August 2025

This summer, the only university in the world to send students to live and work at the Pacific Garden Mission was Bob Jones University. Four current BJU students — Connor Allen, Levi Scott, Abbie Dwire and RaeAnna Nichols — spent ten weeks on the Pacific Garden Mission campus in the heart of the inner city of Chicago, IL. RaeAnna Nichols, an educational studies major with an emphasis on social work, shares what the Lord taught her through this life-changing, real-world experience.

Alumni Relations: What did you learn during the internship at PGM that surprised you?

RaeAnna: of the biggest takeaways was how unique each person is. Working at a homeless shelter, I initially thought everyone would be there for similar reasons or share comparable stories. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Every individual I met had a distinct story, with different circumstances bringing them through our doors. Some had been homeless for years, while others were reeling from a recent traumatic event that forced them out of their homes. Some were eager to explore faith and learn about Christ, while others were indifferent. This experience showed me that beneath the surface, everyone is remarkably different. We often judge people based on appearances, missing the deeper layers of their lives. It’s tempting to skim through life, seeing only the tip of the iceberg, but there’s so much more to discover. This summer, I would have overlooked countless blessings if I hadn’t learned to look beyond the surface and see people for who they truly are, not just who they appear to be.

Alumni Relations: How did you apply what you’ve been learning in class at BJU to the “hands-on” experience you received this summer?

RaeAnna: This summer, I applied the skills I learned at BJU to engage in meaningful spiritual conversations with both overnight guests and program residents at PGM. At BJU, I learned how to guide deep, gospel-centered discussions and craft structured Bible lessons. These skills proved invaluable, as I had numerous opportunities to teach and dive into difficult conversations. The hands-on experience of teaching allowed me to apply my classroom knowledge in a deeply impactful way. I wouldn’t trade the lessons from my coursework or the experiences I gained this summer for anything in the world.

Alumni Relations: What did the Lord teach you this summer in your spiritual walk with Him that you were not expecting?

RaeAnna: The Lord taught me that true peace doesn’t stem from external circumstances. After completing my internship at PGM, I had a conversation with a close friend who observed, “You seem to have left this summer with a quiet spirit. Would you say that’s true?” Her words gave me pause. A quiet spirit? The environment at PGM was unpredictable, with each day bringing broken, hurting people through our doors. Their pain and struggles were often far beyond my ability to mend, but not beyond God’s. Reflecting on my friend’s comment, I realized she was right — I did leave the summer with a quieter spirit, a deeper sense of peace. This peace didn’t come from stable circumstances, as every day presented new challenges. Instead, it flowed from God’s faithfulness and unchanging character. Throughout the summer’s highs and lows, I was repeatedly confronted with the question: “Do I trust God enough to handle this?” Surrendering those problems and people to Him was sometimes difficult, but through it, I grew tremendously and am deeply grateful for those opportunities to grow.

Alumni Relations: In what ways do you feel the internship prepared you for the next semester of classes? How did it prepare you for your career and calling after graduation?

RaeAnna: This internship equipped me in countless ways for the upcoming semester at BJU, where I’ll serve in dorm leadership. I’m eager to apply what I learned about people to the girls I’ll work with. I discovered that everyone carries unique hurts, challenges a dreams that shape who they are. People are like icebergs—we often see only the tip, missing the depth that makes them who they are. Among the most valuable lessons I learned (though I could say that about every lesson) was the balance of reaching out and letting go. It sounds odd—reaching out only to let go—but this truth took root in week one. Building relationships is vital, but those relationships must be surrendered to God. I can’t change anyone’s heart. I can share Christ’s love, but true change comes from God alone. This was a tough lesson, learned repeatedly as people I ministered to turned away from God and rejected help. It pained me to see so many refuse assistance, but I began to understand what it means to entrust people to the God who holds all things. This lesson, one I’ll likely keep learning lifelong, will guide my future ministry, helping me lean more fully on God’s mercy and faithfulness.

Alumni Relations: What was your expectation before the internship, and what is your reflection looking back on how it went compared to what you thought it would be like?

RaeAnna: Going into my summer at the homeless shelter, my expectation was to have no expectations. That might sound odd, but my prior volunteer work with Miracle Hill Ministries in Greenville taught me to hold plans loosely and be ready for anything. This summer at PGM truly lived up to that mindset. Every day brought something new —unexpected changes or challenges came our way constantly. Each person I worked with was unique, with distinct personalities and struggles. Every conversation demanded a tailored response. Working with overnight guests straight off the streets, I could have twenty wildly different exchanges in a single hour, from “Why is my phone missing?” to “I’m the rightful queen of England, and King Charles talks to me,” to “I’m not sure how salvation works.” (Yes, those all happened within my first couple of hours at PGM.) But I also had incredibly deep conversations with so many people revolving around the gospel and Christ. I’m so grateful for the diverse experiences and conversations that filled my summer. Discernment became my lifeline — knowing when to offer advice, share the gospel, simply listen or hand over a tissue. With every moment and conversation so varied, I constantly turned to God, seeking His wisdom and guidance when I felt out of my depth.

Alumni Relations: Anything else you would like to share or think we should know about your experience at PGM this summer?

RaeAnna: I could fill a book with the experiences at PGM — some moments hilarious, some heart-wrenching, some challenging and others so joyful I wanted to leap up and sing. But at its core, it all comes down to ministry. This summer shattered my rose-colored glasses about ministry. It’s not always fun, rarely easy and often a bumpy road. Yet, I’m deeply grateful for the chance to serve in a place where God is prioritized and I was closely discipled by the staff. Being in an environment where I had to rely solely on God was humbling and deepened my relationship with Him beyond words. Each day reminded me that true growth happens when more of RaeAnna dies, and I’m filled more with Christ — dead to self, alive in Him. At the end of my internship, one of my leaders said the true measure of our success at PGM was how much of ourselves died. That sobering truth hit me hard, reshaping how I view ministry. It’s no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.