Christians on Campus - The Reason I Went to College at UT Austin
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| John 8:32 on the UT Tower in Austin, Texas |
About Christians on Campus
For decades, members of Christians on Campus have endeavored to focus on Christ and Christ alone. In-depth Bible study, building up spiritual companions, and mutual fellowship in the homes are some among many highlights that characterize the club activities with Christians on Campus.
My Experience with the Club
I'm not a paid marketer. I'm just a living testimony of how Christians on Campus has changed my human and spiritual life. I don't even know how to begin thanking the Lord for His mercy and sovereignty in placing me where I need to be, so that I can grow. This series of blog posts on Christians on Campus is just my personal testimony and experience as a young Christian in college, nothing more, nothing less. So let me begin here.
Christians on Campus was the reason I went to UT Austin. After I graduated from high school, I had to go abroad for college (I'm from Southeast Asia) because I graduated with the International Baccalaureate Diploma. I couldn't apply to the national universities back at home. I submitted several applications to different universities in the U.S. but The University of Texas at Austin never cross my mind (although one of my high school teachers was a UT alumnus, a hardcore Texan). So I got accepted to one of the better business schools in the Midwest but on the day I had to go for a visa interview at the Consulate, my heart became very uneasy. That fall was going to be my first time living away from home. Away here means across the ocean, on the other side of the globe.
"Katherine, you're late. What are you doing? Get down. We need to catch your appointment for the visa interview," my mom opened the car door and asked me to go inside the Consulate. I'm still not sure what happened then but I panicked and I said to her to the point of almost yelling, "I'm not going!" It was so strange, and my mom's reaction was also strange. She never scold me for my unreasonable act. She just took me to her office and I spent the day with her as if nothing happened. Now that I think about it, maybe at that time, she was quietly praying for me and the condition of my heart.
This was the beginning of my searching. My searching for purpose and meaning. In my mind, that would determine why and where I should go to college.
Yes, my experience was very similar, although not quite as distressing. I know how hard it is to move across the country, but I could never imagine moving across an ENTIRE planet! But the beauty is starting fresh, living on a clean slate and a field of infinite possibilities :D
ReplyDelete:) True! Thanks for sympathizing. :P By the way, Alyssa, I lost lots of my contact info. Could you text me? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteit's not easy to move away from home - especially across the ocean. But once we discover / come into the church life, we are back "home" with the saints! Thinking back now about the past year, I met so many students this past year that I never knew before, but now they are my brothers and sisters, part of the family of God! Praise the Lord for the church life.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Stefan! You reminded me of this verse in Matthew, it's Matthew 19:29 - "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My name's sake shall receive a hundred times as much and shall inherit eternal life." :)
ReplyDeleteHey, Katherine, I enjoyed reading your blog and was reminiscing my leaving of my home, oh, more than twenty years ago...:)
ReplyDeleteLeaving home is never easy. I'm glad I was cared for by these Christians in this Christians on Campus organization. I don't know where I'd be today if I was not in the fellowship with these genuine believers.
ReplyDeleteOh I totally identify with that! I always wondered how I would be able to go on in my Christian life, how I could continue to pursue the Lord and not fall of the face of the planet. But through the care and shepherding of the Christians around me I realized I could have a Christ-filled future ahead of me!
Delete-Erin
That's awesome, Erin. Would you care to share your experience meeting Christians while you were on campus, as a college student?
Delete"Christians on Campus is the reason I went to UT Austin."
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a pretty big statement. I'm not sure I've met anyone before who picked their university based on a christian club! It reminds me of the many college campuses which were established in America for the gospel of Christ and to train ministers and missionaries.
That's why Harvard was established- "to advance learning and perpetuate it to posterity, dreading to leave an illiterate ministry to the churches."
Thanks for sharing, Kyle. I don't think many of us know the hidden history of the college campuses in the US. Being a Christian on campus was major back then. It reminds of the New England Primer, the ABCs of the 1777 American children:
ReplyDeleteA - In ADAM'S Fall We sinned all.
B - Heaven to find; The Bible Mind.
C - Christ crucify'd For sinners dy'd.
Hi Katherine! I just wanted to tell you how awesome it is that you realized before even attending college how crucial it is to be connected with other Christians. It took me a little while into college to truly grasp that concept.
ReplyDeleteSpecifically, I was wondering what it was that your mom told you about Christians on Campus that drew you to that club?
