campus groups Testimonials

When I first started ONE on ONE with GOD, I really think I was searching for a way to become closer to Him.

I didn’t know how to read my Bible or study it or ponder and picture and pray. I was trying to learn, but what I was doing just wasn’t working. I think God saw me as willing but a little lost.

Now God finds me wanting to know Him. He finds me really trying to become friends with Him instead of just thinking of Him as high and mighty God. Now I am still struggling a little, but I’m working on it and I have the tools to do it. I am a lot closer to God now, and I just think of all the things that God will reveal to me throughout my life because of the habits I’ve started in ONE on ONE. It has taught me so much! It’s taught me how to read my Bible and the how of so many things. People are always telling us what to do, but they don’t always tell us how to do it. I still have a long way to travel on my walk with Christ, but I feel like I’ve climbed a mountain this summer (which I actually have!). But really, this has taught me so much, and I am continuing to strengthen my relationship with Christ every day.

Stephanie R.

University student

Before I started ONE on ONE with GOD, God found me troubled by silly things and focused on the wrong things.

I couldn’t concentrate on my Bible study. I was studying instead of listening to God and meditating. He found me wondering what the summer would hold, wondering why I was back at Ridgecrest again. He found me not focused on knowing Him but focused on knowing more of the Bible and having a steady devotion.

Today God finds me eager to learn more about Him and His viewpoint. I’m less worried about little things and more focused on what He wants me to do. He finds me humbled at how much I don’t know about Him and how much I still want to know. He finds me learning and knowing that He has a plan for my life. He has taught me that it’s more important Whom I know that what I know.

Kate D.

University student

Before I started ONE on ONE with GOD, I felt I was a fairly solid Christian.

I just needed help in certain areas. I believe ONE on ONE helped prepare me to be a better Christian and gave me a desire to seek the lost. It also gave me a desire for a quiet time. I believe I am more equipped for offense and a life for Christ.

Josh B.

When I started ONE on ONE with GOD, I was in need of rest and of being fed.

I was being poured out and poured out and used, and I was empty. I knew no one at Ridgecrest, so I was alone, but God was with me. He had a plan for me this summerŠ—”to change me, to mold me, to teach me, to fill me, and to strengthen me in my pursuit of Him. I felt like I was coming to this place in the mountains to hide and escape, where no one knew anything about me or my past or my struggles. But God did. He wanted to use this place to change me, to alter my mindset, to burn a passion within me, and to give me the love that He desired to shower upon me.

After completing ONE on ONE, I feel like God has spoken to me in new ways. I have had old and basic truths revealed in a new way. I have been filled to the brim with Him! God has taught me so much about who He is and who I am in Him. He has given me a greater desire to love and serve Him for one pure and holy passion: for His glory and not my own. God wanted to take me away from everything that was comfortable in my life in order to change me and continue to shape me into His image. I am leaving this place with more discipline, more passion, and more of a love for Him.

Melissa P.

University student

When I started ONE on ONE, I was doing a daily quiet time, but it was only for head knowledge.

I wasn’t really applying it to my life. I thought myself a pretty strong Christian. After finishing ONE on ONE, I really work at listening to God speak when I read my Bible. I try to apply it to my life and not just read the Word. I know that without the growth I’ve undergone this summer, I would never be able to handle what is happening back home with my family. I know God put this study into my life at the perfect time, and I am so thankful for it. I plan on totally making God my #1 priority (my determined purpose) for the rest of my life.

N.J.

When I began ONE on ONE with GOD, God found me in princess modeŠ—”I had been served and stuffed back at school.

When I arrived at camp, I quickly found that I had to work a lot, and I had misconceptions. I was rather pompous, arrogant about the place and the ministry I had come from. At time I could mentally see myself in princess get-up (tiara and everything!), throwing a temper tantrum because of the pedestal I had put myself on by listening to others.

After finishing the course, God finds me now very humbled and put in my right place. My serving others has changed. However, He also finds me exhausted because I have given too much out and not reserved enough time for me and Him. He finds me ready to get back to school where my life is basic and more controlled. He finds me pulling back into myself to where I don’t listen to others’ opinions about me. All that matters I my relationship with GodŠ—”He takes care of the rest.

Jenny H.

Before I began ONE on ONE with GOD, I was not studying specifically.

I was just reading and praying. I had no certain plan of trying to know God. I wanted more, and I wanted to know more.

Now I have a definite plan of reading the Bible. I am listening more for how God is teaching me. I am asking Him who He wants me to disciple for Him. I know He loves me and is always there. He cares about every detail of my life. I have a desire to memorize His Word and to do the Bible studies because I have never been taught this. Thank you for your obedience to God in your disciple-making. May I now go out and glorify God by discipling others. You have given me the tools I need.

