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Writer's pictureEric Navas

More on (Good Shepherd Fellowship Church) CSUN UBF

Before I proceed there are some corrections that I needed to make.

CSUN UBF was split into two divisions. The division I talked about last time was the West LA UBF faction. A former UBF staff corrected me in this regard and for that I thank him. Also the West LA UBF’s chapter director is Paul Chin. West LA UBF not only have two other websites but it is also registered as a UBF chapter on the UBF main website not to mention two twitter accounts. One is private while the other is not.

West LA UBF registered as a UBF chapter: http://www.ubf.org/locations/west-la

West LA UBF private twitter account: https://twitter.com/westlaubf

West LA UBF’s public twitter account: https://twitter.com/wlosangelesubf

In the rest of this article I will talk about the other division Granada Hills UBF a.k.a North Hills UBF. Here is a life testimony of the chapter director of the North Hills UBF chapter director Gideon/Isaac “Aram” Klijian:

Webmaster Note: Gideon Klijian formerly[known as] Isaac at CSUN (His real name is Aram) was a former member of CSUN UBF which later became CSUN CMI. He became head of Granada Hills [North Hills] UBF after siding with Chicago [UBF]. This testimony is presented to clarify CMI misinformation that the false teachings of marriage by faith were occurring only in Chicago UBF and Bonn UBF, and “marriage by faith” is not a teaching in other chapters. This testimony shows that CMI “missionaries” of CSUN CMI were engaged in these teachings.

Location: http://baebong.ubf.or.kr/public/webzine/200110/mr2001-01.htm

MY BEAUTIFUL LIFE TESTIMONY

john 11: 25-26  Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?

Hello. My name is Shepherd Isaac [Gideon] Klijian, the eldest son of an Armenian immigrant to the U.S. I was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on May 8, 1966. When I was about two and a half years old my father decided to move our whole family to California. We settled in Van Nuys, California in 1968 where I lived and grew up for the next 29 years.

Growing up as a young child and teenager, I attended St. Peters Armenian Apostolic Church, but I had difficulty understanding the Classical Armenian language, which was spoken during Worship service. I used to look up at the sky above and stare at the stars. I wondered about how God could create the whole world and universe. Somehow I came to respect the church as Gods house; however, I didn’t personally meet Jesus and God yet. While I was attending elementary, junior and high school I was very much committed to studying hard. I was known to be very intellectual to my peers and finally graduated with honors from high school in 1985. I knew that I had many talents and became proud. Toward the end of my last high school year, I foolishly fell in love with my fourth cousin, Eliz, thinking that she was the most beautiful woman in the whole world. I was so blind and endlessly pursued her, thinking that she would be my wife someday; however, all of this resulted in receiving poor grades as a freshman in college. I didn’t have the courage to tell her about my feelings because of my shyness and only fantasized about making love to her in my mind, but all of this was a waste of time and effort.

I was without hope because the power of death took all my happiness away. As a teenager, I had trouble sleeping at night because I thought that if I fall asleep I may die, and my life would come to an end. As a freshman, I attended American Armenian International College and lived in a student dormitory nearby. On the weekends, I went back home to do laundry. I would often take the advice of my college friends, which led me to be more and more worldly and go in the wrong direction.

One day, near the end of my second semester as a freshman, I heard that there was going to be a dance on campus; however, I did not have a date. I went out and bought a new pair of pants and shirt so that I could impress a female student who would be interested in me. I prepared for hours for this social gathering, thinking that I would find the girl of my dreams at this dance; however, when I finally went to the dance that night, no one paid any attention to me. Even the people I knew very well seemed to ignore me. I quickly became depressed and ran out of the dance hall with a sense of despair. The night air was cold, and I wore only a thin shirt. As a result, I quickly became sick. I began to cough and tears began to run down my face from my eyes. I went into a fast-food restaurant nearby where I usually had lunch and dinner. The owner of the restaurant recognized me and was surprised that I was coughing and crying. He quickly brought me a cup of hot tea as a complimentary gesture to comfort me. As I sat there, I was trembling. Tears continued to flow from my eyes. I couldn’t stop feeling sorry for myself. I thought that no one loved me, not even my own parents. My heart was beating so fast that the table began to shake because I was holding onto the table so tightly with both hands. A high fever and sweat came over me. I returned to my dormitory room despite the fact that my car had problems starting. I thought that I could fall asleep, but I couldn’t because I was feeling horrible both physically and mentally.

