Feb
01
Small Group TFNs Continued...
By Joel Letro | 2 comments
Small group TFNs will happen again this Friday, but there are changes, so check below. Come hungry, because dinner will be provided and it will be delicious! Frosh Guys: Black Oak @ 7pm Frosh Girls: Dora's Apt @ 7pm SUP Girls & Soph Bros: Hackamore @ 7pm Jr/Srs/Grad Bros: PB @ 6:30pm Sunday service will be back at Stratton Community Center @ 1pm. Rides will be provided at the same locations at 12:30pm. Wondering if you will miss the Super Bowl? Don't worry, because Sunday service will be over before it starts. We’ll be going on a retreat during the President’s Weekend in the middle of February. Not to late to sign up! Sign Up Here
Jan
26
Saturday BBQ/desserts and fun at the park
By Uche Oniah | 5 comments
After a hectic first week back from break we couldn't think of a better way to get away and relax than to go to an All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant! We got the chance to venture outside the boundries of Riverside and treaded into the foreign territory (otherwise known as LA). For many, this was their first time there! Everyone was all smiles to start the day and eager to eat. However, as we ate and the afternoon drew on, many went past the level of satisfaction and into the "danger zone." Some could hardly smile as we struggled to get out our seats. With that said, it was still well worth it! Before heading back to Riverside we stopped for desserts to satisfy those craving for sweets. In hopes of undoing to the effects of all the BBQ and desserts when ended off a great afternoon with fun games of ultimate frisbee and wiffle ball in park. If you weren't able to join us, you sure missed out! Don't worry -- there will be many more times like this so hope to see you there!
Jan
19
First TFN and games
By Bernice Wong
Hey guys, welcome back! You guys ready to study after your whole month of break?! Well you know, new quarter = new start! We had our first TFN of the quarter this past Friday. After eating some good Chinese food, Steve gave a bible study on Mark 5. It's the story about the sick and bleeding women who saw many doctors and spent all the money she had but never got any better. After trying everything she knew of, she went to Jesus and was immediately healed and freed from all her suffering. With this story in mind, Steve challenged us with a question- "What or who do we turn to when we're emotionally or spiritually bleeding inside?" After that, we played a group survey game! But you know, you got to prove what you say you can do! So we had some people come up and show us what they got! Well, if you missed out last week, we hope you can join us this Friday for our special talk, titled "More to This Life?"
Jan
17
Winter Welcome Night 2012
By Audrey Chong | 4 comments
What does the running around to set-up lights and sound plus the smell of teriyaki chicken grilled plus the hands of many Berkeley students and staff equal? It equals Acts2Fellowship's 2012 Winter Welcome Night! The night was packed with praise, a panel of students sharing their testimonies, a thought-provoking message, and a delicious dinner with fellowship. You could without a doubt feel something stirring as soon as the doors were opened. It started with the arrival of the heavy equipment of lighting, soundboards, and wires at 11am. This came with over 60 hands of Berkeley students and staffs plus the hands of the Riverside team and students. Though it was calm before the storm, a storm definitely came through! Students came in, relaxing at the icebreakers led by Tony and Denny. Followed by the icebreakers was an awesome set of praise. After the praise a panel of students who shared their testimonies of before and after Christ. It was a moment of honesty where these students willingly shared their struggles and addictions from success to Korean dramas to gaming to partying. This was followed by Steve's message of "Gone." Time is short. So what have we been investing in? How long do the things we invest in last? Steve challenged us to go searching for the answers. As things become "gone" with time, what are the things that are impervious to time? To end the message, the band came up to sing "Meant to Live" by Switchfoot. Over the delicious chicken teriyaki new friendships were made. There was constant laughter, talking, second helpings of food, and smiles seen throughout the dinner. Though Winter Welcome Night is over, the friendships and relationships that were made aren't. If you missed out don't worry. You'll still have our other meetings you can attend and they are just as packed as this Winter Welcome Night was.
Dec
13
TWN & Thanksgiving Murals
By Dora Wong
If you were one of the lucky ones who were still around Wednesday before Thanksgiving then you got a chance to be a part of a very unique TWN (The Wednesday Night). Instead of our usual message, Eunice had us get into groups and really think about what thanks-giving really means. Afterwards, each group was given a unique prompt and were tasked with designing a thanksgiving mural. Topics included what it means to be thankful in all circumstances, who are the people in our lives that we can be thankful for, and thinking about some of the blessings in our lives that didn't have to be this way.
