Winter 2015 Christian Union The Magazine

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Christian Union the magazine :: winter 2015

Be Prepared

... to give a reason for the hope that is within you page 6

Christian Leader of the Year: Professor Robert George Ivy League Spiritual Climate The latest from Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton & Yale New York City Christian Union: The Exchange of Ideas

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table of contents

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Christian Union

the maga zine :: winter 2015

in e ach issue Letter from the President / 3 Donor Profile / 28

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What’s Next / 31

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6 Apologetics

win t er 2 015 fe at ure sec t ion Q and A with David Steel / 8 The Apologetics of Love / 10 The Quest for Veritas / 12

univer sit y chris tian union Brown / 16 Columbia / 17 Dartmouth / 21 Harvard / 20 Yale / 25 Princeton / 24

cit y chris tian union New York City Christian Union / 30

14 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

32 The Spiritual Climate in the Ivy League

updat e s fr om e ver y iv y l e ague univer si t y Answering a Divine Call (Cornell) :: Finding Community and Meaning (Dartmouth) :: School of Public Health Fellowship (Harvard) :: Now Is the Time to Worship (Penn) :: Defending Marriage in the Academy (Princeton) :: News-in-Brief from Each University, and More

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updat e s Cornell / 19 Penn / 22 Harvard Law / 27

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letter from the president

Intellectual Engagement

Careful reasoning and the supernatural go hand in hand in the complex universe created by our extraordinary God.

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for reason? There is nothing more reasonable than believing that only a God of infinite power could create our universe with its bewildering scale and complexity. Highlighting how science often points to God, Eric Metaxas recently wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal, “Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God.” The essay has become one of the most popular articles in the newspaper’s history.

Unfortunately, some Christians have thought that less reason can sometimes be good because it leaves more room for faith. However, faith should not be defined as a lack of reason; faith is the courage to believe the truth even when there is temptation to avoid it. God is the creator, the mind who has given us understanding, and even famously commended Solomon when he asked for wisdom and understanding instead of wealth (1 Kings 3:9, 10). The Christian faith is a rational, reasonable faith, and nothing is more worthy of our full intellectual focus than God Himself and His wonderful purposes in the world.

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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.

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he Apostle Paul famously engaged with citizens of Athens in his pursuit of proclaiming the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. Acts 17:17-18 records: So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”— because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection (ESV).

Notice the versatility the apostle displayed as he engaged with Jewish citizens, business leaders in the marketplace, and leading philosophers. In the fall issue of this magazine we emphasized the supernatural dimension of the faith, and in this one we emphasize the rationality of the faith and the need to engage with the philosophically minded. For at least a few hundred years since the Enlightenment, reason has often been pitched as the adversary of faith and the supernatural. Though secular people may believe this, it’s important that Christians not adopt an understanding of the universe contrary to its true nature. Careful reasoning and the supernatural go hand in hand in the complex universe created by our extraordinary God. It makes sense that a supernatural God would manifest Himself in supernatural work, but what place is there

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leadership

Bold Christian Leaders Christian Union Gives Awards to Robert George, Norm Miller by catherine elvy, staff writer

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hristian Union recently honored Robert P. George, the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, with its highest award.

On December 9, the ministry presented George, Harvard Theology ’81, Law ’81, with its Christian Leader of the Year Award during a benefit in New York City. In particular, the ministry highlighted George’s notable efforts to stand for Christian causes and to reshape the nation’s culture, including inside the halls of leading educational institutions.

“As a scholar and a Christian leader, Robby is especially well equipped to address timely issues facing the nation’s culture,” said Christian Union Founder and President Matt Bennett.

The event at The Roosevelt Hotel came on the heels of an earlier event to applaud the ministry’s Texas Christian Leader of the Year. On October 28, Christian Union paid tribute to Norm Miller, chairman of Interstate Batteries.

During a ministry benefit at the Hilton Dallas/Park Cities, Bennett spotlighted Miller’s powerful testimony and devotion to serving Christian efforts since his dramatic conversion in 1974.

Miller has “influenced for the better his employees, his customers, and the culture at large,” said Bennett, Cornell ’88, MBA ’89.

Miller’s autobiography, Beyond the Norm, poignantly captured the traveling salesman’s humble beginnings and his battle with alcoholism as a driven businessman. In desperation, he accepted Christ as his personal savior and experienced a dramatic transformation.

In 1978, after assuming the chairmanship of Interstate Batteries, Miller openly reflected his newly embraced faith within the workplace, even praying during meetings and sharing spiritual materials with employees and product distributors across the nation.

After devoting his energies to building his company into an industry leader, Miller shifted gears in the early 1990s to focus the bulk of his personal labors on serving Christian causes.

More recently, after turning 70, Miller said he felt called actively to reach the

Princeton Professor Robert P. George receives the Christian Leader of the Year Award from Matt Bennett, Christian Union’s founder and president.

Still, Miller said he made it a point to marry the principles of being “perfectly bold” in expressing the Gospel with a call to practice sensitivity and wisdom and to reflect a winsome demeanor.

Such efforts were not in vain. Once, after sending 140,000 packages with Christian music and Gospel tracts to battery distributors during the holiday season, Miller received a pair of thankyou notes reflecting gratitude for the materials that arrived during intensely dark personal struggles.

Dallas region with the Good News. He joined forces with E3 Partners, an international ministry, to launch a media and video campaign dubbed, “I Am Second.”

Through both his business and faith enterprises, Miller says he simply wants to reflect spiritual commitment and boldness and to tell the story of the supernatural power that freed him from the life-wrecking enslavement of addiction.

“My major priority in life is to share with others the availability of God’s love, forgiveness, and provision forever,” Mill-

er wrote in an account of his faith conversion.

As for Princeton’s George, The New York Times Magazine has dubbed the longtime politics professor as “the country’s most influential conservative Christian thinker.”

As significantly, George “played a key role in drafting the Manhattan Declaration, an energizing manifesto signed by an array of Christian leaders,” Bennett noted during the benefit in New York City.

In 2009, over 150 religious leaders signed the Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience, an ecumenical statement urging Protestants and Catholics to oppose abortion, same-sex “marriage,” and other matters tied to religious freedom and rights of conscience.

George once described the declaration as a pledge to “render fully and ungrudgingly unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, but under no circumstances to render unto Caesar that which is God’s.”

The senior fellow with The Witherspoon Institute also noted the document re-

Norm Miller, chairman of Interstate Batteries, received Christian Union’s Texas Christian Leader of the Year Award in November.

marriage, and for religious freedom.

Christian Union partners with a variety of initiatives supported by George, who also is a key faculty backer of Princeton Pro-Life and The Anscombe Society.

:: christianunion.org

While receiving the leadership award in New York, George explained the source of his righteous boldness and he urged believers to proclaim the Gospel while addressing key moral issues.

For George, who possesses a lengthy curriculum vitae of scholarly, legal, and

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flected a culmination of shared scholastic and theological inquires.

In addition to specializing in constitutional interpretation, civil liberties, and philosophy of law, George is a staunch advocate for pro-life, the nature of and social importance of the role of

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“My major priority in life is to share with others the availability of God’s love, forgiveness, and provision forever.”

—Norm Miller

civic achievements, such causes are foundational to Christianity and the societal welfare of future generations. His influence extends far beyond the academy and can be found in his notable writings.

George sits on boards on behalf of the American Enterprise Institute and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and he is part of the advisory teams to Touchstone and First Things magazines.

In addition, George is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and he founded and directs Princeton’s James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions.

His credentials also include service with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and the President’s Council on Bioethics.

Not surprisingly, George’s myriad efforts have been recognized with awards, including the Presidential Citizens Medal and the Canterbury Medal of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

At Christian Union’s benefit, Bennett paused to note the personal characteristics that also shape George and steer his remarkable championship of moral causes.

“Some of the qualities that contribute to Robby’s broad and effective influence are his rare blending of intellectual rigor with a down-to-earth warmth and special generosity of spirit,” said Bennett.

“These qualities allow him simultaneously to befriend, dialogue, debate, confront, and collaborate with a remarkable range of scholars, politicians, and religious figures.” | cu

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feature section | faith and work

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feature section :: winter 2015 Q and A with David Skeel / 8 The Apologetics of Love / 10 The Quest for Veritas / 12

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Apologetics

“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?”

—c.s.

lewis, mere christianity

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As we move deeper and deeper into postmodern history, it remains paramount that God’s people are equipped to engage in apologetics, a defense of the Gospel. At Mars Hill, Paul made an eloquent and passionate case for the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. A blind man who was touched by the Lord gave a simpler, but equally powerful testimony: “I was blind, but now I see.” And Peter reminds us to always be prepared to talk about the hope that is in us.

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seeks to exhort and encourage our readers with three apologetics articles, all with ties to some of the most influential universities in our nation.

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In this special section, Christian Union: The Magazine

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feature section | apologetics

Q and A with Professor David Skeel Making Sense of True Paradoxes

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hristian Union: The Magazine recently interviewed David Skeel, the S. Samuel Arsht Professor of Corporate Law at the University of Pennsylvania. A speaker at Veritas Forums on various college campuses, Skeel is the author of several books on law. He recently wrote his first apologetics book, True Paradox: How Christianity Makes Sense of Our Complex World.

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How would you define apologetics?

At bottom, I think the Apostle Peter defined apologetics best, at least for Christians, when he admonished his readers to “always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). That’s how I see apologetics, as trying to explain why I believe Christianity is true, especially for those who think an ancient religion like Christianity can’t possibly make sense of the complexities of our contemporary world.

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Who are some Christian apologists you admire? Why? It isn’t very original to start with C.S. Lewis, but how could you start anywhere else? Lewis had a way, not just of conveying sophisticated ideas in understandable terms, but of making them come to life with unforgettable metaphors and turns of phrase. I kept Mere Christianity on my desk as I wrote True Paradox, and found it both inspiring and depressing—no one writes like Lewis did.

Among current apologists, I think Tim Keller does a wonderful job of drawing from psychology, philosophy, literature, and other disciplines, and of conveying both the richness and comfort of following Jesus. He’s also funny and down-to-

earth, especially in person, which are considerable assets for an apologist.

I also have learned a great deal from N.T. Wright, especially about the ways in which heaven breaks into our daily lives, and the “already-not yet” dimension of Christianity.

One the books I discovered for the first time as I was writing True Paradox was Making Sense of It AlI, a wonderful book by Thomas Morris that interprets Pascal for the contemporary world.

Has your training as an attorney/law professor influenced your passion for apologetics?

I think my lifelong passion for poetry and art, and my interest in science, fired my love of apologetics as much as my legal training did. But my legal training might have given me the nerve to actually write the book. Lawyers tend to think they can become quasi-experts in nearly anything—medicine, the engineering of collapsed buildings, or whatever—if they have a few weeks to read everything in sight. I sometimes think it takes some of that audacity for a non-theologian even to consider writing a book of apologetics. But I also have become convinced that issues of justice are central to apologetics, which persuaded me that legal scholars may have something to contribute.

Do you feel like the approach to apologetics needs to change in our postmodern age?

Although traditional apologetics is still essential, I do think the millenni-

al era poses unique challenges. In the 1940s, when C.S. Lewis delivered the radio talks that became Mere Christianity, nearly all of his hearers were vaguely Christian. One of his objectives was simply to persuade them to think more seriously about the things they’d been taught in Sunday school. This strategy doesn’t work quite as well in an era when

most Americans aren’t Christians and have never been to Sunday school.

Millennials seem to be hungry for a defense of Christianity that does two things. First, it needs to engage the narrative of scientific progress that is pervasive in American intellectual life, especially on university campuses. According to this narrative, many aspects of our existence were mysterious a few centuries ago, and God was the commonly accepted explanation. Since then, science has solved many of the mysteries, and scientists are steadily solving others.

There is no need for God. The second concern is social justice.

Although they are often criticized as selfish and individualistic, millennials are far more concerned than their predecessors with questions of social justice.

According to data gathered by the 2014 Millennial Impact Report, 55% of mil-

lennials choose the company they work for based on the causes it supports.

These are the kinds of concerns I tried to address in True Paradox.

As a frequent speaker at Veritas Forums at some of the nation’s leading universities, why do you think it important for emerging Christian leaders to learn about apologetics?

As I mentioned earlier, I believe that each of us has a responsibility to give an account for the hope that is in us. We can’t do this effectively unless we think through the kinds of questions that everyone wrestles with. The Apostle Paul speaks of being a Greek among the Greeks and a Hebrew among the Hebrews—of meeting people where they are. In the university setting, we can’t meet people where they are unless we are engaged in the intellectual life of the community, because that’s what universities are about.

I worry that sometimes Christian leaders are spiritually engaged but not intellectually engaged. We need to be both.

:: christianunion.org

Why do you feel it was important to cover a wide range of topics such as art, science, etc.?

I don’t think it’s possible to appreciate the richness and depth of Christianity without considering a wide range of topics. The cool thing about the topics I cover in True Paradox is that each is a different dimension of the same phenomenon: the fact that heaven breaks into our lives even now. Our experience of beauty and our longing for justice are glimpses of what the universe will one day be like, which suggests that the contributions we make to beauty and justice today, small and flawed as they are, may have eternal significance. | cu

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In the book, you write that apparent paradoxes are actually arguments for the existence of God and Christianity.

Can you give an example or two?

One of my favorite examples—from a chapter about consciousness—is what a famous 1960 article called “The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences.” The author, who wasn’t a Christian, marvels that mathematicians have repeatedly conjured up concepts that seemed purely abstract, and yet later proved essential to understanding features of our universe such as subatomic physics. How is it that the universe is rationally intelligible, and that our minds are somehow tuned to that rationality? For a materialist, this puzzle is very hard to explain. There was, after all, no need to understand complex numbers on the African savannah, and thus no reason to suspect from a purely evolutionary perspective that our rational speculations would give us insights into the nature of

the universe. The “unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics” is much less befuddling for Christianity. Christians believe that the universe reflects the rationality of its Creator—the heavens declare the glory of God, as Psalm 19 puts it. And because we are created in the image of God, it is not surprising that our minds are somehow in tune with that rationality.

Another illustration is the transcendence we feel in the presence of a beautiful landscape or work of art, and the sense of melancholy that so often follows. Materialists don’t yet have a good explanation for these powerful emotions. Some explain beauty as an accidental byproduct of evolution; others offer often far-fetched speculation— Steven Pinker has suggested we may be attracted to the kinds of landscapes that would have been good sources of food for our ancient ancestors. Christianity teaches that our sense of beauty is not an accident and it is not about bread alone.

The transcendence is a glimpse of the universe as it was meant to be, and the melancholy is our recognition that the beauty has been marred.

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What was your motivation for writing True Paradox: How Christianity Makes Sense of Our Complex World?

I had hoped to write a book like this with my dear friend and brilliant criminal justice scholar Bill Stuntz, but Bill died of cancer before we could begin.

About a year after Bill died, I moderated a Veritas Forum featuring John Lennox.

Patrick Arsenault, an atheist, post-doc student at Penn’s medical school, sent me an e-mail the next day, thanking me for asking Lennox challenging questions.

I asked Patrick if he would be willing to get together for coffee to talk about these issues. After several fascinating conversations, I figured I should just start writing the book and see where it led. Where it led was True Paradox.

Even though you are an attorney, in True Paradox you write that apologetics should be more than just a “lawyerly” or “logical” argument.

Can you elaborate?

Ever since Darwin on Trial, a highly influential book by Philip Johnson, a certain strand of apologetics has “cross examined” challenges to Christianity, as if apologetics were criminal trials. But truth isn’t the objective of a criminal trial. When Christians use these techniques, our hearers may suspect that we are more interested in scoring rhetorical points than in pursuing truth wherever it leads. I have similar worries about simple logical arguments designed to “prove” that God exists: they often do not seem to do justice to the richness and complexity of the world as we actually experience it.

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feature section | apologetics

The Apologetics of Love

Considering Nietzsche and Jesus of Nazareth by jesse peterson

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t the risk of an absurd reductionism, I’d like to propose an audacious thesis: that in Western history there have been only two distinct ethical philosophies. Every other ethic ultimately falls under the banner of one of these two. The two stances are represented by two teachers: Friedrich Nietzsche and Jesus of Nazareth. Their fundamental disagreement? What it means to be human, and what it means to love.

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The Ethics of Nature There could hardly have been a more fitting philosopher to follow on the heels of Darwin’s mid-19th-century discoveries than Nietzsche. Nietzsche translated into ethical-prescriptive terms (“ought”) what for Darwin had merely been biological-historical description (“is”). Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” in the war of nature became Nietzsche’s “will to power.”

What is good? — Whatever augments the feeling of power, the will to power, power itself, in man.

What is evil? — Whatever springs from weakness.

What is happiness? — The feeling that power increases — that resistance is overcome.

The weak and the botched shall perish: first principle of our charity. And one should help them to it.

The Nietzschean “will to power” thus signifies a celebration-turned-exhortation of what is merely natural. It is only natural for humans to look out for themselves, to compete for precious resources, to war against potential aggressors, to seek personal power. Now whatever our opinion of Darwin or Nietzsche, it can hardly be denied that the Christian doctrine of sin fits admirably with such

notions of self-preservation and egoism. If we believe we’ve progressed beyond this, simply observe the covetous masses blitzkrieging through your local Walmart on Black Friday at 5:01 a.m.

