Graduation Testimonies! – June United Friday Meeting Recap

For this month’s UFM 10 recent graduates shared their testimonies. Below is an overview of each individual’s thanksgiving and prayer topics with their chosen key verse.

5 high school graduates

Nehemiah: For his freshman year of high school, he wasn’t ready to switch from in-person to online classes. He felt like school wasn’t worth his time or attention and got bad grades. These bad habits also affected his spiritual life. Remembering the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, he learned that God entrusted him with His wealth. This made him realize that he should change his ways and put more work into his school studies. His key verse entering into college is Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Andrew: Entering into high school he was looking forward to the high school experience to meet people and make friends. But due to COVID-19, his first year was online. Because of this, there were not that many ways he could talk to or meet people. HBF to him was encouragement because it was full of smiling faces and people who prayed and studied the bible with him. At first, he wanted to make friends at school but later changed his mind to making friends at HBF and being a blessing to the fellowship. He prays to grow in his love for God.

Hannah: She asked God to instill in her faith and to have a firm foundation in his steadfast love. Through therapy, she started to see more clearly how she was trying to control her life. She thought repentance required self-hatred but learned that’s not what God desires.  She learned God wanted to show His love to her first. She learned how to forgive herself and love her friends more.

Jane:  When first applying to high school she was very nervous about taking her entrance exam. But while taking the entrance exam she began to put her trust in God alone after passing with a good grade she experienced a glimpse of what it was like to trust in the Lord. She began to understand God’s authority over her life. The key verse she chose is Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Sammy: John 9:38 “He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.” He felt guilty and powerless to overcome his sinful nature. One day he was so moved by bible study and realized Jesus was his personal savior. He kept trying to get things done by his own way but Jesus had already done it for him. He prays to prayerfully persist in his journey throughout college. And to trust and rely on God for spiritual and physical needs.

5 college graduates

Andrianina (Lake Forest College): Started college in the fall of 2020 the same year she started one-to-one bible study. Throughout the ups and downs of meeting new people, God led her to meet Jesus. She held onto Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Annie (NU): She is thankful for her bachelor’s degree but more thankful for how God opened her eyes spiritually. In her sophomore year, she was saved after studying the parable of the prodigal son, when she first accepted God’s love for her as a shameful sinner. She then accepted Luke 9:23 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” After hearing this word she was convicted to seek a pure and righteous life in Christ.

Rafael (UIC): Ephesians 2:8-10” For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” He was invited to bible study at the beginning of his freshman year when he was an agnostic atheist. Ever since his first bible study, he learned a lot about God and himself. 1st: he learned that he is a sinner. 2nd he learned to repent. 3rd: to accept Jesus as his savior. 4th: he learned to trust Jesus as his lord and surrender control into his hands. He prays to have a life deeply rooted in Christ.

Dylan (UIUC): Luke 1:46-48 “And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;” He dropped out of college in 2016 and didn’t have any plans to return to college. But God rebuilt what he had torn down. Joined the ministry in Urbana champagne and started boldly witnessing to students on campus. And it confirmed his faith and made him more certain of Jesus as his savior. His prayer topic is to continue to serve Jesus more joyfully.

James (Midwest Baptist Theology, Seminary): Isaiah 9:6-7 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Even though he felt like giving up a couple of times God helped him with his words of counseling. It was an opportunity for him to find himself and refresh his calling and direction to live for His glory. One word: Jesus is my wonderful counselor.

Intern Testimony-Victor: Acts 9: 15-16 “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” A year ago he started his one-year internship at Chicago UBF after experiencing burnout after graduating from college. He had his expectations but failed to meet them. But he learned about God’s amazing grace. It is free of charge because God has already paid the price on the cross. It’s not because he earned it but because of his grace. God took his pride and showed him that he had to rely on God.

Please pray for the other graduates: Nek (Wheaton), Brandy (NEIU), Crystal (NEIU),  Pablo (NP),  Lydia (OCC),  Elijah (OCC),  Sohyun (NU), Ine (Marquette), Daniel (School of Audio Engineering), John (Kendall College), and Tim  (NEIU).

Pastor Mark closed the meeting with a prayer topic focused on Ephesians 5:16, “making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”. May God help us to make the best use of our summer time spiritually.