 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
University of Pennsylvania |
Previous News Stories:
Students at the University of Pennsylvania are highly motivated and deeply shaped by their immersion in a digital culture. That was among the key messages from a series entitled “Understanding Today’s Student Culture,” which was hosted by Penn’s Faculty Commons, (www.facultycommons.com), an outreach of Campus Crusade for Christ to academicians. Faculty Commons held the series in October to give professors and staffers insight into the mindset of the so-called “Net Generation.” Many of the discussions were based on a series of articles in the spring 2009 issue of The Hedgehog Review that explored youth culture. The journal, produced by the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, probed teens’ use of the Internet, medical treatment of anxiety, and other trends related to adolescence. At Penn, the lecture series gave faculty “greater compassion for students and even their own children who are of high-school and college age,” said David DeHuff, Philadelphia representative for Faculty Commons. “It helped people see this new subculture that students are in is a mixed bag with both some positive features and some negative consequences.” Click Here for Full Story
David Kim, Penn '94, helps New York professionals influence culture for Christ NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Rev. David Kim, Penn ’94, is the director of the Gotham Fellowship, an intensive education program in Manhattan for young professionals started by Redeemer Presbyterian Church. He also serves as executive director of Manna Christian Fellowship (www.princeton.edu/~manna) at Princeton University. “The influence of New York to the world is a big part of why we’re investing in a small group of fellows every year,” said Kim. Much of the expertise Kim brings into his new position comes from his twelve years of leadership with Manna and its interaction with the Princeton community. “I couldn’t have imagined a better training than being at Princeton,” he said. “We’re all about training tomorrow’s leaders.”
Penn's many sculptures feature in the "Heart of the Campus" prayer walk PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - The University of Pennsylvania is not known for its Christian heritage, yet the campus is full of Biblical symbols in sculpture that inspire those “with eyes to see.” Michael Hu, Penn’s Campus Director for Campus Renewal Ministries and PennforJesus, has developed a prayer walk that he shares with those exploring the campus. According to Hu, about half of the sculptures have biblical relevance; he explains their significance during the prayer walk. Hu uses the statue of George Whitefield, a preacher of the Great Awakening, to make walkers aware that there were Christian seeds to the university, even if they aren’t widely publicized.
The College Parents Fund assists Penn students raising children PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Penn For Life (www.pennforlife.com) is known for championing the lives of the unborn, but it doesn’t leave students who choose life at the bassinet. Through the College Parents Fund, this pro-life organization offers support for students who are parents and are working to meet the demands of raising children and achieving an Ivy League education. The vision of this non-partisan, non-sectarian organization, says grad student Shannon Martino, is to create a supportive environment on campus for mothers and families so that “students are not forced to choose between their education and their child.” Christian Union was one of the original donors to the organization, through the Christian Union grant program.
Athletes in Action members Cat Prewitt’09 (l) and Sarah Burd ’07 joyfully staff the ministry’s table on Locust Walk. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - A black laundry bag and its contents were strewn across the table where Athletes In Action (AIA) had set up on Locust Walk, the busiest walk on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus. The bags, known as Freshman Survival Kits, contained a New Testament Bible, a DVD entitled Power to Win (about Christians in the NFL), a Christian artists’ mixed CD, two books by Josh McDowell (including one setting straights the myths of The Da Vinci Code), a second DVD, Censored, on Christian athletes in extreme sports, and an AIA flyer. The AIA members acquired each component by various means. DVDs: donated. After a two-week delay due to various rain days, the University had finally scheduled the Penn Students Activities Fair on Saturday, September 16. Countless tables boasted endless clubs and activities. Every student group at Penn occupied a spot. Students, old and new, only had to walk down one strip of Penn’s campus, and they were able to see the whole spectrum of student activities available at the University. Bibles: funded by AIA, Campus Crusade for Christ, and Christian Union. Pending the possibility of new members, groups tried to attract attention and promote their clubs by handing out flyers, candies, and other free goodies. Others put on mini-performances, such as dances and songs. None stood out more in terms of “freebies” than AIA, Penn’s only Christian-athlete fellowship. AIA members handed out the black laundry bags containing the Freshmen Survival Kit elements free of charge to interested freshmen. The bags were large enough to carry one to two weeks’ worth of dirty clothes. “The first response was: everyone just wants something for free,” said Jonathan