Maria Morrison's Student Testimony

On February 20, 2022, Duke senior Maria Morrison gave a Student Testimony during the Chapel’s Sunday morning service. Here are excerpts from it:

Today, I am reaffirming my faith and my commitment to God before leaving the place that brought me so much closer to Him.

I grew up in a fantastic Christian household. When I came to Duke, for the first time I felt really and truly alone. In an effort to find some solace, I eventually started slipping into the Chapel late at night. I would go to the Memorial Chapel, sometimes praying and sometimes just sitting in silence. I didn’t know if it would help, but it gave me time to reflect and reconnect with God. Over time, it brought me peace.On one of those nights, I encountered my favorite Bible verse, in Romans 5, verses 3 and 4: “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Following the trials I went through my first year here, I was able to establish a relationship with God in my own right, not simply because I followed my mom to church.

This Chapel and this congregation have been vital to my growth as a Christian. I am so grateful for the transformations in my life over the past few years, and I attribute them to the hope that my new relationship with God has granted me.

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Originally published in the Spring 2022 issue of Chapel View magazine.