BROWN
COLUMBIA
Judson Center Is a Ministry Hub
Baseball Player Is Bold as a ‘Lion’
Christian Union the magazine :: fall 2014
Today’s Students. Tomorrow’s Leaders. God Is Changing Lives at Eight Strategic Universities page 12
Special Section: In the Power of the Spirit Ivy League Spiritual Climate The latest from Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton & Yale The Erosion of Religious Freedom: California’s Landmark Decision
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table of contents
volume xiii issue IV
Christian Union the maga zine :: fall 2014
in e ach issue Letter from the President / 3 Donor Profile / 30
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What’s Next / 32
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6 In the Power of the Spirit
fal l 2 014 fe at ure sec t ion Earnestly Seeking Spiritual Gifts / 8 Q & A with Quincy Watkins / 10 Ken Fish’s Kingdom Fire / 11
Columbia Pitcher Is Bold as a Lion / 14 Frat Brothers Pledge Devotion to Christ / 15
univer si t y chris t ian union updat e s Harvard / 17 Cornell / 18 Yale / 20 Princeton / 21 Brown / 23 Penn / 24 Harvard Law / 26
cit y chris tian union New York City Christian Union / 28
12 From the University to the City
This magazine is published by Christian Union, an independent Christian ministry.
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cover photo Phil Anema
34 The Spiritual Climate in the Ivy League
updat e s fr om e ver y iv y l e ague univer si t y An Advocate for Samaritans (Brown) :: Fools for Love? (Columbia) :: Cross-Linked A Cappella (Harvard) :: The Grand Miracle (Princeton) :: Vita et Veritas (Yale) :: News-in-Brief from each university, and more.
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letter from the president
Timeless Truths About Our Supernatural God “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” —Hebrews 13:8
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Although it was unsettling, the experience made believers out of those who were skeptical that such things happen today. At Christian Union, we believe that training in supernatural ministry is important because the need for revelation, healing, and deliverance (casting out demons) is as pressing at highly academic campuses as anywhere else. God has designed humans not only as intelligent beings, but as beings with a spirit, capable of interacting in the supernatural context in which we live. I want to encourage you, even if perhaps operating in this realm is unfamiliar, to branch out and learn more about the Holy Spirit’s ministry in these ways. For an introduction to the subject, including the Biblical basis for the operation of the miraculous in modern times, I would recommend Jack Deere’s book, Surprised by the Voice of God. I’ve seen God use the book to change many lives over the years. This issue of our magazine has several articles dedicated to this important subject, which you also will find helpful.
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Sincerely in Christ,
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Matthew W. Bennett matt bennett is the president and founder of Christian Union. He earned undergraduate and MBA degrees from Cornell, and launched Christian Union in 2002 in Princeton, New Jersey.
christianunion.org
ebrews 13:8 reminds us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” His teachings are to be appreciated in every generation, and His lifestyle is to be imitated in every generation, including His dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit for miraculous intervention. Miracles are signs from God that the kingdom of heaven has been inaugurated, and an implicit promise that it will be fully consummated on the last day. Even though much of American society, and especially academia, is very secular in its outlook, God hasn’t changed, and neither has the need for miraculous intervention. It’s important to teach the deep truths of the Christian faith, so that we may fully believe all the doctrines of God, not shrinking back from uncomfortable or unfamiliar characteristics of our supernatural God. He speaks today, heals today, and uses His servants to cast out demons, just as He always has. Recently, at an event for alumni in a beautiful apartment on Park Avenue in New York City, Ken Fish (Princeton ‘82) taught on this subject and demonstrated how God’s power works through us. He gave words of knowledge to those of us gathered, and perhaps most dramatically, by the power of God, drove two demons out of a woman who had been plagued for decades. The demons fought it, and even yelled through her, “No, no!”—but they obeyed and departed.
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religious freedom
A Watershed Moment? California’s De-Recognition of InterVarsity Raises Concerns by catherine elvy, staff writer
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ampus ministries are facing a mounting series of equal-access challenges from colleges across the nation. Among the action, California’s public university system recently denied recognition to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (www.ivcf.org) because it requires student leaders to observe Christian beliefs. In September, the California State University ended recognition for InterVarsity’s chapters because they mandate student leaders to adhere to Christian doctrine. “This could be the tipping point of other university systems moving in this direction, so that’s why we are concerned,” said Alec Hill, president of InterVarsity, in an article for Christianity Today. “It’s as if the First Amendment now protects Greeks, but not religious folks, which is Alice in Wonderland stuff.” Christian Union Founder and President Matt Bennett echoed those comments. “It’s a very sobering event for Christianity,” said Bennett, Cornell ’88, MBA ’89. Bennett called California’s decision part of an alarming trend that reduces Christians to second-class citizens. “It’s another terrible step toward the secularization of our nation,” he said. As such, believers “need to be much more aggressive.” Likewise, theologian Owen Strachan described the California decision as a “watershed moment” and perhaps only the “low point of the wave.” Earlier this year, Strachan’s undergraduate alma ma-
ter, Bowdoin College, also derecognized InterVarsity. “This should call local churches to a season of fresh investment. I am understating myself here. Every local church that is near a college campus should soberly consider retrofitting and enhancing its ministry to the school,” Strachan wrote in a blog.
this generation of students an opportunity to reinvent campus ministry,” said Greg Jao, InterVarsity’s national field director, in a press release. Of particular concern, InterVarsity will no longer be able to participate in student organization fairs within the California college system. Instead, the ministry will attempt to reach out to
San Jose State is one of 23 University of California campuses where InterVarsity is no longer recognized as a student organization.
“Campus ministries will, in increasing number, be unable to do things like reserve a dining room or meeting space. But, local churches – at least at this point in American life – are not inhibited from doing all they can to reach out to students and invite them to trust Christ and join the congregation. This we should all do in greater measure in coming days.” In response to the California action, InterVarsity is revamping its style of ministry into one that does not rely on established campus structures. “Our campus access challenges give
students via interactive displays, social media, mobile banner stands, and other non-traditional means. “InterVarsity is introducing creative new ways to connect with students and share the Gospel message, though doing so as an ‘unrecognized’ student group will prove considerably more costly,” Jao wrote. California’s university system asserts InterVarsity’s leadership policy conflicts with its state-mandated nondiscrimination code requiring membership and leadership in official student groups to
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“Colleges should promote diversity among campus student groups and encourage students to step into leadership roles in groups that share their interests,” said David Hacker. “Unfortunately, the Cal State system is commanding conformity and singling out certain organizations – Christian organizations – for virtual exile for desiring to be led by students who share the beliefs these groups were formed to affirm.” As well, Hacker called California’s move “absurd,” noting it makes student organizations, essentially, pointless. “Under the Cal State system, an atheist could lead a Christian organization, a Republican could lead a Democrat organization, a hunter could lead the animal rights organization, and so on,” he said. “Not only is their policy nonsensical, but contrary to the fundamental freedom of association and free speech…” Along those lines, Bennett said the decision from California’s system points to hypocrisy. Most notably, the public university system continues to allow fraternities and sororities to use gender in selection criteria and athletic groups to weigh abilities and achievements. As well, California’s colleges examine grades, scores, and the like in determining admissions. Ultimately, believers should look to God to provide spiritual direction and empowerment as Christians face bureaucratic hostility on campus. “We need to call for a radical movement of prayer, fasting, and repentance,” Bennett said. | cu
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For its part, InterVarsity remains committed to the evangelical calling of its roots. As InterVarsity approaches its 75th anniversary, the ministry witnessed a record-high participation rate in 2013-14. About 40,300 students and faculty were active in 949 chapters. As well, more than 3,500 people professed “faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord for the first time”—almost double the rate InterVarsity recorded a decade ago, according to the ministry. On the U.S. campuses where InterVarsity remains recognized the ministry will carry on its established practices. As for the challenges facing InterVarsity and the resulting implications to college students, a former staffer at Vanderbilt expressed concern for the ability of students to explore diverse religious beliefs. “We want to be citizens of the university. That’s why we are here in the first place. We believe that religious beliefs of all sorts deserve a seat at the table of ideas, and that religious orthodoxy ought not be excluded from campus,” Tish Harrison Warren, an InterVarsity staffer at the University of Texas, wrote to The American Conservative. “We are grateful that we’ve been able to be part of campus life — some of us for decades — and we want to continue to be part of the dialogue, joys, and challenges of university life.” An attorney at Alliance Defending Freedom, an Arizona-based organization that advocates for religious rights, agreed.
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be open to all. More than 437,000 students attend California’s system on 23 campuses and eight off-campus centers. For InterVarsity, the loss of recognition translates into a lack of free access to rooms and student activities programs and loss of standing when engaging faculty, students, and administrators. “We still intend to minister on campus, but loss of recognition is a significant impediment,” Jao told Christianity Today. So far, the California system is the largest to ban InterVarsity, which also has been rebuffed at Vanderbilt University, Rollins College, and Tufts University, according to Charisma News. The challenges stem from a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming Hasting College of the Law’s so-called all-comers policy. It requires leadership positions in student groups at the public institution to be open to all students. InterVarsity’s membership is open to all. However, leaders must support the organization’s “doctrinal basis,” which declares belief in “the entire trustworthiness” of the Bible, including passages concerning homosexuality, according to Charisma News. Some campuses have reached agreements with InterVarsity. Ohio State University rewrote its student organization registration guidelines to read, “A student organization formed to foster or affirm the sincerely held religious beliefs of its members may adopt eligibility criteria for its Student Officers that are consistent with those beliefs,” according to Charisma News.
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feature section | faith and work
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feature section :: fall 2014 Earnestly Seeking Spiritual Gifts / 8 Five Minutes with Quincy Watkins / 10 Kingdom Fire / 11
In the Power
of the spirit
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. luke
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But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 1:8
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acts
these gifts can bring healing, restoration, and renewal to God’s people and a hurting world.
stained glass
Corbis Images
(left) by Koloman Moser, Am Steinhof Church, Vienna
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Spirit and articles on two Ivy League alumni who are witnesses to how
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by theologian Craig S. Keener on the relevance of the gifts of the Holy
2014
In this special section, Christian Union: The Magazine presents a column
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feature section | in the power of the spirit
Earnestly Seeking Spiritual Gifts Edifying, Serving the Body of Christ
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aul declares that we are the body of Christ with many members. He then elaborates on some of the varied gifts God has graciously given us to serve the rest of Christ’s body. Because Paul is simply offering samples, he provides several different lists that include a variety of ministries. These gifts for helping the other members in Christ’s body include such diverse ministries as giving, teaching, prophesying, speaking wisely, healings, worship leading, and evangelism (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10, 28-30; 14:26; Eph. 4:11). Paul nowhere distinguishes between what we might call supernatural and potentially natural gifts. That is, we need God’s grace to teach God’s Word, just as we need God’s grace to prophesy it. Like the churches that Paul first addressed, we remain the body of Christ in need of all our members and all our gifts; otherwise, we will be like a body with important parts (such as hands or eyes) missing (1 Cor. 12:14-30). Nevertheless, some modern Western interpreters have traditionally affirmed so-called natural gifts, while denying that supernatural gifts such as prophecy remain. Not only is there no support for this distinction in the biblical text, but Paul’s lists and teaching about gifts undercut it. Indeed, Paul emphasizes the need for various gifts, including prophecy, to bring Christ’s body to maturity and unity in trusting and knowing Christ (Eph. 4:11-13)—a need that Christ’s body still has today. (I must pause to note that Paul presumably uses the term “apostles” here, as he normally does elsewhere, to refer to a group of ministers larger than the twelve original witnesses for Jesus. Virtually no one sug-
by dr. craig s. keener
gests that we still have original witnesses of Jesus among us; cf. Rom. 16:7; 1 Cor. 15:5-7; Gal. 1:19; 1 Thess. 2:6.) One gift in nearly all of Paul’s lists, which Paul often ranks toward the top, is the gift of prophecy (Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11). In the Old Testament, it was the most commonly mentioned ministry for communicating God’s message; it remains prominent in the New Testament as well. Paul not only emphasizes that this gift is particularly valuable for building up Christ’s body (1 Cor. 14:3-4), he urges believers to seek it (14:1, 39; cf. 12:31). Thus, even if we did not know of true prophecies today, obeying biblical teaching would lead us to pray for God to give this gift to the body of Christ. Prophesying sometimes includes exposing the secrets of unbelievers’ hearts by God’s Spirit (14:24-25); at least in principle, the gift is widely available (14:5, 24, 31), though not all have it (12:29) and not all have it in the same degree (Rom. 12:6). Those who object to gifts such as prophecy continuing today often argue that allowing for contemporary prophecy would diminish the unique authority of Scripture. But this argument itself is an extrabiblical approach that differs from what we find in Scripture. Both in the Old and New Testaments, we read of many prophets whose prophecies were not recorded in Scripture (e.g., 1 Kings 18:13; 1 Cor. 14:29, 31). Scripture does not include all true prophecies; Scripture, moreover, includes history and
other genres that are not prophecies. I am not suggesting that God is revealing new doctrines—new doctrine is quite different from saying that God speaks to us at times to guide and nurture us. We already have in Christ’s first coming the fullest revelation of God that we will receive until His return (Heb. 1:1-2), although the Spirit continues to teach us (John 14:26; 16:12-14; 1 John 2:27). One reason people object to gifts like prophecy continuing is that they fear that this opens the door for unbiblical doctrines. True prophecy need not do this. Yet, the doctrine that the gifts have ceased is itself a postbiblical doctrine, without genuine biblical support. Gifts like prophecy are pervasive in Scripture, and nowhere does Scripture suggest that they will become obsolete before the Lord’s return. Some cite 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 against continuing gifts, but the text in fact teaches the opposite. Paul provides three examples of gifts: prophecy, tongues, and knowledge. Given how “knowledge” is used elsewhere in 1 Corinthians (versus some modern ideas about what it means; cf. 1:5; 8:1; 14:6), “knowledge” here probably means knowledge about God of the limited sort presently available, often through teaching. Both this sort of knowledge and prophetic messages are limited, as opposed to the full knowledge we will have when we see the Lord face to face (13:11). This expression cannot simply refer to the close of the canon at the end of the first century. Knowledge
circle of churches and among friends. Miracles accompanied many new mission fields, as well as some revivals. Wesley and early Methodists reported some. Nineteenth-century Lutheran pastor Johann Christoph Blumhardt reported many. Today, some suggest that up to 80 percent of the church’s global growth is connected with signs and wonders. Of course, discernment is crucial, because not every claimed prophecy or miracle is genuinely from God’s Spirit (cf. 1 John 4:1-6). Even though some are too critical, they rightly remind us that we must not only welcome but also evaluate what claims to be the work of the Spirit (1 Cor. 14:29). We should not despise prophecies, but we should evaluate them and embrace only what is true (1 Thess. 5:19-22). Unfortunately, some who affirm gifts denigrate the intellect; some circulate unsound teachings such as self-centered prosperity; and so on. Then again, unsound teachings also circulate in circles that deny the gifts. We should neither throw out the baby with the bath water, nor let it drown there. Paul urges us to seek spiritual gifts, especially those that serve the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1, 12, 26, 39). | cu
:: christianunion.org
(PhD, Duke University) is F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. He has authored seventeen books, four of which have won national awards, and one of which has sold half a million copies. Recent works include a commentary on 1-2 Corinthians (Cambridge) and a two-volume study of miracles (Baker Academic); his most recent work is a four-volume (more than four thousand pages) commentary on the Book of Acts. craig s. keener
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Luke 9:2; 10:9); the principles of this mission continue until the end (Matt. 10:23). God used dramatic signs especially to draw outsiders’ attention to the Gospel (cf. Rom. 15:19), but gifts of healings are also provided to help believers (1 Cor. 12:9; James 5:14-16). Such healings need not be dramatic to fulfill their purpose; healing through medical means, for example, is no less an answer to prayer. But again, there is no indication that healings would stop; they continue, including as a witness to outsiders, as late as the end of Acts (Acts 28:8-9), and other signs appear in Revelation (Rev. 11:5-6, interpreted in various ways, but rarely applied exclusively to the past). Why would God work one way throughout Scripture in various times and places and then suddenly stop, without prior warning, at the end of the first century? Is it not more biblical to expect that God continues to work as He did in the Bible, in various times and places as He deems best and His people welcome His work? In fact, God has continued to work with miracles, prophecies, tongues, and other gifts throughout history. (Even most Christians who deny that the gifts are for today do affirm that miracles continue at least sometimes. God is sovereign and certainly able to perform miracles and answer prayers.) Irenaeus in the second century testified to virtually the same range of miracles we read in Acts. Historians have documented that the leading causes of conversion to Christianity in the 300s were healings and exorcisms. Augustine originally believed that miracles had largely died out by his day, but ultimately confirmed that many were occurring even in his own
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has not passed away, nor have we yet seen Jesus face to face, without limitation. Nor is Paul alone in expecting continuing gifts. When Jesus poured out His Spirit at Pentecost, Peter explained that this fulfilled Joel’s prophecy: God would pour out His Spirit in the last days, and this outpouring would be characterized by visions, dreams, and prophecy (Acts 2:17-18). God did not pour out His Spirit then pour His Spirit back. Moreover, if it was “the last days” when Peter spoke, it surely remains the last days. Not every individual in Acts exhibited the same gifts or ministries, but Acts does teach us about God’s work in the era between Jesus’ first and second comings. Educated leaders such as Stephen, Paul, and Apollos spread Jesus’ message by debating in public intellectual forums such as synagogues and courts. The most common means of drawing attention for the Gospel in Acts, however, is signs, which God performed through both some of the educated and some who were not (e.g., Acts 2:43; 5:12; 6:8; 8:6; 19:11-12). After a dramatic healing in the temple, Jerusalem’s authorities tried to intimidate Peter and John against speaking in Jesus’ name. Instead, believers prayed that the Lord would continue to embolden them, granting further signs and wonders (4:29-30). God gave signs to attest the message about His grace (14:3), which we still preach. When preaching about God’s reign (His “kingdom”), Jesus also demonstrated God’s reign by authoritatively healing the sick and delivering those oppressed by spirits (e.g., Matt. 4:23-24; 9:35; 12:28; Luke 9:11; 11:20). Jesus commissioned disciples to do the same (Matt. 10:7-8;
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feature section | in the power of the spirit
Five Minutes with Quincy Watkins ‘Life in the Spirit and Life of the Mind’
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hristian Union: The Magazine recently interviewed Quincy Watkins, pastor of the Neighborhood Church in greater Philadelphia, on the topic of spiritual gifts. Rev. Watkins previously served with Christian Union as a ministry fellow and worked at McKinsey & Company after earning an MBA (’95) in business at The Wharton School.
