Lauren Jaski

Lauren Jaski

Cape Fear Community College Graduate with Associates Degree

Hopeful UNCW Class of 2019

Current Worship Leader at The Bridge Church

Current member of Ratio Christi

Current member of Intentional College Study

Soon to be co-leader of Intentional High School Study

If I could describe Lauren in a sentence or two, I would say that she is leagues ahead of the women her age in maturity and ferver for the Lord. It has been my privilege to know, disciple, and learn from her.

"I was introduced to Ratio through my dad, Tom Jaski, who is the chapter director over four high school Ratio Christi clubs. I go to Ratio because the older I get, the more I realize that there is so much I don't know about my beliefs. I grew up in a Christian home, so I knew the "right answers" and, for a long time, just accepted them as they are without much digging of my own.

Ratio provides a great community where I can examine my beliefs and those of others objectively and build good arguments for the truths I claim. I've really enjoyed and learned a lot this past year from listening to the speakers Lexi, Grant, and Aaron invited to the UNCW chapter. We've hosted many who have talked about a wide spectrum of religious beliefs, from Catholicism to Islam and other world views. It has helped me better understand how to have conversations with others who hold those beliefs, and has even challenged me to have better answers for my own. I want to be equipped to share the gospel well and to talk about social issues with others with good answers rooted in biblical truth.

I got involved with intentional after meeting Lexi through Ratio Christi as a member and, later, the Vice President. Intentional has played a big part in my spiritual growth over the past year. One of the highlights of my week is getting to gather with the ladies of Intentional in Lexi's apartment, just drinking tea, catching up and talking about life, and digging into the Word to discuss challenging and important topics. It's been beautiful to see the community and spiritual growth that has formed because it.

This past year, through our discussion on relationships and singleness, I have really learned what a gospel centered dating/marriage relationship should look like and how to pursue the Lord and serve him during seasons of singleness.

I am in a smaller weekly accountability group with Lexi and two other girls from Ratio and Intentional. We meet once a week at PCJ on campus. We choose a book or sermon series to go through together and discuss it for the first half hour. Then we each updated one another on how our weeks have been: all the low and high points. We each set goals and commitments weekly that we want to be held accountable to, whether that's reading through a few chapters of Psalms, serving a friend or family member better next week, or making a point to pray for someone daily. After setting these goals, the next week we ask how for an update on how things went and what else we want to be held accountable for. Then we share what we want the others to be praying for. It's a time of complete vulnerability. It's really awesome to have women who will text you through the week and ask how your week is going and to know they are praying for you. They care about my relationship with the Lord enough to be truthful and call me out on areas where I'm not honoring Him. This has really grown and stretched me to be more intentional in how I spend my time and in my walk with God. It's super easy to become distracted from things that matter, and accountability group helps me keep my eyes fixed on Him. It has also provided sweet and dear new friendships.

So, to those thinking about partnering with Grant and Lexi, I have to say, they have a genuine love for the Lord and heart for people and ministry. I've learned so much from watching them over the past year in leadership in Ratio and Intentional and I'm so encouraged by how they put the Gospel on display through their marriage. Lexi has been a great friend to me and role model. She is a great truth-speaker and encourager. This couple is the real deal.