I rolled out of bed and went down on my knees to pray. I figured that only God could help me at this time. I was reminded of the verses, John 11: 25 and 26, in which Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? At that moment, I realized that Jesus loves and knows me better than I know myself. Through these verses I came to realize who Jesus is and what it really means that he is Savior and Lord. I accepted him on that night as my Lord and Savior. Miraculously I began to feel much better, and an extraordinary sensation ran through my body. I had goose bumps all over.

It turned out later that I suffered from pneumonia; however, my fellowship with the Lord did not grow. I only read the bible once in a while without really understanding its meaning. This was the beginning of my college life. I couldn’t study well.

As my classes began to become even more difficult, I had even a harder time with passing my classes. Because of the high expense of attending a private college, I transferred to Los Angeles Valley College after a year and studied there for 2 years. In 1989, I finally transferred to CSUN. After transferring to CSUN in 1989, I was invited to group bible study by a fellow Christian student and classmate. There I began to truly understand what I was reading in the bible.

I went from one church to another, but couldn’t commit myself to one ministry. In the last week of April 1994, I met Missionary Sarah Tak at the CSUN campus. Although I was attending a group bible study on the campus at the time, I humbly accepted Missionary Sarah’s invitation to one-to-one bible study. While I studied one-to-one bible study with her, I accepted John 21:15-16. When they had finished eating Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these? Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my lambs. Again Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you truly love me? He answered, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Take care of my sheep. Through these verses, I realized that I could love Jesus first by taking care of his sheep on the campus and to feed them with Gods Word.

After I made a decision to be a shepherd of Gods flock, God sent me my first one-to-one bible study sheep, brother Arsenio Llobrera at the CSUN campus. One day, while having lunch together at McDonalds, I suggested we pray and at that moment he realized that I was a believer and began to ask me where I fellowship. I pointed toward the CSUN UBF center with my finger, saying thats where we meet to pray and have bible study together, and then I invited him to one-to-one bible study. He immediately replied that he wanted to study with me, and I became happy.

Through bible study, he accepted Gods Word very deeply and personally. Often times, he would want to study with me for five hours straight since he was so thirsty for the Word of God. I can still remember one time, when he had forgotten about our bible study appointment and didn’t show up. Instead he came 3 hours late. My eyes began to fill up with tears, and the tears began to flow down my face as I waited for him. I remembered Gods amazing Grace and shepherding Love toward a sinner like me, and at the same time saw how God was using me to be a shepherd for him. Later on, brother Arsenio went away and joined the U.S. Navy as an aircraft electrician. In one letter, brother Arsenio confessed that Jesus is the most important no matter what happens in his life. After reading his letter, I fell on my knees sobbing heavily because I was amazed how Gods love toward me had changed me to become a bible teacher and one-to-one shepherd.

I was once a romantic man who had a false hope to marry the most beautiful woman in the world. My thoughts and dreams were lustful and meaningless; however, thank God who made me to be a humble one-to-one shepherd with a clear direction. Thank God who helped me to repent of my meaningless, lustful, and hopeless thoughts and deeds. Through Gods training as a one-to-one shepherd, I accepted Gods mission to live as Jesus disciple, spread the gospel of Jesus, and to teach it to his lost sheep on the campus.

One day when I was challenged by my shepherd Missionary Sarah Tak and Abraham Tak to marry by faith, I accepted Gods Will with a prayerful heart. Actually I had started praying for my marriage seven years before I married. When I saw Missionary Rebekah Lee for the first time, my heart was moved because of her clear faith and strength in God. And shortly thereafter I secretly confessed to Missionary Sarah that I liked Missionary Rebekah very much. At first, Missionary Sarah couldn’t believe it, and she asked me to pray with her concerning marriage. One thing led to another, and the day came when I had to tell my parents that I wanted to marry a Korean missionary. My father became furious, and his face and head turned red out of anger. My mom and grandmother were also very upset. I was persecuted a lot for at least two weeks. CSUN UBF missionaries and co-workers all prayed everyday so that God would change and soften the hearts of my family. Amazingly, God softened the hearts of not only my family but the hearts of Missionary Rebekah’s family as well. Amazingly, my father joyfully hugged Missionary Rebekah’s father with many tears in his eyes and accepted Missionary Rebekah as his daughter. Gods Grace and power were revealed to my father and mother through my heart and the heart of Missionary Rebekah. My father could see how wonderfully Missionary Rebekah is and blessed our wedding abundantly. Of course, Missionary Rebekah’s family blessed us too. It was amazing to see the work of God who established our family to be an international shepherd family.

