A JOURNEY OF SURRENDER

Patrick stepped onto the University of Victoria campus looking forward to exploring life’s fundamental truths, being challenged by talented classmates, and developing deep relationships with new friends.

Much to his surprise, he encountered the most important of those truths, challenges, and relationships his first day on campus when he met Justin, a staff member with Power to Change – Students.

“During our first meeting, we spoke a bit about faith,” says Patrick. “I casually explained to him that I believed in God, citing my mother’s faith as a professing Catholic and my own upbringing in the Church as proof of my spiritual life.”

However, Justin’s response surprised Patrick.

“He said that if I had not personally accepted Christ as my Saviour, I was actually not saved,” Patrick explains. “That dissolved two false paradigms that I held about God. First, it dismantled the idea that one can inherit faith and salvation. Second, it suggested that God is not an ‘out there’ God. Rather, that He is a relational Being who desires a personal relationship with me.”

Patrick had many doubts and reservations about faith, but his curiosity was piqued. He and Justin began meeting every week.

“Justin presented me with evidence and questions to mull over. He didn’t force me into a ‘gotcha’ moment that exposed either my hypocrisy or intellectual inadequacy. He focused everything on Jesus, and whatever doubts I expressed would frame our discussions.”

Months later, after much discussion and self-reflection, Patrick got down on his knees in his dorm room. “My prayer for salvation was the first honest prayer of my life,” he says.

Soon afterwards, Justin walked Patrick through what his new life in Christ would mean. “He explained the importance of finding a church community to be grounded in. I bought my first Bible and I started praying regularly. And at the end of the school year, I got baptized. It was an amazing time of growth in my new-found faith.”

However, over the summer and into his second year of university, Patrick’s faith journey ground to a halt, compounded by a season of clinical depression and anxiety. He struggled with mental illness, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.

“My doctor prescribed two different medications to treat my illness. I also tried to cure myself with drugs, alcohol, and unhealthy relationships,” he says.

Patrick ignored Justin during this time. But, after two years, Patrick was exhausted trying to fix himself. He began to read Scripture again and returned to church.

“My pastor suggested that spiritual breakthrough only comes when one surrenders to God as Lord over their life. I hadn’t fully appreciated that the price paid on the cross—and the resurrection three days later—is not simply about my salvation, but also about my very existence,” he says.

The first person Patrick reached out to was Justin. During Patrick’s fourth year of studies, Justin continued to be a trusted friend, encouraging him to surrender to God each day and to take new steps of faith in sharing the gospel with others.

“I knew that without God as my foundation, nothing else would work.” he says.

Patrick completed his first year of law school in 2017 and continues to be an active participant in the Power to Change – Students’ community on his campus. He is experiencing how knowing Jesus truly changes everything.