Blackwell, a junior in the Wharton School of Business, who is a leader in AIA and co-coordinator of the survival kit operation. “But everybody loved the laundry bag.” Laundry bags: donated. During New Students Orientation more than a week earlier, AIA members had quickly assembled more than 300 Freshman Survival Kits in a single night. They first distributed these bags at a freshman athletes barbeque held by the Penn Athletics Department, handing out more than 160 kits within hours. Then scores of freshmen and interested students signed up for AIA fellowship and Bible studies at the activities fair, some excited to be a Christian-athlete at Penn, others more excited about the freebies, but all receiving a kit nonetheless. In total, more than 200 kits were handed out. “One thing we’ve noticed is that even if we don’t spark their interests right away in our fellowship, it gets them talking about God,” said Blackwell. “And further down the line, they might remember that some Christians had given them these things.” “Whether it’s something they get in the kit that sparks an interest or just a curiosity in AIA or Jesus,” said Megan Boys, a senior in the School of Arts and Sciences and the other co-coordinator of the operation, “we hope these kits will reach nonbelievers as well.” Entire survival kit: $7. Although the effectiveness of this project is hard to measure, AIA feels that they have achieved something worthwhile. The Christian organization aims to help members tackle the challenges of maintaining their faith while playing sports and learn how to be a Christian first, then an athlete. “It’s great to have professional athletes share their faith because sports is so visible and so recognizable in the media,” said Blackwell. In the DVDs, professional athletes offer their testimonies on how to balance their careers and their faith, helping viewers to see past the almost mythical status of professional sports to the real lives of professing Christians in a media-intense world. Testimonies of professional athletes: paid for on the Cross. “Part of this effort is trying to get the word out about AIA at Penn,” said Boys. “We want to let Christian athletes know there is a place for them to come for fellowship and to seek God.” “In my opinion,” she continued, “if these kits help one person grow closer in their relationship with God, then it is successful. That is ultimately what all this is about…spreading the Good News of the Savior and falling more in love with Jesus.” Sharing the Good News of the Savior…falling more in love with Jesus: priceless.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - During Holy Week, many University of Pennsylvania students attended a variety of Christian services and events, including Good Friday service, a showing of The Passion of the Christ, and a performance of Handel’s Messiah. A few students also chose a less traditionally Christian approach by attending Passover Seder. Nine students from Campus Crusade for Christ (www.upennccc.org) met for the Seder dinner at Hillel on April 12. The event served a dual purpose. Not only did students get to learn about the roots of a tradition celebrated by Jesus and his disciples, they also got to take part in the new initiative by the group to reach out to the Jewish community. It was spurred by their desire to “learn about the foundations of our faith and to better understand and relate to a large part of our campus,” said one attendee. The students also attended a training session with a Christian Jewish missionary who explained some of the Christian symbolism in the Passover dinner as well as the proper way to witness to Jewish people. He explained that the main goal for the event was to establish relationships in order to break down barriers that have long existed between the Jewish and Christian communities. On that level, the students were encouraged by the enthusiastic response they received from the conservative rabbi who spent an hour before the supper explaining the Passover traditions and answering questions. He was very open, friendly, and willing to respond to any questions or concerns the students had.
There was, however, quite a bit of allusion and symbolism that was relevant to both Biblical history and Christ’s death and resurrection. For example, many references to the exodus from Egypt can also relate to our freedom from sin and death, thanks to the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ. Another interesting example dealt with the three pieces of matzot, the middle of which was broken in half. One half of it was then wrapped in a napkin, hidden, and then retrieved by a child. Many Christians interpret these three pieces to stand for the Trinity and Jesus, who was broken, wrapped in a shroud, buried, and raised from the dead. The supper presented a wonderful opportunity for the Christian students on Penn’s campus and served many purposes that even alone would have been sufficient motivation for the evening. Jean Digitale went because she “wanted to learn more about Jewish culture and traditions because it is so prominent on Penn’s campus.” Other students went to establish relationships with Jewish students for evangelism purposes. In summary Phil Deerwester ‘07 said, “It was very interesting to see the interplay between Jewish religion and culture. Sometimes we forget that their Father is our Father, so it was a good reminder of our common history.” This link is certainly something that Christians at Penn intend to remember as they try to reach out to the Jewish community and share God’s love and grace.
