This is a short summary of my friend Jerry, a freshman at CU who is also a chinese international student
On October 13, 2012 my friend Jerry became our brother in Christ.
Jerry on the right, Aris and I cooking in my apartment for a small group dinner
August 27 2012 Jerry and I met as my friend Stephen Gelhaus and I had evangelistic outreach conversations to see what CU students thought about identity and how God can help them find their true identity. Jerry through a language barrier was very interested in coming to know more about this God that he had not really hear of home in China.
So Jerry started coming to my small group, biking across campus every week. As a physics test came up I asked if I could pray for him and his studying, he said yes. The next week I asked him how it went and he said he got a 100%, wow he is smart! But also praise God for also being present with Jerry even in studying. We can glorify God in our studies and jobs! God cares about it all. And I believe God answered this prayer for my friend amazingly!
One week we met and he asked me questions about right and wrong and God. I gave him a bible and told him he can pray to God in heaven. I taught him he can pray in his native language and he can say anything to God and he listens to him.
I was afraid to ask him to come to too many InterVarsity events. But I gave my first Large Group talk/sermon and invited him. He came and supported me. That night I spoke on Luke 10:1-11 about how we can bring the Kingdom of God near. Afterwards I asked him about my talk and this idea of kingdom and how to understand it from his culture. I asked him if he wanted to be a part of God's kingdom. He quietly said yes, but was not ready to ask for it right then. I put off this big invitation to accept Jesus. Our big conference was coming up. I was afraid to ask him because I knew he worked weekends at a dining hall on campus. But my coleader Aris was on top of it and got him to come. So Jerry got his friend Wenyi to first come to bible study then work his shift so Jerry could come to Fall Conference!
Then at Fall Conference:
During free time Saturday at 2:30
I just walked and asked that god take me to who he would have me talk toI found jerry as he was playing Starcraft 2 so we bonded.Then two other students Ray and Moon came so I played banana grams with them.I asked Jerry to join us and as we started he did.
Then the other students left and I asked Jerry about Jesus and what he was learning. I felt that he wanted Jesus! So we studied Acts 8 about Philip and the Ehtiopian. We talked about accepting Jesus and recieving the Holy Spirit in Baptism and how baptism of water is a testimony to others of our faith.
I asked him if he was ready to accept Jesus. He said yes. I asked him to pray and tell God.He prayed in ChineseI felt the Holy Spirit inside of meI asked Jerry what he feltHe said I just feel HolyWe didn't even know what to do nextWe praised God in prayer room
Now I have seen with my own eyes the kingdom of God come near. I have been a part of God's movement in Jerry's life. Together as my supporters in prayer and financially we get to be a part of God's work in students lives at CU! Let us rejoice with God in heaven! Amen
