Pastries

Jake arrived at the University of Colorado Boulder ready for his freshman year. Having completed the International Baccalaureate program in high school, he quickly discovered that he could manage the demands of his coursework in the Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology and Molecular Chemistry departments—and still have time to adjust to college life and enjoy himself. For Jake, that often means baking. He even drafted a proposal for a new club, Pastry Buffs, dedicated to creating pastries.

At the university’s club fair, Jake noticed a table with the word “Bread” on the sign. “I decided that sounded like a good place,” he reflects, “so I walked up and learned about what Bread+Belonging was and how it worked.” When the Pastry Buffs idea didn’t take off, Jake began attending B+B instead and soon grew more involved—bringing his baking talents with him by teaching a crêpe-making class.

In high school, Jake served as President of the Student Advisory Group for his school district. Through his involvement with Bread+Belonging, he has continued to grow as a leader. “In the past, I’ve been a bit of a micromanagement freak,” he admits. “Being on the B+B student leadership team and now serving as Secretary on the Lutheran Campus Ministry Board has helped me learn to trust my peers more.”

Bread+Belonging has also broadened Jake’s understanding of other people and of faith. “Where I came from, faith was not always as open and accepting as I have seen it here,” he explains. “The idea that you could be accepting of someone who is gay and also be Christian was outlandish. Things like that put me off from faith. It was a warm surprise to come to B+B and find that a large number of our members are part of the LGBTQ community—and that this is an integral part of the faith culture of Bread+Belonging.”

Jake hopes to contribute even more to community-building and helping the organization grow. He has already made a meaningful impact. While the LCM-CU Board was crafting its mission, vision, and values this past summer, Jake intentionally represented students who are not religious or who hold mixed experiences with faith. His input helped clarify and strengthen what now guides the ministry.

Thank you for your generosity in supporting Lutheran Campus Ministry at CU Boulder and Bread+Belonging—and for helping create a space where students can grow, discover community, and, like Jake, encounter a faith grounded in welcome, acceptance, and love.