Natalie’s Story

Welcoming, inviting, and nonjudgmental – “This is what the church should be.” 

For Natalie Points, Abiding Presence is her new church home. She grew up attending a local Methodist church, where she was baptized and sang in church choir. Since high school, however, Natalie has been less active. 

“Abiding Presence really changed my perspective on the church,” Natalie said. “It was immediately so different from what I was used to.”

Natalie found the AP College Internship program through her roommate Peyton Davis, who has been a longtime member of Abiding Presence. Although Natalie is new to Abiding Presence, she said she can definitely see herself staying involved in the future.

“This program has brought me closer to my faith for sure.”

This summer Natalie is working on summer camp, with a focus on helping with the neurodiverse camp in July. Natalie is working as the coordinator for children and families for this camp, as it ties into her minor in Exceptional Education. 

“I think it’s cool that I get to work with children on the spectrum and children with special needs. It ties into my future and my minor!” Natalie said. 

Natalie Points is an incoming senior at James Madison University. She is studying Communication Sciences and Disorders and plans to go to grad school to study speech-language pathology with the goal to become a speech pathologist in a hospital setting.