transition going from high school into college. I just see so many people that. They're not intentional. They just kind of coast in and, and up and really finding themselves in positions, freshmen junior year, sophomore year, where there, they never really intended to get there. Um, you know, in, in lots of different areas, but including kind of the faith journey aspect. And so it was just cool. I know for me, Even like you being someone that was kind of raised going to church. Um, I, I just, I have a heart for students that are in that position, that man has had some good foundations late in their lives. Had, uh, parents who love the Lord that, um, and just, just want to see that. Re really that, that young person launched well in life, not kind of crash and burn, like in that moment where you're like, all right, you're finally kind of, you know, leaving and going out on your own, going to college. Um, and so I think for me, it just, I share, I just have a hard heart and a burden for that. I think just because of my own story of my own background, as well as of course, I may want to see lots of people that have never heard of Jesus don't know anything about, the scriptures or anything about, What it means to follow Jesus, take that step as well. And so I think the college campus is such an awesome opportunity really for, uh, reaching people that are at a major crossroads in life, whether it's people that have had some exposure to the faith or others that have not had any exposure at all. Um, and so I just love what you were saying of how you were just so intentional of like, Hey, I w I'm not just. You know, go into college and then just like, Oh, we'll just see what happens, but Hey, I'm, I'm praying. God, would you connect me with a group of believers on campus? Would you use this to be a time in my life where I would grow in faith? Um, something that I, I actually, I often talk about as kind of a theme on this podcast is really the two ideas of, of grow in faith and then develop in leadership. That really the one supports the others that I think the kind of leadership really that I'm interested in is the, uh, leadership that's grounded in understanding who Jesus is and loving him, as you said. so Lauren, I really, really appreciated that. Just to ask a follow-up question, one of the things that you shared, I mean, you talked about really growing into a deeper place or a really a really loving God that. That it wasn't for you. Uh, you know, and it sounds like this was somewhat of a process of developing, but, but where you, you talked about developing in this love for the Lord. could you just talk a little bit more about how that happened in your life?

Lauren Barker: 9:13

Yeah. Sure. So. Freshman year was like the first semester was pretty crazy with everything that happened. Um, so yeah, I did start to really find this love for the Lord that before was, it was there, but it wasn't as like genuine, I don't think like it was more of, yes, I love the Lord, but it wasn't as deep as it has been. And I think that was because. During that time when my like whole, everything that I believed was kind of like shaken. I was relying a lot on him to sort of show me it was, it was like, I was like, I had just become a saved, like I was learning all these different things. And like, when you just meet someone or you like. Just start, like talking to them or having, like getting a relationship or a friendship with them. Like, you want to know all these things about them when you want to know different things. Cause you obviously don't know them. Yeah. So I was just like asking God questions. Like I would just be like, Oh, like what does this mean? Then? Like I read his word and like, just to understand him more and to learn more about him rather than then, like it being a lesson or like a teaching lesson of how to apply it to my life. I was really just reading it so I could. In the beginning, just to learn more about him and who he was. And as I was reading, I started in John and as I was reading that book and even towards the end where, you know, Jesus was crucified and everything, that's when I really started to experience that joy and the love for the Lord for myself. And just like, think back of while he did that for me, like. He left the 99 and he came by me and called me by name individually. And he's just so intentionally, like he's been so intentional in my life. And just to like, see that process of how he's been so intentional, it just like made me grow in my love for him. Um, so yeah, I would say that. And then also I think like that time I was kind of lonely, um, because. A lot of my friends I had made was with that particular group. And I didn't like cut them off, but I kind of separated myself from them. And those were like the friends that I had made. So I didn't really have any, well, I had friends, but they were weren't Christian friends. And like, I didn't really want to hang out with them on the weekends because they would do things that I wasn't really comfortable with doing. So I would just like, Stay at home. I'm like watch movies or whatever, but I would like during that time, I would just read my Bible and just grow in him more. So.

