My experience with Christians on Campus has really been enjoyable. I am impressed with a Bible verse displayed on the Christians on Campus banner; "pursue ... with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart!"(2 Timothy 2:22). Pursuing the Lord with others makes the college experience meaningful and full of reality.

I particularly enjoy gathering together in the homes of Christian brothers and sisters who live close to GMU campus. On various nights during the week we enjoy a home cooked meal, fellowship, singing, and enjoyment in the Word. This kind of "family" environment is a nice break from the rigors of academic life. Thank the Lord for the encouragement and supply in the Body of Christ.

Springfield, VA

When I was young, I used to go to a denominational church. However, after becoming a teenager, I stopped attending church. I figured that it was a waste of time to go and that I could serve God in my own way, by myself, by just being a good person. At that time, I did not really understand what it meant to be a Christian.

As my teenage years went by, I tried to be a good person to please God. However, by the time I started college, my curiosity was enlarged and I had begun to have doubts about God and Jesus, mostly about Jesus. It was just too hard for me to accept the many wonderful acts performed in the Bible, because I had never seen anything that would lead me to believe that they were possible (John 20:27). Therefore, I had to find something to fill the void inside of me (Eccl. 3:12). There had to be some common thread that would make sense of the universe, my existence, and everything.

My searching led me to start learning and practicing meditation. Then in my second semester, I signed up for a class on Far Eastern religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism. Also during my second semester, a friend that I had met in my first semester introduced me to the Christians on Campus Bible study and I started going. So then, I was learning about Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity all at the same time. I must stress again that I was desperately and actively seeking for answers (Matt. 7:7).

Fairfax, VA

I grew up in a Christian family in Korea and I received Jesus Christ as my Lord when I was 12 years old. When I first met the Lord, I was very happy and excited, so I used to tell my friends about the Lord and the Bible whenever I had a chance (Acts 1:8). However, as time went by, my heart for the Lord became lukewarm (Rev. 3:16) and there was not much desire to seek the Lord any more. When I first started my freshmen year in college, I made a lot of new friends and hung out with them all the time. At that time, it seemed my life was so much fun and enjoyable, but I didn't realize how far I was away from the Lord.

In my second year in college, my family decided to move to America. I never expected this to happen. I transferred to GMU as a Computer Science major. One day, I was very sad because I still couldn't accept the fact that I had to leave everything that I loved behind. Also, I felt very lonely because I didn't feel like I belonged anywhere. I cried to the Lord, "Lord, why are you giving this situation to me? I miss my friends, my school, and everything in Korea. Wasn't everything so great there? " Then, there was a quiet voice inside me, "Do you love me more than these?" (John 21:15). I couldn't say anything but "Lord, yes, I love you. Please help me."

God was faithful (1 Cor. 1:9) and showed me Christians on Campus at GMU. All the members in Christians on Campus were friendly and sincere and made me feel at home. The thing that attracted me the most was that the meetings were always so full of life (John 10:10). Through the meetings of Christians on Campus, I learned how much God loves us (John 3:16; Gal. 2:20) and wants to gain us. Also, I gradually realized that everything, which I thought that I enjoyed without the Lord in the past, was vain and empty. The fellowship with the members and their prayers (Phil. 1:19) supported me to go through days whenever I had problems with classes or was frustrated with any situation, and helped me to finish all the courses for my major successfully. I want to encourage anybody to join Christians on Campus because there is a flowing life that anyone can drink freely (Rev. 22:17).

Fairfax, VA

Being on a large, progressive campus sometimes I feel swept away in the current trends of this society, be they material or ideological. I have found that on my own I cannot stay afloat in this strong tide and even pursuing the Lord Jesus can be difficult. This is one reason that I find so much encouragement in the companionship of the believers in Christians on Campus. Some days the warm greeting of another believer is enough to cause me to lift my eyes from myself and recognize how compassionate and caring the Lord is. Other days, just by reading some Bible verses with club members I feel the reality of the apostle Paul's charge to Timothy "pursue...with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

Earlier this semester I found myself in the midst of a situation that was too much for me to bear. Somehow I managed to make it to the home of a Christian family who cooks for us students on Thursday evenings. We normally eat dinner together, fellowship, and sing. That particular night I felt I could barely make it there, much less sing. But, after dinner, we opened up our hymnals and turned to a song written by Margaret E. Barber which starts "Wrecked outright on Jesus' breast: only wrecked souls thus can sing; Little boats that hug the shore, fearing what the storm may bring, never find on Jesus' breast, all that wrecked souls mean by rest." As we finished singing, I realized that I was just one of those little boats, clinging to the shore, fearing the storm. Ms. Barber goes on to say that "However rough the sea, God Himself doth watchful stand, for the wreck is in His hand." That night, I couldn't help but repent for holding on to the shore and trying to muscle my way onward. Really, it is a joy to let go of the things that weigh us down - our fears, our ambitions, even our loves, and just rest in God Himself. I really praise God for M. E. Barber, and all the Christians at George Mason.

Charlottesville, VA

Having Bible studies with you all once a week gave me the strength to graduate, cum laude. All of those late nights and long days would not have been possible without my mid-day snack on the Word of God. Thanks to you all.