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How did you become a Christian and when did you embrace spiritual gifts? At the age of 15, I became a Christian in a small Pentecostal church. My first experience with spiritual gifts (at the age of 16) was both powerful and overwhelming. After an intense season of fasting and prayer, I experienced many visions and prophetic words about people and their circumstances. Over the years, I’ve learned how to harness and cultivate my spiritual gifts. I still have so much to learn. I’m humbled that God would use someone like me. I believe strongly in the Hippocratic Oath for Medicine, “First Do No Harm.” That’s the motto I live by when I’m operating in spiritual gifts.
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How did your faith impact your time at Wharton Business School? The high performance culture and world-class curriculum strengthened my prayer life and stretched my faith. Wharton was truly a blessing. How did your faith and spiritual gifts impact your life as a professional at McKinsey & Company? My faith has always played a significant role within my professional career. At McKinsey, I had many opportunities to minister prophetically to colleagues and clients.
What are some key scriptures in regards to spiritual gifts? The Scriptures are saturated with direct and implicit passages referencing the Holy Spirit’s role in the lives of believers. 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4:1-12, and Romans 12 are my foundational passages. The Apostle Paul does a masterful job elucidating the what, why, and how of spiritual gifts in individual and corporate settings. Spiritual gifts are given to equip, edify, and comfort believers. How have you seen spiritual gifts operate in regards to inner healing? Inner healing is the process of emotional, physical, spiritual, and intellectual recalibration by the Holy Spirit. I’ve seen spiritual gifts (e.g., prophecy, word of knowledge, and healing) heal deep-rooted wounds, destroy addictions, and break generational curses. The theme of your church is Life in the Spirit and Life of the Mind. Can you elaborate on those words and their importance when it comes to ministry? Life in the Spirit is championing a vibrant proclamation of the Gospel through the free expression of the gifts and Person of the Holy Spirit, especially through healing the sick and confronting demonic powers. We minister on behalf of Jesus Christ through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Life of the Mind stresses salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ
through the new birth, the authority and inerrancy of the Bible, the priesthood of the believer, and the importance to the faithful reading, studying, teaching, and preaching from the Scriptures. “Reformed Pentecostal” is a term that culminates my current experience and approach to ministry. A balanced approach can work well. Today, even though more believers are embracing and operating in spiritual gifts, most churches are unbalanced. Churches either focus exclusively on the preaching and teaching of the Scriptures, at the exclusion of the power of the Holy Spirit, or they focus solely on the Spirit’s power and presence to the neglect of theologically-rich Bible preaching/teaching and thoughtful exegesis. Just how important are spiritual gifts? Spiritual gifts are absolutely essential to the life of the Church. We worship a supernatural God. We possess a supernatural Holy Spirit. Our new life is a result of a supernatural transformation. And the Holy Spirit has given us a supernatural endowment of gifts, by which we can build and edify the Church. God decides what gifts each believer receives. All believers possess at least one spiritual gift. We need each other because no believer has all the spiritual gifts. Our gifts are used exclusively to glorify God and to serve others. | cu
Kingdom Fire
Princeton Alumnus Was a Former Skeptic Regarding the Supernatural by catherine elvy, staff writer
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After graduation, Fish worked on Wall Street before taking a job in the financial sector in Southern California, and eventually enrolling in evening religion courses. Later, he dovetailed his pursuit of a master of divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary with a position at the rapidly expanding Vineyard Ministries International. While there, he worked for the late John Wimber, a key Vineyard leader who traversed the globe to spread teachings on spiritual gifts and healings. In the late 1980s, Fish left Vineyard to pursue a master of business administration from the University of California at Los Angeles. Later, he combined 20 years of work in the corporate sector, specializing in finance and strategy, with an active ministry schedule. Looking back, Fish notes it was challenging for him to transition from a “highly structured, logical approach to thinking to the more free-flowing ways of the Holy Spirit.” Fish said he has been privileged during his extensive travels to witness many miracles over the years, including healings of cancer and hearing and sight restored. “Many times, the Spirit of God will ask us to do things that are uncomfortable,” he said. “Sometimes, the things of the Spirit do not track rationally.” | cu
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“He told me all that I ever did,” she said. Along those lines, Fish is quick to point out that the Bible is full of extraordinary accounts, such as the prophet Ezekiel being transported into heavenly realms. Similarly, Philip the evangelist (Acts 8) was miraculously taken to another region after acting upon a divine directive to witness to and baptize an Ethiopian eunuch. As for Fish, the West Coast native was an unlikely candidate to focus a segment of his career on the power of God. “I did not come easily to the realm of the supernatural,” Fish said. In fall 1978, Fish, a mathematics wiz and surfing aficionado, left Southern California to matriculate into Princeton with the intention of studying solid-state physics. After a dramatic introduction to the fledgling charismatic movement, Fish said God prompted him to plan to pursue formal religious training after giving him striking, reoccurring visions of the word seminary for three days. The divine message caused him eventually to shift his undergraduate studies to religion and philosophy. While at Princeton, Fish’s spiritual hunger exploded and he dreamed of seeing spiritual manifestations. “Why not see the Christianity of the book of Acts?” Fish wondered as an undergraduate.
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igns and wonders have a role in modern ministry, according to a Princeton alumnus and international preacher who has dedicated much of his career to championing that message. Miracles can serve as a catalytic, lasting experience for skeptics, especially in an era when truth is considered variable. “If you can be argued into it, you can be argued out of it,” said Ken Fish, Princeton ’82 and head of Kingdom Fire Ministries. “You cannot argue with the power of God.” Miracles were an integral part of Christ’s ministry. “Jesus did a lot of deliverance,” Fish said. A trio of components – truth, power, and commitment encounters – are necessary for some individuals fully to accept Christ as personal savior. As such, Fish pointed to the words of 2nd Corinthians 12:12 where the Apostle Paul wrote, “I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders, and miracles.” Simply put, “this isn’t just talk,” said Fish, a California-based minister and former financial executive. Without powerful experiences, some new converts do not embrace Christ’s lordship and revert to carnal lifestyles. At a recent seminar, Fish spoke about Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well (John 4) and noted how a prophetic word about her past failures and disappointments caused her to ponder the Savior’s invitation to drink living water. Subsequently, “many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony” (verse 39).
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from the university to the city
Positioned To Lead society will be transformed for god’s glory as the lives
universit y
of our future leaders and the educational institutions they attend
chris tian
are impacted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Specifically, as students
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who are well-positioned to ascend to roles of influence learn to seek
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God, grow in their faith, and develop a thoughtful, Christ-centered
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worldview, they will be prepared to engage culture effectively. This is at the heart of University Christian Union’s work at Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale.
take the next step. By developing networks of like-minded believers
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in key cultural centers, starting in New York City, their impact will be
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multiplied. This model was used by the Lord to bring sweeping change
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to England through William Wilberforce and the Clapham Circle in the early 1800s. Pray that God will bring similar change to the U.S. as new networks of leaders emerge and engage today’s culture.
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its alumni and their peers—City Christian Union—will help them
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as these students graduate, christian union’s ministry to
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university christian union
Bold as a Lion Columbia Pitcher Is a Leader with Christian Union
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A pitcher on Columbia University’s on the team,” said Cline, a junior who also serves baseball team recently paused to reas a vice president of Kappa Delta Rho. “It’s a reflect on his faith after he was among 11 ally great group of guys.” players to win All-Ivy League status. More importantly, on the field and across Adam Cline, who touts Christian Union’s campus, Cline aims to reflect Christ, a goal he leadership development ministry at Columbia regularly discusses with Jim Black, his spiritual among his favorite collegiate activities, received mentor and Christian Union’s ministry director the honor in May, less than a week after the Lions at Columbia. clinched the Ivy League Championship for the “The guys on the team know about my faith,” second season in a row. “I pray before every On the field and across campus, Cline aims to game,” said Cline, who also reflect Christ, a goal he regularly discusses with spent the summer playing for the Northwoods Jim Black, his spiritual mentor and Christian League’s La Crosse Loggers. Union’s ministry director at Columbia. Headquartered in Minnesota, the summer league features top college players. said Cline, who participates in Black’s Bible course As for his first All-Ivy League selection, the and attends services at Hillsong Church NYC. Washington native earned honorable mention in Arriving at Columbia University proved a a reliever role, despite spending part of the season culture shock for Cline, who attended a tiny battling a misaligned hip. The Lions’ Ivy League Christian high school near Seattle. Nonetheless, Championship was especially sweet to Cline. “I knew it was where the Lord wanted me,” said “It really brings you close with all of the guys the right-handed pitcher, who plans to pursue a career in the financial arena. Since meeting Black late in his freshman year, Cline has turned to the ministry director for regular mentorship. “He gives good advice you can trust,” said Cline, noting the pair often explore Scriptures and discuss the leadership issues he encounters as a student-athlete and officer in his fraternity. Not surprisingly, the political science major deals with the pressures of hectic practice and game schedules during the spring, while also juggling intense coursework. Black noted Cline lives out his Adam Cline, a pitcher with the Columbia Lions, was among 11 players to win All-Ivy League faith before his fraternity brothers, status last season. teammates, and classmates.
“Adam is a very beloved and trustworthy guy in the social scene,” said Black. “He’s a kind, genuine guy. He is making a deep, personal impact in the lives of lots of young men and women at Columbia.” Cline reflects remarkable Christian devotion on a campus almost devoid of Christian influence, in what is already an intensely secular city. “He has a genuine love for Adam Cline ’16 the Lord and for the students at Columbia. He’s making a noticeable difference,” Black said. Cline expressed gratitude for his peers and the Christian Union ministry fellows in the ministry at Columbia who have provided a source of refreshment and encouragement. Another baseball milestone for Cline occurred
when Columbia trekked to South Florida to participate in the NCAA Division I Regional Championship, despite a loss to Texas Tech in the first round on May 30. While losing is tough, “it was a lot of fun to go down there and compete at that level,” said Cline. All things considered, Columbia’s baseball team has emerged as a shining light for the university’s athletics program. “Adam has played a role in that,” Black said. As for the new academic year, Black looks forward to Cline continuing to reflect his faith on the Lions’ baseball team, while playing a more senior role as an upperclassman. “He’s living faithfully in that scene,” Black said. “The next two years will be the time for him to make a larger impact on the culture of Columbia.” | cu
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Fraternity ‘Brothers’ Dartmouth Students Pledge Devotion to Christ by eileen scott, senior writer
2014 :: christianunion.org
ambassadors within the Greek system. Price said he pledged Beta Alpha Omega after much discernment, and with mentoring from Kevin Collins, Christian Union’s ministry director at Dartmouth. “Kevin is really open to how the Spirit moves,” said Price. “He listens very well, considers your emotions, and discerns how God is speaking to you.” In addition to the edification that comes from attending Christian Union Bible Courses, Price also enjoys having a cadre of friends within Christian Union’s ministry at Dartmouth who encourage him and keep him accountable. Although some Christians on campus did not understand Price’s desire to pledge, Price believed God was calling him to be a light within Greek life. When Price went to the fraternity and found
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Dartmouth College, often seen as a poster school for parties and raucous Greek life, recently garnered media attention for sexual assaults, alcohol infractions, and abusive hazing practices. However, there are a few voices crying out in the wilderness, and they are resonating from within a fraternity house. A handful of Christian young men at Dartmouth have found a home at the Beta Alpha Omega Fraternity and, despite the debauchery associated with Greek life, have assimilated with their faith, morals, and dignity intact. And that, they say, is the result of prayerful preparation and intentional faith. Cameron Price ’15 and Jonathan Marinelli ’16—fraternity brothers and brothers in Christ— are devoted to glorifying God and being Christ’s
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four other Christians already part of the house, he knew that God was further opening the door. As for Marinelli, he initially had no interest in a fraternity. He pledged only after talking with other Christians from the Christian Union ministry who were fraternity brothers. He also attended workshops sponsored by the ministry to prepare students for being a Christian in the context of Greek life. But just being counted among Christians who live in a fraternity isn’t enough for Price and Marinelli. They say the key to living out their faith as a Greek requires boldness and authenticity. For example, during a discussion among the brothers about past sexual experiences, Price shared that he is waiting for marriage. “It was the most difficult thing I could do,” he said, “but the Lord gave me the power to be truthful and they respected me for it.” Marinelli also noted the importance of Cameron Price, Dartmouth ’15 (left) and Jonathan Marinelli ’16 transparency. seek to be salt and light among fellow Greeks at Dartmouth. “You have to let everyone know what you stand for, that way they understand According to Marinelli, the Greek system can why you choose to lead a different life,” he said. move a Christian in one of two ways: “It either “People care more about who you are when brings him closer to Christ because of the stand you are genuine. People recognize that I am conhe must take, or it sweeps him away with the fident in who I am and they like that,” said Price. crowd,” he said. “I thank God every day that I chose to stand for Him.” “When people see you living differently, they’re In taking a stand to live an authentically Chriscurious. They want to know why. This then tian life among their peers, Marinelli and Price gives me an opportunity to share the Gospel.” are living a missional life, said Zach Albanese, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Dartmouth. —Cameron Price, Dartmouth ’15 “They are leading out as Christians by being enamored by the sacrificial love of Jesus and then “When people see you living differently, they’re communicating that love through their interaccurious. They want to know why. This then gives tions with others,” said Albanese. me an opportunity to share the Gospel.” Price and Marinelli have no illusions about For Marinelli, having four other Christian fratransforming Greek life from Animal House to ternity brothers helps strengthen him. God’s House overnight, but they do hope to plant “It’s easier to stand as five than one,” he said. the seeds that, through God’s grace and timing, But not every fraternity is as accepting as Beta will one day bear fruit in the hearts of their fraterAlpha Omega, an organization that has also had nity brothers. | cu its share of alcohol infractions.
A Mission of Mercy Harvard Students Serve Japanese Tsunami Survivors by eileen scott, senior writer
to understand heaven as an earth renewed,” she said. Additionally, she said she received tremendous support and mentoring from the Christian Union faculty at Harvard. “Jeweliann showed remarkable initiative in organizing this trip,” said Teal McGarvey, a Christian Union ministry fellow. “Beyond her leadership capacity, I’m most proud of her submission
Matthew Matsudaira, Harvard ’17, spent time teaching children music on a missions trip to Japan last summer. fall
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to Christ. God has simultaneously cultivated in Jeweliann a contemplative spirit and a heart for kingdom service. This has been mesmerizingly beautiful to witness. She wants to know Christ and she wants to serve Him.” And Houlette desires to share that knowledge and love of Christ with others. “I wanted to get to know people [in Inshinomaki] with the same intentionality with which I was loved by my mentors and peers at Harvard,” said Houlette. As a result, the people of Ishinomaki got to
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The devastating tsunami waters of 2011 have long since receded from the Japanese city of Ishinomaki. However, the remnants of destruction are still etched on the water-stained walls that remain and in the hearts and minds of the survivors. It was here in Miyagi Prefecture, amidst the memories and the rebuilding, that eight Harvard students immersed themselves for six weeks during the summer to help bring hope and God’s love to a heartbroken and courageous people. The team was comprised of seven students involved with Christian Union’s ministry at Harvard, including Jeweliann Houlette ’14, the leader of the trip. Houlette, of Japanese descent, is the daughter of missionary parents who have served in Japan for over a decade. Houlette organized this trip after serving as an intern with Ishinomaki Christian Center during the previous summer. “Serving in this disaster-affected community (last year) really helped me grow as a Christian,” Houlette said. “I wanted others at Harvard to experience the same.” Despite the recovery that has taken place within the infrastructure of the city, there is still much healing needed. According to Houlette, more than 30 percent of the children in the region suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder. The young were among the hardest hit by the tsunami; in one elementary school, 70 of 108 students were swept away by the raging waters. Over 290,000 people are still living in temporary housing units. Additionally, many have left Ishinomaki for a nearby city, not wanting to live at the site of the disaster. While serving in such an area can be challenging, Houlette said Christian Union helped prepare her for the work. “What I learned about the kingdom of God and of heaven (through Christian Union’s ministry) shaped how I think about missions work. From our in-depth studies of Scripture, I started
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know God’s love. “One time I was able to talk to and pray with a local woman who told me how she was taken aback by just how committed Christians are to the long-term restoration of Ishinomaki, in a way that is different from any other relief group.” While in Ishinomaki, the students taught music lessons, helped rebuild equipment storage tents for fishermen, and assisted with two Christian social enterprises. Although the students went to Ishinomaki to give of themselves, in the end, they also received much. In a blog, they wrote updates about their trip. Colby Knight ’17 and Matthew Matsudaira ’17 spent a lot of time teaching children how to play instruments. They also participated in music festivals, and led Gospel music workshops.
