by Nate Kwak

It’s definitely been the best 4 years of my life. I became a Christian shortly before entering college, and had no idea what to expect. I had never moved away from the same home in Orange County since the day of my birth, and moving just 2 hours south to San Diego was a huge step for me.

Freshman year, God gifted me with a room meant to be a double that I had all to myself because my roommate-to-be decided to not attend UCSD at the last moment. Then God, a month and a half later, gifted me as I was eating spaghetti and studying my Math 20C book, in Canyon Vista. Paul Molina enthusiastically approached me and said, “Hi, Nathaniel? I’m Paul. I’m going to be your new roommate!” That year, I discovered the joy of drinking the pure spiritual milk of the Word, growing tremendously in knowledge, not to mention excitement, in regards to the character of God. With the consistent phone calls from Juim on Saturday nights and her ever faithful minivan, I immediately committed to Lighthouse from week one.

By Sophomore year, God challenged me to practically live out all the things I was learning. This was extremely difficult as He revealed to me more and more of my depravity and sinfulness, especially in light of slowly being given more ministry responsibility and also in living with an apartment full of Christians in Warren (Chris, Ben, Paul). It was tremendous fun partaking in fellowship with brothers and really struggling in figuring out whether or not playing Super Smash Brothers and toying with Zippo lighters really counted as fellowship.

By Junior year, God was slowly developing me to really see that life really wasn’t about me. I had heard about it time and time again from Pastor John. “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU,” he would scream… lovingly. Man, three years in and still going strong, that guy. But God continued to patiently reveal to me that though I knew this concept, denying self, taking up the cross, and following Christ really meant giving it all up. Back when I accepted Christ, God bought my life with a price and I was freed from the world, joyously made a doulos to Him! This realization was extremely sobering, but extremely refreshing.

Senior year, this year, has definitely been a time of solidifying. God has been teaching me to bear down and understand that it really isn’t about how I feel or about the circumstances that I am thrust into. There have been many moments where I question God, many moments where I don’t feel like pursuing holiness. But God always gently reminds me that He is unchanging and faithful. What can I do but drop to my knees and praise Him with all that I do? What less can I give to Him than my all? The truth has never been more engrained in me than now. Neither has sleep… every year my bedtime has moved closer and closer to the “PM” side of my bedside clock.

Lighthouse has been such an encouraging church body through it all. It was at this church, through all its struggles and joys, that I was given a foundation of truth. It was its members who held me accountable to staying on the straight and narrow path. God used the leadership of Lighthouse to work his process of sanctification in me. It was a place where I saw a family of believers really encourage one another and love one another in a genuine manner. From Flocks to Affinity groups, from Scripps Ranch to Sorrento Valley, from 100 members to 250 members, the four years I’ve enjoyed here in San Diego as a part of Lighthouse has been one of the prevalent blessings of my life. To the glory of God the Father.

Favorite place in SD: Hands down, the Cliffs. With a guitar and a Bible, I can spend countless hours there
Favorite verse: Philippians 2:5-11
Advice for collegians:Talk to everyone you can. Wherever you are, just talk to people. Encourage Christians, evangelize to non-Christians. For the guys, talk to the older guys at church, don’t spend all your conversation on video games and sports, talk about God…and don’t make it a weird thing to pray with others. Pray honestly. Pray genuinely.

by Melanie Chen

As I look back, it seems as if it were only yesterday that I was in high school. I am blown away that 4 years of college have come and gone, and that I am about to enter the working world. My college experience has been different from that of most other LBC collegians, but I see how God has grown me throughout my college career through it. I attended San Diego State University as a commuter student. Being a commuter made it difficult to get plugged into a fellowship, so during my first year, I struggled with consistently attending a church. With my lack of accountability I knew I wasn’t being challenged to grow so I began visiting churches. By the grace of God I somehow got in contact with one of my past youth counselors. This lovely lady happened to have just started attending Lighthouse Bible Church and invited me out to (what was back then) Flocks. Chi Flock is what initially captivated me and gave me a desire to continue attending LBC. My heart was touched at how seriously the Word of God was taken through the in-depth study and Biblical teaching. I also saw this in other aspects of LBC, such as its structure, leadership, and fellowship.

