Christian Union the Magazine Fall 2017 by Christian Union

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Special Feature Section: Intellectual Engagement Christian Union New York: Welcoming Young Professionals to the City The Spiritual Climate on Campus The latest from Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, & Yale

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table of contents

volume xvi issue iii

Christian Union the maga zine :: fall 2017

in e ach issue Letter from the CEO / 3 Q and A / 10

Donor Spotlight / 30

4 Intellectual Engagement

fal l 2 017 fe at ure sec t ion The Quest for Meaning in a Post-Truth Culture / 6 The Christian Intellectual / 8 Q and A with Cherie Harder / 10

12 From the University to the City

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cover photo: Dartmouth students (left to right) Adina Harri ’18, Madeline Ditzler ’19, and Hallie Reichel ’18 Photo: David Navadeh Photography

32 The Spiritual Climate on Campus

updat e s fr om l e ading univer si t ie s What Would Jesus Do? (Brown) :: A Fellowship Fair for Freshmen (Cornell) :: Harvard’s Ichthus :: Think for Yourself! (Princeton) :: Vita et Veritas Conference (Yale) :: News-in-Brief from each university, and more

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This magazine is published by Christian Union, an independent Christian ministry.

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Welcoming Freshmen (Brown) / 14 Chillin’ and Grillin’ (Dartmouth) / 16 chris tian union univer sities Harvard / 18 Yale / 19 Columbia / 21 Cornell / 22 Princeton / 26 Harvard Law / 27 Penn / 24 chris tian union cities Christian Union New York / 29

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Christian Union T H E

M A G A Z I N E

volume xvi issue iv fall 2017

Matthew Bennett

editor-in-chief

executive editor

managing editor

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field reporters

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James Supplee

Zachary Lee Francine Barchett Kayla Bartsch

INVEST IN TOMORROW’S LEADERS.

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©2017 Christian Union. All rights reserved. Christian Union: The Magazine is published quarterly. Its goal is to encourage and inform Christian alumni, students, parents, staff, faculty, and friends about Christian Union’s work—and about other spiritual activity—at eight of this country’s most influential colleges, and in key cities. Our desire is that this publication would inspire readers to seek God, to use their influence for the cause of Christ, to pray, and to give financially to Christian initiatives that are bringing about culture change for God’s glory. To request an advertising rate card, please e-mail Tom. Campisi@ChristianUnion.org. postmaster: Send address changes to: Christian Union, 19 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542

letter from the founder and ceo

Faith and Intellectual Pursuit I am thankful for Christian thinkers who unabashedly love the Lord, yet devote their minds to examining deep aspects of the faith.

matt bennett is the founder and CEO 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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Matthew W. Bennett

Many blessings to you in Christ,

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who unabashedly love the Lord, yet devote their minds to examining deep aspects of the faith. I think of people like Os Guinness, Eric Metaxas, Don Carson, Doug Sweeney, Tim Keller, Kay Arthur, and countless professors at seminaries like Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Reformed Theological Seminary, Asbury Seminary, and so many others. I also thank God for the opportunities I had when I was growing up. In high school, I was exposed to C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity and read it through five times. My Methodist church and YoungLife in Houston never discouraged me from going deep in the faith, and provided numerous opportunities for investigation. A year ago I was in Uganda and asked Christian ministry leaders if there was a tension in their country between strong faith and intellectual pursuit. They said no such tension existed among Christians. I pray that, as a nation, we would never worship intellectualism, nor see it as a substitute for faith in Jesus Christ, but would see it as an ally in the quest to know God fully and wholeheartedly.

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recently spoke with a Brown University alumnus who desired to go deep in his faith, but encountered a stumbling block because, as a youth, he was told “just to believe” and not have too many questions. This is a story that I have heard many times and it saddens me because it pits faith against intellectual curiosity. As the Scriptures make plain, the two go together. Many students at our nation’s most academically robust universities feel that Christianity isn’t really for them because they have the opportunity to go deep on every other subject, but sometimes receive discouragement from going deep in the faith. I can understand how young people may feel this way. Not too long ago, I shared a table with a number of Christian leaders when I noticed the conversation drifting toward a tone of anti-intellectualism. When I pointed this out, one of the leaders boldly said, “Tell me a single Christian leader who was strong in the Lord, yet who also was intellectual.” Such a direct challenge took me aback, but after my initial shock, I responded, “Well, for starters, we can look at Jonathan Edwards, one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Some call him the strongest theologian or philosopher that America has ever produced.” The point was quickly conceded and the conversation turned to other matters. It struck me as an odd challenge given that Colossians 2:3 tells us that in Jesus Christ is “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” I am thankful for Christian thinkers

feature section :: fall 2017 The Quest for Meaning in a Post-Truth Culture / 6 The Christian Intellectual / 8 Q and A with Cherie Harder / 10

Intellectual Eng And Jesus said to him,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

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–

matthew

22:37

In the first and greatest commandment, Jesus exhorts us to love God with our minds—to think deeply and circumspectly about the “truth that sets us free.” This kind of disciplined reflection and wholehearted devotion to our Lord is vital as we seek to engage the academy, the marketplace, and our neighborhoods.

4 On October 10, Christian Union at Yale and Ravi Zacharias Ministries hosted an open forum entitled “The Quest for Meaning in a Post-Truth Culture.” photo: stuart monk

gagement

feature section | intellectual engagement

The Quest for Meaning in a Post-Truth Culture Christian Union Hosts Forum with Ravi Zacharias, Abdu Murray at Yale by kayla bartsch, yale

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ical, and scientific evidence that only Chrishy does the truth matter? in psychology and a law degree from the tianity could fulfill the human soul. This was the question University of Michigan, made an importMurray took the podium first. The posed by renowned apoloant and insightful distinction concerning theme of his talk centered on the inseparagists, authors, and scholars Abdu Murray the lack of objective truth in our society ble relationship of truth and freedom, and and Ravi Zacharias to skeptics and believtoday. The post-truth culture we are living the genuine nature of both. He argued that ers alike at Yale University on the evening in has an attitude that has surpassed the th the world is in a desperate state of vertigo, of October 10 . In the woody, warm sancprevious, postmodern view, which simply tuary of Battell Chapel, a full house of 650 Yale students, local community members, and travelers from across the region congregated to hear Murray and Zacharias discuss “The Quest for Meaning in a Post-Truth Culture.” The Yale University Open Forum was made possible through the sponsorship of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and Christian Union at Yale. The bustling pews grew silent as Clay Cromer, ministry director of Christian Union at Yale, gave a warm welcome to the visiting speakers. Ravi Zacharias, the host of the Let My People Think radio program, has spoken at universities and institutions around the world over the last 45 years, inPhoto: Stuart Monk cluding Cambridge, Oxford, the Christian Union hosted an open forum with Adbu Murray (left) and Ravi Zacharias at Yale University in United Nations’ Annual Prayer the fall semester. Breakfast, the Pentagon, and the White House. lacking any fixed points or anchors to guide Abdu Murray is the North American denied the existence of an objective truth, our decisions or the decisions of our instidirector of Ravi Zacharias International but still believed in the power of logical tutions. Due to this unstable, relativist state, Ministries and the current Scholar-in-Resreasoning to sharpen one’s understanding the time to think about what ought to guide idence of Christian Thought and Apologetof reality. The post-truth position, howevus in our quest for meaning is now, he said. ics at the Josh McDowell Institute of er, acknowledges that truth exists, but Our post-truth culture elevates feelings and Oklahoma Wesleyan University. For most simply shrugs its shoulders – elevating preferences over truth, creating a swirling, of his life, Murray was a devout Muslim. feelings and preferences over the truth. clashing storm of values which blinds one However, after a decade-long period of inMurray described the post-truth person as to those which matter the most. vestigation into the major world religions, one who “sacrifices his reason on the altar Murray, who holds a bachelor’s degree he was convinced by historical, philosophof his preferences.” With a complete dis-

regard for the truth, discussions become a groundless yelling match, a Nietzschean battle of the power of the will with no higher reality to call upon other than one’s own emotions and desires. The absence of this regard for truth and reason has often been hailed as a liberation, as freedom from strictures of the past. In response to this sentiment, Murray pointed out that we have confused freedom with autonomy. When autonomous, you are not free, but subject to your own whims and ultimately to chaos. Your opinions become the truth, for you are your own god, king,

A former army chaplain in the Vietnam War, Zacharias asserted that he has “never seen the world in such uncertainty,” and also noted a deepening sense of “fear and hopelessness.” Without access to a firm understanding of truth, the political realm seems more and more like an unpredictable back and forth. As such, Zacharias quoted Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King, Jr. in affirming that “truth is the most valuable thing in the world,” and “truth...will have the final say.” Zacharias’ thesis was that the truth matters. He shared the story of a friend who

Murray described the post-truth person as one who “sacrifices his reason on the altar of his preferences.” With a complete disregard for the truth, discussions become a groundless yelling match, a Nietzschean battle of the power of the will with no higher reality to call upon other than one’s own emotions and desires.

:: christianunion.org

For more quotes from the evening, visit Christian Union’s Twitter page.

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had been falsely imprisoned – in such heightened circumstances the importance of truth becomes clear. Zacharias also shared the story of a Hollywood director who had been leading a worldly, opulent lifestyle, and yet was pained by a continual feeling of emptiness. He used this testimony to show that, despite being surrounded by beauty and comfort, there is no real joy, no real human fulfillment, in leading a life outside of truth. Zacharias concluded his talk by demonstrating how we live out the truth, which we can only do through Christ. He argued that we must look to eternity in our planning, that we must look up to God for our morality, that we must hold ourselves and each other accountable, and that we must love our fellow humans, despite our differing opinions. After their talks, Zacharias and Murray

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and judge, and you become trapped inside your own desires and biases, Murray said. Real freedom is not simply the absence of restrictions, but the ability to live the life you were meant to live, as informed by the truth, and embodied by Christ. And as such, Murray concluded, truth and freedom are fundamentally connected. Zacharias, the author of 25 books, started his segment by identifying a pattern common to humanity. In each age, he said, we tend to think we have reached the zenith of human potential. Whether an overconfident professional athlete, or a writer of the Romantic era, the human ego knows no bounds. The only way to check ourselves is to seek out a broader truth, one which surpasses time and place. When we lose access to this stream, there is nothing to keep us grounded, to keep our reality stable.

opened the floor to questions, giving priority to Yale students and skeptics. The questions varied, and Murray and Zacharias responded with great alacrity and insight. A bold question from a skeptic in the audience challenged the accuracy of Scripture and the resurrection as historical fact. Murray gave a thorough, coherent reply, even discussing secular scholarship that supports the New Testament as one of the most accurate collections of primary documents we have access to. Murray’s great knowledge of manuscript dates and authentication processes and his own experience coming from skepticism to believing in Scripture’s historical accuracy stood out as a major takeaway from the night for Robert Denniston ’20. “In Abdu Murray’s journey through skepticism, he did a very good job bringing the historical reality of the salvation story into his talk,” Denniston said. “It was very grounding to listen to the historical basis for the resurrection, and to the reminder that the Gospels really happened.” The Open Forum at Yale certainly caused reflection among those who were in attendance, including Lionel Jin ’18, a major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. “Not being a Christian myself, I’m nevertheless fascinated about the role that faith plays in the lives of others,” Jin said. “It was a privilege to see Ravi’s oratory in action. He clearly tapped into a deep sense of unease that many people have about society today, and while I’m not sure that there are easy answers, I appreciated him prompting us to dig deeper into how we are living our lives.” | cu

feature section | intellectual engagement

The Christian Intellectual by john stonestreet

n The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis issued this call for Christian intellectual engagement:

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“If all the world were Christian, it might not matter if all the world were uneducated. But, as it is, a cultural life will exist outside the Church whether it exists inside or not. To be ignorant and simple now — not to be able to meet the enemies on their own ground — would be to throw down our weapons, and to betray our uneducated brethren who have, under God, no defense but us against the intellectual attacks of the heathen. Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered.” (The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses. MacMillan, 1980, 28)

A more robust picture of the Christian mind is, however, offered in Scripture, and its call extends beyond a merely defensive endeavor tasked to certain professionals. All Christians should steward their thinking as an expression of their faith. The “greatest” of all the commandments, Jesus said, was to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind” (Matt 22:37). Connecting how we think with how we love will seem strange in a culture that not only understands love to be little more than feelings, but often sets it apart from and even against reason. Jesus, however, saw them as related, even interdependent. His summary of the law reflects the larger truth about humanity and the world given across the story of Scripture. Throughout the Biblical account, the mind matters.

The Created Mind The Bible’s opening chapters describe how God created the world, while at the same time offering a glimpse of His purposes for it. That there is divine intent behind the world at all sets the biblical account of origins apart from the dominant narrative currently embraced in the academy. In the biblical account, mind precedes matter. In a purely naturalistic account of neo-Darwinism, matter precedes mind. The difference is profound. Why should we trust our thoughts as real or reliable if they are the product of a mindless evolutionary process? Why should we even hope to make sense of a universe without design or purpose? The Bible, on the other hand, describes God’s words as the animating force behind all that is. Thus, there is purpose. There is intent. There is communication. In this vision of reality, knowledge is possible. Further, humans are described as unique from everything else God created. Humans bear God’s image. Our minds,

including the abilities to think and imagine and understand, reflect the mind of God. In this vision of reality, knowing is possible. The work God gave humans to do was “to be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.” An important but often overlooked part of this “creation mandate” is the intellectual work involved in caring for the world and seeing to its flourishing, which included the task of naming the animals (Gen. 2:19). Like God, Adam was able to use his words to impose on reality. Like Adam, we humans use our minds to imagine, to invent, to purpose, to build, and to communicate. God gave humans these mental abilities, and what God made, He called good.

The Fallen Mind We no longer live in Eden. Because of the sin of our first parents, the world is (as one author aptly put it) “not the way it’s supposed to be.” Neither are our minds. Created for clarity, for truth, and for creativity, our intellectual capacities after the Fall are now fallen, finite, and futile. Bad ideas have entered the world, and we are often deceived by them. The title of Richard Weaver’s classic book, Ideas Have Consequences, teaches an important truth: our ideas matter. God created us so that our ideas would impact the world around us. Ideas are not merely disembodied concepts divorced from the real lives of people. They take root in reality and, since the fall, can foster life or wreak havoc. If we are to shape the world as God intended, we must engage with ideas and their consequences. If ideas have consequences, bad ideas have victims. The bad ideas of the 19th century – such as Marxism and social Dar-

winism – resulted in tens of millions of victims in the 20th century. Likewise, the bad ideas of the sexual revolution led to victims of sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, divorce, and human trafficking. Because the fall is no respecter of persons, Christian intellectual engagement should be characterized by humility. Simultaneously, the biblical account both offers to ground our minds in the mind of God, while chastening our pride by explaining our tendency toward foolishness and deceit. Without this humility, humans are tempted by our God-like abilities to ignore our intellectual frailties. This is the source

is more than a good example. He offers to redeem us, and His followers are granted His mind (1 Cor. 2:16). His first followers, as Paul evidenced during his Mars Hill exchange with the great minds of Athens (Acts 17), engaged the ideas of their day, displaying both clarity and cleverness. Subsequent generations of Christ followers followed suit. “The success of the West,” writes sociologist Rodney Stark in The Victory of Reason, “including the rise of science, rested entirely on religious foundations, and the people who brought it about were devout Christians.” According to Stark, Christians not only freed the ancient world from “the

In Christ, we aren’t merely rescued from sin and death, we are made partakers of His promise to make all things new. Even more, we are invited to participate in what St. Paul called “the ministry of reconciliation.” Restored image bearers are called to, not from, the intellectual tasks given to humanity in creation.

Center for Christian Worldview, and the voice of The Colson Center’s daily commentary BreakPoint, heard on more than 1,200 radio stations. His books include A Practical Guide to Culture (with Brett Kunkle) and Restoring All Things (with Warren Cole Smith). You can learn more about John Stonestreet and The Colson Center at www. breakpoint.org.

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Restoring the Mind

john stonestreet is president of The Colson

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is revealed not only as One who lived well, but also One who thought well. His brilliance can be seen in his interactions with the Jewish and Roman authorities. He questioned His questioners, exposed inaccuracies, and communicated the will of God, even as He himself obeyed it. Of course, the Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus

In the process, we grow in our love for God and for those He created and loves. Thus, we must not leave our minds at the door when we engage His world. Love certainly requires much more than intellectual engagement. But it certainly does not require less. | cu

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The Redeemed Mind

stultifying grip of Roman repression and mistaken Greek idealism,” but contributed innovations like horseshoes, fish farming, the three-field system of agriculture, eyeglasses, and clocks. All of this was due, he writes, to the “unique Christian conviction that progress was a God-given obligation, entailed in the gift of reason.”