“This experience is unlike any other,” wrote Knight. “I have really enjoyed being a part of this culture and community… God is absolutely at work in this city, and it has been amazing to see the way He has used volunteers to reshape it.” “As a member of a missions trip, I had the expectation of affecting the people with which I work, but of course, as is the nature of these trips, God has been using these children to bless and encourage me,” Matsudaira said. “I see the glow in their faces and I’m reminded that God is also a God of joy!” And though the students returned to the United States in August, they left behind their love and brought home memories filled with hope. “My prayer is that God will bring to completion the seeds of joy we planted in each little soul,” wrote Matsudaira. | cu
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Reaching Out Retreat Energizes Christian Union at Cornell
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by eileen scott, senior writer
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Before the frenetic first weeks of the men,” noted Jeff Ballard, who is also new to the academic year, Christian Union’s minChristian Union faculty at Cornell. istry at Cornell hosted a retreat to train Going into the event, Ballard wasn’t sure how and equip student leaders for reachmuch the ministry team would ing out to incoming freshmen. need to encourage and motivate This retreat, held in August at the students toward outreach, but Glenside Farm in Troy, Pennsylhe was really impressed with their vania, was particularly notable bemindset to “make the Gospel cause of the students’ passionate known at Cornell.” desire to seek God through prayer Jim Thomforde, Christian and worship and the way in which Union’s ministry director at Corthey bonded and loved each other, nell, was also struck by the intenaccording to Christian Union minsity of prayer and the presence of istry fellows. the Holy Spirit. It was particularly “I’ve never seen anything like palpable during the second evening Anna Shea, a Christian Union this,” said Anna Shea, a new Chriswhen the schedule was cleared to ministry fellow at Cornell tian Union ministry fellow. “They enable the students to pray for each were ministering to each other in a other. The Christian Union faculty powerful way.” also prayed over each student. “I was blown away by their passion for God “The Spirit was with us and ministered to us and their enthusiasm for reaching out to freshthat night,” said Thomforde. “I will always re-
Christian Union’s leadership development ministry at Cornell during the recent fall retreat
try this year than in previous years. “This is God’s special work of grace using us and the students. I’m so grateful to be part of a body that feels like it’s firing on all cylinders. God is gracious and His love is with us,” said Thomforde. Shea said what also made the retreat particularly meaningful was the essence of selfless sacrifice she witnessed. “As deep as their relationships are with one another, it really is a sacrifice to devote their time to welcoming freshmen,” said Shea. “A lot of them
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came into this retreat a little weary and stormtossed. It’s been amazing to see how they have gained energy through their sacrifice of love.” As they reach out, the students are emulating the call of the Gospel to love their neighbors as themselves, helping to turn the hearts of their peers toward Christ, and by God’s grace, even renewing their own spirits in the process. | cu
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—Jim Thomforde, Christian Union’s ministry director at Cornell
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“I’m so grateful to be part of a body that feels like it’s firing on all cylinders. God is gracious and His love is with us.”
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member that.” The session, he said, was followed by true joy and a late night of rich fellowship. The goal of the retreat was three-fold: to give students an opportunity to reconnect with one another; to provide a rich time of worship, teaching, fellowship, and prayer; and to equip and train student leaders for the subsequent Freshmen Outreach Campaign. When the school year began, the faculty and student leaders hosted a series of events on campus and invited freshmen to sign up for Bible studies that focus on the Book of Hebrews. At the retreat, the faculty led sessions about what it means to be a freshmen “gatherer.” Shea taught from John 4 and Ballard from Philippians 2. Thomforde quoted from Galatians 2 and spoke about the freedom that comes from justification in Christ. The teaching portrayed Jesus’ love for the new freshmen, and His call to the upperclassmen to follow Him with that kind of love, explained Thomforde. Thomforde said the energy of the retreat flowed into the social events held during the Freshmen Outreach Campaign. That energy, coupled with a fervent desire to reach out, was instrumental in more students joining the minis-
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A Summer Journey Christian Union Offers Exodus Study at Yale
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by catherine elvy, staff writer
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The captivating events of Exodus reveal Exodus showcases God’s miraculous deliverthe nature of God and reflect His efance of the Israelites, who were suffering at the forts to communicate His promises to hands of their ruthless Egyptian captors. During an entire nation. their journey, God guided His tribe by a pillar of About 20 students involved with Christian cloud during the day and by fire during the night Union’s leadership development ministry at Yale and supplied daily manna. However, as a result of spent a chunk of their summer disobedience, the people wanprobing the rich, foundational dered in the wilderness for 40 lessons of Exodus, including years. During that period, God the miraculous deliverance of provided the Ten Commandthe Israelites from slavery in ments and extensive religious Egypt. and civil law, as well as direcThe students gathered on tions for a tabernacle for God to Thursday evenings during June dwell with His people. and July at the Pennington Such events reflect God’s Center, Christian Union’s minoverarching desire for heaven istry center at Yale University, to to abide physically on earth. participate in a summer Bible “God’s desire is to dwell with study entitled Yahweh Revealed: His people, to bring His realm How the events of Exodus reveal back to earth,” said Yeager. the nature of God. The study Students said their faith was marked Christian Union’s third bolstered as they pored over year to offer spiritual enrich- Christian Union Ministry Fellow Jon the sacred account of the deYeager helped lead a summer Bible ment to students attending liverance of the Israelites from study for about 20 students involved summer courses at Yale. bondage and into a covenant with Christian Union’s ministry at “We had great discussions Yale. The study was entitled Yahweh relationship with the Almighty. about how God reveals Him- Revealed: How the events of Exodus “Broadly, I took away from self as a warrior, shepherd, reveal the nature of God. the study a clearer picture of and savior through the events God’s purpose and how He reof Exodus,” said Chris Matlates to us through His workings thews, Christian Union’s ministry director at Yale. of bringing out His people from Egypt en route Jon Yeager, a Christian Union ministry fellow, to the Promised Land through Moses,” said Kevin echoed those comments and noted the undergradWei ’17. uates especially were touched by the supernatural “Exodus is relevant for students and future ways God showed His redemptive nature in freeing leaders. The key to understanding God and the the ancient Israelites from slavery. Likewise, even way He works is through an understanding of the surrounding nations witnessed God’s powerful core books such as Genesis and Exodus.” interventions on behalf of His covenant tribe. Yeager noted a study of Exodus also highlights “God’s desire is to be known by mankind and the transformation of Moses from a man beset by to dwell with people. God is pursuing mankind,” fear and bad decisions to a pivotal leader. Yeager said. “He alone is God, the God over cre“For future leaders, it is massively important ation.” to understand who God is,” said Yeager.
In addition, Yeager noted the students were especially thrilled the use the Pennington Center for the summer study. The session represented the first course to fully meet in the new ministry center in an historic building on Whitney Avenue. “It gave it more of a family feel,” Yeager said. “It was much more of a relaxing and open place for students to come, engage in the Scriptures, and build community.” Ultimately, the students were able to understand and apply the lessons of Exodus, a book that is foundational to both the Old and New Testaments. “Despite what I had previously thought were
just trivial details concerning preparations for the tabernacle and celebrations, I learned that everything that happened in Exodus prepared God’s
“We had great discussions about how God reveals Himself as a warrior, shepherd, and savior through the events of Exodus.” —Chris Matthews, Christian Union’s ministry director at Yale people for their special place in the Promised Land and distinctively set them apart from their neighbors, if they chose to follow everything that God demanded from them,” said Wei. | cu
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Team Uganda Princeton Ministry Fellow Leads Missions Trip by eileen scott, senior writer
plane, Fields had them read When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty without Hurting the Poor, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. Each student was assigned one chapter on which to write the discussion questions that would guide their weekly, online dialogue about the book. “We reminded the students of the fact that people don’t care how much you know until they first understand how much you care,” said Fields.
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Students were also encouraged to use illustrations and examples that would contextualize the Gospel for the people of Uganda. As a result, they were quite observant and asked specific questions relevant to the people there. When the team first arrived in the village, over 300 children greeted them, most waving branches.
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The time overseas impacted Fields’ work as a ministry fellow at Princeton University, where he leads Bible courses for undergraduate students and provides them with mentoring and leadership training.
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A former basketball coach for an elite high school program, James Fields approaches ministry with the same intensity, helping university students achieve victory through Christ. Case in point was a missions trip to Mawanga, Uganda, sponsored by Christian Union this summer. Fields, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Princeton, and Asha Garretson, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Cornell, led the missions team, which was comprised of six students from Cornell, Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth. Fields was previously an administrator and coach at Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland, whose notable alumni include Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Like a good coach, Fields strategically prepared the students for their role in Uganda and sought to build unity among the team. “I wanted our students to leave Africa seeing the people of Mawanga as God sees them,” he said. “I also wanted them to leave Mawanga knowing God’s passion and desire for them to become brothers and sisters in Christ.” About one month before students boarded the
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Christian Union Ministry Fellows James Fields (top row, third from right) and Asha Garretson (second row, second from right) led a missions trip to Uganda this summer.
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According to Fields, this served as a reminder that the team was a physical manifestation of Jesus to the people of Uganda, as they recalled the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The team served the people of Uganda in a variety of ways by partnering with Rural Orphans and Widows Aids Network (ROWAN). In addition to praying and worshiping with the people, the students also directed a seminar for locals who supervise and provide leadership over the villages. Fields and the team also assisted with ROWAN’s discipleship program for roughly 50 children. One Sunday, Fields preached to more than 200 people at a church in Mawanga. His sermon was entitled “Now Faith,” and revolved around Hebrews 10:32-11:3. “There was a great response to the message of God,” said Fields. But what struck him the most was two women who were freed from demonic oppression when they came forward for prayer. “It was my first time witnessing this,” said
Fields. “What stood out to me the most was the power and authority of Jesus.” The time overseas impacted Fields’ work as a ministry fellow at Princeton University, where he leads Bible courses for undergraduate students and provides them with mentoring and leadership training. “I have quite a few students of African descent in my Bible courses, so to be able to better understand their context is always helpful when I am making illustrations and references during Bible courses,” he said. Likewise, the students from Cornell, Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth also came away from Uganda with some life-transforming lessons. “The students were greatly inspired to know that they have the ability to make a significant difference in someone’s life,” said Fields. “What I did not anticipate is that we would see the face of God within the Christians of Uganda so clearly. They were the most hospitable people that I have ever met.” | cu
A Ministry Hub at Brown Christian Union’s Judson Center Receives a Renovation by eileen scott, senior writer
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At the start of the fall semester, the ChrisAs Christian Union launches a leadertian Union faculty began a Freshmen Outreach ship development ministry at Brown Campaign with various events and offered stuUniversity this fall, the nearby Judson dents the opportunity to sign up for weekly BiCenter is being renovated to meet the needs of ble courses on the Book of Hebrews. Woodard ministry fellows, students, and the Christian community. The Judson Center, Christian Union’s minisAt the start of the fall semester, the Christian try center at Brown, is a 3,500 square foot buildUnion faculty began a Freshmen Outreach ing that provides meeting and worship space for a variety of campus ministries. The building, which Campaign with various events and offered also offers living quarters on the second and third students the opportunity to sign up for weekly floors, is located at 168 Lloyd Avenue in ProviBible courses on the Book of Hebrews. dence, Rhode Island. Christian Union Founder and President Matt Bennett, Cornell ’88 and MBA ’89, said the Judnoted the benefit of having an intimate, welcomson Center is a key component in building unity ing place like the Judson Center for one-on-one among believers. meetings and other ministry activities. Addition“We want to see campuses strengthened in ally, Woodard said, the building gives students a Christ,” said Bennett. “That means helping peer sense of ownership in the mission of Christian ministries. If you look at the early Church in a Union on campus. given city, you might have seen several apostles there; and they had a cooperative perspective because they were all in it together.” The Judson Center is currently being renovated to provide office and meeting space for Christian Union’s ministry at Brown. The facility will feature two new offices, a conference room, and a meeting room that will serve as an ideal space for Christian Union Bible courses, prayer and worship, and social gatherings. “We are very pleased to be here, and it’s encouraging to see these renovations coinciding with our arrival,” said Matt Woodard (Yale Divinity School ’10), Christian Union’s ministry director at Brown. “It’s an exciting start for Christian Union at Brown and a new beginning for the The Judson Center, Christian Union’s ministry center at Brown Judson Center.”
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And the mission, said Woodard, “is about going deeper into God’s Word through Bible courses, sharing Christian fellowship over meals, and showing God’s love and acceptance to one another in a Christian way.” That demonstration of Christian love and compassion is emblematic of the center’s namesake, Adoniram Judson (Brown 1807), who — despite personal hardship and precarious travels — was committed to bringing the Gospel to Asia. Judson, the first Protestant missionary from North America, helped spread the Gospel in Burma for nearly forty years and translated the Bible into Burmese. Additionally, his work resulted in the formation of the first Baptist Association in America, and he is credited with inspiring many to join missionary efforts.