Hi Megan. That's actually an interesting question. I don't think I remember what she told me about Christians on Campus. Honestly no one really pushed me to do anything, which was rather strange, but that caused me to turn to the Lord for what He had to say. Looking back, I have 100% assurance that back then I was simply led by the Lord to the place that He had arranged for me to be.
ReplyDeleteHow was your experience in finding the Lord, finding Christians on Campus, Megan?
That is awesome, Katherine! I completely understand what you mean because I had a similar experience, at least with finding Christians on Campus. After my freshman year, I knew I was missing something...God. So I made a definite decision to put myself around other Christians. Thus, when I transferred to UT I told the Lord that I needed to find a group of Christians.
ReplyDeleteI found Christians on Campus within the first couple weeks of being at UT and I believe even from the beginning there was a registration within that these Christians were who the Lord wanted me to be with.
One thing that I really loved about Christians on Campus was everyone's love and pursuit of knowledge for the Bible. I was wondering what were some highlights for you concerning the group?
With Christians on Campus, I think my highlight would be the living patterns of the older Christians who are alumni of the club, living in the different communities all over Austin. Being in their homes, I was helped to see my future.
ReplyDeleteI'd say Christians on Campus has offered me a wholesome healing for my past, a healthy encouragement for my present, and an invaluable direction for my future.
Great response....that was & is my testimony.
ReplyDeleteGreat way to put your experience into words. I have have had & am having the same experience. Thanks for blogging. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Barb. It's a big encouragement to me knowing that people would enjoy this little portion of Christ that I have. Feel free to share more on these blog posts by leaving me more comments, Barb.
DeleteMuch grace to you and your family! I miss you all!
Hi Katherine. Your story reminds me of an experience that the Apostle Paul recorded in Second Corinthians 2:12-14. He was on his way to Troas to preach the gospel when all of a sudden he had no rest in his spirit. Eventually he attributed that uneasy feeling and lack of peace to God's leading. Seems like God was leading you to UT!
ReplyDeleteWow, I never thought about my experience in relation to 2 Corinthians 2:12-14. Thanks for pointing that out.
DeleteBUT for sure, I have realized that it was God's leading that brought me to meet these Christians. I felt like it was as easy as flipping my hand and my life wouldn't be the same.
The Lord has not once let me go from His hands, and I'm eternally thankful!
I really appreciated your post. I enjoyed how you saw your coming to UT as the Lord placing you right where you needed to be. And that as a result of the Lord's sovereign arrangement, you were able to meet Christians on Campus and pursue the Lord in your college years. I really feel like I share the same experience. It so sweet to hear how the Lord places each one of us so that we may be in the best place to pursue Him. Thanks for sharing your experience!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, that's encouraging to hear, Danielle. Could you share a little more on your own experience?
DeleteHi Katerine! Praaaaaaaaaiiiise the Lord! I commend you on the bravery you exhibited, and may the Lord bless you and keep you strong!! :P
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! It's very encouraging to know that someone is supporting me as I'm blogging every week.
DeleteThank the Lord for His giving purpose and meaning to your life through your going to UT. Amen!
ReplyDeleteI am an international student coming to the states for education, and I really enjoy reading the Bible with Christians in my school. Now I am about to graduate, and I am thinking about pursuing a Master's degree at UT. Is there any way I can get a hold with the Christian club you are talking about? And how often do you meet?
ReplyDeleteHi, Ginnie. Yes, definitely. You can contact them through www.christiansoncampus.org. I believe Christians on Campus offers different gatherings throughout the semester, including weekly events and day-to-day gatherings. Please check out the whole series of Christians on Campus on my blog to get some ideas on what Christians on Campus does. Hope that helps!
DeleteLet me know if you have more questions.
Hi Katherine, That was good to hear how you when you got to college you got connected with a christian community. I found that the best way to pursue Christ is to "pursue with those" 2 Timothy 2:22.
ReplyDeleteI just read 2 Timothy 2:22, "So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."
DeleteThank you, Martin, for sharing that verse. It has definitely been my salvation to "flee" and "pursue" with genuine callers of the Lord in Christians on Campus.
AMEN! To pursue with those is much better than alone, it is more enjoyable and through my experience i've found that seeking the lord with others keeps me accountable. Christians on campus is awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, together is better. You're right. In a sense, we are one another's salvation and encouragement to go on with the Lord.
DeleteI really enjoyed your sharing. We thank the lord for his supply! Praise the lord!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Victor. I hope you continue to come back and enjoy reading this blog.
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