Initially, when I began attending Lighthouse, I definitely felt like a spiritual baby compared to the rest of the church body. God did place in my heart a desire to grow and be fed the pure milk of God’s word. Through attending Lighthouse, I have truly been blessed by the example of older women who have counseled and nurtured me to become more of a woman of God everyday. I have been so encouraged by my brothers and sisters and their willing hearts to serve one another, becoming slaves and submitting to the Word of God. Through their examples, I have learned about the severity of my sin and how much more I need to submit to God’s will. I thank my brothers and sisters for you all have been such an example and encouragement in my life.

I wouldn’t really say that I have a favorite restaurant, rather, I enjoy fellowshipping over the excitement of trying new foods all around San Diego. Some of my favorite places to go are Hash House A-Go-Go, Extraordinary Desserts, WhiskNLadle, Nordstroms Café, Lorna’s Kitchen, Champagne Bakery and Itrulli’s. I enjoy being anywhere as long as I’m in the presence of fellow brothers and sisters. A song that reflects these past four years for me is Michelle Tumes – Heaven’s Heart. Her music reminds me of the beauty of God and all that He has created for us. One verse that has particularly challenged me throughout college is Philippians 4:6. It is so easy to get caught up in college life with studying, exams, stress, and desiring to achieve high worldly goals. As it is easy to become consumed with stress, this verse is a reminder for me to keep my focus on Him and to trust in the Lord. It is always a challenge for me to consistently strive to do all things for the Lord, while having the right heart and mindset each and everyday.

To leave off on an encouraging note for those future collegians, I’d like to encourage you all to get plugged into a church early on. It is important to have the accountability to grow and keep your heart right throughout college. Being in a slightly different situation than other collegians, a commuter and attending SDSU, I challenge you to still take advantage of the fellowship time you have with other collegians. Despite the miner differences, we are all still a part of one body and are brothers and sisters in Christ. May I remind you to not look towards yourself, but to continue striving to glorify God and seek for opportunities to serve one another.

by Terence Kim

Wow, what a ride it’s been! God has shown me and grown me in ways I did not foresee. My eyes have been opened to new things that were unimaginable to me. But out of my whole college career, the thing that most compels me to give praise to God is my salvation!

I remember being so hungry for God’s presence prior to college. I remember playing for the praise band, asking God to help me believe the words that I am singing, to help me believe that He is real. Life’s questions left me baffled; nothing made sense without God. Yet, God did not make sense to me either. I lacked faith and I thought I had all the facts I needed to assess the existence of God. “He does not exist, and even if He did, He has not done a very good job in helping me get to know Him.”

I came to college ready to party hardy. If God doesn’t exist and this life is the only one I’ve got, then I might as well live it up, right? It was when I got to the lowest point in my life, in which the world had laid bare to me what it had to offer, that, by God’s sovereign grace, I began to see the vanity of it all. I truly felt as if I was “striving after the wind.” With God’s perfect timing, He introduced friends to me who had a high view of the Word. During intimate conversations, I would bring up the deep questions to life that I felt no one had the answers to. Expecting an awkward silence or a reply of defeat, I was surprised to hear answers straight from scripture. Never had I felt so ashamed. I’ve gone to church all my life. How come I don’t know as much scripture than these people? On top of that, their answers were so adequate that I was left speechless. They had revealed to me the authority of the Word. Why hadn’t I thought of looking there for answers in the first place? I wanted to find a church that would help me learn the truths found in scripture and learn them fast. Ben Lee directed me to Lighthouse and I went.

