By Alisha Tripp
Hello everyone! I am currently a third-year accounting student at the University of Canterbury, and I have been part of The Navigators since I arrived in Christchurch. I grew up attending church, participating in youth group and Bible study, and I loved every second of it. After high school, I spent three years with YWAM Queenstown, learning about living for God – and in everything I do, I do it for Him. One highlight was the opportunity to share a sermon in Papua New Guinea about being Christ-like and having the mind of Christ. Looking back, I can see how much I have continued to grow in knowledge, love, and Christ-likeness since then.
Throughout my life, I keep coming back to the realisation that Jesus is the most important person who has ever lived. I will never fully understand the price He paid for me on the cross when He took my place. I will never be able to pay Him back – and it is His mercy that says I don’t need to. I owe everything to Him: my life, my breath, my thoughts. I want to know Him and be like Him as much as I possibly can, BECAUSE I love Him. That will cost me my whole life – so I will give my whole life.
When I joined The Navigators, I knew it was full of people who loved the Lord, because they showed me so much kindness and grace. We get to walk alongside each other, pointing one another to Jesus with the same love and forgiveness He showed us on the cross. One way I am learning to be like Jesus is through servant leadership. I have the honour of serving as student President of UC Navigators this year, and I look to Jesus to show me how to lead as He led. Remember: no matter how weak or small your love feels, it is still real.