Full Measure, Penn's Christian a cappella group, held their final spring concert as a major event during Jesus Week. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Every spring, Christians from most of the undergraduate ministries of the University of Pennsylvania gather for Jesus Week. Started in 1996 and held every last week of March, Jesus Week spans seven days, and includes events aimed at worshiping Christ, provides a more visible presence on campus, and encourages fellow believers. Jesus Week is organized and planned by Penn for Jesus (www.pennforjesus.com), the umbrella organization for all of the Christian ministries on campus, whose main goal is to “serve as a catalyst to convene students and staff at the University of Pennsylvania for prayer, worship, and fellowship to edify and unify the body of Christ at Penn for the glory of God.” Jesus Week is a direct result of this mission. Jesus Week usually involves Campus-wide worship and prayer, Coffeehouse, guest speakers, concerts, community service and outreach. Campus-wide worship and prayer are wonderful ways for students from different fellowships to come together. This is also the first year that it has been occurring regularly outside of Jesus Week, which makes the return to its roots all the more exciting.
A screening of Transformations, a film that visits places where God has revived and transformed whole communities by the power of His Spirit, was held on Wednesday, March 29. Following the screening, Jeremy Story, Co-Founder of Campus Transformations Network (www.campustransformation.com), spoke on God’s work of transforming college campuses today. On Saturday, April 1, Full Measure, Penn’s Christian a cappella group, held their spring concert and celebrated their landmark, fifteenth anniversary. Also on April 1, Derek Ferguson made Jesus Week’s keynote speech. Ferguson graduated from Wharton’s undergraduate business school at the age of sixteen and received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1990, going on to become the CFO of Bad Boy Records. More importantly, however, is his deep rooted faith. Ferguson runs a Bible study for employees of Bad Boy Records, and is involved in various ministries in his church in New York City. The event was opened by WCF’s co-president Matt Chu, who explained that the event was for both Christian and non-Christians who were curious about Christianity or wanted to discuss it in more depth. It was meant to be a way for both to hear about the role of Christian values in a secular work place. This topic was especially applicable as many Penn students find themselves in increasingly secular environments that conflict with their Christian worldview. The main body of his speech was about serving God within a for profit company. “Can you really serve two masters?” he asked. He answered himself with Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and Money,” backing himself up with the nearly identically-phrased verse, Luke 16:13. He continued to encourage students to make God the focal point of their lives, rather than financial success. He also pointed out that often times one’s focal point and “treasure in heaven” is also where one’s fear is, and the only good fear is a respect for God. Ferguson concluded that serving God does not necessarily conflict with having money, but Christians must be very careful about how they are earning money and what they are doing with it. He gave examples of business practices like dishonesty and intimidation that ought to be avoided. Ultimately, what matters most is our goal for financial prosperity. Using a chapter from Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life, Ferguson challenged the students to be ‘kingdom builders.’ That is, to use our gifts, including material possessions, to build up the kingdom of God, rather than to build our own wealth. This lecture highlighted the struggle many Penn students have when faced with contemporary materialism and self-advancement. It encouraged them to seek God rather than wealth or secular values and helped clarify the main goal of employment and education. The desire to succumb to the world’s influence is strong, but most Christian students recognize that their nonconformity is one of their strongest witnesses on campus, and that a generous, grateful attitude towards money glorifies God more than financial success. Jesus Week as a whole is anticipated by Christian students all year. Many enjoy the unity it brings to the various fellowships, the visibility of Christians on campus, and the opportunity to expose non-Christian friends to the gospel. Most importantly, it’s a wonderful way of worshiping God through the use of talent, intellect, availability, and passion for Him and His community.
Reportedly, there were seldom fewer than two to three people in the tent, even in the early hours of the morning. Various instruments were accessible for spontaneous or pre-planned worship as well as readily available books, Bibles and devotional materials. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - On Sunday March 19 at 5 p.m., a spiritual fire ignited at the University of Pennsylvania. For the first time in its history, PennforJesus (www.pennforjesus.com) an umbrella organization for all Penn Christian ministries, erected a 24/7 prayer tent, the University of Pennsylvania House of Prayer (UPHOP). Situated in the middle of Penn campus in clear sight of Penn’s main thoroughfare, it provided a sanctuary for Christians and seekers alike. For a week and a half, Penn’s Christian community participated in a nationwide 24/7 prayer chain, organized by 24-7 Prayer and Campus Transformation Network (www.campustransformation.com). The two organizations teamed up to coordinate a semester of incessant prayer across college campuses in the USA. So far over 51 colleges have participated, praying for over 70 consecutive days. 24-7 Prayer, an international organization dedicated to achieving 24-hour prayer, started spontaneously in September 1999 when a group of youths in England decided to pray non-stop for a month. Astonishingly, they ended up praying until Christmas, thus instigating a ministry which eventually spread to global proportions.
