One Brother’s Faith Journey Makes an Impact

The following story is reprinted from the Greek InterVarsity National Update, April 25, 2026.

Nathan Blied Greek IV article

The Best Four Years

“College is the best four years of your life,” is a common refrain. It’s usually meant to emphasize the unique opportunity and freedom that college offers before assuming the life’s larger responsibilities, or “adulting,” as they say. What is often heard, though, is college is your one chance to do whatever you want so live it up.

This was the message Nathan heard entering school at Purdue University. And what better way to do so than to join a fraternity, which Nathan did by joining Sigma Chi. While Nathan grew up as a Christian, he didn’t understand what faith meant for his day-to-day life and questioned the need to invest in it. To him, it seemed like those doing so were missing out.

Sig Bible study with Nathan Blied

Brothers participating in weekly Bible study at Delta Delta.

“At the end of the day, I believed I was forgiven, but I never understood why people took faith so seriously.”
– Nathan, Sigma Chi, Purdue University –

All that began to change when he took on an unexpected leadership position as the fraternity chaplain.

Feeling the need to make something of the position, Nathan decided to start a Bible study. For the first time in years, he opened his Bible and realized that it had a lot to say about the way we live our lives. Yet, he also wasn’t very eager to change his lifestyle.

That’s when Nathan received a text from Lauren, the Greek InterVarsity Staff at Purdue, inviting him to their leader gathering. Feeling obliged, Nathan hesitantly said yes. At the gathering, Nathan sat down with 40 other students leading ministry in their fraternities and sororities and listened to them sharing their struggles and successes in pursuit of following Jesus and leading.

In that moment, what struck Nathan was that their faith really mattered to them. It was there that he decided to take his faith seriously. From there, Nathan’s life began to change as he realigned every aspect of his life and leadership with his faith.

“I realized that everything should be centered on Jesus. I began asking myself what my relationship with women, parties, success and more should be in light of my faith.”
– Nathan –

As it turns out, Nathan’s decision to follow Jesus with his whole life not only changed his but also his friends’ and fraternity as well.

Nathan Blied Sigma Chi at Purdue

Nathan Blied ’27

Not only did more guys start attending the Bible study but they began having conversations outside of the study as well. It became common for guys to stand up in front of 100+ brothers at their weekly chapter meeting to share about the study and the impact it was having on their life. This spring, 15 guys decided to forgo the traditional spring break to go on an international mission trip together. See Sigs Serve Others in Highlands of Guatemala.  Four of those guys made decisions to follow Jesus. An impact that Nathan never even thought was possible.

 “[Following Jesus with your whole life] is an easy decision to make but a hard one to live. Yet, I don’t know what my time could be better spent doing.”
– Nathan –

Nathan came to college thinking they were going to be the best four years of his life. Yet, because of the transformation Jesus brought in his life, those four years were exceedingly better both for him and everyone around him.

Complete Interview

To see the complete Greek IV interview with Nathan, go to

Nathan, Sigma Chi at Purdue University | Videos & Movies on Vimeo

3 Responses to “One Brother’s Faith Journey Makes an Impact”

Steve Ulbrich 1979

Very encouraging. The Holy Spirit at work at the house and on campus. Thanks for sharing .

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Mike Espenlaub 1977

That is quite a story, especially the part about them going on a mission trip versus the traditional spring break—thank you for sharing this —I found it very inspirational and encouraging

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Steve Cosler 1977

If you have the time, listen to the interview with Nathan Blied–I had lunch with him back in February–he is a tremendous young man. Proud to be a Sig!

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