International Graduate Student Ministry – Gracepoint Berkeley

What do you say would be the best way to end the week for graduate students? How about listening a thoughtful message that helps you see the reality of life more clearly, followed by a time of wonderful praise and moving testimonies, and ending the night with a fun fellowship time over ice-cream or pastries? Well, that’s what we experienced this past Friday at Gracepoint Fellowship Church. We listened to Pastor Ed’s Truth Hater Part IV message series, worshipped and praised God with the Ei8ht Hour Shift band, and the ISM brothers fellowshipped over Fenton’s ice cream and the sisters over Strada’s pastries.

International Student Ministry split up into 2 groups to take part in the 30 Hour Famine with the rest of Gracepoint Fellowship Church‘s ministries. One group went to the Bay Area Rescue Mission to peel potatoes and help with cleaning. Another group made and sold baked goods while telling people about the 30 Hour Famine and World Vision. We were all hungry by the end, but we learned to serve together and give up a little bit so that others could benefit. Check out the pictures.

Last week, we enjoyed our International Student Ministry home worship service of Gracepoint Berkeley. We listened to Del Tackett’s lesson on theology, “Who Is God?” And he challenged us all to be theologians, people who study God, and we can do it through the Bible. We might even be able to say like him in the future, “I love El Qanna”. (which means jealous God)

Afterward, we played a round of ultimate frisbee with both home churches–yes, the Alameda folks actually drove out for the festivities. The team with Jon Yen won–he is a force of nature–but it was a close 5-4 game, and it was a load of fun. We hope to do this regularly. And after running around, we then went out to Yogurtland for customized and yummy frozen yogurt.

Join us this week for Week 5 of the Truth Project and a sweet time of fellowship after! 10:30am, usual time and place.

Our annual Worldview Camp at Gracepoint Fellowship Church, Berkeley, will be from 6/17-20 this summer in Alameda. Our guest speaker will be Sean McDowell! Here’s a little about him:

EDUCATOR: Head of the Bible Department at Capistrano Valley Christian Schools, where he teaches the courses on Philosophy, Theology, and Apologetics. He graduated summa cum laude from Talbot Theological Seminary with a double Master’s degree in Theology and Philosophy. Sean received the “Educator of the Year” for San Juan Capistrano, 2008. His apologetics training was awarded Exemplary Status by the Association of Christian Schools International.

SPEAKER: Popular speaker at camps, churches, schools, and conferences nationwide. Sean has spoken for organizations including Focus on the Family, Campus Crusade for Christ, Youth Specialties, Wisdom Works and the Association of Christian Schools International. Sean is the national spokesman and a conference speaker for Wheatstone Academy (www.wheatstoneacademy.com), an organization committed to training young people with a biblical worldview. Sean has also appeared as a guest on radio shows such as The Hugh Hewitt Show, Focus on the Family, Point of View, the Frank Pastore Show, the Michael Reagan Show, Converse with Scholars, Stand to Reason, and more.

AUTHOR: Sean is the co-author of Understanding Intelligent Design along with William A. Dembski (Harvest House, 2008), Evidence for the Resurrection (Gospel Light, 2009) and More Than A Carpenter with Josh McDowell (Tyndale, 2009). Sean is the General Editor for Apologetics for a New Generation (HH, 2009). Sean has also written Ethix: Being Bold in a Whatever World (B&H, 2006). Sean is a contributor for Passionate Conviction, an apologetics book compiled by William Lane Craig and Paul Copan (B&H, 2007). He is currently the general editor for The Apologetics Study Bible for Students (B&H, 2010). Sean has also contributed to YouthWorker Journal, Decision Magazine, the Christian Research Journal, and blogs regularly at www.seanmcdowell.org.

Please sign-up online if you would like to attend. It will be $50 if you sign-up by 5/15 and $60 thereafter. That means the deadline is coming up soon!

Christians celebrate the Easter holiday because it commemorates the day that Jesus resurrected from his death, leaving his tomb empty. ISM participated in Gracepoint Fellowship Church’s Sunday Worship Service to celebrate this occasion.

Following this, four of our students got baptized! Praise God for this wonderful event!

We will participate the baptism ceremony at Gracepoint Fellowship Church. Two of our members, Sunyoung and Jungmoh, are getting baptized.