Dec
12
Heroes of Faith
By John Cai | 29 comments
“Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” - William Carey From the lives of Christian heroes like William Carey, we find inspiring stories of the courage and faith of men and women who have profoundly shaped history by answering the call of the Gospel. How did these heroes end up being that way? What made them tick? What shaped them? Through their faith journeys we can glean rich lessons about Christian life that are relevant for each of us today. This Winter break is a great opportunity to read a biography of one of these heroes of faith, and we’re going to do this together! Here is a list of recommended reading. There are so many heroes of faith throughout history--which one are you going to read? Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot (Jim Elliot) Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret (Hudson Taylor) The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (Corrie Ten Boom) Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (Martin Luther) Living Faith (Helen Roseveare) Keith Green – No Compromise (Keith Green) Born Again (Charles Colson) Eric Liddell George Mueller John Wesley William Carey Amy Carmichael Gladys Aylward The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun by Brother Yun and Paul Hattaway (Brother Yun)
Dec
10
Thanksgiving Retreat
By Michelle Yang | 6 comments
The highlight of November at a2f was definitely the Thanksgiving Retreat that many of us attended up in the Bay Area. On Thursday night, we packed into sedans and vans and started the journey up the I-5 to NorCal. Arriving there little after midnight, we were welcomed by all our hosts in Alameda who cooked up a storm for us to feed our hungry stomachs. Friday- We woke up early in the morning and received a grand tour of the Bay area- SF, Pier 39, Funny Hat Store, Clam Chowder Soup, Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, Richmond Bridge and not to forget the UC Berkeley campus tour. Despite the intermittent rain, we had a grand old time-- special thanks to all our Berkeley friends who planned these tours and volunteered to be our official tour guides! =) Friday night through Sunday- The long awaited Thanksgiving Retreat was finally here! We started off the retreat with a very powerful and moving presentation by all the students who became Christians in this past year. One by one, each came forward and shared how they have been changed through Christ and how now their lives were transformed. Some of our very own Riverside students got to participate in this, and as a church as a whole, we marveled at all that God had done in our midst in this past year! On Saturday, we had a packed day starting with the Gracepoint-wide orchestra performance, followed by videos & sharings from all of our ministries recapping what has happened in this past year, and we ended the day with a pseudo talent show as everyone showcased their dancing, cheerleading, rapping and breakdancing skills. Who knew that such talent and creative ideas could emerge from only 1 hour of practice? From Berkeley college, to Joyland, Impact, ECM, IGSM, VSM, Interhigh, Element, Davis, Taiwan, Austin, Minnesota, San Diego and Riverside, we got a glimpse of all that has been happening throughout the Gracepoint-wide ministries in 2011. I think I speak for all of us when saying that we were all challenged by the videos and sharings, and that we are thankful that we can be the body of Christ together! Class competitions! Each class showcased their talents (including our young adult department) and while the young ones may have much energy and enthusiasm, I think in the end the more wise & experienced post grads still win the prize with their 1 word skit using "duuuude." Well, all in all, Thanksgiving retreat was an incredible and unforgettable experience. Big thanks especially to all those who hosted us, opened up their homes for us to stay in and cooked us yummy meals. We are thankful for all the new friends we met in Berkeley, and we look forward to seeing you soon again!
Dec
09
Pre-Thanksgiving SUPer Bowl
By Howard Noz | 1 comment
How was your thanksgiving week?!! For the Sophs and Upperclassmen bros, we had our very own Superbowl. Both teams had a surplus of players, and we had a competitive and enjoyable football match between the gold and blue. Check the pics out below :) Aaron is all business, as Hans the blocker protects his QB with a biiiig smile. That's the spirit! Brian Ordona takes on Jasper with a stiff arm, as he tries to push blue toward the endzone. But where are his blockers? Finishing the night off strong.
Dec
08
TFN: "What is your name?" and Monopoly Deal Tournament!
By Dennis Pleskot | 1 comment
Hi everyone! We finished off our TFN series Questions God Asks (in early November) by looking at the question "What is your name?" I hope you guys were personally impacted as we saw how God redeemed Jacob from being a chronic deceiver who ran away from God and people to finally finding reconciliation as he surrendered to God and was given a new identity as Israel. Afterwards, we split off into groups to form teams for our first ever monopoly deal tournament! We finished off the night with a final battle between the freshmen and SUPs to determine if wisdom and experience really do outweigh youthful energy. The two faced off in a ruthless game of team Jenga where they had to race against the clock before others opened fire with nerf guns. Sound like fun? Come check us out tomorrow!
