Wavy brown hair frames Salma Kettner’s dark eyes and bright grin as she greets the LPU student body. As the Associated Student Government president at LPU in San Dimas, Ca., Salma provides leadership and voice to the unique and tight-knit community of traditional undergraduate students at LPU West. “I serve as the bridge between students and faculty, ensuring that the student voice is heard and valued. I also serve the student body through overseeing a team that puts on events, forms new programs, and helps students feel seen, valued, and loved in their time here at LPU. [We] help students to form life-long connections with their peers, [and also] create opportunities for students to grow in their faith and to experience God in their time here at LPU.”
Those who know her best describe Salma as passionate, joyful, empathetic, determined, and focused. “I bring a lot of life into my family, and where my mom and brother tend to be more quiet and shy, I tend to be more extroverted.” Born and raised in the ‘small town’ of Las Vegas, Nevada, Salma and her older brother grew up under the care of their steady and hardworking single mother.
Salma also grew up hearing about LPU at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship (Cornerstone LV), pastored by alum Pastor Joey Massanari ’04. She went to Foursquare summer camps where she met LPU student reps who were leaders on a vibrant and thriving campus of young people seeking to serve Jesus for a lifetime with their career or ministry. “I never thought the Lord would actually call me here,” Salma reminisces.
During her senior year of high school, Pastor Joey, who is a family friend, asked Salma to tour the LPU West campus in San Dimas, Ca. “I immediately felt the presence of the Lord. From that moment on, I knew that LPU was no longer just an idea in my mind, but a calling from God.”
Now a 19-year-old sophomore majoring in Ministry, Salma is like a sponge in a lake, soaking up every ounce of leadership learning she can. “My time at LPU is teaching me so much. I never knew how much I could change in a year until after my first year of college. Through learning about God in every class, I feel my faith to walk into the calling on my life and see the vision that the Lord has given me grow.” Salma also credits her academic journey at LPU with helping her to dream big. “It’s caused me to stop putting God in a box, and I know this will impact every goal of mine in the future.”
Recalling a specific ‘God-moment,’ Salma shares a personal victory. “Last year, I was tested in [seeking] the promise vs. the promise maker, God. What I learned is that the promise-maker, God, is far better than the promise, no matter how amazing it is or how long I’ve waited for it.” With a rich confidence, she passionately explains, “You reach a new level of contentment when you realize you have all you need in Him. That doesn’t mean I don’t want the promises of God. It just means I desire Him more than anything He could give me. This is something I learned last year that has changed my life. In Him, I have all that I need; everything else is a good gift from above.”
In one of those “good gifts,” her role as ASG president, Salma finds much joy. “One key highlight is seeing the joy of students when they have opportunities to connect with God and one another. Whenever ASG hosts an event, one of my favorite things to do is just look around and see the conversations happening,hear the laughter of my peers, and see the smiles on their faces. The fact that my team and I get to help people create life-long friendships and lasting memories is pretty special.”
“Also, one of the key highlights of my job is watching people grow more in the Lord. I get to see the student that sat in the back of our first Tehillah go to the altar at Chapel. Truly nothing beats watching people fall more in love with Jesus – and knowing the Lord used you in a small way to impact their faith through developing events and programs that encourage people to enter the presence of the Lord.”
Despite having a few years of classes ahead of her before walking across the stage at Commencement, Salma has clear vision for her future career and ministry. “I am working towards a career in youth ministry. I want to be a youth pastor, write youth curriculum, and put on youth events.” Here she breaks into one of those joyful Salma smiles. “I could see myself designing my own youth ministry job in the future, honestly!”
It’s the kind of ministry she’s actually already living out. In 2020, a year when other high-school teens grappled with their faith amidst a chaotic world pandemic, Salma partnered with her best friend to pioneer 
Beloved Daughters, a teen girls’ ministry for 6th to 12th graders. “The mission behind Beloved Daughters is to connect girls with God and one another,” Salma explains. “We have gone through multiple Bible studies, raised thousands of dollars for local charity in Vegas, and hosted two teen girl conferences. Right now, we average about twenty girls every time we meet for Bible study, and are planning a conference for next year!”
“I have a huge heart for seeing youth freed in the name of Christ,” Salma continues in earnest. “I’m passionate about speaking His word to youth and guiding them into his truth. I really just want to walk alongside youth as they navigate their faith and grow into the men and women of God they are called to be. Most importantly, I want to freely give what has been first given to me – which is the love, grace, and mercy of God.”
Despite being a young leader in a position of influence on campus, Salma’s outlook is grateful, humble, and tender before the Lord. “I am where I am because of the Lord, but there have been so many people that have walked alongside me to bring me here as I walk out this calling. I know I’m here at LPU for such a time as this because of the grace of God and His grace to place people in my life to walk side by side with me as I navigate life.
Salma Kettner lives and studies in San Dimas, Ca. Her interests include savoring a bowl of ice cream, listening to country and indie music, reading, and exploring different cities around California.
