Freshman grateful to be studying at Liberty after life-threatening health scare earlier this year

Seven months before 18-year-old Christian Hodges stepped on Liberty University’s campus as a college freshman, he battled a medical emergency that very well could have taken his life.

In January, Hodges was living his life as a normal high school senior in Millsboro, Del., and preparing to travel with his classmates on a mission trip to Jamaica. A few days before the trip, he began battling extreme fatigue. This continued up until the night before the trip, when his mother decided that he would have to stay home. Only a couple days after he was supposed to leave, his family found him unresponsive and rushed him to the hospital. After the results of a CAT Scan, MRI, and spinal tap were inconclusive, Hodges was transferred to Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Del. An EEG revealed that his brain was swelling, with the doctors eventually concluding that he had viral encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain caused by a virus. In Hodges’ case, the type of virus and how he contracted it remains unknown.

Hodges was in the hospital for nine days, six of which he spent in a coma. He considers waking up on the seventh day to be an answer to the prayers of his family and friends.

On the eighth day of his stay, Hodges was trying to watch a basketball game on television but couldn’t because of his brain fog. He attempted to read his Bible.

“I remember looking at the page. I couldn’t focus on it and I didn’t know what the words were saying. Looking at it gave me a headache. But after I looked at the page, I remember crying out to God two words, the only two words I could find the strength to mutter: ‘I surrender.’ I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the next day after I muttered those two words, I was released from the hospital.”

Hodges went home without any real answers to why he had been sick. And despite all of the different remedies that doctors tried, he said prayer made the difference.

“The only thing that healed me was the prayer,” he said. “People kept praying and God kept listening and answering. I credit my healing to God 100 percent. I don’t think I would be here if it wasn’t for God. I’m fully convinced that if He didn’t love me, He wouldn’t heal me. The good news is if He loves me, there’s no reason to believe he doesn’t love anyone else here on earth or He wouldn’t do the same thing for them if they would just surrender and cry out to Him in prayer and commit it to Him.”

Two days later, Hodges began his final semester at Delmarva Christian High School determined to graduate in the spring and attend college. Facing immediate roadblocks due to residual symptoms, Hodges struggled to keep up with his assignments. It took him a whole month to write the thesis statement for his senior thesis project, but Hodges persisted. After gathering all of the information and interviews he needed, Hodges had a 70-page paper. He continued to add to the paper and even self-published the finished work, “America, Don’t Give Up,” on June 29, one day before his 18th birthday.

Since then, Hodges has spoken at several events, such as church youth groups, to share his testimony and the incredible healing power of God.

Hodges recalled initially struggling to understand why God healed him when others in similar situations were not healed, but later finding peace.

“Now I see that I’m here for Him, I’m here to share the story, and testify what He has done in my life and to glorify Him,” Hodges said.

Ever since visiting campus for the first time with his sister during College For A Weekend (CFAW), Hodges had a desire to attend Liberty. He said he admires the school’s ability to remain debt free and still boast high-quality facilities and a beautiful campus. He also deeply resonated with university founder Dr. Jerry Falwell’s vision of Training Champions for Christ.

Hodges is studying finance at Liberty but said he hopes to someday work in politics, whether that is running for state legislature or working in the White House. He has a desire to stand for freedom of speech and is also considering launching a Gen Z media group in which politicians can reach members of the younger population and keep them engaged. He has previously spoken several times on Fox News for a Gen Z voter panel.

He said he is inspired by Falwell’s mission to change the world for the Gospel.

“If we look through the lens of Christ into politics, how much change can we make?” Hodges said. “How much of an impact and wave can we make in politics if we’re all on the same page, all with the same purpose and same mission of being a Champion for Christ ourselves but Training Champions after us. If Jerry Falwell Sr. just said, ‘I’m a Champion for Christ,’ and he just left it there, Liberty wouldn’t be alive today. But he said, ‘I want to Train Champions for Christ,’ because, ultimately Rev. Falwell understood that our nation’s future is dependent on each generation championing their surroundings for Christ.”

As Hodges looks to change the world verbally and through his writings, he recognizes the irony that less than a year ago, he could not read or even speak himself.

“(God) took away that ability to speak and to express myself,” Hodges said. “Now He’s given me a voice to protect the ability to express yourself through words and freedom of speech. He’s given me the platform to do so now. It’s not a coincidence whatsoever and I’m grateful for it. It ultimately made me realize how important that ability is and how much we shouldn’t take it for granted every day.”