David: 11:57

Yeah, Lauren. That's awesome. It sounds like for sure, that was an incredibly tough time in your life, but just so thankful for how, you know, the Lord used that and how you responded. You know, it just comes to mind, even the famous example right. Of how David, as a young boy, he was out, he was alone. He was just with the sheep. He wasn't with the cool kids, his brothers that were doing all these great things, but he was, he was using that time to really. Develop a close walk with the Lord, you know, it's where he probably just got into kind of writing songs. And now we have the whole book of the Bible called the songs and, you know, just the depth of what happened during that time where he was alone. Um, and I, I just think, especially for a young person, you know, college student, high school student, man, just the, the social atmosphere of that. Time of life, especially is such a big deal that when you don't have that, man, it can really be. Tough, but just at the, what I'm hearing from you is that man, there's a way to respond to that, uh, that that can be really powerful, really beneficial. And by the way, that's true. You know, even just thinking about students that might be listening to this, whether it's on a, on a holiday break, on a summer break, you know, I've, I've seen people that man they're super connected, all it's, uh, like a great. Community of believers. And then man, they go home over the summer and it's like, ah, man, I don't have any friends here. I'm back at home, whatever. But just how even in, you know, a season, whether it's a whole year, whether it's a semester of college, whether it's a winter break and in the know, if, if we can really respond rightly uh, in that season, it can be powerful. And by the way, I think a lot of us are feeling a little bit more, you know, uh, alone, perhaps. I mean, I know we've got great technology, zoom and such, but man, just the realities of kind of the pandemic that we're living in currently, it just has made social interaction a lot more challenging. And so probably, probably just a good word for all of us right now to say, man, what can we learn? What can, what can we receive if we're not able to associate with friends as much as we would normally. I mean, as much as we would like to w w what are some things that the Lord might do, uh, in this time? And so, Lauren, I just love that, uh, that journey that you were on and still are on, of loving Jesus, you know? Um, so that's powerful. Well to move on a little bit, Lauren, I want to talk some about your, your leadership journey and just specifically some of the things you've done. I mean, speaking of the pandemic, and even as we're recording this, uh, particular episode, we're kind of late 2020, uh, and you know, we're still just like, wow, we're hearing about a vaccine. And so that's, that's got me excited, but man, it seems like we're, we're probably not going to be. Fully through the other side of this whole situation still for quite some time. And so in light of that, I know when it comes to leadership on campus, that there are college ministers that have done ministry a certain way for years. And some of those things are no longer possible. There are college students, Lauren, you know, your peers that are like, man, yeah. I love Jesus. I want to reach others. But then it's like, wow, I am. Not in person. I am perhaps even back at home doing classes remotely and Lauren. Um, I just want to talk to you a little bit about that from a student perspective earlier, a few episodes ago, we talked to, uh, a campus minister who shared some great ideas of what their campus ministry was doing in North Carolina. And, um, I've heard some really innovative ideas, but I wanted to get your perspective as a student leader. And I know just firsthand, you've done some. Just great work of persevering, overcoming some of those kind of challenges and really engaging people for Christ. Could you just share a little bit about how you've done that? Some of the things you specifically have done and just what that has been like for you?

Lauren Barker: 16:01

Yeah. So yeah, I think this year has been really crazy. And we were just saying before we started recording that, like, we didn't think that it would last this long. Like I remember. Last semester when we were like, Oh, we'll be home for a few weeks. Like, it'll be a nice break to see my family and everything, and then we'll be back and then we're still here. So that's been crazy. Um, I think some of the things that the Lord has just been showing me this semester is just to be more intentional and more creative because obviously. we've never experienced something like this before. So we definitely had to like step out of the box in terms of our thinking of how we approached people and how we engage with people. So I think just using our resources and technology, I know that I've been. Definitely using that with zoom and FaceTiming and calling, just checking in on my friends and checking in on my small group girls. Um, so Jocelyn who I lead a small group with, she and I have been praying, as I was telling you, we've been praying for our girls every day. And we have like, um, a schedule. So like Monday I'll pray for this person and Jocelyn will fight for this person. Um, and so when we're praying for them, we'll just like text them or call them and just. See how they're doing and if they need prayer for anything, or just, if they're struggling with anything, like just to let them know that we're here and that we genuinely care and want to know how they're doing. Um, so they've been super appreciative of that. They've they always like text us back and they're like, Oh my gosh, like, this is so perfect. Like, this is the right timing that you sent this, like, I really needed this encouragement or just this prayer, um, which is like so awesome that God's been doing that. Um, And I think also some of the things that you guys have been doing as our campus ministers with zoom and everything with our ANSI huddles has been great. Um, we are able to connect with people, engage with people that way. I think like if we were still in person, I don't think I would. Get to meet as many new people as I have since we're on zoom. Like we're not just meeting with temple students, we're meeting with Drexel students and you arts and all the other schools, like in our local area that are involved in ENC. So I'm able to like meet new people outside of just temple. And I think also like our breakout rooms that we have where we're having discussions with people and we're praying with them and, you know, I've just like heard so many praise reports and testimonies from people that like. I said, like I would never have met if I wasn't. Um, you know, if I, if we were in person. So I think there are like some ups and downs to it, but basically just like trying to connect with people, using our technology like that. We have so.