“The Incarnation takes all that properly belongs to our humanity and delivers it back to us, redeemed. All of our inclinations and appetites and capacities and yearnings and proclivities are purified and gathered up and glorified by Christ. He did not come to thin out human life; He came to set it free. All the dancing and feasting and processing and singing and building and sculpting and baking and merrymaking that belong to us, and that were stolen away into the service of false gods, are returned to us in the Gospel.”

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of utopian fantasies that have caused so much bloodshed throughout history. Refusing to learn the hard lessons of the last century, we are still tempted by what C.S. Lewis called “chronological snobbery,” the false notion that ours is a more morally advanced era than ages past.

identity, Christ secures this calling. According to Thomas Howard,

feature section | intellectual engagement

Q and A with Cherie Harder

The Trinity Forum: Examining Life’s Greatest Questions

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hristian Union: The Magazine recently interviewed Cherie Harder, the president of The Trinity Forum, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization that seeks to “engage leaders with the great ideas of civilization in the context of faith for personal and societal renewal.” The Trinity Forum was launched in 1991 by author and social critic Os Guinness, who saw a great need for “an Aspen Institute with a Christian perspective.” Today, The Trinity Forum hosts various seminars, discussions, lectures, and evening conversations in the United States, Europe, and Asia, connecting renowned speakers with influential networks of leaders. The organization has also published dozens of book-length curricula and short Trinity Forum Readings. Prior to joining The Trinity Forum in 2008, Harder served as a congressional aide and as special assistant to the president and director of policy and projects for former First Lady Laura Bush. She earned an Honors B.A. (magna cum laude) in government from Harvard University (’91) and a post-graduate diploma in literature from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, where she was a Rotary Scholar.

How has The Trinity Forum evolved over the years and why is that mission relevant today?

for thoughtful reflection on and discussion of the great ideas and questions of life is, if anything, more urgent and acute. CU: You have a distinguished list of senior fellows. What is their role with The Trinity Forum? CH: Thanks – we think so, too! Our senior

Cherie Harder

pursuit of that mission have adapted over time. For example, a few years ago, we began hosting “Evening Conversations” to “connect leading thinkers and thinking leaders.” Our initial programs were small – designed to be a discussion between thinkers and leaders. But there’s clearly a hunger for such conversation, and our

fellows advance the mission of The Trinity Forum through their scholarship and thought leadership, and frequently serve as speakers, moderators, and authors for The Trinity Forum. For example, Senior Fellow Dana Gioia, who is the current poet laureate of California and the past chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts, has written the introduction to two of our Trinity Forum Readings, which featured the poems of John Donne and Gerard Manley Hopkins. Gioia has also spoken at several of our events on topics such as “Poetry and Beauty in a Fallen World.” Other Senior Fellows – such as historians Bill McClay or Joe Loconte – have served as forum moderators. And just last week, Senior

Our faith has implications for all of life, and provides a framework for making sense and thinking through its biggest questions.

christian union:

cherie harder: The Trinity Forum remains

committed to and excited by its founding mission of “contributing to the transformation and renewal of society through the transformation and renewal of leaders.” Some of our initiatives and strategies in

audience has grown to the point where we have had 500 people or more participate at times. We have adapted some of our programs to offer more opportunities for a broad swath of professionals to hear from Christian thought leaders. Although many people are less able or willing to take time out for a long, Socratic-style discussion now than they were twenty years ago, the need

Fellow and visual artist Mako Fujimura served as our keynoter at our launch initiative in Indianapolis. CU: The Trinity Forum recently hosted

“An Evening Conversation with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.” What were some of the highlights?

CH: We were delighted to host Jim Yong

Kim to speak on what he called the “preferential option for the poor” – the idea that the poor have every bit as much dignity, and deserve the same priority, as the resourced. He also talked about the prog-

of those questions are not just philosophical, political, or anthropological, but also spiritual. Our faith has implications for all of life, and provides a framework for making sense and thinking through its biggest questions.

CH: We’ve been blessed to have some of the smartest, most intellectually curious college and grad students in the country work with us as interns and fellows. They have worked on everything from curriculum development, to video and podcast production, to social media strategy and event planning. We are a small organization, so our interns and fellows undertake a broad range of work – they have been a vital part of our growth. We’d particularly like to recruit new interns with skill, interest, and experience in video editing/ production, social media strategy, and writing. CU: What Scriptures do you

think of when you consider the mission of The Trinity Forum?

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CH: Proverbs 3:13-14: “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, Cherie Harder, president of The Trinity Forum, moderates a conversation with David Brooks and Dr. the man who gains understandRobert Franklin. ing, for she is more profitable than silver, and yields better reress made in reducing extreme poverty turns than gold.” CU: Does The Trinity Forum face any around the world, and the role that faithchallenges when it comes to discourse based organizations have played in global Phillipians 4:8: “Finally brothers, whatin the public square, especially in light poverty alleviation. ever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is of recent events on college campuses, right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, where some protestors have prevented whatever is admirable – if anything is exdissenting viewpoints? CU: Why is faith such an important cellent or praiseworthy – think about such component to The Trinity Forum, and things.” intellectual engagement, in general? CH: It’s been disheartening to see efforts to censor speakers (of whatever point of Matthew 22:37: “Love the Lord your God view) on college campuses. Happily, we CH: Robust intellectual engagement necwith all your heart and with all your soul have not encountered that problem. essarily involves wrestling with the big and with all your mind.” | cu questions of life – what does it mean to be human? What is our purpose? What does CU: Tell us a little about your work with it mean to live a good life? What is justice college students/grad students at The For more information on The Trinity Forum’s and how can it be secured in society? All Trinity Forum. events and intern opportunities, visit www.ttf.org.

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photo: david navadeh photography

from the university to the city

Developing Transformative Christian Leaders by god’s grace, christian union universities completed a successful Freshman Welcoming Campaign this fall. A total of 555 freshmen on some of the nation’s most influential campuses now have access to Christian Union Bible courses, one-on-one mentoring, our leadership lecture series, and vibrant, seeking God communities. As another academic year begins, the mission is clear—Christian Union seeks to develop and connect transformative Christian leaders! This is at the heart of Christian Union Universities’ work at Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale. as these students graduate, christian union’s ministry to its alumni and

1800s. Pray that God will bring similar change to the U.S. as new networks of leaders emerge and engage today’s culture.

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change to England through William Wilberforce and the Clapham Circle in the early

their impact will be multiplied. This model was used by the Lord to bring sweeping

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networks of young professionals in key cultural centers, starting in New York City,

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their peers—Christian Union Cities—will help them take the next step. By developing

13 Luke Brown, Dartmouth ’18, talks with Zach Albanese, Christian Union’s ministry director at Dartmouth.

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Welcome to the Neighborhood Christian Union at Brown Hosts Block Party by tom campisi, managing editor

and conversations between upperclassmen and freshmen.” Justin Doyle, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Brown, said the block party was a big success and will produce lasting fruit. “The freshmen could have grabbed a burrito and run, but almost all of them stuck around and were having a great time,” Doyle said. “Sure, there were some who were not interested in Christian Union, but it was such a great opportunity to bless, nonetheless. In all, we probably had about 80 students come out and many of them have decided to get involved with the ministry in some way.” Planning for the block party began at a retreat before the semester when student leaders and Christian Union faculty came together for prayer, Bible teaching, and vision casting for the upcoming academic year. Student leaders assembled 800 bags with candy, granola bars, crackers, information on Christian Union, and an invitation to the Chipotle Block Party. Three days before the event, they delivered Christian Union at Brown hosted a Chipotle Block Party during its freshman welcoming those bags to the freshmen dorms, campaign. praying over the students’ names as they dropped each one at a door. On the evening of the block party, anticipation ginning of the semester, student leaders and Chriswas high before the freshmen arrived. Student leadtian Union ministry fellows coordinated a wide range ers, dressed in Christian Union T-shirts, received of freshmen welcoming events to let new students some last-minute coaching from Ministry Fellow know about a vibrant Christian community on Laurel Copp on how to welcome and engage the campus and its Bible courses, lecture series, and guests. The first wave of freshmen came 10 minutes conferences. early, and the party was under way. Over the next At the block party, burritos were served in the hour, about 50 or 60 more arrived as ministry fellows backyard of the Judson Center, which was buzzing distributed burritos at a frantic pace. It was exactly with conversations and music under the night sky the kind of atmosphere that Doyle, Copp, and Minand strings of hanging bulbs. istry Director Matt Woodard hoped to see. “The block party was very inviting,” said Tucker “I smiled as I saw all the upperclassmen in our Ziegler ’19, a student leader with Christian Union ministry making their way around to talk to the at Brown. “There were clusters of people all around

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Strategic planning, prayer, and a huge order of Chipotle helped Christian Union at Brown pull off one of its most successful outreaches to date. On Friday, September 7, the leadership development ministry hosted approximately 80 freshmen for a block party at the Judson Center. At the be-

freshmen,” Doyle recalled. Ziegler is thankful to be part of a campus ministry that trains young people how to serve. “I think the leadership training we got this year was highlighted in the block party,” he said. “There, you could see the members of Christian Union engaged with the freshmen at Brown. Listening to the conversations, you could tell that the freshmen really enjoyed an outlet where they could come and talk and let out some emotions.” Meagan Peters ’18, another student leader with Christian Union at Brown, was proud of the way the Ministry Fellow Justin Doyle (first row, middle) and members of a team rose to the occasion and em- Christian Union Bible Course at Brown braced freshmen. “The upperclassmen brought community and a great opportunity for people to such great energy to greeting, making connections, come together and meet,” Ziegler said. and engaging the freshmen who attended in con“I think we all went into the block party with a versations about Christian Union and campus life mix of excitement and apprehension, but felt prein general,” she said. “While there were some inevpared to put ourselves out there and serve the freshitable awkward interactions, being outside on a warm

Burritos were served in the backyard of the Judson Center, which was buzzing with conversations and music under the night sky and strings of hanging bulbs. fall

:: christianunion.org

men to the best of our ability,” noted Peters. “The block party helped Christian Union gain exposure on campus and let people know that we’re here as a generous and loving Christian community.” | cu

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summer evening, having an abundance of good food and a great turn-out really helped things run smoothly.” Christian Union’s fall semester welcoming events included a brunch for students and parents on movein weekend, a pancake party, worship on the main Green, a ladies’ brunch, a guys’ BBQ, a movie night, and a grub crawl where upperclassmen who live off campus cooked for freshmen. The block party was definitely one of the highlights and a night to remember for the team. “Overall, it was a great way to engage with the

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Chillin’ and Grillin’ Christian Union Reaches out to Dartmouth Freshmen by tom campisi, managing editor

Testament and how it could be understood and reconciled within Christianity. “We talked through the narrative of the Old Testament and how God was orchestrating His larger plan of redemption. We talked about the necessity of understanding the context of these stories both within the redemptive narrative and also within the reality of the world being a fallen place,” Carlisle said. “One of the hardest things to realize with this topic is that there are no ‘innocent bystanders’ in these stories. Often, God’s judgement

Christian Union at Dartmouth hosted a barbeque as one of its many welcoming events for freshmen.

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The Wheelock House was packed with freshmen on a Friday night—“Pancake Palooza” was really sizzling. The event was one of several hosted this fall by Christian Union’s ministry at Dartmouth during the freshman welcoming campaign. The goal of Pancake Palooza was to introduce freshmen to student leaders and ministry fellows and let them know about a seeking God community on campus, Bible course opportunities, and the weekly leadership lecture series.

Chase Carlisle, a Christian Union ministry fellow, was surprised, however, when he found himself surrounded by seven freshmen with deep theological questions. They wanted more than pancakes or a sign-up sheet for future Bible courses; they were hungry for some answers. After moving to a quieter space with some couches, the freshmen asked Carlisle about the violence chronicled in the Old

is both wrathful and a means of grace to the world.” Carlisle was pleased to report that the students were engaged and thankful for the discussion. All of them signed up for a fall Bible course on the book of Philippians. “In many ways, it felt like a mini, 20-minute Bible course, right there on the spot,” he said. “Some students in this freshman class have some great ques-

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proud to be part of the team of returning students who worked with ministry fellows to plan events and greet freshmen at the beginning of the semester. “The Freshman Welcoming Campaign is a testament to the Good Shepherd’s desire to bring people into His fold,” she said. “Through our outreach events, like Pancake Palooza, we seek to show our love for the incoming class by inviting them into community. We want to let them know that Christian Union is a welcoming and friendly community for anyone on campus, whether they are a Chase Carlisle, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Dartmouth, Christian, exploring, or simply want to serves burgers at an outreach this fall. spend time with us.” Christian Union puts a lot of prayer, effort, and resources into Freshman Welcoming tions, and are ready and willing to dive deep in the Campaigns at nine of the nation’s most influential faith, the Word, and how it all fits together. I’m universities. It’s critical for freshmen to be plugged really excited to be in a Bible course with these guys!” As the impromptu theological discussion unfolded, approximately 100 other freshmen were “Through our outreach events, like eating pancakes and visiting the toppings table in a welcoming atmosphere, complete with candles, Pancake Palooza, we seek to show our Christmas lights, and laid-back music. Hallie Reichel love for the incoming class by inviting ’18, a government and French major from Richthem into community.” mond, Virginia, was part of the planning team for Pancake Palooza. The goal of the student exec team, —Hallie Reichel, Dartmouth ’18 she said, was to deliberately create an atmosphere with “fresh and chill vibes.” into a thriving ministry while beginning their tra“It was a very welcoming place to meet new jectory as students, so they can hear the Gospel, students,” Reichel said. “The pancake dinner was study God’s Word, receive mentoring, and grow one of our biggest events, and it was encouraging into godly leaders. to hear about the many connections made, as well “The campaign is a great way to get freshmen as the deep, spiritual conversations.” plugged into Christian community early on, so that In additional to Pancake Palooza, Christian we can best encourage them in their own walks of Union’s freshmen welcoming events included an ice faith,” Reichel said. “We are so excited to see how cream social, the Kickoff Cookout, Flannel Fest the freshmen are already serving in Christian Union Cider and Donuts, an open house and Bible course and helping with events or serving on ministry sign-up, and The Vine, Christian Union’s weekly teams.” | cu speaker series. Reichel, an assistant Bible course leader, was

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A Fruitful Freshman Campaign Christian Union Welcomes Class of 2021 by catherine elvy, staff writer

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Students involved with Christian Union’s ministry at Harvard College eagerly welcomed members of the class of 2021 as they descended upon Cambridge. During late August and early September, ministry fellows and returning students hosted a series of events to greet freshmen, including a pizza party, waterfront picnic, and ice cream social.

