InterVarsity Christian Fellowship connects college and local Christians – The Middlebury Campus

The transition to college for new students on campus is not always easy, and support from peers with commonalities is invaluable. One club that has made it a priority to build this sort of supportive community for Middlebury students — both on campus and in town — is the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF).
IVCF provides Christians, or those that are curious about Christianity, with an opportunity to gather and attend a myriad of events. This also includes regular Bible studies in specific groups, such as those for first years, athletes, or those who wish to worship in Spanish. 
David Zhao ’27, the incoming treasurer of IVCF, said that the club has had a significant impact on his time at Middlebury. Joining in his first year, Zhao was immediately connected with similarly-minded students, some of whom are now his closest friends at Middlebury. 
Jonathan Buchholz ’27, co-president of IVCF, noted the importance of having a space for new students to practice their faith. 
“For me, it was really good meeting other first years not just in terms of making friends, but also in growing together and seeing that I wasn’t doing it by myself,” Buchholz said. 
Zhao, a member of the Men’s Squash team, also attends the student-athlete Bible study section, which he notes has grown in size significantly over the years. The club also organizes events outside of Bible studies, including bringing in music groups and connecting with other colleges’ Christian communities, such as those at Norwich College and Williams College. 
One notable aspect of the club is the connection it bridges between college students and the Middlebury community at large. Many students who are part of IVCF also attend services at churches in town like Memorial Baptist Church (MBC). Buchholz, who is a member of that congregation, provides transportation for students from the campus to the services to make it easier for them to attend. 
“I think we have tried to do our best to facilitate connections outside of Middlebury. Middlebury is really insular, even just the college itself, because we're in the middle of nowhere, and I think sometimes it can get kind of hard when it feels like the only people you know are the Christians on campus,” Buchholz said. 
“The Christian community in the Middlebury town has helped students feel at home for many years,” Bella Winckler ’27, the current treasurer of  IVCF, said. “The churches in town serve as a great connection point between college students and the Middlebury town community.”
It is not just the Middlebury students who appreciate this connection to the town. The members of MBC who live locally value the youthful energy this relationship provides. 
“There’s a lot of kids who either came up in Christian homes, or they wanted to know more, they wanted to explore their spiritual side,” Laurel Calkins, a Middlebury resident and MBC member said. 
One of the defining features of this community is the host family initiative. For the past few years, students have been matched with families who attend Memorial Baptist Church as a way to help them adjust to college life and form meaningful connections through their worship, according to Calkins, a coordinator for the initiative. 
“A lot of these kids are a pretty long way from home and don’t have the resources to go back and forth very often,” Calkins said. “A lot of times it’s very helpful for kids to have another grown up to talk to … we are never looking to take the place of the family, we are looking to be a supplement.”
Beyond helping with the transition to college life, these host families provide an additional support network that allows students to thrive at Middlebury. They often invite their students over for dinner, out to coffee, or take them along to different activities in Vermont. They also give students a listening ear, offering guidance through Scripture and their own experiences. Some families even help their students with storage over the summer or transportation to and from the airport. 
“The MBC community members I have interacted with are so generous and welcoming, and I appreciate the time and care they put into seeing how we are and doing what they can to help,” Winckler said.
Through tailored Bible study groups, various events, rides to local churches and a supportive host family program, IVCF fosters deep fellowship and meaningful connection among students and the town. 
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