Erina at Cal

The past 2 weeks, over 6,000 new students have come to Cal, and the ministry of IV-CCF has been able to meet and interact with at least 300 of those students. Through it all, the Lord has been doing some really crazy and exciting things at Cal these first 2 weeks of school!  I hope these stories encourage you and build your faith!

Providing in abundance

 Throughout the past 2 weeks, we have seen God provide abundantly in miraculous and exciting ways. Here are a few examples:

-During Welcome Week, a few of the Unit 1 dorm leaders were going out into the dorms to give out care packages to the 75 students who had signed up at the table. Before going out, the leaders were worried because they didn’t have enough care packages for all the people on their list. However, as they were going around, they felt led to give not only to those on the list, but also to other floormates and roommates.  By the end of the evening, the 2 leaders realized that they had given out way more care packages than they had brought- not only to all the people on their list but additional people as well- but there were still leftover bags. Praise God for how He provided for the leaders as they stepped out in faith.

-For the first week of meetings,  we had over 130 freshmen attend small group Bible studies! Many groups were surprised, including the Foothill leaders. They had received about 10 confirmations for people who were going to attend the first meeting. But when printing out manuscripts, the leaders for some reason felt compelled to print out 25 copies, not just 10. That night,  24 new students attended the first small group meeting, way more than just the 10 whom the leaders expected,  and there were enough manuscripts for everyone!

-During our first official large group meeting, the speaker Dennis Cole spoke about the faith of the servants from John 2:1-11, and afterwards called people to take a step of faith in receiving prayer ministry. While normally, not many students ask for prayer, so many students came up for prayer that night that there were lines of people just waiting to receive prayer!  Many of these students received prophetic words and encouragement, and the Lord clearly spoke during the time. Praise God!

Divine Encounters

We have also seen God arrange many divine encounters with students, arranging relationships in surprising ways. Here are a few examples:

-Two small group leaders from Foothill dorm were just hanging out in the courtyard, praying, when God led them to meet two freshmen students who approached them to ask for directions. After giving them directions, the leaders stirred up conversation with them and found out that the freshmen were Christians, and ended up inviting them to come out to small group. Not only did they come, but the leaders were even able to visit their dorm room and build relationships with their non-Christian roommates!

-One of the Unit 3 dorm leaders was sad that somebody who signed up at our table failed to write down both their email address and phone number. Later that day, he was praying in the Unit 3 courtyard one day, a random student ended up asking them for quarters (to do laundry). The leaders quickly found out that he was the same exact person who had signed up at the table but forgot to write down his contact information. They have since seen him become one of the most excited and committed members of their small group.

-During the Clark Kerr dorm bible study last week, a student named Devon who had never heard of InterVarsity randomly came into the floor lounge . Although he wasn’t a Christian, he ended up staying for Bible study and actively participated. Later, we realized that Devon is in the same Chemistry lab as two of our Bible study leaders, and they hope to continue building a relationship with Him.

Drawing People to Himself

The Lord has even been drawing many non-Christians and seekers into our ministry already! Please be praying for the Lord to continue drawing these students to Himself:

- Kurt is a junior transfer who is friends with somebody in CCF. Before he came to college, he prayed that if God was real, that He would reveal “signs” to Kurt and in his life. In the first 2 weeks of school, Kurt not only won 3 straight raffles at InterVarsity events, but also received prayer for a 3rd degree burn on his finger and saw his burns be healed. Kurt is realizing these things are more than just “coincidence” and is now joining a GiG (Group Investigating God) to learn more about Jesus.

- Bhavna is the floormate of a freshmen in Unit 3 named Christina. During the first week of Bible study, Christina brought Bhavna with her, and found out her family has a Hindu background, but is open to exploring in college. She enjoyed the small group meeting and recently committed to join a GiG as well, as she is trying to learn more about religions and is interested in Christianity!

-Brian is a freshmen in Unit 1 who visited the Unit 1 Bible study last week with some of his friends. At the end of the meeting, one of the leaders was talking to him and realized that Brian wasn’t a Christian, but was interested in Christianity. Brian asked, “How can I learn more about Jesus?” and has committed himself to reading the Bible. He is even interested in reading through Mere Christianity!