Harvard College Faith and Action’s executive team, (left to right) Christian Schatz ’18, Eunice Mwabe ’19, Molly Richard ’18, and Scott Ely ’18

“The upperclassmen and ministry fellows are hungry for a harvest,” said Tyler Parker, a Christian Union intern and Harvard alumnus of 2017. “We are motivated in our mission.” Indeed, student leaders and ministry fellows were tireless in their intensive efforts to introduce and

showcase Christian Union’s core leadership development opportunities, including Bible courses and the leadership lecture series. Before the critical freshman welcoming campaign, about 50 undergraduates joined Christian Union faculty at Ottauquechee Farm in Vermont for a retreat that included worship, prayer, teaching from Ministry Fellow Jon Yeager, and a game plan for upcoming outreach activities. The retreat “served as a wonderful opportunity for members of the community to build strong relationships among one another and to truly soak up this vision (to build Christian leaders who will transform culture),” said Eunice Mwabe ’19, vice president of Christian Union at Harvard. “We came back to campus fully charged, confident of what God was doing and encouraged by the prospect of participating in His work at Harvard.” Within hours of returning to campus on August 25, the upperclassmen gathered near the bronze statue of benefactor John Harvard, famously anchored in Harvard Yard, to invite frosh to a pizza party in Boylston Hall’s Ticknor Lounge. Participants in Christian Union’s ministry also took advantage of the event to invite incoming students to a Saturday dinner outing and to attend area churches on Sunday. A handful of the new collegiate peers joined Parker in attending nearby Aletheia Church, where they witnessed a jubilant baptismal service that prompted discussions. “There were lots of awesome relationships formed,” Parker said of the weekend. “People were starting to feel really connected to the community.” While studying government, Parker served as a pastoral intern for Aletheia Church and also as a student leader and assistant Bible course leader for Christian Union at Harvard. In other activities, returning students hosted a picnic on August 28 near the John W. Weeks Bridge, the landmark span across the Charles River. The upperclassmen ventured to Harvard Yard to invite freshmen to join them for buckets of

fried chicken. While in the iconic Yard, Parker even extended an invitation to a swarm of energized frosh exploring campus with former First Daughter Malia Obama ’21. A day later, the crew of upperclassmen served up scoops of J.P. Licks ice cream to throngs of recent arrivals on Harvard’s Plaza near the Science Center. Parker ecstatically recounted how hundreds of frosh encountered the ministry’s evening ice cream station after exiting the annual freshmen talent show in Sanders Theatre. “It was a really amazing, unplanned opportunity,” said Parker. Better yet, the gathering also provided opportunities for believers and seekers to make connections with Christian Union. In addition, Harvard’s newcomers relished impromptu jam sessions, prayer gatherings, and outings to favorite Boston destinations, including Chinatown. Such a groundswell of enthusiasm prompted Scott Ely ’18, co-president of Christian Union at Harvard, to characterize the autumn campaign as very encouraging. “The response we’ve had so far from freshmen has been overwhelming, and there is an exciting degree of openness among freshmen to ask deeper questions, and a willingness to explore

Christianity,” Ely said. Likewise, Mwabe noted she was especially proud of the way established students exhibited leadership. “It has been super inspiring to see people take ownership of the vision themselves,” she said. On September 1, more than 160 students packed into Yenching Auditorium to attend the ministry’s inaugural leadership lecture series. Yeager, the featured speaker, explained how a childlike faith is

“The upperclassmen and ministry fellows are hungry for a harvest. We are motivated in our mission.” —Tyler Parker, Harvard ’17 marked by imagination and dependence on God. A week later, Nick Nowalk, a Christian Union teaching fellow at Columbia, visited campus to highlight the dangers of spiritual isolation and the ways believers can flourish when they commit to vibrant Christian communities. Such a message soundly resonated with Parker and the ministry’s student leadership team. “We’ve been motivated by the momentum,” Parker said. “We’re expecting God to show up in even more extraordinary ways than He has already.” | cu

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Building a Better ‘Mouse’ Students Love Pennington Center Renovations by kayla bartsch, yale

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was left vacant for approximately 10 of 15 years by the previous owner, the area had a grungy and dilapidated appearance. Chitra Kovoor, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Yale, noted that the space had become a “man cave” – an atmosphere which proved unattractive and uninviting to the community as a whole. Beyond substantial cosmetic issues, the floorplan was choppy and closed off, which prevented large gatherings of students. With such logistical hindrances in place, the Mouse at the Pennington Center was deemed to be in need of major renovations. Thanks to the generosity of several donors, the student space received a

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Since 2014, Christian Union at Yale has been blessed to operate from a ministry center right next to campus. A quaint, brick historical landmark built in 1850, the James W.C. Pennington Center serves as a place of meeting, prayer, and Bible study. With the upper floor housing the ministry faculty’s offices and conference rooms, the basement serves as the main student hang-out. This student space, affectionately referred to as the “Mouse” (a portmanteau of ministry and house), has been well used over the last four years, like a favorite pair of shoes. But, because the basement

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Renovations at the Pennington Center adjacent to Yale University enabled Christian Union to host welcoming events for freshmen this fall.

major makeover just in time for Christian Union’s critical campaign to welcome freshmen on campus at the start of the academic year. The basement transformation provided opportunities to host a greater variety of events to introduce freshmen to the ministry. Whether cooking up pancakes in the new kitchen after the weekly leadership lecture series, Rooted, or bonding as a community at an overnight prayer lock-in, these “events would not have been able to happen without this space,” said Chelsea Samora ’18, co-president of Christian Union at Yale. The response to the new space has been overwhelmingly positive from freshmen and returning students alike. Olivia Shoemaker ’21 said, “As a first-year student at Yale, it’s absolutely wonderful to know that there’s a place where I can find like-minded people who are happy to chat and listen. The physical space centers on community activity and always makes me feel at home.” According to Samora, the space “instilled a greater spirit of hospitality in the ministry, which is crucial for welcoming in the next class.” Through a combination of the newly expanded class of first years at Yale and all of the events made possible through the new space, Christian Union has seen an especially hearty level of interest from the freshmen compared to years past. Along with hosting community and outreach

events, the renovated Mouse is now able to serve as a refreshing study space and a centralized meeting location for all of the ministry’s Bible courses. Kovoor noted that the bright and cozy space creates “an air of informality,” which “helps conversations and people to be really relaxed.” Yale’s underground Bass Library previously served as a Bible course meeting location. The bunker-like setting, Kovoor added, discouraged students from opening up to one another as they studied Scripture together. When not at the Mouse for Bible courses, plenty of students nest there during the day to get through their never-ending piles of work or simply to take a much-needed break. Shoemaker said, “I’m in the Mouse whenever I have time to walk over! Whether I’m at a Bible study, impromptu study session, or just looking for some quiet time, the Mouse is a great place to hang out in community.” The new Mouse provides a much-needed respite from the pace of life on campus. Samora described the space as “an oasis away from Yale.” Shoemaker similarly noted how she loves “the separation between the Mouse and campus culture at Yale.” “As much as I love the Yale campus, the Mouse offers a lovely respite from the fast-pace of college life, and a space to re-center on what’s actually important,” she said. And for that, the Christian Union community at Yale is extremely grateful. | cu

Thinking Through Faith at a Deeper Level Christian Union Course Gives Tejeda ’18 Comfort, Perspective by tom campisi, managing editor

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tions. I wasn’t afraid, because all of the conversations were marked with love and genuine curiosity.” Tejeda, who is active in the Christian community at Columbia, said she is better equipped theologically and more confident as she begins her senior year. “I’m not afraid of uncertainty or doubts anymore. Because I yearn to truly know Jesus, it is my duty to ask questions. Since everything I do should be done to the glory of God, it is important for me to ask questions in respect to my studies and future career. I should aspire to Julissa Tejeda, Columbia ’18, was do all things to the best grateful to attend the Christian of my ability.” Worldview Course in August. Attending the Lake George Course on Christian Thought also helped Tejeda experience reflection and healing following the passing of her dad, Felix Tejeda, who died of lung cancer on June 18. She was thankful for conversations about grief and moving forward with Robert Muni, a Stanford University sophomore who lost his father in high school. “The time I spent at Lake George was the first time I was really alone with my feelings. It allowed me to contemplate the reality of my dad’s absence, as well as the implications of living without him,” she said. “I found comfort in community, the warm atmosphere of the house, and nature.” Studying with like-minded students and bonding through recreational activities also proved to be a blessing. “As someone who loves nature, it was great to play basketball and volleyball, as well as go kayaking and hiking,” she said. “Overall, it felt like we were a family of nine, a multicultural Brady Brunch.” | cu

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It was an incredibly hard summer for Julissa Tejeda, a civil engineering major at Columbia University. Her father passed away in June, and she spent most of her time helping to plan his funeral and taking care of the family’s financial affairs. The Bronx, New York native had signed up for Christian Union’s annual Lake George Course on Christian Thought, but didn’t feel emotionally up to it. As she begins her senior year at Columbia, however, Tejeda is glad that she decided to attend the 12-day course with seven other students at Christian Union’s retreat center in Lake George, New York. The course, held in mid-August, was led by Jesse Peterson, a Christian Union ministry fellow at Columbia. Featured topics included: Faith and Reason; Biblical Exegesis; Meta-Ethics; The Meaning of Life; Death and Afterlife in the Bible; Creation; and Vice-Regency. “The Lake George Course on Christian Thought provides the most theologically and philosophically minded students with a means to engage with one another as peers,” said Peterson. “They become excited once it starts and they meet students from other campuses who enjoy thinking through faith at a deeper level.” Spending nearly two weeks with other students from top universities in a peaceful, scenic setting and engaging with an intellectually-rich curriculum was a welcomed respite for Tejeda. “I’m so grateful that I had the chance to leave New York City and be alone with God through Christian community,” she said. “I was able to re-focus on my senior year.” The highlight of her time in Lake George was engaging in dialogue that was fostered by studying some of life’s most provocative topics. Tejeda recalled how a negative experience in a local church a few years earlier had left her fearful of asking questions to leadership as she wrestled with doctrinal questions. “At Lake George, I felt comfortable admitting my doubts,” she said. “And I felt encouraged to ask ques-

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A Once-in-a-Lifetime Israel Experience Student’s Faith Invigorated by Christian Union Holy Land Tour by francine barchett, cornell

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Takeaway 1: Israel revels in history When we trekked up a mountain on our first day, we were greeted by biblical views from every direction. Adrian, our tour guide, pointed out Nazareth, then the mountain where Deborah attacked Sisera’s troops, the place Saul consulted a witch, Gideon’s battlefield, and even Armageddon! The artifacts we encountered seemed endless, too. “Did you know that archaeological finds have never disproved the Bible?” Adrian posed. “The more we dig here, the more critics ditch their anti-biblical theories.” This was the underlying motivation for the archaeologist we met at Mt. Precipice, who showed us the largest unexcavated site in the country.

Takeaway 2: Israel is culturally vibrant This trip made me realize how strongly Jewish culture and the Bible overlap; as we read Bible passages at each site, this recognition became all the more poignant. At Old City Jerusalem, we learned about Jerusalem’s temple tax tradition, which led us to discover that Peter was the only disciple over 20 years old. We went to a synagogue and learned about the

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Next to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and writing a book, visiting Israel was at the top of my bucket list. Because my grandparents had an unforgettable experience, they would often tell me, “Francine, if you ever get a chance to go to Israel, by golly go!” Like King Arthur questing for the Holy Grail, like an intrepid explorer journeying to his ancestors’ homeland, this would be my once-in-a-lifetime, spiritually awakening, Christian pilgrimage. Little did I know this trip, which I imagined occurring decades in the future, would happen this past summer, following my freshman year at Cornell! In June, I joined 83 students and four Christian Union ministry fellows for the Passages: Experience Israel trip. We drew on the nation’s biblical foundation and modern development. We traveled far and wide, from Christ’s ministry headquarters in Capernaum to the Dead Sea, sampling rich Middle Eastern foods, wandering traditional marketplaces, and hearing guest speakers from around the country. While what I learned those 10 days could easily fill a novel, I thought of five main takeaways:

22 Christian Union hosted a trip to Israel for students from some of the nation’s top universities.

Jewish schooling system, finding that Jesus’ disciples had been unworthy of a rabbi’s prestigious mentorship before He appointed them. Did you know that Peter’s denial rooster was actually a peacock? Men were nailed on crosses at the eye level rather than up high? And that the honey that describes the Promised Land comes from figs, not bees? This all goes to say that my professors’ entreaties to approach my studies with a culturally cognizant mindset is correct!

ticing Jews, Muslims, Christians, and thousands of refugees demonstrate impressive diversity for a nation barely the size of New Jersey. Not only did I observe such diversity, but from our tour of Israel’s Knesset (Parliament) I learned that various perspectives are welcomed here as well. With Palestinian representation and a significant female political presence, Israel recognizes that unity does not mean sameness.

Takeaway 3: Israel fights to exist

After 2,000 years of separation from their homeland, the Jews returned to Israel and have transformed their adversities into opportunities. As an agricultural major, I was fascinated how Israel’s drip irrigation helps countries worldwide obtain higher crop yields with less water. I again admired Israel’s ingenuity when we visited Olea Essence, a company that converts olives’ toxic black water into cosmetics. And I cannot forget our discussions with Israel Defense Forces soldiers. I love Israel. Thanks to my experience, I grew more familiar with the Bible, realizing its Jewish roots are deeper than I had ever anticipated. Yet, Israel is more than a taste of the past; it is a vibrant step into the present that no one could have imagined nearly 70 years ago. As I cross Israel off my bucket list, I feel an amalgamation of joy, liberation, and gratefulness. And do you know what else I feel? Veneration of God for keeping His promises to the Jewish people… and to me, even today. | cu

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Despite the disagreements between Jews and Palestinians, Israel continues to embrace multiple ethnicities and religions. Orthodox Jews, non-prac-

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Takeaway 4: Israel embodies community

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While our trip’s faith-based components spiritually motivated me, uncovering its past and present conflicts intellectually challenged me. Visiting the Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust museum, forced me to confront the graphic reality of anti-Semitism and some of Christianity’s past grievances against Jewish people. As for the Israel-Palestine conflict, nearly every day a new lecturer shared their insights, concluding that peace is but a dream. Their words seemed to come alive when we visited a Jewish, farm-based community near the Gaza Strip. A humble, yet resolute woman showed us the bomb shelters her people flee to every time the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launches a shrapnel in their direction. Over the past three years, 16,000 shells have landed.

Takeaway 5: Israel endures

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Widows, Orphans, and Generosity Penn Students Enjoy “Life-Changing” Trip to Uganda by catherine elvy, staff writer

pair of undergraduates from Harvard and Cornell universities. Kelly Schaaf, a Christian Union ministry fellow who holds a graduate degree in education from Penn, and Lauren Smith, a Christian Union intern and Cornell alumnus of 2016, accompanied the contingent. Many of the undergraduates’ duties with ROWAN were practical in nature, including setting up a fencing system for goats and staging children’s activities. The team from Christian Union also traveled with staffers for home visits to check on some of the program’s widows and children. Home visits form the core of activities for ROWAN, allowing the students to pray with residents as they check on their well-being. Hernandez said her venture to the geographical heart of the African continent was life-changing, both in personal and professional senses. “Even before this trip, I wanted to minor in global-health nursing,” said Hernandez. “I want to follow up on

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A pair of University of Pennsylvania students returned to campus eager to share the inspirational lessons they gained while serving in needy but hospitable villages in Eastern Uganda. Nursing majors Lisbette Hernandez ’20 and Sylvia Kimwei ’20 described their participation in a Christian Union summer project on behalf of the Rural Orphans and Widows AIDS Network (ROWAN) as transformational. “This was the significant part of my summer,” said Hernandez. In June, Hernandez and Kimwei took part in the mission to assist ROWAN, a Colorado-based organization that seeks to empower orphans and widows infected or impacted by HIV/AIDS. The ministry aims to nurture self-reliance in its communities via education, business training, spiritual enrichment, and medical care. During the trip, the Penn sophomores joined a

The Uganda Summer Mission Team: Christian Union Ministry Fellow Kelly Schaaf; Maame Akosua Ohemeng-Tinyase, Cornell ’20; Lisbette Hernandez, Penn ’20; Sylvia Kimwei, Penn ’20; Elizabeth D’Haiti, Harvard ’20; and Lauren K. Smith (Cornell ’16), a Christian Union intern.