As they launch Christian Union at Brown, Woodard and Christian Union Ministry Fellow Justin Doyle are seeking to help develop Christian leaders and send out young men and women who will impact culture around the world. And there’s plenty of inspiration to draw from with a home base like Judson Center. “God was kind to bless us with the Judson Center at Brown many years before we were able to launch an active ministry there,” said Tim Henderson, the vice president of University Christian Union. “We are glad that others have been able to use it, and we trust it will still be a blessing to the broader Christian community at Brown. Most of all, we are delighted to have a new team there, to join in the work of helping Brown students grow in Christ.” | cu
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An Emerging Leader Sophomore Is Emblematic of Seeking God Lifestyle by eileen scott, senior writer
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From everyday struggles such as managing stress, to larger issues like trying to map out the direction of his life, James Bessolo ’17 says Jesus remains at the center of it all. And as a rising leader within Christian Union’s ministry at Penn, he is reaching out to
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tian community at Penn and at nearby Grace Covenant Church. As part of Christian Union’s outreach to new students this fall, he is engaging freshmen and helping them to plug into Christian Union Bible courses. Bessolo is also helping them find a home church. At Penn’s Christian Activities Fair, he spoke about how to get involved in campus ministries and local churches. Bessolo said Christian Union has had a After launching a leadership devel“remarkable” influence on him, particularly by opment ministry at Penn in the fall of 2013, Christian Union is encouraged providing him with unique opportunities to to see the ministry grow in its second year. Bessolo and other key uppergo beyond his comfort zones and overcome classmen have helped with the recent hesitations about embracing responsibility. Freshmen Outreach Campaign, which included various events. Several freshmen have signed up for Christian Union Bible freshmen to help them find the same Christian courses. Those Bible courses, led by Christian foundation that will sustain them through college Union ministry fellows, will focus on the Book and beyond. of Hebrews. Bessolo, an economics major who is from “The Christian Union ministry offers the camDublin, California, is active both in the Chris-
John Cunningham, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Penn, said Bessolo’s devotion to prayer is outstanding. “James consistently exemplifies the seeking God lifestyle,” he said. “In his personal life, he’s committed to prayer and worship in a way that definitely informs how he leads within the ministry and around Penn.” Cunningham also pointed out how Bessolo recognizes the importance of Christian unity and the value of Christians on campus seeking God together. His daily discipline fuels his commitment to helping others draw nearer to Christ. In that regard, Bessolo says that just by the very nature of being a Christian, each individual has a call to leadership. “We are called by God to go out into the world, and help people see the solution to our ultimate problem— sin,” he said. “This calling makes each one of us a leader. We can be effective James Bessolo, Penn ’17, reached out to incoming freshmen in this calling by having a character this fall with Christian Union’s ministry at the University of worth imitating and making a conPennsylvania. stant effort to solve problems.” And that calling is one Bessolo heeds each day, as he recognizes that Christianity influences every aspect of his exof my college years working to pursue this vision perience at Penn. of growth.” “It is not always easy, and it requires disciBessolo said Christian Union has had a “repline,” said Bessolo, “But I know that pursuing markable” influence on him, particularly by proJesus is undeniably worth it.” | cu viding him with unique opportunities to go beyond his comfort zones and overcome hesitations .................................... about embracing responsibility. Additionally, he is surrounded by believers who have held him accountable and helped him achieve major breakChristian Union’s throughs. Social Media Links: In addition to accountability, a strong prayer and devotional life have been instrumental in his growth. Twitter.com/ChristianUnion “I believe that Scripture is one of our most powerful assets to overcoming spiritual challenges. Combined with practical steps, I know that I will continue to make progress in overcoming Facebook.com/Christian.Union challenges,” he said. pus a community of believers and a Scripture-based curriculum that helps to facilitate growth in students of all different backgrounds,” said Bessolo. “I really value this and would like to spend the rest
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To Change the World Harvard Law Students Probe Sociologist’s Acclaimed Book by catherine elvy, staff writer
of Virginia, wrote about “faithful presence”—an ideal for Christian practice that plays out in relationships, social life, and work. The practice emphasizes cooperation between individuals and institutions to serve the common welfare, according to Christianity Today. More than 40 students participated in the summer reading group, which began June 22 and finished with a series of lunch gatherings in Cambridge. “Hunter’s book was selected because it frustrates, challenges, and encourages – all in the best of ways – students to think about their ability to be transformative leaders and faithful cultural voices,” said Jared Wortman, Christian Union ministry fellow at Harvard Law School. Hunter, who also serves as executive director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, wrote worldly engagement is “an expression of a desire to honor the creator of all goodness, beauty, and truth, a manifestation of our loving obedience to God, and a fulfillment of God’s command to love Christian Union Ministry Fellow Jared Wortman leads a Bible course at Harvard Law School. our neighbor.” Likewise, earlier expressions of faithful presence in church history “manifested itself in and hard about the ways we can best do that,” said the creation of hospitals and the flourishing of Austin Steelman, Harvard Law ’16. art, the best scholarship, the most profound and In his 2010 book, Hunter, a professor of reliworld-changing kind of service and care – again, gion, culture, and social theory at the University
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Christians are called to reflect their faith in all spheres of life. That was one of the themes explored by students involved with Christian Union’s ministry at Harvard Law School as they gathered online during the summer to explore and debate sociologist James Davison Hunter’s To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, & Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World. “We have an opportunity to bring the Church to a place of impact, and we should think long
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not only for the household of faith, Likewise, 16 students enjoyed an but for everyone,” Hunter wrote. afternoon of solidarity with a Labor In addition to providing opDay barbecue at a nearby park. portunities for students to discuss “Because classes started the next the cultural issues they are likely to day, students were at the height of encounter in their future careers, anticipation,” said Wortman. “It the study allowed second-year law was wonderful to observe conversastudents to stay connected over the tions and friendships flourishing – summer months. conversations and friendships that, “It was a great opportunity to we hope, will only be augmented deepen their friendships and proover the course of the next three vide intellectual stimulation in years at HLS and beyond.” between semesters,” said Jim GarOn September 5, a group of 28 This summer, students retson, Christian Union’s ministry law students watched the Boston involved with Christian director at Harvard Law School. Red Sox defeat the Toronto Blue Union’s ministry at Harvard Steelman echoed those com- Law School probed Jays, 9-8, at historic Fenway Park. ments. The summer study provid- sociologist James Davison “This was a fantastic outing, not ed an opportunity to “really engage Hunter’s To Change the just because the Red Sox won the critically with our faith and ask World: The Irony, Tragedy, & game in extra innings, but, moresome tough questions,” he said. over, because it served as a common Possibility of Christianity in “Hunter’s book calls for Chris- the Late Modern World. and extended time for students to tians to be present in all spheres of connect with one another,” said life, especially in positions of culWortman. tural formation, i.e. academia, where the Church As a whole, the ministry’s second year is proving is more or less absent right now.” “incredibly rich and rewarding,” Wortman noted.
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“We have an opportunity to bring the Church to a place of impact, and we should think long and hard about the ways we can best do that. . . . Hunter’s book calls for Christians to be present in all spheres of life, especially in positions of cultural formation.”
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In related news, Christian Union’s ministry to Harvard law students was off to a busy start as it entered its second year of service. Among the activity, nearly 30 students signed up for Bible courses focused on Hebrews.
Returning students are encouraging prayer and trumpeting the importance of the seeking-God lifestyle. Such practices are “reflective of a Christian community rightly operating with care and intentionality,” Wortman said. | cu
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—Austin Steelman, Harvard Law ’16
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city christian union
Strategic Alumni Networks NYCU Launches Faith and Action Groups in Leading Cities by catherine elvy, staff writer
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o serve existing marketplace leaders, as well as New York City Christian Union held a kickoff the growing clusters of Christian Union alumni party for Faith and Action groups on September who now live and work in cities of 6. About 25 Ivy League alumni, strategic cultural influence, Christian mostly members of the classes of Union is launching Faith and Action 2013 and 2014, attended the event small groups. in the lobby of the WeWork buildIn late September, the ministry ing on West 40th Street. rolled out the groups aimed at bolIn May, Crosby also hosted stering Christian professionals in meetings with seniors at Harvard, New York City, Boston, Houston, Princeton, and Yale universities to and Washington, D.C. These Faith alert them to the Faith and Action and Action groups will provide vengroups and other ways Christian ues for professionals to seek God Union can offer support during and network with like-minded indi- Scott Crosby, director of their transitions into the career areviduals, while attending intellectu- New York City Christian na. Union ally robust Bible studies. So far, about 50 young adults Much of the focus is on recruithave expressed interest in taking ing recent graduates who took part part in Faith and Action groups in in Christian Union’s leadership deNew York City. Participation is not velopment ministries at Harvard, limited by age or educational backPrinceton, and Yale. The three oldground. est Christian Union university minWhile graduates initially are eneristries are graduating seniors into the gized to engage culture in their new workforce each May. Alumni of the settings, many find themselves overministries will be graduating from all eight camwhelmed, oftentimes working routine 12-pluspuses within the next four years. hour workdays. Across the globe, believers plugged into thrivSuddenly, they “just want to survive as a Chrising, tight-knit Christian communities during tian in the workplace,’” said Crosby, referencing their college years often experience spiritual conversations with some recent alumni. drought after graduation. Not surprisingly, many “They step into a whirlwind. They’re all Christians encounter loneliness after relocating shocked by the fact that they have almost no free into new cities to launch careers, said Scott Crostime.” by, director of New York City Christian Union. Compounding this problem, many spirituWith Faith and Action, “there is an intentional ally-minded alumni miss the type of Christian focus on spiritual community and forming deeper community they enjoyed as undergraduates. friendships,” Crosby said. To address this, Crosby helps them to plug into Crosby and Christian Union hope that these churches in their new settings. friendships and overall greater devotion to Christ Participants in Faith and Action groups will among alumni will lead to involvement in local begin with a study on Hebrews, utilizing newchurches. Faith and Action groups are not intendly written material by Nick Nowalk, Christian ed to be substitutes for participation in church Union’s teaching fellow at Harvard. Unlike the life. Bible courses on university campuses, which are
Credit: iStockPhoto
City Christian Union is launching Faith and Action groups for professionals in New York and other key metropolitan regions.
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To learn more about Faith and Action groups in New York City, Boston, Houston, and Washington, D.C., contact Scott Crosby at (347) 682-5653. E-mail: Scott.Crosby@ChristianUnion.org.
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Ultimately, Crosby wants Faith and Action groups to complement the mentorship Christian Union provides at top-tier universities. Christian Union staffs and resources student organizations at Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale universities. There, ministry fellows offer undergraduates in-depth study of Scripture, Christian leadership training, and spiritual support. While the transition to the workforce from college ushers challenges, many young graduates of Christian Union’s ministry report their “faith is still vibrant,” Crosby said. | cu
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taught by Christian Union ministry fellows, participants will share the responsibility for covering the curriculum. As well, the exact format and timetable for the groups will reflect the composition and work schedules of members. In addition, Crosby envisions believers who labor in shared industries networked together, formulating ideas about how to better reflect Christ in their respective fields. Among alumni, Jessica Haley expressed appreciation for the Faith and Action groups. “The ease of developing and maintaining friendships after graduating is easy to overestimate, so I’m thankful for the support of NYCU in helping to provide opportunities to gather with fellow recent alumni to encourage each other,” said Haley, Princeton ’14. Along related lines, Christian Union also offers a City Host program to match young professionals with seasoned believers in New York City.
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donor spotlight
Faith, Family, and Philanthropy Harvard Alumnus Embraces Christian Union’s Holistic Approach
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friends urged Tony to take a look at Christian Union and give support to its focus on developing Christian leaders within the eight intensely secular universities generating as much as half of the nation’s most influential leaders. Tony was intrigued, but careful. “We didn’t get involved with Christian Union right away,” he notes. Getting to know an organization, he and his wife had learned over the years, was important before getting fully behind it. But, having heard about the changes God was bringing about at Princeton through the ministry, Tony took an opportunity to meet Christian Union faculty and students at Harvard, who by this time were making noticeable inroads at his alma mater. “When I finally met Don Weiss, the director of undergraduate ministry at Harvard, and Nick Nowalk, teaching fellow, I was impressed…when I met with the students involved with the ministry, I was blown away.” Beginning in 2011, Tony and Martha began to take the ministry close to their hearts, channeling time and treasure to help address a lack of Christian resources at the key universities, and to help supply the nation with godly Tony Cimmarrusti, Harvard ’81, HBS ’86, with his wife Martha, and their four sons. leaders. “For anyone who cares about leadership in the U.S., it’s imperative we reach the students at these schools.” As Bible course sponsors, Tony and Martha for the Majesty Fund since 1995. He explains enable Christian Union’s ministry fellows to meet how he and his wife discern which charitable weekly with eight to ten students per course and organizations to support, citing insights gained provide in-depth instruction in Scripture. Coursfrom attending conferences such as Generous es typically form during freshman year and often Giving, and by studying great works such as Henstay together for four years, fostering intimacy ry Blackaby’s book, Experiencing God: “You have and accountability. Tony says, “Christian Union to see God and join Him where He is working; it takes the right approach. It’s both spiritual and just doesn’t work the other way around.” intellectual; it’s holistic.” Over the years, Tony and Martha have folIn addition to teaching the Scriptures and lowed the Lord into a number of faithful, effechelping students seek God wholeheartedly, Christive ministry programs. For some time, two close
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or Harvard alumnus Tony Cimmarrusti and his wife Martha, supporting causes they care about is an endeavor to model the love of Christ, and it is something that “is a major fabric in the life of our family.” Cimmarrusti (Harvard ’81, HBS ’86) is CEO and co-founder, with Bryce Gray, of Majestic Capital Management. In a dynamic, wide-ranging career, he has worked on Wall Street and at the Chicago Board of Trade; developed real estate; led numerous family offices; and served as CIO
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that all of the things we have can be used by God to help others, and that everything we have is either a tool…or an idol!” The parents’ lessons took root. In 2013, their oldest son, Mike, graduated from Wheaton College, where he served as the captain of the ice hockey team. He now works in private equity, serves with Young Life, and coaches youth hockey. Wesley is a founding board member of Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), a Christian fraternity, at the University of Michigan. He’s also involved in
“For anyone who cares about leadership in the U.S., it’s imperative that we reach the students at these schools.” —Tony Cimmarrusti, Harvard ’81, HBS ’86
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The Cimmarrusti family has a passion to coach and mentor godly leaders. Donors are invited to support transformation at any of the eight campuses where Christian Union operates. To learn more about giving opportunities, including Bible course sponsorships, or to make a gift, go to www.christianunion.org/give.
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Young Life. Their third son, Caleb, is a freshman at the Naval Academy, and already involved in a church and his company Bible study. Youngest son, Mac, is a junior in high school, a Sunday school teacher, and a leader in Young Life. Tony quips, “Whenever anyone asks me how they turned out so well, I tell them there are three reasons: 1. Martha 2. Martha 3. Martha!” After 26 years of marriage, Tony and Martha continue to adventure together. They are leaders at Grace Community Church in Detroit, and in their town of Grosse Pointe Farms. The couple has even bicycled across America together. The recipe for the Cimmarrusti family’s energetic approach to ministry is simple. Tony explains it this way: “God’s work is our work. Our work is about doing His work.” | cu
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tian Union’s ministry faculty also coach and develop students’ concrete leadership skills, in order to amplify their effectiveness as Christian leaders. Ensuring students receive spiritual mentoring and coaching at a pivotal stage in life fits in with Tony’s background. A former All-Southern California football player and wrestler, Tony went on to captain the wrestling team at Harvard, while also playing linebacker on the football team. Over the past three decades, Tony has coached collegiate, high school, and youth football, wrestling, and baseball. Through it all, he carried out his passion for Jesus. “Whether I’m coaching, teaching, or working in business, I’ve sought to maintain a kingdom mindset.” Tony’s heart for mentoring and coaching came full circle when he met Kevin Collins (Harvard ’89), Christian Union’s director of undergraduate ministry at Dartmouth. Tony was finishing his degree at Harvard Business School, while also coaching the Harvard freshman football team. Kevin, a player on that team, is now bringing his own love for Christ, coaching skills, and marketplace experience to students in the Ivy League. Tony was delighted. “It was extraordinary to see this fellow Harvard alumnus as a man of God, impacting Dartmouth.” Last year, Tony served as a panelist speaker at Christian Union’s Ivy League Congress on Faith and Action. The experience provided Tony with another confirmation that his family’s commitment to the ministry was advancing the kingdom in meaningful ways. The Congress drew more than 390 students from eight campuses to hear speakers address the intersection of faith and vocation. “I was humbled by my co-panelists, including Adam Berry (Princeton ’09). As a student, Adam was involved with Christian Union when it first launched; now he is at Goldman Sachs. He’s young and he is talented, and he is getting it done for Jesus!” As parents desiring to raise their sons to care about and participate in God’s work, the Cimmarrustis share, “We tried to teach our children
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university christian union
What’s Next... Please pray for upcoming Christian Union events
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november
december
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january
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11 april
New York City Christian Union Salon New York City Christian Union will host a salon with Bruce Herman, who holds the Lothlórien Distinguished Chair in Fine Arts at Gordon College.
New York City Benefit Event An evening of celebration in New York to support the ministry of Christian Union in developing Christian leaders to transform sculture.
Prayer and Fasting Initiative Christian Union and believers across the nation will pray and fast for 40 days. See www.ChristianUnion.org/40Days to learn more.
New York City Christian Union Forum New York City Christian Union will host a quarterly forum with author and social critic Dr. Os Guinness.
spokenWord 2015 Christian Union presents spokenWord2015, the Ivy League Bible Memorization Challenge Finale, at the Scholastic Auditorium in New York City.
Join the campaign to save the world’s most endangered species.
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If you’re serious about preserving our most precious natural resources, get involved with evangelism. After all, if it’s worthwhile to crusade for the environment, how much more so for human souls. ®
www.rts.edu ATLANTA | CHARLOTTE | HOusTON | JACKsON | MEMpHis | NEw yORK CiTy | ORLANDO | wAsHiNGTON DC | GLObAL
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(right) at Yale University
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reports from some of america’s most influential universities
The Spiritual Climate in the
Ivy League
The following articles were written to keep readers informed about the spiritual atmosphere at Ivy League universities. Some stories will encourage you by highlighting ways God is working through other (non-Christian Union) ministries. Other articles—on news, trends, and events—are included to help motivate you to pray for these institutions, their students, faculty, and staff, and for all of the Christian ministries that work at these schools. ......................................................................................