Praise God for all He is doing! Please continue to pray for us and for His ongoing work at Cal!

While my summer has been more relaxed, the Lord has been doing some exciting work- growing me, my staff team, and the ministry in very tangible ways. Here are a few highlights from my summer as well as some prayer requests before new students move in (August 22-23) and school starts (on August 26th).

Growing as a Preacher: NISET 2009

My classmates from NISET 2009: Biblical Preaching

One of the highlights of my summer was taking my Biblical Preaching class, which provided me with both the theological foundations and practical tools for Biblical preaching. I left the class inspired by the power of Scripture and encouraged by my classmates to keep developing my gifts as a preacher.

Please pray for me in the coming year, as I try to grow as a preacher by taking on more speaking invitations. Pray specifically for 2 upcoming talks- a Chapter-wide vision talk from Haggai (at our Leadership Conference on August 21st ) and the New Student Reception talk I will be giving from John 1:35-51 (on August 28th)

Growing our Staff Team(clockwise from R: Matt Kim, Erina Kim, Sara Fong, Rebecca Chiang, Sarah Chi, Derek Wu, Christina Agoff, Andrew Tai)

In the coming year, I am super excited to continue as team leader and work with a staff team that includes 6 ministry interns and 1 new full-time staff! Last year, one of my ongoing prayers was that God would raise up more partners and co-laborers for me, and I am so thrilled that He has not only answered that prayer, but answered in abundance.

This past weekend, our whole team participate in an area-wide retreat and many of my staff partners were  convicted about letting God shepherd and lead us while we shepherd and lead students. On Monday and Tuesday, I led the CCF team retreat, in which we studied the book of Haggai and were inspired to stop living in our own “paneled houses” and choose to build our fellowship as a temple on the Berkeley campus- a place where people from all nations can come to worship and encounter Yahweh.

Please pray for our staff team, especially the 4 interns who are still looking for jobs. Pray for their fund-raising process, as they try to raise their budgets for the year. Pray too that we would continue to surrender CCF to God and allow Him to lead us as we serve and minister in the coming year.

Growing our Chapter: New Student Outreach 2009 Our schedule for Welcome Week 2009

In just 10 days, over 6,000 new students will begin their tenure at Berkeley, and we as a fellowship are excited and privileged to welcome them and invite them to “come and see” more of Jesus during their time in college. Our first week of ministry is full of many fun activities, and I hope that these events will provide opportunities to not only “recruit” students, but to develop authentic relationships with students from a diversity of backgrounds.

-Please pray for Vision- our Fall leadership retreat which is happening August 20-22nd. Pray for the new staff interns as they grow in training and leading the students. Pray that our leadership team of 70+ leaders would be inspired and catch a bigger vision for being a part of God’s mission on campus.

-Pray also for all of our Welcome Week events (see above). Pray for divine encounters, for leaders to take bold risks, and for Holy Spirit to lead us to “uncoventional people.” Pray that students would not only be invited to “join Intervarsity” but to truly encounter Jesus.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” (Haggai 2:6-9)

From May 25-29, over 150 students from UC Berkeley, Mills College, and St. Mary’s College gathered for the East Bay’s annual Chapter Camp. Throughout the week, students gained valuable leadership training while also studying the first 4 chapters of John’s Gospel.

Through the words of John, many of these students were challenged to think about the implications of the Word choosing to become Flesh, and Jesus bringing light into the darkness of the world. They were led to reflect upon what it means to be a witness to the light and to live their lives fully in the light, in complete alignment with Jesus. They were challenged to think about how their fellowships could become temples of true worship, where clutter is removed and all people are given access to the knowledge of God.

