Last October, a heavy blanket of loneliness wrapped Kaitlin Kluch. As a freshman at UNL, she had what she thought were friends. She did the college scene with the parties. But by the time October came around, she was over it. She was weary and upset. The biggest burden was the loneliness. She knew she was not on a good path and didn’t like where she was headed. She wanted change but didn’t know how or where to begin. One evening in the shower, out of nowhere, she felt something in her heart. Something she could only explain as divine entered her and has never left.
“I knew there was something greater going on,” Kaitlin exclaimed with all seriousness. “I felt like I needed to pray. Something was tugging on my heart and the only thing I could think of doing was praying about it. I had never done that. Never had that feeling before. I had to take a day or two to think about what this was. It felt comforting so I thought it’s got to be Jesus calling me. So, I prayed. For the first time, I had the belief that God was out there and that He wanted to spend time with me and wanted me. I never fully believed that before and how He could impact me.”
Kaitlin grew up going to church. She would describe herself as a “lukewarm Christian.” She knew church was the right thing to do, that it was a good moral class with good lessons. A few years ago, her family started going to Citylight. Her older brother, Evan, was involved with Salt Company at Iowa State. Deep down, Kaitlin felt she didn’t belong.
The rest of October and November Kaitlin continued to feel different and prayed. She noticed in herself a better attitude and less anger. She felt less stressed and happier. She was saying “no” to people and felt okay about it. She asked herself and in prayer “What is this?”
“I felt more comfortable with this version of myself,” Kaitlin confessed. “It felt like the true me. Though I was happier with myself, I still wanted people who shared this heavenly joy. I asked God “Lord, I want a group of supportive and loving girls and to help me to get through this season. God, I feel this calling, I know something is happening. Would you send me girls?””
A few days later, Kaitlin was studying one afternoon when she got a text. It was a girl named Zoe who had received Kaitin’s number from a friend of a friend. Zoe invited Kaitlin to a devotional and water coloring get together that evening. Kaitlin didn’t even think and immediately replied to Zoe.
“I said “Sure!” Kaitlin shared. “Even though it was a text out of nowhere from someone I didn’t know. That night I went up to the girl’s dorm up above me and it was in the room of one of the RA’s. I saw girls sitting there with watercolors and bibles. I was curious. I wanted to have people but never had been to a devotional. I used to think “those Jesus girls” always reading “those Bibles.” I walked in and immediately felt joy and comfort. A room of strangers but something was so welcoming about every single one of them. All the warm welcomes, smiles, greetings, and each of them introducing themselves. They did a little Bible study. They offered me a Bible if I wanted. There were questions and discussion. Afterwards, I knew I wanted to get connected with these girls but knew we would go on break in a few weeks, and it would be over a month before I could see them again.”
Kaitlin enjoyed their time and each girl there. She shared, “I sat there and soaked up the moment. I knew this was an answered prayer.” As the evening ended, one of the girls invited Kaitlin to a conference for college students through the Salt Company.
“She asked me if I wanted to go to the Salt Company conference,” Kaitlin exclaimed. “I said I guess I will go and a week later they helped me get my ticket and into a group chat. The next few weeks they kept me updated and informed.”
If you would have met Kaitlin well before this, you would have known that she was a planner, an organizer and very hesitant if she didn’t know all the details about something. Here she was about to go on a trip to another state, not knowing how she would get there, going with people she didn’t know, didn’t know where they were staying nor what they would be doing. But she knew something important was about to happen. She knew she was meant to be with these girls and going to this conference. There was a reason and for a bigger purpose. She was completely open and okay with it all and prayed to God for guidance.
They arrived at the conference in Iowa and that first night, Kaitlin began to see and know why she was supposed to be there.
“We went to the Friday night service and were blown away with all the college kids and worship,” Kaitlin said with amazement. “We were studying the book of Colossians. I didn’t have a Bible, so the girls shared their Bibles with me. I felt comfort and contentment with the first sermon. After that night we went back to the house and had girl time. We talked about everything and laughed. I took a moment and looked around me and saw all the answered prayers in those girls. The next morning, we went all together to the conference. There was energy in me and something burning through me that I didn’t know what it was. I remember asking myself “Is this the time I become a Christian?” I was scared to fully commit to it. I thought I was going to have to fulfill and follow all these rules and I didn’t have the qualities to be a Christian."
