Ramiro Marchena became a follower of Jesus in a 2:00 a.m. prayer meeting in a dorm room at the University of California—San Diego (UCSD). This came after three sessions of an investigative Bible study with a friend who was involved in InterVarsity. Ramiro had seen another friend change dramatically after becoming a Christian, so the next morning he asked God to show him if his own decision was real.
Later that day, he was sitting in class when he felt God's presence fall on him like a waterfall. "I was filled with an incredible amount of joy and an incredible amount of love," he remembered. "Whoever I looked at, I would be overwhelmed with joy for them and love for them. I couldn't believe God's presence was so tangible, so real, and better than anything I had ever experienced." It was so overwhelming that he had to leave the class and go back to his dormitory.
He found it ironic that God chose to reveal himself in that particular class, because earlier in the year Ramiro had decided to become an atheist in that class. After the professor had dismissed the Bible as a book written for political and socio-economic reasons, Ramiro had decided that maybe he didn’t need God.
However, he also realized that he couldn't get away from the nagging question, "What if the professor was wrong and God is real?" He had told himself, "If he's real, I'm in big trouble. If he's not, then I'm good to go."
InterVarsity at UCSD
It was InterVarsity’s presence on the UCSD campus and God working through Ramiro's friends that opened him up to the need for God in his life, helping him discover what God is really like. During his junior year Ramiro became heavily involved in InterVarsity activities, regularly attending prayer meetings, Bible studies, and large group meetings. As a senior, he was involved in the chapter leadership and was invited to join InterVarsity staff.
He joined InterVarsity staff in 2001, at the same time as team leaders in San Diego decided to focus on evangelism. That allowed Ramiro and two other staff members to concentrate on dorm outreach. In response, the number of students coming to faith began to grow dramatically. "The first year of dorm ministries we had 29 people come to faith," he said. "The next year it was 60 students. The chapter began to grow." Since then UCSD has become InterVarsity's second largest undergrad chapter, with 430 participants last year.
InterVarsity at San Marcos
After five years at UCSD, Ramiro accepted a new challenge, reviving the chapter at California State University San Marcos. "One thing that propelled us forward was holding large group meetings in partnership with a nearby 2-year campus, Mira Costa Community College," he said. "I think that partnership created momentum for both of us."
Some Mira Costa students end up at San Marcos to continue their education, and previous involvement with a campus organization can have benefits beyond just being familiar with the new campus. "I think we're increasing the success rate of people being able to finish their college education when they transfer over," Ramiro said. "That's a side benefit, but it's still part of our vision for renewing the campus. It makes a big difference if you know the people already."
He started with a chapter that had several dozen active students. By last year, 116 students were involved, 58 of them new to the faith. "That was a big year for us, it just blew us away," Ramiro said. "That was more people coming to faith than the last ten years combined."
Developing the Ministry
Ramiro works with fellow campus staff members Tyler Allred and Anne Skidmore, cultivating and mentoring student leaders. He says working with the right leaders has been the key to their success at San Marcos, leaders who can effectively lead other students. Last year they started a Greek ministry at San Marcos. This year they're developing a ministry to athletes. "We don't start a new ministry unless we have a really strong student leader in that ministry," Ramiro said. "We're not able to be everywhere, so student leader quality is really important."
Ramiro also serves as an area director, overseeing three other campuses. He is looking ahead to some exciting developments in the next two months. He and his wife Wendi (also an InterVarsity area director) are expecting their first child at the end of November. Then at the end of December comes the LaFe conference for InterVarsity's Latino staff and students.
This conference's theme is Through the Crowd, and will be held December 27-31 in Addison, Texas. "Being a part of the LaFe 04 and LaFe 07 conferences were really formative experiences for me as a staff member," Ramiro said. "I am expecting LaFe 10 to be even better."
Ramiro sums up his campus ministry by saying, "My main passion is that I want students to find this God that found me," he said. "I want them to experience the same that I experienced."
__________________________
You can make a direct financial donation to support InterVarsity’s work at California State University—San Marcos by following this link.
