On Campus Summer 2013
The window of opportunity at La Roche College
Transforming College Students to Transform the World
An Amazing Opportunity The number of international students choosing to study in the United States has risen 32% over the last decade. Did you know that nearly 300 world leaders—both current and former—were educated at American universities? I don’t know about you, but I find these statistics exciting. What an amazing opportunity to speak God’s Truth into the lives of men and women who otherwise may never get to hear it. Who knows what the ripple effect of such transformation might be? This generation of college students is already living into new cultural realities in ways that many of us may never have imagined. But they—and we—have a long way to go. We place a high value on cross-cultural ministry because we place a high value on Christian discipleship. By helping our students— and ourselves—break down walls that have been built up between different races and cultures, we experience more fully God’s Kingdom. Please pray with me for our staff members as they reach across cultural divides to reach more and more students. Please pray that, as they model this behavior, their student leaders will do likewise.
Daniel J. Dupee President & CEO
The U.S. State Department lists nearly 300 world leaders who were educated in the United States. The number of foreign students attending U.S. universities has increased 32% over the past decade. —Washington Times
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My greatest hope for these students is that they will see Christ in me, in my family, and in the local church. Christ transforms us, and my desire is to see transformed students travelling home to their countries and sharing that transformation with family, friends, and community. —CCO staff member David Kuehl
About La Roche College La Roche College is a Catholic school located north of Pittsburgh. Approximately 20% of the 1,700 students who attend La Roche are international students. One of the college’s goals is to “foster global citizenship,” which is why it invites students from developing regions of the world to study at La Roche. Pictured on the cover: Ishanka Rajapaksha, a La Roche student from Sri Lanka. Photography by Andrew Rush and Peter Chace.
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HE SON OF missionaries to France, David Kuehl understands how difficult it is to be a stranger to American culture. “When I came to the U.S. to go to college, it was the first sustained amount of time I spent here. I remember the challenges as well as the people who helped me. That made me desire to do this for other students.” Fluent in several languages, David came on board with the CCO in 2011 to minister to the large international student population at La Roche College, north of Pittsburgh. “My work involves helping international students with different aspects of life in the U.S.,” David says. “This ranges
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from conversing with them in English to tackling cultural issues—like explaining to a Muslim student that, just because abortion is legal in the States does not mean the entire population endorses it. “International students are not equipped in the ways American students are. Most do not drive, they have varying levels of English proficiency, and they often need help with the most basic tasks. Addressing these challenges is one of the great joys of my work, because it provides me with opportunities to serve them. Showing a student God’s love through service is a great aspect of the ministry.” So is playing games. Every Wednesday night at 9 p.m., David meets with student leaders for a one-hour Bible study
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Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea, Class of 2014, nursing major EukKyo was an exchange student at La Roche during the 2011-12 school year.
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and they pray about the ministry. After the study, the leaders invite students to gather to play. “Many countries do not have a game-playing culture, so this is new to many of them!” David says. “Some of my best relational work is accomplished during games of Uno, spoons, and even hide and seek around the campus!” David’s CCO co-worker at La Roche, Jennifer Burkholder, advises a Tuesday night Christian fellowship group where she welcomes international students into the group to help them develop friendships with Americans. Whether teaching a student the finer strategies of backgammon
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or teaching them to study the Scriptures, David and Jennifer demonstrate Christ’s love to international students at La Roche College every day. Only God knows how the ripple effect of these humble interactions may be transforming lives of people on the other side of the world.
How it works at La Roche College
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The CCO partners with nearby Memorial Park Church to bring David Kuehl to campus. In addition to funding part of David’s salary, they provide resources, space, and volunteers to help with the ministry.
Before I went to the U.S. as an exchange student, I had known God, but actually I couldn’t feel him in my life. But when I arrived in the U.S., I experienced the God who knows my life from start to end, who plans and prepares my whole life. David plays an important role to make the international students at La Roche College unite. It would be easy for international students to be separated, following their own countries. But because of David, there are many events to help us meet other international students. David opens his house every Thursday for international students. We studied the Bible and played many games together. Many of us became good friends who still keep in touch. My original plan was to go back to South Korea in May 2012, but David suggested that I go on a Mexico mission trip in August 2012, which was planned by Memorial Park Church. I really wanted to go, but I had no place to live during summer break. David said I could stay with his family. Last summer, David’s family became my host family. It was one of the most precious experiences in my life. If I had not connected to David and the CCO ministry, I would have remained as a cultural stranger in the U.S. Even though international students can understand English and live with Americans, it is really hard to enter real American culture. If I had not connected to CCO’s ministry, it would be hard to keep my faith in the United States. Then, I would become a shy student who just studied and went to class. I don’t want to imagine my life as an exchange student without CCO’s ministry and David!
