When Zac arrived in the U.S. in 2022 to pursue a marketing degree, he was immediately overwhelmed. Coming from England, he was struck by how vast everything seemed and how far apart places were.
“I thought, what have I come to?” he recalled.
Adjusting to life on his own proved difficult, and he deeply missed his family.
Thankfully, Zac connected with Steve Amstutz, an IFI Peoria volunteer, on his very first day in the States. The two quickly became friends, and from that moment on, IFI played a vital role in Zac’s journey.
“IFI helped me more times than I could ever count!” Zac said. “I loved every moment with them– their amazing events, the dinners, the grocery rides, and the help they gave me to connect better with others.”
But one of the biggest impacts IFI had on Zac was in his faith journey. Though he had attended church before coming to the U.S., he had never fully understood what it meant to follow Jesus and have a relationship with him.
“I didn’t really understand and never took it seriously,” Zac shared. “I first properly heard about Jesus in my first semester, and it took me a year to start following him.”
In October 2023, through various conversations and Bible discussions with Jim Hanes, IFI Peoria Area Leader, he decided to follow Christ. Even when he returned to England, he and Jim continued meeting online to read and discuss the Bible. With the support of IFI staff and volunteers, Zac took the next step in his faith and was baptized on December 1, 2024.
For the two years he was here, IFI walked alongside Zac, helping him grow in his faith, find community, and become more confident. Looking back, he is deeply grateful for the friendships and guidance that shaped his journey.