Delaying A Decision

Rachel Hester’s Story

Rachel was invited to NewSpring her freshman year at Clemson.

It was the first church she'd ever enjoyed going to. It was also the first church where she actually understood what was being preached. The music was loud, and the experiencing was overwhelming — in a good way.

“It felt safe, comfortable, and right,” she says.

There was only one problem: the long drive from campus every Sunday morning.

Rachel was smart, fun, and popular. College life kept her busy. But over time, going to NewSpring became another commitment she didn’t have time for.

“I loved coming, but I didn’t want to let go of things,” she says.

In graduate school, Rachel hit the wall. When she returned to her hometown near Florence, S.C., Rachel felt hopeless and alone. But by that time, NewSpring had opened a campus in the area.

The service experience was as moving as she remembered it from her college days. More powerful still was the realization that she wasn’t right with God.

She knew she couldn’t trust in her Episcopalian church confirmation any longer. She set aside her pride and gave her life to Jesus.

Now she’s serving at the Rock Hill campus, helping students in that college town discover that "God’s path is so much better."