The Census Bureau forecasts that in 2043 non-Hispanic whites will, for the first time, comprise less than 50% of the population. At that point, there will not be a racial majority in the United States.
Lamont Downs
Kathy Kinzer-Downs
—BusinessInsider.com
Living in Color
Developing cultural intelligence @ Geneva College
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HAT IS IT LIKE to be the only African American student on your residence hall floor? What challenges do you face as a black student on a largely white college campus? These are the kinds of questions that a panel of four black men and women fielded from a largely white audience. They were given the task of explaining their experience of “living in color on a predominantly white campus.” One student shared about what it feels like to sit at “the black table” in the cafeteria. Another student talked about white students wanting to touch her hair to feel its unique texture. Someone else talked about the frustration of being expected to
About Geneva College Located northwest of Pittsburgh, in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Geneva College was founded by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. With an undergraduate enrollment of nearly 1,416, Geneva is committed to a Christian worldview that acknowledges God’s sovereignty over every area of creation.
speak for an entire race of people when asked, “What do black people think about X, Y, or Z?” This panel discussion took place in February at Geneva College’s first ever Living in Color* conference. The brainchild of Kathy Kinzer-Downs and Lamont Downs, a husband-andwife team who both work as CCO staff members in partnership with Geneva College, Living in Color was a two-day event designed to engage students and members of the surrounding Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania community. It was structured to “equip leaders to serve in a diverse world.” The conference hosted a variety of workshops led by professors, pastors, and community leaders. But this panel of black students and alumni describing their experiences seemed to break down walls and awaken a new empathy in the mostly white audience. As these men and women shared their experiences of being “the other” on a largely white campus, students who had never had to face such challenges paid close attention, asked insightful
questions, and seemed to be experiencing a shift in perspective. This is only one example of the venues Kathy and Lamont create to help students embrace their own racial and ethnic identities, even as they learn to understand the differences of others. “We hope that students who come from homogeneous environments begin to learn about other cultures, traditions, and heritages,” says Kathy. “We want to help them through what may be a cultural shift for them.” “This goes for both white and nonwhite students,” adds Lamont. “We want to develop in students a cultural intelligence.” Lamont and Kathy are not interested in simply being the spokespeople for minority students. They want to offer students of all cultural backgrounds opportunities to interact with people who are different from them, building bridges that will ultimately equip them to be salt and light in an increasingly diverse society. Not only will these students be prepared to navigate a world in
which racial and ethnic differences are the norm rather than the exception, they will be the people who lead others in reaching across the racial and cultural divide, bringing healing and reconciliation to a broken world. *Geneva College recognized Kathy and Lamont with “The Light Bulb Award,” naming the conference the Best New Initiative and the Best Collaborative Project of the year.
26% of CCO student leaders are from an ethnic minority.
How it works at Geneva The CCO partners with Geneva College to bring Kathy KinzerDowns and Lamont Downs to campus. Kathy serves as Director of Multicultural Student Services and Lamont holds dual positions, as Coordinator of Multicultural Student Services and Director of The Academy, a brand new leadership development program.
About the CCO The CCO (Coalition for Christian Outreach) is a campus ministry that partners with churches, colleges, and other organizations to develop men and women who live out their Christian faith in all areas of life. Our Core Purpose is: Transforming college students to transform the world. Our ministry is distinct in three ways: 1. Our ministry is transformational. We challenge the students we serve to submit every area of their lives to Jesus Christ. 2. We partner with churches, colleges, and other organizations, placing our staff in strategic positions of influence on campus. 3. We do contextual ministry, meaning that our staff people adjust to the needs of the particular campus at which they serve. For more about us, please visit our website: www.ccojubilee.org
Thank you! The 2013 CCO Next Generation Gala held on Friday, April 26, was a huge success. Thanks to the generosity of all who participated, we raised a net $290,000. Special thanks to our top sponsors: Wabtec Corporation The PNC Financial Services Group Industrial Scientific Corporation
PPG Industries Inc Reed Smith Songer Steel Services, Inc.