I thank God for LBC. Through it, I’ve gotten to know God, which is something I previously dismissed as impossible! I’ve come to believe in Christ’s work on the cross and how it saves me. I’ve also learned what I’ve been saved from, though the acknowledgment in my heart of its truth has plenty of room to grow. Just experiencing God’s promises and His plan for me has changed the very core of my life, my philosophy, and my perception. I tell you the truth, the contrast is as stark as day and night! God has also added a new dimension to relationships, bonds that only Christians can enjoy. God has provided me with loving friends, respectable role models, and zealous pastors at this church.

I’m excited to see where God takes me and how He will use me and stretch me. My plans are to stay down here in SD and work directly under John Yi at Staccato Communications. So I’ll see y’all around! Be encouraged!

Favorite place in SD: Lighthouse Bible Church, duh
Song that will define the era in 10 years: “Harder Better Faster Song” by Daft Punk
Favorite Verse: 1 John 4:19. So much truth drips from these words. Drips.
Memory that stands out the most: The time I pulled two all-nighters in a row and began to hear things, hallucinate, and lose control of bodily functions.
Advice for collegians: Live with urgency. The relationships you build in college are only temporary, the church you may go to may only be temporary, your life is temporary! Don’t waste any of it.

by Paul Molina

As a freshman, I had many selfish goals when I came into college. I wanted to meet girls and fill my 250gb hard drive with illegally downloaded movies and mp3s. But thankfully, God changed the direction of my life. He strategically gave me a Christian roommate named Nathaniel Kwak and allowed me to live with two more Christians (Ben Lee and Chris Katsura) during my sophomore year. All three of them were part of Crossroads Campus Ministries, so I decided to check it out. I can still remember being amazed at the praise that people sang and how the pastors taught directly from the bible during their sermons. One pastor in particular, Eric Chabaneix, gave a sermon about the gospel and explained how Christ was the Lamb of God who died for the sins that I had committed. This was one of the first times that the gospel was explained so clearly to me. I also began to attend LBC and was further blown away by the people that did not just attend church but were a part of the church body. I noticed that there were people that wanted to serve the church by handing out bulletins, setting up chairs, serving food, and managing the sound equipment. Also, Pastor John’s scripture based preaching was tremendously encouraging and challenging.

God used these various people and events to plant His word in my heart and give me faith in Him. I was baptized on November 6, 2005 and became a member of LBC a year later. I was extremely blessed to be a part of Theta Flock where I was put in a small group with Min Kim, Kevin Tse, Thomas Fong, Steve Lee, and Silas Chiu and I was able to meet other Christians that encouraged me on my spiritual walk. The bible was no longer a book that collected dust on my shelf, but it became an essential source of spiritual food and guidance. No longer do I look for satisfaction in living a self-centered life, but I strive to live my life in a God-centered way. I have learned that I am no longer the master of my own life, but I have a Lord whom I joyfully serve and submit my life to.

After graduation, I am planning on applying to Pharmacy school and during my year off I plan on taking community college classes. I can now look forward to a future of service to the Lord and joyful hope in the salvation that I have in Christ. I am not sure exactly where I will end up in the future (whether I’ll be back home, in San Diego, out of state, or abroad), but I trust that God will guide me according to His good and sovereign will. I am forever grateful for the pastors that God has placed over me who continue to lead me to a greater understanding of God and His word. I am also thankful for all of the brothers and sisters that have encouraged me in my faith and have shown me Christ-like compassion and love. God is definitely good.

Favorite place in SD: The cliffs
Song that will define the era in 10 years: “When I Think About the Lord” by Shane & Shane
Favorite verse: Matthew 22:37-40
Memory that stands out the most: Lighting stuff on fire and breaking Andy Shin’s nose
Advice for collegians: Love God and love others! (and don’t light stuff on fire)

by Pastor Patrick Cho

The 2007-2008 school year is finally winding down and it is an exciting time as the graduating seniors prepare to finish their undergraduate studies in order to enter the working world. For some, it may be the first “full-time” experience they will ever have since being a student was hardly full-time! For others, this transition may be delayed as they apply and pursue graduate degrees and thus more school. Whatever the case, the month of June marks a major milestone in the lives of our graduates. While there should be a sense of pride in their accomplishment, there is also a bit of trepidation because of the sad reality that many collegians when transitioning to working life abandon the things of faith altogether and turn their backs on the Lord.