“For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” (1 Cor. 3:3) St. Paul (and most subsequent Christians) would agree with Nietzsche that such self-serving behavior is “natural.” The obvious difference between the two camps lies in how these natural inclinations should be responded to—whether spurred, or spurned.

What is Altruism?

Has Nietzsche’s “charity” become our own? In recent decades, the nature and origins of altruism have been hot topics, both in the popular and scholarly media.

Harvard biologist E. O. Wilson has proposed an account of the evolutionary origins of altruism as follows: If the reduction in survival and reproduction of individuals owing and to genes for altruism is more than offset by the increased probability of survival of the group owing to the altruism, then altruism genes will rise in frequency throughout the entire population of competing groups. To put it as concisely as possible: the individual pays, his genes and tribe gain, altruism spreads.

Wilson is claiming that our seemingly noble, selfless acts of “altruism” are a little more selfish than they appear, thanks to those pesky “selfish genes” of ours (as

Richard Dawkins has coined them). An individual may indeed be willing to act altruistically, selflessly, even self-sacrificially, but only toward a member of his own kin (or tribe, at the most), and only because the altruistic individual’s genes will still live on, dispersed through their surviving kin. But is it appropriate to label such a circumscribed, cost/ benefit-calculating behavior with the word altruism?

It has become common course to identify altruism with any action that is beyond pure and immediate egoism.

But the altruistic person is by definition concerned for the welfare of the alter, or “other.” The question then becomes (and here we echo the famous prompt of a certain young lawyer): Who exactly is my “other”? If it’s only my fellow kin, wouldn’t self-sacrifice become merely a slightly expanded version of self-preservation? Is not fighting for my children’s survival tantamount to fighting for my own survival? Even tribalism is merely a more inclusive version of egoism. And the point is: Both are entirely natural, instinctual. Both are of an entirely different species from other-oriented love.

An Unnatural Ethic Which brings us to Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus’ radical move was to widen the circle of beneficiaries as far as it could possibly go. He would not settle for any form of instinctual egoism, whether it be commitment to one’s self, one’s family, or one’s immediate neighbors and community.

In one teaching, Jesus flatly turns on

grammar? How did we learn to assume universal dignity and thus to condemn injustice in all its forms? To strive for “peace on earth, good will toward men”?

Such practices first ripened not on American or European soil, nor even that of ancient Greece, but on the rocky terrain of Palestine.

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is a Christian Union ministry fellow at Columbia University. jesse peterson

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Supra-natural Love Let’s sum up. For Friedrich Nietzsche, extreme individualization, or the will-to-power, is the highest good: “every man for himself.” For Jesus, extreme universalization, or agape love, is the highest good: “every man for every other man.” The former is natural (to us), the latter is unnatural, even anti-natural.

If there’s an apologetic to this argument, it’s the inference that perhaps the inherent un- and even anti-naturalness of Jesus’ ethic was owing to its supra-natural (supernatural) source. Only someone coming from outside the commonplace structures of first-century “being-in-theworld” could have posited such a new way to be human: “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me” (John 7:16).

Philosophers Hubert Dreyfus (UCBerkeley) and Sean Kelly (Harvard) concur, “As he is described in the Gospels, Jesus totally transforms people’s understanding of what it is to be a human being. This is a superhuman thing to do.” Note the ironic juxtaposition of terms. It’s a “superhuman” thing to redefine the “human.”

Or put it another way: It’s a “supernatural” thing to redefine the “natural.” The aim of Jesus’ radical agape teaching was to posit a new humanity, a new normal, a new nature—one exemplified precisely in Jesus’ own life (and death). Paradigm in view, invitation in hand, the task is now ours to live it out as well. | cu

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cal anomaly of a universal ethic of agape love. Plato had posited something like a universal love, wherein one moves beyond all particular objects of desire toward the singular transcendent object they signify, the “form” itself. But there’s an obvious difference. In Plato’s system, you don’t have to love actual, concrete humans (let alone aggravating ones), just wonderful forms like goodness or beauty. Moreover, the ancient Greeks held nothing like our modern-day assumptions concerning equality among all people; a hierarchy of persons was assumed, and a master-slave distinction thought natural.

Jesus was therefore raising the bar, establishing a new precedent. The radical newness of Jesus’ universal ethic was a bit like runner Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile marker in 1954—it made thinkable the previously unthought, setting a standard for all subsequent generations to deal with.

Yet, just as a competitive runner today could train for a four-minute mile while unaware of the name Roger Bannister, so too with us: the teaching has seeped into our cultural bloodstream, while floating free from its original teacher. Heirs of the Enlightenment that we are—with its talk of the “self-evident” truths of “certain unalienable rights” for every person—it hardly seems obvious to us how heavily indebted such notions remain to the peculiar rabbi from Galilee. So many influential Western philosophers have rung the bell of universal benevolence and equality—Locke, Kant, Rawls, to name a few—that a severe case of fish-in-water syndrome has set in. Contemporary cultural voices decrying racism, sexism, ethnocentricism and the like challenge our habitual tendency to divide the world into an us-versus-them polarity. But how did we learn to speak such a prophetic

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its head the sort of reciprocal altruism often discussed in evolutionary ethics: “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you.” (Luke 14:12b-14a) This is a call to love the unlovable devoid of any cost-benefit calculation. But the circle can be widened even more. Beyond the sphere of those who are unable to repay us with good, there are those more than able to pay us—with evil. It’s with respect to this outermost concentric circle, those by whom we have been wronged and to whom our only natural inclination is hatred and despisement, that Jesus utters his boldest ethical imperative: “Love your enemies.”

These famous words are uttered in contrast to the familiar: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” (Mt. 5:43) That’s a clear ethic, and a doable one. The old lines are drawn—Jew versus Gentile; friend versus enemy; us versus them.

“Love your neighbor” is taken from Leviticus 19:18, while “hate your enemy” is not a wording found in the Old Testament, though the sense arguably is. What’s more visceral, more human, than that? No matter where we draw the line, it seems obvious that “natural” love, or what I’ve called “expanded egoism,” only goes so far. There will always be an “other”—which is to say, a person, a community, an ethnic group, a nation—whom our nature feels no desire whatsoever to benefit. Staring us in the face, Jesus beckons, “Those are precisely the ones you must love.” He’s bent on uprooting our deeply planted tribalism.

What we are dealing with in the teachings of Jesus, then, is the histori-

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feature section | apologetics

The Quest for Veritas

Answering the Hard Questions at Harvard and Beyond by eileen scott, senior writer

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hat does it mean to be human?

Why is there evil and suffering?

Is there any meaning in death?

These are some of life’s most important questions. Yet, when visiting student Kelly Monroe Kullberg arrived at Harvard Divinity School, she realized that they were largely ignored at the nation’s first college, once a training ground for ministers. Despite having a motto of

dents, faculty, and ministers, founded the Veritas Forum in 1992 at Harvard.

Over the last two decades, Veritas Forums have been held at some of the world’s top universities and have featured lectures and debates with notable Christian apologists such as Ravi Zacharias, N.T. Wright, and John Lennox and atheists such as Christopher Hitchens and Peter Singer.

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The 2014 Veritas Forum at Harvard featured (L to R) Harvard Professor Dr. Michael Puett, Stanford Professor Dr. Charles Lee, and Dean Rakesh Khurana, the moderator.

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Veritas (Latin for truth), no answers to these deep questions were to be found at Harvard in the late 20th century.

And for Kullberg, this disparity was rather evident.

“By the end of an orientation lunch, I gathered that one was not to speak of Jesus or the Bible without a tone of erudite cynicism. I quickly learned that subtle mockery trumped reason,” she wrote in Finding God at Harvard: Spiritual Journeys of Thinking Christians.

“Ironically, everything was tolerated, except that for which Harvard College was founded–In Christi Gloriam–Jesus Christ’s glory. I wondered if worship of God might interfere with the university’s worship of itself.”

In order to give the academy an opportunity to consider life’s toughest questions, Kullberg, along with stu-

The mission of the Veritas Forum is to “host university events that engage students and faculty in discussions about life’s hardest questions and the relevance of Jesus Christ to all of life.” The national Veritas staff assists local planning teams of campus ministers and students who design and host individual forums, which continue to multiply.

In the last year, Veritas Forums were held at universities such as Harvard, Dartmouth, Yale, Penn, Cornell, Columbia, Oxford, Cambridge, and Duke.

Topics of discussion ranged from “The American Dream? Money, God and the Pursuit of Happiness” (Harvard) to “Living Well in the Light of Death” (Yale).

“Clearly, Harvard does not hold Christianity as truth anymore,” said Larissa Davis, Harvard ’15. “But the Veritas Forum is a way of reintroducing Truth

to campus.”

“The Veritas Forum and the post-forum discussions are very good ways of helping us refine our reason, so that the Truth is more obvious to us,” said Yale Ph.D. student Daniel Bondeson.

In her follow-up book, Finding God Beyond Harvard: The Quest for Veritas, Kullberg details the mission and vision.

Ultimately, leaders of Veritas want to encourage “united witnessing communities” within leading universities. “Together with them, we’ll encourage cynics to question, seekers to believe, and believers to grow in Christ-like brilliance and love,” Kullberg wrote.

According to a UCLA study, over 50 percent of entering freshmen hope to explore and define their beliefs during college.

In an interview with the Dartmouth Apologia, David Skeel, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a speaker at Veritas Forums, said he has witnessed a desire among students to explore key questions.

“The mission of the Veritas Forum is to encourage public conversations about the most important issues in life on college campuses and to ensure that Christianity is part of those conversations,” he said. “I have repeatedly heard Christian and non-Christian students say how much they appreciate these events and that they wish there were more discussion of these issues on college campuses.”

And that’s the kind of truth-seeking Kullberg wrote about in Finding God Beyond Harvard: “The Gospel belongs in the middle, not the margins, of the most secular incubators of cultural leadership–the universities.” | cu

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A mind for truth. A heart for God 速 ATLANTA | CHARLOTTE | HOUSTON | JACKSON | MEMPHIS | NEW YORK CITY | ORLANDO | WASHINGTON DC | GLOBAL

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from the university to the city

culture will be changed for the glory of god as the lives of our future leaders and the educational institutions they attend are transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Specifically, as students who are well-positioned to ascend to roles of influence learn to seek God, grow in their faith, and develop a thoughtful, Christ-centered 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.

Learning and Leading as these students graduate, christian union’s ministry to

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in key cultural centers, starting in New York City, their impact will be

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take the next step. By developing networks of like-minded believers

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its alumni and their peers—City Christian Union—will help them

the early 1800s. Pray that God will bring similar change to the U.S. as

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new networks of leaders emerge and engage today’s culture.

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multiplied. This model was used by the Lord to bring sweeping change to England through William Wilberforce and the Clapham Circle in

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Fresh Fire at Brown Students Are Poised to Impact the Campus by eileen scott, senior writer

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Students with Christian Union’s ministry at Brown are passionate for the Lord and eager to share the love of Christ with a predominantly secular campus.

“These freshmen have a desperate need and desire to know the Lord, to grow in their faith, and to see others come to know Him,” said Justin Doyle, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Brown.

Ayisha Jackson ’18 said the passion comes from a strong sense of purpose.

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on the Christian Union Web site. The vision of Christian Union fit the vision God set on my heart.”

Doyle noted how Christian Union’s Bible Courses on the book of Hebrews are challenging students and equipping them to communicate better their hope in the Gospel.

And those Bible courses have deeply resonated with Jordan.

“I’m so hungry. I really feel that Christian Union cultivates—and helps satisfy—that spiritual hunger,” he said. “In our Bible course, I’m learning so much I never would have considered before.”

According to Doyle, the students’ faces light up as they study and better understand the Bible. As a result, they are developing as leaders at Brown, sharing their faith in clearer, more informed ways.

“There is this strong sense that each of us ended up here at Brown for a reason, and Christian Union seems to be at the center of all of that,” Jackson said.

Soon after arriving on campus, the students gathered in common areas for prayer and worship, setting an example of enthusiastic adoration for fellow students.

Doyle noted how this group of leadership-oriented freshmen is helping Brown freshmen Josiah Jordan and Ayisha Jackson have a passion for Christ and for sharing to accelerate the launch of Christian God’s Word on campus.

Union at Brown this fall. Additionally, the one-on-one mentorship and encouragement by the Christian Union ministers at “God has made it so apparent that we are here Brown have empowered the students to take on on this campus to minister to people and make a responsibility for team formation and initiatives change,” she said. to engage campus.

Fellow freshman Josiah Jordan agrees.

Despite their enthusiasm, both Jackson and While having doubts about attending Brown Jordan initially had significant doubts about atthis summer, a timely Facebook message from tending Brown.

Doyle affirmed his call to the campus.

However, through meditation on Matthew “My jaw dropped,” said Jordan. “I clicked

Jackson, a native of Guyana. “I did not know 9:37, Jordan saw a correlation to the campus as what for, especially since Brown is so known for a potentially plentiful harvest that needs workers. being liberal, but it was definitely one of the first “Brown is among the spiritually darkest institimes in my life that I felt very certain about my tutions in the United States,” said Jordan, who is future.” from Pennsauken, New Jersey.

Jackson, who attended a secular high school “God has made it so apparent that we are here in New York City, also initially struggled with at- on this campus to minister to people and make tending Brown. a change.”

—Ayisha Jackson, Brown ’18 “I remember being so afraid that the conditions And that certainty of purpose and strength of would be even worse at Brown and even crying to calling to serve God at Brown has both students God and asking why I was being sent to a place fanning the flame of hope and faith in their hearts where I didn’t think spiritual growth was possias they seek to foster a spiritual awakening camble,” she said. pus-wide.

However, a pivotal moment came when her As Jordan puts it, “great things are happening mother awakened from sleep with a strong sense on the campus.” And these students reverently that God was calling her to Brown. acknowledge the One from whom that goodness “My acceptance [to Brown] came in such a comes. | cu way that I knew God was calling me here,” said

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Shining Bright and Late Night Columbia Junior Follows Her Dream with TV Internship by eileen scott, senior writer

2015 :: christianunion.org

upbringing and Christian Union’s influence keep her grounded in her beliefs and prioritize her commitments, especially as she ventures into the television and film industries.

Coming from the “buckle of the Bible belt,” Sparkman said being a Christian in Oklahoma was relatively easy. However, entering such an academically rigorous (and intensely secular) institution in New York City required more attention toward matters of faith.

“I’ve had to explain and defend my beliefs against some of the most intelligent students in the country,” said Sparkman. “Christian Union has provided community and resources with which I’ve been able to strengthen my faith.”

With her internship, the junior has communicated with influential industry leaders, learned

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For Sarah Sparkman ’16, interning for a late-night television show has provided early insight into the workings of the entertainment industry and the challenges of keeping Christ as her first passion.

The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has a love for the arts and wants to pursue a career in comedy writing or establish a film company.

“The specific professional goal is often shifting,” said Sparkman, “but what stays consistent is the dream of being in the entertainment industry.”

And landing an internship this fall with a major television network took her one step closer to making that dream come true. Participating in Christian Union’s ministry at Columbia is helping keep it all in perspective. Sparkman said her

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the requirements of putting together a weekly show, and been privy to the inner workings of the television industry. And she has enjoyed every moment.

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Sarah Sparkman, Columbia ’16, is keeping Christ first while participating in an internship with a major television network.

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However, Sparkman said being a Christian has revealed that working for a major television network could become an idol, and lead to workaholic tendencies.

“I’ve been actively working to make sure I keep a balanced schedule,” said Sparkman. “I feel like Christian Union has really helped me stay focused.”

According to Jim Black, director of undergraduate ministry for Christian Union at Columbia, encouraging students to pray and think through their vocational choices is a hallmark of the ministry’s leadership development process.

And it’s something he has walked through with Sparkman as well.

“Sarah is talented, gifted, creative, and driven,”

said Black. “It’s been enjoyable to watch the Lord work in her life and help her process her dream, while enabling her to remain faithful.”

“Christian Union has given me resources to stay anchored,” said Sparkman. “I’m constantly needing reminders that my identity isn’t found in my career or skills. Through retreats, weekly lectures, and Bible course materials, Christian Union provides me with reminders when I need them most.”

As an intern, she has learned to incorporate her faith into her daily routine.

“I really prayed about the work environment prior to starting my job,” said Sparkman.

And once she began working at the network, she found two Christian friends; one was on staff and the other a fellow intern.

“It’s been really encouraging to meet other Christians in this industry,” she said.

According to entertainment writer David Outten, having Christians like Sparkman within the industry is the key to being able to change it.

“Christians who would like to see the media redeemed and used to glorify God can be salt and light in this aspect of culture,” Outten wrote in MovieGuide.

And Sparkman is ready to be just that.

“The entertainment industry is often painted as corrupt, shallow, competitive, and selfish. But I disagree,” she said. “I would love to use my career to share Christ’s love with people. I feel there is a real need for Christian voices in media, to love the people producing media, and to influence the content that is created. And I truly believe God has given me my passion in order to do so.” | cu

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Going that Extra Mile (off Campus) Mwangi Thuita ’17 Has a Passion for Serving by eileen scott, senior writer

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The Community Service Team with doing so, the students bring honor to the elderly, Christian Union at Cornell is worksit and listen to the homeless, and share a smile ing to share the Gospel in Ithaca, New and learn the names of people passing through York, and their acts of service are conveying what the line in a food pantry. words alone cannot.

