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As students juggle classes, jobs and stress, many at Weber State University are turning to Christian groups as a pathway to friendships and support in a fast-paced college environment.

In a recent study by Pew Research Center, a national survey found more U.S. adults say religion influences American life now than in years prior.

Chip Rotolo, who wrote the report for the recent study, said the poll found that 18% of adults in the United States felt that religious influence in American life was growing in 2024 — the lowest in two decades. However, a year later, that number jumped to 31%, the highest percentage seen in 15 years.

Rotolo also noted that while older adults have been more likely to express a positive view of religion than young adults, the latest findings show that may be shifting.

“Between 2024 and 2025, nearly all large U.S. religious groups have become more likely to say religion is gaining influence,” Rotolo said.

At Weber State, Christian student groups say the trend isn’t just about faith but also about finding community.

Karmyn Fernandez, a member of Weber State’s InterVarsity chapter, said she joined InterVarsity in hopes of joining a community.

InterVarsity is a Christian fellowship with chapters on college campuses nationwide. Along with Bible studies and small groups, the student ministry incorporates games, activities and weekly gatherings into its programming.

“I didn’t feel like I really knew who I was,” Fernandez said. “The only thing I would ever do was pray, which is weird because I didn’t go to church, I didn’t do anything, read the Bible, anything like that.”

Fernandez said connecting with InterVarsity helped her build a sense of community that can’t be found elsewhere on campus.

“I think just practicing your faith is also just so different from other clubs in general,” she said. “You don’t really have that kind of community when you’re in other clubs.”

She said the group’s focus on vulnerability and shared faith has helped her form close relationships.

“You get into these intimate friendships and relationships very fast,” Fernandez said. “Being able to share who you are, what’s going on in your lives, hear about other people’s lives and then just getting to know tons of new people each year.”

That sense of community is echoed among students involved in other Christian groups on campus.

“I’ve grown up Catholic all my life,” Eli Bravo said, who attended the Bible study on Wednesday night. “But the last two years, I really wanted to get deeper in my faith.”

Bravo attends the Newman Center, a Catholic campus ministry at Weber State. Every Wednesday, students can meet there to pray, study the Bible with the local priest or connect with other students who share their faith.

“I’ve felt like here in the state of Utah, the Catholic population is super big,” Bravo said. “Having the space where I can meet with people around my same age and discuss the shared faith that we have and help each other become close to Christ is a pretty big motivation why I’m coming here.”

Many students like Bravo say these meetings help them navigate questions about identity, pressure and belonging.

During a Wednesday night Bible study on Nov. 12, 2025, students sat in chairs and couches around a table eating pizza as the priest guided them through a reading. Throughout the discussion, he paused to ask questions about faith, morals and problem solving.

Wes Sowelo, who attended that Wednesday night Bible study, said meetings like this help him to dig deeper into his beliefs. At the end of Bible studies, the priest gives students a challenge for the week where they apply lessons from the reading into their daily lives.

“Coming here and really trying to explore and expand, especially understanding now that there are other people on campus that are experiencing what I’m kind of going through, is great to know that we’re all not perfect and we’re all not struggling alone,” Sowolo said. “I feel like that lack, with the youth, of knowing that you’re not alone, is what drives people away from religion because everybody thinks there’s not that much aspect of actually socially interacting with people.”

To reach more students, some groups have taken their efforts to social media.

Jonah Isom, who regularly attended institute classes for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on campus before its renovation, said they have begun posting entertaining content and event announcements to attract more students.

“We’ve definitely seen a huge increase in followers and engagement in our social media,” Isom said. “And I think that’s been drawing more people.”

Before the temporary closing of the Institute of Religion building, Isom said the Institute’s attendance surged on Tuesday nights, when multiple classes run at once and hundreds of students gather. He added that many come with friends, stay for food afterward and take part in rotating activities such as swing dancing, line dancing or other group events.

Along with entertaining activities, Isom said connecting to faith on campus gives students a sense of relief between their busy schedules.

“It gives me a clearer mind in some of the aspects,” Isom said. “I really find it beneficial. I think a lot of people feel the same way, which is why they’re willing to take time out of their busy days to go because they can feel that spiritual boost that it’s giving them, which benefits them in really every aspect of their life.”