Initially, the cold presented a problem. Even with a kerosene heater set up in the middle of the tent, heat escaped easily through the virtually un-insulated tarp walls. Nonetheless, Christians prayed through the cold. During worship sessions, students sat huddled under blankets and sleeping bags, with worship leaders passing around the guitar because their fingers got too frigid to continue playing. As the week passed, Christians began to take greater ownership of the tent. At any given time during the week, there were seldom fewer than two to three people in the tent, even in the early hours of the morning.Various instruments were accessible for spontaneous or pre-planned worship. For meditation, various Christian CDs, books, Bibles and devotionals were readily available. Candles placed around the tent lit up the space, providing a soft glow which permeated the tent 24 hours a day. Makeshift wooden walls (large pieces of plywood leaning against the tent canvas) covered the inside of the tent, on which visitors could write Bible verses, prayer requests or notes of spiritual encouragement. There was a section dedicated to praying for the homeless, one for the world’s leaders and another for the unsaved. On one wall was a large map of the United States as well as a map of the world. Underneath the maps a note read: “Please place a sticker over the place you prayed for.” On a table sat biscuits and some grape juice, along with a Bible passage (1 Corinthians 11) explaining the importance of taking communion with a pure heart. Next to the table was a shredder placed over a trash can, labeled the “Sin Bin.” Christians could write down their sins, shred them in the bin, and listen to the “sweet sound of forgiveness.” In a corner of the room, several layers of curtains set apart a space 4 by 4 feet, labeled the “Holy of Holies.” The partition is modeled after the layout of the Temple. Of course, however, everyone is allowed to enter.
Comments on the DP article ranged from being respectfully opposed to the tent to profuse anger towards Christianity and what it represents. One reader proceeded repeatedly by philosophical argument to attempt to disprove the Christian notion of faith. Other readers quoted Bible passages (Matthew 6:5-6), both to attack public prayer and defend it. A Christian cartoonist for the DP responded with a drawing of the Grinch leaning resentfully against a tree next to the tent and criticizing the Christians “with their free hot chocolate and their encouraging words.” Sitting on the side of Locust Walk, the busiest thoroughfare on campus during the day, the prayer tent stood like a city on a hill. Not only did the tent serve as a place for Christians to find peace and meet God, the prayer tent functioned as a local center where members of the community, both students and non-students alike, could find rest. Testimonies of God’s amazing power in reviving weary spirits and transforming hearts abounded over the week. The prayer tent is but a manifestation of what many believe to be a spiritual revival across college campuses. Yet even after it was taken down on Wednesday March 29, Christians may rest assured knowing that Penn is a part of God’s plan to realize His kingdom on earth. Penn Apologetics Lesson: Guest Lecturer Trains Young Evangelists PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Deep inside Huntsman Hall, in one of The Wharton School’s state-of-the-art classrooms, Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy teacher Dan Kunkle delivered an interactive lecture on Christian apologetics. “The most important part of apologetics is not about giving the right answers, but living a life that oozes Jesus,” said Kunkle. “It’s about being an ambassador for Christ.” Speaking to about a dozen students who attended the workshop, Kunkle stressed the importance of apologetics as a valuable part of Christian life. Although he acknowledged the intellectual aspect of arguing for Christianity, Kunkle focused more on the scriptural motivations behind a Biblical defense of the Christian faith. Apologetics is about accepting the lordship of Jesus Christ in all areas of our life, in our emotions, thoughts and actions. Unlike evangelism, which is more focused on delivering the Gospel, apologetics encompasses a much wider range of topics, including science, history and even explaining evil in the world. “Apologetics is not apologizing for being a Christian, nor is it wrestling people to the ground and making them cry ‘Jesus!’” At times humorous, at others solemn, Kunkle challenged students not only to defend their faith against intellectual attacks, but also to take an “offensive” stance towards nonbelievers. “If an atheist is allowed to ask us for evidence of the existence of God, doesn’t it seem fair that we can ask the atheist for evidence of