Some stood with both arms lifted firmly to the sky.

Others raised a hand more tentatively, held closely into their bodies.

Still others bowed heads and silently mouthed the words of the Christian song hanging in the air at Conrad Hall.

"I'm forgiven because you were forsaken," the image freezes for a second before moving to the next set of lyrics in the song.

For Julia Hilliker, an agriscience freshman, this was a private moment she could share in a public forum. While she closed her eyes, swayed to the music and brought her arms upward, the words in the song mirrored the thoughts in her head.

About 100 students and community members came together to "Give Jesus a Chance" at the His House Christian Fellowship gathering on Wednesday.

The group advertised for their event weeks in advance, handing out cookies with paper reminders attached, distributing fliers and writing "Give Jesus a Chance" on chalkboards in classrooms all around campus. A live band took the stage to start the event with Christian music.

"This sort of atmosphere is uplifting," Hilliker said. "Being in the presence of other Christians who don't mock you or make fun of you for being a Christian is support for the real world when people do mock and make fun of you."

She said holding her hands in the air is a way for her to convey her love toward God.

The community at His House is important to Hilliker, who said that since coming to college, she's not found a church she feels comfortable attending, but instead she's found a basis for sharing her faith with the student group.

"There was a time in my life when I walked away from God," she said. "But I found religion again, and I'm not going to give it up now."