"One of the breakout sessions was on missions to neighbors. I was thinking during that session that I am here because I needed to turn to Christ. I sat in the back and said, “God if this is my time to be Christian, would you give me a sign and I will say ‘yes.’” The next words out of the speaker were “If you are looking for a sign, this is it.” It was surreal. The speaker went through the prayer and said if you want to repent and turn to Christ, say these words. I was excited and nervous! I was covered with the Holy Spirit. I had full body shivers and was completely surrounded with love.”
In the back of the breakout room, Kaitlin accepted Jesus Christ as her savior and the free gift of salvation. She told the girls and they all turned around and hugged her. People she didn’t even know prayed over her. During this whole time, Kaitlin’s brother Evan was there with his group from Iowa State. Kaitlin had not shared with him anything that had been going on in her heart and what she did earlier that day. She grabbed his hand and they made a plan to sit together at Sunday’s sermon.
“That Sunday, the pastor shared with everyone that 40-50 people gave their life yesterday to the Lord,” Kaitlin exclaimed. “I turned to Evan and said I was one of them. He sobbed and gave me a hug. Sitting there, the pastor asked us to put hands on one another to commission those out to go. His friend put his hand on my shoulder, prayed out loud, and thanked God for answering prayers. I was speechless.”
Unbeknownst to her, Kaitlin's brother had people praying for her the whole time. Evan’s friend shared that it was at one of their small group meetings in October Evan had asked the group to pray for Kaitlin. Kaitlin believed it was that unexplainable moment in the shower. The power of prayer came down on Kaitlin and through the Holy Spirit, awakened her heart and spirit.
“I felt that back then in that surreal moment,” Kaitlin exclaimed. “I will never doubt the power of prayer. Never doubt it!”
Since January 4th of this year, the day Kaitlin accepted Jesus and became a follower, she hasn’t missed one small group Bible study. Most weekends, she has come home to attend Citylight with her parents. Late Spring at a Sunday gathering, she heard an announcement.
“On stage they announced VBS and the need for volunteers,” Kaitlin described. “I don’t have a full-time job nor kids. I thought if the church needs me, I’m there. I wanted to help the church and pour into these kids. So, I signed up and didn’t think anything of it.”
The training day happened a few weeks later. Kaitlin became nervous. She didn’t know anyone and had to go by herself.
“I walked in and looked around and it was a bunch of younger teens and stay at home moms,” Kaitlin reminisced. “No one was my age. Again, I just thought it was a good opportunity to meet new people. I sat at a table with two girls and asked if I could sit with them. It was a mom and her 18-year-old daughter, and they were so sweet and hung out with me.”
God continued to break down the walls of fear in Kaitlin and showed her his church. People who love her and want the best for her. When VBS began, Kaitlin saw even a bigger picture of this.
“The first thing I think of is how sweet the kids were and how comfortable they felt with me,” Kaitlin described the amazing week. “I was nervous they wouldn’t like me or have a bad experience. We prayed for God to work in their hearts and to open us up. The sweetest thing at the end of every day was we would sit in our row (4-7 years old boys and girls) and we would worship. In my row we gave all the kids bear hugs and snuggles. I loved being able to give them comfort and be close to them. At the end, they all ran to the stage, and I did too. We were all so excited for the Lord. Seeing them dancing, worshipping ... I know that feeling now and they were experiencing it so young.”
That week at VBS enforced in Kaitlin the idea of blind trust, boldness and faith. She may get nervous to do those things, but she knew she was in God’s hands and would be fine. She had Jesus next to her giving her strength to do hard things. She also experienced the importance to be bold and to go out and do hard things. Sharing the gospel and the word with others is vital.
“I now know that I can be bold in my faith and not be shy,” Kaitlin revealed. “After I accepted Jesus as my Savior, one of my bosses said, “You look like you are glowing.” He asked, “What’s changed?” I said, “Jesus!” He laughed. We can be bold and strong with our faith. We get to share all His goodness. I’ve really tried all of that. It’s been six months as a Christian. Recently I’ve been taking a friend to church. The other day she asked me if I am baptized and then asked, “Can I get baptized with you?” I have another friend who doesn’t know Christ and is coming to church with me. A few weeks ago, a coworker who had so many questions about God came to church with me. She gave her life to Christ that day!”
Kaitlin is so happy that people, including her brother, persistently prayed for her. Through these answered prayers and a community of people who surrounded her with love, she now goes out sharing the gospel with as many people as she can. Before she does, she prays. She wants her story to be a testimony to never forget to pray to our Father, Friend, Savior and ultimately holy God.
