Asian Christian Fellowship (or ACF as we like to call it) is the first chapter I planted here at Mizzou. The story goes like this:
My current roommate (and volunteer staff) Andrew was part of an InterVarsity Chapter during his undergraduate college days. Actually, he even interned with IV after graduation! He moved to Columbia to pursue his PhD at Mizzou. As time wore on, he realized that he was missing Asian American community, so he joined the Asian American Association (AAA), a secular Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) interest group on campus. Andrew immediately fit in but noticed that there was no Christian presence in AAA, so he decided to do be it! He started Asian American Bible Study (it was affectionately known an AABS) and soon had 12 student meeting with him regularly to study the bible, most of whom were non-Christians! At this point he knew that InterVarsity could have a real presence in the APIA community at Mizzou. He called my Area Director who visited and agreed that the soil was right for a plant. The only question was WHO would be doing the planting...
Meanwhile, I was a Senior in college, getting ready to start my internship with InterVarsity. My original plan was to intern at my alma mater, but my staff worker and soon to be supervisor thought that my gifts would be better suited as a planter. I had no idea what being a planter meant, but it sounded like fun so I agreed. My assignment was going to be switched to planting at the University of Missouri in Saint Louis (UMSL).
A few days after that conversation, my Area Director asked me to have dinner with him and my supervisor. Rule number one of staff work: You never turn down a meeting with the Area Director. Rule number two: If the Area Director asks to meet, you can expect some trouble. =0).
The first question he asked me was, "What do you think about Columbia?" At this point, I had no idea that Mizzou was in the city of Columbia, so the first thought that came to my mind was, "HE'S SENDING ME TO SOUTH AMERICA?!?!" Thankfully, I didn't actually say that out loud and it made more sense as he explained to me the situation at Mizzou. I agreed to visit with him and see if I could get a sense of what I should do.
I don't remember much about my visit. I think it was someone's birthday because there was cake. I also remember one student who was about to leave for China to study abroad crying as she passionately described how she would be fine because she could pray to God and that she had felt God's presence. What I do remember vividly was getting a sense that this was where I was supposed to be. I agreed to move as soon as we started driving back.
4 years later, ACF is a thriving ministry. This year we have 7 leaders leading 4 different small groups. Students are leading our worship team as well as teaching during Large Group. We have seen a number of students make decisions to follow Jesus and a many more rededicate themselves to Christ. We continue to be "a community that reaches out to the Asian and Asian American students on campus."
~Adam
For updates on Mizzou ACF, click here
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