My Berea BSU Experience
When I came to college I wanted to separate myself from God. For all my life I had been surrounded by religious “acts.” I do remember the time that I accepted Jesus as my savior and I know that from that moment until everlasting he claims me as his child. College was going to my escape or rather desertion. I had always felt like I never had any control over my life and now was my chance to do the things I wanted to do. I didn’t have my parents to tell me what I could and couldn’t do and I was going to enjoy this liberty.
When I came to Berea I heard that there was a Baptist Student Union but there was no way that I was going to join that bunch of hypocrites. I thought that I had always been surrounded by them in high school and never realized that I was one myself. In high school I lived to argue the right-wing, extremist, conservative point with anyone, it didn’t matter who and I ruined my testimony for a lot of the people I went to school with. I was a self-righteous bigot. I believe that anyone who didn’t read the KJV was going to go to hell. And was taught that miracles were not possible and that those who were not Baptist were not in the church and therefore were not a part of the bride of Christ. I was taught a lot of severely incorrect doctrine and my life bore witness to that dogma.
Berea gave me a chance to escape from all of that. I chose not to go to church or read my bible or pray. My first year at Berea College was the worst time of my life. It was hell for me. I was so alone and I was miserable. I was so anxious about everything and everyone. Tests and homework set me on edge. Social interactions were uncomfortable. I stayed in my room a lot and wallowed in my misery. If I had been diagnosed I would say that I was definitely in a state of depression. I had hit rock bottom. I hated my life. I didn’t want to be who I was and I didn’t want anyone’s help.
I spent the summer working in Berea because I wanted to stay away from home. I lived with a guy that was not a Christian and it was a bad living situation. I went to work in the mornings, came home in the evenings. That was my life. By the end of the summer I was pretty miserable and for some reason I felt compelled to go to church, if just to make an appearance. I had heard of Berea Baptist and I think maybe I’d been once before and I didn’t like it because it was too big and they read the NIV and their music was loud and didn’t mean anything and I thought everyone there must be a bunch of hypocrites too. But I went anyway. Despite all of my negative ideas about this church I found myself on my way there. Now I can honestly say that I have no clue what the sermon was that day because I was sitting in the pew with my heart wrenching. I was under such a strong conviction of the Holy Spirit that I thought I was going to die right then and there in the pew. The invitation came and it was a song and a message that I had never heard in my life. “I Surrender All.” It was what I had lacked all my life, that complete surrender of my life to Him! I went to the alter and I poured out my heart and told him that he was in charge of my life now and that I didn’t want to control myself at all now and that I wanted him to lead and guide me in everything that I do. – And He has! - Such a flood of the Spirit came on me. I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced that rush of holy adrenaline. I felt like a child of the King. I was able to acknowledge him as the ruler of my life. He is who lead me to grace and will seek good for my life. I wouldn’t trade anything in all my life for my relationship with Christ.
The BSU was there to help me grow and introduce me to the true doctrine of grace and love. The next summer I would find myself as a summer missionary on a SonTeam. The whole summer I kept asking God how all this was possible. That only a year ago I totally denied him and was rebelling against his will. I discovered it was only by his grace. His restoring, transforming, conforming grace that had changed my life. Through the BSU I was taught I had a purpose and was designed for glorifying God. I was taught that God has already ordained all of my steps and that everything comes together for good for those who love Him. These are lessons that are not to be taken for granted. Now I find myself as President of an organization that I used to think of as a bunch of hypocrites. God has brought me from far places and I can testify of many other great lessons learned from the BSU. I have been blessed to have the ministry and discipleship of the BSU in my life and I want so much to give back to what have given and empowered me to do so much. God changes lives in college and to have a group of caring, devoted, disciples of Christ there to assist in your walk and fellowship with is so important. I pray God’s anointing on the ministry of the BSU and may His mercy and grace endure with all who are touched by the BSU’s ministry.
When I came to Berea I heard that there was a Baptist Student Union but there was no way that I was going to join that bunch of hypocrites. I thought that I had always been surrounded by them in high school and never realized that I was one myself. In high school I lived to argue the right-wing, extremist, conservative point with anyone, it didn’t matter who and I ruined my testimony for a lot of the people I went to school with. I was a self-righteous bigot. I believe that anyone who didn’t read the KJV was going to go to hell. And was taught that miracles were not possible and that those who were not Baptist were not in the church and therefore were not a part of the bride of Christ. I was taught a lot of severely incorrect doctrine and my life bore witness to that dogma.
Berea gave me a chance to escape from all of that. I chose not to go to church or read my bible or pray. My first year at Berea College was the worst time of my life. It was hell for me. I was so alone and I was miserable. I was so anxious about everything and everyone. Tests and homework set me on edge. Social interactions were uncomfortable. I stayed in my room a lot and wallowed in my misery. If I had been diagnosed I would say that I was definitely in a state of depression. I had hit rock bottom. I hated my life. I didn’t want to be who I was and I didn’t want anyone’s help.
I spent the summer working in Berea because I wanted to stay away from home. I lived with a guy that was not a Christian and it was a bad living situation. I went to work in the mornings, came home in the evenings. That was my life. By the end of the summer I was pretty miserable and for some reason I felt compelled to go to church, if just to make an appearance. I had heard of Berea Baptist and I think maybe I’d been once before and I didn’t like it because it was too big and they read the NIV and their music was loud and didn’t mean anything and I thought everyone there must be a bunch of hypocrites too. But I went anyway. Despite all of my negative ideas about this church I found myself on my way there. Now I can honestly say that I have no clue what the sermon was that day because I was sitting in the pew with my heart wrenching. I was under such a strong conviction of the Holy Spirit that I thought I was going to die right then and there in the pew. The invitation came and it was a song and a message that I had never heard in my life. “I Surrender All.” It was what I had lacked all my life, that complete surrender of my life to Him! I went to the alter and I poured out my heart and told him that he was in charge of my life now and that I didn’t want to control myself at all now and that I wanted him to lead and guide me in everything that I do. – And He has! - Such a flood of the Spirit came on me. I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced that rush of holy adrenaline. I felt like a child of the King. I was able to acknowledge him as the ruler of my life. He is who lead me to grace and will seek good for my life. I wouldn’t trade anything in all my life for my relationship with Christ.
The BSU was there to help me grow and introduce me to the true doctrine of grace and love. The next summer I would find myself as a summer missionary on a SonTeam. The whole summer I kept asking God how all this was possible. That only a year ago I totally denied him and was rebelling against his will. I discovered it was only by his grace. His restoring, transforming, conforming grace that had changed my life. Through the BSU I was taught I had a purpose and was designed for glorifying God. I was taught that God has already ordained all of my steps and that everything comes together for good for those who love Him. These are lessons that are not to be taken for granted. Now I find myself as President of an organization that I used to think of as a bunch of hypocrites. God has brought me from far places and I can testify of many other great lessons learned from the BSU. I have been blessed to have the ministry and discipleship of the BSU in my life and I want so much to give back to what have given and empowered me to do so much. God changes lives in college and to have a group of caring, devoted, disciples of Christ there to assist in your walk and fellowship with is so important. I pray God’s anointing on the ministry of the BSU and may His mercy and grace endure with all who are touched by the BSU’s ministry.
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