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 with a faint hope for a good church where I could find healing, but I was still skeptical, cynical and hardened from unpleasant church experiences before. Despite this resistance, the event blew me away. The people I met were genuinely kind, the food delicious, and the music beautiful. Most of all, the skit on college students’ desires to “fit in” and, essentially, be loved, struck me as so painfully true, and the short and poignant message by Pastor Ed on the need of mankind for eternity struck a chord in me as so true. The whole event and all its logistics were so well-prepared that I was very impressed. I had been so used to half-hearted services at churches before, that I remember thinking, “I didn’t know church could be like this!” Whatever this community was, I wanted to be a part of it. And whoever their God was, I wanted to know Him better.
Submitted by Elaine
After a year and a half of a mindlessly busy and stressful college life, I came to our campus group eager for a change and only a mild interest in God. But the moment I entered into 155 Dwinelle for the first Bible Study of the semester, I was totally refreshed by the people that were there. They were earnestly kind and genuine with me, even though they had just met me! I was hungry to learn more about what drove them to be this way. Since then, I’ve made more deep and meaningful relationships than ever before, gained a lot of spiritual guidance, and came to know God for the first time in my life! I’m so grateful towards this fellowship and Gracepoint for really impacting my life and leading me to Christ.
Thanks Elaine for sharing! I thought I was one of the few who missed the NSWN, but came to a Koinonia Bible Study as my first event instead. I still remember meeting very friendly staff sisters when I was standing in line waiting for my name tag and sitting in 155 Dwinelle, but I couldn’t remember their names… Looking forward to coming to my 2nd NSWN as a helper again!!
When I came in freshman year, I was kind of looking for a church, but I didn’t really think this pursuit had to be a whole life honest and earnest pursuit, but more of a side responsibility. So when I went to NSWN because the senior guys on my floor invited me to it, I went had fabulous barbeque with the people on my floor and when we headed to MLK, I skipped out with my roommate to a party. I’m so thankful that God somehow held me here and helped me to learn and grow to understand what it means to know Him really.
I only came to nswn my freshman year because my friend wanted me to go, but boy was I glad that I went! I was blown away by the skit because it articulated the my unsaid thoughts, and it was hilarious. I was a freshman wanting to re-invent myself (again). I remember the message made me wonder why I never noticed how insightful the Bible is about human nature. I ended up having a good time, and NSWN made me want to check out Christianity as something more than a religion, and to read the Bible as something more than a collection of stories about good morals.
I’m always interested to hear about how people came to NSWN as it shows how God can use anything to bring people to Him, and reminds me that even if only ONE person comes through the DC, flyering, etc., our efforts are worth it. For me, I came through the letter that was sent to incoming freshmen. I remember being impressed by how well-written the letter was in inviting people to check out Christianity. I sent an e-mail expressing my interest, and upon arriving to NSWN, I was surprised to find that many of the staff knew who I was and were expecting me. I was impressed by the skit, and was touched by how friendly the staff were… and I’m still here, 6 years later! I also heard from my friends that they do not recall receiving any such welcome letter, but somehow it made its way to my home, halfway across the world in Guam. I’m so thankful for everyone’s faithfulness to make this happen, and I’m looking forward to the stories that will come out of this year’s NSWN!
I first came to this church because of a NSWN flyer. I entered Berkeley freshman year with the intention of joining a Christian fellowship. Because of that I went around Sproul Plaza collecting flyers for different campus groups. I got several NSWN flyers, so I decided to check that one out first (free BBQ didn’t hurt either). I met Kenny at the BBQ and stayed for the entire program (he eventually became my first SG leader). The evening made a positive impression on me, because from what I saw and the people I met, I could sense that members here are passionate about serving God, and that they take the Bible and Christian life seriously. I continued checking out churches for a few more weeks, and then decided to commit here. Now I’m slightly amazed to think that I can be to new students what Kenny was to me years back.
I came to the very first Davis NSWN in the fall of ‘97. It was pretty crazy as there were a sea of people converging on the Rec Pool Lodge. We had a skit where Lem was one of the actors of the 4-person skit, there were a lot of Berkeley folks helping out and I was there with a bunch of my dorm friends just enjoying the night. The thing that I’ll remember to this day (aside from the delicious Korean BBQ
was P. Ed’s message about how when people grow up, they try to put up some sort of image (he illustrated this with a mask) and how when people are hurt, they revert to this mask or image in order for people to like them because the hurt of rejection is too painful. It’s funny how that message is so timeless in that it applies every year and every year we (as a church) try to tell people about this God who loves them unconditionally and who desires to be in a relationship with them. I’m very grateful to be serving alongside my Waypoint and Gracepoint brothers and sisters working to draw others closer to this ultimate reality of God’s love.
I came to Cal with the intention of looking for a church. My first encounter was George who gave me a flyer for NSWN (he took the extra care of tying candy to it which made it stand out a little more than the others =). The thing that really stood out though was that among all the flyers I received the one for NSWN was the best one. It was professional, it was clever, and from an artistic point of view I just really liked it. Even though it was black and white (as were the other flyers that I got when I was a frosh back in 1996) the piece of candy and extra care poured into the design of it stuck out to me. It may sound silly but it was enough to impress me and led me to check out our fellowship. This proves to me that in whatever area God gifts us in (showing hospitality, care, design, publications, etc) every little bit goes a long way like that mustard seed and it can impact people’s lives & decisions in ways we do not know but only God knows. Thanks George & P. Joong! (he designed the flyer)
When I first came to Cal I had no intentions of looking for a church or even seeking God. However, through a certain chain of events I ended up attending a NSWN my Freshman year. When I entered into 2050 VLSB, the room was warm and bright with lots of people mingling and talking to each other and several people greeting me as I made my way to my seat. Then the program started. I remember being impressed by the 4 man skit and laughing so much that I wondered to myself “this is a church event??” Not only that I really related to the 2nd fashion girl (the one that tries to keep up to the first one) and I remember thinking “that’s me!” I was impressed (and a little embarrassed) by how insightful it was that someone knew the foolishness of the human heart (my own heart) so well. I was then blown away by P. Ed’s eloquence & wit (which to me was amazing in and of itself because I was not used to that since I came from K-town). All in all I had such a good time that even though I wasn’t really interested in Christianity at the time, the people and the messages kept me coming every week, until eventually I decided to attend sunday worship services and 2 years later, finally surrendered my life to God. My life has never been the same.
I came out to NSWN with my housemate Chris G (who is currently serving in our church in Taiwan) my sophomore year. For me, I wanted to go because I wanted to eat some Korea bbq and Chris came with me because he just nothing else to do. We were planning on just eating or just staying for a little bit afterwards because there was a party that we wanted to go to. At the BBQ, I don’t remember many people talking to me except for Steve S. Then he pulled a master maneuver on us and managed to take us to the event and had us sit in the very middle row and in the middle of the entire lecture hall of 155 Dwinelle. We wanted to leave but we were literally stuck and couldn’t get out of there, plus we didn’t want to interrupt the program. We stuck around, loved the skit, the message, and 5 years later here we are reaching out to the students of the campus praying that they can too hear the truth, the good news of the gospel.