I believe that you don’t need to choose a denomination to believe in Christ.

When looking for a college, I felt called to travel out of state to expose myself to cultural, religious and environmental differences.

Going to Goshen College was one of the hardest transitions I’ve ever made, but I believe that it was also one of the best. Although Goshen, Indiana, is nothing like my hometown in Oregon, I was easily convinced that it held many promising adventures, so…I went.

I am a member of a small, nondenominational church back home, where I have attended since the beginning of high school. Before attending Goshen College, I honestly didn’t even know what a Mennonite was, but it didn’t take long to notice the quirky characteristics of Goshen College: Dutch Blitz, potlucks, hymn sings, you name it.

I was also welcomed with open arms and have met many beautiful people who have taken good care of me while I’m away from home. When I heard about the opportunity to help put together a full-fledged newspaper each day of convention, I jumped on board, especially after hearing so many positive stories from Columbus and San Jose.

As an onlooker of the Mennonite Church this week, I have heard speakers, learned of great service projects, and witnessed youth groups get excited about their faith.

So excited, in fact, that there were several people crowd surfing and jumping to the beat of the music during worship on Wednesday night. What an awesome generation of youth.

I have loved seeing children learning about God in children’s convention. Their crafts, songs and field trips are sure to be strong memories later in life.

I also appreciate the efforts being made to discuss the difficult issues within the church, including sexuality, cultural and racial diversity, conflict/violence resolution, and many more. While none of these topics are easy to debate, I believe that it is important for all Christians (not just Mennonites) to be aware of the differences to move forward and make changes.

I have been inspired by these conversations and respect the members of Mennonite Church USA for providing a safe space for discussion.

I believe that everybody can learn from the person sitting nearby, Mennonite or not. The theme of reconciliation this week is not just for this church, but for all churches globally.

I feel honored to be at convention this year because I am continuing to educate myself about ways I can stretch my faith, as well as the ways that Mennonite Church USA is challenging its members to do something bold and inspiring in the world.