Week of Worship: PUC Students Share Personal Testimonies of Wholehearted Devotion to God

Throughout the years, Pacific Union College has been blessed by the powerful messages of pastors and guest speakers during special events such as week of prayer and vespers. But Student Week of Worship holds a unique significance, allowing students to speak authentically from their hearts to their peers.

From Jan. 22-26, PUC hosted its annual Student Week of Worship in the PUC Church and Paulin Hall. This year, five students representing different years and majors shared testimonies and reflections on the college’s overarching theme of the school year, “All In.”

The daily services began with Campus Chaplain Arturo Lopez warmly welcoming students, followed by student praise bands leading out in song. Most days, the student speaker was given a gracious introduction from a friend or peer.

On the first day, freshman theology major Jacob Duran delivered a heartfelt message titled “What Do You Hold in Your Hand?” He began by asking students to reflect on how they respond to calls from friends, then transitioned to the profound question of how they respond to the call of God. Drawing parallels from the stories of Jonah and Moses, Duran explored their different responses to God’s calling. He then shared his own story of answering the call to become a minister. He concluded by reminding students that God is the author of each story.

“When we share our stories and put them together, we make the most remarkable mosaic of who God is,” Duran said.

Jeremiah Douglas, also a first-year theology major, has been preaching for several years. In his Tuesday message, titled “All in with Jesus,” he guided students through the story of God’s sovereign presence and protection in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago. These boys, taken as prisoners to Babylon and stripped of possessions and names, exhibited an “all in” commitment to God and His law. Despite being thrown into the fiery furnace, their steadfast walk in faith led to their divine protection.

Douglas emphasized the message from this story, relating it to his own encounters with adversity. “When you go all in with Jesus,” he said, “not only will you be victimized, you will be promoted, and you will be protected. No one can make a way out like our God.”

Junior nursing student David Bui began his message by reading Psalm 34:4. “I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Bui openly shared about failing four nursing exams in a row and the ensuing anxiety about his future. His message, “Be ‘All In’ for Your Faith,” reflected on the story of David, who faced years of fear and depression while being persecuted by Saul.

“Your [relationship] with God is defined by what you do with that space of time between when you seek Him and when you find Him,” Bui said. “That’s where your faith is found.”

Nahomi Mendoza, a freshman pre-nursing student, delivered a message titled “All in with God in Sickness and Health.” She recalled her belief that following the rules would guarantee a perfect life, but then she understood the truth. Drawing comparisons to Job, Mendoza emphasized how Job, despite being “all in” with God, faced loss, trial, and suffering.

“The devil is like a lion. He’s onto everyone who is all in with God,” she said. “But God is with you and going to be there every step of the way. Being ‘all in’ means surrendering everything to God, even pain and suffering.”

Students gathered in Paulin Hall on the last day of the week of worship. Ashley Castro-Rodriguez, student association religious vice president, welcomed the visiting high school and academy students participating in PUC’s Pioneer Invitational Basketball Tournament.

Sophomore liberal studies major Leila Beltran shared her fear of failure in her message titled, “Hesitation About Going ‘All In.’” Using the stories of Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well, she emphasized the importance of letting things go—releasing them to follow Jesus.

“What was Nicodemus holding onto that he couldn’t let go,” Beltran asked students. “What are the things we hold onto that we can’t let go and follow Jesus? Perfectionism? Fear of failure?”

Beltran shared examples from her life of holding back but assured students that pushing past the fear and anxiety to go “all in” with Christ is worth it.

“The times that I’ve let Jesus in, I’ve been unexpectedly more blessed by it,” she said, “ I discover more about myself and life than I would if he wasn’t there.”

Reflecting upon the week, Lopez expressed gratitude for the students who shared their stories of struggle and commitment.

“Their vulnerability and openness about their struggles,” Lopez wrote in an email newsletter to campus, “served as a powerful testament to the ongoing work of God in their lives.”