What happens when awkward kingdom building meets an awkward college student?
Well, besides a whole lot of awkwardness, there is something incredible that happens. This is my story.
I'm going to be a second year student at Long Beach City College. My first semester of college was spent getting reacquainted with normal school procedures (sort of) because I had been "homeschooled"/attended online high school for the previous two years to that. Within that, I was getting back into the swing of things. By that, I mean the way that I took my faith to school. I was starting my first semester of college and had two previous years of homeschooling. I didn't know anymore if I was allowed to talk about God on campus or if I was just going to have to meet in the bathroom with the few "Closet Christians" that I might find on campus. The first few weeks were weird. I was meeting new friends quickly, becoming well-acquainted with my professors, and getting homework nonstop. It was new, exciting, refreshing and... well, frustrating. I wanted to wear a sign to school that said, "College Campus Christians, please come talk to me. Let's be friends." However, I knew that wouldn't be the way to go about it. I established relationships, asked the basic faith questions, and eventually found some pretty cool people. By the end of my first semester of college, I was working it! Not in a weird way, but I had finally found my "zone". I realized what worked for me to feel comfortable when sharing my faith with others and I kept on it! Most of the time, God sent people to me. It was random and awkward, but I felt God in the midst of it. Once the semester ended, I was a little saddened because I knew I was going to lose contact with a few of those good friends at school. Some of them didn't have phones or were going away for the winter break and wouldn't be in contact.
Second semester rolled around and man, was that an awkward semester or what?! I met people in cults, covens, and misguided Bible studies. There was a need that I was starting to see. I took it friendship by friendship and conversation by conversation. Even today I am still in relationship with some of those friends, taking every opportunity to lead them to Christ. During my second semester (which honestly felt like my fourth), I felt a burden when I would arrive at school. I would tell my brother-in-law about it often & how I felt like there was a need. He got me connected with a guy at our church, Beau Crosetto, and we had a meeting to talk about the need on campus. Our first meeting ended with a plan. We would be bringing an InterVarsity chapter to Long Beach City College.
My first thought was, "Heck yes! I'm ready to let God use me on campus!". Then, my latter thought was, "Wait... how much time is this gonna take? And is this going to be difficult? I don't know if I want to do this...". Ahh, the 'ol back-and-forth of ministry. I want to, yet somehow I reaaaaaaally don't want to. The latter did not win, by the way. To this day, I am on campus praying and meeting students with a group of friends from IV's Cal State Long Beach chapter.
Instead of me telling you all about each experience, I'd like to offer a better option. One that is already done and organized! We're calling this IV Experience the "4-Hour Campus Plant" where every week I do a reflection video, Beau posts about our experience on ReleasetheAPE.com, and you are updated on what's going on in the case that you want to join us in prayer or know anyone who might be interested in being a part of the IV chapter for Long Beach City College students.
Tell me what you guys think and email me if you have any questions, comments, concerns! Also, please sign up to be a part of my texting group where I send out encouragement & updates on the ways that God is making us all Adventurously Brave! Just text @kimybblog to 81010 to sign up!
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