I VY L E A G U E R E POR T S | Fall 2014
to “see beyond the urgency of the moment and cultivate a life that gives God the glory He deserves.” Huang attended the University of Connecticut for his residency in Anesthesiology and currently practices in central California. Chung, who practices medicine in North
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’00, Warren Alpert Medical School ’05) and Richard Chung (Harvard ’00, Yale School of Medicine ’05) are the authors of Beyond Studying: A Guide to Faith, Life, and Learning for Students in Health-Care Professions. They wrote the book to invigorate weary souls and help students
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nowing firsthand that a career in medicine can tax both body and soul, two Ivy League alumni have written a book that exhorts medical students to give God room to work in their lives, their studies, and their professions. Doctors Eric Huang (Brown
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D O C TORS’ B OOK EN COUR AGE S MED SCHOOL S TUDENTS By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer
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Beyond Studying and Residencies
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explore issues of faith. While she says there is a strong Christian medical fellowship in the Philadelphia area, her friends at Harvard Medical School and other schools don’t have that kind of community. The authors hope their book will help bridge that gap and offer medical students a place to turn for godly encouragement and support. According to the book, one key to maintaining a healthy spiritual life is to make certain things, like prayer, non-negotiable. “We can’t afford to fool In their new book, physicians Eric Huang, Brown ’00, Alpert Medical School ’05 (left), and Richard ourselves, because there are Chung, Harvard ’00, Yale Medical School ’05, encourage medical school students to seek God certain things that are just wholeheartedly. that important. Your spiritual health is one of them. The Adult Medicine at Children’s Hos- al, mental, and physical fatigue, ramifications of compromising are the insidious neglect of daily disci- disastrous,” said Chung. pital Boston. Although written for medical The source of strength to live plines, and the risk of losing sight for God in the midst of the trau- of a God-driven purpose in the face students, such advice is good for ma of medical school comes from of the daily mental and social striv- any professional. From time management to total surrender to God’s trusting in God’s sovereignty, say ing required of us as students.” will, the exhortations can inspire Chao concurred. the authors. Yet, they admit their and guide all readers. own weaknesses, and in doing so, Beyond Studying offers not let readers know they’ve walked the just advice, but a call to action by hard path and can relate to where providing suggested prayers and students are today. questions to ponder at the end of Huang writes, “A tired soul beeach chapter. And the authors’ engins, over time, to live for self and not for God.” —Dr. Eric Huang (Brown ’00, couragement and guidance isn’t meant to fade when residencies are “I began many days praying, Warren Alpert Medical School ’05) completed. Their exhortations and ‘May my life now be a sacrifice to “A long period of set-aside time recommendations are intended to you.’ But by evening, my plea often became, ‘Oh Lord, just sacrifice me for prayer is usually the first thing last long after “the shingle has been to go,” she said. “It should be a pri- hung.” now!’ ” he admits. Huang and Chung write, Katherine Choi and Tiffany Ng ority, but, most of the time, it’s so Chao, medical students at Penn, easy to let go. There are so many “Whatever accolades, awards, or letters you get after your name, recan relate. Both are involved with things you have to do.” According to Chao, medical member that a truly fulfilling life the Christian Medical Fellowship at Penn, yet, they confess to strug- school is not like the undergraduate can only be experienced by living gling to give God His proper place environment where there is time to for His glory, not your own.” | cu Carolina, completed his residency in Internal Medicine-Pediatrics at Duke University and his fellowship in Adolescent and Young
in their lives and their studies. “I can say the topics covered [in the book] are very relevant,” said Choi. “I can attest to the emotion-
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“A tired soul begins, over time, to live for self and not for God.”
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BROW N | On Campus
‘A New Adventure’ at Brown P R I E S T S R E P L A C E F AT H E R H E N R Y B O D A H By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
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of the Providence diocese asked Bodah to serve the Catholic community at Brown and the Rhode Island School of Design. Bodah described the colleges as “unique institutions that attract a remarkable cadre of students.” As such, Bodah noted he was privileged to serve the Catholic students at the schools.
Several hundred students participate in Brown’s Catholic community. Student leaders help host weekly Bible studies, liturgical ministries, choirs, retreats, meals, lectures, and other activities. The ministry holds two Masses on Sundays and one on Wednesdays. Angela Howard McParland, who came to Brown in 2007, continues to serve
“I am excited to meet and to get to know the Catholic students and to walk with them as we come to know better the love and the power of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord, who is Savior of the world.” —Rev. Nicanor Austriaco
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as director of the Brown-RISD Catholic Community. As for Austriaco, the native of the Philippines was ordained a priest in 2004 and completed his pontifical license in sacred theology and moral theology at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. in 2005. As an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, Austriaco ’89 is familiar with the stresses of Ivy League studies, but wants students to pause to ask life’s bigger queries. “Often, they are so busy trying to get ahead that they forget that it is important for them to ask and to keep asking the important questions about their lives, about their world, and about their God,” Austriaco said. “… Is the universe a consequence
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“There were many students who were remarkable in their loyalty to the Gospel and to the Catholic faith. It was also a pleasure to interact with all the students, of whatever religion or of no religion; they were always engaging and ready to talk and share their ideas,” he said. While both colleges are decidedly secular, even reputedly hostile to traditional faiths, the priests “try to develop in their students a strength of character that allows each one to be true to his or her values and beliefs,” Bodah said. Along those lines, participation in an “intentional community” of student believers “can provide the spiritual and emotional support for those who want to remain faithful and go deeper into their religious tradition,” Bodah said.
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pair of priests recently joined Brown University to serve as Catholic chaplains and replace the ministry’s longstanding priest. In August, Revs. Nicanor Austriaco and Augustine Reisenauer assumed the mantle held by Father Henry Bodah, who served Brown’s Catholic community for 17 years before taking over the priesthood of St. Francis of Assisi in Wakefield, Rhode Island. Both men expressed gratitude for their new roles, as well as the plethora of opportunities to minister to students who are making life decisions and encountering spiritual crossroads. “I am very appreciative and grateful to God for the opportunity to contribute to the Catholic and campus communities at Brown University,” said Reisenauer. The Prior-Provincial of the Dominican Friars (Province of St. Joseph) appointed the pair to Brown, effective August 1 and on an interim basis, with the approval of Bishop Thomas Tobin of the Diocese of Providence. “I am excited to meet and to get to know the Catholic students and to walk with them as we come to know better the love and the power of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord, who is Savior of the world,” said Austriaco. As for Bodah, the native of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, was ordained in 1978. Nearly two decades later, then-Bishop Louis Gelineau
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of a random quantum fluctuation or is it the creation of a loving God who wanted to share His inner life with persons who are not god?” Along related lines, Austriaco is completing a pontifical doctorate in sacred theology at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. He serves as an associate professor of biology and instructor of theology at Providence College. Austriaco, who completed doctoral studies in biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, maintains intellectual interests in molecular and cellular genetics and in moral theology. As for Reisenauer, the Washing-
ton native is a Dominican priest of the Order of Preachers in the Province of St. Joseph. Among his credentials, Reisenauer earned a master of theological studies from the University of Notre Dame in 2006 and a series of graduate theology degrees at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Ordained to the priesthood in 2012, Reisenauer serves as an adjunct professor of theology at Providence College. He teaches courses in early Christian theology and in the college’s signature program, the Development of Western Civilization.
As for his new role at Brown, “belonging and contributing to such a community of faith and love, of scholarship and service, touches upon some of the deepest desires of our human hearts, and so I’m enthused about serving the entire community and each of its members,” Reisenauer said. As part of a priesthood with an 800-year tradition of integrating faith and reason, Reisenauer said he eagerly begins “this new adventure on the campus of Brown University, an institution that has its own remarkable and renowned legacy.” | cu
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An Advocate for Samaritans B R O W N U N D E R G R A D R E A C H E S O U T W I T H C O M PA S S I O N | By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer In March of 2013, Sunil Tripa- Healing. While she did not know he suicide of one student at Brown inspired a classmate to thi, an undergraduate who was tak- Tripathi, his despair struck a deep champion the cause of hope and ing a leave of absence from Brown, chord. “I knew then that God called healing for campus and community disappeared from his residence in me to help my brothers and sisters Providence, Rhode Island. While his members who are suffering with dewhereabouts were unknown, Trip- in this kind of need,” she said. pression and mental illness. Galvan, who aspires to become athi was incorrectly considered a suspect in a physician, subsequently joined the Boston Marathon Students for Samaritans, a student bombing, according to organization at Brown (www.facenews reports. Sadly, book.com/studentsforsamaritans) it was later discovered that is affiliated with Samaritans of that the young man Rhode Island. Samaritans, a worldwide organihad taken his life in the waters off India Point zation dedicated to suicide prevention, was founded nearly a century Park in Providence. The tragedy res- ago by Anglican Priest Chad Varah, onated with Lauren who, like Galvan, was deeply imGalvan ’16, who had pacted by the suicide of a young just started her in- person. Lauren Galvan, Brown ’16, is studying how mental health intersects Today, Galvan is seeking to study dependent study in with religion and spirituality and the healing process. Mental Health and the ways mental health intersects
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b r o w n ne w s - in - b r ie f
Catena ’86 Honored for Missionary Work In July, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announced missionary physician Tom Catena, Brown ’86, as the co-recipient of the organization’s 2014 Gold Medal. The foundation will honor the humanitarian, a standout football player at Brown, in December. Past recipients include seven former U.S. presidents. Catena serves as the only permanent physician at Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountain region of civil war-ravaged Sudan. In 2013, Brown University gave Catena its William Rogers Award, the institution’s highest honor to graduates who exemplify Brown’s mission of preparing students for lives characterized by “usefulness and reputation.”
Gov. Jindal ’91 Mocked at Comic Con
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A video that appeared at Comic Con 2014 this summer poked fun at the spiritual warfare experience that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Brown ’91 wrote about for the New Oxford Review in 1994. The article, entitled “Beating a Demon: Physical Dimensions of Spiritual Warfare,” chronicled Jindal’s experience at Brown involving the exorcism of a friend during a University Christian Fellowship meeting. The film, “Ivy League Exorcist: The Bobby Jindal Story,” was produced by Cult Jam Productions and contains crude language and casts Christians in unflattering stereotypes, making a mockery of what is a real battle with the powers of darkness.
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campus are struggling either with stress, anxiety, or depression, and to help shed some light on some dark times in life means the world to me.” In October, the organization hosted a panel discussion that looked at issues like relationships and dating violence. Students for Samaritans also hosts an annual “befriending” seminar where workshops offer information on how to create a safe and nonjudgmental space for those in need. As well, the group conducts the “Mental Health Monologues,” an open mic night for students to share their stories of mental health challenges through song, spoken word, poetry, or personal narratives. As for the Christian community at Brown, Galvan believes that openly talking about faith and mental health and suicide is “crucial” in helping to de-stigmatize these issues. “Many mental health issues take people away from the things that mean the most to them, including religion and faith in God,” said Galvan. “Stress, depression, anxiety, panic—they make us vulnerable when we need strength the most.” And Galvan admits that she is not immune to this vulnerability at times. However, in those moments she remembers God’s love and His promises, and she encourages others to do the same. “I have to remind myself that God is watching over us all the time and He is listening to our prayers,” she said. “We’re on God’s time, and just like it says in Jeremiah 29:14, He will find us and bring us back from captivity—back from all the places where He has taken us. God knows what we need and when we need it. And He will deliver us.” | cu
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with religion and spirituality and the healing process. She is a member of the Brown Catholic Community (http://students.brown.edu/brcc/) and has also participated in Brown Christian Fellowship (http://blogs. brown.edu/bcf/) and College Hill for Christ (www.cru-brown.org). Galvan said her faith impacts the way she responds to crisis. She strives to be a nonjudgmental, active listener with everyone she meets. “One of my goals in life is to be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle,” said Galvan. “Jesus calls us to love one another the way He loves us. It’s the only way the world will become a better place—a safer and more accepting place for those who are suicidal, or in distress.” And in the process of helping others, she also is reaching out with Christ-like, unconditional love. “I’m bringing Him to those in need. I’m showing them how one follower of Christ looks and acts. Hopefully, they’ll get inspired to look and act the same way, and to show Christ to others as well,” she said. Galvan and her peers with Students for Samaritans support and help people with mental illness through volunteering at the crisis hotline operated by the Rhode Island chapter and by assisting with the organization’s Cross the Bridge to Hope run/walk. On the Brown campus, Students for Samaritans has organized interactive events such as “What Makes You Smile?”—which gave students the opportunity to express their feelings through drawing or writing. “We get to see people remember the good things in life, and hopefully, we bring some joy to their day,” Galvan said. “A lot of students on
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COLU M B I A | On Campus
Fools for Love? S C H O L A R S H E D S L I G H T O N C A M P U S H O O K U P C U LT U R E By Luke Foster, Columbia ’15
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not doing more to combat sexual assault. Senior Emma Sulkowicz has undertaken a performance art piece, carrying a mattress around campus until the man she accuses of raping her has been expelled. The exploitation and manipulation that is routine in much of campus interaction between the sexes forms an enormous part of this subtext. On September 7, Columbia’s Anscombe Society, a chapter of the nationwide Love and Fidelity Net-
Scholar Donna Freitas speaks to students at an event sponsored by the Columbia Anscombe Society.
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he first few weeks of classes are always an overwhelming time for new students on Ivy League campuses. The pace and pressures begin to mount; stress increases, if anything, faster than the workload. And these first weeks are also a proving ground for the moral and spiritual decisions that shape college experiences and lives to come. The party and hookup culture plays a major role. It’s easy to think that hooking up is the only way to have fun, and many students from Christian backgrounds
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turn away from their faith to follow a seductive path. At Columbia, the dark underbelly of the hookup culture has been vividly highlighted in recent weeks. Activists from the national coalition No Red Tape have aggressively condemned the administration for
work, hosted scholar Donna Freitas, whose latest book is entitled Sex and the Soul. Through the presentation of her research and analysis on the hookup culture, Anscombe hoped to provide a positive vision of human sexuality and offer Columbians hope of finding lasting
love. A crowd of around 40 students turned out to hear her on a Sunday afternoon. Freitas presented the findings of her eight years of research and hundreds of interviews with college students on hookup culture. What, exactly, is “hookup” culture? She described it as the umbrella culture for sexual and romantic interaction on almost all American college campuses (certain Christian colleges escape this dynamic). It has become normal, even “cool” in certain contexts, for college students to engage in ambiguous, anonymous sexual encounters—anything from making out to intercourse—without expecting any prior or subsequent romantic relationship. Dr. Freitas’ research revealed that a large majority of college students feel alienated and frustrated by the hookup culture. Most would like to see a revival of the dating culture, with its norms and traditions to structure romance. But what drives behavior, she found, is “what everyone thinks of what everyone else thinks.” Students fear being perceived as weak, as not achievement-driven enough, if they pursue romance in college. These responses from her interviewees led Freitas to draw some sobering conclusions. “We are becoming a culture where to be normal is to be apathetic,” she argued: hookups thrive on lack of communication, on emotional disconnect, and ultimately on devaluing both self
and other. Freitas saw this as having long-term effects on the emotional and relational health of the Millennial generation. And she made a case that the hookup culture—because it shuts down communication in sexual encounters—horribly complicates adjudicating the standard of “consent” used in rape cases. Who can give consent while both parties are
drunk, in the dark, in a corner of a dance floor? On a hopeful note, Freitas observed that over 80 percent of her interviewees identified as spiritual or religious. These students also felt unable to express that religiosity on campus, and wanted to understand how to connect sexuality to their spirituality. Freitas closed with a
word of advice on how to reclaim romance amid the hookup culture’s sordid reality: “You have to be fools for love!” And various Christ-centered ministries on campus are meeting exactly this need, challenging students to be fools for God’s love and to reshape the quest for human love around the Cross. | cu
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‘Plan B’ Is Flawed P R O - L I F E A D V O C AT E : ‘ C O L U M B I A I S S E N D I N G T H E W R O N G M E S S A G E ’ By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
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culture where new life can simply be thrown away,” said Arina Grossu, director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family Research Council. As for Columbia, the university’s Web site explains students in need of emergency contraception also have the option to purchase such medication for about $31 to $50 at area pharmacies or to receive it free, round-the-clock, at public hospitals in New York City’s five boroughs. “The message they are sending to the students is it is OK to be promiscuous, and we will help you to take care of whatever pregnancy happens,” said Grossu. As an alternative, Grossu said universities should teach students to focus on fostering healthier relationships centered on individual worth and respect. They also should support students who desire to practice abstinence in the midst of a hyper-sexualized youth culture. Caitlin La Ruffa, director of the Love and Fidelity Network, echoed those comments.
