It was the promise of being in a play that got me hooked. Being the loud, exuberant person I am, theater has always interested me, though before now I never really had an opportunity to try it out. Yet I found as time went on and practices went by, the focus of my attention shifted gradually onto the people around me and the relationships I was forming and developing. Meeting everyone through a meaningful activity, I found, truly is quite different from casually shaking hands and making introductions—because it was through interaction with these people that I actually started to recognize them and acknowledge them as parts of my life instead of strangers that occasionally drift across the periphery of my daily life. Even though I barely had anything in common with some of the other freshmen, I felt a bond between us—that of the love of Christ—that was deeper and more significant than I thought possible.

The fact that every participant was willing and happy to be in the play not for their own benefit, but in the name of Jesus, helped create a loving atmosphere that enveloped everyone. I felt that God’s Word was being lived out through the welcoming smiles and helpful, supporting actions that were abundant in each of the students and staff. I am very grateful to have been able to experience G-Live in all of its stressful but satisfying moments, and participate in such a moving fellowship and outreach. And I found that in the end, as I celebrated the success of G-Live 2007 with everyone in the production, I felt a welling of joy not for my own performance, but rather for the wonderful family of brothers and sisters I became closer to, and the beautiful works we created together with God’s blessing.

I really thank God for this church, especially the sisters close to me who have not only befriended me but put up with me all these years! They’ve done everything they could to help me as I struggled with different personal issues, through studying for the GRE and applying to school for Physical Therapy, interviews, etc., and we’ve been able to celebrate some victories and sweet memories this past year. I realize more and more how these relationships are so precious, especially as genuine relationships are hard to find in this world.

My previous relationships before I met Christ were shallow and based on give-and-take, or even taking advantage of others. I used them and they used me; then once we got what we wanted, we just went on with our own lives, often with deep hurts and scars. Now, my relationships are based on truth - our shared identities as forgiven and beloved children of God - and self-giving love - our new purpose to love God and love others. I am really thankful for God’s love and all the relationships He has given to me. It is my prayer to share God’s awesome love with others that they might experience a little bit of what heaven would be like, as I have.

Manny and I had the chance to spend time with Chuck Colson for his 75th birthday celebration as well as the 30th anniversary of the Prison Fellowship Ministries. I was so touched by him. This man of power, formidable in size and stature, loomed before me. And yet when he spoke to me, he was so personable, so kind and caring, so humble. He remembered my name and made it a point to call me by name; he wrote us a letter of thanks afterwards, again using my first name, to express his appreciation for the frame our church made for him on this special occasion as we have all been so touched and moved by his life, his books, his messages in so many ways. It was amazing because Mr. Colson could have chosen the way of power and politics. He was right there, at the top, an accomplished lawyer and politician, and even at age 75, still astute and sharp as ever. And yet, he gave it all up to reach inmates in the prison cells. I was reminded of the recent message we heard on Joshua and Caleb, how at age 85 after 45 years of conquering peoples in the Promised Land, still exclaimed, “So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.” At age 75, after establishing Breakpoint, Prison Fellowship Ministries, and writing numerous books, Mr. Colson can very well say I’ve fought the good fight and retire. Yet, there he was, on his own 75th birthday celebration, preaching the Gospel that night with fervor and conviction. I was just so thankful that we were able to somehow meet this man of faith and that our church was able to express our love, appreciation and deep respect for him.

Here at Gracepoint I experienced a body of believers who really cared for one another. Not just a hi and bye on Sundays, but doing life together. I experienced that memorably surrounding the time when my father passed away a couple of years ago due to cancer. Months before my father passed away, all the members at Gracepoint were praying for my father, especially for his salvation. Through the prayers of everyone at Gracepoint, a miracle happened to my father who was passing away in Korea. After over 60 years of living and over 30 years of marriage, he was finally broken by the truth of who he was. He broke down in tears after a Bible study he heard in Korea, and then the unthinkable thing happened. He apologized to my mother for all the wrong he had done to her. This was no ordinary…"I’m sorry honey" kinda thing. With tears and sincerity in his voice he apologized; something my mom said he had never done in all the years she had been married to him. From this she was assured something fundamentally shifted inside his heart, and that he was on his way to heaven. We brought back my father’s ashes to California to bury him in a cemetery in the East Bay. I and my family were overwhelmed with the number of Gracepoint brothers and sisters who came out to be at my side to comfort me and my family. So many rushed to the funeral after work all over the Bay Area. It’s hard to believe that my dad, who was such an opponent to going to church in the past, was the recipient of so many heartfelt prayers. For this I can never thank God enough.

God has really placed a burden in my heart for the sophomore girls in my college group. Though it is a privilege to minister to and take care of them, with that privilege, I realize that I have a tremendous responsibility to pray for those God has brought into my life. I've been feeling the need to pray for our sophomore girls, not only for the girls that come out regularly, but also for those who I've met at the dining halls, girls that I met in the beginning of the semester at our welcome night, acquaintances in the dorms. Each person I meet, I see that I can potentially be their only link to God. These people are not simply names on a piece of paper or card, or a mere contact, but they are each God's children who need to 'return home' and hear the Gospel message.

In order to help me pray for the sophomore girls on a regular basis, I divided the girls up so I could pray for three of them each day of the week. This way, I'm thinking about them on a regular basis and praying for them. They're not out of sight, out of mind. As I pray for the girls, I see that their needs are each so different -- some I'm praying for spiritual hunger, a desire to seek God, and for others, I'm praying for courage to share their faith with their roommates and friends. I feel that I am already seeing the fruit of prayers that have been lifted up as one of the girls in my group, came to service this past Sunday and even stayed for the lunch fellowship time afterwards! I really hope and pray that as I commit to faithfully pray for the sophomore girls, that my own heart will grow in love.