It has been such a joy to watch Mara grow over the past couple of years. She brings a unique perspective to everything she does, and her insight is truly valued. Mara has been an outstanding president and intern, showing strong leadership and dedication. I am excited to see what the future holds for her and how she will continue to make a positive impact. – Hannah Pankratz (RC Director at Kansas State University)
When did you come to Christ as Lord and Savior, and how did that come about?
It was a journey for me. I grew up going to church and looked to my mom as my Biblical mentor. I gradually became more interested in reading the Bible and following Jesus’ example as I went through middle school and high school, but it wasn’t until college where I really took ownership of my faith. I transferred to K-State during my undergrad and was introduced to Ratio Christi in my second year. Joining the club and meeting the members was eye-opening for me. I didn’t realize such a cohort existed, and I loved that everyone had a common goal of approaching the Word intellectually.
I can’t remember a time where I didn’t have a desire to follow Christ, but I made it official by finally getting baptized in the fall of 2025.
In your high school church youth group, how much did you learn about the Christian faith and reasons to believe?
My youth group was more of a Bible study than anything. We spent about equal time in Bible study and unrelated fun activities. We would learn a lesson from the leader, then discuss the passage and/or topic within smaller groups. Often times, there would be life application questions, but we really didn’t learn about how to live our faith in day-to-day life. The scenarios always seemed so contrived to me, not practical. We certainly didn’t learn how to defend the faith or rationalize why we believe what we believe. I don’t think I even heard the term “apologetics” until college.
How did you become interested in apologetics, and how did you get involved with Ratio Christi?
I was always intrigued by apologetics; I just didn’t have a term for it. Ratio Christi is really where I started to understand what apologetics is. The chapter’s Vice President at the time was serving on the worship team with me and we struck up a conversation about philosophy/theology/mathematics. She mentioned that she was part of a club she thought I’d be interested in. I showed up to a meeting and felt like I ‘d found my people!
What impact has the Ratio Christi College Prep ministry had on your walk with God and your personal ministry?
I’ve learned a lot about my faith and how to talk to people about it. There are so many questions we tackle in the club that I wouldn’t have thought to ask. Ratio Christi has definitely equipped me to discuss my faith with students and helped me feel so much more confident in those conversations. Learning about God from this angle has also increased my awe of Him as a highly intentional being.
What is this RC chapter like?
This RC chapter has looked a few different ways over the years, but we’ve always been student focused and student driven. We have members coming from a range of religious backgrounds and a range of experience with apologetics, so it’s fun that we are able to bring our experiences to the club and grow together.
What were some of your favorite areas of involvement with your local RCCP chapter?
I’ve found the most fulfillment in our whiteboard evangelizing. Getting to know students on campus and see that they have a genuine curiosity about deep questions has been a gamechanger for me in how I approach questions of Christianity with others.
What does the your Legatus Christi award mean to you?
It’s an honor to be recognized. I’m a small part of our RC community and I’m glad I’ve been able to continue to be a part of such an amazing group of intellectuals for so many years!
How do you envision taking the apologetics you have learned through Ratio Christi into your future endeavors?
I want to continue having conversations with people and becoming a better apologist.
What are your short and long-term career/ministry/mission plans?
While I don’t plan on going into a career in ministry or being a missionary, I want to always be serving in my local church and evangelizing. The beauty of having apologetics skills is that I can apply them anywhere and everywhere. In addition to looking for ways to apply them today, I look forward to taking them into my future career.
Would you consider coming back to work with your RC chapter, starting one at another school, or working with RC in any other capacity?
Absolutely to all of those! RC has opened my mind so much that I want to help other students experience that as well.
What would you say to other students who might be considering getting involved in Ratio Christi, whether they be skeptics, seekers, or believers?
Give it a shot! You will be surprised how much you learn, how welcoming everyone is, and (for the skeptics) that there are good reasons to be Christian.