MU Sigma Phi Lambda chapter welcomes new members

The sorority welcomes Christian students.

By Catherine Newhouse

Published Feb. 2, 2010

When students rush Sigma Phi Lambda, "Sisters for the Lord," this week, there's no anxiety over who will make it in.

After attending at least one meeting and participating in an interview, each student receives a formal invitation to join, President Emma Frogge said.

"Our philosophy is you pick us, we don't pick you," Frogge said. "As long as you're a Christian girl who attends Mizzou, you can join."

Frogge said interested students will attend at least one of four 7 p.m. meetings this week to rush. Next week, Sigma Phi Lambda officers will meet with students to answer questions about joining the sorority and get to know them individually, Frogge said.

"We make sure the girls know they're in if they want to join," Frogge said. "It's more just a chance for each of us to ask questions and just hang out and make the girls feel welcome. It's a no-pressure situation."

Sigma Phi Lambda holds weekly small group prayer meetings, runs service projects and organizes social events such as formals and movie nights, Frogge said.

"We try to hold each other accountable in prayer meetings each week, and see where each girl is in her walk," Frogge said. "That is our sole reason for existing, to glorify Christ in our actions, individually and as a sorority."

Frogge said 21 rushees came to Monday's meeting. Sigma Phi Lambda presented a Powerpoint about the sorority with its purpose, Bible verse and statement of beliefs. Students sang "How Great Is Our God" and Bethany Dillon's "Beautiful," followed by members who shared stories about their experiences with Sigma Phi Lambda. Afterward, the group went to Hot Box Cookies.

Sigma Phi Lambda pairs each pledge with a big sister from the sorority. Frogge said the big sisters answer questions for the little sisters and spend time with them as friends.

"It's scary to walk in a room of 60 girls that you don't really know," Vice President Jaclyn Mora said. "The reason we have bigs and littles is to make Phi Lamb a little bit smaller. That person is picked for you so you can have one girl that you're close to."

Freshman Joelie Walsh, who rushed last semester, said her big sister was a mentor for her. They met for lunch every Tuesday last semester to talk about college and their relationships with Christ.

"Going to this big university, I was afraid that everyone parties," Walsh said. "But having her in my life really showed me that there are some really awesome Christians here and there are alternatives to going out and partying."

Mora said her faith grew stronger through meeting older girls in the sorority.

"It just helped me learn what I need to do every day, having a Bible study and just going on walks and talking to God," Mora said.

Frogge said she feels more at peace since joining Sigma Phi Lambda. She said she didn't fit in as a freshman at the University of Arkansas, but that changed when she transferred to MU last year and joined Sigma Phi Lambda.

"God has shown me such love through them," Frogge said. "I know any struggle I have I can talk to one of those girls and they'll take care of me, because they love him too."