God’s non-existence?” he asked. What some non-Christians call freedom, Kunkle called “cosmic rebellion.” “We need to understand that there is simply no good reason for the creature to rebel against the Creator, for the sinner to reject the Savior,” he continued. According to Kunkle, Christians must realize that the burden of proof lies with the non-Christian, in order to overcome intimidation in the face of brilliant non-Christians. In fact, he argues, all the good reasons are on the side of faith. Contrary to popular belief, faith is not ignorance. It is making a rational decision to trust, to rest and to receive Christ. Often times, we assume that there are irreconcilable differences between the world’s views and the Bible’s, but Kunkle points to man’s practice of arts and science in the Garden of Eden. “There is no necessary conflict between the arts or sciences and the worship of God,” said Kunkle, quoting Genesis chapter one. “Adam was both a scientist and an artist.” For Kunkle, every worldview besides Biblical Christianity inevitably falls apart because it is fundamentally untrue. Such worldviews are unable to explain the world as it is and are ultimately unable to fill the void in our hearts. Kunkle himself came to Christ during his second year of college. Soon after graduation, he enrolled in Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pennsylvania. After earning his Master of Divinity degree in 1979, he taught Bible at Phil-Mont for over twenty years before finally obtaining an advanced degree in apologetics at Westminster in 2000. He credits his salvation to a college friend’s relentless witnessing efforts. “I saw a person who really cared about me,” he said. “I wasn’t just a notch on his Bible.” Throughout the workshop, Kunkle emphasized the need for Christians to perform apologetics with “gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15-16) “We need to show a side of Christianity that doesn’t just yell the Gospel at people behind closed doors,” he said. “The Holy Spirit must be working in our lives. We need to walk the talk.” Christians need not feel that eloquence or a profound knowledge of the Bible are requisite for successful apologetics. Sometimes successful apologetics require no more than making people realize that they don’t have all the answers they thought they did, and showing people the emptiness of a life without Christ. “We should ask the non-Christian, ‘What are you building your house upon?’” said Kunkle. “Ultimately, it is the cross of Jesus that saves people.” When Life is Full and Meaning is On Empty: Veritas Forum Sweeps Through Penn PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Most Christians have probably heard, whether directly or implied, that Christianity is a religion for the uneducated, that only those who aren’t smart enough to know how the world really works believe in this fairy tale. It was for this reason that the Veritas Forum was begun in 1992 at Harvard University. Students wanted their non-Christian classmates to know that Christianity and its accompanying beliefs could be discussed intellectually and to join them in this discussion. Penn held its fourth Veritas Forum November ninth through the eleventh, entitled “When Life is Full and Meaning is on Empty.” Over the course of a few days, students, faculty, and members of the Penn community were able to hear from many thought-provoking scholars. Professor William Edgar of Westminster Theological Seminary gave the opening lecture on meaning and significance, and how his personal journey through Harvard helped him come to a better understanding of these issues. Commentator and author Frederica Mathewes-Green spoke about the real meaning of sex. Reflecting on the five most recent Academy Award nominees for best picture, Dr. Drew Trotter, President of the Center for Christian Study, spoke at a luncheon for Penn faculty and staff on meaning in cinema. Trotter also gave remarks on religion and literature, focusing on the adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” from book to film.
Likewise, in his lecture on meaning within “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” Dr. Trotter spoke of authorial intent, a highly controversial topic in the realm of literature. He also addressed the difficulties of translating such a popular and symbolism-filled book into a movie, especially when the majority of those involved in the film-making process may not be Christians. Trotter addressed concerns that the true meaning of the book might be lost in translation. He claimed that Lewis’s theology was so woven throughout the story that, barring drastic plot or character changes, the Christian message could not be missed. Even non-Christians appreciated the values within the story, Trotter asserted, contributing to its timeless popularity.
