Angelica’s experience with InterVarsity actually began when she met Kristy Baik, InterVarsity staff at George Washington University-Washington, D.C. during a meeting of an Asian American student group on campus her Freshman year. Kristy invited Angelica to a Bible study to learn about Jesus. “As the weeks came and went,” said Angelica, “I found myself returning and seeking to learn more about God—straight from the Source. I was tired of being fed what to believe and I figured this was something that was worth investigating on my own. One night, I could barely believe what I heard.
Angelica’s experience with InterVarsity actually began when she met Kristy Baik, InterVarsity staff at George Washington University-Washington, D.C. during a meeting of an Asian American student group on campus her Freshman year. Kristy invited Angelica to a Bible study to learn about Jesus. “As the weeks came and went,” said Angelica, “I found myself returning and seeking to learn more about God—straight from the Source. I was tired of being fed what to believe and I figured this was something that was worth investigating on my own. One night, I could barely believe what I heard. I began to hear word for word many of my worries, which had only been verbalized in prayer, being addressed. The shock could be read in my eyes as the tears began to fall. I accepted Jesus and I realized God was as real as my own two hands.”
As Kristy’s involvement with the Asian American group came to an end, she continued to meet with Angelica, helping her to explore her newfound Christian faith. “It was exciting and refreshing to see how real God was to her,” Kristy said. The following semester, Angelica and Kristy focused on developing Inductive Bible Study skills and learning more about Jesus.
Angelica invited several friends to join her in discovering who Jesus is through Investigative Bible Study. Angelica challenged her Bible study group to “keep your career plans in an open palm—offering it up to God, giving God the prerogative to change it as He sees fit.” Angelica illustrates this in her own life. She had been preparing to become a physical therapist since high school. “She wanted to leave a window open, so that God could use it to grow her further or to redirect her future as needed,” Kristy said.
Instead of going directly to graduate school, Angelica believed God was calling her to explore short-term missions opportunities at the Discipleship Training School with Youth With A Mission on the Mercy ships in Gambia, Africa. These missionary and medical vessels serve some of the poorest countries through medical care, relief, development and training. Her family strongly objected to her desire to pursue mission work, but through prayer Angelica believed she needed to perform mission work and entrust her family to God. “Once I made up my mind that this was what God was calling me to, my family got to observe first-hand the peace, joy, care, power and generosity of God. In less than seven weeks God provided over $7,000 for five months of missions training and work in West Africa. And I’ve never fundraised before,” Angelica said.
Angelica decided to trust God with her family’s objections to her going to Africa for mission work. “Even more amazing than this financial provision is the change in my father. He’s been asking whether I needed anything else for my trip,” she shares.
After some initial training, Angelica was sent to Tugering, a village in Gambia. The group split into teams to travel to different regions. Angelica led a group and while they wanted to explore more of Gambia, they stayed in the village. “I felt the Lord calling me to keep my team in Tugering. Our team was able to connect with the local Christian Church and arrange to have the Jesus video shown for the first time in the native language. There were 300-400 people that attended and some asked if the video could be shown again. We were able to lead one friend to Christ that night,” Angelica said.
“When God wants you somewhere, and you go there, then He’ll really do something through you,” Angelica said. Angelica discovered what God could do through her if she allowed God to have complete control of her life.
