My Berkeley Story: A Senior's Reflections

I decided to come to Cal under strange circumstances. I was sitting with some of my high school senior friends inside of chipotle, talking about our college choices and such, and after an especially delicious bite, I remember looking up and saying “You know what, I think I’m going to Berkeley.” After a couple seconds of silence, my friend was like "Yeah? I'll go with you." Then the next guy was like "Yeah sure I'll come too." By the end of lunch, all five of us were going to Cal.

When we got there, we were like family. We all ended up living in Unit 2, ate at the DC together every night, played bridge on the weekends…it was good times. The issue, however, was that I wasn’t spending time with the body. Although an older sister in Christ had introduced me to New Church and Campus Crusade, I just kinda ran in and out of meetings and services. I enjoyed the events and Sunday morning worship, but I wasn't comfortable because I was trying to keep my personal life and my spiritual life separate. I figured that if I let God into this new part of my life, I would miss out on the Berkeley experience.

But I was wrong.

By the end of my freshman year, I found myself just as spiritually immature and ill-equipped as when I came in. I also found myself unable to pour genuinely into relationships that were important to me. I found myself generally lacking.

Thankfully, God didn't leave me there. He led me into community with the older men at Campus Crusade and New Church who taught me what it meant to live in Christ at UC Berkeley. As I tried to walk with Christ through my second and third years at Cal, God used these men to teach me, train me, and, most importantly, share their lives with me.

Now I'm one of those older guys, and (amazingly) God has been able to use me to commit these things to faithful men, that they may be able to teach others also. I thought allowing God into my life at Cal would ruin it. Instead, growing in my faith and being able to be a part of God's work on the Berkeley campus have been the best parts of my Berkeley experience.

"So, Justin, what are you doing next year?" I think I've heard that question about two or three bajillion times this past month. Anyways, after about a year's consideration of my God-given talents and passions, I've decided to apply for a one-year internship with Campus Crusade for Christ at UC Berkeley with the goal of reaching many for Christ, discipling men into Christ-likeness, and preparing them for a lifetime of ministry in whatever vocation or location they're called to.

From the first seemingly random decision to come to Cal to this start of the rest of my life, God has been watching over me and guiding me through the best and the worst. He's with you now also! Listen for His guidance - He has your Berkeley experience planned already.

Greater is HE who in YOU than he that is in the world

Hi guys, this is Joseph and I just wanted to first say you guys are AWESOME!!

Ok now that's been said I'll just share a quick testimony of Jesus.

This happened yesterday and basically I know this guy named Humberto. He is a homeless dude that's fallen under some serious attack. He lost his job, lost his daughter to death to leukemia, and grandmother all in the past several months. He's committed suicide. literally. but is only alive by a miracle. and still he is going through an incredibly hard time. he went to the hospital last week by knocking out a police officer because an illegal citizen can't get admitted into the hospital without papers very easily, but can if a cop brings him in there. and he came out two days ago.

i had bought him a portuguese bible several weeks ago since he's brazillian. he came over to our house to just hang out yesterday and told us that he wanted to read his bible now that he has it with him but someone stole his glasses at the hospital, so he couldn't even read the bible because of poor eyesight. He was discouraged by all the "bad luck" (attack) he was coming across.

I was moved with compassion and decided I wanted to pray for a healing of his eyes. This is where faith and risk come in. So I asked him in front of others if i could pray for his eyes so that he could see clearly. I did the first time. He started yelling at me saying, "What did you do!" because..... it was way worse!! haha.

but that's not the loving, faithful God I know. so i prayed again :)

it got a little better.

i prayed one more time. it got a little better.

and then one of my brothers came along and decided to pray for him too. He took the portuguese bible and lifted it in front of Humberto's eyes and figured out the distance where it was blurry for him. then told him to close his eyes, we prayed for him. he opened his eyes and it was much better. and once more we asked him to do this, and the next time he opened his eyes. We asked him if he could see, and his reply was, "I can beeepin see!"

YAY!

God is above all circumstances. What may be impossible with man is possible with God!

One thing that I wanted to point out is that it was not when I was praying for Humberto alone that he was healed but it was when my brother came and prayed that he was healed. One certain man or woman must not receive the glory, but when we come together in unity we automatically create a body that gives all glory to JESUS! He is the healer! He is the only one worthy!

Whoa that was a lot longer than expected, but hope you were blessed and encouraged.

Love you guys

Revive us

"Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?"
-Psalm 85:6

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
-2 Chronicles 7:14