Re: Easter Testimonies

[Larry Lin]

Opening up the thread to the whole group.

I just prayed with my Christian housemates, and all of a sudden I just got super excited about Easter. And right after, Zia told me that he's definitely willing to share now. He was on the fence, but he's committed now.

I've attached a testimony Zia wrote up back in January. It's way too long right now, so he's going to shorten it.

So Gary Fick is a go. Zia is a go.

Jamie mentioned earlier that Janea Weber (the wife of Doug Weber, Cornell Navigators staff) had a really good testimony. She went through a suicidal phase that eventually drew her to Christ. The "downside" is that she isn't a student or a professor, and the idea that she is a ministry staff might sound strange(?) to a non-Christian student. What do you guys think?

I've also heard about a graduate student who's a girl named Tang(?). Anthony Baw was another person I was thinking of, but I haven't talked to him yet.

- Larry 

On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 10:35 PM, Henry Wen <henr...@gmail.com> wrote:

Larry do you know the general themes behind Zia's testimony?

Since we have Zia and Prof Fick, both of whom seem to have very personal/personable stories, the third may not need to be so personal. In fact, if we play a song like "Where is the Love" which talks about world suffering it might be good to have someone who can talk about how the bible and Jesus gives satisfying answer to those issues, how being a Christian means having God's heart for the suffering. 

On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 9:46 PM, Jamie Chong <jamie...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey y'all,

Professor Fick just emailed me to say he'd be glad to share his testimony at the Easter service =) I might ask him if he'd mind having his name on the posters...

The other potential candidate to share his testimony is Zia - has anyone heard if he'd be willing to share?

We're still looking for a third person, preferably a girl and/or Asian (to hit all the demographics lol). I got a couple of names already (haven't contacted them yet), but let me know if you have any more suggestions as to people I should ask.

Thanks much! Let's keep up the prayers and hard work =)

--jamie

--
Y. Henry Wen

Graduate Research Asst.

Quantum & Nonlinear Optics Grp.

Cornell University

"Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." -John 8:12

[stan matusz]

I defer to everyone else, but if Janea ties her testimony in to her ministry calling, it might not be strange to a non-Christian. It would make sense. And she could always use the word "chaplain" instead of "staff." Most folks understand that terminology a bit better.

Others who have a recent testimony about being saved during college might inlude Edgar Lei, Bobby (AAIV guy who went to Burma and got saved working with orphans), or someone like Philicia Tan.

[Henry Wen]

I think we could Janea do it. I don't think we have to worry too much abbot her position as long as her story is relatable

Y. Henry Wen

Graduate Research Asst.

Quantum & Nonlinear Optics Grp

"Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12

[Jamie Chong]

Hey y'all,

Just got access to group emails =P

I think we might want to aim for a woman to share, because we already
have two guys. I guess Janea or Philicia would be the foremost options
as to people who could share...I also defer to y'all's decision, but
could I get more thoughts on the third speaker?

On a side note, I have posters for the five main West Campus dorms
which I will distribute next week =)

<3alwayz,
jamie

On Apr 7, 8:49 am, Henry Wen <henry....@gmail.com> wrote:
> I think we could Janea do it. I don't think we have to worry too much abbot her position as long as her story is relatable
>
> Y. Henry Wen
> Graduate Research Asst.
> Quantum & Nonlinear Optics Grp
>
> "Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12
>

> On Apr 7, 2011, at 8:11 AM, stan matusz <stanmat...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I defer to everyone else, but if Janea ties her testimony in to her ministry calling, it might not be strange to a non-Christian. It would make sense. And she could always use the word "chaplain" instead of "staff." Most folks understand that terminology a bit better.
>
> > Others who have a recent testimony about being saved during college might inlude Edgar Lei, Bobby (AAIV guy who went to Burma and got saved working with orphans), or someone like Philicia Tan.
>

> > On Apr 7, 2011 12:30 AM, "Larry Lin" <the.larry....@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Opening up the thread to the whole group.
>
> > > I just prayed with my Christian housemates, and all of a sudden I just got
> > > super excited about Easter. And right after, Zia told me that he's
> > > definitely willing to share now. He was on the fence, but he's committed
> > > now.
>
> > > I've attached a testimony Zia wrote up back in January. It's way too long
> > > right now, so he's going to shorten it.
>
> > > So Gary Fick is a go. Zia is a go.
>
> > > Jamie mentioned earlier that Janea Weber (the wife of Doug Weber, Cornell
> > > Navigators staff) had a really good testimony. She went through a suicidal
> > > phase that eventually drew her to Christ. The "downside" is that she isn't a
> > > student or a professor, and the idea that she is a ministry staff might
> > > sound strange(?) to a non-Christian student. What do you guys think?
>
> > > I've also heard about a graduate student who's a girl named Tang(?). Anthony
> > > Baw was another person I was thinking of, but I haven't talked to him yet.
>
> > > - Larry
>

> > > On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 10:35 PM, Henry Wen <henry....@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > >> Larry do you know the general themes behind Zia's testimony?
>
> > >> Since we have Zia and Prof Fick, both of whom seem to have very
> > >> personal/personable stories, the third may not need to be so personal. In
> > >> fact, if we play a song like "Where is the Love" which talks about world
> > >> suffering it might be good to have someone who can talk about how the bible
> > >> and Jesus gives satisfying answer to those issues, how being a Christian
> > >> means having God's heart for the suffering.
>

[Jamie Chong]

Hey y'all,

Janea said she's unavailable on Easter to share her testimony due to other commitments. We can talk about Zia's and Philly's stories in more detail tonight - see you there!

<3alwayz,

jamie

[Larry Lin]

Esther Kim just gave us the confirmation. She's testimony #3.

