Fall 2009
THE WORD
The God in Me:
When someone has an encounter with God, their life focus changes. Journey with us as we discover and express a life built on THE WORD!
Second Edition
Back In The Day...
Sheun Ogunsunlade, Alumni ’09 Co- Founder, CMU Impact Movement Chapter
We all have to start somewhere! Hear the story of the dawn of the Impact Movement chapter on the campus of Carnegie Mellon from those who were there at the start. Let’s rewind the clock back to Fall 2005 and see how God used a couple of freshmen in the same dorm. Reflecting on how things come to pass truly causes you to trust God all the more, because you realize that things turn out far better than you ever could have imagined or planned. Needless to say, that was definitely the case when we founded chapter of the Impact Movement at Carnegie Mellon. The roots of what has grown to become our Impact chapter started the fall of 2005, the beginning of my freshman year. Just like any freshman, I believe that I went through the normal adjustment phase with the rest
of my incoming class. A freshman has a great opportunity to define themselves to a new group of people that have little or no knowledge of who they were before college. This opportunity contributed tremendously to the beginning phases of Impact. I realized one of the greatest struggles for college students was gaining acceptance. Students who may have grown up Christians or were from Christian households, as I was, were definitely entrapped in this struggle. This struggle produced a burden in some of our hearts. I was perplexed with what I
Titus 2:10-12
“
...so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age
”
Co-Founders Kyle & Sheun witnessed in many students professing to be Christians, but in reality living lifestyles that were everything but Christian. The culture of our campus, just like many campuses nationwide, was steeped in drinking, partying, sex and overall ungodliness. This culture seemed to suck in all that encountered it, but simultaneously produced the desire in me to present an alternative. It happened that God truly knew what He planned to do with that desire before I imagined it. It started in Hamerschlag house, my freshman dorm, in my second floor cor ner room. My then roommate, Mr. Kyle Campbell, and Mr. Jonas Cleveland, who lived across the hall, joined me for a prayer meeting. The amazing thing was that we had all met years before attending CMU at the SAMS program, which is hosted during summers by CMARC for
rming Sheun Perfo Spoken Word high school students. We did not find it a coincidence that we were all living in the same corner, but thought it was ordained for us to do something for God. This led to us hosting a Friday night bible study in Hamerschlag as freshmen, which then developed into a
campus wide bible study next year. The desire to do more continued to grow, which led to seeking God for a vision and name for our meetings. This was clearly answered by Titus 2:10-12 that led to the founding of College Christian Alternative Ministries and the F.N.A. (Friday Night Alternative). Things continued to develop with Pastor Brian Edmonds being introduced to campus, along with current meeting attendees and new attendees from the class of 2011 all having experiences with the Impact Movement. We realized the greatest impact would be made for God on campus by joining a united front that was already on campuses nationwide, while keeping our unique vision of attractively presenting a holy alternative! And thus our chapter of the Impact Movement was founded during the fall semester of 2007. This is where the mission began, and currently continues “to take the truth of Jesus Christ to the CMU campus, community and world…”
O n e B o d y, Many Members Carnegie Mellon University is just one of the over 100 college campuses in the U.S. and Africa that the Impact Movement has a presence! Since beginning as a conference for college students in 1991, the Impact Movement has transformed into an organization set to equip and train college students, high school students, and career professionals of African descent to become leaders; spiritually and morally. The Impact Movement is a ministry of CCCI or Campus Crusade for Christ International, an organization founded in 1951 on the campus of UCLA, and mainly aims to reach, while not exclusive, those of African decent. We believe that each culture has a unique contribution to the worldwide community of faith and it is important to reach people with the truth of Jesus Christ through their own culture. By being Biblically sound and culturally relevant to members of the community of African descent, the Impact Movement envisions each community of African descent fulfilling its destiny
as a reflection of the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. Throughout the year, the staff with the Impact Movement work with the students on colleges across the country to provide resources, vision, and guidelines on reaching their campuses with the truth of Jesus Christ. Of course it does not end with the academic year. Impact has many summer missions options, where students can continue to grow spiritually and share the gospel around the world with. You should check out impactmovement.com for the upcoming summer missions & much more!
