Before Yance Garner came to college, he never knew Jesus.  

Growing up his family would occasionally go to church, just to be able to check it off the “list of being a Christian.” It was during his Week of Welcome at Wayne State College that he got in touch with some people who told him about one of the religious clubs on campus. Later that semester he gave his life to Christ and has been living for Christ ever since.  

“I have seen my life transform,” Garner said. “Knowing that you won’t be perfect and you are going to stumble along the way, but that you have a savior who died on the cross for our sins and rose up from the dead, he is walking alongside you through all that.”  

Garner is now one of the co-presidents of Cru, the group that introduced him to Christ.  

Erin Pfiefer was always a Catholic, but like most students coming to college for the first time, she fell into that typical college lifestyle of partying once or twice a week. She still went to church, but was living a double life. After talking to her priest from back home, she asked herself who she had become and who she wanted to be.  

“I began to let more and more of that go and started completely diving into the identity of a daughter of God,” Pfiefer said. “It completely changed the game for me. I felt so much joy. I felt so much peace being with people from Newman. I just simply adored who I was becoming. It just completed changed everything. I would not be where am I today without the support I received through Newman and FOCUS.”  

Now Pfiefer is on Newman’s leadership board, helping other who were once in her situation.  

Approximently 70% of high school students who enter college as Christians will graduate college with little to no faith, according to Helena Independent Record. Most students have a tough time adapting to their new college lifestyle, trying to figure out who they are and where they want to go in life. Things like religion can get pushed to the side.   

At WSC, six Christian clubs and organizations are battling those numbers, always inviting students to join them and make new relationships and strengthen their own relationship with God. These groups include Catholic Newman, Cru, Ratio Christi, FOCUS, Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) and Lutheran Student Fellowship (Cup of Grace). These clubs have different denominations, but they all have the same focus: God.  

Catholic Newman builds so many deep relationships not only with each other, but through Christ, Pfiefer said. According to the WSC website, Newman focuses on the social, spiritual, and intellectual life of students and empowers them to use their gifts to fully live the Gospel while helping students deepen their commitment to Jesus Christ and their Catholic faith. Most of Newman’s meetings take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, but with the weather warming up, they will be doing more things on Campus, Pfeifer said.  

Cru as a caring community that is passionate about connecting people to Jesus Christ, as described by the WSC website. As an interdenominational Christian ministry, Cru presents the gospel of Jesus Christ and helps students develop their relationship with God, no matter where they are at in their journey. Students are encouraged to become who God designed them to be and be prepare them to become leaders in wherever they may go after college. Cru has worship and speakers at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays in the Gardner Audirorium. 

Ratio Christi describes themselves on the WSC website as a Christian Apologetics Club that helps students understand why they believe what they believe by focusing on philosophical, historial, and scientific reasonings. It also helps answer the objections they might hear from other people on campus, Ratio Christi and Focus Advisor Kasey Summerer said. Meetings are at 7 p.m. on Mondays in the Multicultural Room in the Student Center.  

The WSC website describes the Fellowship of Catholic Universiry Students (FOCUS) as a group of people passionate about changing the world and living a life of purpose. FOCUS includes Bible studies, retreats, mentorship and mission trips. Their approach includes building virtuous and genuine friendships, teaching others to share Christ, and knowing, loving and serving God. Meetings are 12 p.m. on Wednesdays in the library.  

According to the WSC website, Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) is a nondemoninational campus ministy that focuses on friendships, bible studies, prayer for one another and changing campus and the world through Jesus. Meetings are 6 p.m. on Sundays at The Table coffee shop.  

Lutheran Student Fellowship (Cup of Grace) is open to all Christians seeking closeness to God through Christ and wanting to learn about Christianity, as listed by the WSC website. The organization provides opportunities for spiritual growth through the word of God and to serve God as well as one another. This includes Bible studies, a variety of social functions, and Christian service to put faith in action. Meetings include free supper for all WSC students at 7:30 p.m. on Sundays and Bible studies at 5 p.m., both at Cup of Grace.  

The best way to keep up with these clubs and organizations is to follow their Instagram pages.  

“For anyone looking where they can fit it or belong, don’t be scared to branch out. We have a place for you here,” Pfiefer said. “You have a place with us no matter what background, no matter where you come from, your walk of life. No matter how far you feel you have fallen from God, we are here to help you return in whatever area you are from.”