From Miami to Ministry: How ORU’s Peter Estiverne Found Purpose in Digital Evangelism
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Digital Marketing
As a high school student in Miami, Florida, ORU’s Peter Estiverne had one dream: make it to the NFL. Now, instead of chasing his dream of playing football, Peter is running hard after a new goal: making Jesus known to his generation—one post, one conversation, and one life at a time.
Growing up, Peter struggled. His life was shaped more by the fast-paced world around him than by faith.
“I didn’t grow up believing in God,” Peter shared. “By tenth grade, I was so far into a life of sin that I started battling anxiety, depression, and sleep paralysis. I knew something was wrong, and I couldn’t ignore it anymore.”
Peter began having vivid dreams—of Jesus, of warnings, of truth. One dream shook him: “Jesus told me He was coming back soon and would wait on no man.” These dreams started to awaken something in Peter, and his football dreams began to fade. With a new desire to surrender his life to Christ, he turned to his cousin, a Christian, and they prayed together. Soon Peter accepted Christ, and his life began to shift.
“I always thought I was going to pursue football at the college level, but then I started getting these different desires. I wanted to talk about Jesus. I wanted to tell my friends about Him. It was no longer about the NFL; I just wanted to preach the Gospel.”
Drawn to a Christian college environment, Peter prayed for guidance. Then, an ORU student at his Miami church shared how his life had been changed through the University. “He talked about everything from the Prayer Tower, the friends he made, to the professors who care, and I thought it was amazing. I looked up the University and found out about visiting the campus through Quest.”
Peter flew to Tulsa for Quest in Fall 2023. The moment he saw the iconic Healing Hands on campus, he felt a sense of peace. “It was like nothing I’d ever experienced—just being around so many Gen Z students actually living for Jesus.”
Now enrolled at ORU as a Digital Marketing major, Peter has found a love for digital evangelism. Through creating viral Christian content on Instagram, he’s reaching millions with short, high-impact videos designed to interrupt the scroll and point viewers to Jesus. Whether he’s spotlighting his daily life, his deepening faith, or the pressures facing young men, his goal is clear: to use digital media to spread hope and truth.
"Social media can be full of darkness. I want to be the light people encounter without even expecting it.”
“Social media can be full of darkness. I want to be the light people encounter without even expecting it,” Peter said. “It might just be a 9-second clip, but as they’re scrolling, that one moment plants a seed. That’s why digital marketing isn’t just a degree for me. I’m using it to share Jesus with the world. I love posting on social media —it's the easiest way to reach a large amount of people and tell my generation about Him.”
Peter knows firsthand what it’s like to chase fulfillment in all the wrong places and to find true peace in Jesus instead. That’s why he’s passionate about reaching young people who feel they have “plenty of time” before they turn to faith.
“You don’t have to wait until you’re older to give your life to Christ,” Peter said. “Everything the world offers is just a substitute for the real thing. I used to think partying, relationships, or success would fulfill me, but nothing compares to the peace, purpose, and love I’ve found in Jesus. When you realize how much love and peace God offers, you don't want to wait until later to experience that.”
For more information on ORU’s Marketing degree, visit oru.edu.
UNIVERSITY BRIEF
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 16 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 165 nations in the last 5 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2025). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche has recognized ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, the # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and the # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest. Heritage.org classified ORU as a great option for families prioritizing freedom, opportunity, and civil society.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
For more information, visit www.oru.edu.