David: 18:47

Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. Awesome, Lauren, and just tell a little bit about your situation currently. Uh, I mean, you're, you're, you're back at home. You're not even like on campus, so you're, you're physically removed as well as just being fully digital right now. Uh, how did those, some of those initial connections go, cause I know you have a really thriving small group. How was it initially connecting with some of those students and Lauren, just the reason why I'm asking some of these questions is that, uh, even as we've ended at this point, you know, per the time of this recording kind of the fall season, and a lot of people I think are, are re-evaluating and saying, okay, well, Hey, what worked from the fall? What didn't work? What can we do? Hey, we're still sort of in this mode. What can we do come, you know, the next semester come in, as we start a new term in January, new season of outreach, you know, what can we do? And so if you could just walk us through a little bit of, of what you've done and some of the things that you feel like have worked really well. I know you commented on some of those prayers specifically, uh, but, but just talk a little bit about what that process was like for you. What, how you met some of these new students that got connected into your small group and just how you've been able to foster a sense of community. Um, just unpack that a little bit more, if you would.

Lauren Barker: 20:03

Yeah. So in the, well, yeah, the beginning of this semester, when we were trying to, um, reach out to people to join our small groups or just come hang out with us or ENC and everything, we were really praying and asking God to like what I was saying earlier, just to give us new ideas. Um, And so specifically for the girls in my small group, I know I met some of them. Through our, so like before the semester we had, for those of you guys who don't know we've had, um, like meetups before this semester, so we could meet people or meet like incoming freshmen or transfer students, or just like regular, like students who are. Like neither, um, to just like come and like talk to us. Do they have any questions? Like, it didn't even have to be about God or like through ENC. It was just like, you have questions as a student where students we've been through it. So if you have any questions, like come ask us. So I met some of the girls through that who came and joined our zoom call and we just had like great conversations throughout that. So I met some of them through that. And then also I know some of my friends and I were reaching out to people on social media and some of the girls in my small group. We met them through that as well. And I thought initially it would be awkward because we're not in person. So like, I don't know if the, like, the connection would be the same, but like, I was surprised our first couple of small groups with were a little weird because we're getting used to zoom and everything. But after that, like we automatically clicked. Like we really just started having great conversations with people. Like we would play little games in the beginning, um, to like make things like more loose. Um, and like little icebreakers and stuff, which are super helpful, but yeah, I think also, again, like social media was a big thing that helped me still connect with people. Um, like Anthony, for instance, he was in my bio class and he's I guess, wait. So in the beginning, like we all exchanged like, um, Snapchat and like Instagram and stuff and like numbers. So I remember him texting me one day and he was like, are you by chance? In ENC. And I was like, yeah. And I was thinking to myself, like, wait, how did he know that? And then I remembered that I put ENC feely, like in my Instagram bio so that people could check out the Instagram. And so he said he found it through that and you know, he was just asking me like, how do I get involved? Like, I've been wanting to get. Plugged in somewhere. And I was like looking at UNC last semester and I was like, yeah. So I sent the link and like, um, he responded like super quickly and was like super interested in getting involved in small group and everything. So just like even using that, like that soup something that's like super simple and super small, but like obviously had a big impact on someone, um, just by having like that in your bio or something. Yeah.

