This past spring, Jabes joined Christ For The Nations as one of 155 new students beginning their journey. For him, his first semester had already been life-changing. \u201cNot just my relationship with God is growing, but also with the people,\u201d he shared. \u201cI\u2019ve never had friendships like this before, people who walk with you, hold you accountable, and genuinely encourage you. It really feels like God places your spiritual family around you.\u201d Along with a meaningful community, his classes have brought a new depth to his faith. \u201cI didn\u2019t even know classes could be this engaging. We\u2019re not just learning, we\u2019re building a foundation that actually sticks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two classes in particular, Holy Spirit and Personal Discipleship, have reshaped his daily walk with God. \u201cI used to come to God more out of routine, but now I come to Him as a son. That changed everything for me. It\u2019s not about performance, it\u2019s about relationship.\u201d That shift in identity has also impacted how he sees his personal journey. \u201cI\u2019ve learned that even while God is bringing freedom, He\u2019s still holding your hand. You don\u2019t have to have everything figured out, you just keep walking with Him.\u201d In an unexpected way, God even restored a passion he had laid down. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d dance again, but during prayer I felt the Lord say, \u2018I just want to see you dance again.\u2019 I stepped out in obedience, and now I love it again. God didn\u2019t just bring it back, He restored the joy.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Jabes looks ahead, he sees God building something strong and lasting. \u201cI feel like He\u2019s strengthening my foundation. Things are moving quickly, but I trust Him more now, I know He\u2019s leading me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stories like Jabes\u2019 are unfolding every day across campus as students encounter Jesus, grow in identity, and step into their calling. Because of your generosity, students from across the nation and around the world are being equipped, discipled, and sent out with confidence. For Jabes, this is just the beginning!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
First-year student Jabes Lugo Valle on friendships, two classes that changed his walk with God, and a passion restored.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":190,"featured_media":62,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[84],"series":[],"cfn_placement":[],"class_list":["post-439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-students","tag-student-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n