Testimonies Archive

  • Consumed by God’s work

    Consumed by God’s work

    Submitted by Sam… I have always seen myself as different from other people. Pride told me that everyone else were objects standing before me that could either satisfy my desires or oppose them. But God introduced another standard into my life from an early age...

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  • Empty –> Full

    Empty –> Full

    Submitted by David.. I was born and raised as a middle child in East Los Angeles and for the first five years of my life, I was the youngest in my family.  During these early years, I remember being heavily influenced by my older brother...

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  • Standing before the old rugged cross

    Standing before the old rugged cross

    Submitted by Anonymous… In 1986, I was born in an ordinary family in Beijing. The baby boom in China culminated that year with more than fifteen million babies, which meant that I needed go through competition my entire life, including my education, career and marriage....

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  • Sue’s story

    Sue’s story

    Rick and Sue are the directors of Kairos Christian Fellowship (pictured above), a Gracepoint Berkeley ministry. (Sue is in the front row, right side.) I grew up in a very comfortable home and never lacked anything. For my 17th birthday my parents surprised me with...

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  • Tell us your NSWN story

    Tell us your NSWN story

    These are stories from students about their NSWN experience.  Tell us yours! Submitted by Jane I came into my freshman year with a heavy heart, burdened by family troubles during high school and deep sins in my life. I came to New Student Welcome Night...

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  • Wait…

    Wait…

    Submitted by David… In high school I desperately wanted to immerse myself in pop culture by having a girlfriend, going to dances, and partying with my secular friends, and I remember the frustration of not being able give into my desires due to the many...

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  • Growing through difficulties (especially a difficult child)

    Growing through difficulties (especially a difficult child)

    Submitted by Eunice (September 2007) Our firstborn, Elijah, was a relatively “easy” child – healthy, and never gave us a lot of reason to worry. Our second son, Micah, on the other hand, in his first 15 months of life, provided for me many vivid...

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  • I have been crucified with Christ

    I have been crucified with Christ

    Submitted by Anonymous…    I was born in a typical Chinese family. My mom had high-standards socially and was quite strict with me. I was trained to be polite and careful not to hurt anybody’s feelings. How could I never hurt anyone? The best way was...

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  • True bonding

    True bonding

    Submitted by Helen… I had a really good time at the interns retreat this past weekend. I was so thankful that I was able to go last minute. I was personally really blessed and challenged by the retreat (even though it wasn’t for me). The...

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  • Jeannie’s story

    Jeannie’s story

    I grew up in a traditionally Buddhist home, but when we came to America when I was three, I was sponsored by a 7th Day Adventist Church. This was my first introduction to the Bible and Christianity. I attended several Sunday schools with my parents...

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  • How can you?

    How can you?

    Submitted by Jin… Several years ago, an overarching sentiment I felt can be captured in the words of “How can you?” It is an episode of my life I am very ashamed about and not anything I ever want to relive again. In the summer...

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  • Sharon’s Story

    Sharon’s Story

    I was born in 1971 in Seoul, Korea into a normal, loving family. But my normal childhood ended when my mom passed away from a sudden heart attack when I was nine years old. I still remember how my personality changed shortly after my mom’s...

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  • Bursting at the seams

    Bursting at the seams

    Submitted by Dan…  There was a point in life when I wanted desperately to die. I thought the world would be a better place if I was gone, and that apart from a few people no one would even bat an eye at my permanent...

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  • My Trip to Honduras

    My Trip to Honduras

    Submitted by Gordon…   I will be praying for Gracepoint Berkeley’s Honduras Mission Team as they leave this month. Where can I even begin to describe all that I’ve experienced and felt through a mere one week mission trip to Honduras. What God has allowed me...

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  • Roy’s story

    Roy’s story

    I celebrated my first American Christmas in Houston, Texas in the winter of 1992, mere weeks after first setting foot in this strange and seemingly unreceptive land. As a ten-year-old FOB, I would spend the next four years in what I, at the time, would...

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  • Suzanne’s story

    Suzanne’s story

    When I think about the fact that I’m saved, it never ceases to amaze me what a miracle this is. As I look back on so many of the circumstances and people God has used in my life to show me his love for me,...

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  • Blessing through pain

    Blessing through pain

    Submitted by Sarah…    The past four years or so with my chronic hand condition (repetitive stress injury) has taught me a lot and I feel that it has been a real growing experience. My hand problems started back in the late 90s but weren’t so...

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  • Steve now and then

    Steve now and then

    Steve’s story…    My mother made the decision to immigrate out to America with me and my older sister, leaving behind my older brother with my father in the beginning of 1979.  She gladly left behind the fast paced life of late night parties with people...

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  • No longer a lone-ranger

    No longer a lone-ranger

    Daniel’s story…    I was born in 1972 in South Korea.  Although my grandfather is a minister, my parents were not Christians – mere reluctant church-goers, and they made it clear that they were merely that; as a result, I had a paradoxical life of growing...

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  • My family’s journey with God

    My family’s journey with God

    Shufei’s story… My family came to the United States in 1993. I still remember vividly how my parents vowed that our family would never worship any gods or idols after we immigrated to the United States. They made that vow because their worship of gods...

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  • Sang’s story

    Sang’s story

    When I first came to Cal, I was a wide-eyed freshman, not knowing what to expect from the next four years of college. People say college is full of new experiences, but I never thought going to the church would be one of them for...

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  • Divine Purpose

    Divine Purpose

    Emily’s story… In my 7th grade journal for English class, I wrote that in the year 2000, I would be living on my own in a cool, artsy loft in New York. I detailed the kind of cultured and carefree life I saw as having...

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  • Jing’s story

    Jing’s story

    As I was sorting out my pictures from the past to submit for the graduation banquet slide show, I was hit with flood of memories. I was reminded afresh my life values at the time or the lack of, and I couldn’t help but cringe...

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  • Judge’s story

    Judge’s story

    Being the first one in my family to go to college made me feel that there were a lot of unspoken hopes and expectations placed on me as I entered Berkeley. I had become a Christian in 8th grade, and I came to Berkeley that...

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