By Autumn Dominique | Contributor
At a Panera Bread on Dec. 4, 2016, freshman Elizabeth Carrier officially became a Christian. This decision made her the only believer in her family. While many people around the world find themselves as the only Christian in their household, they usually do not receive support from their family. A rare find, Carrier's parents fully supported her new-found faith.
Carrier had been going to church for a few weeks and soon found herself asking a lot of questions about Christianity. With the help of her Christian friends, she made the decision to become a Christian herself. She prayed the sinner's prayer at a table in a Panera Bread with one of her friends, officially becoming a believer.
On the same day that she became a true believer, Carrier eagerly told her parents the news. Rather than being happy or upset about her new faith, they seemed indifferent.
"I'd been going to church for a few weeks so they weren't surprised, but I also don't think they took it very seriously," Carrier said. She assumed that her parents thought it would only be a phase.
Once some time had passed, it became clear to her family that it was more than just a phase. She was serious about her new faith, and it was not something she would be abandoning. After realizing that her faith was real, her parents supported her, despite not being Christians themselves.
Not only did they support her in her faith, but they also pushed her to continue growing as a Christian. Carrier said that, on days when she did not want to get up for church, her dad would tell her that she needed to go and would not let her skip.
When the time came around for applying to colleges, Carrier decided to apply to Taylor University. This is where she felt God calling her to attend.
Her parents continued to support her, though her mother did ask if she was sure about going to a Christian college. She thought Carrier would have more fun in a public college and was worried about her daughter being bored at a Christian school. Carrier chose Taylor, assuring her mother that it was the right choice.
Although Carrier is lonely as the only believer in her family, the support she has received has made things a little easier. She hopes that God will use her to work in her family members' lives and help them become Christians as well.