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sidered limited data on the safety of Ella and needs to conduct additional studies on the side effects and risks of the medication. The Family Research Council also cautions Ella is similar to RU-486 and, as such, may cause excessive bleeding and heightened risk of infection. More importantly, emergency contraception brings to the forefront issues tied to personhood. Of top concern, pro-family leaders say pills such as Plan B and Ella prevent pregnancy by blocking the implantation of embryos, and Ella can cause the demise of an implanted embryo. Ella is a selective progesterone receptor modulator, which blocks progesterone receptors, thus depriving a developing fetus of the crucial protein, according to Family Research Council. Many life advocates warn such medications are tools in a culture of death, marked by the view that human life, when inconvenient, can be discarded. “It is part of a consumer-oriented
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olumbia University recently began offering free emergency contraception to students, a move a public policy organization equates with supplying abortifacients. In May, Columbia Medical Services began dispensing Plan B and Ella to students at its center in John Jay Hall. Previously, students had to secure prescriptions for the drugs from Columbia and present them to area pharmacies. The pharmaceuticals are available at no charge during business hours to students who have paid the university’s health fee. A university Web site lists such contraceptives as options for students after “sex was unplanned, unintended, or unwanted.” An e-mail from the university’s health department to the Columbia Daily Spectator added, “Emergency contraception is safe when used as directed by a health care professional,” a claim the Family Research Council disputes. The Washington, D.C.-based organization reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration con-
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Providing free emergency contraceptives sends “the message that all that matters when it comes to sexual relationships is avoiding pregnancy,” said La Ruffa, Princeton ’09. “It condones what goes on in the hookup culture… It teaches students that sex is merely recreation the way tennis is and [that] intimacy isn’t inherently meaningful.” Columbia’s move to offer such contraceptives is especially troubling as a student-run governing board declined to grant recognition during the spring to a group of students who wanted to form a campus chapter of the Anscombe Society, an organization that affirms sex as a special, unifying experience reserved for marriage between a man and woman. Columbia can “definitely balance the conversation about what sexuality is and elevate it to include
love. All students want love,” said La Ruffa. “It’s OK to want more than the hookup culture. You don’t have to settle for it.” As well, in the interest of balance, universities should provide resources for pro-life and pregnant students, as well as for undergraduates who are parents, said Grossu. Universities can help young women achieve family goals alongside educational endeavors. “If you find yourself pregnant, it’s not the end of the world,” said Grossu. “You don’t have to choose to end life.” Columbia’s distribution of emergency contraception also comes on the heels of the university’s plans to establish a second location for a rape crisis center and to expand its professional counseling services. “Many people on the campus – students, faculty, and administrators
– have worked diligently on this critically important matter,” Columbia President Lee Bollinger, Law ’71, wrote on May 15 in an update on efforts to prevent sexual assault on campus. “The work will continue.” Bollinger also recently announced plans for Suzanne Goldberg, Brown ’85, Harvard Law ’90, to serve as special advisor to Columbia’s president on sexual assault prevention and response. With that in mind, La Ruffa expressed concern that Columbia may be abetting an environment that enables sexual assault by readily supplying emergency contraception, and she urged university officials to focus their efforts on creating a climate of dignity. “There’s so much that can be done to improve things on a campus like Columbia,” La Ruffa said. | cu
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Walton ’08 Cited by Christianity Today
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Jonathan Walton ‘08
Christianity Today recently named Jonathan Walton, Columbia ’08, to its distinguished list of young leaders, “33 Under 33, Continued.” The magazine asked readers to nominate millennial-aged Christian leaders within their communities. Walton, the director of the New York City Urban Project through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (www.ivcf. org) is also a poet and author. According to Christianity Today, he “works to rally college students around issues of justice in their neighborhoods and the global impact of their consumption.”
Compass Christian Koinonia Compass Christian Koinonia is off to a great start in the new academic year. Among the highlights, the campus ministry at Columbia University is holding weekly dinners and Bible studies on Friday evenings in Earl Hall’s Dodge Room, which overlooks Broadway. As well, the group held a joint retreat with the Christian Koinonia ministry at New York University on September 27. Earlier in the month, the students paused to celebrate recent birthdays, and they feasted on Korean barbecue on Labor Day.
COR N E LL | On Campus
Successful Stewardship C O R N E L L S T U D E N T E N J O Y S W O R K I N G W I T H C AT H O L I C C H A R I T I E S By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer
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because we are on campus,” she said. willing or can’t find the time for a “When you step off campus, you see volunteer position,” he said. Clark all these needs.” said it was inspiring to see “someShe remembers participating in a one from privilege truly caring.” coat giveaway and later seeing peoWhile Callaghan remained in ple on the street wearing those very Ithaca during the summer, she coats. sought out fund“The small act of ing for the Money giving the coat providManagement Worked warmth all winter. shop and helped People don’t have heat, Clark in putting they don’t have cars. I together an outline feel so grateful I’ve been for the course. The blessed to help in this initiative still needs way,” Callaghan said. funding to get off Although Catholic the ground and fulKatie Callaghan, Cornell Charities is a religious ly meet the needs of organization, it serves ’14, helped initiate a the community. money management all those in need, reAccording to program for gardless of faith. Clark, there are vardisadvantaged families in “God’s teachings are ious obstacles for Ithaca, New York. applicable to human people to attend the society,” Callaghan said, course. Many of the “like loving your enemies and offer- would-be participants work and are ing yourself to others and not hop- single parents who have to be at ing for anything in return.” home to feed and care for their chilThe recent alumna admits her dren in the evenings. With proper faith had cooled during her first funding for a meal and childcare years at Cornell, but was recently for participants, he believes, people renewed after she was a sponsor for would be more apt to show interest a friend who was being confirmed. in the program. “I supported her and God supThrough the support of caring ported me,” said Callaghan. “God student volunteers like Callaghan and was preparing me. I wouldn’t have the implementation of the Money gotten through this year without Management Workshop, local resimy faith,” she said. dents may soon be able to learn the As a result, the strength she re- skills necessary for financial stewardceived from God enabled her to con- ship and gain the peace and security tinue to serve the local community it brings. | cu in a way that Clark says is unique. “A lot of students either aren’t
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n teaching neighbors about sound money management, one student within the Catholic community at Cornell hopes to provide a lifetime of financial freedom for those in need. Katie Callaghan ’14, in conjunction with a local Catholic Charities organization, has taken the lead in directing and seeking funding for the Money Management Workshop, which is designed to empower local residents who are struggling with various financial issues In starting the program, Callaghan reached out to Joshua Clark, the director of development at Catholic Charities Thompkins Tioga (CCTT). Together, they outlined a program which is similar to the MoneyWise program that is offered by a local credit union in the area. According to Clark, many of the people who participate in CCTT programs are the working poor. They have jobs, but still struggle to make ends meet. Whether participants have no income, low income, or average income—if they are struggling financially—this program is designed to help. Callaghan, who begins medical school in Long Island, New York this fall, developed a heart for the fiscal and physical health of the poor as she ventured outside the walls of privilege that the university fosters, and engaged the local community. “Catholic Charities opened my eyes to this tremendous community. You think everyone is financially set
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COR N E LL | On Campus
‘God Has Brought the World to Us’ I N T E R N AT I O N A L S T U D E N T S , I N C . A P P O I N T S N E W R E G I O N A L D I R E C T O R By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
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will do and with a sense of dependence on Him,” Larson wrote for his blog. “Realizing that whatever I have done, He has accomplished for me (Isaiah 26:12). Whatever I will do, must be done through Him (John 15:5).” Larson joined International Students’ team at Cornell University in 2008. At the Ivy League university, International Students, Inc. (www. isionline.org) partners with Cornell International Christian Fellowship (www.cicfcornell.blogspot.com) to serve the foreign Dave Larson is the new regional field director for community. International Students, Inc. However, Larson’s service with InternaIn June, Dave Larson took over tional Students dates back to 1987 as International Students’ director when he served with the ministry’s for the entire Northeast after over- outreach in Buffalo, New York, folseeing Central and Western New lowed by Tucson, Arizona. After a stint pastoring Craycroft Baptist York and Western Pennsylvania. As for his new position, Larson Church in Tucson from 1996 to said it ushers in new opportunities 2001, Larson rejoined the Buffalo to serve the thousands of interna- branch in 2001. Despite his new responsibilities, tionals who venture to the region for undergraduate and graduate Larson and wife Beth continue to studies and postdoctoral research. minister to students at Cornell Visiting scholars from abroad often alongside Edith Johnson, an adarrive with spouses and children in visor with Cornell International tow, including some who do not Christian Fellowship. At Cornell, the beginning of the speak proficient English. “I embark on the new role with new academic year involved a sea sense of anticipation of what God ries of outreach efforts, including a
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longtime campus minister with International Students, Inc.’s outreach at Cornell University recently stepped into a new, expanded role as regional field director.
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welcome picnic at nearby Taughannock Falls State Park and participation in Cornell’s orientation fair for international graduate and professional students. During the summer, the branch at Cornell hosted weekly gatherings for about 30 participants on Friday evenings at the Mott Center, Christian Union’s ministry center at Cornell. The summer months provide a “good time for connecting with the students for friendship, Bible study, and discipleship,” Larson said. Along those lines, Dave and Beth Larson taught a five-week course in conversational English to more than a dozen internationals via Cornell International Christian Fellowship on Thursday evenings at the Mott Center. Educational outings included trips to a baseball game, farm, coffee shop, and ice cream parlor. In addition, the Larsons hosted a July 4th party for about 35 foreign students, and Beth Larson led regular Bible studies for four women throughout the summer. Likewise, students involved with the ministry’s friendship-partner program met over the summer with their host families. At the beginning of each academic year, Larson matches about 60 Christian families from Ithaca with international students and scholars. “They’re displaced out of their families and culture,” said Larson. “They always have the need for relationships and friendship.”
Activities with host families help students to experience the local culture, Larson said. “A lot of the families have really enjoyed it.” Cornell is home to more than 21,000 undergraduate, graduate, and
tionals represent about 45 percent of the population. Nationwide, International Students, Inc. serves students on 500plus campuses in the United States and across the globe. The organi-
tional students and equip them for evangelical service. Ministering to Cornell’s international community “provides a strategic ministry. There are so many students from all over the world,”
“I embark on the new role with a sense of anticipation of what God will do and with a sense of dependence on Him. Realizing that whatever I have done, He has accomplished for me. Whatever I will do, must be done through Him.”” —Dave Larson professional students. Of those, about 20 percent are from foreign countries or U.S. possessions. Among graduate students, interna-
zation, which is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and was founded in Philadelphia in 1953, seeks to share Christ’s love with interna-
said Larson. “They’re on our doorsteps, and are future leaders. They will be people of influence. God has brought the world to us.” | cu
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Christian Studies Center Purchases Historic Building
House of Prayer Resumes at Cornell
2014 :: christianunion.org
Cornell House of Prayer started the new semester in a powerful way as students came together for a time of corporate worship and prayer on August 25. Open 7 a.m. to midnight seven days a week, Cornell House of Prayer (www.facebook. com/CornellHouseof Prayer) welcomes the Cornell community to “seek God with their heart, mind, and soul,” and serves as a space for solitude, sacredness, and worship during the academic season.
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In June, Chesterton House announced the purchase of the residential facility it has rented for four years and hailed the transac-
tion as a major milestone for the organization. With a donation of $1 million, the Christian studies center affiliated with Cornell University bought the Tudor mansion it uses as a male residential center. The mansion at 115 The Knoll in the heart of North Campus was built in 1910. It features lake views, 18 parking spots, and a small cottage. The organization also operates a nearby female residential center, featuring room for up to 12 women.
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D A R T M OU T H | On Campus
A Radical Reconstruction Agenda
G E N D E R - N E U T R A L R E S T R O O M S A R E O N LY T H E B E G I N N I N G By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
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esidential buildings at Dartmouth College soon may contain gender-inclusive restrooms, starting in Topliff Hall, a move a leading
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Topliff Hall at Dartmouth University
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Christian organization says would deny biological realities and undermine privacy. Dartmouth is also enhancing its support of the LGBTQ community by hosting a major conference and by opening a housing unit focused on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, etc. individuals. During the summer, the college’s facilities, operations, and management office relabeled some of the bathrooms in the Class of
1953 Commons and the Collis Center to function as gender-inclusive ones. The changes are part of a trial run for a program to implement similar signage in restrooms across campus, and could include some residential facilities as early as this fall, The Dartmouth reported in August. In response, a public-policy leader with the Family Research Council said multi-gender restrooms, especially multi-stall ones, pose a legitimate concern to privacy, particularly for women. “There’s a sense of denial about biological realities,” said Peter Sprigg, a senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, based in Washington, D.C. Many people simply would be uncomfortable sharing restrooms with members of the opposite sex. Ultimately, “I am not sure it’s fair to impose that cost to appease a tiny minority,” said Sprigg. Dartmouth’s LGBTQ community welcomed the changes, which come months after student activists pushed the college to address concerns over the climate for minorities, women, and LGBTQ students. Suggested remediation included more gender-neutral housing and bathroom options. One student leader in the college’s LGBTQ community described the initial restroom conversions as crucial to the college’s plans to host the IvyQ Conference from November 6 to 9.
Hundreds of students are expected to attend the conference to support Dartmouth’s LGBTQ community and to network with students from across the Ivy League and beyond. This will be Dartmouth’s first year to host IvyQ, which began in 2010. “Until this pilot, we had no multi-stall, gender-inclusive bathrooms on campus,” Akash Kar ’16, co-chair of IvyQ, told The Dartmouth. “We still have no multistall, gender-inclusive bathrooms in residence halls.” A Dartmouth official described the initial restroom conversion program as part of a shift to open formerly gender-segregated spaces across campus. Kar echoed those comments, noting all campus restrooms could become gender-inclusive with minimal retrofitting, if simply relabeled as such. “If there isn’t an option to have all three − men’s, women’s, and gender-inclusive − the restroom should be gender-inclusive,” Kar said. As for the upcoming IvyQ Conference, it will involve three days of workshops and activities, including discussions on the history of the LGBTQ movement. To secure the bid for the event, planners submitted an application explaining why Dartmouth should host the conference and addressed logistical details. Dartmouth’s IvyQ Conference will dovetail with related campus
events, namely the opening of Triangle House, an affinity house for LGBTQ students and allies, and the 30th anniversary of the Dartmouth Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Alumni/ae Association. Recent alumnus Robert Smith ’14, of Northern Virginia, said the college is not so accommodating to other groups, especially Christ-centered ones.
“A lot of these things are in line with what had been happening on campus,” said Smith, noting a Christian affinity house stalled during its approval process, but is regrouping. “It’s not encouraging when you see other things being approved,” said Smith, who was involved with Christian organizations during his undergraduate studies. “The question is whether, in trying to
maintain inclusive values, that’s really what they’re doing and whether there is room for Christians on campus.” The news left Sprigg, of the Family Research Council, with a series of rhetorical questions. Chief among them, he asked whether Dartmouth is “open to a diversity of viewpoints, not just a diversity of sexual orientation?” | cu
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Seeking a Shift in Culture D A R T M O U T H H O S T S S E X U A L A S S A U LT S U M M I T | By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer
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silence,” said Lisak. “They are raising their voices. They are showing their faces and in some cases, shaking their fists.” “Shame that attached itself to sexual violence does not belong to them, so they will speak and demand to be heard. It’s the survivors who have shifted the landscape.” While most institutions wince
The issue of sexual assault has garnered attention off campus as well, particularly among writers and bloggers. Some are blaming promiscuity and the hookup culture on campus. In a piece for www.onfaith. org, “American Universities Have a Sexual Ethics Problem. Why They Need a Religious Solution,” blogger
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While most institutions wince at government and public scrutiny, Dr. David Lisak favors the pressure brought to bear on campuses by the Department of Education, the White House, and the survivors themselves.
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at government and public scrutiny, Lisak favors the pressure brought to bear on campuses by the Department of Education, the White House, and the survivors themselves. “Major institutions do not make difficult changes without significant pressure,” said Lisak.
Chris Horst calls out both Dartmouth and Harvard, among many other universities, for incidents of sexual assault. “As a culture, we have encouraged our nation’s students toward a choose-your-own-sexual-adventure-lifestyle. And we have celebrated the party culture, as if college is
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n response to an investigation being conducted on its campus by the United States Department of Education, Dartmouth hosted a Summit on Sexual Assault this summer. Roughly 300 attendees from 60 colleges attended the summit, which included presentations and, what one speaker called, a “roll up your sleeves” approach toward generating solutions. Participants joined working groups that required outlines, follow up plans, and “real-world answers” that address the issues of prevention, survivor assistance, and consequences for offenders. Plenary speaker Dr. David Lisak, a forensic consultant, has extensively studied the consequences of interpersonal violence, and admitted to attendees that he was also a victim of the crime himself. “I know in my heart, my body, and depth of my soul what it means to be raped,” he candidly told his audience. “Survivors of sexual violence are no longer willing to be shamed into
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meant to be a youthful exercise in finding oneself,” Horst wrote. Further, in an op-ed piece for the Los Angeles Times by Jonathan Zimmerman, “Sexual Assault on Campus and the Curse of the Hookup Culture,” the author notes that among all the White House task force recommendations for combating sexual assault, conspicuously absent is a challenge to the hookup culture that dominates undergraduate life. Dartmouth Physics Professor Richard Denton attended the summit. While he acknowledges the correlation between hooking up, binge drinking, campus climate, and sexual assault, he cautions against the assumption that partic-
ipation in the culture is an excuse for the violence. “I am totally against the conservative slant that blames victims and says it’s their fault. People would be safer if they didn’t put themselves in dangerous situations, but that doesn’t mean they are responsible for it. Regardless if someone is drunk or dresses revealingly, they don’t deserve to be raped,” said Denton. While task forces and working groups convene and politicians seek accountability, the issue of sexual violence isn’t only a secular one. As Horst points out, a godly solution just might be the answer. “Harvard is not likely to reinstate its evangelical heritage,” he
wrote. “Dartmouth is unlikely to adhere to the biblical standards prescribed in the religious book from where it gleans its motto. But I think our nation’s universities could use more religion, not less.” Although they agree to disagree on a wide range of social issues, Denton said Christian ministries and liberal-oriented organizations can have a lot in common when it comes to addressing the issue of sexual violence on campus. “It ought to be an issue where Christians could join forces with very liberal people like the feminist groups,” said Denton, the faculty advisor for Agape Christian Fellowship. “Everybody recognizes sexual violence is a bad thing.” | cu
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FCA Event Features Jefferson Bethke
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The Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Dartmouth (www. dartmouthfca.org) sponsored an appearance by spoken word artist Jefferson Bethke in September. Bethke, who is also an author, gained media attention and notoriety within the Christian community for his video entitled “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus.” At Dartmouth, he was the headline speaker for Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ weekend of inspiring presentations, fellowship, and worship gatherings, which were open to the campus community and surrounding area. A Christian Union grant helped underwrite the event.
