For Vitória Biazi ’26, the journey from São Paulo, Brazil, to Howard Payne University was more than a move across countries. It was a leap of faith.

Biazi grew up the daughter of a pastor, spending much of her childhood serving in her church. She volunteered in children’s ministry, with the worship team and in other areas while also writing devotionals and Bible studies for a Bible app in Brazil.

Studying abroad had been a dream for Biazi since she began learning English. But as the possibility became a reality, she was not sure she wanted to leave home. Then, while serving as an interpreter with a missionary organization, she met Howard Payne alumni Woody ’80 and Miki (Mieth) ’80 Martin. They introduced her to HPU and helped her find her way to Brownwood.

“It just felt like it was the right timing,” Biazi said. “It was the Lord’s timing.”

The transition was not easy for her. She found herself in a new country, culture and church community while navigating a new language. During her first two weeks at HPU, she questioned whether she was meant to be there and felt discouraged by not knowing anyone.

Then came a moment in Chapel that changed her perspective.

As she prayed, asking God why she was there, Biazi felt God reminding her, “I know you, I know who you are.” A week later, at the next Chapel service, the worship team began singing in Spanish. Though she speaks Portuguese, the similarity between the languages brought her a sense of familiarity and comfort.

“It felt like the Lord telling me, ‘I want you here. This is where I brought you,’” she said.

As Biazi established herself at HPU, her faith grew from something rooted in her family into something deeply personal. College life taught her to trust God when she could not see the whole picture and to understand not only what she was doing, but why she was doing it.

“I can now affirm that my faith is not based on what my parents taught me,” she said. “This is my faith, the Lord is my Lord, my God, my Savior and He has shaped everything in my life.”

Her understanding of ministry grew alongside her faith. Although she initially believed she was not the right person for ministry, she came to recognize that the calling had been in her heart long before she understood it.

Now, after graduating with a degree in Bible, Biazi serves as resident director of Veda Hodge Hall and the Newbury Place Apartments. In her role, she is there to support, listen to and pray with students.

For Biazi, the transition from student to staff member has revealed something she could not fully see before – the intentionality behind the community she once experienced.

“The way I felt when I came here was like Howard Payne was a big family. They actually were,” she said. “It was not by mistake or by accident that I felt that way. It was very intentional. Now on the other side of things, I can see the intentionality behind everything I felt as a student.”

Biazi now has the opportunity to support the HPU community the way she once needed support.

“It’s a huge pleasure to feel like I’m serving those who once served me,” Biazi said.