Attending a Christian university with different religious backgrounds is not for everyone. For some, like Rikuto Towata, Elif Akcivi and Jana Krstic, their decision was based on athletics. For others, like Ihssane Damoh and Miyuki Yamaguchi, it was about academic opportunities. Even though they have different religions and backgrounds, they all adapted to a university life where Christianity is dominant.
Rikuto Towata is from Japan, and he was brought to Campbellsville University to play tennis. Towata was raised in a non-religious family, where he wasn’t familiar with Christianity. However, his passion for tennis was more powerful than his concerns about coming to a religious environment.
“My family and I have no particular faith. This is normal in Japan,” Towata said. “As a non-believer, I was very worried about the fact that I was not a Christian before I enrolled in a Christian university. But I was a little excited because I had never been in a church in my life.”
Even though Towata’s focus was tennis, his experience at CU opened his mind to learn about a new religious environment. His experience has shaped him, allowing him to think from different perspectives, the opportunity to learn and grow in a different environment, and another understanding of the world.
“I think I gained a special experience here that I couldn’t have had at a university in Japan,” Towata said. “Now I’m able to think about things from a broader perspective.”
While Towata’s experience was more focused on his passion for tennis and learning in a new religious environment, Elif Akcivi’s journey was also focused on athletics, specifically volleyball. Similar to Towata, Akcivi was focused on the chance to continue her athletic career, but her religious practices and the challenges she faced in a Christian environment as a Muslim brought some different experiences.
“I attend respectfully and try to focus on the universal messages of kindness, community and personal growth,” Akcivi said. “While I don’t participate in prayers or rituals, I see these activities as a chance to learn and reflect. Most people are respectful and don’t make assumptions, but on the rare occasion when they do, I usually just explain my perspective briefly. Overall, I try to focus on shared values rather than differences.”
Akcivi saw this as an opportunity to meet new people, learn about a different religion and grow through the experiences. Even though she had initial concerns, Akcivi has participated in different religious activities with respect. She goes to the chapel services and Bible studies but doesn’t participate in the prayers or rituals.
“I haven’t felt excluded because of my faith,” Akcivi said. “When I decided to come here, I knew I was attending a Christian university, so I was prepared for the environment and the emphasis on Christian practices. Most people have been respectful, and I’ve found that focusing on shared values helps create a sense of inclusion.”
Looking back at her decision, she is happy and feels like she has grown as a person, athlete, and academically through this experience. This has shaped her future by developing a connection to the community and diverse religions that will continue to shape her life.
Ihssane Damoh, a Muslim student who came to CU for academic reasons, knew that CU was a Christian university, but she didn’t know how this experience would impact her.
“I come from a Muslim background and hold strongly to my faith and its teachings,” Damoh said. “This university stood out for its academic offerings, as well as the welcoming atmosphere I experienced during the admissions process.”
At first, she was mainly concerned about whether she would be able to practice her faith in comfort at a university where Christianity was the primary environment. Damoh had a general understanding of Christianity through what she learned in school, from friends and from interfaith discussions. She was aware of major practices like attending church, celebrating Christmas and Easter, and the concept of Jesus’s role in Christianity. However, she learned much more about the depth and diversity of Christian beliefs since coming here.
Damoh said the university has made efforts to create space for diverse religious identities even though the Muslim community here is a minority.
“The cafeteria listened to our request to include Halal options on the menu,” she said. “And The Bridge to Success house made special arrangements for us during Ramadan—a sacred month where we fast from sunrise to sunset. They provided us with a schedule that allowed us access to our own space to cook and prepare meals after breaking our fast. This thoughtful accommodation ensured we could observe our religious practices comfortably, and it really highlighted how the university is willing to go the extra mile to support students of all backgrounds.”
As Damoh found her space to share and practice her faith in a Christian University, her experience matches Miyuki Yamaguchi’s journey, who also decided to attend CU because of academics. Yamaguchi faced the challenges of getting used to a new cultural environment, but her journey was shaped by the curiosity of learning about Christianity.
Yamaguchi, a student from Japan, came to CU because of its ESL classes. She was raised in a Buddhist household, and before coming here, she was unfamiliar with the culture and environment but thought this was a good opportunity to learn from a world a lot different from hers.
“I expected to gain a better understanding of a culture I did not know,” she said. “At first, I was confused with the integration of Christian topics in non-religious classes. I have never felt excluded or left out, but there have been times when I couldn’t participate or understand group conversations.”
Yamaguchi advises other students with different religious backgrounds to consider attending a Christian university and take the opportunity to learn and grow as a person.
“This university has given me experiences and knowledge that I could not have had at any other university,” she said. “I think it’s getting easier for me to communicate with friends from other countries or those who have different beliefs. I’ve grown more knowledgeable because of this experience.”
Following Yamaguchi’s journey of cultural curiosity, Jana Krstic came to CU with a different perspective. Krstic, from Serbia, comes from an Orthodox Christian background. She was familiar with Christianity but realized her faith was different from most of the campus. Krstic was offered a volleyball scholarship to come to CU and pursue her athletic and academic goals.
“I wasn’t sure how much Christianity would be integrated into daily life here, but I was open to seeing how it would impact my experience,” Krstic said.
She participates in chapel services and Bible studies but keeps her own Orthodox beliefs. She has found that students and faculty are curious about her religious background rather than make assumptions. She has always felt respected and appreciates the moments when people show interest in knowing about her faith, even though there are similarities, there’s always room for learning and understanding.
“Being in this environment has strengthened my understanding of my own beliefs while also allowing me to respect and learn about others,” Krstic said. “I’ve met people from other religions and had great conversations with them.”
Krstic is one of many students at CU who have a different religious background and has managed a way to navigate through this experience in a Christian environment. Respect and understanding are two keywords to describe her experience at CU. She hopes to get much more out of it and keep learning about other people.
“I’ve met people from other religions and had great conversations with them,” she said. “This experience has helped me become more confident in my identity while also respecting the diversity of religious perspectives around me.”
