Baptism Statement: Sara Dennis

Tell us your faith story. 

My faith journey started early on. Growing up, Christ was all around me. Between Sunday services, playing as Mary in my school’s nativity performance, and yearly church summer camps, I was rooted in Scripture from a young age. While my journey started early, it also abruptly paused around 10 years ago and life just kind of happened. School got busy; summers were filled with basketball tournaments and basketball camps instead, my faith became blurry.

Two months ago, a conversation with my roommate Hailey changed everything and lifted that pause in my faith. She asked me about my faith story. Even by the question, I felt an overwhelming amount of emotions. I didn’t really know where to begin. We had a long and deep conversation and by the end of the night we were looking into which services we wanted to attend together that Sunday, the first weekend of Lent. We attended two services that Sunday and it felt like the holiest Sunday in my life.

Since joining Pres House, I have found a welcoming community that has allowed me to ask questions, find guidance, and continue to grow in my faith. I think Pres House is the perfect place to mark this part of my journey because it’s the place of my rediscovery. Through worship, reflections, and table conversations, my faith has been reignited.

As I near the end of my college experience, I can’t help but look back and see how intentionally God has been working in my life. Even in moments that felt uncertain, He was guiding me. For example, when searching for an apartment, I applied for random roommates. As I look back on this, I truly believe that wasn’t random at all. God placed my roommates, but even more specifically Hailey, in my life with purpose. God used that relationship to lead me back to Him, challenge me, and remind me of the faith that had always been a part of me.

Why have you chosen to be baptized?

I was initially very nervous about the decision to be baptized because I felt like I didn’t know as much as others when it came to Scripture and faith. I questioned whether I was “ready” or knowledgeable enough, as if there was some perfect timeline. But I’ve come to realize that faith isn’t about having every answer or being able to recite the Bible perfectly; it’s about having a genuine and eager relationship with God. While I may not know everything, I do know what His love feels like and how it is present in my life. I know God will meet me right where I am and that has given me the confidence to take this step. To me, that connection is more than enough to step into His grace and be embraced by His love.

I have chosen to be baptized because it represents a meaningful turning point in my life, a way to mark the beginning of a renewed chapter in my relationship with Christ. There was a time when my faith felt very distant, but coming back has been intentional and personal. Baptism for me is a declaration that I am choosing to step forward into my faith and grow in it with purpose. It is my vow to trust God in every season of my life, remain open in His guidance, and reflect His love to those around me.

Christians use a variety of images and metaphors to describe the sacrament of baptism. Which is most meaningful to you, and why?

The most meaningful word to describe the sacrament of baptism for me is potentiality. Potentiality is the sum of my entire journey put into a singular word. Even though I came back to my faith later, I trust that my potentiality lies in the life ahead of me—growing alongside God. I know there is so much in store for me in this journey, and baptism feels like the beginning of stepping fully into that purpose with trust and intention.

Another word that I had thought of many times during my faith journey is renewal. Baptism to me marks the renewal of my faith after the long intermission. Renewal reminds me that God meets me where I am, not where I think I should be. Baptism reflects the grace that allows me to grow, learn, and continue building my relationship with Him over time. It is a sacrament that acknowledges both where I have been and where I am going.

As I take this step, I do so with a renewed sense of purpose and hope for the future. I am accepting this invitation from God today and every day to be welcomed with open arms into a space that provides me comfort and joy.

Sara Dennis (she/her) is studying neurobiology and genetics & genomics (class of 2027).