Participation in Christian Union’s leadership The team serves the university’s neighboring development ministry at Cornell gives students community through a variety of volunteer works, the opportunity to lead by example, to work out quietly modeling Christ’s compassion for all peologistical challenges, and recognize the specific ple. skills God has given their fellow students, ex“Our students formed the Community Serplained Shea. vice Team because they wanted tangible ways Thuita has also learned about Christian leadto communicate the love of Christ,” said Anna ership through the example set by dedicated and Shea, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Corfaithful ministry fellows. nell. “They want others to experience, through their actions, that Jesus is “I’ve learned that Christian leadership involves alive—not just on the Cornell camsacrifice and courage that can only come from pus, but throughout Ithaca as well.”

Shea, who is advising the team, faith. Christian leaders are constantly giving of holds a Masters in Theology in History from the University of Edinburgh, themselves out of love.”

—Mwangi Thuita, Cornell ’17 Scotland.

“Jesus spent His time on earth feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and address“I’ve learned that Christian leadership ining the needs of people who tend to be undervolves sacrifice and courage that can only come valued by society,” she said. Therefore, the service from faith. Christian leaders are constantly giving team exists to demonstrate how Jesus values all of themselves out of love,” said Thuita. people, especially by going the extra mile to lend In addition to being active at Christian Union a hand. at Cornell and managing a demanding academic Lending a hand is second nature for Mwangi load, Thuita also participates in squash and the Thuita ’17, a native of Kenya. Last summer, he Cornell International Affairs Society. However, he returned to his homeland to teach English and says making time to volunteer in the communimath. ty is a call to serve outside the collegiate comfort At Cornell, Thuita has been instrumental in zone. establishing the Community Service Team and is “As Christians at college, it’s easy to be concurrently one of the co-leaders. tent in pursuing our education and extra-curric“We really need an example like him, someular interests and being in fellowship with other one who is thinking about how to care for their believers. But we are called to love others in our community and challenging the individualistic community,” he said. mindset that many bring,” said Shea.

In the fall, the team served at a food pantry Thuita helped draft the team’s mission, vision, and also took part in Cornell’s annual Into the and values in a way that prioritizes the underStreets event, helping to organize a library for a served and often forgotten people of society. In local school.

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“What we hope to be about is loving others through our service and reflecting God’s love for them,” said Thuita.

Their work has also inspired older volunteers at the food pantry who are excited to have young people join them in their efforts, noted Thuita.

Being part of Christian Union and serving their neighbors has taught Thuita and his peers that being a servant leader in the likeness of Christ means knowing Him and seeking His guidance.

As Thuita said, “Prayer is where all works that are pleasing to God begin.” | cu

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Ancient Landmarks Lecture Highlights the Importance of Church History

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by catherine elvy, staff writer

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Modern believers need to be lifelong tory is the larger story.” learners and lovers of church history.

Likewise, a probe of church annals rebuts That was the message from Nick modern misconceptions that supernatural manNowalk when the Christian Union ifestations, inspired by the Holy teaching fellow spoke at the minisSpirit, faded out after the estabtry’s leadership lecture series at Harlishment of the early church. As vard University this fall. well, the keys to understanding the “Church history is a histofoundational elements of revivals ry where we can find life,” said are encapsulated within the chapNowalk. “We are responsible to ters of church history. hand down our faith to others.”

“We’re not just waiting for God On October 31, Nowalk, using to start doing stuff again,” Nowalk Hebrews 11 as his main text, outsaid. “The Holy Spirit has been livlined the top reasons for believers to ing, breathing, and active since the embrace church chronicles during day of Pentecost.”

Modern believers should Christian Union at Harvard’s weekOn a related note, Christians embrace the lessons of ly lecture. need to relate to the church as their church history, according “Being aware of the faithful primary family. to Nick Nowalk, Christian [who came] before us is crucial,” Union’s teaching fellow at “Throughout the New Testasaid Nowalk, noting many Chris- Harvard College. ment, the church takes precedence tians are woefully ignorant of over biological family,” Nowalk church history, beyond the foundasaid. “If you are a Christian, your tional efforts of the apostles and the trumpeted primary family tree is the people of God.” reformation movement of Martin Luther.

As such, believers are called to love one anoth“Our identity and vocation depend upon er and heal divisions. knowing the story of the people of God throughThrough Christ, even non-Jewish, Gentile out history,” said Nowalk. believers become offspring of Abraham, meaning Without such foundational knowledge, Christhe Old Testament provides a valuable reservoir tians risk their individual perspectives becoming of spiritual heritage and lessons from biblical anfragmented and disconnected. “We lose the contiquity. tinuity of our experience with history. We cannot “We have to acknowledge the work of the tell our own stories,” said Nowalk. “Church hisSpirit throughout the centuries,” Nowalk said.

Human interaction is characterized by storytelling, and God remains the ultimate author. “We need examples, tangible, flesh and blood examples to imitate,” said Nowalk. “All of us live by stories.”

Narratives help explain what it means to be a man, woman, or even a Harvard student. They also help provide a script for children attempting to understand the drama of life and its complex cast of characters.

Essentially, humans are social creatures – products of the culture, tradition, and setting described in historical tales. “We all live on the basis of things other humans have told us,” said Nowalk. “You were born into an historical place with a culture.”

Today’s believers are responsible for handing down their faith and traditions to new converts,

even for providing a sense of roots.

Nowalk also cautioned students against embracing the fallacies of modern perspectives over historical references. He pointed to celebrated Christian apologists who tout the benefits of lifelong learning.

“We have to acknowledge the work of the Spirit throughout the centuries.”

—Nick Nowalk, Christian Union teaching fellow “Don’t be chronological snobs,” said Nowalk, pointing out that believers are missing out on valuable insights when they fail to understand past viewpoints and the historical context of those perspectives. | cu

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Without Ceasing Dartmouth Student Leads 24-Hour Prayer Time by eileen scott, senior writer

the Christian Union ministry, where he not only gained a sense of belonging, but also clarity about what it means to pursue God above all else.

“The seeking God lifestyle means that the Lord is not just ‘a priority,’ but the primary priority in our lives, making Him first in everything we do, pursuing Him at all times,” said Schmidt.

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Pursuing God includes frequent prayer; extended time in the Word; repentance; humility through fasting; perseverance; promptly obeying the Spirit; and gathering with believers.

As a result of adopting that lifestyle, Schmidt has developed a desire to go before God in a relentless way and to encourage others to do the same.

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Pursuing God includes frequent prayer; extended time in the Word; repentance; humility through fasting; perseverance; promptly obeying the Spirit; and gathering with believers.

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On October 31, students at Dartmouth united their Christian peers to pray without ceasing for 24 hours.

The effort was led by Zachary Schmidt ’15, who is active with Christian Union’s leadership development ministry at Dartmouth and possesses a profound devotion to Christ and a passion for living a life of prayer.

Schmidt, who transferred to Dartmouth as a junior from the U.S. Naval Academy, helped organize a 24-hour concert of prayer, which both encouraged students to seek God wholeheartedly and also united the body of Christ on campus.

“We saw [this prayer initiative] as a great way to get the whole Christian community involved and united in one body to glorify the Lord,” said Schmidt.

However, the senior wasn’t always so mindful of the need for consistently coming before the Lord.

“I didn’t understand what that meant until I got to Dartmouth,” said Schmidt. There, he joined

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pray together, interceding for freshmen, campus He also contends that he is better able to balance ministries, and the Greek system. competing demands on his time at Dartmouth.

There was no time during the 24 hours when Schmidt, an economics major, credits Kevin someone wasn’t standing in the gap on behalf of Collins (Harvard ’89), Christian Union’s ministry the Dartmouth commudirector at Dartmouth, nity. with mentoring that has “These students wantmade a big difference. ed to pray and bathe the They shared “amazing campus in prayer,” said prayer times” where “it Collins. “It was somewas clear the Lord was thing they were comworking,” said Schmidt. pelled to do.”

Additionally, studyHowever, devotion to ing the Word at Christian prayer life isn’t just a colUnion Bible Courses enlege thing for Schmidt. As abled him to grow in his he graduates this May, he faith and have the confiwill embark upon a future dence to lead the ministry’s focused on Christ.

Seeking God Team.

Zachary Schmidt ’15 helped lead a 24 Hour Prayer Schmidt hopes to at“Zach did an amazing initiative at Dartmouth. tend Officer Candidate job leading this team,” School and be commissaid Collins. sioned in the U.S. Marine Corps. However, if he And that focus and devotion was evident as is not selected for the highly competitive school, he led the 24-hour prayer gathering. More than he plans to work in New York at Bank of America 60 students from a variety of campus ministries Merrill Lynch. signed up for time slots to pray throughout the “No matter what the outcome, ” said Schmidt, day and night. Through social media, even inter“The seeking God lifestyle will definitely remain a national students participated by signing up for part of my life, as that is really the only way to live the early morning hours of the eastern time zone. out the Christian life.” | cu Whole dorm floors and ministries committed to

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Compassion on Campus

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Penn Student Seeks to Establish Peer Counseling by eileen scott, senior writer

Roy Lan cares about people.

From assisting in cancer research and volunteering for the welfare of children, to participating in model UN at the University of Pennsylvania, the breadth of his compassion is evident. This semester, Lan is extending a helping hand even further as he spearheads a new organization that seeks to come alongside students that struggle to care for themselves.

As a response to the several suicides at Penn in

the last year and a half, Lan is working to establish a student-run peer counseling organization for undergraduates. And he credits Christian Union’s ministry at Penn with helping him develop the leadership skills needed to form the new organization.

“Christian Union has taught me many things about how to run a successful organization, from planning/organizing meetings to learning to work with people and delegating responsibilities to oth-

proposal that could lead to training and a program for next year. While the effort is still in the design phase, I think the structure and ideas Roy and the other students have are good,” said Alexander.

Taking the initiative to advocate for the needs of others comes naturally for Lan, who from a young age was taught that Christians care for those in need; and that faith is what continues to drive his actions today.

“I strongly believe that God has led me to start this organization, and I desire to help my campus in the most effective way possible,” he said.

Faith has an important role in addressing mental and emotional illness, he said.

“A strong faith provides for and often leads to a strong sense of hope and security,” said Lan. However, he said, it’s important for Christians to create an open, attentive environment for those suffering.

Lan is working to establish a studentrun peer counseling organization for undergraduates. And he credits Christian Union’s ministry at Penn with helping him develop the leadership skills needed to form the new organization.

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“Many non-Christians in need often do not speak to their Christian friends due to fear of judgment, embarrassment, and perhaps the fact that they may not be able to relate,” said Lan. “The best way that Christians can begin to support non-Christians is to be accessible, and that entails providing an environment where the troubled do not feel judged, but safe and comfortable.”

And while balancing academics, extracurriculars, and spearheading a new organization may not make life comfortable for Lan, he perseveres with compassion and determination.

“I find that if you’re truly passionate about a certain activity, you no longer view it as balancing things, but simply enjoy working towards something greater,” said Lan. | cu

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ers,” he said. “Our Bible course leaders also lead by example and introduce us to different styles and contexts in which leadership can be more effective.”

The biochemistry major said the Bible courses and the racial diversity of the ministry attracted him to Christian Union at Penn, which launched in fall of 2013. Additionally, he was motivated by the opportunity to help shape the new ministry and to be part of its first graduating class.

Lan serves as a research assistant to Dr. Celeste Simon, the scientific director of the Abramson Family Cancer Institute. He is also one of two volunteer coordinators for the Foundation of International Medical Relief of Children.

While the peer counseling outreach is currently in the developmental phase, Lan is striving to have a fully-trained team to offer services in the fall of 2015.

“I hope this organization provides students who are going through a hard time with an approachable, helpful resource in times of need,” he said.

During Lan’s freshman year, there were four confirmed suicides within a six-month period.

This August, a Penn senior killed himself while he was in Los Angeles, California. Those tragedies and the high tempo environment at Penn were the impetus for Lan’s initiative.

“Many students feel not only high academic pressure to succeed in class, but they also feel a strong sense of pre-professionalism,” said Lan. “In this way, many people feel a strong need to project a successful image and, inevitably, we all fall short of our own expectations at some point.”

According to Dr. William Alexander, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Penn, peer counseling groups are active at many universities, and it’s something CAPS has considered developing. In fact, he said several students have approached him about starting such an organization, so when Lan also contacted him about it this semester, he was able to put the interested students in contact.

“Roy had done extensive research into the programs of other schools. He has collaborated with other students and is in the process of forming a

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A Word in Season Speakers Share Their Deepest Passions at Leadership Lecture Series by catherine elvy, staff writer

In the fall semester, Christian Union’s leadership lecture series offered a variety of personal testimonies that had a profound impact on Princeton students.

“Our leadership lecture series serves students by providing thoughtful engagement with relevant issues from a biblical worldview,” said Scott Jones (Cornell ’04), a Christian Union ministry fellow at Princeton. “This semester, our speakers have focused largely on telling their own stories as a means of engaging wider topics on campus and in our culture.”

“He knew her, and He welcomed her to a life that was abundant,” Suarez told students.

Suarez also explored how the overall experience probably touched the Samaritan woman at a personal level.

“Finally, someone didn’t ignore the pain from my past, didn’t use my past as all the excuse they needed to leave me,” said Suarez, recounting the divine meeting from the woman’s perspective.

“He spoke a better story over me of life. I get to be whom He says I can be.”

For students, the account showcases how

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Students worship at Christian Union’s leadership lecture series at Princeton University.

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More specifically, the ministry asked lecturers to “share their deepest passions” during the Friday evening meetings. “If they could give only one talk to our students, what would they say?”

Jones asked rhetorically. “What narrative or topic is uniquely theirs to share?”

Ministry Fellow Rachel Suarez probed the account of a Samaritan woman’s encounter with Christ, as detailed in John 4.

Instead of shunning the woman near Jacob’s Well, Christ engaged her, revealed Himself as Messiah, and offered the gift of eternal refreshment.

God orchestrates spiritual encounters to provide much-needed validation, comfort, and acceptance.

“Maybe, we feel the weight of an unknown story inside us. God knows you. Let that free you up to be known, to be known by Him and others,” Suarez said.

Tim Henderson, vice president of University Christian Union, spoke on the topic of shame and the importance of understanding the difference between guilt and shame.

“For most of the United States’ 200-year history, and throughout the west for longer than

that, people have mostly experienced guilt,” he said. “And because of that, we’ve mostly spoken about the Gospel as a solution to our guilt. Which it is, wonderfully so.”

However, because of loss of regard for absolute moral laws and an increase in sexual sin, we have shifted from feeling guilty to feeling shameful, he said. Additionally, shame not only comes from what we do, but from what is done to us (as in the case of rape or molestation).

“Many of you have grown up experiencing shame, more than guilt, but you’ve done so in a country where the Christian community’s expertise lies more in dealing with guilt than with shame,” he said.

As believers seeking wholeness and as ministers looking to reach those on campus who are experiencing shame, it is important to recognize this shift and see how Jesus not only paid the price for our sin and guilt, but also for our shame.

“There are millions of people who experience or feel their fallenness as shame,” said Henderson.

“If that’s true, we should expect to find, and do find, that Jesus didn’t only come to take away guilt—He also came to erase your shame, so you

don’t need to hide from Him anymore.”

Among other speakers during the autumn semester, a dermatologist and Cornell University alumna highlighted for students how walking out the Christian faith involves maintaining a Christ-centered mindset, even in the midst of intense personal, academic, and career challenges.

Angela Lamb, a wife and mother of two young children, explained how her faith influences her key callings.

“Try to have that completeness, to be really rooted in Christ,” said Lamb, Cornell ’99.

The New York City-based physician told students that a key to maintaining a godly outlook during life’s challenges involves meditating upon the reassuring words of Philippians 4: 6-7.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but, in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And, the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus,” the Apostle Paul instructed.

Still, “what that doesn’t say is that everything you pray for will be given to you,” said Lamb.

“God promises us peace.” | cu

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Faith and Service Christian Union’s Ministry Reaches out to Community by catherine elvy, staff writer

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CommuniTEA lectures and Q and A sessions with speakers from the service arena. The lectures are modeled after Yale University’s Master’s Teas, which allow students to interact with distinguished visitors in a more informal and personal setting.

For the inaugural CommuniTEA, Greg Hendrickson ’03 offered a biblical perspective on social justice and service. Hendrickson, a pastor at Trinity Baptist Church and a former staffer with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (www.ivcf.org), outlined why it is important for believers to reach out to New Haven’s impoverished sectors and what students can learn from such engagement.

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Students involved with Christian Union’s leadership development ministry at Yale are bolstering efforts to serve neighbors in New Haven, Connecticut.

The ministry’s community service team is orchestrating outreach activities throughout the academic year.

“Our vision is to be a team that leads students to follow Jesus’ footsteps through community service,” said Seojin Park ’17, co-leader of the team.

“We want faith and service to intersect. We want to learn more about how to integrate the two.”

A key component of the outreach centers on training. The team plans to hold a series of

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can be,” said Entgelmeier, a humanities major who spent the summer in Rwanda and Uganda.

Christian Union Ministry Fellow Laurel Copp said Yale believers are enthusiastic about learning to integrate their faith into service.

“The gap between Yale and New Haven is quite big,” she said.

