“I will be your God throughout your lifetime until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you.”
Isaiah 46:4
At Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU), spiritual formation is the heartbeat of every effort. Whether in chapel, small groups, or the classroom, God’s presence is evident, and nowhere is that truer than in the story of IWU nursing student Favour Akinniranye.
In high school, Akinniranye dreamed of becoming a nurse. When it came time to choose a college, she narrowed her options to IWU and two other universities. One offered her a full-ride academic scholarship, but Akinniranye felt God calling her to prioritize spiritual formation.
“My Christian faith is the most important part of my life,” she shared. “Even though it didn’t really make sense financially to turn down the scholarship, I knew coming to IWU was the right choice.”
After another visit to IWU’s Marion campus, her decision was clear: IWU felt like home. But soon, her faith would be tested in unexpected ways.
At the start of the spring semester of her freshman year, Akinniranye returned to campus full of excitement. Within weeks, however, she fell ill with both COVID-19 and influenza. After a week-long hospital stay, she came back to campus, only to face another setback a week later. Persistent fatigue, body aches, and fever led to another hospitalization.
“I had a spinal tap, infection screenings, and multiple rounds of testing,” she recalled. “This was all while trying to keep up with schoolwork. I didn’t understand why God would bring me to IWU if I was going to fall behind.”
Doctors eventually diagnosed her with severe pneumonia. With treatment, she recovered, but not without missing nearly a month of classes. Faced with a difficult academic decision, Akinniranye turned to her roots.
Coming from a strong Nigerian family that values education, Akinniranye was unsure how her parents would react to this potential academic setback, but they responded with Christ-like love and support.
“My parents told me they’d support whatever I decided, and my mom kept saying, ‘I have faith,’” she recalled. “In that moment, I felt God’s presence completely. I decided to trust Him fully with my health and academic situation because I couldn’t do anything on my own.”
With support from IWU faculty and staff, Akinniranye completed her coursework, staying on track with her goal of becoming a nurse. Once again, God proved faithful.
Now in her sophomore year, Akinniranye stands more confident than ever in her calling. For her, the Nursing White Coat Ceremony in September was a celebration of God’s grace. At IWU, this milestone officially welcomes students into the School of Nursing as they continue their education.
“Walking across that stage reminded me how far God has brought me and that He sees me. Because of what God brought me through, I know He can do the impossible.”
At IWU, stories like Favour’s remind us that miracles often appear when we surrender completely to the God Who Sees.
Choosing a university is more than an academic decision—it’s a step toward the future God is shaping in you. At IWU, you’ll grow in clinical excellence and spiritual confidence, surrounded by faculty who support your whole journey.
