Meet Luke

Hello. My name is Luke Mayes and I am a product of community. Community was something I thought I had, but oh boy was I wrong. I've always been one to watch and listen, to stay quiet, some would call me a passivist. It makes sense though when you look at my past. Growing up, I was deemed the "Golden Child". The one that will clean up the family name wherever he goes. I mean come on. I'm sure some of you have heard of the Gilded Age, right? Well, that was me, always with the group but never IN the group. Always having friends, but never creating friendships. My life consisted of me and that's all I had. Video games? I've played them. Youtube? I've poured myself out into it. Weed? Oh, I've smoked it. Porn? Boy, have I watched it. I WAS my community. I put on such a great mask. My parents didn't even know who I was. And you want to know the worst part? I accepted the fact that I was a loner. Oh, this isn't so bad. My life is fiinnneeeee. Let me tell you when you're the only person who is challenging you or pushing you, life becomes real stagnant. You become numb. And that's where I was for 18 years of my life. Wake up, school, video games, weed, porn, sleep. Is there more to life than this? Is this life, the life Jesus called us to live? By the grace of God, I made it to Ole Miss on an ROTC scholarship, but my walk with Christ didn't stop there.

Chi Alpha was the first and only Christian Ministry to come after me. It's crazy, I was walking to the Rebel market. Shortly after walking into the Quad, Stephanie came up to me asking if I've joined a Christian Ministry yet. The same question I'm sure many of you have received. I said no and filled out the Get Involved form. Now, little did I know the extent Chi Alpha was willing to go to share the Gospel with me. It started with a simple text. "Hey Luke, This is Austin Parker from Chi Alpha!" "Hey, Luke! I'd love to see you are worship tonight. Are you coming?" "What's up, Luke? How's it going?" ... "Wow, these guys are serious" I'd say, but feeling so valued and important at the same time. Understand, I've never experienced the pursuit of another person quite like this. So, I gave Chi Alpha a shot. "Alright, Austin. I'll come try out Core Group." Now it was rocky at the beginning, I'd come to one, miss another, come to worship, then miss core. I was smoking weed with those who lived in my dorm. I was halfway in Chi Alpha and halfway out. Did that stop Austin? NO WAY! He pursued me even more. He listened to me when I explained my struggles. He listened to my questions of doubt and wobbly faith. Chi Alpha was there for me. Chi Alpha showed me a glimpse of what the pursuit of our Father in Heaven is like. Chi Alpha didn't stop pursuing me and neither does Jesus. Fast Foward, I am now a leader in Chi Alpha. I'm marijuana free, and I have a community of brothers and sisters that push me closer to Jesus each and every day. Chi Alpha offered me a place to be vulnerable and real with the Father I love. And how did this happen? By God pouring his love out to me through the sustained community of those in my core group, my leaders, and my brothers and sisters in Christ. They first challenged me to take an active role in my relationship with Christ. I now challenge you tonight in taking that first step in your relationship with Christ: get involved with a core group. Be vulnerable. Be faithful. John 11:25-26 states," Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Take the first step. I, Luke Mayes, am a living testimony of God's saving grace and a direct product of a loving and encouraging community at Chi Alpha.

Luke is one of our strongest leaders in Chi Alpha. He has a huge passion for evangelism and wants to see his peers come to know Jesus like he has. Luke has even done some open air preaching on campus.

Thank you for helping us reach students like Luke!