In October, students with Christian Union’s ministry also partnered with Yale Students for Christ to clean bathrooms in freshman dormitories.

The impetus for the project came from a desire among students to practice servanthood and reflect the humility behind Christ’s efforts to wash the feet of His disciples.

“There was quite a buzz about it,” said Copp. “It was well received.”

In other news, the special needs ministries’ director for Mission to Jason Entgelmeier ’17 and Seojin Park ’17 are leaders with Yale Faith and Action’s North America spoke at Christian community service team.

Union’s leadership lecture series on September 12.

Stephanie Hubach, a Pennsylvania mother of “God can do everything, but uses us as part of a special needs child, discussed the Christian perHis plan to restore people,” said Park, an anthrospective on disabilities and noted such handicaps pology major from Connecticut. are a normal part of life in a fallen world.

At a practical level, Christian Union at Yale Students and ministry faculty alike found the recently joined ranks with parishioners from message challenging and inspiring.

Trinity on the Green Church to serve at an area soup kitchen, and plans to continue such efforts “Our vision is to be a team that throughout the academic year.

Jason Entgelmeier, co-leader of the ministry’s leads students to follow Jesus’ service team, described his experience serving in footsteps through community the New Haven soup kitchen as eye-opening.

“I enjoyed serving the people and getting a service. We want faith and sense of who is coming in and what this does for service to intersect.” them,” said Entgelmeier ’17. “People are struggling financially and economically. As Christians, —Seojin Park, Yale ’17 we’re called to minister to those areas.”

“Are we going to make space for those with Likewise, the community service team is ardisabilities to be in what we do?” said Copp. ranging for students to participate in a construc“The Gospel enables us to understand we are all tion initiative and is examining opportunities to spiritually disabled. Our disabilities are being rereach out to prisoners. deemed, and we have a greater purpose to care for After spending their summers abroad, Park those in the world with physical disabilities.” | cu and Entgelmeier agreed they wanted Yale students to learn more about service. “Coming back, both of us realized how complex community service

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During Hendrickson’s appearance, Park said she was touched by God’s love for the people of New Haven and His desire for earthly stewards to reflect divine compassion and care.

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university christian union

Digging Deeper Harvard Law Student Enjoying Rigorous Bible Course by catherine elvy, staff writer

tian Union study of Hebrews has added new dimensions to her spiritual core, and she wants young believers to learn how to utilize Scriptures to probe critical concerns.

“We all have doubts as Christians, but we can deal with our doubts out in the open,” she said.

While Sam is likely to seek a stint at a law firm in a major U.S. city upon graduation, she also envisions herself eventually returning to her homeland. There, she would like to focus on educational policy, in particular upon reshaping

Sybil Sam, Yale ’13, Harvard Law ’16, is enjoying the in-depth scriptural study Christian Union is offering at Harvard Law School.

2015 :: christianunion.org

public school curricula and expanding courses to reflect Ghana’s culture and history before European colonization efforts.

“I want to give back,” said Sam, who also is involved with the Harvard African Law Association.

“It behooves me to go back and see what I can do for my home country. I would like to see the country become a real beacon for Africa.”

For now, she is immersing herself in the legal and spiritual training she is receiving in Cambridge, and she is interceding in prayer for a spiritual rebirth in her native Ghana. “It was providential that I was able to come to Harvard Law and get involved with Christian Union,” she said.

“It’s an incredible blessing.” | cu

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Though she hails from a Christian family in Ghana, Sybil Sam did not really own her faith until she traversed the globe for her undergraduate studies in the Ivy League.

Today, the Yale University alumna and aspiring attorney is adding a powerful new element to her spiritual life via the in-depth Bible course Christian Union is offering to Harvard Law students.

“Approaching the Word of God with an academic rigor was really new to me, so I was excited to participate,” said Sam, Yale ’13, Harvard Law ’16. “You come away with a better understanding of what God is saying in His Word.”

From her new base in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the vice president of Christian Union’s ministry at Harvard Law is committed to reflecting her faith on campus and encouraging student believers to bolster their theological foundations.

“All I knew about the Gospel was what I was told. I had never discovered things on my own,” said Sam. “I’m discovering there is a possessive element to my faith. It puts a whole new light on aspects of God’s Word.”

Sam wants incoming law students of faith to “find a place to commune with other Christians.”

Through plugging into Christian Union, Sam noted she has developed tangible camaraderie with believers.

“I was surprised to find a lot of my classmates are Christians,” said Sam. Jim Garretson, Christian Union’s ministry director at Harvard Law, described Sam as a “committed Christian whose vivacious personality is a source of inspiration and encouragement to her classmates.”

During her undergraduate studies, Sam actively participated in the Black Church at Yale.

After moving to Massachusetts, Sam plugged into Lighthouse Chapel International, as well as Christian Union. Moreover, Sam said her Chris-

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donor spotlight

Power Couple ‘Surviving Medicine, Banking, Parenting, and the Concrete Jungle’

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rom marriage to ministry, Angela and Allen Lamb know a good thing when they find it.

For example, they met during their freshman year at Cornell and married during the summer between their junior and senior years. Allen was already a Christian when he met Angela; Angela came to faith in Christ at Cornell, thanks in part to a suitemate who shared her faith.

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Angela and Allen Lamb and their children, Darby and Mitchell

The young couple was led to follow Christ’s ethos in college as they pursued integrity in courtship and dating and fidelity in marriage. A supportive community and God’s great grace helped them navigate their student years.

Today Allen (Cornell, BS ’00 and MEng ’01) works in finance at a small private equity firm, and Angela (Cornell BA ’99) is the director of the Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology Faculty Practice and Director of Dermatology for the Institute

of Family Health in New York City. Allen’s educational background includes degrees in mechanical engineering and computer science, but he found his vocation in the financial sector after earning an MBA from MIT. Angela, on the other hand, already knew the career path she was pursuing in medicine, down to her desired field of dermatology, when she arrived at Cornell.

But coming to faith in Jesus Christ would profoundly change the “why” behind all her life choices. “Becoming a Christian changed everything; from my perspective on failure and loss, and even impulses toward pride.” She reflects, “It makes a difference, knowing you are a sinner and saved by grace.”

Angela completed her residency training in dermatology at the University of Minnesota and received her medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Angela has already made significant contributions to her field; she is the recipient of several peer-recognized honors including a Medical Student Mentorship Award from the American Academy of Dermatology; a National Institutes of Health Visiting Student Research Award; a Medical Student Fellowship from the Women’s Dermatologic Society Award; and the Marvin Dunn Lectureship.

In addition, Angela has published articles on a range of dermatological topics. Her current interests include healthcare policy and advancing access of dermatology services to underserved communities.

The Lambs have been active in Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan for the past decade, attending the West Side location.

The church’s emphasis on knowing and serving neighbors and blessing and renewing local communities resonates deeply with the Lambs, who are intentional in the choice of church campus they attend. “We go to church in the community where we live, and where I practice medicine. We see church members all around the community.”

Around the time they began attending Re-

about the totality of their life experiences. One talk the couple collaborated on at Columbia was entitled, “Be Encouraged! Stories from the IvyLeague Educated Couple who Continue to Survive Medicine, Banking, Parenting, and the Concrete Jungle with a Smile.”

Often, when the formal portion of a speaking engagement concludes, they are swarmed by students eager to continue the conversation. The Lambs note a thirst for the practical knowledge that they have gained by experience – and which they share willingly: practicalities of marriage, the logistics of raising children, living in the city, and managing working hours.

“The intellectuality of the literature and resources, and the level of inquiry being fostered, it’s unlike anything I have ever seen in a ministry to students.”

—Angela Lamb, Cornell ’99

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“It can be very humbling to tell your story… but we are candid about everything we’ve been through, or seen other couples go through, including what works and what doesn’t.” Angela and Allen are quick to assure students “they are not alone, nor the first to ask these questions.”

Students in high-intensity environments, desiring to follow Christ, want to know “how it all works.”

While their own children, Mitchell (5) and Darby (18 months) are still just little ones, the Lambs already have conversations about schools. As they do, they reflect on the opportunities for their children and the importance of Christian ministries representing God’s kingdom in all its diversity.

“The diversity within Christian Union, and the intentionally of that, stands out to us.” Angela elaborates: “When we visit these campuses and meet the students, it makes us proud to see everyone represented.” | cu

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deemer, Angela picked up a copy of The New York Times and read an article profiling Matt Bennett and Christian Union, the young but growing ministry effort that was tailored to students in the intellectual and social climate of leading universities.

The mission of developing Christian leaders, at a set of schools that included her alma mater, appealed to her: “It’s a practical and directed approach that can really work.”

After reading the article, Angela e-mailed Bennett directly, asking how she could get involved. They shared a beverage at Café Lalo on the Upper West Side and the rest is history. Once again, the Lambs had found a “good thing” and went all in to support it.

Angela became an especially winsome champion of the ministry, with its targeted focus on students in academically rigorous settings. “The intellectuality of the literature and resources, and the level of inquiry being fostered, it’s unlike anything I have ever seen in a ministry to students,” she said.

The Lambs also commend the “diverse and superlative” ministry fellows and staff that comprise the ministry. “It is really a blessing to see students going through those same journeys that we went through, but with strong support and resources.”

In comparison, Angela recalls participating in small Bible studies with other women at Cornell.

The peer-led studies were a blessing, but she appreciates the curriculum and experienced mentors students receive through Christian Union. “Allen and I would have loved to have had that type of challenging and academic Christian teaching when we were undergraduates.”

Today, Angela serves on the Christian Union Board of Trustees, and she and her husband are also popular speakers to the student organizations that Christian Union supports. With the breadth of their educational and professional experiences, they have much to share with students about how faith can influence work.

In fact, the Lambs find students eager to hear

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city christian union

The Exchange of Ideas NYCU Hosts a Wide Range of Salons by tom campisi, managing editor

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his fall, New York City Christian Union hosted three monthly salons that bolstered the faith of local Christians and marketplace leaders.

New York City Christian Union (NYCU) salons are fashioned after the features that made earlier European salons famous – an inspiring venue for the exchange of ideas. They provide an intimate gathering for Christian leaders to develop strong ties, discussing topics that will strengthen both the intellectual and supernatural dimensions

served on a law panel at the Ivy League Congress on Faith and Action in New Haven, Connecticut, where approximately 400 students gathered to learn how they can use their gifts and talents to glorify God in their future careers.

At the November NYCU salon, artist and Gordon College Professor Bruce Herman spoke eloquently on “Problematizing Pretty: The Complexity of Beauty.” The Lothlórien Distinguished Chair in the Fine Arts at Gordon, Herman’s art has

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NYCU Salons provide an intimate gathering for Christian leaders to develop strong ties, discussing topics that will strengthen both the intellectual and supernatural dimensions of their faith.

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of their faith. Speakers go in-depth, and participants have the opportunity to interact with the guest presenter, as well as one another.

In September, NYCU kicked off the fall season with a salon featuring Ken Fish, whose message was entitled “What is a Normal Christian Life?” Fish, Princeton ’82, is a conference speaker who teaches on spiritual gifts, healing and deliverance, prophecy, spiritual formation, leadership development, and biblical exposition. At the salon, he said the supernatural element of our Christianity all too often finds itself at odds with our increasingly secular 21st century culture, confusing how we understand “normal” in regards to our faith.

Paul Michalski, a corporate lawyer and entrepreneur, was the guest speaker at the October salon. Michalski (Harvard ’83, J.D. ’86) spoke on “Integrity, Identity, and Leadership: Adding Beauty to the World through Business.” His message challenged attendees to view their work through the lens of faith. Last spring, Michalski

been exhibited internationally and is housed in museums such as the Vatican Museum in Rome, the Armand Hammer Collection in Los Angeles, and the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

The professor talked about how Christians can pursue a more comprehensive and coherent understanding of beauty, one rooted in our view of the world, both before and after the fall. In art, he said, there is a tendency to look for things pretty and nostalgic, rather than seeing goodness and truth in a broken and disfigured society.

“As humans, we suffer from a chronic lack of imagination to comprehend the scope of transformation that awaits us individually in Christ, and of what He desires to do in the world,” said Scott Crosby, the director of NYCU. “If we can begin to imagine the new heavens and earth, then we have the beginnings of a vision for how to engage the world we live and work in today. Our salons are part of developing that vision.” | cu

What’s Next...

Please pray for upcoming Christian Union events

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april

NYC Spring Break Missions Trip Students in Christian Union leadership development ministries will serve the people of New York City over spring break.

New York City Christian Union Forum New York City Christian Union will host a quarterly forum with Dr. David Young of Dimensions of Power Ministries.

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Uganda Missions Trip

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Worldview Summer Session

june

Christian Union and believers across the nation will pray and fast for 40 days. See www.ChristianUnion.org/40Days to learn more.

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Prayer and Fasting Initiative

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The Christian Worldview Session will provide an opportunity for students to engage deeply with the most arresting questions in relation to the viability of the Christian faith in today’s postmodern culture.

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Christian Union and the Rural Orphans and Widows AIDS Network are partnering to offer students an internship opportunity to study community development as it is occurring in the rural East Ugandan village of Mawanga.

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(right) at Dartmouth

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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 and alumni. 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 | Winter 2015

Commissioned at Creation

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However, “being fruitful is not just procreative,” said Hinkson. “It’s creative. We are to invest our energies in bringing out the potential of the garden. Being fruitful is how we are to express cultivation.”

For students, the commission means mastering a portion of God’s creation via the academy and then showcasing its beauties and treasures.

“God gives concrete tasks to man,” he said.

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Hinkson, a Princeton alumnus of 1985 who also studied theology at the University of Cambridge.

In probing faithful discipleship, Hinkson presented historical profiles of three Ivy League graduates who followed Christ through marked commitment.

First, he paused to highlight mankind’s original commission, namely the creation mandate (be fruitful and multiply) outlined in Genesis 1:28.

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elievers are called both to reflect the image of God and share His ultimate plan for reconciliation.

In November, Jon Hinkson, a senior fellow with the Rivendell Institute, explained those spiritual commissions when he appeared at Princeton University as part of Manna Christian Fellowship’s public lecture series.

“Faithfulness as a disciple of Christ calls us to both tasks,” said

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By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

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To highlight his point, Hinkson described how the Creator essentially ceded a key activity to humankind in allowing Adam to name the beasts. Likewise, Genesis 2 details how God put Adam in charge of His prized Garden of Eden.

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Faithful discipleship involves fulfilling divine commissions, including one to share God’s plan for reconciliation, according to Jon Hinkson, a senior fellow with the Rivendell Institute.

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Such passages convey an implied commission for modern believers to utilize God’s creation to fashion ideas and objects.

“We bring out things that are beautiful and useful,” Hinkson said.

“We are to spin things out of our creative images,” whether it be sonnets, skyscrapers, or snow angels.

In addition to a cultural commission, believers are called to help “set things right” for people.

Christ’s supreme payment for sin brings a message of reconciliation to transgressors.

“The supreme game changer is that God has acted savingly in Christ,” Hinkson said. “He calls us to bear witness to that good news.

We have the ministry of reconciliation. We take the Gospel to the

ends of the earth.”

Hinkson then illustrated how modern believers have devoted their lives to fulfilling their callings.

Among them, he highlighted the account of Ida Scudder, a medical missionary who dedicated her life to aiding the women of India and who launched the Christian Medical College and Hospital in Vellore.

In 1890, after seminary, Scudder journeyed to India to help her father, a missionary physician, while her mother was sick.

During one fateful night, she was unable to assist three woman who died in childbirth. The experience convinced Scudder that God wanted her to become a physician and to return to serve the women of India.

“That was the first night I spent meeting God,” Scudder wrote in historical accounts.

In 1899, Scudder graduated from Weill Cornell Medical College as part of the first class that accepted women as medical students.

Fortified with a grant, the “indomitable” Scudder returned to India to birth a tiny medical dispensary and clinic for women at Vellore.

In 1902, Scudder opened the Mary Taber Schell Hospital, and she later started a medical school for women.

“It was not just love her patients received, but Christian love,” Hinkson said.

On her 88th birthday, Cornell University honored Scudder for her contributions to medical education and public health.

Today, Scudder’s massive hospital serves more than 2,000 inpatients and 5,000 outpatients daily.

In 2012, true to its original mission, 17,883 children were born in the 2,600-plus-bed facility.

Hinkson also highlighted the

story of Robert Dick Wilson, a Presbyterian scholar and linguist who tackled 45 languages.

Wilson, Princeton 1876, Ph.D. 1886, devoted his life to affirming the reliability of the Hebrew version of the Old Testament. “I have come to the conviction that no man knows enough to attack the veracity of the Old Testament. Every time, when anyone has been able to get together enough documentary ‘proofs’ to undertake an investigation, the biblical facts in the original text have victoriously met the test,” Wilson wrote.

Finally, Hinkson showcased the legacy of William Borden, a missionary and heir to the Borden family fortune.

Borden’s short life was characterized by Christian devotion. After his conversion as a youth, Borden focused on sharing his enthusiasm for prayer and Bible study.

While an undergraduate at Yale, the alumnus of 1909 launched a prayer meeting that spread across campus. Borden’s service also extended into New Haven, where he founded the Yale Hope Mission to aid the seaport community’s vagrant population.

Later, Borden sought to become a missionary in China, but died at age 25 of cerebral meningitis while receiving training in Egypt.