Here are a few quotes from CCF students about what they learned:

“I truly believe God has started a huge transformation in my life here at Chapter Camp. Through studying the gospel of John, I have struggled with believing that Jesus sees and knows me and wants to enter into my darkness. God has shown me his heart for reconciliation, He has shown me how He is pursuing me, and how much He wants to be in relationship with me. I believe this is the first of many moments were God will show me that in order to love others freely, I must know He loves me first.” (CCF sophomore)

“I honestly though this camp would simply be a time to play and get to know my friends better and deeper. But this camp taught me more- it taught me to be a true witness by being the light within the darkness on my campus at UC Berkeley. This camp opened my eyes to something greater, to have a bigger dream and goal for what God can do and what He has in store for my school.” (CCF freshman)

“This week, I’ve learned from God in refreshing ways in our senior track, which made me consider the passive ways I’ve aligned myself with god. I’m committing to live actively for Him and fall in love with Hiim and allowing Him to work in me through challenging ways.” (CCF, senior)

“i was able to find rest at Chapter Camp. I was also able to see how I relate to Nicodemus, and how I might ‘live in the light’…God was able to help me realize that I might have excluded others, as well as avoided even my own ethnicity in shame of stereotypes and to lift myself up. I am now aware.” (CCF freshmen)

“I have gained a vision of the fellowship- that CCF will be a temple of prayer, widely accessible to many Berkeley students, and that it will be a place of safe haven and worship of Jesus without barriers.” (CCF senior)

Thank you for all your ongoing support and prayers that make camps like this possible!

*Also, for a look at a special video we showed during camp, click here.

“As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21)

Every year, the majority of our CCF small groups spend hundreds of dollars planning, cooking, and consuming elaborate Thanksgiving meals as an act of celebration. These meals are complete with an abundance of turkey, side dishes, and desserts, not unlike the meals students will eat a few days later at home. While these events are an act of love and generosity, this year, we decided to do something different.

Our leaders decided to host a “special” activity, telling our small group members that there would be a surprise but nothing more. As they came in through the door, students were given different tickets, each with a number on them- 1, 2, or 3- which they were to keep a secret. Before dinner was served, students were finally told what those numbers meant.

The ones- all 9 of them, would be seated at the beautifully arrayed middle table, covered with tablecloth and adorned with tableware and wine glasses. The twos- about 20 of them in all, were to sit at lined tables in the back of the room- tables which weren’t covered with anything. The threes- around 40 of them, were to sit on the floor.

Then, the food came out.

The first group was given a meal of garlic roasted chicken, pot roast stew, feta crusted salmon, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, and fruit tarts. The second group was given bags of bread and a container of peanut butter and jelly, to make their own sandwiches. The last group was given large bowls of rice to eat. All of these meals and the percentages of people who received them were to help simulate the disparities of wealth and food distribution in our world.

In the midst of rumbling, laughter, angry looks, confusion, and the expected emotional tension proceeding this announcement, the completely unexpected happened.

Mike came in.

Mike, local homeless man in Berkeley, is a friend of InterVarsity. He often sits outside of the Durant Food Court with his boom box, and many InterVarsity students have come to know and talk to him over time. Some of our students, excited about the possibility of a free Thanksgiving feast for him, decided to bring Mike to our event. Unaware of the different “tiers” and the broader purpose of the event, these students had no idea what Mike would be stepping in to.

Mike, drawing a three, came in to the room. Looking around, confused, he took a seat along with the students who brought him, congregating around a bowl of rice and a few paper bowls and plastic spoons.

He sat down on the floor.
The tension in the room rose.

Immediately following, several students came over to me, pointing out what the majority of the room had already noticed. What were we to do?

I went over to talk to Mike, feeling horribly guilty and yet unsure of what to do. Do I let him sit on the floor, eat rice, and participate in the simulation? Do I pull him aside and just make a plate of food for him, singling him out even more? But as I began talking to him, explaining what was going on, he smiled at me and said, “Oh! Don’t worry. I’ll participate.

So he did- sitting uncomfortably on the floor and eating white rice on a night when he was hoping for a Thanksgiving feast.

Later in the night, Mike and I began talking. Through his alcohol-scented and half-coherent words, he told me how thankful he was for new friends, how some students had taken him to church recently. He told me about where hippies came from. He smiled as he talked about his “partners” Andrew and Sarah, how they were gonna get married some day soon. And then he told me his opinions on UC Berkeley.