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ly poverty, but spiritual wealth,” Kimwei said. “Their the people I met. I want to return with more of a wealth was so deep that you could see it in their nursing perspective.” smiles, words, and effortless and heartfelt giving to In terms of professional development, HernanGod and others around them.” dez said her trek to Uganda highlighted how culKimwei and Hernandez want to teach their Penn tural, geographical, and practical issues can shape peers the values of interconnectedness, gratitude, and healthcare settings. “I learned how people navigate the inherent satisfaction and joys of Christian service. the situation,” Hernandez said “Clearly, they do not “The people in Muwanga [exemplified] how have all of the resources we have here.” much faith and love they had for God despite the In addition, both Hernandez and Kimwei returned to Penn eager to relate life lessons they gleaned from Hernandez and Kimwei returned to Penn eager to relate a tropical sector of East Afrilife lessons they gleaned from a tropical sector of East ca known for both its colorful diversity and turbulent past. Africa known for both its colorful diversity and turbulent “The trip to Uganda was past...The sophomores want to teach their Penn peers not an ordinary missions trip where you feel like you are a the values of interconnectedness, gratitude, and the foreigner helping people and inherent satisfaction and joys of Christian service. leave in a few days. This was different,” said Kimwei. “My challenges of poverty and insufficient material needs,” stay there was a period of growth and a time to said Kimwei. “They were always so happy and so meditate about the role of God in my life.” appreciative of what God has done.” Hernandez and Kimwei raved to Penn students Many of the lessons from the bushes of Uganda about how they were transformed as they witnessed are applicable to collegiate believers in the Western a series of displays of kindness from the villagers. Hemisphere. “We love staying in our comfort zones They also noted how such gestures reflect the true and forget that at the end of the day its God who nature of Christianity. provided,” said Kimwei. “He deserves the first har”We were taken into the community, received vest from it.” | cu warmly… and then made to feel like we found a family in a completely different country,” said Kimwei, who hails from Kenya. ...................................... As for Hernandez, the native of Long Island was equally touched during her stay in the equatorial nation, especially amidst opportunities for rich felChristian Union’s lowship with the villagers. “It puts your life into Social Media Links: perspective,” said Hernandez. “They just have such a love for people. It’s a reflection of Christlike love.” Indeed, villagers in Eastern Uganda focus on Twitter.com/ChristianUnion community, rather than individual pursuits. Such a widespread emphasis plus acts of sacrificial kindness left a deep impression upon Kimwei. Facebook.com/Christian.Union “It reminded me of what Jesus said about earth-

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Coaching Student Athletes CU Ministry Mentors Basketball, Football Players by catherine elvy, staff writer

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As a former basketball coach, Christian Union’s interim ministry director at Princeton University knows the extraordinary influence and reach of athletes upon their teammates and classmates. As such, James Fields was pleased to see 10 players from the men’s basketball team at the ministry’s

teammates to the open house, which was held September 13 to welcome freshmen. Overall, 150 Princeton students attended the event. At the beginning of the semester, Fields was game planning for a weekly Bible course for the basketball team that focused on Philippians and Romans. In the last couple of years, students’ academic commitments and intense training and practice schedules were challenges to establishing a course that met on a consistent basis. A regular Bible course for the team has been “a prayer of mine since coming to Princeton,” said Fields, who joined Christian Union as a ministry fellow in 2013. Two of the top returning players on this year’s men’s basketball team are Devin Cannady ’19 and Myles Stephens ’19. Both are participants in Christian Union’s ministry at Princeton. More importantly, the men have a vision for team cohesion James Fields (center), Christian Union’s interim ministry director at Princeton, led a and trust, both on and off the Bible course last year that included football players (left to right) Rohan Hylton ’17, court. “They have a desire to lead Brannon Jones ’17, and Alex Ford ’17. their teammates in this way,” said Fields, who wants the newest crop open house at the Campus Club early in the fall of players to experience long-lasting bonds of brothsemester. The appearance was especially welcome as erhood that are centered on the Bible. Princeton dominated the Ivy League during 2016“Any meaningful discipleship starts with rela17 by going undefeated in conference play and tionships,” he said. captured the inaugural conference tournament. In As a former collegiate football player and schothe first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Tigers lastic basketball coach, Fields knows the power of lost a heartbreaker to Notre Dame, 60-58. athletic camaraderie. “These guys have a lot of social capital. They just Before joining Christian Union, Fields served came off a phenomenal year. They are the ones who as dean of students at Montrose Christian School, are on the front lines and leading our athletic comwhere he also was assistant junior varsity coach for munity,” said Fields. “In the midst of their success, the high school team and coach for the middle they are still looking for Jesus. That’s really exciting.” school team. The Maryland private school shaped Better yet, some of the returning players invited several NBA players, including Kevin Durant of

the Golden State Warriors. During his time at Montrose, Fields mentored a series of future professional and collegiate players, including Justin Anderson of the Philadelphia 76ers and Justin Robinson, a junior point guard at Virginia Tech. Fields played college football at Central Michigan University. The father of three holds graduate degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Central Michigan University. His wife Katie is the manager of the Melrose Center, the headquarters of Christian Union’s ministry at Princeton University. At Princeton, Fields has mentored two NFL players who are strong Christians, Caraun Reid ’14 and Seth DeValve ’16. Reid, a defensive lineman who has played for the Detroit Lions and San Diego Chargers, was a worship leader for Christian Union’s ministry on campus. DeValve, a tight end

with the Cleveland Browns, was also a leader on the field and in Bible courses at Princeton. Fields has high expectations for Christian Union at Princeton in this academic year as the team of ministry fellows and student leaders welcomed new students and prepared for another season of seeking

“In the midst of their success, they are still looking for Jesus. That’s really exciting.” God through Bible courses, prayer and fasting, the leadership lecture series, conferences, and outreach events. The ministry at Princeton is the largest student organization on campus, with a wide range of young adults representing all sectors of campus life, from eating clubs to sports teams. “We are planting seeds and allowing God to move mightily,” said Fields. “This has been a culmination of many years of prayer. I’m really encouraged.” | cu

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Pursuing Christ, Law, and Theology Wilkinson Is Ministry Director at HLS by tom campisi, managing editor

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ter of Divinity degree at Southwestern Seminary, while working at a law firm in Fort Worth. After serving in a local church as a pastor-elder who directed ministries of discipleship and theology, Wilkinson sensed a calling for ministry and teaching. In the fall of 2013, he and Darla moved to Louisville, Kentucky, so he could attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. However, the couple had to leave Louisville after it was discovered that Darla had a genetic condition that doesn’t allow her to process mold. The Wilkinsons relocated to a drier climate in Arkansas and waited on the Lord for the next move. Through God’s providence, they found out about an opening with Christian Union at Harvard Law School. In December—once the climate in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was deemed okay for Darla— the Wilkinsons headed east to start a new chapter. Michael continues to work toward a Ph.D. in systematic theology at The Southern Baptist Theo-

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Michael Wilkinson, Christian Union’s ministry director at Harvard Law School, has a unique blend of theological and legal training that helps him build mentoring relationships with students and empathize with the challenges they face. As a young boy growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wilkinson only wanted to be an attorney. That dream became reality when he earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. However, in the midst of a successful career as a patent attorney working with colleagues who had practiced law for a significant amount of time, Wilkinson knew he “wouldn’t be doing this in 20 years, or even 10 years.” His future wife, Darla, suggested he look into seminary. Darla’s father, Rev. Willard Lyons of First Baptist Church of Copan, Arkansas, was Wilkinson’s pastor. He eventually moved to Texas to pursue a Mas-

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logical Seminary under the supervision of Dr. Stephen J. Wellum, professor of Christian theology and editor of the Southern Baptist Journal of Theol-

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Michael Wilkinson, Christian Union’s ministry director at Harvard Law School, is leading Bible courses on the book of Philippians this fall.

ogy. While in Louisville, Wilkinson edited significant works by Dr. Wellum, including God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ (Crossway, 2016). During the 2016-17 academic year, his first at Harvard Law School, Wilkinson was impressed by the humility and vulnerability of the students in Christian Union’s ministry. As someone who worked as an attorney while simultaneously attending seminary, Wilkinson knows what it’s like to face a tight, demanding, if not overloaded, schedule. “At Harvard Law School, you could spend every minute of your waking day, apart from meals, studying, reading, and there’d still be more to do,” he said. Despite a hectic pace, Wilkinson noted that the students connected to the ministry see the value in spending time seeking God in community through mentoring, Bible courses, and Christian Union’s weekly lunch-time discussion groups, which feature a review of an article or book or a guest speaker. In May, a number of students involved with Christian Union graduated from Harvard Law School. Jim Garretson, who served as a teaching fellow and ministry director at Harvard Law School from 2013 through the summer of 2017, mentored

many of these students. Garretson noted that they will go on to notable clerkships, edit journals, and assume other positions from which they can impact culture through a Christian worldview. Commencement 2017 was bittersweet for Michael and Darla Wilkinson, who both were able to mentor students and develop relationships in about half a year. “I wanted more, but the blessing was that I saw each one of them or corresponded with them right before graduation, or at graduation,” Wilkinson said. “It was very clear that it will be very natural for us to stay in contact, and that’s a blessing.” At the dawn of the current academic year, Wilkinson is excited about welcoming 1Ls (first-year students) and mentoring returning students. “This fall semester, we are excited to see many new and returning students with a desire to grow in the knowledge and love of God according to the Word of God,” Wilkinson said. Fall semester Bible courses will center on the book of Philippians. “In our Philippians course, we will focus on the example and power of Christ for living in a manner worthy of the Gospel, with a reasoned assurance of faith, a God-centered and unshakable joy, and a life of self-giving,” Wilkinson said. “My hope is that students will become true partners in the Gospel, helping one another to follow Christ in their personal lives, in their communities, and in their academic and professional labors.” | cu

christian union cities

Helping Young Professionals Chart A New Course Christian Union New York Hosts Welcoming Events by catherine elvy, staff writer

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Union offers Bible courses and mentoring by matching hristian Union New York extended a heartfelt welcome younger Christians with professional who are established to recent graduates as they began new vocations and in their faith and career. Last year, 30 or so professionals ventures in the city. took part in four Christian Union Bible courses. About half In late September, some alumni of Christian Union’s of regular attendees had participated in Christian Union’s ministries at top universities and other young professionals ministries at top-tier univerboarded a yacht for a twosities. This year’s courses will hour excursion in New York focus on First Peter during Harbor against the stunning the autumn and First John backdrop of Manhattan’s during the spring. illuminated skyline. Assisting recent graduIn addition to building ates’ transition to the workconnections with fellow force is critical as studies believers, the young adults show a large percentage of heard about Christian believers slide away from Union New York’s slate of church attendance during leadership development their adjustment to the opportunities and other workforce, especially when resources to assist with ad- Christian Union New York hosted a cruise around the city for it involves resettlement. In justment to life in the young professionals this summer. Manhattan, where excessive world’s financial and culturpressure and long hours are al hub. the norm, faith can be especially hard to sustain. “This fall, we’re trying to integrate the new Christian Union New York will give participants graduates into Christian Union’s rich offerings a steady offering of enriching forums, lectures, and and networks and help them find and build new conferences. In particular, the Nexus Conference spiritual community for their own personal in February focuses on inspiring and challenging growth and development,” said Scott Crosby, both students and professionals to see the connecdirector of Christian Union New York. tion between faith, work, and culture. Earlier in the summer, Christian Union New Likewise, Crosby is seeking to establish similar minisYork hosted a Welcome-to-the-City party at The Ginger tries in Washington, D.C., Boston, the San Francisco Bay Man, a Midtown destination named for J.P. Donleavy’s area, and the like. In the coming months, he is pursuing literary classic capturing the misdeeds of an American plans to deploy a volunteer staff to minister to young rogue enrolled in Dublin’s Trinity College. While cultiprofessionals in the nation’s capital. vating rapport with the recent graduates, Crosby paused Crosby said up-and-coming Christian leaders need to to emphasize Christian Union’s goal of developing leaders be versed in the challenges of engaging culture. “Do we who will transform culture. understand how faith is relevant to these issues?” Crosby “It was exciting to see them connect and discover how asked, rhetorically. much they have in common through their experiences Young professionals “have to understand the same thing with Christian Union ministries at their respective camfor their work, namely how to engage and transform the puses,” he said. culture.” | cu During the gatherings, Crosby explained how Christian

donor spotlight

Peter and Linda Cline: Bricks and Mortar and Spiritual Vibrancy

eter and Linda Cline are partners, advocates, and great friends of Christian Union. Most recently, the Clines have helped to facilitate a generous $700,000 matching gift through the BridgeHead Foundation, where Peter serves as a trustee. This gift is supporting the ministry’s campaign to acquire a permanent ministry center at Columbia University

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The Cline Family

in the heart of New York City. The BridgeHead Foundation exists “to assist Christian organizations in fulfilling the redemptive mission of the Gospel in bringing restoration of life to people and their communities through the thoughtful and strategic application of Christian values.” The missions of these organizations align beautifully. “At the BridgeHead Foundation, we are looking to support organizations that are facilitating holistic transformation, strategic effectiveness, thoughtful leadership, and responsible stewardship,” Peter Cline said. “Christian Union reflects these values through its ministry and services by helping students and professionals discover and strengthen

the intellectual validity of their Christian faith, and develop practical skills that will enable them to make a significant cultural impact for the common good. To this end, both Christian Union and BridgeHead share a common desire to enable Christians to impact the leading cultural centers of influence.” The Clines developed a heart for Christian Union after direct experience with the ministry. “Having had a son as a student and athlete at Columbia, we experienced firsthand the value of Christian Union’s program. We also saw the difficulty of not having a physical location affecting the consistency with which the ministry could impact students. This has been heightened as the university’s free meeting spaces seem to be at capacity.” To Peter and Linda, a bricks and mortar campaign has deep significance. “This building is a generational change opportunity for Christian Union at Columbia. The mission of Christian Union—to provide Christian worldview training at such an influential campus in arguably one of the most important cities in the world—would have a forever presence. A permanent ministry center would be a foundational cornerstone for building the network of Christian leaders in the city as they are equipped and encouraged in the practical application of their faith to change the world.” They go on to explain that having this building “sends an important signal that the Christian faith is vital and relevant to student life in a time when the academic community has largely relegated the Christian faith community to the margins.”

Christian Union at Columbia Launched in 2011, Christian Union at Columbia has grown to 199 students (as of Spring 2017) and is growing at a faster rate than the ministry’s flagship ministry at Princeton, which is the largest student organization on campus, religious or otherwise. During the recent freshman welcoming campaign, ministry faculty at Columbia have brought in over 77 new students to participate in Bible courses. The

ability to find space to host these Bible courses is one of the greatest obstacles at this campus. For the first time since Christian Union started a Columbia ministry, a building has come on the market ideally situated near the campus for a Christian Union ministry center. The opportunity to purchase this property will not last long. Columbia University owns most of the buildings in close proximity to campus and routinely buys any that come on the market. The proposed property is one of only three

privately owned buildings suitable for a Christian Union ministry center; the other two are not for sale. Christian Union is profoundly grateful to Peter and Linda Cline and the BridgeHead Foundation, along with co-trustees Bob Rankin and Dr. Rand Unger, for their investment in men and women on Columbia’s campus. To learn more about the Columbia Ministry Center Campaign, and for ways to leverage the BridgeHead matching gift, visit www. christianunion.org/columbiacenter. | cu

christian union news

The Nashville Statement

God has a beautiful purpose for sex, and I am thankful that Christian leaders came together to reaffirm the life-giving role of sexuality,” he said. “I call on all those who love Jesus Christ and His purposes to sign the statement, as well.” To view the Nashville Statement, visit www.cbmw.org/nashville-statement.

Nexus Conferences

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Christian Union will host the Nexus Professional and Nexus Student Conferences on February 2325 at the Hyatt Hotel in New Brunswick, New Jersey. This year’s theme is “Turn the World Upside Down (Acts 17:6).” Plenary session speakers include David Bryant, founder of Proclaim Hope; Roland Warren, CEO of Care Net; and Matt Bennett, founder and CEO of Christian Union. The conferences feature breakout sessions, prayer, fellowship and networking, and spoken word performances. To register or for more information, visit www. nexusconference2018.org (students) or www.nexusprofessional2018.org.

