Partners in Faith
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1
Over the years, Gracepoint has been honored to learn from many remarkable heroes of faith who challenged, inspired, and encouraged us to run our own spiritual races with more vigor and passion. We received their words and their living examples with much joy, continue to pray for them, and eagerly anticipate the next time we can meet.
Chuck Colson
For many years, Chuck Colson’s books (such as Loving God and The Body) inspired us and brought us to tears. At the 2004 Worldview Conference in Marin County, we finally had the opportunity to meet the former Special Counsel to President Nixon whose life was transformed after his conversion in prison following the wake of the Watergate scandal, and who subsequently founded Prison Fellowship. Our relationship with Mr. Colson developed through the Centurions Program which Mr. Colson founded to train Christian leaders to influence their communities through intensive studies on Christian worldview. Mr. Colson came and spoke to our congregation in January 2006. We were awed and inspired in the presence of this unstoppable man who, at the age of 75, was as energetic and sharp and zealous as any of us and is still tirelessly serving God through his ministries. When he shared that it was the cross that drove him to never let up, we got a glimpse of the humility and passion that fuels him.
Glenn Sunshine
In June 2006, Glenn Sunshine came to give us a series of lectures surveying Christianity’s impact throughout world history. Professor and Department Chair of History at Central Connecticut State University, Dr. Sunshine provided us with a treatment of history that examined Christianity’s role in science, society, and the Reformation.
William Dembski
In May 2006, Dr. Dembski gave two lectures on the UC Berkeley campus presenting the claims and principal tenets of Intelligent Design. During his time with us, we were challenged by his quiet humility, and the intellectual rigor and honesty with which he pursued truth, in spite of the Darwinian scientific naturalism entrenched in his academic field.
Greg Koukl
In April 2003, Mr. Koukl shared with us that to communicate the Gospel more effectively to the generation around us, each believer must be trained and equipped to be a winsome ambassador of the Gospel who can relevantly engage today’s culture. President and founder of Stand to Reason, Mr. Koukl spoke on the UC Berkeley campus and joined us for our Sunday worship service. On March 2007, Mr. Koukl returned to UC Berkeley campus to give us another engaging talk on "Any Old God Won't Do."
Thom Wolf
“The Gospel that has come to you must now go through you.” Dr. Wolf’s stirring exhortation to us came in March 2001. Previously a Professor at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and founding pastor of the Church on Brady, his passion for world missions was evident to us all. Dr. Wolf continues to engage in India mission work, and his passion continues to sustain him and touch many lives. In Feb 2007, Dr. Wolf came and gave us a stirring message from John 17, challenging us to discern the times.
William Lane Craig
Dr. Craig, Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and noted scholar of Christian apologetics, gave two lectures on both the UC Berkeley and Stanford campuses in April 2003. “The Existence of God” and “Evidence for the Resurrection” drew huge crowds and provided many opportunities for conversation. As a church, we are privileged to provide monthly support for Dr. Craig’s work and are challenged and blessed through his newsletters that detail his latest ministries and academic work.
J.P. Moreland
Our longstanding relationship with (Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Christian apologist) Dr. Moreland, began in 1996, when he spoke at the UC Berkeley campus. Since then, Dr. Moreland has conducted a week-long seminar, teaching us to love God with our minds and our intellect by thinking Christianly, and applying the right intellectual rigor towards all areas of life. We continue to support Dr. Moreland to this day and have been inspired by the depth of his personal relationship with God, and his example of intellectual engagement with the world. This year of 2007, we will have the privilege of hosting Dr. Moreland on June 29 & 30th. Stay tuned for more information.
Our church has had the privilege of being inspired and stirred to action through retreats led by guest speakers who shared riveting testimonies, including Mike & Cindy Edson, Marilyn Laszlo (a missionary who spent 24 years with the Sepik Iwam people in Papua New Guinea), Peter Hong, and Dennis & Holly Hair. We were most touched and challenged by each of their personal love and zeal of God, and how He used them in mighty ways.