During my undergrad years at UCLA in late 80s, I was extremely active in an evangelical Christian worship group called the University Christian Fellowship, or UCF for short. It was a tightknit bunch of 30 or so folks from various denominations and backgrounds who gathered a couple of times a week for worship-sharing (singing), bible study and prayer. They were like family to me.
Recently I got an email from Larry Dunn, the old pastor of UCF while I was there. Coincidentally I was in Los Angeles for a conference, so I dropped him a line and we chatted for about half an hour. Apparently Larry ran into another former UCF member which inspired him to try and track down people who were active in the community back then.
Talking with Larry brought me back to a time in my life that I haven’t thought of for years.
The four years or so that I was active in UCF were simpler, largely happy times for me. I felt like I had a larger purpose to my life, that I was being a leader and an example for others. And I was among a warm and loving community of people that cared for me. We socialized together, did all-night study sessions together, went on trips, and rented apartments with each other.
I remember fondly blissful evenings spent at Santa Monica beach with my friends from UCF, singing Christian songs and telling stories as the moon rose over the Pacific. And I cringe a little thinking about the Christian drama group that I ran called “Agape Joe” that performed some of the worst street theater ever. Ah, good times, good times.
That life feels so foreign to me now, like it happened in a dream.
Some of my UCF friends, and many many others who were there before me, are apparently gathering at my old pastor’s house in the next week or so. I’d be curious to see how people turned out after all this time. Many of them still seem quite religious still, ministers in their own churches or living abroad as a missionary.
My own faith journey has gone in a different direction, obviously. I love being a Quaker and what that stands for. Quakerism feels so much closer to my best and truest self. I wonder how that would be received by some of my old evangelical Christian friends? Only one way to find out.
Okay, I’ll bite.
I’m new to your blog, so I’m not sure if you’ve spent millions of words on explaining your faith and what’s different now.
I’d love to hear what you believe these days. I can read definitions of Quakerism on the internet, but that seems to mean a lot of different things to different people.
I would hope that all Evangelicals, but especially your family at UCF would receive you with open hearts and love no matter what you believe. I certainly will.
I too have nothing but fond memories of those years…but I didn’t think Agape Joe was so bad…I still have my T-shirt! 🙂
Are you still in love with the letter X? Ah, good times, good times…
Erika! OMG, so wonderful to hear from you!
I still have my Agape Joe shirt as well, which has definitely seen better days. 🙂
I haven’t written too much in this blog about my spiritual journey, since it is largely confined to my work and fascination with technology and non-profits, plus some dancing on the side. Still, I’d love to correspond with you and some of other other UCFers about how I got here and the things I profess nowadays. I’ll try and write you directly as soon as I can.
I do still love the letter X. Here’s some work I had done on my old tattoo recently: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikomatic/2333755097/
I’ve always thought that your tattoo was really cool. (And trust me, I’m not so much of a tattoo person!) Cool additions.
Yes, correspond with me! You’ve got my facebook, and my email. Or give me a call sometime…I’m listed…
Looking forward,
Erika
Wow, similar story here. I still get in great conversations with my former flock via myspace….some are ministers and wives of ministers, or missionaries out the field, and we get into long discussions about core ideals and crises of faith. They always ask me why I am no longer attending a Christian church, but once we talk about our paths the friendship is strong despite the divergence in our roads. I’ve found that most Christians I know from my evangelical days are still warm with me, but they are a bit confused or threatened by my ecumenical approach, especially as it reflects some of their own self-doubt and questions.
Enjoy the reconnection, it’s amazing to watch these communities reconnect and share.
Rik, we went to the reunion today and had several warm conversations with “old” friends. We missed you. I have also wondered at times how my theology and practice as a confessional Lutheran christian would be received.
I can assure you that you are not the only “different” one in the crowd as a Quaker. Larry rejoiced over the many and varied expressions of the Christian faith of those present at the reunion, as well as those that couldn’t make it. It ran the gamut from Brethren (outfits and all) to Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Emergent, Seventh Day Adventist, charismatic, pentecostal and garden variety evangelical.
The net had been cast wide and far, my friend. Christ embraces all in His death and resurrection, even Quakers!
-Andy (Class of ’91)