Memorials & Honor Gifts Given by: David Brewton Dick and Garnet Schulz Dick and Garnet Schulz Rick and Susan Schulz Shirl and Hope Laughlin Fahmy and Casey Mechael Bill and Cynthia Kaldis Anne Maxfield Andrew and Michelle Aloe Barry and Jereme Ransick Richard and Jennifer Towner Paul and Joellen Maurer Tim and Jody Pohlman Nancy Franson Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Day Pamela Heizman Phil and Gail Jones Shelley Williams Ken and Jamie Berliner Dave and Ginger Weeber The Swanson and Suhr families Bill and Mary Ann Starr Bill Shipley Nathan and Sandie Starr Everhart Allan and Mary Ellen Wampler Nancy Smith Gene and Charlene Stewart David and Carol Lee John and Marion Swanson Carl and Anna Blankenship Lloyd and Connie Richless
In Memory of: Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Irene Shea Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Katherine Dupee Matt Swanson Katherine Dupee K. Dale Wissman,Jr. Katherine Dupee K. Dale Wissman,Jr. Duke Ross Duke Ross Duke Ross Duke Ross Myles Compton Sam
Given by: Bonnie Budzowski John and Beth Ey John H. Borkey Fred and Darlene Wheeler Victoria Sewell G.H. and Betty Martin Jeff and Cheryl Cox
In Honor of: Marilyn Long Zane and Jennifer Sanders Jerrod Borkey Their 12 grandchildren Beth Walker Gail Jones Emily Cox
We’re proud of the way we manage our funds. A copy of our official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1.800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. Charity Navigator is America’s premier independent charity evaluator. A 4-star rating means that the CCO exceeds industry standards and out-performs most charities in its class.
The CCO is a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
the results
Students gain a vision to “transform everything”
I dream of being a missionary doctor, taking care of God’s people all over the world while sharing His amazing love. —Mukui Mutunga CCO student leader at Robert Morris University
I would like to engineer excellent products and give my best effort whatever I work on, even if it is mundane, and thereby glorify God.
—Matthew Kusbit CCO student leader at Carnegie Mellon University
I dream of becoming a pastor and a professor and opening a youth center in an urban neighborhood.
—Allan Irizarry-Graves CCO student leader at Youngstown State University
My dream is to continue my work with Big Brothers Big Sisters to give children a solid faith to begin their lives. —Cassie Cocks CCO student leader at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
I want to offer my services as a financial advisor to people who cannot afford to pay back in my home country of Vietnam. —Ngoc-Bich Thi Tran (Jennifer) CCO student leader at Geneva College
I dream of going to the Third World and using my degree in economics to care for the poorest of the poor. —Alexander Nallin CCO student leader at Washington & Jefferson College
Transform Everythin At the end of the day, it is about taking every little aspect of my life and giving it to God, so He can use it to draw people to Him. That way of approaching life has totally flipped my worldview on its head. I am approaching graduation, and I find myself with a renewed sense of purpose, as I seek to serve with my gifts and talents. —Darienne graduated this spring from the University of Cincinnati; she will be serving in Las Vegas with Teach for America for the next two years.
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he theme of Jubilee 2013, which took place during the weekend of February 15-17 in downtown Pittsburgh, was “Transform Everything.” Students were
invited to “take a deeper look into the truth of the Gospel and how we are called by God to be agents of change—of transformation.” More than 70 speakers, authors, artists, and musicians facilitated workshops designed to engage students and challenge them to think about the public implications of their personal transformation. Students were given concrete examples of what it means to serve and worship God in every aspect of their lives—in their studies, in their relationships, in their future vocations. Large-group sessions focused on the four-chapter biblical story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration, while workshop titles ranged from “Basics of Christianity” to “The Artist as Servant,” from “Science, Medicine, the Bible, and Faith” to “Single Sexuality.” This year’s speakers included Anthony Bradley, associate
ng: Jubilee 2013 professor of Theology and Ethics at The King’s College in New York City; Tullian Tchividjian, grandson of evangelist Billy Graham and Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Lisa Sharon Harper, Director of Mobilizing for Sojourners and author of Left, Right & Christ: Evangelical Faith in Politics; and Michael Gerson, a nationally syndicated columnist, a former top aide to President George W. Bush, and current Fellow at the Center for Public Justice. In addition to listening, discussing, and worshipping together, students were also given opportunities to serve in concrete ways—from choosing to sponsor a child through Compassion International to helping to package 80,000 meals to be delivered to Haitian orphans. Rick Whitlock, a first-time Jubilee attender, summed up his experience of the weekend like this:
“I saw hearts and minds renewed and the gospel preached; hundreds praying over a student by crowd-surfing him so everyone could lay healing hands on him; and many doing the cha-cha slide during worship, celebrating as if the wedding feast of the Lamb had already come. I, for one, am thankful for the opportunity to know the CCO and, more, the God they rejoice to make known to college students. For He is transforming everything.” Thank you to our Jubilee sponsors: Acton Institute Bethany Christian Services Compassion International GoCorps The High Calling The Humane Society of the United States Knox Theological Seminary Liberate PovertyCure Resolution Hope She’s My Sister Threads//Lifeway
Nonprofit U.S. Postage PAID Pittsburgh, PA Permit # 1486 Coalition for Christian Outreach 5912 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206 Return Service Requested
Why Ray and Joneen Betler give to the CCO
Ray Betler is Chief Operating Officer of Wabtec Corporation and the co-chair with his wife Joneen of the CCO’s 2013 Next Generation Gala. Ray is a native Pittsburgher whose deep faith in Jesus was shaped long ago by his mother’s example. Because she approached life with love and grace, Ray trusts that Lord has his hand in all of his successes and failures, joys and tragedies. Ray and Joneen are devoted to their family—three adult sons, daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren—and to their community. He is a servant leader in his company and various nonprofits, investing in the next generation of leaders. Why do you feel strongly about ministry to college-aged people? The transition in life from teenager to young adult sets the direction for what people do the rest of their lives. Young people face all kinds of challenges and opportunities that only grow in gravity over the years. If they aren’t grounded in Christ, they’re going to struggle with those decisions and life circumstances. Investing in them now gives them a chance to build a foundation to last into their future.