Melissa M.

University student

When I started ONE on ONE with GOD, I was lostŠ—”not lost without Him but lost because I didn’t turn to Him when I should haveŠ—_I never meditated or talked to anyone about Him.

I was ashamed and lost and confused.

Today God finds me relying on His strength to get through each day. When I have my quiet time and read the Daily Commitment Reminder, I see that we do live every day by itself, and without yielding to His power and control, I am unsuccessful. Without Him I am nothing. Without Him I would be a very mean and conceited girl. I am still learning to express my love for Him, and as I do, He becomes more real and plays a larger role in my lifestyle.

I am not ashamed at this moment. After having a prayer partner (this was new for me), sharing became easier because I helped her to clear up her eternityŠ—_God has taught me how much better your friendships can be if He is a part of them.

I have learned that the study is not academic. It’s having the Š—“ultimate experience,Š— as Billy Graham says. Meditation with ponder-picture-pray has really lifted my walk and helped me to perceive, recognize, and understand Him. I will continue to seek Him because that’s my purpose. Thank you!

Shannon B.

University student

When I started ONE on ONE with GOD, I was a growing Christian who attended church regularly, read my Bible daily, was involved in Christian ministries, and prayed for God’s direction in my life.

Many times, however, my walk with God became a routine rather than an exciting and intimate relationship. I knew all the right things to say and do, and I tried to obey God. I talked to Him, but I didn’t recognize that I didn’t know Him as well as I should. I looked for things like Bible studies, worship services, and conferences to feed my spiritual needs. I was missing out on a lot of the spiritual realm by getting too caught up in the physical, worldly realm. I didn’t realize how much I needed to learn to feed myself and pray with sincerity and yearn for intimacy with God.

God has shown me through ONE on ONE that there is so much more to the Christian life than I was envisioning. He has shown me how to feed myhself by reading the Bible, meditating, memorizing, studying, praying, and applying His Word to my life. He has shown me the amazing conversations I can have with others when I am willing to open up about Him. He has also shown me how to pray not generally but individually and personally. He has shown me many areas of need in my life and how I can learn and grow simply by yielding to His control over me. I have learned how I need to commit every day to Him. I have also been convicted about the way that I treat others and that I need to be a better disciple for Him. I have grown so much this summer, and I praise God for this blessed opportunity He has given me.

Deborah J.

University student

I wanted to learn how to seek God, and I actually thought I knew how.

Beginning ONE on ONE with GOD I felt that the principles were things I had already figured out. But as we dug deeper, I learned so much more than I ever thought I could.

As I go back to a school amidst non-believers and believers alike, I feel prepared. So many times I speak with friends who, like me, want to go deeper but struggle with not knowing how. I feel like I have been required to disciple my friends and new Christians. Not only have I learned how to help others, but I have personally been taught how to truly know my Master, Maker, and true Lover of my soul. I find myself at a point of such gratitude to my leader and friend, who has been so encouraging and persistent as I have gone through this journeyŠ—_ I will always be grateful and thankful that God brought me to this study, to this place where I have begun to learn my determined purpose: to become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him.

T.K.

University student

When I first started ONE on ONE with GOD, I had just finished my freshman year of college.

My quiet times that year had started out well but had quickly dwindled. By the end of the year they were practically nothing. I had the desire to search out God and what He had in store for me, but I never made the effort. Both God and I knew that something had to change if I was going to get my life right with God, and that something had to be me.

After completing ONE on ONE, I find myself with so much more hope of searching after God and a greater desire to study and learn about Him. I know what my purpose is (Philippians 3:10) and try to keep that in the forefront of my mind by repetition. I realize that my time with God is not something I have to doŠ—”a choreŠ—”but it is something I look forward to each and every day. I realize how important communication is and how I need to move ideas from my head to my heart so my time can be more intimate with God. I know how much God loves me, Katie, and how important I am to Him. But now I must share that love with others around me and not hide my joy. I pray that I won’t be timid or scared of rejection but that I will be open and excited about discipling others. What a journey God has for me and how much I’ve learned about it through ONE on ONE! I can’t wait to see what is in store for the future!

Katie C.

University student

When I started ONE on ONE with GOD, I was basically doing my quiet times out of habit.

I knew I had to do them, so I just did. This goes for prayer as well. It wasn’t anything intimate with God. I also was reading the Bible like I would a textbookŠ—”Š—“Let’s see what I can learn today.Š— But again, it wasn’t intimate.

