Late Spring Update 2017

Concern and frustration regarding the ability to communicate across faith and political lines with those of different positions is an ebbing current at the campus of the University of Michigan. This was an overwhelming sentiment during a recent event hosted by the Association of Religious counselors at U-M.  As a member of ARC, we had the honor of sending one student leader to represent the Christian Evangelical perspective on a panel of students sharing about their experience as people of faith at a secular University.

The remaining five students were Ecumenical Catholic, Episcopalian, Muslim and Jewish. For the next hour, these six students shared about their experiences as people of faith here at the University of Michigan via questions moderated by an ARC representative.In a response to a question about the openness of others in hearing from you about your religious perspective in the classroom, a student shared, “a lot of people have strong opinions and I tend not to share there.” Another expressed similar apprehension, “I gauge the room first because I don’t want to introduce what might be perceived as a divisive topic.” A Muslim student shared, “90% of the time people are supportive of what I have to say, but often during those times I don’t look outwardly Muslim. I only just started to wear my hijab.”

While connecting with people of other faiths has been meaningful for the ecumenical students, it has been difficult for the students on the panel with exclusive positions to form connections across faith lines. Our Cru student shared, “I have been called a bigot for my conservative viewpoint and beliefs. People make assumptions that being a Christian means I hold a certain set of beliefs that they think are limited and hateful.” The Episcopal student said, “I want people to get to know me first before I share about my faith.”

One of the final questions from the crowd was, “Does your faith provide you with a purpose or meaning for life?” In response, the Muslim student said, “My faith guides my morality but not my career choices. Wherever I end up I want my contributions to be viewed as a woman of color.” The Catholic student said, “My faith calls me to be a part of our larger messy community and so I plan to go into interfaith work.” Our Cru student said, “My faith informs all of what I do. It is at the foundation of who I am and impacts all I do. My purpose in life is to share the good news of who Jesus is and what he has done. I believe God created us to be in personal relationship with him, but sin separates us from him. This is why Jesus came, to make a way for all of us to know God and it’s our privlege to help others know the good news of the gospel.” I am so thankful for the opportunity for a student to tell the gospel so clearly to a room full of people from a variety of backgrounds. She did so with courage, clarity and compassion.

It’s a joy to see our students get to reshape others expectations about Christ and his followers amid a campus that is academically biased against Christians. One of my disciples recently said, “My professor openly mocks God in class and my classmates laugh alongside him, its so discouraging.” She is currently processing how to tell her professor he is making her feel unsafe in his class and violating the diversity and inclusion initiative recently implemented by student life at Michigan. Please be praying for our students as they navigate this environment. Its taxing, but the Lord can and does meet them in the midst of a place where the gospel is, “the stench of death to the perishing.”

Spring Break in Panama City Beach, Florida

“I really don’t want to initiate a spiritual conversation,” Kaitlyn stated defiantly on the warm sands of Panama City Beach. “It will be really awkward and I won’t do well,” she protested. Austin and I encouraged her that she would be fine. “How about you introduce us and I’ll lead the conversation?” I asked; she reluctantly agreed. That was the first day of our trip to Panama City Beach Florida. We spent each afternoon on the beach engaging people in spiritual conversations and taking steps of faith. Each morning our staff lead the students in a devotional followed by evangelism training that was transferrable and Christ-centered. This year I, (Bryan), decided to pair up with the same two students everyday, so I could provide them with feedback of encouragement and admonishment in ways to grow in sharing their faith. By the third day of our trip Kaitlyn was leading the conversation and proclaiming God’s Gospel. These steps of faith are being taken all over the University of Michigan. Our students took this kind of enthusiasm back to campus and we’re continuing to see people share their faith with friends and family. One freshman student, who placed her faith in Christ last semester,  had the privilege of walking her brother through the gospel and see him place his faith in Christ.