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his summer, Christian Union Founder and CEO Matt Bennett joined with over 150 national Christian leaders when he signed the Nashville Statement, a document that affirms Christian convictions concerning issues of sexuality. The Nashville Statement was authored by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood during the annual conference of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. “Evangelical Christians at the dawn of the twenty-first century find themselves living in a period of historic transition. As Western culture has become increasingly post-Christian, it has embarked upon a massive revision of what it means to be a human being,” the preamble states. “By and large the spirit of our age no longer discerns or delights in the beauty of God’s design for human life. Many deny that God created human beings for his glory, and that his good purposes for us include our personal and physical design as male and female.” Bennett said he was honored to sign the Nashville Statement on behalf of Christian Union. “In our country, the message is getting lost that

the spiritual climate on campus

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reports from some of america’s most influential universities

The Spiritual Climate on Campus The following articles were written to keep readers informed about the spiritual atmosphere at some of America’s leading 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. ...................................................................................... BROW N | On Campus

In the Grip of Grace FORMER GYMNAST KINAMON ’17 PURSUES MEDICINE By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer Given her personal battle with MRSA, Kinamon used her time at Brown to explore ways to reduce staph infections, especially among athletes. In addition to serving as a student

who credits God for helping her to overcome the darkest chapters in her ordeal with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, also known as flesh-eating bacteria.

researcher, Kinamon also produced a video she hopes will prevent cases of the pernicious infection that endangered her left leg. “God stood with me through the

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“If people can see God at work in your life, it’s a tremendously humbling experience. I always point it back to God.”

tember, the gymnast took MCAT exams in anticipation of entering medical school in fall 2019. “I just really hope I can integrate faith and medicine,” said Kinamon,

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Brown University alumna is using the physical struggles that nearly derailed her gymnastic endeavors and threatened her life as a springboard into a medical career. Tori Kinamon ’17, who underwent major surgeries and extensive hospitalizations as a frosh, is researching the type of staph infection that nearly claimed her left leg. During her gap year, Kinamon is spreading awareness about the infection risks among collegiate athletes, while also working as a medical scribe in Durham, North Carolina. In Sep-

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shocked when physicians discussed the possibility of amputation. “Everything I had been priding myself on was gone,” said Kinamon. “I felt so helpless. In that moment, I was stripped of everything but my faith.” Still, Kinamon felt a strong prompting to pray, quickly followed by a tangible sense of peace. “That’s what I really needed in that moment,” she said. Amazingly, Kinamon recovered, relearned to walk and run, and returned to the mats. However, setbacks to her athletic career were not over as she later tore her Achilles tendon and her anterior cruciate ligament. No n e t h e l e s s , t h e Georgia native ended her athletic career at Brown with a series of accolades, including four All-AcaAfter battling a life-threatening infection, Tori Kinamon ’17 is demic honors from the researching ways to reduce MRSA among athletes. National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics brown.org) and prayers from parish- Coaches. In acknowledgement of her ioners at her home church, Holy return to her beloved sport, USA Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree Gymnastics presented Kinamon with its Mari-Rae Sopper Spirit Award and City, Georgia. “I was very blessed to have some the Eastern College Athletics Conteammates with strong faith,” Kina- ference gave the gymnast its Coaches Choice Award. mon said. Not surprisingly, Kinamon welDuring her initial season for Brown, the gymnast crashed, resulting comes opportunities to inspire athin a perilous wound deep in her left letes. “If people can see God at work leg. Kinamon’s battle with the painful in your life, it’s a tremendously huminfection of MRSA left her with a bling experience. I always point it two-foot scar and the loss of a chunk back to God,” she said. Before her ordeal as an injured of muscle. After eight surgeries over two weeks and four months of phys- athlete, Kinamon would never have ical therapy, Kinamon resumed nor- considered a career devoted to infectious diseases. “When I really dove mal activities. “It was a really tough road,” Kin- into that subject area at Brown, I expanded my perspective,” said Kinamon said. As a student athlete, Kinamon was amon, who majored in health and

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most traumatic experience of my life,” said Kinamon. “I knew He would continue to bless me.” Likewise, Kinamon was quick to reflect her faith on campus as she shared her saga with fellow athletes and classmates. When it comes to her remarkable recovery, Kinamon credits tangible support she received from friends in Athletes in Action (aia-

human biology. “It was kind of a traumatic experience. It really shaped me as a person.” While much of the research on MRSA concentrates on controlling outbreaks within hospitals, there is limited material on managing the risks to healthy individuals, especially athletes who are at elevated risk. Under the guidance of Eleftherios Mylonakis, a Brown professor of medicine, molecular microbiology, and immunology, Kinamon orchestrated a meta-analysis of the scientific literature on the bacteria in athletes. In 2016, Clinical Infectious Diseases published a paper she co-authored with a Brown medical team entitled Colonization with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and Risk for Infection among Asympto-matic Athletes: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis. Among the findings, Kinamon noted MRSA is present within 13 percent of U.S. collegiate athletes, while colonizing just 2 percent of the general population. With the help of a Royce Fellowship in Sports and Society, she began looking into ways to prevent new cases among players. Not surprisingly, Kinamon recently won the George W. Hagy Prize in Human Biology as part of the Brown Biology Senior Prizes program. In addition to her role as a student researcher, Brown cited Kinamon’s volunteer work with the Community Health Advocacy Program, among a series of contributions the gymnast made on campus and in Providence, Rhode Island. As for the future, Kinamon simply wants to help people stricken by the bacterial infection that nearly claimed her leg, but not her determination. “I’m just kind of taking a leap,” Kinamon said. “The work I’ve done could help a lot of people.” | cu

BROW N | On Campus

What Would Jesus Do? CLASS OF 1883 ALUMNUS HAD PROFOUND IMPAC T WITH BOOKS, PREACHING By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

volunteer for Friends of Ward-Meade. “Preserving Charles Sheldon’s message of social equality is especially relevant in today’s society. His work drew worldwide attention.”

Minister and author Charles Monroe Sheldon, Brown 1883, played a major role in launching the WWJD slogan.

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In July, the foundation publicized its plans to transform Sheldon’s backyard office into a historic landmark suitable to preserve the civil-rights enthusiast’s legacy and artifacts, including display cases and interpretative signage. The studio is now situated in Old Prairie Town, a street of relocated, 19th-century buildings. The structures serve as the centerpiece of the Ward-Meade Historic Site, which also

features a 2.5-acre botanical garden and mansion. As for the unassuming office that formerly stood behind his home in Topeka’s College Hill neighborhood, it served as an alcove for Sheldon as the gifted writer drafted the series of captivating accounts that formed the core of In His Steps. In 1888, Sheldon accepted a call to preach at the recently founded Central Congregational Church in Topeka. Later, to attract worshippers to his church’s sparsely attended Sunday night services, Sheldon developed the idea of reading “sermon stories.” Each installment of the vivid, serial tales would end with a cliffhanger. Within weeks, parishioners packed into evening services just to hear the latest twists in his mesmerizing plots. Sheldon survived his scholastic years in Rhode Island and Massachusetts by composing and selling articles, talents he eagerly put to use for his Midwestern church, according to the Kansas Historical Society. Ever the brilliant wordsmith, Sheldon also drew fame for editing the local newspaper for one week at the invitation of its publisher. In March 1900, Sheldon removed accounts of violent crimes and boxing matches from the Topeka Daily Capital and replaced them with inspirational accounts of social reform and pleas for crises in need of attention, according to historical accounts.

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ong before Christian youth of the 1990s sported trendy wristbands emblazoned with “WWJD,” a Brown University alumnus played a significant role in launching the movement. In 1896, Charles Monroe Sheldon, a Brown grad of 1883 and Kansas pastor, published In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do? The book sold more than 30 million copies, sending Sheldon’s message of social consciousness across the globe and into 20-plus languages. In the novel, Henry Maxwell, the main character and pastor of the First Church of Raymond, encounters an unemployed man who strikingly questions the practices and principles of well-to-do Christians. In turn, Maxwell challenges his congregation to devote a year to asking “What Would Jesus Do?” when confronted with decisions. In the Topeka region, where tributes to Sheldon’s legacy include a stretch of U.S. Route 24 named in the minister’s honor, officials are increasing their efforts to recognize the early social reformer who readily put his words into action. Kansas’ Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Foundation recently announced a fundraising drive to restore and renovate Sheldon’s garden study into a museum, complete with his roll-top desk and typewriter. “The phrase ‘What would Jesus do?’ touches people,” said Roger Houck, a Rhode Island transplant and

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Remarkably, circulation soared by more than 10-fold, according to newspaper archives. As importantly, the Andover Theological Seminary grad practiced what he preached. His vision of racial justice reached far ahead of its time. Simply put, Sheldon embraced a social gospel that encouraged fairness, especially in issues involving education, health, and labor. During an economic depression that hit Kansas, Sheldon even disguised himself in shabby clothing to gauge how town figures and onlookers would treat a down-and-out individual. He also spent time with railroad workers to learn more about labor conditions. Sheldon helped the African-American community of Tennessee Town to establish its first kindergarten, making it the first such program in

Kansas and probably in the American West. One of the most dramatic examples of Sheldon’s commitment to community advocacy involved Elisha Scott. As a boy in Tennessee Town, Scott’s wit and ambition attracted Sheldon’s attention and the minister later supported Scott through legal studies. Scott’s second son, Charles Sheldon Scott, was the attorney and NAACP leader who filed the initial lawsuit that led to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka ruling. In 1954, the high court declared state laws establishing segregated schools to be unconstitutional. As for Sheldon, the theologian and gifted communicator remained an activist throughout his fascinating life, later even campaigning for temper-

ance and pacifism. Altogether, Sheldon penned 50plus books and published hundreds of articles, especially for Christian Herald. His signature novel went on to inspire 1964, 2010, and 2013 films. Come late spring 2018, Shawnee County hopes visitors to their newest museum will learn about Sheldon’s extraordinary life and take a revived look at how they, too, can be agents of social and moral action. After all, Sheldon heartily pointed his Kansas congregants and readers to the powerful words of First Peter 2:21, which urges believers to put their religion to practice in daily life: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.” | cu

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Campus Radio Station Sold to Christian Broadcasters

In September, Educational Media Foundation, a California organization that airs Christian contemporary music, took over WBRU’s FM signal. The foundation’s K-LOVE station debuted on the 95.5 frequency with Hillsong Worship’s What a Beautiful Name. In August, WBRU, the independent radio station run by Brown University students, disclosed its agreement to sell its signal to the Christian broadcaster for $5.6 million, according to news reports.

Brown Broadcasting Service Inc. owns WBRU, which dates back to 1936 and was best known in recent years as a major player in the alternative rock format. WBRU is streaming its content at wbru.com while studying options to maintain its presence on New England’s airwaves.

Rev. Boswell-Ford Moves to MIT In July, Rev. Kirstin BoswellFord became chaplain to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after five years as associate chaplain for the Protestant community at Brown University.

Boswell-Ford replaced Robert Randolph, a Yale University alumnus who joined MIT in 1979 and became the first chaplain to the Institute in 2007. Boswell-Ford co-pastors Union Baptist Church in Cambridge with her husband, Rev. Paul Robeson Ford. She will also serve as director of religious life at MIT. At Brown, Boswell-Ford worked closely with groups within the Protestant community and interfaith organizations. Earlier, she served with the University of Chicago’s International Association of Black Religions and Spiritualities.

COLU M B I A | On Campus

A Psychiatric Account of Demonic Possession M E D I C A L P R O F E S S I O N A L R E G A R D E D F O R E X P E R T I S E I N S U P E R N AT U R A L R E A L M By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

dividuals she’d never known had died, including my mother and her fatal case of ovarian cancer.” Other witnesses reported a series of extraordinary events, including hearing the woman speak unfamiliar languages during trance-like states. As such, Gallagher concluded the subject’s displays went beyond natural causes and were more akin to paranormal phenomena. With that, an “unlikely partnership” began for the psychiatrist, who has handled several hundred consultations. Gallagher assists a variety of clergy with distinguishing mental illness from demonic manifestations. Columbia University Psychiatrist Richard Gallagher, The “overwhelming majority” of episodes reprePrinceton ’72, is penning a book about demonic sent mental disorders, possession. said Gallagher. While an unusual In a column solicited by The Wash- specialty area for an academic physiington Post, Gallagher explained his cian, Gallagher does not see an ununexpected introduction to spiritual reconcilable conflict. “The same warfare, as well as the widening de- habits that shape what I do as a promand for relief. In the late 1980s, a fessor and psychiatrist — open-mindCatholic priest asked Gallagher for edness, respect for evidence, and his psychiatric assessment of a wom- compassion for suffering people — led an who identified herself as a Satanic me to aid in the work” of discerning possible evil attacks, he wrote for the high priestess. Though he was disposed toward Post in 2016. Naturally, the majority of Gallaskepticism, the woman’s conduct “exceeded what I could explain with my gher’s mainstream colleagues reject training,” Gallagher wrote for The the concept of evil spirits, in part Washington Post. “She knew how in- because of their regular observations and medical studies at top-tier universities. The board-certified psychiatrist studied classics at Princeton University before attending SUNY Downstate Medical Center and completing a psychiatric residency at Yale University.

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n Ivy League-credentialed scholar who serves on the faculties at Columbia University’s psychoanalytic center and New York Medical College is generating headlines for his expanding expertise and forthcoming book on a most unlikely topic, namely demonic possession. Among the coverage, a major news outlet recently described Richard Gallagher as the “go-to guy for a sprawling network of exorcists” across the United States. “For the past 25 years, he has helped clergy distinguish between mental illness and what he calls ‘the real thing,’” CNN reported. While still settling publication details, Gallagher, Princeton ’72, hopes copies of Demonic Foes: An Account of Demonic Possession in the United States will be released in early 2018. Medical professionals have a duty to aid afflicted individuals, regardless of whether the condition may be controversial, according to Gallagher. “In a subject like this, one has to be scrupulously honest,” he said. “You’re dealing with material, some of which is on the fantastical side.” Gallagher is quick to acknowledge the importance of his deep-rooted faith. Though, there are many fine, unreligious scientists, “I do believe, on some level, the fullest understanding of the true nature of man, creation, and the universe is helped by a Christian view,” he said. Exorcisms and insight to the spiritual realm were not within Gallagher’s strategic vision during his classical

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of patients who hallucinate. Such professionals are versed in psychotic pathology, but lack a “frame of reference for believing in the spirit world.” In addition to deeply ingrained skepticism of the supernatural, physicians follow a reasoned, firm com-

modern manifestations, he said. When called upon, Gallagher approaches self-reporting casualties with some skepticism. Technically, he does not offer a diagnosis of possession. Rather, the physician informs clergy the apparent symptoms do not appear

“The same habits that shape what I do as a professor and psychiatrist — open-mindedness, respect for evidence, and compassion for suffering people — led me to aid in the work” of discerning possible evil attacks. mitment to “employ only standard, peer-reviewed treatments,” according to Gallagher. “Still, the evidence in some rare cases does not align with material causes.” Conversely, some Christian medical professionals have thanked Gallagher for adding validity to cases where they questioned demonic interference. Physicians who hail from belief systems that emphasize the Bible can be surprisingly open to

to have “conceivable” medical causes by standard diagnostic criteria. For the spiritually afflicted, “they have to really turn for God’s help” and initiate steps toward spiritual progress, he said. Gallagher has been featured in a variety of documentaries and articles for his expertise. The practicing Catholic also once served as a scientific adviser to a growing Rome-based organization for religious practitioners.

Catholic teachings describe the evil spirits as fallen angels who are “craftier” than their hapless human targets. Gallagher’s top instruction to clergy who suspect demonic activity is to “make sure there is no medical, especially psychiatric, condition that can explain the phenomena.” Not surprisingly, Gallagher possesses his share of critics, many of whom are strict materialists. He said his goal is to assist oppressed people, not to convert unpersuadable skeptics, including those with narrow scientific parameters. Remarkably, professional and personal colleagues have labeled Gallagher as courageous for his candor. As a psychoanalyst, a “blanket rejection” of the possibility of demonic activity upon a few victims does not represent full, careful appraisal of evidence, Gallagher said. More importantly, “for any person of science or faith, it should be impossible to turn one’s back on a tormented soul.” | cu

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A Fall Study Break with Jubilation!

Columbia University’s Christian a cappella group Jubilation! hosted “Breakthrough: A Fall Study Break Concert” on October 11 in Alfred Lerner Hall. The campus community was invited to “join us as we sing to our God about the change which He has produced in us, and the ‘breakthroughs’ we have made by His power.” The theme verse for Jubilation! is Psalm 98:4: “Shout for joy to the

LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music.” The group was founded in 1990.

Fr. Koterski Speaks at Thomistic Institute Lecture On October 10, Columbia Catholic Ministry hosted the Thomistic Institute Lecture with Fr. Joseph Koterski, S.J., associate professor of philosophy at Fordham University and editor-in-

chief of International Philosophical Quarterly. The lecture, entitled “How True Is the Bible? Reading the Bible Intelligently and Faithfully,” was held at Corpus Christi Church in Manhattan. Koterski, who served two terms as president of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, has written and edited several books, including An Introduction to Medieval Philosophy: Some Basic Concepts; and The Great Courses: Natural Law and Human Nature.

COLU M B I A | On Campus

Defending Life on Campus S T U D E N T O R G A N I Z AT I O N U N D E T E R R E D B Y O P P O S I T I O N By Nathan Barlow, Columbia ’20

and a debate on physician-assisted suicide with Columbia’s Medical School in the spring. As always, CRTL members will assemble with hundreds of thousands of pro-life activists at the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. in January.

It’s a challenging cause to take up on a college campus, but Columbia Right to Life is doing its best to transform culture. Hurley finds hope in the day-to-day interactions and duties of her position. “The most hopeful thing is when

Columbia Right to Life at the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.

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we get a student to rethink his or her position on abortion or any other life issues, or even just to admit to us that we made a good point when discussing the matter,” she says. “It also gives us hope when we have respectful dialogue with our fellow students; even if they do not agree or give in at all, it is always refreshing to have good conversations with our peers.” For more information on Columbia Right to Life, visit www.columbiartl. org. | cu

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Hurley views the pro-life cause as one that “is (or should be) central to Christian moral philosophy.” Though the club is secular, many of its members are devout Christians. CRTL seems like a natural ally for campus ministries, but participation from students in Christian organizations has been discouraging at times. In past years, CRTL has hosted joint sessions with campus ministries about how to conduct pro-life dialogue with secular peers, but Hurley notes that attendance was usually low.

