Testimonials

"What can I say to summarize my time in GCF? In GCF I've found true lifelong friends who I've traveled the world with, faced true hardships alongside, and made incredible memories with. GCF friends stood with me as my groomsmen as I married my best friend that I met in GCF. This is a group that will both challenge you to have a relationship with God that brings you deeper and close to Him, and a group that will all wear costumes as we try to solve a murder mystery game. I truly loved my time in GCF. 10/10 would recommend to a friend."

-Benjamin Cromey, PhD in Optical Sciences, 2020

"Being a part of GCF was one of the best parts of my graduate school experience, and I can hardly begin to express how much this group means to me. Throughout my graduate studies, GCF has been a supportive, encouraging, and loving community. This is a community that loves to do life together, and really embodies the spirit of Christian fellowship. I love that we challenge each other to dive deep into scripture, to apply theological truths to our studies and our lives, and to learn from each other in our diverse community. I felt welcome from day one, and am so blessed that I was able to grow and serve with this group during my PhD studies."

-Amy Schott, PhD in Anthropology, 2019

"I’m so thankful to have been part of GCF throughout grad school. It’s a loving and fun group of students who have truly become some of my best friends. GCF does many different activities, so even though I’m not into hiking or sports, there were still lots of opportunities to connect with people. We all understand that grad school can be super busy, so students are always welcomed in whether they attend every weekly activity, or can only come once a semester. I’ve loved my time in GCF and would recommend it to any grad student looking to grow their faith and friendships."

-Clara Cromey, Masters in Computer Science, 2018

“GCF was a critical part of my enrichment during grad school in all forms- spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual. I have never before been part of such a diverse group of believers, and I am so grateful for the things I learned and the friends I made there.”

–David Sommitz, Masters in Optical Sciences, 2018

“GCF is a great example of how Christians should support each other and stay focused on their mission of being a light in their community and workplace. Graduate school is tough and one important skill learned during it is how to handle failure. GCF puts graduate school into perspective by encouraging Christians to not be placing their hope solely in their academic success, but in God and in His mission of reaching the academic community. GCF was truly a blessing during my PhD!”

-Jeffrey Brown, PhD in Optical Sciences, 2016

“GCF was one of the very best parts of my six-year graduate school experience at UofA. Through GCF I developed very deep friendships, as well as a network of brothers and sisters in Christ from across the university, that were both a source of encouragement and of inspiration in my life. My favorite parts included the 24-hour retreats, sharing meals together every week, and meeting to pray with other Christians in my department. Some of the things I grew in based on challenges received in GCF were the discipline of praying for my colleagues, the confidence to be curious about other people, and the awareness of how God can use His people within academia. It’s often true that you get out of an experience what you are willing to put in to it. I love how members of GCF serve and love on each other – from helping each other move to organizing hikes and camping trips, and from cooking for each other to praying for each other, it is an amazing community to be plugged in to during a stressful period of life! Even during the most crazy semesters of my program, making it a priority to gather with the GCF community regularly for large group on Friday nights and for a Bible study some other night was an excellent choice that never failed to bless!”

– Tova Brown, PhD in Mathematics, 2016