David: 22:59

Yeah, that's great. Yeah. So I'm just hearing a lot of just very various ways, you know,

Lauren Barker: 23:03

Yeah,

David: 23:04

online kind of meetups that we did and just you put in your bio, you, you, you made it visible that you're a believer that you're connected with this on campus group, so that as you're interacting, even just through academic classes and things with other people that they're actually. Seeing that about. You're like, Oh, this, you know, Lauren, who's in my bio class. Oh, she's a Christian. Oh, wow. She's connected to this group. And you know, and through that, you know, really then moving into a more direct kind of, uh, engagement where you, you know, you've invited people to join your small group. Some of those more casual interactions you've had, you've invited people to join your small group and just, and really just try to invest in them. You know, pretty intentionally again, we keep coming back to that word intentional. Right. But, but where, you know, you and the person you're leading with Jocelyn, who's also amazing. Uh, you guys have just made it a point to regularly communicate where it hasn't even just been like, all right. Hey, you know, we only see these, these girls in our group this one hour, a week in our scheduled time, but where you're at. Interacting with them. You're texting them. You're, praying for them. You know, you're really building a sense of community and showing them a lot of love and care through that. So, That's fantastic. Lauren, have you gotten any, I mean, I know you shared just briefly that the girls have been encouraged by some of your text messages and there's been a sense of community, any more specific testimonies that you could share about what God has been doing through the small group and through just your, your broader ministry on campus as a student leader.

Lauren Barker: 24:34

Yeah, so we've been trying to. Stay more connected, obviously as a small group, even through this crazy time. So when we were still like able to meet in like big, not big crowds, but like now, like Philly's kind of shut down. But before like a few months ago, like during Halloween and even before then, when the Circuit Riders came and visited and we had like a carry the love event, we went with the girls, um, like our small group went and a lot of the girls came, which I was like, Uh, like I was kind of surprised not going to lie. I didn't think that they really wanted to come because we invited them, but not a lot of people responded, but a lot of the girls actually showed up and they had an amazing time. And one girl to be specific. Um, she was. Really, really encouraged by the Carry the Love event. And God was just like really talking to her and revealing things to her, um, during that time. And she was just, she had a conversation with me when we went to another care, the love event the week after on Halloween actually. And she came with me, um, and Anthony actually, and she was just saying like, um, How she wasn't really sure where her relationship was. Like, she didn't really know where her relationship with the Lord was at that time, but she was just like, so trying to figure out like what she was doing, her purpose, you know, like simple, like not simple, but like quick questions that like all college students and even like older people have now, um, just like, what's their purpose in life? And she was just saying, how. And the Lord has been just revealing things to her and how she should just look different from the world. And like we're supposed to be set apart and just all these things and she was talking about, and she was just like, Lloyd's really just been revealing these things to me. And if I hadn't come to the Carry the Love event with you guys, like, I, I don't know if I've ever would have experienced that or would have heard what the Lord was really trying to speak to me. Um, and so like ever since then, like she's been super, super. I'm just on fire for the Lord. And this is a friend that I've known since like freshman year. Um, Katie, we lived across the hall from each other, as I was saying in our, um, our testimony week at our leadership, um, zoom call. And she was just saying like, It's just so crazy because God is so like, he's just, he's such an awesome God, but he answers prayers. And even if it's like two, three years, like I was praying for her to have this exact same like revelations, exact same fire and hunger for the Lord. And obviously even more cause like, God's so awesome that he does things that we can't even like imagine. And like his. Ways are so different from ours. And so, um, it was just so crazy that he had, um, answered this prayer now. Um, and just to see how much she has grown, even from the beginning of this semester, until now. Has been so amazing to see, and just like all of our girls in general, like we can see like Jocelyn and I have been talking to one another a lot and just to see like how much they've grown, but also just to see like that leadership that they have, like, we've already started talking about them, starting to lead small groups and things like leading our small group. Um, And just like once just to like, get a feel for it. And they've done like, amazing, like such an amazing job, and they're just all natural leaders. So yeah, that's doing such amazing things in our small group and I'm just super excited to see what he continues to do.

David: 28:05

Praise God. That's fantastic. Lauren. Well, just want to just encourage you and just compliment you as well. You know, way to persevere. I know this is a time where it's very easy to just gotta shrink back and you know, like, ah, let me, I'm tired. I'm on zoom all the time. But really how you've persevered even through this tough time is clearly making a big impact. And so Lauren just want to say a public. Thank you and honor you for that. Lauren, what are some of the things that you've done just to stay encouraged? Because, uh, I know that that's one of the challenges as a leader is. Like, Hey, you know, in order to keep building others up, you've got to make sure that you're cultivating faith in your own heart as well. Staying encouraged. Uh, I know we're, we're hearing various reports and have throughout 2020 about people just feeling high levels of, of anxiety and depression and all of that. What are some of the things that you've done during this particular season? That's helped you to stay encouraged and stay full of faith?