Today the Bible has come alive for me in a whole new way. It is truly God’s love letter, written especially for me. My prayer time has also become more intimate. I talk about the little things as well as the big things. I don’t feel like my quiet times are a chore any more, but they are something I look forward to and enjoy. ONE on ONE is definitely a spiritual marker in my journey. It has renewed my passion for God.

M.S.

University student

When I first started ONE on ONE with GOD, I was lacking so much.

Although I had accepted Jesus as my personal Savior at an early age, I could tell that something was missing. It was the lack of knowledge of how to really know God. I knew the night I sat through the overview that this would reveal to me what I needed to know.

Now even though I know I have so far to go, my relationship with God is closer, much more personal, and so much more meaningful than it’s ever been in my entire life. It is wonderful to think that it is going to get so much better than I could ever imagine! ONE on ONE has shown me things about myself and about God that I have never seen or noticed before. I loved it!

K.B.

University student

When I started ONE on ONE with GOD, I was one who had a lot of head knowledge but not too much heart knowledge.

I was probably more knowledgeable than wise. But after finishing, God finds me as one who at least knows how to gain more wisdom and more personal convictions. I am more able to reproduce myself.

Kirk R.

University student

I am a student at Montana State University, and I think one of my favorite parts about ONE on ONE with GOD is the organization.

I have been a Christian for five years, and I’ve finally been shown how to organize concepts I’ve been taught and keep them organized. The book is such a nice size, and the lessons are really fun to work through.

V.T.

During the school year, I was extremely inconsistent in being faithful in my quiet times to God.

I would have them maybe two or three times a week. Many times I would blame that on having very little time, but I admit I lacked the passion to spend time with God daily. Also, I was lost on how to start my own ministry with some other guys who would be on campus. I didn’t know how to approach a ministry or how to disciple someone else or where I could start.

After finishing ONE on ONE with GOD, I have developed a true love for investing my time with God daily, not only through quiet times but just reading books other than the Bible that also teach me about the Christian life. I have not missed a quiet time this summer. I now feel that if I ever do miss one, I would strongly be convicted. I would stay up through the wee hours of the night if I had not had one that day. I have developed a lifestyle! Praise God! Also, I now have a tool to disciple other guys. This program is great, and its key verse, Philippians 3:10, is truly a phenomenal passage. God has made me realize that whatever I ask for, He will provide. At the end of the last school year, I asked God to show me something so I can start discipling guys. He definitely provided for a ministry next year.

Sam G.

I finished ONE on ONE with GOD and was truly blessed through the whole book.

The two main areas of my walk that it helped the most were my prayer life and mental discipline. It helped my prayer life by teaching me that it takes an effort on my part to have an effective prayer life. By writing down my prayer requests, not only do I remember what I need to pray for, but it is easier to see God answering my prayers. And He always answers, praise God!

The study has also helped me to get more focused on my walk with Christ. It has helped in my study habits and on just being still to let God be God.

Michael S.

Before I went through ONE on ONE with GOD, God found me literally lost and consumed with other things besides Him.

My dependence and worth were elsewhere. I was not in the Word, and quiet times were something I strived for but never achieved. I was so full of doing stuff for God and professing I was this committed Christian when really I wasn’t. Emotions and worldly things had begun to consume me to where I had drifted so far from God. He found me searching for something that was obviously missing in my life. I was so worried about the next thing that I never focused on the present. He found me loving other things besides Him. He found me confused.

Today God finds me back on track. I now am excited about getting in the Word every day. I am getting better at loving others, myself, and God. He has taught me lots about the influence I have on others and how I can be a witness to the lost. He finds me still searching but for the right goal. God has used ONE on ONE to help me regain my focus and want to make my life more like His. I now see truths in His Word that apply to my life.

Elizabeth M.

University student

When I began ONE on ONE with GOD, I found myself doing more workbook studies and doing my quiet times at night.

. I always tried praying and worshiping God.

ONE on ONE with GOD has helped me to get into the Word and move the Word from my head to my heart. Pondering, picturing, and praying was such a helpful tool. It also showed me how to open up and talk to others about what God was revealing or saying to me. I also found myself wanting to do ONE on ONE in the morning and having that special time with God then.

Susan M.

University student

When I started ONE on ONE with GOD, I was very eager to be refined and very eager to learn.

I wanted to really grow in God, but I wasn’t too sure how to accomplish that. I wasn’t really going anywhere in my walk with God.

After finishing ONE on ONE, I’m a bit perplexed. I have all these things in my head right now, and I feel a little overwhelmed. I’m praying to God that He can help sort all this stuff out. But I’m incredibly excited about what God is doing in my life. I am even more excited about what God will be doing in my life. I can’t wait to see what God has down the road for me!

Aaron M.

University student