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olumbia Right to Life weds the university’s penchant for activism with an unpopular, but critical, social cause. The secular student advocacy organization “seeks to create constructive dialogue around life issues on Columbia University’s campus.” Although the mission is challenging at times, the organization’s president, Caroline Hurley ’19, is encouraged by growth over the last five years and the commitment of its members. Columbia Right to Life (CRTL) meets every Tuesday in Lerner Hall. “In 2012, there were only two dedicated members. This year, we probably have 15 dedicated members cycling through the meeting room every week,” Hurley said. While it cultivates a core group of members, CRTL also focuses on engaging the campus on the club’s central issues: abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment. Several times a year CRTL sets up a table in the student center and engages passersby about life issues. The pro-life students face an expected amount of opposition, but according to Hurley, “We get a lot of people to agree that they can see the reason beyond the pro-life argument, and we get a lot less hate on campus when people realize we are not crazy ideological zealots. Our biggest challenge is ignorance and misinformation.” Along with tabling, CRTL will host a speaking event this semester

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COR N E LL | On Campus

A Fellowship Fair for Freshmen CAMPUS ON A HILL HOSTS BBQ By Zachary Lee, Cornell ’20

he grass was damp from the morning rain, dark clouds threatened to unleash a torrential downpour, and a chill breeze enveloped the air, weaving its way through Patagonia and Cornell hoodies.

COAH was formed eight years ago with events like this in mind. The mission of the umbrella ministry is “to mobilize the whole Body of Christ at Cornell and in Ithaca to strategically focus all of its resources on reaching

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The Christian Fellowship Fair Barbecue connects Cornell freshmen with campus ministries and local churches.

Despite less-than-ideal conditions to host a large, outdoor event, Campus On A Hill (COAH) proceeded with its Christian Fellowship Fair Barbecue on the afternoon of September 5. The outreach, also known as “Interfelly,” gathered a majority of Cornell ministries and Ithaca churches to inform freshmen of various Christian organizations, both on and off campus. Cornell’s Balch Lawn was bustling and convivial with over 30 churches and ministries represented. The barbeque—which offered a menu of four hundred hot dogs, three hundred hamburger patties, and one hundred bags of chips—was a resounding success, a powerful tour de force that showed the diversity and unity of the body of Christ at Cornell.

the whole campus with the whole Gospel, resulting in the redemption of society and the transformation of the community.” COAH also puts on two other large-scale events during the year, the Light Conference and Easter on the Quad. There is a full slate of outreaches and activities planned for the fall and spring semesters. On the importance of the barbecue, COAH President Evelyn Liu stated, “The Interfelly Fair helps freshmen appreciate the diversity and breadth of the Christian body at Cornell. It functions as a sign of unity— we gather together not to outcompete one another in our attempts to recruit freshmen, but rather to encourage each other in the ongoing process of mobilizing the whole Body of Christ

at Cornell and in Ithaca… Each organization has its own strengths and each freshman has his or her own needs. The Fellowship Fair helps freshmen, churches, and ministries to meet their match.” Strategically based on North Campus’ Balch Lawn, a hub for freshmen, the smell of grilled burgers and hot dogs greeted students. They were encouraged to take a plate of food and check out the different tables, while members of various organizations walked around, passing out quarter cards detailing Bible study, large group, and event information. Churches and ministries present at Interfelly included Vineyard Church of Ithaca, Bethel Grove Church, Chesterton House (chestertonhouse.org), Chinese Bible Study (https://cbscornell.com), Asian-American InterVarsity (cornellaaiv.com), Cru (crucornell.com), Korean Church at Cornell (kccornell.org), Latino Bible Study, First Ithaca Chinese Church, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Christian Union (www. christianunion.org). Additionally, Worship Workshop, a weekly Thursday night gathering where musicians come together to play and compose praise music, was also present. Cornell Claritas, a Journal of Christian Thought, handed out the latest issue of its magazine. A writer for Claritas stated, “The barbeque is a great way to connect with new students, as well as see the different Christian communities gather as one.” | cu

COR N E LL | On Campus

A Conversation on Race CHESTERTON HOUSE, CLARITAS HOST DISCUSSION By Zachary Lee, Cornell ’20

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Although he heard the Gospel text, then we’re not seeing them.” eptember was a difficult month at Cornell University as a couple message, he still found himself search- Citing Galatians 3:28 (“There is neiof racially-charged incidents occurred ing for his identity in sports or aca- ther Jew nor Greek…), he explained on or near campus. On September demic abilities. He also experienced how many people often use this verse 6, a fraternity member from Zeta very direct racism within his commu- as a justification to say that race is not Psi chanted “Build a wall!” around nity. As Chen grappled with a sense important. Instead, Chen shared how the Latino Living Center. A few weeks later, an African-American student was walking down the streets of Collegetown and was attacked by a group of white men who repeatedly hurled racial epithets. These events reflected a painful reality that even an institution like Cornell deals with very real issues of race. It was into this climate that Michael Chen came to Cornell for the “Claritas Conversation on Race and Rhetoric.” Chen, DartMichael Chen, Dartmouth ’01, is the director of the cross-cultural ministries for the Coalition for mouth ’01, is the director Christian Outreach. of cross-cultural ministries for the Coalition for Christian Outreach. The event was spon- of belonging, his sister asked him a the beauty of the Gospel is that peosored by Chesteron House and Cornell poignant question, “What does God ple can come from diverse backthink about your situation?” He was grounds and cultures and still enter Claritas, a Christian journal. Chen began by sharing his first flabbergasted. “I could not conceive into purposeful and intentional comexperiences with racism. He grew up of a God who would be thinking me,” munity; they do not have to “stop in Minnesota in a majority Swedish he said. Soon after, he resolved to being a part of ” their culture. and Lutheran culture (he humorous- understand and know the heart of “God calls us not just to coexist ly referred to himself as a “Scandan- God and turned to the Psalms. Chen with one another, but to delight in Asian”). His parents, immigrants from realized how deeply loved and accept- and embrace one another,” Chen said. Taiwan, sent him and his siblings to ed he was by God, and his life trajec- “What would it look like for the Corchurch because the only Chinese stu- tory was forever changed. nell community not simply to move When asked why it is important on from the (racial) tragedies, but dents in the area also attended. Michael hilariously stated, “I became a for Christians to engage race issues, instead to see the young man and his Christian because my parents wanted Chen boldly proclaimed, “If we are attackers reconciled?” not seeing people in their racial conme to meet Chinese people.” In terms of practical steps, Chen

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shared three strategies. Reconciliation begins with the discipline of lament, he noted. “Too often, people want to be polite and safe, but as Christians, we

of lament come from their friends and loved ones. Chen also encouraged the Cornell community to recapture the practice of hospitality. He recalled how he once

“If we are not seeing people in their racial context, then we’re not seeing them.” —Michael Chen are called to lament and not just feel sad or bad, but turn those emotions into action,” said Chen. The Psalms of lament give language to true anger and sadness. As Christians go through these scriptures, they can begin to hear the same cries

invited a homeless man to dinner. While it was at first terrifying, it was enriching and life-giving to hear the man’s story, he said. Chen urged students to extend hospitality to “those whom the world despises” because God showed love to us when we were

most unlovable. Lastly, he spoke on mutuality: “What would it look like to practice real dependence on one another?— that if someone in our community is not doing well, then I’m not doing well; that if someone is rejoicing, I can rejoice.” The conversation on race gave hope to the Cornell Christian community. “We have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation,” Chen shared. “The Gospel has the reconciling power to build bridges with the marginalized and be an invitation to those who do not know the kingdom of God to enter into that family.” | cu

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COAH Hosts Light Conference

On October 13, Campus On A Hill hosted the annual LIGHT Conference, which focuses on missions. Toby Cavanaugh from Campus Target, an organization that does missions work in Asia, was the keynote speaker. In addition, students who participated in recent missions trips in Bolivia, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, and Wildwood, New Jersey spoke about their experiences. An informal follow-up brunch took place the following day, where students heard more testimonies and learned more about Campus Target’s work.

Pierce Is Dean at Howard Divinity School In July, a Cornell University alumna became the first female to serve as dean of Howard University’s divinity school. Acclaimed scholar, minister, and commentator Yolanda Pierce took over the helm of the 150-year-old divinity school after a decade on the faculty of Princeton Theological Seminary, where she also served as the seminary’s director of the Black Church Studies program. Pierce earned a doctoral degree in English from Cornell in 1999, where she also finished dual graduate degrees in 1997. Pierce

Scholar Yolanda Pierce, Cornell Ph.D. ’99, Princeton ’92, recently became the first female dean of Howard University’s divinity school.

completed undergraduate studies at Princeton University in 1992. Her vast credentials also include service as the Lilly Endowment curator and director of the Center for the Study of African American Religious Life at the Smithsonian National Museum of AfricanAmerican History and Culture.

D A R T M OU T H | On Campus

Homecoming Traditions: Then and Now ANNUAL CELEBRATION TRACED TO A HOLY, NOBLE PURPOSE By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

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Founded in 1769 under a royal ing undergraduates into the permao m e c o m i n g p r ov i d e d a much-anticipated opportunity charter from King George III, the nent duties and responsibilities of the for Dartmouth College to welcome college was named for the second Earl college fellowship,” according to The back alumni and share beloved Big of Dartmouth in gratitude for his Dartmouth newspaper. support of Wheelock’s gospel-mindGreen traditions with frosh. Along those lines, Tucker reOn October 6 and 7, alumni de- ed educational endeavors. mained committed to the need for Given this godly heritage, as well students to embrace public service, scended upon Hanover for a weekend of festivities, including the annual as a vision for training the next gen- as well as for Dartmouth to reflect parade and famed bonfire. As a highlight of the weekend, Big Green relished in its biggest comeback in 136 years of varsity football, energizing a crowd of 8,000-plus at Memorial Field with a 28-27 victory over Yale. For Dartmouth, however, homecoming’s origins are about more than dramatic touchdowns, fancy tailgating, and green-clad parades. Homecoming traditions at Dartmouth date back more than 120 years and point to the college’s deeper roots and founder Eleazar Wheelock’s Photo: Michael Lin, courtesy of www.thedartmouth.com. mission to birth an education- The bonfire is a Homecoming tradition at Dartmouth College. al and missionary training center that would establish the groundwork for the evangelization of eration of leaders, William Jewett rich moral and spiritual character. Native Americans. Tucker, the college’s ninth president, By 1904, the annual programming Not long after graduating from held Dartmouth Night on September included a procession of the Earl of Yale in 1733, Wheelock was moved 17, 1895 to greet and celebrate alum- Dartmouth from the Hanover Inn by the First Great Awakening. For his ni. A Congregationalist minister, he and hymns and a historical address part, the revivalist preached hundreds was a member of the class of 1861. in the college’s church. The eighth earl of moving sermons as religious fervor Tucker’s efforts to unite students visited from England as the guest of spread across primitive New England with a sense of Dartmouth’s lineage honor for laying the cornerstone for during the late 1730s and 1740s. grew out of earlier gatherings of the a rebuilding of Dartmouth Hall after Indeed, Dartmouth’s motto of Vox student body known as Rhetoricals. a fire earlier that year. clamantis in deserto is a reference to Held inside a chapel in Dartmouth In 1923, the college connected the John 1:23: “I am the voice of one Hall, Tucker described such meetings annual gatherings, including the popcalling in the wilderness…” as “a rare opportunity of indoctrinat- ular bonfire, to football. That year,

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Dartmouth dedicated Memorial Field before action started in its matchup against Cornell University. The college continued to refer to its storied traditions as Dartmouth Night until the early 1960s, when it followed other U.S. institutions in dubbing such football-centric festivities as homecoming celebrations, according to The Dartmouth. Today, homecoming at Dartmouth also features the Wearers of

the Green ceremony to honor students, alumni, and coaches for athletic achievements. As part of a newer tradition, members of the Class of 1971 passed the torch for the lighting of this autumn’s bonfire to the Class of 2021. In a nod to Tucker’s efforts to promote intergenerational unity, the gesture recognizes the bond between undergraduate classes and returning reunion classes.

As each homecoming bonfire burns brightly to welcome another freshman class into Dartmouth’s rich heritage, few may remember the Holy Ghost flame that burned within Eleazar Wheelock over 250 years ago. It was on this rugged American frontier that he ignited the torch to “spread the knowledge of the only true God and saviour and make it as extensive and common as possible.” | cu

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A Celebration in Song X.ADO WELCOMES ALUMNI FOR SPECIAL REUNION CONCERT By Holly Sung, Dartmouth ’20

at Rollins Chapel on October 14. Following the concert, the group and audience members enjoyed an evening of unstructured worship, an event demonstrative of X.ado’s personality

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he following story originally appeared in The Dartmouth, America’s oldest college newspaper (www. thedartmouth.com). Reprinted with permission.

X.Ado celebrated its 25th anniversary during Homecoming.

Dartmouth’s Christian a cappella group X.ado celebrated its 25th anniversary during Homecoming, welcoming its alumni in a performance

and mission. Founded in 1992, X.ado differentiates itself from other campus groups both in its philosophy and its approach

to rehearsing and performing. While a love of music unites the members, music isn’t the only thing that draws them together; the members’ faith and strong sense of purpose unites X.ado under a common identity. “We’re not just a performance group, but we are also a ministry,” said Elisabeth Pillsbury ’18, the Outreach Pitch of the group. “It’s a big component of who we are.” This impacts the group’s audition process, according to Pillsbury. “We are selecting from a smaller pool from the beginning — [members] need to be talented musicians, but also have to be on track with our mission,” she said. “So our group tends to be smaller, but in the end, all the people in the group are excited to be there.” The group’s unique closeness is perhaps best demonstrated by the weekly “x-hour,” separate from and in addition to its normal rehearsal schedule. However, this is not the same (extra class or study) period that

Dartmouth students know so well. Instead, this is a time for X.ado members to come together in spiritual reflection as a group. “The nature of our shows are also different,” Fred Kim ’17, a recent X.ado alumnus, said. “I feel like what sets X.ado apart is our purpose; every song and every show we have are selected and designed carefully with purpose. Each time, the purpose is different, but the main theme is to spread God’s love.” In addition to this common purpose, X.ado’s deep history contributes to the community of the group. Approximately 20 alumni visited for Homecoming, ranging in year from ’17s to ’06s. The Homecoming performance, which group alumnus and event emcee Daniel Fang ’15 said X.ado began planning in March, was a meaningful way to celebrate X.ado’s history and share current and former members’ love for the group. “Emceeing for the event, I was able to really appreciate X.ado and what it meant for each of us,” Fang said. “It’s a beautiful family that God has brought

together for an amazing and powerful purpose. We spent the whole afternoon on Saturday just street singing together; we brought back a lot of the X.ado classics, and it was magical how we were all able just to come together as a group, despite the age gaps.” Although the event was on Saturday (during Homecoming), current members and alumni were able to

come back as an alum.” Fang ended the reunion weekend with high hopes for the next 25 years of the group. “This anniversary event was an opportunity for us to dig back into what X.ado is,” Fang said. “Hopefully, we will catapult ourselves into the next 25 years with the same sense of family and purpose and passion.”

X.ado’s deep history contributes to the community of the group. Approximately 20 alumni visited for Homecoming, ranging in year from ’17s to ’06s. spend quality time together throughout the weekend, ending with a gathering for brunch on Sunday. “It was like coming home,” Kim said. “I remember we would have rehearsals three times a week, and no matter what happened in my college life, either academic or social, every time I went to the X.ado rehearsal, I felt like I was brought back home. The group rounded me and I received a lot of love, and it was amazing to

As a senior, Pillsbury said that the weekend allowed her to reflect on her thankfulness for the X.ado “family” over the past three years. “It’s a special connection and family that I feel grateful for, especially after this weekend,” Pillsbury said. “A lot of our ’17s joined us for the concert and, in the end, the alumni joined us to sing as well, and it was amazing.” | cu

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On October 23, Integrare at Dartmouth hosted a roundtable dinner at the Hanover Inn with guest speaker Dr. Aine Donovan, a

Roundtable Dinners Examine life’s “Big Questions”

professor and the executive director of Dartmouth’s Ethics Institute. The roundtable dinners are focused on bringing together a mix of nonChristians and Christians from the Dartmouth community to engage in discussions around one of life’s “big questions” that reveal the relevance of faith. A Christian Union grant helped underwrite the event. Integrare offers smallgroup Bible studies and individual mentoring geared specifically to Dartmouth athletes.

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The 24/7 Prayer Room at Dartmouth, conveniently located off the Hanover Green, hosted a First Night Party for freshmen at the beginning of the fall semester to let them know about a place where Christian students and small groups gather to seek the Lord. The inviting space contains four unique walls that each serve a prayerful purpose. The Worship Wall contains written praises;

The Wailing Wall is dedicated to posting prayer requests; a Missions Wall is devoted to local and international initiatives; and a fourth wall offers a sound system for worship music.

