November 2007
We recently had the privilege of interviewing
Jeremy Anderson, the soft-spoken Turlock Chi Alpha pastor.
Jeremy serves as the full-time missionary/pastor with
his wife, Debora. They have been married just three
years, and have been at Chi Alpha since the beginning
of their marriage. Jeremy and Debora consider it a full-time
joy to be serving God in this ministry. Although they
serve together, this interview was with Jeremy Anderson
only. We hope you enjoy reading about the Turlock chapter
of Chi Alpha, and its leader. If you would like further
information, please use the link and peruse their website.
Us: What is your vision for the students?
JA: Our vision, as a ministry, is to see the kingdom
of heaven manifest on our campus and delivered to the
nations. Our vision, specifically, is to minister to
students in every arena of their life. But also, to
walk with them on this journey…the spiritual,
the academic, the social, financial…every arena.
Us: Did you grow up wanting to be in the ministry?
JA: Well, I didn’t grow up at all as a Christian!
So, no. But, definitely, when I gave my life to the
Lord at seventeen, I saw a missionary that came to speak
at my church and I was, like, I’ll do anything
but that! I had a real, strong career, scholarship all
planned out. But a turn of events and God began to reveal
to my heart, He just gave ma a strong burden for college
students that were on the campus and, ultimately, for
the nations. As time went on I took my first trip into
(northern) Africa.
Us: What did you have a scholarship in?
JA: A culinary school. I was going to be a chef!
Us: So, how did you come to be a Chi Alpha pastor?
JA: Oh, well basically, when I gave my life to Christ
in college, I found a Chi Alpha on my campus. I was
plugged in and my campus pastor invested into my life.
He just intensely continued to meet with me and disciple
me, keep me accountable, and I grew. After three years,
I became a student leader within that ministry. I was
praying about my direction. I was finishing my junior
college. There were some doors opening, not only in
Sacramento, but in Turlock. I had never heard of Turlock
before in my life! So I prayed about it. It was just
one of those things that God made clear.
Us: Tell me about your family, your wife.
JA: Oh man, my wife is the love of my life! We met
at my church, Harvest Christian Center. We knew each
other a couple years. Right as we were getting married,
God called us to do this full-time, as home missionaries.
This (speaking of Chi Alpha) is completely a team effort.
God brought us together and we are co-laborers in this
ministry. We have no children yet, but we’re definitely
looking forward to that! She (Debora) has a lot of wisdom,
but doesn’t like to speak as much. My wife is
an incredible mentor. She’s meeting with fifteen
girls, and mentors them personally. She’s very
creative. She brings that element to us. She’s
very strong.
Us: What are your favorite things about being a missionary
/pastor?
JA: It really is, not to sound cliché, but getting
to look into the eyes and the lives of the students
who are forever changed because they had a run-in, an
encounter with a loving and powerful God. Miracles are
great! Not only a salvation, but a transformed life…I
can’t get over that!! I love it!
Us: Because you pour into others mainly, how do you
keep yourself spiritually fed?
JA: Well, I have a great church! That always helps!
I have an incredible pastor, Ron Eivaz. He pours into
me and my wife, he and his wife. They invest into us
personally… even as a ministry. Um, a lot of online
ministries. Stuff from Bethel (Church in Redding,CA),
from the pastor and the leadership there. And we have
a 24 hour prayer house. That’s probably number
one. We spend as much time as we can there, worshipping
and praying.
Us: How does Chi Alpha serve our community?
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JA: It may not be the most visible ministry in your city,
town or community. What I can point to may sound a little
abstract, but you can look at your average college town
(and I don’t write them all off as drunks or party-ers,
I don’t mean that at all) the number one disease
on college campuses is depression. There are people who
are under a lot of pressure from families, from their
professors, and, in addition, they’re looking at
what they’re supposed to do with their lives once
they have degrees, once they’re out. Our ministry
is to serve the campus. We’re bringing up healthy
men and women of God….people who have right perspective.
Us: What kind of exciting developments are coming up?
JA: Yeah, I have to make mention of a foundation called
The Miracle Foundation, that, not only let’s us
lease our building for like, nothing a year, but they’ve
really helped and come alongside of us in terms of helping
with this parking lot and the funding for that . We’re
in the process of obtaining these townhouses (located
directly behind Chi Alpha’s parking lot) to serve
and house international students from all around the world.
We’ve expanded from Merced College to UC Merced.
The future vision there is to have our own Chi Alpha building
in Merced in close proximity to those campuses. Every
year, we send team of students around the world, particularly
into third world, needy countries to 1) give them a global
perspective and a heart for that, but, 2) to really open
their eyes to what they can do from home, here, to minister
to nations around the world.
Us: Where do you see you and your wife, Debora, in five
years?
JA: In five years I see us here. I see us continuing
the growth in the ministry. I see us with more staff alongside
us. At a healthier place In every arena, uh, financially.
I see us with children!
Us: If there are readers who want to help you see your
vision come to pass, what can they do?
JA: If your readers see this vision, and they understand
it and they feel like they want to come alongside us,
if they are people of prayer, we’re always soliciting
prayer! We are constantly in need of the covering and
the favor of God, that comes from the prayers of people
who truly believe that. In addition, there are families,
businesses, and ministries locally and abroad that give
into the ministry of Chi Alpha financially. They help
support us in everything, from sending students overseas
during the summer to continuing to build the ministry
we have, and to resource our students. We really do try
to keep things at a reduced price for our students, whether
it’s conference or materials, things like that to
help them grow. In addition to that, all the people that
are on staff here are home missionaries and, they need
support.
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