WESTGATE STAFF:

Andrea Nyberg
Assistant to Community Life Ministry

andrea.nyberg@westgatechurch.org

Vitals
Andrea was born and raised in the musical city of Memphis, Tennessee. She has one younger sister and three younger brothers, and has been happily married to her beloved, Eric, since June 2007. She completed her B.A. in Journalism, PR from the University of Memphis in May 2005 and her M.A. in Educational Leadership from Golden Gate Seminary in May 2008. She is passionate about helping men, women, and families get connected into authentic community.

Andrea became a Christian at the age of 14 after attending her first youth group meeting at Bellevue Baptist Church. Most of her life she thought she was a Christian because she went to church, confessed her sins to the priest, took communion, said her prayers and was overall a pretty good kid. It wasn’t until that Wednesday night youth event that she understood for the first time that Christianity was more than just being a “good” person and doing the “right” things, it’s about a relationship with the Living God. Andrea was very involved in church throughout high school but, like many teenagers, struggled to balance her new faith with the pressures of adolescence. In college, she discovered Campus Crusade for Christ and immediately dove in. It was through CCC that she began to understand the true meaning of discipleship and how to be covered in the dust of her rabbi.'

In the summer of 2003, Andrea went on a summer project to Santa Cruz, CA and ministered to her co-workers at The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. It was there she realized ministry is more than a job title, it’s the way we live our lives in any and every circumstance and how we chose to connect with the people around us. During her last year of college, God began stirring a desire in Andrea’s heart to go to seminary, and that next August she packed up her bags, said goodbye to friends, family and everything familiar, and moved across the country to attend Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, CA. Seminary was an invaluable experience for Andrea because there she learned to ask the hard yet important questions about faith so as to determine if what she believed was the Truth or just what she had been taught to believe. This was her first time living in a dorm, which proved to be the most amazing, funny, and encouraging environment she’d experienced thus far. Last but certainly not least, this is where Andrea met the man who would become her best friend and husband.


A Few of my Favorite Things:
Music - "Music has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve been singing since before I could talk and have always enjoyed being behind the microphone. Throughout elementary, middle and high school, I participated in talent shows and competitions, and have had the pleasure of singing in many choirs and worship teams. My personal thrill was being part of a worship album at the church I attended during seminary, and recording a demo for a friend from that same church in 2007. God has worked tremendously in my life through music and has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams by the opportunities He’s put on my path in the arena."

Writing - "I began expressing my feelings and questions through poetry at the age of eight. That jumpstarted my love for writing which over time developed into a journalism degree and an aspiration to one day publish my own book. During seminary a passion sparked in me to write devotionals for working women to encourage them during their busy days and give them a few things to think about to help their day be more meaningful."

Movies/Theatre - "I really enjoy watching movies. Almost any night of the week, I would happy as a lark to snuggle up with my hubby and pop in a good comedy, love story or historical flick. A few of my favorites are: My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Finding Forrester, Pride & Prejudice, Back to the Future Trilogy, Home Alone, The Goonies and almost every Disney and Pixar movie…just to name a few ;) I also greatly enjoy the theatre, which as been part of my life from a very young age. My favorite shows to date are Wicked, Beauty and the Beast, and The Phantom of the Opera."

Travel/Ethnic Food/Culture - "I’ve had the privilege to travel across the globe including China, Romania, England, France, Italy, Holland, Spain and Switzerland. My dream is to go on a European getaway to Italy and Greece with my hubby! You can find us any day trying out local Indian cuisine, Chinese, Mexican or Italian…yum!"


What If’s
What If You Weren’t In Ministry?
"Ministry is not a job but a way of life. Wherever I am, whatever I’m doing, I have the choice to minister to those around me by expressing God’s love through my words and actions or to simply let those precious opportunities pass me by. Anyone who is a Christ-follower is in ministry, no matter what your job title is."

What famous historical person would you most like to meet and why?
"I’d have to say Bono from U2. His music has had a huge impact on me and I would love to know more about what inspires his lyrics. I see such a connection to faith in his words. Also, his avid support of the ONE campaign, which is spreading awareness about global poverty and disease, has helped me become educated about the real issues being faced in our world today. I’d like to hear how he became such an advocate of this campaign."