"I just thought, 'This is God's little nudge. This is the group.'"

After leading a Bible study while in middle school, Mary Wallace (Class of 2026) felt called to begin again as she entered her senior year. When she was assigned to lead a group of freshmen girls during cabin time, she saw it as God's confirmation to take the next step. That small nudge led Mary Wallace to start a Bible study for a group of Ben Lippen freshmen.

After camp, Mary Wallace invited that group of freshmen girls to gather before school on Friday mornings. Throughout the year, eight to ten freshmen met each week to study Scripture, pray together, and encourage one another in their faith. They started the year by exploring what it means to have a healthy fear of the Lord and finished the year studying the book of Ephesians, all while building meaningful friendships.

The Bible study also became an extension of Mary Wallace's senior capstone project. Passionate about serving individuals with special needs, she invited the girls to participate in a Young Life Capernaum event, helping them see that serving others is not only a blessing to those being served but also a way God grows and blesses His people.

As Mary Wallace prepares to attend Clemson University this fall, she hopes to continue investing in others both through Young Life and a local church. While the Friday morning Bible study may look different this fall, the girls have already begun asking how they can keep meeting—and how they themselves can invest in younger students.

By simply saying "yes" to God's call, Mary Wallace created a space where younger students could grow in their faith, build lasting friendships, and discover the joy of discipling others. Our prayer is that students leave not only prepared academically, but equipped to know Christ, follow Him faithfully, and invest in the lives of others.