No Questions Asked

When Teddy transferred from the University of Central Florida to the University of North Florida in the fall of 2022, he felt lost and alone in more ways than one. 

“When I first came to UNF, I had just left UCF where I was a stage management major and I basically lost all of my community, all of my friends, and I didn’t know anyone here,” Teddy said, “I didn’t know anyone on the UNF campus and I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was positively miserable. I was actually struggling a lot with suicidal ideation.” 

To most of the community around him, though, he seemed like an outgoing, vivacious theater-enthusiast. In fact, it was the musical Les Miserables that inspired him to seek out a Christian community. 

“I was listening to Les Mis and connected with how people in religious communities talk a lot about how they value their community and how important their community in Christ is to them,” he said, “and I thought ‘I kind of want that,’ but I was nervous to seek that out.”

He began coming to one of JCM’s most open and welcoming events, Food for Thought, as the semester began and became friends with the other students in the ministry. 

“There were no questions asked. I didn’t feel like I wasn’t Christian enough or a UNF student-enough.” He quickly became a leader in the community and was attending every week. His involvement with the ministry didn’t stop there. When JCM began plans for safe, affordable, inclusive housing, Teddy was integral in the planning. 

“Redeemer House has been a big deal for me. I’m not estranged from my family, but it is nice to have a space where I am able to have more independence and freedom.” He said, “And Redeemer House gives me that opportunity in an affordable way and in a way that I can still have community.”

When Redeemer House opened its doors to students in the fall of 2023, Teddy was the first student to move in and became the resident advisor. Teddy continues to be a leader in the community and a link for students who need a place that is safe and affirming, whether it is a place to eat on Tuesday night or a place to call home.  

“This was quite literally a life-saving community for me.” Teddy said, “And I have learned through JCM that I have the ability and space to be that person for somebody else now. I can provide a warm space for somebody if they need it.”

Your generosity to Jacksonville Campus Ministry allows the community to flourish and provide a safe and inclusive place for students like Teddy to be transformed into leaders in Christian community. Thank you for your incredible generosity to this ministry.