Certainly one of the deterrents to this spiritual trend is to be established in a good local church. One particular characteristic of a good local church, of course, is that it is committed to the consistent sound teaching of the Word of God. But the graduates are also going to need older godly men and women who are willing and available to invest in them in order to hold them accountable to their profession of faith in Christ. In order for the transition from college to single life to be smooth, they are going to need the influence of others who have been there and experienced the same struggles that come with the transition to watch over them.

This is one of the vital aspects of discipleship ministry that student parachurch organizations cannot replace. Campus Bible studies and Christian student organizations can provide wonderful teaching, fellowship, accountability, prayer, and opportunities for evangelism, but these ministries were not designed for continued discipleship beyond graduation. This is why so many students who only invest themselves in parachurch ministry find the transition after college to be extremely difficult spiritually because their network of Christian fellowship has been removed and their primary source of accountability is gone. The church is intended to provide that spiritual support for these students, but if they are not engaged in the life of the church, they will lose out on this vital support.

However, the biggest reason for this post-graduate struggle is not circumstantial or experiential. In the end, it boils down to the sin in a person’s heart. Even as Christians, we often forget the comprehensive impact and influence sin has on our lives. Sin affects our actions and speech, but we neglect how it can affect our motives, desires, and will. Because of our sin, we do not respond rightly to difficult circumstances. But in the same way, because of our sin, we do not always respond rightly even to blessings. Sin affects our thoughts (Jer. 17:9-10; Rom. 1:21-22) and it affects our motives (James 4:3). Even when a person might feel like his life is characterized by good behavior, the Lord sees past outward actions to the heart (Prov. 16:2; Heb. 4:12).

Since sin is the problem, Christ can be the only real solution. If students do not have Christ as their chief affection, it is no wonder that the riches of the world or selfish ambition might rule their hearts after graduation. The prospect of a full-time salary might become too alluring. For many, it will be more money than they have ever seen. For others, the struggle might be with prestige. The fight to move up the corporate ladder or accomplish personal goals might consume them. When Christ is not central to their thinking and if motives are not filtered through principles of His Word, it is no surprise that so many students fall by the wayside after graduation.

This has been a difficult year for College Life because there have been many students who have struggled with their faith in significant ways. Some have walked away from the things of the Lord entirely and we grieve for them. Others were tempted to, but are hanging on by a thread. Still others are constantly working through doubts and struggles that attack their assurance and cause them to question the sincerity of their faith. Sin has always been the chief problem and so Christ is always going to be the solution. He is our Redeemer. He is the one who breaks the power of sin and sets the prisoner free. It is only through Christ that we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2), and it is only through Christ that we can receive the Spirit of God in order to think His thoughts (1 Cor. 2:16).

I want to encourage all of our graduates to take some time to consider who Christ is and what He has accomplished on the cross. On our best day we deserve no better than hell. This is because of our sin-sickness. Our hearts are prone to rebel against our Creator and Lord and because of our sin we deserve eternal judgment. Without Christ, we are self-proclaimed enemies of God and His wrath is directed at us. But it is God in the richness of His mercy and love who redeemed us, changed us, and freed us from the slavery of sin. It is only through Christ’s work on the cross that sin’s penalty is paid for us because He took the full force of the wrath of God for our sins. It is only through Him that our lives could be changed. Do you want to avoid spiritual decline after graduation? The solution is the same as it always has been. Fix your eyes on your glorious Savior who bore your sins on the cross that you might be credited with His righteousness. Without this, all the accountability in the world will not help you. Christ must be all in all (cf. Phil. 3:8; 1 Cor. 8:5-6; 2 Cor. 5:15).