Hinkson described Borden as a missionary “first, last, and all of the time.” Despite giving up a lavish lifestyle, fueled from his family’s immense wealth, Borden had “no regrets.”

Likewise, Hinkson urged Princeton students also to commit their lives to Christ’s service in tangible ways. “Give yourself wholeheartedly to Christ’s mission,” he said.

“You will have no regrets.” | cu

BROW N | On Campus

A Memorial to Justice UNIVE R S IT Y RE C ALL S TIE S TO S L AVE TR ADE , AB OLITI ONIS T MOS E S B ROWN

By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

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themselves of slavery and the ‘unrighteous traffic’ that sustained it,” the university’s report stated.

As well, Brown lobbied for antislavery legislation at both the state and federal levels, but his efforts met with mixed success.

Moses Brown, a member of the prominent family behind the founding of Brown University, was a pioneer in the antislavery movement.

:: christianunion.org

Likewise, Moses Brown’s campaign against the slave trade fueled conflicts with former business associates, including his brother John, who emerged as the slave trade’s most ardent defender, according to the report.

John Brown, who also played a central role in the founding of the university, stuck to contemporary justifications for slavery. Namely, he asserted slaves were “positively”

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of human justice, manumitted his slaves and campaigned to ban slave trade in Rhode Island and beyond.

In 1773, Moses Brown experienced a severe crisis following the death of his wife, Anna, and backed away from his family’s chief commercial interests, including shipping, rum, and the slave trade. He deepened his involvement with the Quakers, a shift that influenced him to renounce slavery.

“I saw my slaves with my spiritual eyes as plainly as I see you now, and it was given to me as clearly to understand that the sacrifice that was called for of my hand was to give them liberty,” Moses Brown once said.

Acting upon his faith, Brown gathered family and friends in November 1773 and declared a deed of manumission.

“Whereas I am clearly convinced that the buying and selling of men of what color soever is contrary to the Divine Mind,” Moses Brown wrote in a lengthy declaration.

In the following years, Moses Brown passionately championed the antislavery movement, even exchanging letters with a network of likeminded leaders in the British Isles and North America.

Such efforts included “circulating the latest antislavery essays and pamphlets, many of which he paid to have published. He intervened in court cases involving people held illegally in bondage, and lobbied friends and neighbors to divest

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s part of its 250th anniversary, Brown University recently dedicated a stone and iron memorial highlighting its past ties to the transatlantic slave trade.

Tucked inside that dark history is the inspiring account of the conversion of Moses Brown, a member of the prominent family behind the founding of the leading university and a pioneer in the antislavery movement.

On September 27, more than 300 people assembled on the Front Green for the dedication of the Slavery Memorial, a work by American sculptor Martin Puryear, Yale MFA ‘71. It is located near the school’s landmark clock tower and University Hall, which was built in 1770 and considered the oldest structure on Brown’s campus.

Planning for the memorial began in 2006, when the university issued a 107-page report detailing its ties to New England’s robust slave trade and the lingering reach of slavery in modern issues. In 2012, a key recommendation from the report was fulfilled when Brown announced plans for the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice.

More recently, on October 24, the university established new quarters for the center.

Not to be missed, a section of the report on the slave trade showcases Moses Brown’s conversion to the Quaker faith in the early 1770s.

It also highlights details of how Brown, influenced by principles

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better off in North America, where they were exposed to Christianity.

As for Moses Brown, in 1789 he helped establish the Providence Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, for the relief of Persons unlawfully held in Bondage, and for Improving the Conditions of the African Race. He also developed a reputation for his efforts to free slaves through financial and legal assistance.

In 1835, as the controversy over slavery swept across the nation, Moses Brown added a codicil to his will and left $500 to the local branch of

the American Anti-Slavery Society “to publish such pamphlets as the society might judge useful for abolishing slavery.” Brown, who outlived his brothers and many nephews and nieces, died the following year, just short of his 98th birthday.

For Moses Brown, a dramatic conversion ignited a lifetime of abolitionist activities. Such passions were rooted in the belief that “God created all human beings equal,” said Anthony Bogues, Brown professor of Africana studies.

In speaking at the dedication, Bogues, the inaugural director of

Brown’s Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, noted the war over injustice remains ongoing across the nation and beyond.

“As we dedicate this memorial to the enslaved and their struggles to be free, do we applaud ourselves or do we think about the unfinished business in our country?” Bogues asked rhetorically.

“A memorial is not only a marker that creates pause, that makes us say, ‘That’s done.’ A memorial is also about things to do, recognizing work done, but beckoning us forward.” | cu

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BROW N | On Campus

Sexual Relationships and Online Meeting S T U D E N T S , A L U M N I S P E A K O U T A G A I N S T B R O W N H O O K U P S PA G E

By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

new Facebook page is providing destructive path, leading young men dents exchange the beauty God inelectronic assistance to Brown and women to believe that there are tended for sexuality inside marriage University students who want to no consequences to immoral life- for regret and shame. They also lose connect for hookups, a practice some style choices,” said Rob Green ’89, perspective on the value He assigns Christian alumni and students warn national director of field operations to individuals.

“Sexuality is a gift. It’s cosmic,” for Trail Life USA, a Christian altercarries far-reaching consequences. said Owens. “To see it abused should On October 8, the Brown Hook- native to the Boy Scouts.

Damon Owens ’88 echoed those make the believer sad and filled with ups community began offering students a chance to express mutu- comments, labeling the newest spin mercy and zeal to share the beauty al interest in casual contact via its in the world of high tech facilitation of sexuality.”

In addition, Owens expressed reFacebook site. In an interview with as disheartening.

“Events or activities like this morse at the notion of the nation’s BlogDailyHerald.com, an organizer described the page as the first to “pio- should make the believer sad,” said future leaders being shaped by casual neer the combination of casual sexu- Owens, executive director of the encounters that erode self-worth.

“Instead of using their privileged al relationships and online meeting.” Theology of the Body Institute, a Christian alumni, however, cau- Catholic nonprofit foundation that years of formation at a world-leadtion undergraduates such behavior promotes Christian perspectives on ing university to study truth, beauty, and dignity, they’ve chosen a lower is not devoid of repercussions. Like- sexuality.

“We should express our sadness path,” Owens said. wise, the resulting climate on camSexual liaisons also detract from pus may further undermine the dig- at the public brokenness and pain efforts to form lasting relationships nity God intended for sexual activity. that is certainly to follow.”

With loose sexual conduct, stu- based upon trust and exclusivity.

“Brown continues down a very

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ganizers are open-ended in their use of the term hookup. “A hookup may start with coffee and turn into a serious relationship between two people who never thought to pursue each other. Alternatively, it could simply

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Science and Religion Roundtable

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The first Providence Roundtable on Science and Religion took place at Brown on October 28 and featured Brown Biology Professor Kenneth Miller and Professor of Humanities Mark Cladis. The topic of the discussion was “In Deo Speramus— In light of modern science, is there still a place for God and religion in the modern university?”

The Roundtable is a faculty seminar and dinner discussion dedicated to fostering dialogue that explores the intersection of contemporary academic thought and Christian thought on issues related to science and religion.

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lead to a relationship or meeting that is purely sexual,” a leader told Blog Daily Herald.

Anonymous students operate the matchmaking service that attempts to pair up students who express mutual interest in one another. The site also lists the most desirable students of the week, based upon requests.

“We thought people would appreciate an app where the purpose was upfront: a hookup, because that is often what people are actually looking for on these dating sites. We also decided that the idea of keeping people within their own network, in this case, their university, was safer and more comfortable for our intended user base,” an organizer told Blog Daily Herald.

The team also adamantly asserts a commitment to consensual sex.

Nonetheless, one Brown alumnus noted the ramifications of the sexual revolution that began in the 1960s are obvious – including the proliferation of sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, and even infertil-

ity – and continue well into the 21st century.

In short, casual sex has devalued marriage, the bedrock of a stable society, Green said. Sex without commitment “reaches beyond sex and into health, family issues, and economics.”

As for Galvan, the mental health and healing major said she simply wants to see her classmates benefit from meaningful relationships.

“Call me old fashioned, but I love it when two people meet face to face without any help of technology or Facebook page moderators,” she said.

“A healthy relationship is based on a foundation of mutual love, mutual respect, and mutual compassion, all of which take time to develop.” | cu

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“In the end, people don’t want sex. They want love. Hookups leave people less satisfied,” Owens said.

“The blessings of our sexuality are learning to give and receive in love.”

Campus believers also noted short-term encounters can take a toll on the psychological and physical health of emerging adults.

“Loneliness cannot be solved with a one night stand. From what I’ve seen on campus, the hookup lifestyle leaves students feeling more alone than they first felt,” said Lauren Galvan ‘16. “Students feel lost and confused, completely unfulfilled.”

Such emotions can lead to depression and other mental health challenges.

While young adults may be quick to blow off the long-term ramifications of random hookups, the psychological aftermath can manifest in future relationships. Such residual effects may prove “emotionally taxing,” said Russyan Mabeza ’15.

Elizabeth Jean-Marie ’15 echoed those comments. “People are getting more hurt than what they are realizing,” she said. “At the end, they just feel empty.”

Ultimately, what students really crave is affirmation. “True love can only come from God,” Jean-Marie said.

As for Brown Hookups, an organizer described for Blog Daily Herald how the team behind the site decided to play off of apps such as Tinder and Hinge, which compete in the mobile dating arena.

With Brown Hookups, the or-

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COLU M B I A | On Campus

Ignite!

R E T R E AT I S A N S W E R T O P R AY E R F O R K O R E A C A M P U S C R U S A D E

By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer

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ministry house in Carlstadt, New Jersey was a spiritual home to nearly two dozen students from Korea Campus Crusade for Christ (KCCC) in November as they gathered for the ministry’s fall retreat.

Although the event lasted only 24 hours, it was packed with inspirational talks, prayer, and team building, all of which helped stu-

The intimate environment of the retreat house offered a comfortable setting for students to be open and vulnerable with one another, while exploring the theme of the retreat: Ignite.

“The leadership in our ministry has been sensing a need for revival among our students, and a lot of the lessons taught in the messages

dents depart from their busy schedules at Columbia and focus on their relationship with Jesus Christ and one another.

“It’s actually very important for us to hold a retreat of this nature because one of our main objectives in the fall semester is to create unity and foster a safe environment for our members to interact,” said Christopher Lin, a first-year staffer for KCCC (http://columbiakccc. tumblr.com).

[during the retreat] were insightful in how to reach revival,” said Lin. However, he notes that passionate faith requires more than powerful messages; it takes a lot of prayer.

The students spent ample time praying together, individually and in small groups.

“This gave the Holy Spirit room to do His work and start the momentum of revival among us,” said Lin. The retreat featured messages from Rev. Dong Whan Kim, the lo-

cal and national director for KCCC, and Rev. Hoon Kim of Greenhouse Church in East Brunswick, New Jersey. The speakers addressed the issues of idolatry and the need for healing.

“Pastor Hoon made it clear that idols sometimes are hidden deep within us.” said Lin. “Even good things can become idols in our hearts.”

Hoon also addressed the topic of healing, emphasizing that it comes from Jesus Christ and can only occur if there is a sincere desire to be healed.

“What’s curious about this is that, while none of us wants to deal with the pain of our hurt, sometimes it’s easier or more favorable to keep living with it, rather than move forward into freedom,” said Lin. Hoon illustrated his point by describing a character from the film, The Shawshank Redemption.

The man was released from prison after many decades, only to commit suicide months later because he didn’t know how to live as a free man.

“It was a very convicting message that led us into a powerful time of prayer,” said Lin. The subsequent passion for Christ that was sparked during the retreat remained strong after the event concluded as students continued to meet for times of prayer.

“Prior to the retreat, I think a lot of freshmen would come to our gatherings, but they would not

necessarily feel at home,” said Lin. “However, immediately after the retreat, the students planned small group reunions, and the freshmen even planned their own class outing on one of the following weekends.”

In addition to being inspired and refreshed by their time away, the retreat also ignited a desire

in each of the attendees to share Christ’s love back on campus.

A primary goal of KCCC is that everyone at Columbia would know someone who authentically lives out their Christian faith.

“Knowing someone who truly follows Christ is a very intriguing thing,” said Lin.

“If everyone at Columbia knew someone who truly followed Christ, I think the whole atmosphere of the campus would drastically change.

This would mean that every student on campus would have an opportunity to know Christ.” | cu

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COLU M B I A | On Campus

Science, Ignorance, and the Pursuit of Meaning

V E R I TA S F O R U M D R AW S 6 0 0 AT C O L U M B I A U N I V E R S I T Y

By Luke Foster, Columbia ’15

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On a Tuesday evening in the middle of November, more than 600 Columbia students packed in to Roone Arledge Auditorium. It was one of the largest student-run events of the semester: The Veritas Forum, “Science, Ignorance, and the Pursuit of Meaning.” Satyan Devadoss, a mathematician from Williams College, came to take

dent and member of the Veritas student team, invited the audience to take part in a text-in poll, answering questions about science and faith and having the answers display graphically on a projector screen on stage. The audience responded eagerly, hushing, then laughing, as each result displayed. It emerged that a slight majority thought that

Campus ministries often face the daunting task of equipping students to put their faith into dialogue

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part in an amicable, yet probing, dialogue with Stuart Firestein, a cutting-edge neurobiologist at Columbia. Seth Freeman, professor at Columbia Business School, served as the evening’s moderator.

As the capacity crowd began to trickle in, mistress of ceremonies Jennifer Gu, a first-year grad stu-

scientific evidence was more reliable than history or personal experience.

But more people chose Einstein and Newton’s theistic view that nature’s order reflected God’s reason than selected Richard Dawkin’s uncreated, random universe.

Dr. Devadoss launched his remarks with an attempt to dethrone

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asn’t science disproved Christianity?” “Don’t we know now that the Bible can’t be trusted?” These are the sort of questions any Christian on an Ivy League campus receives. It can feel overwhelming, even intimidating, not to know what to say. For many people in our postmodern culture, scientific evidence is assumed to be the primary path to truth. Upholding the reliability of God’s Word and the reality of His work in the world amid this campus culture becomes a daunting prospect for students.

Campus ministries often face the daunting task of equipping students to put their faith into dialogue with science. And for over a decade at Columbia, that effort has been bolstered by the ongoing engagement of the Veritas Forum, which brings together scholars from both Christian and secular viewpoints to examine an issue of common concern, fostering discussion and friendship to communicate the relevance of Christ to all of campus life.

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scientific truth claims from their place of prestige, arguing that, though he loves and practices the scientific method, it was only one useful avenue through which human beings can explore truth. He described eloquently the “messy” complexity of human experience, pointing out that beauty and truth are very hard to do

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justice to in purely scientific terms.

He closed with a summary of the relevance of Jesus’ resurrection to every aspect of his life and worldview. He emphasized his capacity, as a scientist, to find a historical event intellectually trustworthy.

Dr. Firestein opened with a description of his childhood: His mildly observant Jewish family attended synagogue occasionally. But as he became more and more impressed by the scientific mindset he was learning as a graduate student, he came to feel that claiming to know anything about God was presumptuous. He emphasized the humility and circumspection of his premises, and articulated his conviction that the adventure of science is driven by

a deeper and growing awareness of what humanity does not know.

After the speakers had each sketched their visions, Professor Freeman posed probing questions to both Dr. Devadoss and Dr. Firestein, inviting them to engage critically with each other’s positions. The conversation ranged from the historicity of Genesis to the meaning of human suffering. Both agreed that, if only scientific evidence were given weight, human experience could have only the meaning that we chose to ascribe to it. The audience then posed a crucial follow-up question: Where does consciousness fit into Christian and naturalistic worldviews? If we’re only atoms in flux, can we trust that we have rationality or free will? Both speakers admitted that the human mind doesn’t seem to fit into the natural world, and Devadoss underlined his central point: “To believe that there is no God, but to say at the same time that humans are important and special, is a huge statement of faith.”

Hundreds of students remained for more than an hour after the Forum to discuss with one another and to get a chance to question the speakers personally. Students from Columbia/Barnard Hillel, the Muslim Students Association, and the Atheist and Agnostics Student Society, as well as the Christian ministries, were particularly engaged in analyzing and digesting the evening.

Senior Laura Booth, in her Columbia Daily Spectator column the next week, described her take away as “My truth-seeking will take me out into the field after college. The Veritas Forum did not alter this goal, nor did it convince me to begin seeking a god. But I left feeling more strongly

than ever that although science and religion… [both] speak to a human desire for meaning.”

And the Veritas Forum will continue to offer a place for Columbians like Laura to ask the big questions of life and meet followers of Jesus in authentic conversation. | cu

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The Crown and Cross and Freedom The Columbia Crown and Cross, a Christian journal, published its fall issue in November. Copies of the magazine were distributed at public areas, dorm lounges, and libraries.

Student writers addressed topics revolving around the meaning of freedom and the competing ideas associated with it. Issues of positive liberty (the freedom to do something good) and negative liberty (the freedom from external constraint) were also addressed. A Christian Union grant helped fund the effort.

Catholic Ministry Hosts Retreat Columbia Catholic Ministry recently hosted a fall retreat for graduate students and young adults.

The ministry held the retreat, dubbed “Fear Not,” on November 22 at Corpus Christi Church on West 121st Street in Manhattan.

