I attended Nerd HQ for the first time this year, a dream of mine for 2 years now. Sadly I was unaware of what Nerd HQ was or even that The Nerd Machine existed until Zac did his promo asking for support to fund the event in 2014. I had just been introduced to Chuck in 2013 and have followed his endeavours ever since. When I found out about Nerd HQ 2014 it was too late for me to go, and I quickly started making plans to go in 2015. Unfortunately I was a poor college student at the time, so I was unable to afford the trip. I had also been wanting to see Zac on Broadway this year, but I had just started a new job and was not able to get the time off. But I digress...
There are 3 years why The Nerd Machine and what they do is so important -
1. They do business for a greater purposes
You look and Comic Con, and it's great and fun, but what is it for? To make money and promote new stuff for people to consume. Nothing wrong with that at all! The Nerd Machine has just decided they are going to business a little differently. They've chosen Operation Smile for their charity of choice which is an amazing organization that provides surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates in underdeveloped areas around the world. It's such an easy and clear cut mission and a charity I can fully get behind.
2. They bring people together
Everyone I met at Nerd HQ was awesome, especially the volunteers. It has brought so many people from different walks of life to a common interest. I have a hard time making friends, I see new people my instinct is to run and hide, but I met so many people (some of who I had been interacting with through twitter) and it was so easy. I quickly came out of my shell because I felt safe and comfortable everyone there. I saw someone compare their experience with the nerd family as something they had only heard about experiencing in a church community (please read Shannon Fox's blog about Nerd HQ it was beautiful). That just blew my mind. That is exactly what the church community should look like
3. They Love Jesus
Lastly and most importantly they do what they do because they believe God is love and they want to share that. Reason one and two only happens because of their core values and faith. Most of the people I met where Christians which made me so happy, and the people who may not understand the Christian faith got to experience what that loves looks like first hand. When passion and mission come together with the focus on God it's unbelievably cool.
I hope that I can attend Nerd HQ for as long as I can, I am most certainly going to try and volunteer. It hit me while I was there that, everything I'm passionate about completely aligns with what The Nerd Machine is doing, it was an overwhelming feeling. Biggest highlight was that mini Chuck reunion panel (I laughed so hard I was crying), and I got to meet Zac and look in the eye and give him a sincere thank you (to which he just patted my head) and was able to meet David Coleman and tell him thank you. Dave and Zac have the biggest hearts and it shines through so brightly at HQ. They put so much love in what they do it's insane. My biggest regret that there was so much more I wanted to do and say and people to meet. I just have to remind myself that this is only the beginning of many great memories to come.
