Sarah’s Story

Sarah Holt has always loved Abiding Presence.

Sarah has been an active member here since fifth grade and has always loved being a part of this vibrant community. 

“I loved coming to Sunday school, I would beg my parents to take me because I loved the people,” Sarah shared. “I just liked being physically in the church with the people here. But faith wasn’t a huge part of it.”

For Sarah, the church was a place where she made friends and built relationships, but not necessarily a place for her to strengthen her faith. 

After Covid, however, something changed. After graduating high school in 2021, Sarah started as a college-age intern for the summer. Sarah cites devotions as one of the most formative parts of this experience over the past few summers. 

“With doing morning devotions and faith formation, I feel closer to people here because I can see God working through their lives and my own life,” Sarah shared. “When something bad or even good happens to each of us, we want to celebrate with those people or help them grieve.”

Even during the year when Sarah is away at school, she says she still feels deeply connected to her community here. 

“Even when I’m not physically at this church, I’m still very connected,” Sarah said. “The faith never has to go away just because we’re not here.”

This fall, Sarah will be a junior at the University of Mary Washington studying International Relations and minoring in German.