In other news, Columbia Catholic Ministry organized a graduate student dinner on December 7 at Columbia University’s Ford Hall, and the ministry held a Christmas party on December 12 at Corpus Christi Church.

COR N E LL | On Campus

Answering a Divine Call CORNELL ALUMNUS JOE HOLLAND CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO WALK BY FAITH

By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

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devoted his energies to real estate development, running small businesses, serving in government roles, and even crafting plays.

Earlier, Holland followed in his father’s footsteps by attending Cor-

God’s calling often crystalizes during an amazing personal movement,according to Joe Holland, Cornell ’78, MA ’79, Harvard Law ‘82.

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nell, albeit as a transferring sophomore from the University of Michigan.

Jerome “Brud” Holland ’39, Penn Ph.D. ’50, a football All-American at Cornell and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, was Big Red’s first African-American football player. The elder Holland also served as a college president before becoming the U.S. ambassador to Sweden under President Richard Nixon.

Daughter Shelby Holland ’18, a self-proclaimed sports lover, is studying economics and government at Cornell, where she recently sat in the back of the auditorium inside Friends Hall to attend her

dad’s talk entitled: The Movement of Divine Call.

As for the practicalities associated with divine commissions, Holland told Cornellians to prepare for promptings and even moments of revelation by spending time in prayer, despite the ever-present stresses accompanying academic, extracurricular, and athletic loads.

“God will speak (to you) just as He spoke to Isaiah in a specific way,” said Holland, referencing the supernatural commissioning of the prophet in Isaiah 6. “Cultivate a special relationship with Him.” With a sense of spiritual impartation, Holland pursued ministry options in Harlem, rather than the pathway of his Harvard classmates to the glories and riches of corporate success.

Not surprisingly, Holland said divine callings often come packaged with questions, especially during the early days of a commission.

“You’re not going to understand what God is doing or saying,” said Holland, referring to the stage he dubbed as the mystery phase.

“That’s why it’s important that your faith be strong.”

Later, following God’s calling often brings seasons of misery.

“You have to be careful how you deal with God’s calling,” said Holland, noting Jonah’s decision to flee God’s command to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh landed him in the belly of a whale for three days.

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or believers, God’s calling is not an isolated event. Rather, it often plays out as part of an amazing personal movement.

Activist, attorney, and football legend Joe Holland offered that spiritual insight during an appearance on October 16 at his alma mater of Cornell University. The All-American football player spoke about the stages of fulfilling a divine commission during a public lecture in Friends Hall.

“It’s not just something that happens, and that’s the end,” said Holland, Cornell ’78, MA ’79, Harvard Law ’82. “It’s a movement that God executes in your life.”

The author and ordained minister also told students to expect mystery and even misery to follow a missional call, but the venture often results in spiritual mastery.

More than 60 students attended the lecture, which was sponsored by Chesterton House (www. chestertonhouse.org) and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (www. cornellfca.blogspot.com).

Holland, a Cornell trustee emeritus, penned a captivating account of his own remarkable journey in his 2012 memoir, From Harlem with Love: An Ivy Leaguer’s Inner City Odyssey. In the early 1980s, the young lawyer bypassed the lure of corporate America to relocate to Harlem, where he established a law practice and founded a homeless shelter.

In an effort to revitalize Harlem’s once-glorious core, Holland

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Nonetheless, Jonah cried out to God, who directed the whale to vomit the reluctant prophet onto dry land. This time, Jonah responded by proclaiming warnings throughout Nineveh of its impending doom, and, surprisingly, the citizens repented, even donning sackcloth and covering themselves in ashes as measures of sincerity.

As a result, God showed compassion upon Nineveh, and such an account illustrates how God commands everything in His Creation to carry out His plans.

Likewise, spiritual diligence and even chastening also help pave the pathway for believers to demonstrate mastery in their callings and to reflect the sovereignty of the Almighty.

“If you don’t give up and persevere through the trial, you will…

learn the mastery,” said Holland.

“God will bless you.”

For inspiration, Holland told students to examine the Old Testament account of Joseph, who remained committed to his spiri-

the money to preserve it for a future purpose,” Holland told students.

Even in impossible situations, God’s calling can serve as a motivator. It also can “take you to a higher level of service” said Holland.

“God will speak (to you) just as He spoke to Isaiah in a specific way. Cultivate a special relationship with Him.” —Joe Holland, Cornell ’78, MA ’79, Harvard Law ’82. tual visions, even while in prison.

“Grace came to him because he was obedient,” said Holland.

Likewise, early in his stint in Harlem, God miraculously provided rent money for Holland in the form of previously misplaced cash. “Providence prevented me from spending

Ultimately, for Holland, rebirthing a community – even one viciously blighted by the ills of poverty, violence, and drugs – has proven to be a rewarding life’s calling.

“If you have a sense that you have embraced God’s call, each day will be a gift from God,” he said. | cu

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COR N E LL | On Campus

‘Are You Saved?’

ORTHOD OX CHRIS TIAN FELLOWSHIP HOS TS COMPELLIN G LEC TURE

By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer

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rthodox Christian students at Cornell University paused from their studies to consider their eternal souls during a lecture in December.

Bishop Michael Dahulich of the Diocese of New York-New Jersey presented the lecture entitled “Are you Saved? An Orthodox Christian Perspective.” He described salvation as a past event, a present experience, and a future hope.

The past event is marked by Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection, said the bishop. The present experience is one of walking with Christ every day. Salvation is a future hope “of the marriage feast of

Photo Credit: Jon Reis Photography

Gregory Fedorchak, a Ph.D. student at Cornell, said a recent lecture hosted

by Cornell Orthodox Fellowship had a profound impact on students.

Christ, the groom, and the Church, His bride.”

“Bishop Michael’s message was filled with hope,” said Gregory Fedorchak, a third year Ph.D. student in the biomedical engineering department.

“The lecture was very powerful.

There was a special ambiance in the room, enhanced by the humility of the speaker and the extraordinary attentiveness of the audience.”

While the Orthodox theology of salvation, justification, and sanctification were addressed by Bishop Michael, it was a quote from his grandmother that really resonated

with the students.

Bishop Michael told the students how his grandmother would say that “life with Christ is a daily walk”—an intentional journey that is consciously lived through each step of every day.

“That has really stuck with me,” said Maria Sanford, a second year graduate student who is studying chemistry.

During his presentation, the bishop likened salvation to marriage, in that it can be traced to an historical moment, but must be engaged and honored daily through the actions of each spouse.

“A marriage must not be taken for granted and the same can be said for the gift of salvation,” said Fedorchak.

Incorporating the Bible and writings of renowned, ancient theologians, Bishop Michael spoke with an honesty and eloquence that touched the hearts of students.

“It was remarkable to learn how Bishop Michael had unexpectedly

touched some of the members of the audience with his message,” said Fedorchak.

The Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) at Cornell is under a national umbrella organization of the same name. The mission is summarized by “Fellowship, Education, Worship, Service.”

The Cornell participants come from a variety of Orthodox jurisdictions and various backgrounds.

Some belong to families that have been Orthodox for generations, while others joined the Church in college.

Ministry activities include morning prayers, weekly meetings, social events, and retreats at St. Andrews Camp near Syracuse, New York.

Students also engage in community service, volunteering at Loaves and Fishes to feed the homeless in Ithaca and collecting supplies for the Women’s Advocacy Center of Tompkins County.

The ministry has the support of two priests from two local parishes,

Holy Apostles in Lansing and St. Catherine in Ithaca.

“Fr. James Worthington from Holy Apostles and Fr. Tom Parthenakis from St. Catherine are wonderful guides,” said Sanford. “They join us for every meeting and prayer service and truly make us know that they are there for us.”

Members of the ministry also attend services at the local parishes, where they experience the fullness of the faith through the common Liturgy and Eucharist. The continuity of the practice of the faith helps provide a sense of home, explained Sanford.

In the same way, the OCF ministry also provides camaraderie and a family environment for the students.

“OCF is a source of encouragement in my life,” said Fedorchak.

“The relationships formed within the ministry are founded first and foremost on a love of Christ, which helps everything else to fall into place naturally.” | cu

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Chi Alpha’s Fall Retreat

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In an effort to add a dose of cheer before the stress of finals and in a nod to the holidays, Measureless, Cornell’s Christian a cappella group, held a concert on November 22 in the chapel of Anabel Taylor Hall. The free concert also featured two new

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Concert Adds Cheer to Semester

pieces by members.

More than a decade ago, Measureless formed as a fusion of two other campus musical groups, The Atonements and The Grace Notes. Since its founding, Measureless has performed in area coffeehouses, venues across campus, and at colleges in the Northeast.

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Chi Alpha at Cornell (www. xacornell.org/) held its fall retreat in October at Vanderkamp Christian Retreat and Summer Camp in Cleveland, New York.

Students participated in morning and evening sessions, which consisted of periods of prayer, praise, and teaching. Rob Kirk, assistant pastor for North Central Church in North Syracuse, New York, was the guest minister for the event.

The fall retreat, supported by a Christian Union grant, provided

time for students to step away from the rigors of academic life and reconnect with their peers and spend time before the Lord.

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D A R T M OU T H | On Campus

Finding Community and Meaning CHRIS TIAN S TUDENT SHARE S TE S TIMONY AT TUCKER FOUNDATION DINNER

By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

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or one introspective junior, the collegiate experience has paved a surprising pathway to a vibrant awakening.

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Victor Crentsil ’16 served as a panelist at Dartmouth College during The William Jewett Tucker Foundation’s annual Voices of Faith dinner this fall.

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Through he was raised in a Christian home, Victor Crentsil said his time at Dartmouth College has ushered myriad opportunities to connect with believers across campus and the Ivy League and to experience rejuvenation.

Now, “I try to involve Him in every aspect of life,” said Crentsil.

The history major was one of five panelists who shared about his spiritual experiences at Dartmouth during The William Jewett Tucker Foundation’s annual Voices of Faith dinner on October 21. The theme for the panel discussion centered on “finding community and meaning in the desert of chaos.”

For Crentsil, the event provided

“an opportunity to talk about how God is working in my life. I took a step to be in more of a public place in talking about myself. Hopefully, it touched some people.”

Crentsil, who reflected the Christian perspective for the discussion, said his faith has become more meaningful and personal after participating in campus organizations, including Agape Christian Fellowship (www. dartmouth.edu/~acf).

Such involvement has allowed him to “put my faith into practice, instead of just letting it all be talk,” he said.

About 30 students attended the Tucker event, and many seemed open to learning about spiritual journeys, said Crentsil. The panel also included students who were Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and agnostic.

As for Crentsil, before arriving at Dartmouth the Maryland resident expected to attend church and campus ministry activities on a weekly basis during his collegiate studies.

heart, soul, and mind.”

In particular, interacting with collegiate believers, including some “on fire for God,” proved contagious.

“What I found was a group of people who really were able to steer me in the right direction,” Crentsil said. “We have a real move of God here. We want an increase of God’s presence on campus.”

Likewise, Crentsil’s renewed commitment has ignited a tangible desire for evangelism on influential campuses across the United States.

Along those lines, he serves as a core leader for the Alabaster Group, a collection of student and alumni believers from Ivy League campuses, as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Participants in the grassroots organization gather for a variety of regional events, including retreats, and they host an annual conference in New Jersey. As well, some attendees worship together at Antioch Center, a church in Manhattan.

Through interacting with Chris-

“We have a real move of God here. We want an increase of God’s presence on campus.”

—Victor Crentsil, Dartmouth ’16 However, “I realized I could do more,” said Crentsil, who attends Wellspring Worship Center while in New Hampshire. “I am supposed to be a disciple of Him. I am supposed to love Him with all my

tians with ties to the Ivy League, Crenstil has discovered a community of people who offer rich spiritual support and accountability – a “wide group of people who just love God.” While on campus, the son of a

physician from Ghana simply wants to administer spiritual balm to his classmates and colleagues. “People are struggling. We’re all broken people. There’s a God who loves them,” he said. “I realized what my calling is, and that God helped me

through my struggles.”

As for his efforts to reflect his Savior on a traditionally secular campus, Crentsil is quick to point to God as his general.

“I am just one of the soldiers on this campus. He knows the battle

plan,” said Crentsil.

“My prayer is really for the Christians to share their experience and get the word out there.

I am able to find a lot of common ground when I engage with friends and when they hear my story.” | cu

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D A R T M OU T H | On Campus

A Physician and a Priest

F R . S H E E H A N S E E K S T O M O D E L T H E C O M PA S S I O N O F C H R I S T

By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer

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that physicians examine the spiritual state of their patients in order to care for them fully.

“To be able to find some spiritual peace allows for better care,” said Sheehan, who notes that people who are spiritually bereft often have higher needs for pain control.

As for questions of why people suffer and why some die young, Sheehan offers no pat answers. Ultimately, he said, those questions are best answered through a personal relationship with God.

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possible. He also says some believers have a misconception that, because they regard life as sacred, that they must endure every aggressive, extraordinary means available to preserve their lives, regardless of the prognosis. It is acceptable for people to decline extraordinary means of preserving their lives and accept a natural death, according to Sheehan.

“The most important thing medicine can do is not abandon people to the experience of illness,” he said.

As a doctor, Sheehan doesn’t always wear his liturgical collar as he treats a wide range of people. But for the faithful who come under this physician’s care, the journey through illness and even death is one not taken alone. He sojourns with the suffering and those facing the end of physical life. He administers the sacraments to patients who ask for them and sometimes presides over their funeral services.

However, he is also quick to point out that one doesn’t need to be an ordained minister to treat people in a holistic way, and recommends

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nly a handful of men in the country are both a priest and a physician. Dartmouth alumnus Fr. Myles Sheehan, the Provincial of the New England Province of Jesuits, is one of them. And with a liturgical collar draped with a stethoscope, he has ministered to the elderly and dying with a compassionate demeanor.

Despite the uniqueness of his bi-vocation, Sheehan doesn’t see himself as much different from his physician colleagues.

“Just as my doctor friends would say their primary vocation is to be a husband and father, my primary vocation is to have a particular vowed relationship to Jesus that allows me to serve in a variety of different ways. Being a doctor and being a priest are ways in which Jesus allows me to express my discipleship to Him,” said Sheehan, Dartmouth ’78, MD ’81.

Being a priest also impacts the way he does medicine as a geriatric specialist and speaker on end of life issues. A proponent of palliative care, Sheehan works to help people with illness to be as comfortable as

Photo credit Society of Jesus

Father Myles Sheehan, Dartmouth ’78, MD ’81

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“I do not have a definitive easy answer to questions of suffering. It’s only in the context of relationship that one can live through and come to some sense of terms with suffering,” he said.

Sheehan said that once he understood how God revealed His love and his total identification with us in Jesus’ life and death, he didn’t see God as absent from suffering.

“A profound understanding of the incarnation means that God is part of every aspect of our lives, so that it is a precious things to care for people in their diminishment. And that is a way in which one cares for the God who cares for us,” he said.

To help families facing the suffering or death of a loved one,

Sheehan looks to the example set

by Jesus.

“What did Jesus want from His friends? To stay awake and be with Him,” said Sheehan. “He didn’t want great words. You don’t have to say much… Just try to sit with someone.

Our need to say something about an experience that is beyond us is an inability to let God be God.” Although Sheehan is gifted in caring for the sick, he must also heed God’s call on his life as a priest.

In 2009, he suspended practicing medicine to serve as the New England Provincial. In his role, Sheehan supervises roughly 275 priests, many of whom work in affiliated colleges, high schools, and middle schools in the area.

Sheehan has also acquired a bevy of degrees and fellowships throughout his religious and medical studies, including a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at Harvard and a Master of Divinity from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge.

He has taught at Harvard Medical School and, prior to being named Provincial, served for 14 years as a professor at Loyola University’s Strict School of Medicine.

He also served as senior associate dean at Loyola.

Whether in the classroom, at a bedside, or at the altar celebrating Mass, Sheehan’s eyes are lifted toward Heaven and the God who has called him to care for suffering people. | cu

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Integrare’s Roundtable Dinner Features Dr. Stuart Brown

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Integrare, a Dartmouth ministry that offers Bible studies geared specifically to student-athletes,

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Dr. Stuart Brown, pictured, is the founder of the National Institute for Play, where he speaks, consults and educates organizations, corporations, universities, and public policy makers about the importance of play in our lives.

hosted the ministry’s first Dartmouth Roundtable Dinner on November 5 at the Hanover Inn. Researcher and Psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Brown was the guest speaker for the event. Brown founded the National Institute for Play, a non-profit, public benefit corporation “committed to bringing the unrealized knowledge, practices, and benefits of play into public life.”

The purpose of the roundtables is to bring together key Christian and non-Christian leaders from Dartmouth and the surrounding professional community to engage with renowned speakers during a reception and dinner.

The event was sponsored in part by the Templeton Religious Trust, the Day Foundation, and a grant from Christian Union.

IvyQ Comes to Dartmouth Dartmouth continued to enhance its overwhelming support of the LGBTQ community by hosting the IvyQ Conference in November. Hundreds of students attended the conference, which featured workshops, forums, and speeches for students from across the Ivy League and beyond.

Rev. Nancy Vogele ’85, director of Religious and Spiritual Life at the Tucker Foundation, was part of the conference program. She said she considered IvyQ to be an important event and that hosting the conference “allowed the entire campus to think about issues of sexuality, justice, inclusion, and acceptance.”

