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Darrell
April 15, 2009

Well, I already know this entry is going to be a long one. Then again, a lot has happened to me, and only in a matter of 4 days. I may as well start from the beginning. It all started when I friend requested Martiez, one of the original Faces of V-State and a pretty well-known student on VSU’s campus on Facebook. This was back when I had first found out I was becoming a Face of V-State. I figured I would add him, since he had previously been one, and I thought perhaps he could give me advice on what to for my entries. Unfortunately for me, once he added me, I realized I had no clue of what to say to him. I kept thinking of things to say, but they all sounded awkward, so I just didn’t say anything.

As the months passed, I kept receiving invitations to the many events hosted by Xchange Ministries, which he and his girlfriend Nikki are the presidents of. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go, it was that I was still getting used to life as a college student, which was quickly becoming hectic. So, I simply never got around to going like I intended. But a month or two after the start of the new semester, I was sitting in my room doing nothing, except listening to music and surfing the web. I just so happened to open a recent invitation that Martiez had sent me. It was to a worship service that had happened to be that same day and had just started a few minutes earlier in Palms Quad. I can’t say I know what moved me to go that day, but I actually dressed nicely for the event and headed over.

The majority of the students attending were giving testimonies and explaining how God was working through their lives. They were also talking about how thankful they were for His blessings and overall presence in their lives. Afterward, there was a concert filled with lively, inspiring Gospel music with songs well known to everyone, and a few minutes of prayer. It was something about seeing this for the first time that gave me a feeling of renewed hope. You see, at that point, there was nothing wrong with me, for the most part. But something in my spirit just kept making me feel down, gloomy, and depressed. I didn’t feel like being around anyone; I didn’t think school was going well; my whole demeanor was melancholy. Anyone who knew me well would know something was wrong, especially since I’m usually cheery, humorous, and an overall positive person. I had finally met Martiez and he was glad to see that I had finally showed up to one of Xchange’s events. I told him I would be back, and was introduced to a few of the members there before I left. He also informed me about a bible study group called “Real Talk” that met every Thursday in Powell Hall.

Unfortunately for me, the next Xchange event wasn’t for another month or two. I went back into solitude for a while, which didn’t do much for me.  Time passed, and things had improved somewhat in April. We had our Spring Concert in Mass Choir, which was a great success, and put me in high spirits. Two weeks before my 19th birthday, I finally made it over to Real Talk. I had always wanted to go before then, but there was always a reason I hadn't gone. To be honest, words can’t quite express everything I felt or all that happened during those 3 hours in Powell. However, I can say that once I left, everything negative and stressful in my life had disappeared completely. That feeling was only heightened by the prayer service the next day. The strange thing was, even though I was there for 4 hours, it felt more like 30 minutes. The feeling I had there was indescribable. My spirits were lifted, my mind was cleared, and I was finally at peace.

I suppose this new feeling is what inspired me to get baptized for the first time the next week (by none other than my good friend Martiez). Also to wake up and go to church with my friends, and take communion on Easter Sunday, the same day I was born. After that, school and finals seem like they’ll be a breeze. I think you can understand how important all of these events were for me, and how they helped change me. I won’t throw out a sermon, but I can see how we never realize what we need in our lives until we go and seek them out for ourselves. And I don’t just mean that for Xchange Ministries. VSU has hundreds of groups on campus, and they all have something that speaks to many of the students here, and they’re all places where students can feel accepted and united in their own way. So the next time you’re just sitting in your room doing nothing, try taking a walk around campus. After all, you’ll never know what you’ll find until you go looking for it.