“The Veritas Forum is about deep spirituality that goes beyond the emotional to intellectual searches for meaning,” said Stephanie Mactavish ’09. “The students all around us are lost without Christ. They need to know He is real even when we cannot feel it, that we have a faith to keep us steady, and that He is a firm foundation that extends even into our minds.” Concerned Students Quake at New Magazine: Student Council Uses Undergraduate Funds to Bring Sexually Explicit Magazine to Campus PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Ivy League universities have long maintained the reputation for being liberal and hostile to religion, and in this area the University of Pennsylvania is not the least of them. Many Christian students can feel it around them, whether in a professor’s stinging comments, alcohol saturated parties, or student’s critical attitudes. In all honesty, there are some respectful professors who refrain from such comments, and even a handful of Christian faculty members. A few students are cautiously curious concerning their friend’s convictions, and there are a sufficient number of activities on campus that do not involve drinking with reckless abandon. In fact, many Christian students embrace the opportunity to leave their comfort zone and be the witnesses on Penn’s campus. However, no one can deny the vague yet constant pressure to conform. It is this pressure that makes some students want an actual battle to fight, an opportunity for palpable victory. And they have found one. A few weeks ago, the Student Activities Council (SAC), a student governing body that recognizes and funds student clubs and publications, voted in favor of Quake, which is at its core, a pornography magazine. Some would argue that the magazine’s images are artistic or that its poems and articles raise awareness for sexual issues. Rather, its “art” is explicitly sexual, and its writings are about the supposed joys of adultery, homosexuality, and immorality. Regardless, it seems very unlikely that students would be enjoying this magazine in any noble or innocent ways. The greatest cause for outrage is that the magazine is being funded with students’ money. SAC, a body of two hundred and five students, exists to distribute a budget of $643,030. A club seeking recognition first approaches the SAC executive committee, made up of eight internally elected students and the current Undergraduate Assembly treasurer. This board reviews the organization based on its own self-imposed standards, and decides whether or not to recommend the club for recognition to the entire SAC assembly. To some, money is the least of concerns. The danger of the magazine’s stimulating visual effect circulated across campus is more alarming than the money used to fund it. In 2004, Mary Anne Layden, co-director of the Sexual Trauma and Psychopathology Program at Penn's Center for Cognitive Therapy, presented evidence to the U.S. Congress that pornography is addictive and desensitizing. It triggers chemicals in the brain similar to those released during drug use. Sadly, such addictions are hard to break and all too easy to fall back into, as the brain continues to be prepared to release the chemicals long after use of the addictive material has ceased. For many Christians on campus, Quake magazine is detrimental because it supports adultery and homosexuality, along with sexual promiscuity. It can lead to unrealistic expectations in relationships and potentially harmful situations, as those who view this pornography expect gratification within relationships to be as easy as it is within the ‘safe’, non-threatening setting of a magazine or video. Because of the backing given it by SAC funding and recognition, students who may never have been exposed to or tempted by pornography have it handed out to them free of charge. Quake’s appearance on campus reflects an unfortunate trend in Penn student’s opinions. Many students seem reluctant to denounce anything that others have already approved, even if they feel a personal distaste for it. Repeated exposure to relativism and liberalism has desensitized much of the student body, until many students either defend even the most immoral opinions or refuse to take an active stance on important, controversial topics. Thankfully, this trend has not carried through to Christian groups on campus. Christians have not only felt outraged toward the unwholesome use of their money and saddened at its effects, they have also chosen to express their outrage. Andrew Rennekamp, a Christian graduate student and contributor to the university newspaper The Daily Pennsylvanian, wrote an article about Quake and the dangers of pornography entitled “An addictive drug, for free,” that can be read online at www.dailypennsylvanian.com. Kenny Pearce ’07, a member of Campus Crusade for Christ, was interviewed on the campus news channel along with the Quake founders about the controversy. Even SAC Executive chairman Philip Gommels ’06, also a member of Campus Crusade for Christ, expressed his personal disapproval of Quake despite strong discouragement from the council. The editorial he wrote was never published, but can be found online at www.kennypearce.net. Other Christian students have been encouraged to write to www.SAC.exec@dolphin.edu to voice their concerns and are considering creating a petition. Ephesians 6:11 exhorts us, “take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” The distribution of pornography can certainly be considered the work of the devil, but more subtle is the temptation of complacence. It is encouraging to know that despite the difficulties of living in such an environment, God’s people at Penn are not afraid to take a stand.