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Prayer Room Welcomes Freshmen

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H A RVA RD | On Campus

Harvard’s Ichthus JOURNAL GIVE S VOICE TO A CHRIS TIAN WITNE SS ON C AMPUS By Ethan Purdue, Harvard ’19

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he Ichthus, a journal of Christian thought and expression, is providing a platform for discussion and debate on Harvard’s secular campus. “Universities are places where you expose yourself to different perspectives and think seriously about your deepest held beliefs,” said Greg Scalise, editor-in-chief of The Ichthus. “Secular colleges are places where ideas should be in conflict and people should be able to see both sides of a question.” The Ichthus seeks to defy misconceptions about Christianity and its compatibility with a rigorous intellectual life. Founded in 2004 by Jordan Hylden ’06, the journal was the first of its kind, helping to inspire similar publications at other top-tier institutions. These journals are now united under the Augustine Collective, an umbrella organization that supports and connects editors, writers, and alumni. At its inception, The Ichthus was primarily focused on Protestant theology, but evolved over time, and is now one of the more ecumenical organizations at Harvard. “It’s hard to think theologically about different problems if you don’t have people with different perspectives,” said Scalise, a philosophy and classics double major who is pursuing a secondary in English. “We have a large number of Catholic and Protestant writers from different traditions, and we have both liberal and conservative Christians working to-

gether in the same space… We have people writing personal reflections, writing about the arts, writing creatively, and writing about the news. It has moved from primarily theology to more general Christian writing.” Scalise and the editors affirm their writers’ ambitions to question everything from the purpose of humanity

to niche concerns about Harvard’s campus and culture. They want Harvard students on the team to “think seriously about their faith and work towards being better Christian writers and artists.” The Ichthus publishes a print edition once each semester, delivering a copy to every dormitory door. The print version primarily focuses on issues and news relevant to Harvard. The staff also maintains a blog, updated roughly once a week, that features short series on particular topics, from pop culture to mental health.

During Lent, the blog is updated every day for 40 days with the goal of progressing through an entire Gospel book. “This is a great way for people to start writing about Christianity,” Scalise revealed. “They can analyze the scriptures or write personal reflections on them.” In addition to its publications, the journal holds an event known as “Texts-for-Toasties” three times a year – once in the fall semester for freshmen and during the finals period of both the fall and spring semesters. “People text in questions about Christianity, being a Christian on campus, religion, and God. We bring them a sandwich and an answer to their question,” Scalise said. “Then, we can have a conversation with them.” The Texts-for-Toasties initiative is beneficial to the spiritual climate on campus in many ways. It makes a name for The Ichthus, gets students to recognize that Christians can be intellectual and prepared to answer their questions, and encourages Christians participating to think seriously about the questions others have about their faith. Whether engaging seekers in their dorms with sandwiches or print copies, or blogging about timely topics, The Ichthus is accomplishing its mission “to show that Christianity is something that applies to all of life and culture.” For information on The Ichthus, visit www.harvardichthus.org. | cu

H A RVA RD | On Campus

A Heart for College Students

REV. KIM CELEBR ATE S MILE S TONE WITH A MISSIONS TRIP By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

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Harvard University chaplain sulted in 13 church plants in five ers of Antioch Baptist Church have recently celebrated the 30th nations, summer missions programs mentored pastors in their diverse anniversary of her first international to 10-plus countries, and a grid of congregational plants. As well, countmissions trip by organizing a com- about 60 missionary families. As well, less disciples from Harvard have served at other U.S. and formemorative journey with her eign campuses. expansive church family. The family’s heart for pro“God has used me to reach claiming the Good News out wherever I go,” said Reacross the globe was born in bekah Kim, who launched a the 1980s while the couple ministry to Asian students at was ministering to the UniHarvard and a nearby Baptist versity of California at Berkechurch. ley community. Three decades after leading Despite not fully recupera flock of California college ating from giving birth to her students on a missionary venson two months earlier, Reture to Japan and the Republic bekah Kim felt an urgency to of Korea, Kim observed the evangelize in Japan. Kim anniversary with a group missensed the distinct impression sion to East Asia. During the that unless she seized an opsummer, Paul and Rebekah portunity to oversee the misKim, pastors emeritus of Camsion involving UC Berkeley bridge’s Antioch Baptist students, she would miss a Church, joined with church greater evangelistic calling members and other believers upon her life. to help spread the Gospel in The 1987 trip was espeSouth Korea and Armenia. cially significant for Kim as While travelling across the Korean peninsula’s rugged Rebekah Kim, a Harvard University chaplain, recently she grew up regarding Japan landscape, the team of 200- marked the 30th anniversary of her first international as an enemy, a view steeped in Imperial Japan’s former rule plus, including nearly 20 Har- mission and celebrated her church’s widespread evangelism efforts, especially among college over the Korean peninsula. vard alumni, shared God’s plan students. More recently, the Kims of salvation with hundreds of and Antioch Senior Pastor students during a dozen meetRebekah Kim oversees Harvard’s David Um, also a chaplain at the ings on seven university campuses. Such efforts reflect Rebekah Kim’s Asian Baptist Student Koinonia Massachusetts Institute of Technolodeep passion for evangelism. “Every (www.absk.org/harvard), and Paul gy, were among the contingent who Christian should be a soldier and Kim serves as a consultant to South- jetted to South Korea. This time, Philip Kim, Harvard ambassador for Christ,” said Kim. ern Baptist Convention’s executive committee. ’09, M.Ed. ’17, joined his parents for “This world is not our country.” By focusing much of their minis- the legacy journey, which took place Today, the fruit of such commitments from the Kim family have re- try upon college students, the found- from May 27 to June 6. Also joining

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the team was Pauline Kim Han, Harvard GSE ’04, who reaches out to college students in Philadelphia, including ones attending the University of Pennsylvania. A fervent heart for missionary endeavors arose from Rebekah Kim’s love for college students. As a student at Seoul National University, Kim embraced Christ after curiosity compelled her to attend a Bible study on Genesis. “It was so clear. God answered my questions,” said Kim, who was raised in Confucian tradition. Since that commitment as a junior in February 1971, God has “blessed and used me,” Kim said. Later, after adjusting some life and career paths, Kim earned a second bachelor’s degree in art history from UC Santa Cruz, plus a master of divinity from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. While preparing to relocate to

France, Kim met her future husband while visiting family in Los Angeles. “I surrendered my life to God completely to be a pastor’s wife,” she said. In March 1981, the couple started Berkland Baptist Church in a neighborhood on the border of Berkeley and Oakland. “Ever since then, I have had a special heart for college students,” said Kim. A decade later, a former Berkeley student sent a desperate plea for spiritual support after transferring to Harvard University, where she lacked vibrant Christian community, including a collegiate church. By January 1991, the Berkeley congregation had exploded to 500 worshippers. Thus, with two children in tow, the Kims planted Berkland Baptist Church-Boston, a house of worship they later renamed Antioch. In 1998, Rebekah Kim became a chaplain at Harvard, seven years after

establishing an Asian Baptist Student Koinonia chapter. In a nod to Harvard’s heritage, Kim likes to say she is following benefactor John Harvard’s vision to train ministers. In 2011, the Kims handed off direct leadership of Antioch to David and Angela Suh Um, Harvard ’92, MPP ’94, founder of the Boston Academic Consulting Group. Antioch’s team also includes Dan Cho, the church’s longtime college Director and a fellow Southern Baptist chaplain at Harvard. As well, Cho, Harvard ’96, Yale STM ’05, is Asia Director for The Veritas Forum. Ever mindful of her lifelong calling to serve as Christ’s ambassador, Kim also is pursuing a doctorate from nearby Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. “God gave me clear direction, a heart for college students for the rest of my life,” she said. | cu

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Medical Researchers Note Value of Spiritual Factor

A team of Harvard University researchers recently highlighted studies pointing to the value of spiritual approaches to medical care and the broad beneficial relationship between religious participation and health. In the JAMA Viewpoint article, a team affiliated with Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Medical School recapped evidence suggesting patient health and life quality could improve with greater attention to spiritual health from

physicians. As part of social histories, doctors could ask about spiritual support systems and use such details in future care. Patients often take strength and solace from spirituality, the authors wrote in the July article.

“Godless Harvard” Harvard University’s student newspaper recently highlighted the history of mandatory church attendance on campus. In October, The Harvard Crimson explained how Rev. Francis Peabody pushed to end compulsory participation in morning prayers. The Harvard

alumnus of 1869 and 1872 noted the practice reminded him of preaching stints inside the nowdefunct Charlestown State Prison. Protests to the attendance polices started as early as 1866. Students complained such practices dated back to stateenforced regulations when church absences were considered as solid proof of ungodliness, akin to “dancing or card-playing.” On the day the requirement lifted in 1886, some students said Harvard re-earned its nickname of “Godless Harvard,” a moniker that surfaced a century prior.

P E N N | On Campus

A Willingness to Dialogue Q U E S T I O N S D E E P E N O U R F A I T H , O U R R E L AT I O N S H I P S By Sebastian de Armas, Penn ’19 The following article was adapted from Locust Walk, a student-led, Christian journal at the University of Pennsylvania (www.locustwalkjournal.com). Sebastian de Armas is a junior studying Healthcare Management and Policy.

an integral aspect of our spiritual growth. The book of James states, “If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly.” When I actively bring my beliefs and assumptions to God, He promises to reveal the reasons I can place my faith in Him. Questioning others and ourselves in matters concerning our beliefs solidifies our foundation of truth and clarifies the claims we make. Besides enriching our personal worldview, asking questions plays a crucial role in deepening our relationships. Imagine a friendship in which

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one friend never bothered to get to know the other. We could hardly call it a friendship. The two could never grow in mutual understanding, and attachments to any other person or thing would become immediately more attractive.

Asking them questions became an important supplement to the observations we made about ourselves and our surroundings. This is also true of our learning from and about God. Testing our beliefs through study of the Bible is

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One of the great things about college is that we can have conversations of depth—but how often do we engage in conversations that will challenge our beliefs? Asking and discussing profound and difficult questions about our thoughts, opinions, and beliefs is essential to building relationships on all fronts...

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hy should I care about a God when I’m doing fine just by myself?” I sat there waiting to see what my other two Christian friends would say. The three of us were having a late night conversation with another friend when, curious about what we believed in, he asked that question. There was one of those prolonged awkward silences—the elephantin-the-room, cricket-chirping kind. Rather than directly answering the question, my two other friends simply gave confused looks. Later, they commented on their feelings of shock as, to them, the answer was self-evident and, therefore, the question was unnecessary. Though the conversation continued, I left feeling profoundly uncomfortable. It seemed like no one was willing to break past the wall of differing opinions in order to engage in meaningful dialogue. One of the great things about college is that we can have conversations of depth—but how often do we engage in conversations that will challenge our beliefs? A willingness to dialogue—and ask questions that make us uncomfortable—is vitally important for two reasons. First, it is a better way to learn. Second, it deepens our relationships with others. Both of these dy-

namics are at work, not only in our human relationships, but also in our relationship with God. I find that I’ve learned the most by constantly asking questions—questions not grounded in skepticism of the other, but based on curiosity for the sake of clarity. From an early age we all think this way. Recall the times when we questioned our parents with an endless array of “Who?” “What?” and “When?” We saw our parents as sources of truth that could provide insight into the world around us. As we grew older, we began to ask “How?” and “Why?” regarding their worldviews.

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That night with my friends, people who were otherwise very close were divided by a shared complacency over engaging in deep dialogue. Asking and discussing profound and difficult questions about our thoughts, opinions, and beliefs is essential to building relationships on all fronts, no matter the type of relationship (i.e. friend to friend, believer to non-believer, etc.). Asking questions and engaging in difficult dialogue helps us grow in knowledge and in relationships, both with others and with God. Additionally, the act of asking questions should

not solely depend on receiving a clear answer. In life, we often ask questions without receiving responses. What, then, do we do when we’re seemingly abandoned in our pursuit of knowledge? I often find myself asking questions about my faith. I’ve found myself doubting concepts ranging from Creation to God’s existence, yet I’ve also found comfort in situations where I have not been given answers. Only by reflecting on my doubt can I really find the truth. In Psalm 77, David cries out to God for help and questions His intentions to rescue him in his distress.

Halfway through the psalm, he concludes that all is lost: “Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Yet, as the psalm continues, David’s questions remind him of God’s faithfulness to the Israelites who escaped Egypt by crossing the Red Sea. This restores his trust in God. Questioning allowed David to live in hope, rather than continually exist in doubt. Similarly, if we don’t ask questions, we may always be stuck harboring bitter doubts about His promises, believing in God with our minds, but not with our hearts. | cu

P E N N | On Campus

United in Worship and Prayer

LU K E 18 PR O J E C T C O ME S T O PE N N By James Supplee, Penn ’17

n Wednesday, October 11, representatives from various campus ministries and local churches gathered in Houston Hall at the University of Pennsylvania for a night of worship and prayer. Led by the Luke 18 Project, the event focused on Christian unity, revival, salvation, and spiritual awakening on campus. Participating ministries included: Awaken the Dawn, Penn for Jesus, Christian Union at Penn, Chi Alpha at Penn, and Collegiate Day of Prayer. The Luke 18 Project, founded in 2008 by the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri, collaborates with campus ministries to equip leaders and students with the tools necessary to “fuel a culture of prayer and fasting to contend for revival and awakening on college campuses.” This fall, in a span of just 10 days, the Luke 18 Project toured through the

Northeast, hosting worship and prayer nights at all eight Ivy League universities. Ultimately, the Luke 18 Project aims to ignite three movements: A Campus Prayer Movement; A New Jesus Movement; and A New Student Volunteer Movement, which would mobilize young people in the United States to boldly go to all nations, sharing the good news of the Gospel with unreached and under-reached people groups. At Penn, students, campus ministry leaders, and Luke18 Project members joined together for alternating portions of praise and prayer. One person raised a topic of need on campus at Penn and others prayed aloud. The assembly interceded for mental health, Christian community, and revival on campus, among other topics. These topics were particularly relevant, considering some difficult recent events. Less than one week after the

night of worship and prayer, a member of the Penn community, third-year law student Justin Hamano, died suddenly. Hamano was the fourth Penn student to pass away this semester, the sixth in 2017. Despite the efforts of many organizations, mental health struggles continue for many Penn students. Annie Kim, a senior in the Nursing School, was deeply encouraged by the events of the Luke 18 Project event. She expressed immense gratitude for the visiting team of ministers and the members of the Penn community who came out to pray for the university. “I’m glad that there are Christian people who love the Lord and love His people,” she said. Certainly, in the midst of difficult times on Locust Walk, it is necessary for believers within and without the Penn community to seek the Lord on behalf of the institution. | cu

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The Collegium Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture hosted a reading series tied to the 500th anniversary of the

Collegium Series Focuses on Reformation

Reformation. During six sessions in September and October, Catholic and Protestant speakers led a group of students through the main texts of the Reformers and examined how their ideas were shaped by centuries of faith tradition. Founded by faculty, alumni, students, and associates of the University of Pennsylvania, the Collegium Institute is an independent scholarly foundation devoted to fostering the Catholic intellectual tradition.

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On September 1, the Whitefield Society hosted an informational dinner and game night for students at the University of Pennsylvania. The Whitefield Society is an ecumenical Christian community that seeks “to engage questions of identity, calling, vocation, and academics.” The ministry’s offerings include

book discussions, Bible studies, community dinners, and Ekklesia, a weekly liturgical worship service. The Whitefield Society is sponsored by City Church of Philadelphia.

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Whitefield Society: an Ecumenical Christian Community

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PR I N C E T O N | On Campus

Think for Yourself!

SCHOL ARS EXHORT S TUDENTS WITH LET TER By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

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When it comes to extreme intolgroup of notable scholars country. from Harvard, Princeton, Both religious and secular practi- erance, young adults should not allow and Yale recently penned a letter tioners may attempt to squelch mean- themselves “to be intimated and bulurging college students to avoid the ingful exchanges about core components lied by those who do practice it,” said “vice of conformity.” of world views, but recent trends in the George, Harvard Theology ’81, Law The professors advised frosh to intellectual realm suggest a widespread ’81. “They are the real bigots. Don’t think for themselves, especially given aversion toward traditional values, fall for it.” With the launch of trends toward campus the academic year, and intellectual orthoGeorge’s team of scholdoxy, in a document ars combined forces in issued on August 29 the open letter to envia Princeton’s James courage incoming unMadison Program in dergraduates to be American Ideals and mindful of intellectual Institutions. independence as they “In today’s climate, enter college life. “We it’s all too easy to allow wanted to get the letter your views and outout before classes belook to be shaped by Professor Robert George is the director of Princeton’s James gin,” George said. “We dominant opinion on Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. especially wanted to your campus or in the reach new students.” broader academic culLikewise, the joint commentary ture,” the academics wrote. George told Fox News. “The danger any student - or fac“All too often, we have secular appeared especially timely in view of ulty member - faces today is falling fundamentalists today,” said George, high-profile altercations that have into the vice of conformism, yielding linking their concerns to debates over dotted the higher-education landscape to groupthink.” same-sex wedlock, abortion, and such. in recent years regarding speakers on Princeton Professor Robert “Because of their beliefs, they want campus. As such, the scholars want incoming freshmen to embrace the role of rich intellectual exchanges, even on politically controversial topics. As of late September, the number of academic signatories on the letter reached 28. Pausing for individual contemplaGeorge, the director of the James to shut down debate and discussion Madison Program, reached out to a by… calling their debating partners tion may prove challenging for some young adults, especially when surpolitically and religiously diverse names.” group of colleagues at top-tier uniSuch labeling, often forming the rounded by opinionated peers and versities to promote expression and basis of a conversation-stopper, is “just intimidating professors. “It always demands self-discipline and these days exploration among students across the out of bounds.”

