With formal recruitment approaching on many campuses, chapters are preparing to welcome hundreds of young women through their doors, to begin the process of choosing the next pledge class to carry on their legacy. At the same time those same hundreds of young women are preparing to stand on the other side of those doors, hoping to be chosen. For some of those women there is a battle that lies even deeper than choosing the organization that will become their Greek family. There will be some collegiate women who will take a look at the outside appearance of a Greek Organization, the one sided reputation of the Greek system as a whole, and the opinions of others, and choose to not even go through recruitment. I was reminded this week, of when I faced this same struggle, as I noticed the resurfacing of several articles about how Christian Young women should not Go Greek. While I do agree it is difficult at times to maintain a Christian testimony while being apart of a Greek organization, it is no different than any other struggles college students face, while residing on campus. Not only was I able to remain true to my faith while pledging and after initiation, the ideals that I was taught, the responsibilities I was given, and several of the friends I made brought me closer to the Lord.
Several months before recruitment, I knew holding on to your faith while being a Greek was completely possible. I had been introduced to several strong Christians who were in Greek Organizations. As I watched their lives and I had made up my mind that I was going to go through recruitment and find the perfect match for me. However, the closer recruitment came, the more questioning conversations I had with people about whether joining a sorority would be glorifying to God. I allowed these negative opinions to change my mind, and with just a couple of days before rush started I actually decided not to go. The confidence in my decision was broken, covered with doubt of whether I could be a "good christian girl" in a sorority. The opinions of others, and articles online, had convinced me that I could not stay devoted to the Lord, if I was devoted to a sorority, These people said the ethics of Greek Life just didn't line up with Christianity and they always concluded by saying why would you want to pay for your friends anyways.
I went to recruitment on a last minute whim with a friend, I prayed that the Lord would open my eyes to the place he would have me to be or he would shut the door completely. Throughout the week there was only one place that felt like Home to me, and I knew it in my heart. It was sealed in mind where I belonged, when a sweet young woman whispered in my ear, you wont have to change, if you are here, and with her wink, I knew that was it. I had watched this young woman maintain a humbleness and grace since she was in High School and I knew she loved the Lord. Now, knowing the inside outs of how recruitment works, I know she had been strategically placed there by the exec board, to interview me during rush week because we were from the same hometown. However, I truly believe that the Lord placed her at that moment in my life to assure me that that was where I was supposed to be.
I received a bid from my sorority and pledged. Through the 8 weeks of my pledge process I learned about an organization, who had three founders. These founders had 3 ideals, all things I had grown up in church learning about. These were things Jesus had taught. These 3 ideals were laid out in our creed, we memorized about reverencing God as our protector, and guide of us all, and Striving to serve him in all things, and I realized to be the best Phi Mu you could be you really did need to love the Lord and be devoted to Him. That's what I feel like the intentions of the founders really were. So many things that make Phi Mu who she is are biblical, and she would be very different if you took the Lord out of her.
Over the next two years as an active sister I was elected as chaplain and able to share devotions with my chapter during every meeting. I was able to choose the scripture and what I felt like the Lord was laying on my heart to share with them. The Lord used to me to help lead a sorority bible study with several women from several different sororities. I also had the privilege of spending an hour, with 6-10 other Greeks, each week, praying specifically for the Greek community on our campus. The Lord allowed me to be able to share with sisters his hope on multiple occasions and to see 2 sisters be saved. We also saw the Lord bring out laborers for his work in the Greek community over those two years in all 5 sororities, and in 2 of the fraternities on campus.
I didn't have the typical sorority experience. I only went to two fraternity parties with my sisters. I didn't drink, and I was still a virgin, but I was accepted and loved by my sisters. There were times that my sisters didn't understand my convictions, but they respected them. The Lord protected me from a lot of temptation by blessing me with an amazing Big Sister who loved the Lord and completely understood my convictions. She was an amazing sounding board, she reminded me of who i was in God came first and then my commitment to my sorority.
Not being a part of the parties, and an over commitment to other responsibilities made my relationship with my sorority, at times, a strained one. I loved the girls and they loved me but they wanted me to come around more, and looking back I wish I had, but I feel like the Lord had a bigger plan for my life in my sorority.
Two years after pledging, I was dealing with some personal issues, and had to take a second job which pulled me away from my sorority even more. I was heartbroken when i had to make the decision to take a step back, I decided to give up my place in my organization so another young woman could have the experience I had been given, I left my fate as a sister in the hands of my chapter. They could have easily asked me to de-sister, by lack of commitment to my responsibilities for the coming semester, but the Lord worked amazing things in that situation. I was asked to write a letter, and in my letter I was able to share my heart one more time with all 60 girls. I shared the full gospel with them, and how blessed i felt to be apart of something so wonderful. I was given the opportunity to become an Alumnae and to continue to have a relationship with my sisters.
I would not change my experience in a Greek organization for anything, and I think it is a wonderful part of collegiate life, and as an alumnae after college. However, I would caution young women thinking about rush seriously, and to sincerely pray about it before making a decision. The Lord will guide your paths. He will make his will clear to you, and he will protect you. It is very possible to slide away from the Lord in a sorority, but this experience happens on college campuses around the country to students who aren't Greek as well.
What an impact young women can have, if they will make a commitment to the Lord and be the light of Jesus in a place that can be a very hard place to serve. I believe that devoted, solid, Christian women should join Greek organizations, if they have a desire to be apart of one, because the one thing that all sorority girls have in common is that they have a desire to be apart of something bigger than themselves. This desire is a good desire, and essentially it was created by the Lord so that people would look to Him and want to be apart of Him. As Humans we adapt that desire to worldly things, which is not a bad thing, but God is always BIGGER than those worldly things He loves us and wants us to be apart of Him.
Marion Jones of Redeemed Girl Ministries talks about why young women should leave a legacy in their sororities.
Your time on earth is short and your years as a sorority woman are even shorter. You have four brief years to positively influence your sisters’ lives with the good news of Jesus Christ. It is so important to understand that YOU can impact eternity! You can make a difference in your sister’s life by offering her the eternal hope, love, and new life that comes from knowing Jesus personally.
Redeemed girl ministries offers a great resource to young greek women, you can find it here
Those of us who are Greek both Collegiate and Alumni, who love the Lord should encourage those who want to be apart of an organization. We should pray for them, and give them wise council. The impact for Christ would be amazing if more dedicated Christians would serve the Lord and their Greek organizations at the same time. Instead those who are Christian feel they need to hide their faith or tuck it away while they wear their letters. There are so many people who grew up in church who are apart sororities, what an impact the Lord could make with just a few lives who could help shape and mold those who love Jesus, but have never been taught fully how to follow him.
I am making a commitment to pray for Christians who want to go through recruitment this week, that the Lord would show them their Home, and that he would open doors for them to be salt and light to their organization. So that more Greeks can find the true joy that comes in Jesus and can still love their letters. Who will join me.
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