The student describes how a Baptist Student Ministry community and discipleship relationship have shaped her faith.
Soleirys Gomila says her arrival in a campus faith community gave her an ongoing place to learn, serve and ask for help as she developed her relationship with Christ.
Gomila, who was born in Puerto Rico and moved to the Houston area as a child, shared a personal faith journey that began with churchgoing in her family and later became a more deliberate commitment. Her story centers on the importance of people who make room for questions and growth.
Her experience offers a view of how student ministries can function beyond a scheduled gathering. For Gomila, the relationships surrounding the ministry have become part of the practical work of learning, encouragement and accountability.
Dependable relationships have helped turn belief into an everyday practice, especially when questions or uncertainty make it difficult to know where to turn next.
A Personal Turning Point
Gomila said difficult personal circumstances led her to look for a place where she could sit, think and listen. She described attending a Wednesday service and being approached by an older woman who began a conversation with her about faith, peace and reliance on God.
Gomila said that moment changed the direction of her life. “At that moment I gave my life to Christ,” she said. “Since then, I’ve really been able to see the community and how much others at the BSM love Christ.”
She had been introduced to the basics of Christianity through church attendance with her grandmother while she was younger. Her account distinguishes that early familiarity from the more personal commitment she later described.
That distinction matters in a campus setting where students can arrive with very different religious backgrounds. A ministry can introduce people to a community and a vocabulary for faith, while an individual’s decision and growth remain personal.
Learning Through Discipleship
Gomila identified discipleship as one of the central parts of her growth. She described a relationship with Abby Sarraf, whom she identified as her discipler and a Baptist Student Ministry leader.
“I feel like I hunger more and more every time,” Gomila said of her growth after becoming involved with the ministry. Seeing the love and obedience of other students who share their faith has been motivating.
For Gomila, discipleship means having someone who can walk through questions and Scripture with a student over time. She described it as a relationship built around learning about God’s word, discussing how faith applies to daily life and bringing another perspective to passages that can be difficult to understand.
“You have a person that’s walking you through this,” she said. “You’re walking with this person through your faith.”
She also emphasized trust. A discipler, as Gomila described the role, can become someone a student turns to for advice, conversation and encouragement rather than simply a person leading a lesson. That personal connection is what made the relationship meaningful in her experience.
A Campus Community Built on Relationships
The student ministry setting gave Gomila a way to connect her faith with the rhythms of student life. She described being motivated by people around her who were serving and sharing their beliefs, and she said the example of community members encouraged her to do the same.
For students who are new to a faith community, Gomila’s description points to the importance of relationships that extend beyond a weekly program. She said discipleship has helped her grow in knowledge and has given her someone to talk with when she needs guidance.
Her experience also reflects a simple local truth. Campus life can be demanding and isolating, especially for students building new routines and friendships. A consistent group can offer space for conversation and a shared sense of purpose.
Making Room for Questions and Growth
Gomila said her journey continues. She spoke about growing through Scripture, learning from other people’s perspectives and becoming more willing to rely on trusted relationships instead of keeping every challenge to herself.
Her story is rooted in testimony, and the claims about spiritual change are her own. The broader lesson she offered is about the role of community in sustaining a student’s willingness to learn and serve.
Students looking for a faith community have different needs and experiences. Gomila’s account suggests that the most durable connections can come from ordinary practices such as regular conversation, mentorship, shared study and a willingness to listen.
Her journey from early church familiarity to an active student faith community gives the profile its center. It is a story of one student finding people who helped her make sense of belief, ask better questions and continue growing.