Our Board
Andrew Aloe Group Chair Vistage International, Inc. Liz Baker CEO, Hot Metal Media LLC Robert H. Bishop Senior Vice President Janney Montgomery Scott LLC CCO Alumnus Kurt E. Carlson Executive Vice President Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. The Rev. Nancy O. Chalfant-Walker Rector St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church CCO Alumna Jennifer Ciccone Vice President, Human Resources Matthews International
Why did you accept the invitation to chair the Next Generation Gala? I have tremendous respect for [CCO President] Dan Dupee and the organization, as well as a passion for working with young people. I know the importance of the CCO’s ministry with college students. When I was asked to chair the Gala, I knew that I needed to step up and lead. If everyone says “no,” then there’s no one to lead.
Ryan D. Deaderick, P.E. New Well Manager Energy Corporation of America Joseph P. Diggins, Jr. Partner Ernst & Young LLP Louis A. Divers President Precision Abrasives Daniel J. Dupee President & CEO Coalition for Christian Outreach The Rev. William R. Glaze Pastor Bethany Baptist Church L.C. Greenwood President Greenwood Enterprises, Inc.
Darrin E. Grove CEO TrueFit Solutions Inc. John M. Holt, Jr. President RC Holsinger Associates, PC Harry A. Kunze President and CEO Safety Works, LLC The Rev. Robert R. Long Chairman Emeritus Coalition for Christian Outreach CCO Alumnus Martha McElhattan Homemaker
What inspired you to be a giver so long ago? My mother solidified my relationship with the Lord. She stood by me and my siblings, and provided for us all by herself. We had very little money, but somehow we never knew we were poor. Her love for us was incredible and came from her relationship with the Lord. At the end of day, what is most important is that God always provided for us. So what drives me today is serving the Lord and other people. I want people to see the love of the Lord through
Terrence H. Murphy Shareholder Littler Mendelson PC Brian T. Must Founding Member Metz, Lewis, Brodman, Must & O’Keefe Attorneys at Law The Rev. Richard Noftzger Pastor Center Presbyterian Church CCO Alumnus J. Paul Organ Founder & Certified Financial Planner Marathon Financial Services CCO Alumnus The Rev. Douglas Rehberg Senior Pastor Hebron U.P. Church
me and what I do. I have always believed that the Lord put me in a leadership role to have an opportunity to witness to others. The CCO depends on the generous giving of thousands of individuals each year. We hope that their stories inspire you—as they do us—to an even greater commitment to generosity. If you have any questions regarding the CCO’s ministry, or if you would be interested in considering a deferred gift please contact Allyson Sveda at 412.363.3303.
James W. Rimmel Senior Vice President, Investments UBS Financial Services Inc. Martin L. Roark Group Chair Vistage International, Inc. James D. Roberge Managing Director Staley Capital Advisers, Inc. John S. Rosso CEO Peak Performance Management Inc. Kenneth E. Smith Chairman of the Board President, Etcetera Edutainment
Lori Stuckey Homemaker Henry B. Suhr III Adjunct Faculty Geneva College CCO Alumnus J.T. Thomas Entrepreneur and Business Consultant Mary Martha Truschel Assistant Counsel, Southwest Regional Office Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Dr. John H. White President Emeritus Geneva College