How Augusta University Student’s faith enhanced her career as a student
By Tyliyah Mosley | Staff Writer
Mary Youmans is a second-year student at Augusta University studying Communcations. Originally from Richmond Hill, Ga., Mary believes that it was her faith that brought her not only to the campus of AU, but to influential leadership positions and several groups and communities that align with her interests.
At the start of her attendance at AU, Mary believes that God put the desire to pursue Occupational Therapy ‘on her heart’. With several disabled members in her family, Mary noticed that AU was the closest school to her with an Occupational Therapy Master's program.
Although she no longer ‘feels led’ to pursing OT, Mary still believes that it was the guidance of God that brought her to attending AU, nonetheless.
“I felt a lot of peace when I moved," said Youmans. “I never felt like I shouldn’t be here or like I was at the wrong place.”
All the things that she attended through recommendation of others has been the way she’s ‘seen God move’ in her life, leading her to hold significant positions in places she was only recently new to. One of them being Delight Ministry, a Women’s ministry at the Augusta University campus.
It was just last year when she saw an Instagram post she strongly identified with. As Mary described it, “it was pink and said something about Jesus.” She thought, "Dang, girls that love Jesus? That sounds amazing!”
After seeing that post, Mary attended Delight Ministry’s annual kickoff early in the Fall semester. As time went on, she showed up for weekly meetings every Wednesday where the ladies studied the bible and took part in fellowship.
Mary had certain fears about college that she described as ‘ungodly,’ which influenced doubts about finding people who were open with their faith.
“I quickly realized that these girls had such a love for Jesus and deep relationship with Jesus that I’d never seen anyone my age have.” She continued, “It was just very eye-opening that a younger generation was loving and pursuing Jesus in a way I had never seen before.’
Due to the ‘Christ in them’, as Mary described, the girls of Delight were able to “create a welcoming atmosphere and vulnerability as leaders who were focused on God.” These qualities inspired Youmans to apply for and ultimately land her position as Community and Events Coordinator for the ministry.
Mary with Delight members
As she continued the pursuit of her major, she started to notice that she no longer had the same desire for Occupational Therapy.
“I feel like God took the desire out of my heart. I was feeling like there was something more centered on God I felt called to,” she explained.
Soon enough, Mary found herself encouraged by a friend to study Communications, as they knew several other Communications majors who also had a calling for ministry. The experience was ‘so sudden,’ according to Mary. The friend had only known Mary for a short amount of time, barely knowing much about her. This was something that signaled to Mary that she had been ‘called by God’ to pursue this new major, especially considering the amount of peace that came over her after making the decision.
As Community and Events Coordinator, Youmans looks forward to promoting unity.
She aims to ensure Delight Ministry can produce a welcoming environment where girls can not only “feel seen and feel loved, but most importantly encounter Christ.”
Contact Tyliyah Mosley at tymosley@augusta.edu
Photos: Top: Mary Youmans