“In today’s climate, it’s all too easy to allow your views and outlook to be shaped by dominant opinion on your campus or in the broader academic culture.”

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During his appearance on Tucker can require courage,” the academics of the political spectrum. “The same rules of engagement apply, whether Carlson Tonight, George paused to wrote. Likewise, the practice John Stuart conformity pressures are originating express gratitude for the acclaimed Mill once described as the “the tyran- from right-wing or left-wing philos- scholars who came together to highny of public opinion” dissuades some ophies,” said George during his ap- light the need for emerging adults to shape their world views via unfettered students from openly countering pre- pearance on Fox News. As the joint letter affirms, the “love discourse. “They are wonderful peovailing perspectives on political, moral, and related issues. Such campus of truth and the desire to attain it” ple, brilliant scholars,” he said. Ultimately, the educators imsentiments lead some underclassmen should motivate students to think to “suppose that dominant views are so obviously correct that only a bigot or crank could question them.” Because students do not want to face alienation, the “easy, lazy way to proceed is simply by falling into line with campus orthodoxies,” the letter continued. That is precisely where intellectual initiative and boldness come into play. “Thinking for yourself means questioning dominant ideas, even when others insist on their being treated as unquestionable,” the professors wrote. Firestone Memorial Library at Princeton University Rather, individualistic thinking involves “taking the trouble to learn and honestly consid- independently, especially in academ- plored freshmen not to be “tyrannized er the strongest arguments to be ad- ic settings. “The central point of a by public opinion.” When embracing vanced on both or all sides of college education is to seek truth and or rejecting positions, especially inquestions.” That includes arguments to learn the skills and acquire the vir- volving morality, take time to assess for positions that some “revile and tues necessary to be a lifelong arguments for competing positions critically. want to stigmatize” and against some truth-seeker,” the professors wrote. Most importantly, “don’t get Likewise, “open-mindedness, critviews barred from scrutiny, the scholical thinking, and debate are essential trapped in an echo chamber,” they ars noted. For his part, George readily em- to discovering the truth.” Such ap- wrote.| cu phasized that the rules of intellectual proaches form the “best antidotes to discourse should apply to both ends bigotry.”

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PR I N C E T O N | On Campus

No Moral Compass

P R I N C E T O N P R O F E S S O R S H A R E S D I S T U R B I N G P R O -A B O R T I O N V I E W S By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

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n interview with a Princeton University professor went viral after the philosopher shared her perplexing position on the morality of abortion with movie star James Franco. The five-minute video generated a firestorm of online critiques, mostly blasting the elements of the scholar’s pro-termination argument as “bizarre,” “convoluted,” and “rubbish.” The uproar occurred after Franco and co-host Eliot Michaelson interviewed Professor Elizabeth Harman for an episode of Philosophy Time, a YouTube series. Michaelson is a philosophy lecturer at the King’s College in London; Franco is best known for starring roles in various films, including the Spider Man series, 127 Hours, and The Interview. During the July broadcast, Harman expounded upon her support for early abortions, noting fetuses have not lived long enough to attain “moral status.” The Harvard University alumna of 1997 asserted that “nothing morally bad happens” during early terminations. In general, an abortion of a tiny embryo is morally acceptable as the fetus has never been conscious or perceived “any experiences,” Harman opined. Admittedly, “this view might seem unattractive because it might seem that it dictates a cold attitude towards all early fetuses,” she said. Harman explained her position to Michaelson and Franco, who enrolled at Yale University in 2010 to pursue a doctorate in English after finishing a master of fine arts from Columbia University.

“Among early fetuses, there are two very different kinds of beings,” she said. “So, James, when you were an early fetus, and Eliot, when you were an early fetus, all of us, I think, already did have moral status then. But we had moral status in virtue of our futures…” “But some early fetuses will die in early pregnancy due to abortion or miscarriage. And, in my view, that is a very different kind of entity. That’s something that doesn’t have a future as a person and it doesn’t have moral status.” Thus, a fetus only receives “moral status” when a woman decides to maintain her pregnancy, Harman proffered. In response to the incredulous ideologies espoused by Harman, Sherif Girgis, a scholar with The Witherspoon Institute, offered a lengthy reply, including a plug for reasoned public debate on pro-life causes and the respect for human life. “This points to the most basic problem with Harman’s view, a problem shared by other ‘liberal’ views of our moral status. That’s the idea that we have moral status not in virtue of what we are (animals of a rational nature), but in virtue of having acquired or developed a certain trait to a certain degree,” wrote Girgis, Princeton ’08, a recent Yale University law graduate and a philosophy doctoral candidate at Princeton. Still, Harmon maintains a firm campus platform for her ideologies, including ones dismissing and divorcing the concept of moral culpability from pregnancy termination. The associate professor of philos-

ophy and human values has taught courses at Princeton focused on the ethical issues associated with topics including moral status, harm, sexuality, procreation, and relationships. As for Girgis, the theologian and author declared that each embryo has value because of its potential to develop and experience life. “We matter because of what we are,” Girgis wrote. | cu

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Office of Religious Life Criticized for Supporting Rally In August, Princeton University’s Office of Religious Life drew attention for supporting an event on campus that raised funds for Planned Parenthood. The Office of Religious Life co-sponsored a rally organized by the New Jersey branch of Run 4 All Women. An associate dean told The Daily Princetonian that Religious Life backed the event to highlight Planned Parenthood’s comprehensive health care services. In turn, some students expressed disapproval over the involvement to the campus newspaper. “I know there are religious and pro-life students who feel alienated by the decision and who feel that ORL has failed to represent them,” said Alexandra Cavazos ’19, co-president of Princeton Pro-Life.

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YA L E | On Campus

For God and Country MEESE, YALE ’53, REMAINS PASSIONATE ABOUT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

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d Meese, the U.S. Attorney General during the Reagan administration and a Yale alumnus of 1953, paused to reflect on the godly legacy of the United States – and warn of its ever-expanding secular drift – during an appearance at Christian Union’s Staff and Faculty Conference this summer. “We are in a time of great peril, both governmentally and culturally,” said Meese. “It’s very important that we recognize where the country is today.” An octogenarian, Meese remains active in championing moral causes, especially in acting as an ambassador for The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank based in based in Washington, D.C. At the conference, Meese trumpeted the need for contemporary citizens to enjoy increased personal religious liberties and decreased government involvement. In a democratic-affirming republic, residents should be free to reflect doctrinal principles, even in marketplace operations, without fear of government harassment, said Meese, author of The Heritage Guide to the Constitution. “Our citizens are increasingly ignorant of the Constitution.” In a recent column entitled “The Gathering Storm: Religious Liberty in the Wake of the Sexual Revolution,” Dr. Albert Mohler recalled Meese’s “prophetic” warning three decades ago regarding looming threats to religious freedom from “ideas that have gained influence in some parts of our society.” “The ideas of which Mr. Meese warned have only gained ground in

For many years, he has urged judges to respect the text of the U.S. Constitution in a practice he termed a “Jurisprudence of Original Intention,” rather than subtle or overt policymaking. Meese cautioned that the United States faces a “time of great peril,” both in terms of mounting government intrusions into religious liberties and cultural decline. “There seems to be a dismantling of our culture,” said Meese, who highlighted widespread abandonment of morality. That is especially apparent in colleges, where Christianity often is mocked, and in public corridors, where Ten Commandment displays are scrutinized. Indeed, literature probing the historical decline of titan Ed Meese (Yale ‘53), the former Attorney nations points to moral and General of the United States, spoke cultural decay, as well as the at Christian Union’s Staff and Faculty unfettered pursuits of pleasure Conference in August. and materialism as precursors to societal collapse or even forfoundation of human dignity, flour- eign conquest. Likewise, it is especially critical for ishing, and freedom.” During the early 1980s, Meese was college students to embrace the rich a member of the National Security history and modern relevance of the Council and chaired the Domestic Pledge of Allegiance’s acknowledgePolicy Council and the National Drug ment of “one nation under God,” Policy Board. Most notably, President rather than accept the popular supRonald Reagan appointed Meese to position of the United States as a become the 75th attorney general in post-Christian country. In a remarkable effort for its era, 1985. Seven years later, the Oakland, California native published his mem- the forefathers of the United States established the nation as a beacon of oir, With Reagan: The Inside Story. the last thirty years, and now with astounding velocity,” wrote Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. “A revolution in morality now seeks not only to subvert marriage, but also to redefine it, and thus to undermine an essential

religious liberty and preserved such freedoms in the Bill of Rights, said Meese, who serves as the Ronald Reagan distinguished fellow emeritus at the Heritage Foundation. Not surprisingly, during a speech while attorney general, Meese once contended that it “begs credulity” that American values cannot be “religious in nature.” Rather, Meese fondly recalled that some 80 percent of Yale students were involved in religious activities during his undergrad days, and a special week

during his junior year focused on evangelism. As well, the practice of using student deacons at University Church dates to the 1920s when becoming a deacon was a senior honor. As for today, Meese remains committed to public service and his faith. At the Christian Union Conference, Meese said American Christians should be unashamed to expound and proclaim God. The success of a democratic republic depends upon members of civil society being able to follow the guidelines and commands of Scriptures.

After all, through pronounced faith and determination, rugged pioneers and patriots birthed the United States as a free, democratic country. The restoration and re-illumination of that “shining city upon a hill” rests upon the shoulders of its emerging leaders. With that, Meese paused to implore his audience to seek the brilliant inspiration found inside the accounts of The Acts of the Apostles. “Ordinary people did extraordinary things for God,” Meese said. | cu

....................................................................................... YA L E | On Campus

“Pro-Life Is Pro-Woman” V I TA E T V E R I TA S C O N F E R E N C E H E L D AT YA L E By Sherry Ann Morgenstern, Yale ’19

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year, students travelled from Harvard, Princeton, Ave Maria, Wesleyan, Furman, Villanova, the University of Pennsylvania, and Providence College. “The Vita conference is an opportunity to bring the larger pro-life community together,” said Jenna McGuire ’18, the director of the 2017 conference. “College campuses are so steeped in the dogma of the political left that it can be easy to be peer-pressured into going along with a belief that one thinks is wrong. Something like a conference can remind students that they are not alone in this fight and provide them with inspiration and tools to bring back to their campuses.” Planning for Vita et Veritas begins shortly after the previous conference ends. The leadership chooses a date, assembles a team, identifies a theme ideally relevant to the pro-life cause at the moment, and reaches out to potential speakers, along with many

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so these types of abortions were less common at the institution and she had not previously assisted with one. Johnson was traumatized by the experience. “I watched the 13-week old baby flinch from the [abortionist’s] instrument, like it was trying to get away,” she recalled. Subsequently, she left her job of nearly a decade at Planned Parenthood to become a prolife activist. The transition was made easier by the fact that a pro-life organization was stationed right next door. Johnson approached them for help, but didn’t think that she could ever be forgiven. She expected the organization to turn her away. Instead, they embraced her. “In that moment,” Johnson reflected, “I experienced the scandalous grace of Jesus Christ.” The keynote address was followed by an opportunity for students from participating schools to socialize. This

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very year, nearly two hundred students, faculty, and New Haven community members gather at the St. Thomas More Golden Center for Yale’s biggest annual pro-life event. For its fifth year, the Vita et Veritas Conference brought seven pro-life activists and intellectuals to speak to the 2017 theme, “Pro-Life Is Pro-Woman.” At the opening banquet, attendees gathered in a ballroom at the Omni Hotel to hear a compelling testimony from Abby Johnson. After working for Planned Parenthood for several years, Johnson was asked to assist in an ultrasound-guided abortion. Ultrasound-guided abortions are safer for the woman, Johnson’s boss explained to her, but take an additional three minutes to perform compared to an abortion that does not use an ultrasound. Planned Parenthood’s goal was to complete as many abortions as possible in a short amount of time,

the spiritual climate on campus

historian and author of Defenders of the Unborn, and Weronika Janczuk, the regional director of the North American World Youth Alliance. Daniel Tokarz, a sophomore at Yale, noted, “It’s easy to be demoralized when meeting people who will seemingly never change their minds on abortion, but the talks gave me hope that all these people can photo: Stuart Monk see the light and someday The staff of Vita et Veritas with Yale alumni, graduate students, and current students look back at how terrible a plague on our society the very generous in helping make this normalization of abortion has been.” other organizational tasks. “The goal is to maximize the qual- happen, especially the Knights of Sherry Ann Morgenstern is the comity of the experience, without making Columbus and Christian Union.” munications director for the Vita et On Saturday, students heard from Veritas Conference. | cu expense a barrier to entry,” McGuire explained. “Our sponsors have been speakers like Daniel K. Williams,

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Alpha Course Hosts Friendship Meals

The Alpha Course for international students and scholars at Yale resumed on September 24. The course presents a friendship meal and a video presentation that explains an aspect of the Gospel. The 10 meetings, held weekly on Friday evenings at the Yale School of Medicine, are led by Dr. Andrew Cunningham, Yale chaplain and director of Yale International Christian Fellowship. A Christian Union grants helps support the outreach. “We strive to develop a friendship with each guest

and communicate God’s love through conversation, a convivial atmosphere, a good meal together, and an open discussion after the video,” said Cunningham.

Reuniting the Edwards Papers The Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale Divinity School received some treasured additions to its collection as a result of the recent affiliation between YDS and Andover Newton Theological School. Ken Minkema, executive editor of the Jonathan Edwards Center, was delighted to receive the new

papers from Andover Newton. “While Yale has the great bulk of the collection, the Andover Newton papers represented a significant amount, as well. The arrival of these documents in New Haven means that, for the first time in about 150 years, the Edwards Papers are once again formally reunited,” Minkema said. “Edwards is not only one of Yale’s most distinguished alums (class of 1720), but he has been called the most significant religious figure in American history because of the breadth and depth of his writings, life, and legacies.”

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rstand and sought to unde re tu rip Sc d ize or em Im me and s about being right. miles away from ho wa 00 ,0 ity 10 ian ly ist ar hr ne C s ed wa became real. I “Growing up, I imagin ly in college that God out what I actually believed. on s wa It . lly ua ct lle God inte had to figure d about my faith. I I studied abroad constantly challenge and doubts. When ns tio es qu y m g in to br stice, poverty le was a safe refuge od could allow inju Ya G at ng vi ry lo ist a in w m ’s ho d on an shy away Christian Uni I struggled to underst e ministry, we didn’t th il, az in Br s; d er an sw a an r ric fo Af the els in India, South e forgotten people of poured over the gosp th I . th te wi ua lf et se rp m pe hi to d n me to unde and discriminatio eone recently asked I saw how Jesus surro m y So . all tu us e en lik Ev . le ns op tio pe was from the hard ques He had come to save ed, “Love.” When I er at th sw s an wa d it an l , ca ile di ra wh a w the question for first century, and ho e word. I considered on in munity. ity ian ist hr C describe y with my Yale com on m sti te y m ed ar I sh ew foreign baptized this spring, ite, evaluate and revi wr I r. bo La of t en tm ere are many lent of the US Depar e retail, maintenance and healthcare. Th va ui eq e’s or ap ng Si tending Yale s lik Now I work in nds in service sector e to immigration. At tre lat re ze ey aly th an as d an lly cia ies uries the pe manpower polic d economic issues, es le. Today it is highly liberal, but for cent ain.” an r ou lab in er id ns gs at Yale once ag perspectives to co ted, brilliant peop ace filled with talen od is up to great thin pl G a s ve it’ lie be le— I ib g. ed in cr in in was ious tra er of revival and relig university was a cent EPHANIE_SIOW NUNION.ORG/ST T STEPHANI READ MORE ABOU

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