No I did not turn 40.. that was years ago.. but Asian American Christian Fellowship (AACF) celebrates it's 40th year on campuses this year and NorCal celebrated in San Jose with a reunion of sorts.
This was the closest to a college-reunion I was going to get.
I have to share with you on how this organization affected not only my college life but it has left lasting impressions in me as an adult.
AACF is a student led ministry of JEMS (Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society). Currently there are 5 chapters of AACF throughout the NorCal area (UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, SF State, and SJ State). Their goal is to reach the Asian American students in college campuses for Jesus.
Oh and they sure reached me!
I came to CAL as a newly turned 18 year old who could not wait to move out of my parent's house to experience FREEDOM! I was soooo ready to go off to college! I was so lucky to have a place (an apartment) all ready and waiting for me to move into in a nice quiet area of north Berkeley right off campus which I have dubbed... 'heart attack hill'. If you have ever gone up to my apartment, you would know why I called it that.
My cousin Cheryl was a sophomore at CAL and also my roommate who helped me acclimate to college life. She was a true blessing since I am a follower and she a leader. So I just followed her and did whatever 'college' kids did (at least her college friends) in college. And that was to go get plugged into a Christian Fellowship.
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| Cheryl Jue (Worship Coordinator-UCB 1987-88) and Don Chin (Core Coordinator SJSU 1987-88) leading worship |
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| Don & Cheryl Chin both emceeing this reunion event |
I was what you called a 'baby' Christian. I asked Jesus in my heart when I was 12 when Cheryl shared the gospel to me but I never went to church nor really learned what it was like to have a relationship with Jesus.
AACF was the place where I literally 'grew up' and learned who I was in God's eyes. I had not truly experienced life with it's ups and downs until I was in college. I was a very sheltered introverted naive low-self-esteemed 18 year old. I learned how to cook; do laundry; and manage my meager allowance. I learned how to manage my time (in college you have so much 'free time' as compared to high school). I had my first relationship and my first heart break; attended my first dance; first sleepover that wasn't at a relatives' home; pulled my first all nighter; a first going out to Denny's at 12am; and received my first F on my report card. Yep... lots of firsts.
It was here in AACF that I learned who true friends were and learned who God was and what He had planned for me. Gosh, the friends were good. Not those back stabbing drama queens you meet in high school. These gals were true sisters in every sense of the word. And the guys...were sweet, funny and kind. One of my first friends was Andre and he is still today like a big brother to me.
We had great leaders. Les Yee was AACF UCB's and SJSU's staff advisor for four out of the five years I was at CAL. A wonderful teacher, mentor and glue that held the many facets of our group together along with building inter-campus relationships especially between UCB and SJSU.
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| Les sharing about the history of AACF at the reunion |
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| Les giving a message at one of our End-Of-The-Year banquets |
Then came my discipler, Christine Tong, who took me under her wing and showed me how much God loved me and that He had incredible plans for me as His child. She built me up when I was so very down and loved me as if I was perfect in God's eyes.
Then there was Larry Jay, our staff adviser who replaced Les. Larry taught us as a team to use our spiritual gifts together for the greater good of
the whole.
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| Larry and Christine made a great team |
We were doubly blessed to also have Arlene and Shannon team up with Larry to guide our Core Group of Student Leaders. On top of spiritual guidance, Arlene 'tried' to teach me how to swim; Shannon helped me learn how to drive a stick-shift. Yes, they invested in us students.
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| Core Group (aka leaders of the 1988-1989 AACF at CAL): From the top L-R: Arlene (staff), Joy (co-small groups), Chika (bodylife), Bobbie (worship) and me (large group); Bottom L-R: Michael (co-small group), Daryl (evangelism), Shannon (staff), Mark (core and our fearless leader) and Larry (staff)) |
Through the five years at CAL I not only got a Bachelor's degree in the Social Sciences but I got the opportunity to learn how to find, develop and use the gifts God gave me to glorify His kingdom.
I learned that I am good in administration. I like to organize things, coordinate events, make lists and carry a clip board. Thus I was the Large Group Coordinator that oversaw all of our large group gatherings once a week. I also learned that investing in a person's life is key in helping to build them up. It's that 'pastoring/shepherding' gift of staying in touch with others, encouraging them, remembering what's going on in their lives.
Yes, I am not who I am today without the influence of the people in AACF.
So we had a reunion of sorts, to celebrate AACF's 40th year in ministry on college campuses. It was so good to see so many that I have not personally seen face-to-face in so many years. It has literally been 24 years since I have graduated from CAL. Almost a quarter of a century has passed but when I see these old friends, it felt like time stayed still and we easily reconnected as if no time had passed.
At the reunion, worship was lead by AACF alumni, Steve Kim (SJSU) with his wife Linda (SJSU), and Audrey Kwong (SJSU), Anthony Yuen (SJSU and current SJSU staff advisor) and David Fong (CAL and current UCB staff advisor).
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| Audrey, Anthony, Steve, Dave (hidden behind Steve) and Linda |
Testimonies were shared of how AACF has impacted lives of former students.
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| Brian Wo shared the impact AACF had on his life |
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| 1987-88 Core Group: May (co-bodylife), Christine (discipleship/evangelism); Cheryl (worship); John (core); James (small groups); Brian (large group) and Sharon (co-bodylife) |
Former AACF Director, Rich Hong, came and gave a message to encourage us about leaving a legacy behind for God.
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| Funny thing, Rich is now one of our pastors at FCC. It's such a blessing to really get to know him after just knowing him by name and title 'The big boss from down south who's coming up to NorCal'! |
We reconnected with old friends...
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| Cheryl, Teruo (1984-1988 AACF) and me |
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| The three of us at NorCal Retreat April, 1986 |
And to former mentors...
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| Les & Christine Yee |
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| Larry and me with Arlene & Brian Jue |
...who's weddings were the firsts of many that I coordinated!
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| Les & Christine will be celebrating 23 years of marriage |
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| 23 years for Arlene & Brian also |
Christine was supposed to be one of my bridesmaids but she got pregnant and was due to deliver during the same time as my wedding! (What a reason to cop out of being in a wedding huh?) Well she had her #3 child, Brandon, just a few days before my wedding. But her #1 son, Jordan, was our ringbearer. He is now at Seattle Pacific University. Les and Christine currently have 6 children (3 boys and 3 girls) in all! Yes, they have been very busy during those 23 years!
AACF gave me much blessings: a firmer faith in God, true-long-lasting friendships and my husband! Yep.. I met Matthew there at AACF when he was a freshman and I was a senior. God placed me at the right place at the right time. He does that sometimes!
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| UCB Alumni: Mark, Larry, Matthew (AACF 1988-1992), me, Brian and Ed (Small Groups 1990-91) |
I cannot say this enough... being in a Christian fellowship during your most 'independent' time in your young life (college) can be the most life changing experience you can ever have.
Those of you who are reading this post and were a part of AACF but were not at this event, I wanted to let you know that you were sorely missed and your friendship is so treasured.
