Emerson - Pursued

“When I first went to school, I attended the University of Oklahoma. By the end of my sophomore year of college, I felt incredibly lost, I became self-centered, and I was mean. I thought that I could live in sin AND pursue God. Often times, I would feel empty and angry with myself with how I was living. I began to hunger for real relationships and real conversations. Soon enough, I found myself feeling alone in a sea of relationships that all felt surface-level.

I decided that I needed to pursue the Lord more than I ever had. My time with Him became more personal and I was hungering to learn more about His heart and who He is. It was hard to find a community of people who wanted the same thing. It seemed that people said they wanted to know the Lord, but when it came down to having the hard conversations and the real relationships, they weren’t up for the task.

During my final year of college, I was set on focusing on Jesus and ministering to a friend who didn't walk with the Him. It was awesome getting to live out my faith. When it was time for me to graduate, I was planning on moving to Austin, TX to get a job in design. I was in contact with a few design firms there and was really close to accepting a job and moving there.

Something in my heart told me not to move to Austin. I knew that voice was God, and I felt Him telling me that I should move to San Antonio instead. I knew that Chi Alpha was in San Antonio and that it was time for me to be in a community who loved the Lord so well and would challenge me to walk with Him in a deeper way.

So against my plans, I moved to an unknown city, without a job, and into a house with girls who I barely knew. Needless to say, the Lord exceeded any hopes or dreams that I could have created for myself. He provided me with the most fruitful community I have ever been a part of. When I moved to San Antonio, I joined a small group with women who sought out a real friendship with me. I found friends in Chi Alpha who loved the Lord deeper than I had ever seen in my life. I have been challenged and encouraged by this community more than I could have ever hoped for. My life went from a valley of loneliness to an array of deep, Godly friendships.”

Emerson Frase