July 2025 - It's Time! New Year, New Campus, New Students!

 Hello Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors, and Faithful Partners! 

Thank you SO much for taking the time to read this. Knowing that God has given me a team of people who are praying for me and for the UT Arlington campus brings me so much gratitude and peace. Truly, when I think of each of you, I feel humbled and awestruck, wondering "God, why are you so good to me?!" 

So, thank you each for being a reminder of God's loving kindness to me. 

It's Time!

The 2025-2026 school year is upon us! 

That means around 5,000 first-time college students will be stepping foot onto campus. An expansive campus, full of new faces, new opportunities, and new challenges. These new students are brimming with emotions:

Excitement. 

Curiosity. 

Anticipation.

But also, questions and uncertainty. 

"Will I find friends?"

"Will I 'fit in' here?" 

"What will it be like living away from my family?"

"What will my life be like here in college? With this fresh start, who will I become?"

It's a world of possibilities, infinite potential trajectories that these students can start heading down.

And in regard to some of those questions and feelings that incoming students are facing, I can relate.

After 4 years of being at UNT as a college student and 2 years of working as a campus minister at Dallas College, this will be my first year at UT Arlington.

I know God will be faithful. I have experienced it year after year of campus ministry. Every year He brings students onto our path that are hurting, searching, questioning, longing and every year He brings about transformation in their lives. 

But with two weeks left before this school year starts, I can't help but wonder with eager anticipation - who will those students be this year? What are their stories? How will I see God's healing hand move in their life?

I cannot wait to see how God works.

Can you be praying that God will bring students onto our path who are hungry for Him? Sometimes the students realize they are hungry for Jesus, but often they do not realize it yet until they begin to get a taste of His goodness and become integrated into community!

Like the incoming freshmen, I am facing similar questions about my place in the new environment.  How will I fit in on this campus and our team of campus ministers at this campus, as well as within the greater Arlington community. I have thought a lot about Paul's metaphor of the "body of Christ" in 1 Corinthians 12, remembering that God has placed every part of the body for a unique purpose and function. Can you be praying that I will boldly embrace my role within this community in Arlington? I do not want to fall into comparison with other parts of the body, but to be who God has made and commissioned me to be. 

So here we go! A new school year, a new campus, and thousands upon thousands of new students! Stay tuned for more updates about what God is doing on campus! 

Fundraising Update

With the school year approaching, my fundraising season is coming to a close. I have about $325/month left to raise. If every ministry partner reading this increased by $10/month or joined for the first time at $10/month, I would reach that goal! 

If you'd like to donate, you can do so at this link: https://web.charityengine.net/VeronicaZachariah

I am always open to being connected with new people as well. If you know anyone who might be excited about the work I am doing on campus, please feel free to connect us! 

Photo Updates from this Month!

I was part of a book club reading Dallas Willard's "Renovation of the Heart" - a powerful book reflecting on God's power to bring about real transformation in our hearts and lives.

Summer brings more flexibility in my schedule, getting to connect with people I don't see as often during the school year. This is Tania, a campus missionary at Collin College. I felt so encouraged and filled up by our time together, reflecting on ministry, friendship, and rest.

One of my favorite parts of ministry is being in the kitchen, cooking and doing life together!

We had a conference for our students who will be stepping up as leaders in our ministry this upcoming year, volunteering 15-20 hours of their week to evangelize, disciple, and lead Bible studies among their peers. It's a huge commitment; I am so proud of each and every one of them!

I reconnected with a friend from college, Sophia, and she came over and went to church with me - we ended up matching outfits unintentionally! With my recent move to Arlington, we now live near each other again; I am thankful for how God weaves our stories in unexpected ways.

My husband Kazayet and I celebrated our mom's 60th birthday with some Nigerian-style praise and worship for God's faithfulness.

Kazayet and I celebrated 2 years of marriage! 

Thank you for reading! Love you guys!

Veronica Zachariah

University of Texas at Arlington Campus Missionary

veronica.zachariah@anyfocus.org | (817) 966-9664