By Gerard Flanagan, lead writer and communications specialist, Office of Marketing and Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Kelsey Overall remembers one of her first days on campus at Campbellsville University back in 2021.
As a freshman four hours away from home, Overall admits she was looking for some sort of community at CU when a fellow student walked up and asked her to join a group that was studying a book that focused on developing a deeper walk with Christ.
That simple invitation began Overall’s journey to be more centered in Christ.
“We went through that book that first semester of college, and that just flipped my relationship with the Lord, from being lukewarm to on fire.”
Since that chance encounter, and after three-and-a-half years at CU, Overall has only continued to become more and more encouraged in her faith.
“I was really encouraged by the group of friends I had at first here, and also through ministries like The Vine and Monday Funday and different things like that,” Overall noted. “That really encouraged me to go deeper in my faith. And because of that, I think I became way more centered on Christ, and so I think that really helped me dive deeper.”
For Overall, being centered in Christ being obedient and being in a constant relationship with Him.
“I think being centered in Christ is really just reading your Word daily and spending time with Him daily to where you're growing with Him, and then being obedient to the things that He’s calling you to do daily as well.”
“It’s making yourself available to Him, and keeping your eyes and your ears open for what the Lord wants you to do in those moments, because you never know when those moments will come.”
During her time at CU, Overall has also crossed paths with many people who have led her to become more centered in Christ, including Dr. Twyla Hernandez, a Christian missions professor and director for CU’s Center for Faith and Ministry. Overall has worked at the Center for Faith and Ministry.
“She’s really become someone who's pushed me towards Christ in every aspect of life,” Overall said of Hernandez. “She asked that we pray before and reminds us to pray before every shift at the office, which is so good, and not something that a lot of people think about.
“So having her like lead me towards that simple act is pushing me towards being more centered in Christ and including Him in that everyday thing,” Overall said. “She’s been a huge, huge blessing in my life in that aspect.”
Overall added, “Coming to the University has helped me kind of shape that relationship and refine that relationship with the Lord.”

Kelsey Overall serves as children's minister at Good Hope Baptist Church in Campbellsville. She's pictured with some of the kids she serves.
The Vine would once again play an important role in making Overall more centered in Christ. During Overall’s sophomore year, a speaker at a Vine worship service, who was also an orphan, gave her testimony.
Overall recalls, “I’ve had a really soft heart for foster kids and orphans, so she had shared her testimony, and I like was just wrecked, and so I spent some time just sitting with the Lord after that, and like crying and praying, and all of a sudden I found myself just writing out my prayer, and, it was such an out-of-body experience for me.
“It was a pivotal moment in like knowing where the Lord is leading me.”
That speaker’s testimony inspired Overall to go on a mission trip to a school for orphans in Mexico that was started by CU alum Cameron Talbot.
“Each of those big points of being here at the university and the Lord showing to me different things through each of those has deepened my relationship with Him for me to be able to grow consistently in being centered on Him daily,” Overall said.

Kelsey Overall interacts with children during a mission trip with the CU School of Social Work to Chapala, Mexico.
Overall explained Campbellsville University has allowed her opportunities to grow in her faith.
“Campbellsville is very unique because I’ve had the space to grow in my faith, and the teachers I’m surrounded by and most groups of people I’m surrounded by are Christians and like-minded and are encouraging you.
Yet, Campbellsville University has also opened doors for Overall to share the Gospel as well.
“I’ve had the chance to grow in relationships with people who don’t know the Lord and be able to share the Gospel with them and at least plant seeds in their lives and different scenarios,” Overall shared.
“Campbellsville has been such a unique opportunity of growing in that light, of being equipped to know you can still be sharing the gospel with people who don't know the Lord and also growing at the same rate.”