I just completed a 4 year degree in English this past May at George Mason University. I had returned to University life as an older student and was pleasantly surprised to see the openness of the University to students of all ages, ethnic groups and religions. This made it much easier for me as a Christian to be able to share my enjoyment of the Lord with some of my classmates and even some of my professors. I started meeting with a group of Christians called "Christians on Campus". Some of my classmates also met with Christians on Campus and we met for an hour once a week to enjoy the Word of God together, and to pray and sing. Some of us were able to meet together during the week in two's or three's at a student's dorm, outside under the trees, by the fountains, or in one of the eating areas. The fellowship was always so life-giving and uplifting. Often the entire Bible Study group was invited to the homes of some who lived close to the campus. There was home-cooked food, fellowship, singing and prayer. I had one friend that I met in one of my poetry workshops. She was a dear believer far from home, (Oklahoma) who expressed how meaningful it was to have such loving care when you are far from home. It meant so much to me to have a place to be able to invite my classmates and young friends to come and enjoy the Lord. I may go back to the campus again and take some classes, just to be able to be in such a good atmosphere where the Word of God is being ministered to young students who are just now ready to make some of life's most important choices. We want them to be good ones!!

Arlington, VA

I have always been an intense person. When I was young, I often found myself strangely distant from my peers. Playing with toys was never my favorite activity. I had an earnest attraction to work and to challenges. If someone told me that I could not accomplish something, it was subsequently my primary concern. I would do it. There was a deep drive to succeed.

As I entered high school, I found that my intense disposition led me into athletics. I enjoyed most sports, but found a niche in running and in rowing. Because there was no direct, face-to-face conflict involved, I felt like I could unleash all of my intensity into something without hurting anybody but potentially myself. Having known and experienced Christ from a relatively young age, I sometimes had difficulty balancing my athletic and spiritual life. Wasn't a Christian supposed to be loving, tender and personable? Why was it that I found this intense yearning and striving within my being? Why was I so incredibly competitive, so driven?

During my undergraduate work in New York, I found that my personality carried me into an interesting lifestyle. In addition to participating in competitive athletics, I was interested in philosophy and psychology. My intensity led me to search not simply for the meaning of my human life, but also for the significance of my Christian life. My feeling about philosophy was that it was shallow in its essence. Although it was deeper and more fulfilling than chasing the 'might duck.' it nevertheless failed to touch me in a way that could calm the fires within.

At some point I began to believe that I had essentially found 'the bottom of the barrel.' My striving was subdued by a lack of answers, a lack of depth. On the contrary I got comfortable and complacent. Then something happened. A crisis happened and my life was shaken (Matt. 8:24-25; Heb. 12:28). With a fresh desperation, I admitted my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). In that moment of turmoil I sought the soothing comfort that I had found only in Christ (2 Cor. 1:3-4). I was not disappointed.

As I was attracted with increasing intensity to Jesus Christ through the Bible (John 1:10). I found an amazing amount of depth. God was no longer an abstract entity who sporadically sent a sensation of peace and comfort in times of trial. He was a Person (John 5:39)! He was so very real and practical. I could touch Him (Mark 5:30), feel Him, love Him (Eph. 6:24) and know Him (Phil. 3:10) intimately. Jesus Christ became my Treasure (2 Cor. 4:7).

It was about this time that I ran into some Christians on my campus in NY who felt the same way about Christ. I began with them to concentrate simply on touching God and knowing Him in a very honest and sincere way. We enjoyed the fellowship of God's Son together in His Word, through prayer and meeting together (1 Cor. 1:9). They demonstrated positive attributes of Christians, but without the effort. How?

After beginning to meet with them on a regular basis, I found out how. It was God. As more of God entered into me, I was, in essence, brought deeper into God. As I enter deeper into God, He enters deeper into me. I am now a graduate student at GMU. I am pursuing my relationship with God with the precious believers who meet with Christians on Campus at GMU. I am enjoying entering into an increasingly deeper relationship with God through this fellowship.

Fairfax, VA

Christians on Campus has really been a blessing for me this semester. The weekly one-on-one Bible study has helped me to know and understand the Bible more than I ever have. The spiritual growth that I experienced has led me to get involved with more Christian organizations around campus. Not only has my relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ deepened in strength but my surrounding relationships as well. I have been able to share what I have learned during the Bible studies with all of my family and friends. I have learned to be more trusting in the Lord and to know that His love will never fail simply because He is what He is and His love is the greatest love of all.

Richmond, VA

Growing up in a Christian home I have always been around believers in Christ. Now that I have just started college I have the opportunity of making my own decisions. I'm thankful that the Lord has brought me to Christians on Campus. I made the choice to pursue with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Tim.2:22). I feel the Lord is using me to bring my friends to enjoy the wonderful riches of Christ. It is nice having friends that you can take to the meeting because I feel such a joy inside knowing that I brought them to the same enjoyment I have been experiencing for sometime.

I enjoy participating with all of the brothers with Christians on Campus at the meetings. It is nice to know they are there for you. They want to help you grow in your spiritual and human life. I enjoy meeting with a couple brothers for 1 - 2 small Bible studies during the week. They set up a time that is most convenient for you and it is really enjoyable because you can ask them any questions that you may have. I hope the Lord continues to use me for His work and keeps me growing in my spiritual life with the help of Christians on Campus.

Centreville, VA