[Keren Wong]

is this the freshmen in Cru?

--
Keren Wong
Cornell University '12
Biology & Society
T/ (845)-235-2603

[Jamie Chong]

Yup, so the three testimonies are Prof Gary Fick, Zia, and Esther ^_^

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

On Apr 13, 2011 6:39 PM, "Keren Wong" <keren...@gmail.com> wrote:

is this the freshmen in Cru?

On 13 April 2011 16:10, Larry Lin <the.la...@gmail.com> wrote:
>

> Esther Kim just gave us the...

[Henry Wen]

what's Esther's story?

--
Y. Henry Wen

Graduate Research Asst.

Quantum & Nonlinear Optics Grp.

Cornell University
170 Clark Hall
ph: 954-559-8128
yh...@cornell.edu
focus.aep.cornell.edu

[Larry Lin]

Yep. Here it is.

hey larry, heres a summary of what id like to share

I did gymnastics from 4th-8th grade, during the last 2 years 7-8th grade, i guess my eyes were opened to how fallen humans are. My best friend (at that time) and I were trained by the same coach, and he didn't treat us well.  there were a lot of things me and my friend went through and experienced together because of him during those two years. she was 3 years older than me and less ignorant to what was going on. I saw her life fall apart, but since I was in middle school i wasnt really sure of anything, but i knew something was wrong.  My life eventually followed in the same direction as her because i looked up to her and really resented  how God didnt prevent certain things from happening. 
This continued till 10th grade. Then one day when i visited a christian club, God really rescued me from everything. 
A youth group pastor came to speak and basically re-iterated what was going on in my life in the 2 weeks leading up to the meeting. yeah i tried telling myself that it might have been coincidence, but I knew it was God intervening. 
After that day, God taught me his love and comfort. How loving God is and what a healer he is. 
Overall, I basically want to share where my life was, the reasons why it got there, and how God's love exceeds everything. How he is someone reliable to cling onto because he never fails. 
That even though our suffering cant be understood at the moment, if we trust in God he will not use it in vain. He will use everything to show us his glory. And that he wants a personal relationship with you and be real in your life if you open your heart to him. 
Id like to share this as real as I can. So hopefully God can be glorified through the piece of my life and my weakness i share. and hopefully encourage someone to put their hope in God (:


Btw, what's the time limit ? 
Thanks larry

[Keren Wong]

I'm blessed to see the boldness she has in sharing this. Does Esther have someone to help her sort out and focus her thoughts into a concise, yet impacting manner? Does Rachel Betts help with stuff like that?

Keren

[stan matusz]

I echo Keren's thoughts and recommendation. God bless Esther for being willing to share this story to point her classmates to Jesus.

[Larry Lin]

Rachel's in New Mexico haha. We'll try to help her.

[Henry Wen]

We should schedule individual meetings with each of them to talk through their story. Then have the 3 of them meet together with a few of us to see how their stories compliment each other. Perhaps on Monday and Tuesday?

for Esther Kim's testimony. Have you guys read Mark Driscoll's Death by Love? I'm not sure exactly what Esther endured under her coach but i'm guessing it's either some sort of physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Driscoll's has a chapter in that book addressed to a girl he counseled who was victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a uncle or step father or someone like that. It had alot of gracious and timely truth. I think might be a good model for Esther to follow in her testimony, and also just something that she might like the read for herself.

I have a copy. I'll bring it tomorrow evening.

I think that Driscoll's structure in that book is a good model to follow for all the testimonies:

1. The brutally honest story
2. what the bible/Jesus says about the situation
3. how the bible/Jesus redeems and transforms.

for Esther story it might also be good to have her talk a bit about suffering and injustices in general. For example why do the weak suffer at the hands of the strong, why do those we look up to violate us. Why is there death and disaster in the world? She should give comfort and encouragement to those who have endured abuse, but also give a warning to all those people out there who have abused and violated people that God will judge them.

has Prof. Fick or Zia put together a summary yet?

[Jamie Chong]

This is Prof Fick's summary that he emailed me:

"I plan to take 5 minutes or less to outline the core of my story on how I became a Christian.  It will cover my outward success and inward failure that led to plans to commit suicide.  Then I will tell of the evangelist who came to my campus.  His message was/is that academically minded people have trouble with miracles, but there is only one miracle we must all deal with.  This is it: a man who was executed about 2000 years ago is still alive and He will prove to you that He is still alive.  This is how..."

It seems his main struggle was academics/intellectuality and material success.

--jamie

[Henry Wen]

Jamie, Larry. Do you guys think that any or all of the 3 of them would have time tomorrow afternoon to meet and talk?

3ish? 4 ish?

[Jamie Chong]

Esther's at Closer, but we could ask Zia and/or Prof Fick. I have something at 3 so I probably won't be able to meet until 4 or 4:30ish.

[Larry Lin]

What about right before the prayer meeting?

[Henry Wen]

we could, I was just worried that they/we might need more than the 30 minutes or so to talk things through and i wasnt sure if larry needs to work with the music guys.

[stan matusz]

Prof. Fick is also at Closer. -Stan

>>>>>>>> <yh...@cornell.edu>yh...@cornell.edu
>>>>>>>> <http://focus.aep.cornell.edu>focus.aep.cornell.edu

>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will
>>>>>>>> never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." -John 8:12
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Y. Henry Wen
>>>>>> Graduate Research Asst.
>>>>>> Quantum & Nonlinear Optics Grp.
>>>>>> Cornell University
>>>>>> 170 Clark Hall
>>>>>> ph: 954-559-8128

>>>>>> <yh...@cornell.edu>yh...@cornell.edu
>>>>>> <http://focus.aep.cornell.edu>focus.aep.cornell.edu