Lauren Barker: 29:10

Yeah, so definitely just leaning on my friends and family and community, like God has given us community for a reason. So I was like, well, I might as well use it. Like I'm this year in particular, like a lot of crazy things happening and. I felt like super lonely. I felt just like super sad, but all the news that just keeps flooding in about like the election that was happening and then like the black lives matter movement that like during the summer and just like social justice. And COVID obviously, there's just like one, it seems to be like one bad thing after another. And so I was just really leaning into like community and friends and just asking them to pray for me. When I was just feeling down or not feeling like myself. And then also I think just seeing the beauty in little things, like seeing the beauty that God has done in this year, like, yes, there's been a lot of bad things. A lot of sad things that have happened and people have lost loved ones in like real, real things have happened. And so I was just reflecting on. Some of the good things that God has been doing. And that's been encouraging me to seeing people get saved. Like, I kind of forgot that this year I got baptized and it feels like it was such a long time ago, but it was just in February. Um, and so just reflecting on that and just my personal journey, um, And grow and oops, sorry. My voice just got there and growth. Um, but just like also just seeing some of the greater things that that's been doing, like revival has been a key word for this year and that's so true. I think there's definitely been a spiritual revival, especially with people being home and really kind of forcing themselves to, to just take a break, like to be still and. To Bray to grow in their relationship with the Lord. Like, I feel like all our distractions were gone, so that was like a perfect time for God to move. And he definitely did. I know a lot of people got saved this year. Um, and maybe they wouldn't have, if it wasn't because like everything the whole country shut down. Um, so I think just reflecting on that and just like. Seeing all the things that God has been doing in my life. And just like the little things, like I was saying, like I was outside and it was, I was walking my dog and it was like super, super cold outside and it was late. And I was just thinking of so many people who don't even have like a house or somewhere warm to stay, or like have. Food. And I was just thinking like, well, I don't have to worry about any of that. Like I have food, I don't have to worry about when my next meal is coming. I don't have to worry about like paying bills or anything. Like my parents fully support me. Um, and I know like there are a lot of students. Who are not like in that similar situation where they have to pay for their own. Like for instance, my friend, she has to pay for her own like college and rent and everything and working in school. Like that could be very stressful for her. So it was just like reflecting on the little things that God has blessed me with has really encouraged me.

David: 32:12

Yeah. Yeah. That's so good, Lauren. Yeah. I think intentional gratitude is just very key, especially in a year, like what we're living through right now. and so I just, I echo that, there've been times when I've started to get kind of mentally into a little bit of a funk of like, ah, just negativity or finding myself just Grumbling or complaining a little bit, you know, just kind of to myself for, you know, to, to various other close people in my life. And it's like, I got to check myself like, wait, what am I doing? You know, there, there really is so much to be thankful for. And just, just try to shift that, that mindset by saying, you know, Lord, no, I'm thankful for this. Thank you for that. And just getting very specific about it. And it is true. Also, you mentioned your baptism being earlier this year and I'm just like, wow. Yeah, that kind of feels like three years ago. Like, you know, this is like the longest year ever in some ways, but, but yeah, just to see God's faithfulness in the midst of that, I'm really thankful. So Lauren, this has been fun. I appreciate you sharing your experience, your journey. And I just know it's going to take all God's people and it's going to take, believing students on campus, really rising up and, and taking the charge to, lead others, to Christ and to, to be representatives and ambassadors for Jesus on campus. And, and so, uh, I really just appreciate your service to the Lord and just grateful to, uh, to, be a part of this journey with you. And I'm sure that what you share today has really encouraged a lot of ministry leaders, including both. Campus ministers that are out of college, as well as those that are currently students. But, uh, just to keep going, to not shrink back, to continue to believe, to continue to pray, to cultivate that love for Jesus and then look for opportunities to really, connect with others in a meaningful way. So, Lauren, it's been fun. Thank you so much for being on the podcast today.

Lauren Barker: 34:10

Yeah. Thank you. I'm so honored. I'm I'm really glad. I hope really people do get encouraged from this.

David: 34:16

awesome. Well, thanks again, Lauren. Appreciate you.