Kristina Wong

“Let us not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

Beginning in June 2022, a new initiative named “Sprouts” took root, marking a significant step forward in nurturing faith and community among college students and young post-grads. Spearheaded by several dedicated ALIVE Alumni, this fellowship program sought to bridge a critical gap in support for college students at CBCGB. The vision was clear: to create a continuous stream of fellowship and support that would accompany students through their college years and beyond.

Historically, the ALIVE program offered unwavering support for youths from middle school through high school, providing a solid foundation for their faith journey. Charis provides a strong community for adults settled in the area long-term. However, a notable gap in fellowship emerged for those within the college sphere. As a result, college students and recent graduates are left at home during the summer without a dedicated support network.

Meeting every Wednesday evening from 7:30 to 9:00 pm in Building 151, the “Sprouts” program has been a beacon of hope and connection. This initiative allowed college students to cultivate a robust faith community through regular Bible studies and worship nights. Yet, the program didn’t confine itself to spiritual activities alone; it expanded to include potlucks, board game nights, and shared meals, creating a vibrant social and spiritual environment.

Looking ahead, “Sprouts” aims to build on this momentum, continuing to offer support through care packages and Zoom calls as students return to their campuses. The vision for the program is dynamic and adaptable, reflecting the changing locations and needs of the students each summer. 

The group of students and organizers inevitably evolves each year, because college students often have limited control over where they are located in the summer. This has posed a challenge for maintaining continuous fellowship, because each summer there are changes to “Sprouts” leadership. Available team members must be re-identified, and the previous years’ work building out community has to be remade with a different group of students. For now, the program has been blessed with several members who have graduated from college and in the Greater Boston area long-term, who are able to provide a backbone of support. Another great blessing has been the foundation laid within the ALIVE program – because many students know one another, the fellowship is often filled with familiar faces, even if the overall group may change year to year. 

While the path forward is not entirely set in stone, the initial success of “Sprouts” is a promising start for its future. The involvement and investment from CBCGB leadership are essential to sustaining this vital programming throughout the school year and during the summer months. For now, this summers’ launch of “Sprouts” is a promising start, offering continuity of support for students – many of whom grew up in CBCGB. 

Leadership Team: Petek Altug, Evan Fang, Simon Wang, Kristina Wong, Emilie Xi, Matthew Xia.

Kristina Wong is a current senior at Duke University studying Computer Science and Public Policy. Growing up, she spent every Friday going to ALIVE and assisted on worship and servant team. She credits ALIVE for the incredible community of faith she’s been surrounded with, which has remained with her throughout her college years. After graduation, she looks forward to coming back to Boston and hopes to continue fostering the same support network for others.

Edited by Hongxing Zhang