“It was an experience to remember,” said Shayne Riveral, a first-year nursing student at Chaminade. “Definitely life-changing. I think that’s where I really felt the presence of God and was able to experience His love.”

After attending Grace Bible Church (GBC) Pearlside for more than a year, Riveral, was called to serve in the connection team along with her husband, Jerrick Riveral. Last year was her first as an attendee and this year she will be serving on both days of the Every Nation Campus (ENC) Conference.

Riveral hopes that more Chaminade students will attend and that their hearts will be open to encounter God and receive salvation.

Russell Tolentino, 29, has been a college and young adult campus minister at GBC Pearlside for 5 years. This will be his fifth year of involvement with the ENC conference, three years as an attendee and two as a planner. As a student, he attended ENC conferences in both California and Oregon.

“This year there is a lot of planning, a lot of communication, a lot of things that need to get done,” Tolentino said. “But it’s worth it because you just see the heart behind it and how people are impacted by it as they attend. As someone on staff it’s actually still really gratifying because I can still give back and see the next generation, younger people encounter God the same way I did when I was their age.”

Last year, approximately 350 people attended the conference, according to Tolentino.

“If you’re someone that’s passionate about growing in your walk with God, whether it’s something you’ve been doing your whole life, or if it’s just something you’re curious about, interested in, this is an opportunity to take one step in that walk with God,” Tolentino said.  

Last semester, 20-year-old Chaminade student, Brandon Hong started an ENC club on campus along with other students. The club members  meet every Wednesday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Hale Malia for weekly prayer sessions and every Friday for club meetings and discussions.

Hong shares how the conference has really changed his perspectives on life situations. He explains the difficulty of going back home into the same circumstances after having a powerful time at the conference and how it is easy to fall back into the same routines.

“But the kind of stuff that you receive at the conference, if you’re going through some junk stuff in your home or personal relationships or something like that, this conference can really help you just see a new light to it,” Hong said.

The ENC Conference will be held at GBC’s main campus in Pearl City on March 2 and 3. Friday night’s session will begin at 7-9 p.m. followed by an afterparty in the church lobby. Saturday will begin at 9 a.m. and will feature three sessions and two break out sessions.

This year’s speakers are Pastor Seth Trimmer, lead pastor of Grace City Church in Corvallis, Ore., Pastor James Lowe of Bethel World Outreach Church, and GBC’s own Pastor Billy Lile and Pastor Tim Ma.

Registration for the ENC Conference visit is still open.