W h a t ’s F. N . A . ? F.N.A.‘s have been an integral part of our presence on campus and is a very flexible concept. It can involve a time together were we break down some aspect of culture and look to the Bible for answers in a discussion atmosphere. Or it can involve getting away from campus and spending time with one another where no one has to worry about being pressured into ungodly behavior. Here are the few principles that govern what we call the “Friday Night Alternative”.
1
Builds personal relationships with students
2 Presents the Gospel as relevant
3
Challenges the stereotypes of living as a Christian
“
Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’
”
Matthew 19:26
Will You Accept the Mission? Every two years, the Impact Movement hosts a 5‐day national conference in Atlanta. Impact 2008 Mission: Possible fortified the message that God’s mission for our lives is possible only through Christ’s strength working in us! Each day was jam‐packed with incredible praise and worship and speakers delivering God’s Word in a relevant, practical way. And, toping it off was Kirk Franklin and gospel rap artist Lecrae delivered energy‐boosting performances allowing students to glorify God in a fun, exciting atmosphere. Each of the 17 attendees from CMU left empowered to carry out their call from God.
Operation Solid Rock Dontae Doughty, Sophomore ’12 The Impact Movement ’s na1onal conference marked a change within my life. Prior to the conference I was having difficulty in my life with depression and being unfulfilled which stemmed from the lack of knowledge about my purpose.
conference was the moment all the hardships of the months before began to make sense. I began to feel God taking me on the journey of sharing His purpose for me.
The conference allowed me to learn how to live a life u1lizing evangelism, an ac1ve prayer life, and have open hardships aHer the conference, my focus communica1on with God. Though I took centered on God and not on what was a lot home from the conference, these around me. God used the na1onal things spoke new into my life directly. conference to teach me to keep my eyes As soon as I began to let God work, all of stayed on the hills, where my help comes the things I was finding difficulty with from. I was learning how to trust God with began to turn around. And though there every part of my life, keeping in mind were that He has a plan for my life. It was at this conference that I began to own the “ For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your lifestyle that God calls me to live. This name’s sake, Lead me and guide me.” Psalm 31:3 Upon arriving at the conference, I found it a bit shocking to see so many people with the desire of just pleasing God. Pleasing God was the only mo1va1on that kept me pressing on during the hard 1mes.
A Day in the Life
Impact Movement National Conference 2008
9 am 10:30 am 10:45 am 12 pm
Morning Session with Pastor Eric Mason “Building Your Impact Chapter” Lorna Johnson
“They're Watching: Lifestyle Discipleship” Sandy Hafeez
“Pump Yo Breaks: Dissolving Conflict” Erin Burton
1:30 pm 4:30 pm
Outreach (GO!)
7 pm 9 pm
Evening Session with Pastor Keith Battle
9 pm 11:30 pm
Gospel Artist Kirk Franklin Live in Concert!
o t t n a W ve? i G
To the National Organization
To the CMU Chapter
Visit: www.cmu.edu/ campaign/ways/ online.html
Visit: www. impactmovement .com
At Step 2 : Select “Other” and then enter “Impact Movement”
Select the Tab: “Giving Opportunities”
Join With us!
In just our second year on campus at Carnegie Mellon University, we continue to be amazed at how God is using us to reach the CMU campus, surrounding communities, and world with the truth of Jesus Christ. We ask that you join with us in prayer for what God is doing in the city of Pittsburgh and that He would allow you to be a spark in your community in bringing the Good News! Feel free to e-mail us at impact.cmu@gmail.com for updates on what we are doing, how you can help, and for any prayer requests you have. God Bless,
The Impact Movement: Carnegie Mellon Chapter