Integrare Hosts Veritas Forum Events Prior to the Veritas Forum on campus on September 30, Integrare at Dartmouth hosted a faculty luncheon with featured speaker Oxford Professor John Lennox. The gathering included professors, graduate students, and selected administrative leaders who were able to interact with Lennox. An evening reception was also held for professors,
Oxford Professor John Lennox
college administrators, key business leaders, and clergy from the surrounding community who were able to meet student leaders and members of the Veritas Forum’s organizing committee. The Veritas Forum included debate-style dialogue with Lennox and Marcelo Gleiser, a Dartmouth professor of physics and astronomy and the Appleton Professor of Natural Philosophy. The presentation, which included a question and answer time, was entitled “Making Sense of the Universe: A discussion of the interactions of faith and science.” The Veritas Forum was partially underwritten by a Christian Union grant.
H A RVA RD | On Campus
Cross-Linked SUMMER A C APPELL A GROUP UNITES BOS TON AREA CHRIS TIANS By Brian Zhang, Harvard ’15
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uring the summer, many college students find themselves in different cities working on internships or research projects. For some Christians, this can prove to be a challenging time for staying involved in Christian community. Yet, summer also offers a unique opportunity for Christians from different campuses to meet and fellowship with each other. For several years, MIT students have taken advantage of this opportunity by hosting Cross-Linked, a no-audition vocal group for Christians in the area. This summer, students met on Tuesday nights in an MIT classroom to practice four songs, which they performed at a few venues throughout the Boston area. Cross-Linked spun out of MIT’s co-ed, Christian a cappella group (which goes by the mathematical pun Cross Products) to provide continuity during the break. This summer, Cross-Linked was led by Caitlin Kerr, MIT ’15, who served as musical director, and Ruth Park,
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MIT ’16, who served as logistical director. Both Kerr and Park have been involved in Cross Products since their respective freshman years. Kerr said that part of the mission of Cross-Linked is to provide a community for Christians in the
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“The best part of the experience was getting to branch outside of the Harvard bubble and meet new people in the Cambridge area.”
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area who are interested in Chris- super excited,” Park said. tian a cappella, but may not have Park, who was performing bithe time to connect to it during the ology research for his senior thesis school year, as well as non-Chris- while studying for the MCAT, also tians who might want to just learn about a cappella or are interested in Christianity. This year, the group’s makeup included students from Harvard, Wellesley, and Mount Holyoke, as well as further campuses such as Brown and Duke. Linda Song, Harvard ’16, spent the summer volunteering at science camps The Cross-Linked A Cappella group enjoyed meeting for practice in Boston and working for and fellowship in the summer. a start-up. In addition to being involved with a summer Bi- connected with other Christians by ble study at Harvard, she regularly helping lead a Bible study through attended Cross-Linked practices Harvard’s Asian-American Chrisand experienced a cappella for the tian Fellowship (http://hraacf.org). first time. He attended the first Cross-Linked “I’ve always wanted to try a practice with a friend and invited cappella but was afraid of the time others from Harvard to check out commitment, so this was a perfect the group. opportunity for me,” Song said. “I think I missed only one practice until I moved back home, and each time, we managed to bring more people: friends from the Asian-American Christian Fellowship, their friends, et cetera. It was awesome to be able to meet students —Linda Song, Harvard ’16 from other colleges and just share in By contrast, Daniel Park, Har- musical fellowship,” Park said. vard ’15, sings in the Harvard Kerr selected the songs that Glee Club and its a cappella subset the group rehearsed and sang over during the school year. “Naturally, the summer. She chose three in when I heard about the possibility sequence – “This is Your Life” by of an a cappella group to fill my Switchfoot, “Never Change” by singing void for the summer, I was J. Han featuring Sam Ock, and
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“Perfect People” by Natalie Grant – to describe the process of coming to faith. She later added “Fools Marching” by Tim Be Told, a song that explores the theme of doubt, to the repertoire. Practices were roughly structured as one hour of socializing and ice-breakers, followed by an hour of musical practice. The fellowship experience often continued in interactions after the two hours were over. “The best part of the experience
was getting to branch outside of the Harvard bubble and meet new people in the Cambridge area,” Song said. “We would often get ‘dinner number two’ after rehearsal at Anna’s Taqueria and chat, get to know each other and each other’s campuses, and just enjoy genuine fellowship. Getting to make connections with other students really helped me feel a sense of community and feel at home in the Boston area.”
Cross-Linked was an opportunity for Christians not only to sustain their faith in the summer, but to express and experience it in new ways. “Cross-Linked provided me with a chance to praise God through song, grow in fellowship with funny, interesting, thoughtful brothers and sisters, and take a break from work,” Park said. “Overall, I really enjoyed the whole experience and am so thankful to Ruth and Caitlin for organizing.” | cu
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A Highrock of Refuge H A R VA R D S Q U A R E C H U R C H P L A N T M I N I S T E R S T O A R E A S T U D E N T S By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
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church plant in Harvard Square learn from examples. They learn is catering to a growing number how to participate in His purpose of students and young families with and how they are to articulate faith to the world around them.” ties to Harvard University. The church, which launched in Part of the aim behind Highrock Harvard Square is to demonstrate spring 2012 as a service of Highrock Covenant Church to college stuin nearby Arlington, dents the value of now has more than participating in a 170 attendees. multigenerational This semester, church. Through Highrock is focusing such an experion discipleship and ence, they receive spiritual empoweropportunities to ment to share the observe people of Gospel. The Harall ages making vard Square branch, decisions and enwhich meets in an countering the Walt Quick and Highrock auditorium at Lesley joyful but chal- Harvard Square Church are University, reaches lenging realities of ministering to a congregation of students and young families out to student visifamily life. “It’s not hy- affiliated with Harvard University. tors via its welcoming team and refreshpothetical,” said Walt Quick, campus director for ment center. Given the proximity to Highrock Harvard Square. “They Arlington, however, some activities
take place at the main facility on Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington. Highrock Harvard Square’s 75-minute services feature contemporary and traditional worship, corporate prayer, and a sermon. Shaun Lim, Harvard ’15, said he instantly fell in love with the sense of community at Highrock. He also noted church leaders established a location in Harvard Square because the “20-minute bus ride up to Arlington, where the main building is, was deterring many curious Harvard students from attending or checking out church when invited with their friends,” said Lim. The leadership team decided to “bring the church to them,” said Lim. “I love it that Highrock is so mission-oriented and it takes the implications of our faith so seriously and tangibly.” In addition to Harvard University, Highrock Harvard Square also
draws students from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lesley, and other area institutions along Boston’s intellectually rich corridor. Through its church plant in Harvard Square, leaders hope to fulfill God’s purposes far beyond Massachusetts Bay. “There are incredibly rich opportunities for people in Cambridge who are going to be influencers,” said Quick. “Locally, so many people come as students, graduate students, and young professionals from other parts of the world. There are opportunities for them to hear and respond to the Gospel and return to the world with the message.” Other church plants are in Brookline, Quincy, and Salem. While the majority of undergraduates from Harvard who attend Highrock are involved with small groups via campus ministries, the church also offers a selection of small groups for those who desire a taste of multigenerational life. Given the presence of various campus
ministries at the nearby universities, Highrock does not operate a formal college small group. While myriad students participate in thriving campus ministries, they also can benefit from establishing relationships with congregants at Highrock, namely “time with brothers and sisters of the faith who have been running the race for a decade or two,” said Quick. Such input is part of “setting up patterns, behaviors, and a worldview to inform real life.” Likewise, while much of the Boston vicinity functions as a secular, post-Christian society, Quick notes he sees “so many strong pockets of students who are passionate about their faith.” Quick, who also serves as an area director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in the Boston area, joined the staff of Highrock on a part-time basis in September after being a church member for about five years. “We have many students who have been brought by their friends
to see what church is like,” Quick said. “We have been very fortunate to see a large amount of interest from students.” Reaching college students is critical because many are grappling with life decisions. “It’s a time when they are beginning to build a foundation independent from their family upbringing and making decisions …,” Quick said. “The question of faith also comes into the picture. Is it going to be a part of their lives? Is it just a set of moral guidelines or a vibrant part of their lives?” As well, the presence of a bustling international student population brings a plethora of opportunities for Highrock congregants to build relationships via hospitality. “There are many international students who have no exposure to Christianity,” Quick noted. At its core, church leaders simply desire for congregants to “grow in love with God.” | cu
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In September, Journey Church was launched at Harvard Square. The church is committed to reaching Harvard students, as
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well as students from surrounding colleges. Journey Church administrators and volunteers have spent concerted time praying, training leaders to minister to students, and advertising the church in the community. Additionally, Revolution Church is offering a twelve-week Alpha Course at Harvard this fall. Alpha resonates with students desiring to know more about Jesus Christ and gives them an informal, welcoming environment in which to ask questions about Christianity.
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The Rev. Willie Bodrick, II, Harvard Divinity School ’14, travelled to the city of Ferguson, Missouri to participate in peaceful protests following the shooting of an African-American teenager by a white police officer this summer. Bodrick, who is a youth and young adult pastor at Twelfth Baptist church in Boston, was interviewed by Harvard Divinity School (HDS) while he was in
Ferguson. The interview appeared on the HDS Web site. “As a faith leader in my community of Roxbury I hold close to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” said Bodrick.
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P E N N | On Campus
Sleep Deprivation and Suicide P E N N S T U D Y O F F E R S N E W I N F O R M AT I O N T O C A M P U S C O M M U N I T I E S By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
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new study on suicide from the University of Pennsylvania provides valuable insights for staffers and students who serve in campus ministries. In June, Penn released findings that show suicides are substantially more likely to occur in the early morning hours than during the daytime or evening.
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“There has been increased conversation on the campus about mental health and suicide,” said Jeff Klein, assistant director of Penn Newman Catholic Community (www.newman.upenn.edu). “We are hoping that our own inclinations as a campus ministry staff will lead to more students being aware of their needs and the needs around them.” During the 2013-14 school year, the Penn community dealt with a series of tragedies, including two suicides in three weeks. As for the 2014-15 year, an upperclassman also committed suicide in California in late August, shortly before he was scheduled to reSuicides are more likely to occur during early morning turn to Penn for his senior hours than during the daytime or evening, according to a year. As well, a 20-year-old new study from the University of Pennsylvania. female, on a voluntary leave of absence from Penn, died The university unveiled its study in late September near campus. The passage of the young lady on the heels of new data from the Center for Disease Control that marked Penn’s sixth student suicide demonstrates suicides increased since August 2013, according to slightly for the fifth year in a row in news reports. Michael Hu, a staffer with Pen2011, the most recent year for which statistics are available. That report nforJesus (http://pennforjesus.com), also showed suicide displacing homi- said ministry leaders should strive to cide as the top killer of young people. offer a safe, reaffirming environment In reaction to the Penn study for their students and be aware of and new national data, campus how stress and sleep deprivation can ministers stressed the need for stu- aggravate depression. “Sometimes, there’s a bit of a dents to carve time in their hectic schedules for rest, support, and shame culture,” said Hu ’00 and worship and to keep the pressures director for Campus Renewal Ministries at Penn. of college studies in perspective.
As for the Penn study, it highlighted a spike in the frequency of suicides between midnight and 5:59 a.m. when six-hour time blocks were analyzed. It also pinpointed a surge in the frequency of suicides between 2 a.m. and 2:59 a.m. Such findings carry implications for college students, who are notoriously nocturnal. As well, many are sleep-deprived as they navigate the stressful currents of collegiate studies, particularly at leading universities. In the Penn findings, the frequency of suicides between midnight and 5:59 a.m. manifested 3.6 times higher than expected. “This appears to be the first data to suggest that circadian factors may contribute to suicidality and help explain why insomnia is also a risk factor for suicide ideation and behavior,” said Michael Perlis, associate professor in Penn’s psychiatry department and director of the Penn Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program. “… Just being awake (late) at night may in and of itself be a risk factor for suicide,” he said. Previous research, suggesting more suicides during the day, did not account for the proportion of the population awake during the night, the study’s authors noted. While some younger people experience a natural phase delay in their circadian rhythms – meaning they are biologically prepared to be awake later – “many of the 15- to 25-year old set are still predisposed
to be asleep during the time that seems associated with vulnerability, 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.,” Perlis said. “Add to this sleep deprivation, alcohol, and the angst and impulsivity of being younger, and these individuals are truly at risk.” Furthermore, for nocturnal students – the ones phase-shifted to keep later hours – emotional vulnerability may alter to approximately 3 a.m. to 8 a.m., instead of midnight to 5 a.m., Perlis said. It is a bad idea to be awake “when one is not biologically prepared to be awake. Doing so likely enhances the risk of catastrophic thinking and
poor-impulse control, doing things the individual would not do in the light of day,” Perlis said. If students battling despair must pull all-nighters or late nights, they should “be with or have access to friends, family, loved ones, and any other form of support that can keep them safe,” Perlis added. Hu agreed. “It makes sense to know of the study habits of students and encourage them to study in groups, not alone,” he said. Hu also said campus ministers and student believers should be prepared to offer support to one another when dealing with emo-
tional vulnerabilities, regardless of the hour. “By default, we should be available to be on call for emergency situations,” Hu said. As well, college students should avoid overcommitting their schedules, and they need to be aware of the dangers of straining natural body rhythms, Hu said. “We should encourage students to not to be spread so thinly,” he said. Klein echoed those comments, noting the importance of balance in college life, including rest. “As spiritual advisers, we care about the person in a holistic sense,” he said. | cu
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Dialoguing under Abraham’s Tent CHRIS TIAN, JEWISH, AND MUSLIM S TUDENTS SHARE DIFFERENCES O V E R A M E A L | By Rosalie Doerksen, Penn ’17 espite religious and political pennintervarsity.org), initiated this Muslim dialogue group, he contensions that are plaguing the regular, interfaith dialogue effort nected with Osama Ahmed ’16, a Middle East, Christian students at with the Jewish and Muslim com- practicing Muslim, who agreed to Penn are undeterred as they continue munities at Penn in order to facili- partner with him. Later, Hoover to foster relationships with Muslims tate friendships. It can be a first step attended the group’s first general towards building community ties, body meeting, where he met Rayand Jews. mond Habbaz. On September 16, representa- Hoover says. Hoover and Ahmed invited “(The three religions) are differtives of all three Abrahamic religions, freshmen through seniors, ent and discussing these differences Habbaz ’15, who is actively inmet together to discuss religious is an honest way truly to under- volved with Hillel, the Jewish community at Penn, to spearhead the differences over a Kosher meal. This stand each other,” he said. Hoover began thinking about Jewish perspective. was the first meeting of the year for Hillel and Faith Fund provide Dialoguing under Abraham’s Tent DAT when he first arrived as a (DAT), an organization founded by freshman at Penn, but put the idea funding for Dialoguing under Mark Hoover ’16, just under a year in the back of his mind until one Abraham’s Tent and meetings are ago. Around twenty students were year later when, while handing out held at Penn Hillel and the Relipresent to share their thoughts on flyers to advertise for InterVarsity gious Activities Commons. “By keeping (discussion) within the topic of discussion: “Chosen- during the Student Activities Fair, ness and Universality in Scripture.” he was “providentially placed” next the monotheistic faiths, we thought Hoover, a member of InterVar- to Jewish and Muslim tables. Upon we would be able to have certain sity Christian Fellowship (www. meeting with members of a Jewish/ conversations we wouldn’t be able
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to have otherwise,” Hoover said. After a month of e-mailing back and forth, DAT hosted its inaugural meeting in October 2013. Most of the covered topics are text-based: Hoover, Habbaz, and Ahmed choose specific passages out of the New Testament, the Hebrew Bible, and the Quran, respectively. The first topic was prayer, and other topics have included: The Role of Faith in Democracy, Women in Prayer Communities, and, Hoover’s favorite, the Story of the Aqeda, the “binding” of Isaac/Ishmael. Isis Cendan ’17, a member of Full Measure, a Christian a cappella group, was a first-time attendee at the most recent meeting. “I think (DAT) is a great opportunity (for Christians, Muslims, and Jews) to listen to each other and learn about what the other side believes without having a fear of getting into a debate over who is right or wrong,” Cendan said. She adds that the roundtable discussions that DAT offers allow participants to learn from individuals, rather than from a book. The
meeting is structured such that, after taking turns reading the chosen texts aloud, the three leaders collect questions and observations that everyone then discusses. Hoover pointed to Romans 3 to highlight themes of “chosenness” and universality in the Bible, discussing the mechanism of inclusion of the Gentiles into God’s kingdom, and also explaining the Great Commission of Matthew 28: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” “Paul fiercely believed that God was a God of the Gentiles and of the Jews,” Hoover said. “Based on this, and on the effects of Christ’s redemptive work in His death and resurrection, Paul insisted that membership in God’s covenant community is now open to all who believe.” Contrastingly, modern Judaism makes conversion difficult and, to complicate matters, now makes it nearly equivalent to citizenship in Israel. Islam, on the other hand, is
primarily a faith-based religion, and, like Christianity, is open to anyone. All agreed that the theme of universality particularly applies to the study of eschatology, the doctrine of the end of times, and especially concerns what justifies humans before God on the last day. “Jesus inaugurated the end times,” Hoover said. “We can never achieve what we need to get into heaven. Thus it is God’s choosing and not our doing that is important.” Particularly interesting was discussion over why God specifically chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and, through them, the nation of Israel. The Quran tells the story of Abraham differently: Abraham sought God out on his own. First he worshipped the sun, then the moon, then finally turned to God Almighty, rejecting the pagan teachings of his forefathers. Essentially, Abraham was the one who did the choosing. “It’s fun stuff when you realize people have the same story, but different stories,” Hoover said. | cu
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Loving Philadelphia This fall, Campus Renewal Ministries (campusrenewal.org) sponsored Love Philadelphia, a city-wide family celebration that brought together university students, local ministries, and businesses to serve foster children and their families. Opportunities for volunteers to
reach out to some of the most vulnerable and at-risk youth in the community were also offered. A grant from Christian Union helped subsidize the event. “The goal of Love Philadelphia was that foster children, their families, University of Pennsylvania students, and all who participated experienced the love of
God,” said Stephanie Ko, the event coordinator.
