ISU Bengal

Issue date: 9/5/07 Section: News

Students listen intently to the Christian ministryprovided by Chi Alpha in the Canoe Room

Pocatello - Some ISU clubs claim to give you a good time, but Chi Alpha claims to lead you to Jesus Christ, and thereby save your soul.
According to ISU football punter Daniel Zeidman, being an active member of Chi Alpha has changed his life. Last year the San Diego native was having a "hard time" when the chaplain of his team and his teammates reached out to him.
After a trip from playing the University of Nevada - Las Vegas, his teammates and the chaplain finally convinced him to come to a Chi Alpha meeting even though he thought that being a Christian meant being perfect and judge others.
At the meeting, Zeidman stated that he saw how much fun his teammates were having.
"I just feel different when I go there [to the meetings]," said Zeidman. "I can't even put into words how awesome it is. It's just all about love. There's no judging, it's completely Jesus focused."
Not only has "finding Jesus" changed his spiritual life, but Zeidman also claims it has helped him to be a better athlete.
"Taking God out onto the field with me has given me the opportunity to stay focused and just play football," said Zeidman.
Zeidman is not alone in claiming that Chi Alpha has changed his life. Sara Good, a Chi Alpha staff member, stated that she got involved with the club her last semester at ISU and it helped her so much that she decided to forgo a more lucrative career and become a volunteer full-time staff member for Chi Alpha. She said that she hopes to help change the lives of students just as her life was when she joined Chi Alpha.
"I was looking for myself," Good said. "Through Chi Alpha I found God and my true purpose in life. It's kind of the reason I'm here."
Good said that she and her fellow staff members are on campus to represent who Christ is.
"I don't think that I would be happier doing anything else," said Good. "I want to stay at ISU as long as I can. I wouldn't trade it for a high-paying job."
Staff members earn money for life expenses by fundraising during the summer, Good said.
"I could go get a job and make money, but money is nothing compared to doing the thing that God wants me to," said staff member James Rich, who graduated from ISU last fall. "I feel I would get more out of doing the work of God than going out and pursuing a career, unless that career was what God wanted me to do."
For more information on Chi Alpha, visit their page on the ISU website at www.isu.edu/chialpha.

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