H A RVA RD | On Campus

Seeking, Celebrating, and Sharing Christ S C H O O L O F P U B L I C H E A LT H C H R I S T I A N F E L L O W S H I P I S A M I S S I O N A L O R G A N I Z AT I O N | By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer

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work in healthcare fields through the eyes of faith,” she said.

Specifically, Dantzler notes that

Kassie Dantzler, a Ph.D. student, is a member of the Harvard Public Health Christian Student Fellowship.

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the monthly BHF events draw people from various stages of training, and that there is always a guest speaker who shares a testimony.

“It’s been very encouraging, both meeting other students and young professionals across Boston with a similar heart to see God glorified in healthcare, and hearing stories from others farther along in living that out,” said Dantzler For this Ph.D. student, living out faith through her work consists of two goals—working to decrease human suffering by researching a cure for diseases; and also working with a day-to-day life of faith.

Reaching those goals involves praying for direction in her research

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entire year, and not just during special events or seasons of giving.

“I think it is very important to have others who are also striving to see their work from a faith perspective and honor God in their work,” said Kassie Dantzler, a Ph.D. student. “It is always helpful to be reminded during our times together of what’s most important and to be challenged in loving and serving my co-workers.”

The ministry offers weekly meetings, corporate prayer, and Bible studies, including one based on Tim Keller’s book, Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work.

Dantzler said that study was particularly helpful.

“I still find myself returning to some of the topics that were brought up in those conversations and am always encouraged thinking about my work as a very small part of what God is doing to bring the hope of His kingdom to earth,” she said.

This year, the ministry has strived to be inclusive of those unfamiliar with the Bible or who come from other faith backgrounds.

What’s been of further help to the HSPH Christian Student Fellowship is its partnership with Boston Healthcare Fellowship (BHF), which provides education and mentorship for Christian, Boston-based health care professionals and students.

“I think BHF has been great in providing a bigger community for us, and a fresh perspective on seeing

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his December, members of the Harvard School of Public Health Christian Student Fellowship celebrated Jesus’ birth with a proclamation of His supremacy. However, their compassion for the poor, the sick, and the hungry endures all year and is strengthened through their pursuit of Christ.

The ministry serves students, staff, and faculty within Harvard’s School of Public Health (HSPH).

On December 19, the students participated in the Boston Healthcare Fellowship Christmas Party, which was held at Harvard Medical School’s Vanderbilt Hall. The event included Christmas carols, dinner, and a presentation by Brenda Birmann, assistant professor in the Harvard Medical School’s Department of Medicine.

Additionally, the HSPH Christian Student Fellowship Web site (www.hsph.harvard.edu/christianfellowship-so) featured the message of Christmas, describing Advent as “a time of remembrance and anticipation as we reflect upon Jesus’ birth and look forward to His return.”

The students also proclaimed, “We believe that the events surrounding Jesus’ life – His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection – constitute the turning point of human history.”

However, it’s the ongoing support and exhortation provided by the Christian Student Fellowship that helps keep the students fervent in faith and service throughout the

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experiments, listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit, seeking a life of integrity, and striving to reach out to her co-workers. It also means seeing scientific discovery as an opportunity to learn more about the world God has created.

Dantzler admits that her co-workers are not always comfortable with conversations that center on the Bi-

ble or Christianity. While they are respectful of different religious beliefs, they often see faith as separate from work.

But for those who are willing to listen, Dantzler and her Christian peers are eager to share the Truth.

“Recently a co-worker, whom I sense God is speaking to, has started asking me questions about my

faith,” said Dantzler. “She has come a few times to the fellowship meetings.”

As the Christians with the Harvard School of Public Health seek to cure the ills of society, they are also pursuing faith-filled lives that can heal hearts and further their compassionate service to others. | cu

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H A RVA RD | On Campus

Defending the Right to Worship

S C H O L A R E X H O R T S AT T E N D E E S AT H A R VA R D C AT H O L I C C E N T E R E V E N T

By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer

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xercising the constitutional right to “authentic worship” at Harvard was heralded this fall with a lecture from noted scholar Father Peter Stravinskas.

The Harvard Catholic Center sponsored the event, entitled “Give Me Freedom (Religious) or Give Me Death.” Stravinskas, editor of The Catholic Answer magazine and books such as The Catholic Response and The Catholic Church and the Bible, exhorted attendees to refute the bifurcation of religious freedom by a secular culture.

Stravinskas spoke about how society is seeking to replace authentic Christian worship and expression with a more politically correct and passive version of religion.

The right to assemble is tolerated, but the freedom to live out your faith with actionable belief and works is disallowed. The elimination of Christmas and Easter from school calendars, the de-recognition of ministries from universities, and the cold shoulder received by

Jim McGlone, Harvard ’15, said living out your faith on campus is often viewed as countercultural.

many Christians in the academy are all emblematic of the disconnect between religious tolerance and practice.

The difference between religion and true worship is becoming a mile wide in some cultural circles.

Rev. Mark Murphy, the Undergraduate Chaplain and Parochial Vicar for Harvard Catholic Center and St. Paul Parish, says such philosophical dichotomy is experienced by students in the very classrooms where independent thought is purportedly encouraged.

“It’s taboo to criticize other religions, but it is ok to go against the Catholic faith,” said the priest.

According to Jim McGlone, Harvard ’15, there is a prejudice against Christianity at Harvard and Christians are looked at as “countercultural.”

“Certainly, the moral teaching of the Church has been widely rejected, and many of my peers and classmates view my faith as outmoded or bigoted.”

According to McGlone, people begin to have problems when one’s faith inspires a broader worldview and informs the way people live.

“Few people would take issue with my decision to go to Mass at St. Paul’s,” said McGlone, “but

when I express my views about the sanctity of human life, the importance of the family to a healthy society, or the nature of virtue and human flourishing, that causes some consternation among many of my peers.”

Additionally, McGlone contends that the secular influences of society want to see religion reduced to what takes place within the four walls of a church.

“For this reason,” he said, “we must fight for the freedom to keep up a robust practice of the faith, lest the liberty of the Church be reduced to a private affair.”

In his lecture, Stravinskas challenged attendees to band together ecumenically and to have the intelligence, conviction, and courage to stand up for authentic religious freedom. He emphasized that the

battle isn’t only for politicians, intellectuals, and lawyers. Rather, it is a battle of the common Christian who possesses uncommon faith.

Freedom of worship will pre-

Therefore, true freedom of worship will not be relegated to lecture fodder and debate, rather, it will be a legacy of courage and truth that will be lived out for years to come.

“Few people would take issue with my decision to go to Mass at St. Paul’s—but when I express my views about the sanctity of human life, the importance of the family to a healthy society, or the nature of virtue and human flourishing, that causes some consternation among many of my peers.”

—Jim McGlone, Harvard ’15 vail through the practice of faith by all Christians. And building up the Church will occur by believers keeping their faith alive within their parishes and communities, according to Stravinskas.

“We must pass on the faith to the next generation, constantly working to sanctify ourselves and our communities, and live the Gospel publicly and without fear,” said McGlone. | cu

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IV’s International Thanksgiving

Jammin’ Home

2015 :: christianunion.org

Under Construction, a Christian a cappella group at Harvard University, hosted a concert in November entitled “Jammin’ Home.” The concert, held in Paine Hall, also featured liturgical dance, preaching, as well as an

opening act by Boston University’s Mustard Seed.

For nearly 30 years, Under Construction has been performing inspirational music on Harvard’s campus. The group’s goal is to experience God’s love, transformation, and forgiveness, and musically share such beauties with the campus.

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InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Harvard hosted an “International Thanksgiving in New Hampshire” for all international students.

The two-day celebration of the Thanksgiving tradition took place from November 26 to 28 at Toah Nipi Retreat Center in Rindge, New Hampshire. The event included a customary Thanksgiving turkey dinner, as well as a reading and a discussion of the Thanksgiving Proclamation

by President Abraham Lincoln.

The Proclamation invites citizens to observe the last Thursday

of November, as “a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

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P E N N | On Campus

Now Is the Time to Worship E V E N T G A LVA N I Z E S Y O U N G P E O P L E AT P E N N

By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer

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“presence-centric” worship movement came to the University of Pennsylvania this fall.

On October 4 in Myerson Hall, more than 250 students from 20

time like the present, or NOW, to bring young people into the presence of the Lord.

Several Penn ministries participated in NOW Philly, which

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Students at Penn participated in NOW Philly, a regional worship event

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colleges and universities attended NOW (Night of Worship) Philly for a dynamic evening of praise and prayer.

“From the start of the night, hunger flooded the room,” wrote NOW Worship Leader Lindy Conant on her blog. “No one even needed to lead a song, the passion and hunger took over. The presence of Jesus filled our hearts and our worship.”

NOW, based in Atlanta, is a “presence-centric movement that goes from city to city, calling a generation in that city to have an encounter with God.” And the organization believes that there is no

featured music by Conant and Michael Ketterer, short devotions, and passionate prayer. A Christian Union grant helped underwrite the event.

Philip Jung, Penn ’17, described the evening as spectacular. He was also encouraged to see such a large turnout from outside the Penn community, even some students from local high schools.

“I think God touched a lot of people there,” he said.

Michael Hu, the director of Campus Renewal Ministries (https://www.campusrenewal.org/) at Penn, said NOW Philly was an extremely important event, espe-

cially for students who are dealing with the stresses at highly academic institutions.

“What else can we really do except call out to God?” asked Hu, Penn ’00.

Worship can reach a greater number of people (than the spoken word might) and bring a sense of unity in seeking God, he said.

“For me, NOW Philly inspired an increase in personal worship in my life,” said Hu. “I loved it.”

At the conclusion of NOW Philly, approximately 75 students came forward for the altar call, including 15 who gave their lives to Christ. Others came forward to deepen their love for the Lord and for the grace to love others in a radical way.

“The presence of Jesus filled our hearts and our worship and we all said ‘yes’ to being love activists in our daily lives—loving the One in front of us,” wrote Conant.

NOW Philly definitely helped move a group of young people closer to Christ and helped them encounter His radical love. On his Facebook page, David Abraham, the founder of NOW, called the event an incredible night of worship.

“The presence of God was so tangible and people were radically impacted!” wrote Abraham. “I’ve been hearing reports and it’s incredible what God did that night and is still doing in the hearts of those who encountered Him.” | cu

P E N N | On Campus

A Passion for Christ PHIL ADELPHIA CHURCH HOS TS CONFERENCE FOR S TUDENTS

By Rosalie Doerksen, Penn ’17

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sinning exactly the way you did before. But the Bible warns against lawlessness, Paul Kim said. Secondly, we can wrongly respond with legalism, be performance-based, and allow no excuse for sin.

But the third response “drove the point home,” Colon says.

“We’ve been freed to love,” Paul Kim said. “The Gospel frees us

Gospel with others.

The challenge, he says, is whether we believe or “though we are rich, we live like we are poor.”

On the Passion Conference’s third night (Saturday), Pastor Paul Kim said that all are equal in God’s sight. Tax collectors, beggars, and children share the same posture: weak, undeserving, bankrupt.

“We must be cautious that our middle-class sensibilities do not blind us from our desperate and bankrupt spiritual condition. Jesus is not offering a can-do religion. He is offering hope to desperate and hopeless sinners in need of divine mercy.”

:: christianunion.org

“We must be cautious that our middle-class sensibilities do not blind us from our desperate and bankrupt spiritual condition,” Paul Kim said. “Jesus is not offering a can-do religion. He is offering hope to desperate and hopeless sinners in need of divine mercy.”

Steven Liem ’16 felt Christ’s love as he performed on Saturday night with Overflow, GCC’s dance ministry.

“Towards the end of our skit, we were supposed to act happy as we danced because we were supposed to have been transformed by Christ, but so many of us were so focused on the choreography, that we kept forgetting to smile. To my

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from barriers like guilt, greed, and hunger for acceptance.”

Colon says he was especially moved by this message, overwhelmed by God’s grace, and ultimately wanted to respond with humility and gratefulness.

“I want to try to live a life that is pleasing to (God) as much as I can as a response to that grace,” he said.

On the second night, Pastor Paul Kim spoke about how the work of the Holy Spirit helps Christians see through their spiritual senses. The Spirit’s job is to point us to Jesus and living in the Spirit corresponds to the life of faith illustrated throughout Scripture. As a result, we are moved to share the

—Paul Kim

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n Halloween night, as some Penn students headed through the rain to fraternity houses around University City, others made their way a few blocks off campus to the 18th Annual Passion Conference at Woodland Presbyterian Church. The four-day conference, hosted by Grace Covenant Church, drew approximately 350 people, mainly students from the Philadelphia area.

“Our Passion Conference exists to help people encounter Jesus in a powerful way,” said Young Kim, senior pastor at Grace Covenant Church (GCC). “It has been used to revive many hearts that are far from Jesus. We believe this conference is used by God to raise kingdom workers who are transformed

by Christ to influence the world.”

This year’s featured speaker was Paul Kim, who is on the pastoral staff of Pacific Crossroads Church in Los Angeles. Kim previously served for fifteen years as senior pastor of Renewal Presbyterian Church in West Philadelphia, a congregation which includes many Penn students.

“The conference was challenging,” said Rigoberto Colon (Penn ’17), who sang on Thursday night with Full Measure, a Christian a cappella group at Penn. “It was something that I really needed at that time.”

Colon found Kim’s message about appropriate responses to grace especially poignant. Essentially, there are three different ways to respond: first, with licentiousness, using it as an excuse to continue

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surprise, as I was on stage dancing to Tim Be Told’s ‘One Chance’ smiling became so easy,” Liem said.

“I was so overwhelmed with happiness, knowing that God was watching us worship Him.” At the final Sunday morning service, Kim called for a Gospel-mobilized church.

Chanmi Jung Pyles, a University City college staff member at GCC, says Kim’s messages on the assurance of the power of the Gospel impacted attendees.

“Pastor Paul emphasized that Christ has set us free for freedom (Galatians 5:1) and that we, having already received so much from God, can love one another through faith, live a Christ-centered life, and be-

come a Gospel-mobilized church,” she said.

God has redeemed us that He might also use us for His purposes, even if we’re a “cracked pot.” We

God has redeemed us that He might also use us for His purposes... are called to serve Him in whatever way we are able.

Additionally, people received Christ as their Lord and Savior at the conference, including one graduate student.

“I enjoyed speaking at this con-

ference. People were receptive, responsive, and energetic. It was also refreshing for me to hear myself preach these Gospel truths. I need them as well,” Paul Kim said.

Pastor Young Kim was equally refreshed.

“I was reminded that Jesus loves me and He rescued me while I was a sinner. I don’t have to perform to get His approval. I have His approval and so I want to live for Him alone,” Young Kim said. “I want to obey Jesus because of this grace that has been poured into my life.

It reminded me that ministry is not doing, but being in love with Jesus and allowing Jesus in me to overflow to others.” | cu

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Newman Prepares Leaders for Service

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Students involved with the University of Pennsylvania’s Newman Catholic Community enjoyed a rewarding semester marked by a combination of spiritual and fun activities.

In addition to religious training “that prepares Catholic leaders for service to the Church and the world,” Newman also led a camping trip to North Carolina’s Outer Banks in October. In November, the ministry organized a Thanksgiving potluck dinner with its affiliated ministry at Drexel

University. At Christmas, the students gathered to decorate the Newman Center, and participated in the Penn Catholic Student Association’s afternoon study break, which centered on crafting gingerbread houses.

Cru Leads Fasting and Prayer Movement During the fall semester, Philly Cru hosted a major prayer initiative for its campus ministries across the City of Brotherly Love.

During the event, dubbed 123 Days, students prayed and fasted for God to work in tangible ways

on campuses across Philadelphia.

The students set as a goal for the participants actively to cover each day with prayer for spiritual renewal.

In Philadelphia, Cru (www. phillycru.org) ministers on the campuses of Drexel, Penn, and Temple universities.

PR I N C E T O N | On Campus

Defending Marriage in the Academy

T H E A N S C O M B E S O C I E T Y H O S T S D E B AT E

By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

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of marriage come responsibilities, as well as clear public standing and expectations.

“Marriage is very public,” said Macedo. “When people know you’re married, all sorts of presumptions follow.”

As for Girgis, the Yale law stu-

little barrier to it being inflated to include polyamory.

“There is no reason three men cannot commit,” Girgis said.

As well, it is harder for traditional couples to practice marriage when the parameters of matrimony are evolving.

Sherif Girgis (L), a political theorist and marriage advocate, appeared at Princeton University to debate issues surrounding same-sex marriage with Professor Stephen Macedo (Ph.D. ’87).

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At its core, Girgis asserted marriage is a comprehensive union between a man and a woman requiring complete, exclusive commitment. Likewise, sexual intercourse serves to unite hearts, minds, and bodies and create new life.

“The very act that embodies the marital act is the act that makes new life,” Girgis said.

During a question-and-answer session with Princeton students, Girgis defended the case for the institution of traditional marriage, namely by highlighting the normative influences of laws. Such codes both teach and shape culture, and they impact ideas about reasonable and appropriate behavior, Girgis said.

Essentially, it is not wrong to

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dent who jointly is pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at Princeton, said many of the points behind same-sex marriage are simply arguments for companionship. “Is care and commitment the only principle?” he asked rhetorically.