“You- so many of you, come every year to UC Berkeley, and for what! Do you really come here for the education, or do you come here because it’s UC Berkeley- because of the name? There are over 400,000 people in the city of Berkeley, who will never be a part of UC Berkeley- and you, you come here for 4 years and then you leave.”

He talked about the realities of hunger:

“When you eat the same thing every day, your stomach begins to forget. You eat the same thing with the same nutrients all the time, and you forget that your stomach stops absorbing the nutrients that you need from eating real food.”

And as I stood there, listening to Mike, I remembered our privilege and wealth, to even put on an event like this. I realized that in every step of the way in this activity, students had the power and privilege to choose out if they wanted. I understood that many of these students would go home to a kitchen full of food, a room with a bed, and their own private bathroom. I remembered that a few days later, our bellies aching and sore from being stretched with an abundance of food rather than a lack of it.

Most of all, I recognized that despite all the ways we had planned this event as an opportunity for us to remember the hungry in our world, that we still had much to learn from people in our very own backyard.

At the end of the night, we decided to collect an offering for an organization that’s fighting global hunger. As I stood next to Mike as they announced the offering, he asked me, “Will this money be given to children?”

From out of his pocket, he pulled out two, crumpled dollar bills.

He looked at me and said again, “Will you give this money to children?”

And with that one act, I learned more than any statistic or program could tell me.I learned that the depth of your generosity is not dependent upon how much you have or your capacity to give, but on the emptying of your heart for the sake of others. I learned that even in the face of seemingly unending poverty and hopelessness, the human heart can continue to fight and choose faith.

Out of the 373 dollars we raised that night, I believe it’s appropriate to say that Mike put in more than all the others.

He gave out of his poverty.
And he is teaching us.

This weekend (Oct 31-November 2nd), over 240 students and staff from the East Bay area will be gathering for our annual Fall Conference. The weekend will include times of musical worship, Scriptural teaching, small groups, seminars, and other fun activities (such as a dance party this first night).

The theme for the weekend is “Unexpected Peace,” and we will be studying stories from the early church in Acts to see how the good news of peace through Jesus came to surprising people in the midst of ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, and religious divisions.

I will be speaking Saturday night and Sunday morning, so pleae be praying for me!

Some specific prayer requests:

• My Talk/Preparation: This coming week, that I would have enough time to prepare and finish up my talks and that Holy Spirit would be convicting and speaking to me clearly about what I should speak this weekend. I will also be making a call to faith on Saturday night, so please pray for God’s Spirit to be moving powerfully in that time.
• Javier Tarango-Sho: Pray for the other speaker, Javier Tarango-Sho, who recently celebrated the birth of his first son! Pray that God would give him what he needs in this time and that he would be granted peace.
• Non-Christians: Please pray for the 5 non-Christians from CCF who are attending- Vera, Hitomi, Kaylin, Oliver, and Kimberly. Pray that God would be speaking to them, and that they would experience the peace of Jesus and not let any barriers get in the way of them choosing to put their faith in Him. Pray also for the seekers coming from different chapters.
• Student’s hearts: Please pray that God would be preparing students’ hearts, that they would be open and expectant. Pray that God would help students not to be worried and distracted but that they would come focused and attentive.
• A Spirit of Hospitality: There will be 7 different InterVarsity chapters from 4 different campuses represented at the conference. Pray for a spirit of hospitality and that students from smaller chapters/campuses would feel loved and welcomed.
• Staff: Many of our staff have been feeling tired, sick, and overwhelmed. Please pray that the weekend would be restful for us and that God would be giving us what we need to faithfully serve during the weekend.
• Logistics: Pray for the logistics and planning, specifically that God would provide enough cars to get to the retreat site.
• Scholarships: Pray that there would be an outpouring of generosity and that we would have enough money for scholarships. If you would like to give to the East Bay scholarship fund: click here

Hello friends! Welcome to my ministry blog. Hopefully, this will be a place for me to update you all on ways that God is transforming me, the students of Cal Christian Fellowship, and the broader UC Berkeley campus. Please continue to check back for updates!