Photo by B. Krist for Visit Philadelphia
PR I N C E T O N | On Campus
The Grand Miracle
P R I N C E T O N P R O F E S S O R E X H O R T S I N T E R N AT I O N A L S T U D E N T S By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
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“God is the sustainer of creation,” said Prud’homme, who completed a graduate studies program in environmental science and public policy from Harvard University in 1973. Hebrews 1:3 explains, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.” For its part, science reflects the
“There is no tension between ‘science’ and ‘the actions of God.’” —Professor Robert Prud’homme
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supreme intelligence of God and the pronounced order He established throughout the universe. Still, “I don’t believe nature is the way it is because it is obeying a set of mathematical equations, such as Newton’s law of gravity. The laws of nature are statements of how God chooses to operate in the world,” Prud’homme said. “There is no tension between ‘science’ and ‘the actions of God.’ They are both the actions and continual sustaining work of God.” As for Prud’homme, the director of Princeton’s engineering biology program accepted Christ as his personal Savior during high school. He credits InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (www.ivcf.org) for grounding his faith during his undergraduate studies at Stanford University. As well, Prud’homme served as president of the U.S. Society
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The miraculous accounts of the Old Testament and New Testament form the “foundational records of the history of our Christian faith,” said Prud’homme. Top among those cherished, ancient accounts are the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus and the conversion of the Apostle Paul in Acts. “The Israelites crossed the Red Sea safely. Paul encounters Christ in a magical vision. He writes most of the letters of the New Testament,” said Prud’homme. “The miracles are there. They are in the Scriptures.” Still, as a scientist, Prud’homme said he appreciates the references within Exodus 14 to the natural phenomenon central to one of the most dramatic rescues of history. Namely, Exodus 14:21 explains that after Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, the Lord “drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land.” The Israelites crossed over the dry land with a “wall of water on their right and on their left.” The account in Exodus readily discloses the metrological conditions concurrent with the miraculous pathway. “There’s no cover-up,” said Prud’homme. “However, the parting of the sea to enable the Jews to flee is, in all respects, a miracle from the hand of God.” Likewise, miracles are not just events or spectacles. The purpose of miracles is to bring glory to God, and they are consistent with His nature.
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iracles serve as a profound revelation of the love of God, who also actively sustains creation. The Lord demonstrated immeasurable compassion toward mankind in the greatest miracle of the universe, namely the resurrection of Christ from the dead. “I believe in the grand miracle,” said Robert Prud’homme, a Princeton University professor of chemical and biological engineering, during a recent dinner for International Students, Inc. (www.isionline.org). “There is nothing more miraculous than that.” In September, Prud’homme served as the featured speaker for the organization’s monthly friendship dinner. About 75 people attended the potluck event on September 19 at Lutheran Church of the Messiah in Princeton. The local chapter targets international students and scholars from area institutions, including Princeton. As a scientist, Prud’homme noted he has wrestled with some of the purported miracles of modern Christendom, especially with the ones hyped from the realms of televangelism. “I found miracles actually to be quite embarrassing,” said Prud’homme. “As a physical scientist, I see the rules by which nature works. Miracles seem like cheating.” However, the Bible remains the ultimate guidebook for believers.
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of Rheology and on the executive committee of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ materials science division. He also served on the Nanotechnology Scientific Advisory Committee for BASF, which provided guidance for trends in nanotechnology. For this scientist and believer, the greatest miracle remains the resurrection of Christ, something that cannot be explained by the disciples promulgating fraud or Christ not actually dying upon the cross. “You’re not going to have 11 people dying for a lie,” said
Prud’homme. Ultimately, miracles reflect the care and compassion of the Creator, and such instances provide opportunities for believers to share the news of the goodness of God with the world. “The essence of a miracle is telling how much God has done for you,” Prud’homme said. “A miracle is a revelation of how much God cares.” As for International Students, the local outreach has a busy lineup of activities and noted speakers for the monthly friendship dinners
for 2014-15. In 1976, John Desai founded the Princeton chapter, which seeks to share Christ’s love with foreign students and equip them for evangelical service. During the September dinner, Prud’homme left listeners with a final thought. Namely, science cannot explain the concept of love, but it is compatible with the principles of Christianity. As such, “my faith is encouraged when I see God at work,” he said. “God is in control.” | cu
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Integrity in Action
LOVE AND FIDELIT Y NET WORK HOS TS COMPELLING SEMINAR By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer
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summer seminar sponsored by the Love and Fidelity Network inspired students to speak up for marriage, family, and sexual integrity on campus and helped them realize that one person can make a difference as “a ripple can turn into a wave.” Two dozen students from 19 schools, including Columbia, Harvard, and Princeton, participated in the four-day Integrity in Action Seminar at Princeton University in July. Students discussed the basics of starting and running campus organizations that promote abstinence and marriage. They also acquired practical skills for moral advocacy, learning how to write the governing documents and articulate the need for such organizations to university administrators.
Dr. Aaron Kheriaty shared the stunning facts about the effects of living “transgender” and same-sex attraction lifestyles during a presentation sponsored by the Love and Fidelity Network at Princeton.
“I left [the seminar] with a keen sense of just how much work there still needs to be done, but also with a renewed enthusiasm for this work,” said Christian Say, Princeton ’16. Caitlin La Ruffa, director of the Love and Fidelity Network, said students see the hurt and confusion their peers experience in the social scenes on campus; they want to reach out, but often don’t know how. La Ruffa, Princeton ’09, also noted that students who are committed to living lives of sexual integrity often feel isolated. “The powers that be, whether in the form of the university administration and faculty or the peer pressure that comes from an apparently dominant hookup scene on campus, send the message that students who choose sexual integrity, who
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Manna Christian Fellowship Hosts Welcome Events Manna Christian Fellowship kicked off the new academic year with an ice cream social for freshmen on September 9 in McCormick Hall. Later that evening, the ministry also hosted a gathering for returning students. On September 13, Manna held its first large group gathering and launched small groups during the week of September 15. This summer, Manna hosted a joint Bible study with Princeton Evangelical Fellowship, Princeton Faith and Action, and Athletes in Action for students in the area. Participants gathered on Tuesday evenings in the Carl A. Fields Center to study Psalms.
Rodriguez ’08 Performs on “America’s Got Talent”
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Cordaro Rodriguez, Princeton ’08, and his group, Sons of Serendip, participated in NBC’s summer show America’s Got Talent. The Boston-based group, which bills itself as a gospel/classical/neosoul/R&B fusion quartet, made it to the season finale in September. Rodriguez, who studied psychology and was a member of Princeton Evangelical Fellowship as a student, is a pianist and guitarist. “When I was 9 or 10, when church was over, I’d sneak up to the piano and tinker around. Someone at my church saw that one day, and gave me a keyboard,” Rodriguez, an attorney, told The Boston Globe.
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sexual behaviors and identities do change across the lifespan, and that the overwhelming majority of adolescents reporting same-sex attraction were exclusively heterosexual in their 20s. Similarly, La Ruffa explained that gender is commonly depicted as a fluid, socially-constructed concept. However, research suggests that gender is, for the most part, biologically rooted and fixed. La Ruffa described Kheriaty’s data as sobering. Particularly concerning were findings indicating that people with non-heterosexual behaviors and identities had a higher risk for mental health problems including suicide, substance abuse, and depression. “Seeing study after study reporting these same findings was heartbreaking because they weren’t merely numbers on a page, but real people with real lives and real stories filled with tragedy and suffering,” said LaRuffa. “No one left the room that morning unmoved.” Such research and moving discussions fly in the face of current course curricula and university-sanctioned health programming, which La Ruffa says sends a particular sort of message about sexuality—where restraint is seen as repression and where sexuality lacks intrinsic meaning. In the end, La Ruffa said, “The truth is that most students come to college with hopes for something better than the hookup culture, and with aspirations to marry someday. So part of what we try to do with this seminar is show students that they are far from alone and are surrounded by a community of support.” | cu
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believe that marriage is by its nature the union of man and woman, and who understand the integral role the family plays in a flourishing society, are in a small and ‘backward’ minority,” she said. The seminar allowed students to understand that they are not alone and that they can gather strength by sharing ideas and common values. “For me, fellowship with other students was the most important part of this conference,” said Say. “It was great to see what clubs on other campuses are doing, and I enjoyed being able to talk about the similar problems we face and the different ways we are going about addressing similar campus issues.” The seminar also facilitated greater understanding of the issues and fostered the intellectual resources to engage in campus discussions. That meant bringing in speakers and scholars such as Princeton Professor Robert P. George, Harvard Law ’81, who discussed the question, “Do Ideas Matter?” Also powerful was a presentation by Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, Director of Residency Training and Medical Education in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, Irvine. Kheriaty, who co-directs the Program in Medical Ethics at Cal-Irvine’s School of Medicine, is currently conducting research regarding gender identity and sexual desire. “His analysis turned many of the cultural narratives surrounding these topics on their heads,” said La Ruffa. Kheriaty explained that conventional wisdom holds that sexual orientation is fixed and unalterable. However, evidence shows that
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YA L E | On Campus
A Lasting Legacy F O R M E R D I V I N I T Y S C H O O L P R O F E S S O R W I L L I A M M U E H L D I E S AT 9 5 By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
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illiam Muehl, a longtime homiletics professor at Yale Divinity School and author, died in May, leaving a legacy that will endure in the preaching of his students. A colleague and former university chaplain described Muehl, an attorney, as an impressive lay theologian. “He brought a unique perspective on current affairs and unusual insight into many of the human conditions that we all deal with,” said Harry Adams, Used with Permission of Yale Divinity School Yale ’47, BD ’51, Colleagues of E. William Muehl a former associate paused in May to remember the longtime homiletics professor at dean who co-taught Yale Divinity School after he died homiletics courses at 95. with Muehl. Colleagues for more than 40 years, Adams said Muehl’s spiritual contributions continue to reverberate through the sermons of his students, according to the divinity school’s online news publication. Muehl, 95, died on May 8 in Tucson, Arizona. In 1944, Muehl arrived at Yale Divinity School as an instructor in public speaking. A year later, the university appointed him to serve as assistant professor, and, in 1956, Yale awarded Muehl an honorary advanced degree. Muehl’s scholarship and sermons explored the relationship between faith and social responsibility.
His book titles included Mixing Religion and Politics: The Urgency and the Way and Politics for Christians. Other works included: Politics in Action: How to Make Change Happen; Preach What You Practice; The Road to Persuasion; and The Specter of Economic Man. As well, Muehl maintained his law credentials and participated in a series of political and legal organizations. From 1963 to 1969, he served on the New Haven Board of Alders. Upon his retirement in 1989, Yale’s divinity school honored Muehl by establishing the Clement-Muehl Professorship of Homiletics, a position now held by Leonora Tubbs Tisdale. As well, the Berkeley Divinity School, an Episcopal seminary affiliated with Yale Divinity School, issues an annual prize in Muehl’s name for the most eloquent preacher among graduating seniors. Muehl was renowned among students for his keen wit and engaging style. Among them, Charles Lake ’57, former dean of religious life for Stephens College in Missouri, recently shared several memories with Yale Divinity School. “I have spent the majority of my preaching life without benefit of public address equipment, recalling Bill Muehl’s advice to project not to the back row, but to the narthex,” said Lake. In a 2011 article in The Christian Century, acclaimed preacher, author, and scholar William Willi-
mon, M. Div. ’71, recalled Muehl’s pivotal influence upon him during an impressionable stage of his studies at Yale. Willimon went on to serve as a bishop in the United Methodist Church and dean of the chapel at Duke University. Muehl was buried in a private ceremony in Randolph, New Hampshire, where he summered for years with his beloved late wife, Ruth, an author and avid hiker. Muehl is survived by daughter-in-law Leah Rubenstein and grandchildren Michael Muehl and Hannah Muehl. | cu
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Health Fellowship Hosts ‘This I Believe’ Series The Yale Health Professionals’ Christian Fellowship (medstation. yale.edu/yhpcf/) hosted the first of its “This I Believe” series this September. The series offers Christians and seekers the opportunity to hear messages about how people have come to faith in Christ. Dr. Barry Wu, Clinical Professor of Medicine and Associate Clinical Professor of Nursing at Yale School of Medicine, spoke about how Christianity impacts him personally and within the medical profession. The Yale Health Professionals’ Christian Fellowship is a student-run, interdenominational organization that includes students from Yale’s nursing, public health, medicine, and physician associates programs.
YA L E | On Campus
Vita et Veritas C H O O S E L I F E AT YA L E H O S T S S E C O N D C O N F E R E N C E By Finnegan Schick, Yale ’18 Editor’s note: The following article appeared in the Yale Daily News. Reprinted with permission.
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information about their respective goals at tables outside the event. Behling said that because abortion is such a divisive issue in the United States, a lot of the speakers at Vita et Veritas were used to being controversial. At Yale, the abortion issue is so sided with pro-choice amongst most students, that people do not tend to consider it as a major issue, she said. According to Behling, though most members of CLAY have religious backgrounds, the organization is officially a secular one. The group meets every Tuesday to discuss abortion and other issues in bioethics.
At Yale, the abortion issue is so sided with pro-choice amongst most students, that people do not tend to consider it as a major issue.
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“We don’t think you need to adhere to a particular morality to believe there is human life in the womb and that there might be a better way to address the problems that women are facing in society,” she said. One attendee of the conference, Anthony Tokman ’16, said the event caused him to think for the first time about the pro-life side of the abortion debate, since the Yale community is generally pro-choice. Attendees at the conference included students from Harvard, Cornell, and Columbia, as well as local students from Yale. CLAY was founded by Yale undergraduates in 2002. | cu
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mentioned in her keynote address at the conference that the Yale Basic Health plan for students covers contraception and abortion, but does not cover things like prenatal care, obstetrics, and delivery-room fees for students who may wish to carry their pregnancies to term. Behling also expressed her unhappiness with the Yale Basic Health plan, saying that it is not really a neutral policy and that there is no support on campus for a pregnant student who chooses to go through with her pregnancy. Organizations that co-sponsored the conference, including Consistent Life and Christian Union, displayed
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n September 19-20, the Vita et Veritas conference, held at St. Thomas More Church in New Haven, was co-sponsored by Choose Life at Yale (CLAY) and several national prolife organizations and drew at least 85 attendees. Whereas Choose Life at Yale (http://chooselifeatyale.squarespace. com) centers on larger bioethical questions, the conference focused specifically on the issue of abortion, according to Evelyn Behling ’17, co-director of the event. Behling said she believes the discussion is an important one that should be happening on Yale’s campus. “When the idea was first conceived, we weren’t certain we would have any success,” said Courtney McEachon ’15, director and founder of Vita et Veritas. Several guest speakers at the conference related their personal reasons for not supporting abortion. Director of the Canadian Center for Bio-Ethical Reform Stephanie Gray said that it is not only the lives of pre-born children that she is concerned for, but also those of adults who should consider that their lives could have potentially been affected by abortion. Serrin Foster, president of the national Feminists for Life group, unveiled a Web site that provides pregnancy planning resources for
college students. Planned Parenthood noted a 30 percent drop in the abortions of college-aged women in the past 10 years, Foster said, attributing that decline in part to the work of pro-life organizations. Foster also addressed the issue of terminating pregnancies that result from non-consensual sex, stating that even in instances of pregnancies from rape, she is against the idea of a violent response to a violent act. “Nothing challenges our prolife beliefs more than when we talk about the issue of rape,” Foster said. Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America,
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