Expanding the definition of marriage “would not strengthen the stabilizing norms of culture” for society, Girgis said. Long-established marital norms remain critical for ensuring family stability and the well being of the next generation.

While admirable as a cause, companionship as a basis for marriage “erases the distinctive edge of marriage,” Girgis said. If the civil definition of marriage is enlarged to include homosexual unions, there is

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arriage is a comprehensive union, not simple companionship.

That was the thesis from Sherif Girgis when the political theorist and Princeton University alumnus of 2008 appeared at his alma mater to debate the merits of arguments behind same-sex marriage.

On November 5, Girgis and Professor Stephen Macedo (Princeton Ph.D. ’87) squared off in McCosh Hall to discuss the case for samesex marriage and whether changing matrimonial laws would strengthen the institution of marriage.

About 250 students and community members attended the debate, which was moderated by religion professor Eric Gregory and sponsored by The Anscombe Society and other organizations, including Christian Union.

Girgis is the co-author of What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense, while Macedo’s current research and forthcoming book is Just Married: Same-Sex Couples, Monogamy, and the Future of Marriage.

Macedo postulated conventional marriage, as practiced in the United States, is “very well suited” to samesex couples.

Likewise, the longtime politics professor defended the civil institution of same-sex marriage from the standpoints of societal good and justice, specifically for cementing the right to “settle down with one person you love.” Along with the assorted practical and legal benefits

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desire companionship, but using it as a premise for enlarging the civil definition of marriage erodes the distinctive nature of matrimony and could usher in unintended harms.

As well, such arguments from those who oppose same-sex marriage merely serve as a distraction, as there is no pronounced movement toward polyamory in the

Girgis told students the legalization of same-sex marriage undermines the institution of marriage and threatens the country’s domestic landscape.

Macedo contended same-sex marriages offer healthy relationships that can foster stable home environments for children.

Furthermore, he asserted the movement behind homosexual marriages does not advocate for polyamory, as such relationships are inherently beset with conflict.

“Jealousy is a very powerful force,” Macedo said.

countries that have legalized samesex marriage, Macedo said.

Girgis countered that the companionship argument at the heart of the gay-marriage movement is not the only principle to be weighed in the polarizing debate over alterations to the legal framework of marriage. Likewise, the rarity of polyamory does not adequately constitute a case for expanding the

definition of marriage beyond its ancient parameters.

Still, Macedo said gay couples are not satisfied being “glorified roommates.” Marriage as an institution offers permanence, exclusivity, and a commitment to caring for the needs of one another. It also offers a sheltering stability to couples and families.

Nonetheless, Girgis told students the legalization of same-sex marriage undermines the institution of marriage and threatens the country’s domestic landscape.

Traditional marriage reduces the tallies of fragmented families, which, in turn, improves prospects for the well-being of the next generation.

“There are public policy arguments for sharpening the distinction of marriage,” Girgis said. | cu

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PR I N C E T O N | On Campus

An Exhortation to Engage

A N N U A L R E S P E C T L I F E S E R V I C E H E L D AT P R I N C E T O N

By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

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od does not call His laborers to visible success. Rather, He simply asks for faithful service.

That was one of the messages from Laura Davis when the director of Y4Life spoke at Princeton University in October. At Princeton Pro-Life’s annual Respect Life service, Davis told students not to feel discouraged if they do not readily witness fruit from their efforts to champion pro-life causes.

“Maybe you are wondering if you have the ability, where you are at, to do anything at all… Sometimes, the enemy just seems too strong,” said Davis, of Lutherans

For Life, Inc.’s youth and young adult division. “Success is doing what God has called us to do.”

The interfaith service, held at University Chapel, also included readings and prayers from students, as well as an address from another keynote speaker, Steven Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute.

Davis, an activist who works with high school and college students on Lutheran campuses, said young people can be strategic in the ongoing cultural war.

“You have the passion, the energy, and the vision to make a dif-

ference in the lives of those around you, whether it is the unborn, the sick, the elderly, those with special needs, or families faced with difficult decisions and circumstances,” she said.

The Missouri resident began serving as a sidewalk counselor in 2008 while an undergraduate at Texas A&M University, and she has worked professionally in the prolife movement since completing graduate studies in 2012.

While Davis said she cannot point to a single, definitive “save” from her efforts as a sidewalk counselor, she remains confident her ef-

During an appearance at Princeton Pro-Life’s annual Respect Life service, Laura Davis exhorted students to remain diligent in promoting pro-life causes.

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Manna Dreams Big Students involved with Manna Christian Fellowship were inspired to dream big during a recent venture to the Pocono Mountains.

During the group’s annual fall retreat, Rev. Matt Ristuccia, Princeton ’75, shared parts of his newly released book, Imagination Redeemed: Glorifying God with a Neglected Part of Your Mind.

With Gene Veith, Ristuccia coauthored the book, which explores the importance of imagination for believers.

Namely, imagination is a gift from God to strengthen faith, hope, and love.

Manna undergraduates gathered October 24-26 for the getaway at the Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center in Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania.

Faculty Commons Welcomes Professors

2015 :: christianunion.org

Faculty Commons, a ministry of Cru at Princeton (www.facultycommons. com), initiated a “Welcome to Princeton” outreach to new professors during the fall semester. Staff members and Christian professors personally delivered gift bags to the 200 new faculty members at Princeton University. A Christian Union grant helped underwrite the outreach.

The gift bags served as an entree to engagement and discussion about the Gospel, Jesus, spiritual topics, and issues that some faculty may struggle with regarding Christianity. Each bag included a Princeton coffee mug and a copy of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

The goal of the initiative was to prompt friendships with new faculty and to be a source of comfort and counsel should they face a personal, professional, or family crisis.

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forts ultimately will prove effectual.

“How many people drove by that Planned Parenthood in Bryan, Texas, before it closed, saw me praying there, and made a different decision about a pregnancy or about how they were going to vote or donate their money?” Davis asked.

Likewise, “how many students that I have spoken to may have found themselves in a tough situation one day and chose life instead of death, or chose to say no, instead of giving in to temptation? I do not know the lives I have affected, and sometimes not knowing can be very difficult.”

For now, students simply need to summon their courage and take a stand. God handles the rest.

“Do what I did. Try new things, learn as much as you can, volunteer at a pregnancy center, become a sidewalk counselor, go to prayer vigils, and continue the great work of Princeton Pro-life,” said Davis.

“As you share a message of hope with your campus and community, find where God can use you today to make a difference in our world.”

Gabriel Banevicius ’15, president of Princeton Pro-Life, called Davis’ message encouraging. “It definitely resonated with me,” he said.

Also during the Respect Life service, Mosher discussed the Population Research Institute’s efforts to highlight the fallacies of overpopulation and expose human rights abuses in population control programs.

In short, the human race is not in danger of overpopulating the planet, and the fertility rate in many Western nations falls below the replacement rate, according to the organization. People remain the world’s greatest resource and crucial to supporting aging populations, said Mosher.

Following the service, Princeton Pro-Life joined with The Anscombe Society to host the semi-annual ProLife, Pro-Family reception. About 40 people attended the event in Murray-Dodge Hall.

In observance of its annual Respect Life Week, Princeton Pro-Life held a candlelight vigil on October 11 near Frist Campus Center to remember the victims of abortion, both the unborn and their mothers.

About a dozen undergraduates were praying during the event, said Banevicius, a computer science major from Connecticut. The group’s motto is “Condiscipulorum Absentium Gratia,” which translates “for the sake of our missing classmates.”

As for Davis, the daughter of a Lutheran pastor and longtime prolife activist, said she was touched by the enthusiasm of the Princeton students.

“Their generation is the one that has been decimated by abortion,” she said. “It’s deeply personal to these students.” | cu

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YA L E | On Campus

In His Grip YA L E G O L F C A P TA I N F I N D S T H E S W E E T S P O T | By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer

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olf is a lot like life. Sometimes you can do everything right and still end up in the rough.

The pros in life and on the course are those who adapt to the challenges, facing each putt or drive with their feet firmly planted and a fresh swing on their minds. For Bulldog Golf Captain Will Davenport ’15, his game revolves around the Master, Jesus Christ, who meets him at each hole and at the crossroads of life.

“I mark my golf balls with a cross, so that it stays on my mind all day. He got me here, and I’m playing for Him,” said Davenport, the 2012 Ivy League Rookie of the Year.

The cross also enables Davenport to keep his priorities in perspective at a place like Yale, where he is majoring in biology. Following graduation in the spring, he will work for Boston Consulting Group.

“My self-worth isn’t wrapped up in my golf or test scores,” said Davenport. “When my life is about God, that stuff matters so much less. It also helps me love others, because I’m less wrapped up in how I’m doing in sports and school.”

But it wasn’t always that way for Davenport. Humility didn’t come easily for the guy who could do so much so well.

“It made me proud and made me feel less dependent on God,” he said.

While raised in a Christian home, Davenport says faith wasn’t the center of his life. However, after

reading Mere Christianity, he was struck by C.S Lewis’ declaration that “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

“I was really convicted by that,” said Davenport, “because Christianity was exactly moderately important to me.”

To shift that intensity from moderate to infinite at Yale, Davenport took action and joined a local congregation, Trinity Baptist

Will Davenport ’15, captain of the Bulldogs’ golf team.

Church. He also became involved with Athletes in Action (http:// aiayale.tumblr.com) and was “overwhelmed by the community.”

“I felt immediately loved. It quickly became my family at Yale, and I was thrilled to get deeply involved,” said Davenport.

For the last two years, he has led Bible studies with Athletes in Action. Between large group gatherings, Bible studies, and fellowship,

Davenport said Athletes in Action has been an important part of his journey at Yale.

Since embracing a greater commitment to Jesus Christ and his faith, Davenport has experienced a paradigm shift in how he views success in golf and academics.

“Now, the more tournaments I win or awards I receive, the greater I believe that God is,” he said.

He even wears a dog tag inscribed with Philippians 4:13 during tournaments, reminding him from where his strength comes. The bottom line, according to Davenport, is that the spotlight is no longer on him, but on God. As a result, he uses his platform to tell others about Christ.

“I get really excited about the opportunity to talk to teammates, other athletes, students, or anyone I meet about what I believe,” said Davenport. “Part of the beauty of Christianity is that it transforms your whole life. When people know you are a Christian, you might be the only Bible they read.”

It seems that Davenport has found that sweet spot of being a passionate athlete and a devoted Christian who goes through life with purpose and poise.

“I love the game so much, and it has been a formative part of my life to date, but at the end of the day, it is just a game,” he said. “I spend a ton of time playing the game, and I devote a lot of daily attention to it, but it doesn’t define me. My identity is in my faith.” | cu

YA L E | On Campus

Music and a Mission YA L E G O S P E L C H O I R P R E PA R I N G F O R T R I P T O N E W O R L E A N S

By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer

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Additionally, Johnson said that being part of the choir and sharing in a journey of faith with others inspires and encourages her to think

Photo Credit: Caroline DeSchoffart

Members of the Yale Gospel Choir use their voices to share God’s love.

about how she can live out her faith every day.

That commitment to the Gospel and the desire to live in a missional way make Yale Gospel Choir (YGC) a vessel for truth, as well

:: christianunion.org

as praise. According to Choir Vice President Asia Brown ’16, concerts are a way to evangelize in a comfortable, joyful way.

“I definitely see myself as a missionary,” said Codrington. “The

Fellow choir member Grace Niewijk ’18 agrees.

“Gospel music is a powerful tool for spreading the Word because it is very emotional and engaging, both for the singers and the audience. The upbeat tunes make everyone feel like dancing and praising, and the slower songs usually have incredibly powerful lyrics and frequently move people to tears,” she said.

That breadth of song was on display during YGC’s annual winter concert on December 5 at the Afro American Cultural Center at Yale.

Looking forward to the next semester, the choir is raising funds for its annual Spring Break Tour, which will take place from March 7 to 18,

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“We feel as if God is calling us to New Orleans.

There are so many opportunities to serve, minister, and give hope.”

—Asia Brown, Yale ’16 has been a space for reflection and fellowship and, no matter what is going on outside of the choir community, I always come away from rehearsals and performances with a sense of peace.”

songs we sing are based on God’s Word and His plan for humanity and, through music, we share that in a palatable way.”

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he undergraduate students of the Yale Gospel Choir have more than mighty voices—they have hearts of missionaries seeking to share the Gospel through powerful song that crescendos into passionate praise.

“I think Gospel music is a great way of ministering to people because it often gets a listener emotional and really sinks into their soul, opening the possibility of salvation and life transformations,” said Treston Codrington ’18.

The 40-member choral group was founded in 1973 through the Black Church at Yale. Since then, the choir has grown into an independent ensemble and ministry, performing in communities throughout the U.S. and beyond, including India, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and, most recently, Jamaica.

In addition to their three-hour weekly rehearsals, choir members meet regularly for Bible study.

“Being part of the Yale Gospel Choir has been an amazing experience,” said Abigail Johnson ’16. “It

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2015. Unlike previous years, YGC will remain in the United States, ministering to the people of New Orleans who are still struggling to rebuild their lives nearly ten years after hurricane Katrina. The students will focus their efforts on the Lower 9th Ward of the city.

“We feel as if God is calling us to New Orleans,” said Brown. “There are so many opportunities to serve, minister, and give hope. And we definitely want to learn from the people we interact with, and also be able to share with them as well.”

Although the choir will stay inside the U.S., the tour will cost more than previous years that were spent outside the states. The cost for food,

housing, and transportation is more expensive in this country than in places like Puerto Rico and Jamaica.

The students are currently working on raising $20,000 to cover the funding for the trip through concert sales, grants, and donations.

“Even though this tour is going to be more expensive, we definitely feel as if God is calling us to this location, and we are not letting the cost stop us,” affirmed Brown.

The Spring Break Tour is a spiritually rewarding time for the students as they perform at schools, rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters, etc., and minister to both Christians and non-Christians in the region.

“Spring Break Tour also provides

the experience of a new culture, in a location that many of our Choir members will be visiting for the first time,” said Brown. “So we are eager and excited for this opportunity, since New Orleans is so rich in culture.”` Codrington said he is also looking forward to doing hands-on work to help restore the community.

However, in keeping with the missional nature of the choir, he and the other students also anticipate being able to help restore hope to those who still may be hurting and lost.

“I look forward to bringing this encouragement and the reminder that God has not forsaken to the suffering people of New Orleans,” he said. | cu

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Transgender Awareness Week

the magazine

Transgender Awareness Week was held at Yale in November in an effort to engage dialogue across campus regarding “gender identity and expression.”

Despite the week-long effort, some students on campus said they

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Lessons and Carols at Yale

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were unaware of the cause and felt it was not relevant because they do not know any transgender peers.

Maria Trumpler, director of the Office of LGBTQ Resources at Yale, told the Yale Daily News that, “My biggest hope is that by having discussions about gender identity with large groups of students, any student who is exploring his or her gender identity will find many sympathetic people with whom to talk.”

Transgender Awareness week ended with a candlelight vigil in Battell Chapel.

Yale’s Battell Chapel was the site of the annual Service of Lessons and Carols at the university. Held on Sunday, December 7, the traditional Christmas worship service originated in 1880 in Cornwall, England.

Also a tradition at Yale, Lessons

and Carols featured the Episcopal Church Choir, the University Church Choir, and the story of Christmas told through nine lessons from Scripture. The evening service concluded with candles and the singing of “Silent Night.”

The event was open to the general public and sponsored by the University Church, Yale Chaplain’s Office.

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Strengthen your competence, credentials, and character for your future career – your calling.

The cost of airfare, lodging, and materials is fully covered for those selected to this program.

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pa rt ing shot

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Yale || Photography by Phil Anema

Thank you!

Through your generous giving, Christian leaders are being developed to change culture.

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tmouth Cameron Price dar ornia

an Capistrano, Calif Hometown: San Ju rmer minor ta Alpha Omega; fo Computer Science / Be s ; ic th ou om tm on ar Ec D : or at Maj n Union : President, Christia Campus Activities d me. ity Swim Team e the Lord has calle er wh s it’ t member of the Vars bu r, do ist’s ambassa intention

th the be Chr the Greek system wi a surprising place to d e re lik te en em se ve ha ay o m wh ity “A fratern th students aration. veral other Dartmou lity, prayer, and prep na io nt te in s ire In fact, I’m one of se qu re ian faith in it. This workshops to live out the Christ ministry sponsored e th e, nc sta in r fo , ollins, ided Greek life. Kevin C ian Union has prov of ist t hr ex C nt t co or e pp th su in e s th w the istian I’ve appreciated ing me to discern ho called to live as Chr lp lt he fe r, o to wh en us m t of ea e gr os ich a to help prepare th Dartmouth, has been isn’t enough; it requires transparency, wh at or ct re di ry ist in being a Christian Christian Union’s m this. Of course, just in g in ov m is t iri Holy Sp wasn’t easy, but takes some courage. xual experiences. It se st pa t ou ab g in lk ected me for ta r marriage. They resp is creating ternity brothers were fo fra y ng m iti e, wa pl I’m am ex at r th One time, fo ful and to share y. This difference e power to be truth ey want to know wh Th . us rio cu ’re ey the Lord gave me th th you living differently, it. When people see e the Gospel.” opportunities to shar

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Our conviction that the Word of God is true and powerful enough to change the world through the working of the Holy Spirit is something that we’re vitally committed to—we really believe it.”

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