The Fuego, a community evening Bible study at MiraCosta College, is Spanish for “fire.” Students wanted to ‘get fired up’ about their faith and sharing the gospel within their campus community. The students at MiraCosta began meeting this past summer to study the book of Acts and learn about the Holy Spirit’s involvement in their lives. Ministry at MiraCosta College happens primarily during the day, and this is the first evening activity that InterVarsity staff and students have initiated on campus.
Students decided that newcomers might feel overwhelmed about beginning a Bible study in the middle of the book of Acts; so they decided to begin with new material for the new semester. This fall, participants of The Fuego are studying the book of Ruth and its theme of love. The group is student led, and at least one non-Christian student comes each week. Every week new students are showing up and being welcomed into the group.
One week, Shane, a non-Christian student, brought two friends along to the Bible study. While these two students identified themselves as non-Christians, they stayed afterwards to talk and hang out with the members of the community. These students live over a half-hour away from where the meetings are held. “The InterVarsity students I’ve met through this study definitely broke my assumptions of what Christians and Jesus are like,” Shane shared with his new-found Christian community.
A student who accepted Christ earlier this school year brought her non-Christian friend to the group. With the help of Natalia, InterVarsity campus staff member, they’ve also begun a GIG (Groups Investigating God) Bible study for non-Christian students.
Earlier this semester, Marlena, one of the core student leaders for InterVarsity who leads worship, shared her testimony of how God is working in her life. In her own words:
“God has been transforming me in so many different ways. Ever since I entered college, I have had trouble with my identity. This past summer was a real challenge. I went through many cycles of depression and started to go back to old things and habits. I was professionally surfing again and thought that was what made me whole and that surfing was all I really needed. I started to walk away from God.
“Amber [InterVarsity campus staff] saw this and tried to help, but I was resistant. After a surfing accident, I was physically hurt and emotionally confused. At the beginning of this school year, I was still on leadership with InterVarsity and trying to get out of my junk. I really wanted to hear God’s voice and feel his presence again.
“On a Tuesday night at The Fuego, I admitted my need and surrendered everything to God. He immediately freed me from my prison, and I have been living in victory ever since. God has taken my past and brought me into him, led me into a relationship with him. He was still there through my darkness. God has transformed my heart. I know and see that I do not have to be a slave to myself. God took me out of myself and into him.”
God is healing and freeing people like Marlena as they see how God moves in a community that is focused on him. The InterVarsity community at MiraCosta College has grown this year. The Fuego started because students wanted to focus on true community.
For two hours a week, students are able to go deeper into the Scriptures and connect with each other in ways that take time and trust to accomplish. Participants are being vulnerable with each other, sharing their struggles and hopes. They want to invite other students into that community. Friendships within this community make it easier for students to strengthen relationships with family members and those not involved in The Fuego.
Establishing witnessing communities where God is the center of our relationships is how InterVarity seeks to transform students and faculty, renew the campus, and develop world-changers on campuses across the nation. InterVarsity students at MiraCosta College want to be fired up about their relationships with Jesus and with other people.