God has blessed my family so much, ever since I accepted Gods mission to feed his precious sheep with his everlasting and living Word.

As I was on the airplane on my way to come to Korea, I again remembered the Love of God who changed me and gave me a clear direction to live as a one-to-one shepherd and bible teacher. I glanced over and looked at my two-year-old son Isaac and my co-worker Missionary Rebekah, then tears started flowing down my face again because I realized how much God has blessed me. Somehow it was hard to stop crying, but Missionary Rebekah noticed and wiped away my tears. And I was so excited to come here that I couldn’t even sleep for one minute on the airplane.

Unfortunately, in the UBF ministry some divisions have occurred among many chapters around the world. I heard that the reform movement started in Korea; however, when I noticed that Missionary Isaiah Yoo decided to side with the Reform UBF I was a little bit discouraged and at same time confused. So, I began to pray about this matter. Through my time praying and meditating on Gods Word, I received two main points. First, God doesn’t want me to divide Gods ministry. And secondly, he wants me to hold onto His pure Word.

Everyone has weak points; however, when we only look at each others weak points we gain nothing. Then how can we glorify God? When I sincerely prayed to God, he reminded me of Genesis 9: 20-27. Ham had ridiculed his father because of his weak point; however, Noah’s two other sons, Shem and Japheth, covered their fathers nakedness. This Word reassured me that I should never look at another persons weak point. Rather, I should always cover their weak points with the love of God and Jesus Christ. And also 1 Corinthians 4:10-11 say: By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. So, the foundation has been already built, which is Jesus Christ. This word made me realize how important it is to hold onto the pure Word of God in order to be a humble servant of God. Jesus Christs foundation has been already laid and can be seen in the pure Word of God.

These words of God gave me the power and courage to leave CSUN UBF and attend  LA UBF for a while in order to see Gods guiding hand. Of course, it was not so easy to make a decision of faith to leave CSUN UBF. But God helped and reassured Missionary Rebekah and me through his precious Word. While we earnestly prayed together for Gods guidance, God reminded us of our original calling from God to be a one-to-one bible shepherd and disciple-maker.

When I prayed with Shepherd Cephas Kye, I accepted Gods vision of a church on a hill in LA as my own vision from God. As I was praying for Gods direction and spirit, I was reminded of Jesus words in Matthew 16: 18-19. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Through my struggle with Gods Word and my faith in Christ, Jesus has already promised to build his church upon my house church and me. Jesus already crushed the head of Satan and overcame the powers of evil and death. And Jesus promises to give the keys of the kingdom of God. This means, Jesus is willing to listen to his humble servant and to co-work with him in order to build his church. In Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.

After returning to Los Angeles, I will pioneer the C.O.C campus. Therefore, if God wants me to pioneer one campus by faith, God can do it. God is powerful and willing. Thank God who saved a wondering, romantic, meaningless man such as myself and changed me to have a shepherd heart for his precious and needy sheep. Thank God who helped me to make a decision of faith to marry a woman of God to establish an international shepherd family for campus sheep. Thank God who gave me a discerning heart to hold onto the pure word of God. Thank God who gave me his vision to pioneer one campus by faith. I pray that the Lord God may make me very humble.

Oh Lord, help me to meditate on your precious Word day and night so that I may receive from you the full portion of your Spirit. Make me to be a powerful messenger and disciple-maker. Lord, build your glorious church on a hill through me and my family so that your name and eternal kingdom may be glorified.

One Word: The love of Jesus changed me to be a shepherd for campus sheep.

AMEN

Source: http://web.archive.org/web/20060823222249/http://escape.exubf.org:80/writings/isaac_klijian.htm

You’d noticed how Klijian’s testimony is a typical UBF life testimony? All UBF life testimonies follow the same A B C format.

  • A. I’m a sinner and my life was sinful (even if there is a Christian background)

  • B. I met “god” meaning UBF through a “shepherd”

  • C. My life became better after meeting “god”

What is interesting to note is that in Klijian’s testimony he mentions the third reform movement of 2000-2001 and Isaiah Yoo siding with CMI [Reform UBF] in addition to UBF chapters having divisions. However, Klijian does not talk nor mention the CSUN UBF  division specifically.

The “Reformed” CSUN UBF never reformed or that they started to then stopped. For North Hills UBF is registered as a UBF chapter on the UBF main website: http://www.ubf.org/locations/north-hills

Here is North Hills UBF’s website: http://granadahills.university-bible-fellowship.org/

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