James is one of our beloved elders. He began visiting Luther House around 2014 during his undergraduate years at the University of New Mexico, and he continues to be an integral part of our community today.

“I am a cradle Lutheran, as they say, and I was expected to visit Luther House in college,” James recalls. “I didn’t know what to expect, but there was free food, so I decided to try it.”

What James found at Luther House was a place to belong. He discovered community and friendship in a world where those can be hard to find. “There aren’t that many places where you can go just to try to get to know other people,” James says. “This campus ministry is somewhere you can go, not spend money, and really get to know people.”

“When I first started coming to Luther House, I didn’t talk much. After becoming more comfortable with the people, I talk a lot more. It has really helped with my social skills.” James remembers fondly the many friendships he has formed at Luther House. “I really like the outings that we go on together,” he recalls. In fact, he met his fiancée after attending a Christmas play with a friend from Luther House. “It’s a great way to make friends and find a community. You never know who you are going to meet,” he says with a loving glimmer in his eye.