Herr foods president Ed Herr [center] stands with Penn students Kenny Yoo '07 [right] and John Shon '07 [left]. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Twelve Penn Students awoke early to taste some chips of wisdom from Ed Herr, president of Herr Foods Inc., at the annual CMBC Regional Power Breakfast on October 13th. CBMC (Connecting Business Men to Christ) is a ministry of over 50,000 professional business men that aims to present the Gospel to other professional business men and develop Christians who will carry out the Great Commission. This year CBMC invited Mr. Herr to share with Christian believers and introduce to non-believers the way God had blessed his family and company. Penn students, predominantly Wharton Business school members, gleaned as much as they could about a future they would soon encounter themselves. With stories and a power point presentation, Mr. Herr wove together the story of his faith and the history of his company. Just as he begins each day with a chapter from Proverbs, the inception of the potato chip company began with the same foundation. He recounted how his parents relied on God to pull through during difficult times, like when their first factory burned to the ground. "[My parents] had to dig a little deeper, check their direction, and turn to God," he said. That reliance grew the company, which at first only dreamt of having ten trucks on the road to 600 trucks today. A God-centered outlook, which has trickled down to the third generation of the family business, is especially evident in Mr. Herr's management of 1,500 employees. He recited Matthew 7:12, "Do onto others as you would have them do to you." "Loving your people is a part of the Herr family tradition," he said. "I like to look at my job as a ministry; to treat His people with dignity and respect. That takes pressure off of me because it's not about Ed Herr but His people." Of course sales and profit margins are important for the company, however, Mr. Herr finds value elsewhere - his employees and introducing them to Christ. The company runs a Chaplin's program called "Marketplace Ministry." Thirty-five chaplains are on-staff and available to employees at all times. "It's a whole new reason to sell a bag of chips,” Mr. Herr said. Penn students were personally affected by Mr. Herr’s motivation as they anticipated their own future in the business world. "It's encouraging to see that there is an organization like [CBMC]," said Richard Lai '07. "We can indeed mix business and Christianity." Fortunately, Penn students don’t have to wait until after graduation to begin mixing these two components. Early last year Lai and Sean Ko, Wharton ’07, began their own college chapter of an entity affiliated with CBMC, the Wharton Christian Group. The group of five core students across three campus ministries is currently in its preliminary stages of planning while receiving mentorship and help from CBMC. The main goals of the group have a resounding similarity to CBMC: to build networks with other Christian business men, learn how to do business for the glory of God, and carry out the Great Commission. Ko said that these three goals will be lived out through weekly Bible studies, speaker events, and inviting other Wharton students to the group.
Reid Grandle (Wharton ’06), Allison Sluk (Nursing ’07) and Sally Dreilbelbis (Engineering ’06), who are all small group leaders with Campus Crusade for Christ, sit ready to welcome freshmen at the start of the event. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Before the start of the new academic year, many students find time to enjoy the pleasures of college life without the rigors of academic life, leaving plenty of opportunities to hang out with friends and attend parties. Usually these parties resemble the raucous carousing popularized by the movie “Animal House”, but any partygoer traveling to Penn’s off campus party neighborhood Friday night, September 2nd would have found a different sort of party amidst the other festivities. Jointly hosted by Penn Campus Crusade for Christ and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, this party had a dual role. The fellowships wanted to gather freshmen to meet Christians on campus and also to provide an alternative party to prevent those who were unsteady in their faith from entering the downward spiral of binge drinking. “It was comparable to other things they might be doing, and so gave them a cool place to meet people and hang out,” observed Camille Hardiman, College ‘07. “I was definitely grateful for the chance to bring my friends and newcomers to an event and have them meet a network of Christian students from both fellowships.” Also because it was the first event for any Christian group for the semester, Mark Green, Wharton ’06, said that “it was nice to catch up with old faces after a long summer while at the same time meeting and welcoming new faces as freshmen were exposed to the fellowships for one of the first times.” In a setting where the pursuit of freshman can be viewed as competition between the various Christian fellowships, this was a good start indeed. Perhaps the most interesting (and most authentic) part of the party was the keg situated in one corner of the room. Any casual observer would notice something different from other keg parties: there was not a throng of people jockeying for position near the keg, but a calm, collected line approaching the tap with people actually filling glasses for one another. This keg was not just any other keg filled with beer, but with root beer! “The root beer keg threw me off initially,” said Camille, who admits her discomfort stemmed partly from being unable to work the tap, “but for the people who did [know how to work the tap], I think the idea worked out great!” It was those very people who were helping the others by offering them to fill their cup. With such interactions, one is reminded of the words of Paul to the Ephesians: “Do not get drunk with wine…but be filled with the Spirit” (5:18). To some, though it may be filled with root beer, having a keg might seem like conforming to rather than being set apart from the world. After all, does not 1 Thessalonians 5:22 say that we should “Abstain from every form [“appearance”- KJV] of evil” (ESV)? It may be helpful to remember that a main complaint of Jesus was his propensity to dine with tax collectors and sinners, portraying to scrupulous and self-righteous observers the appearance of evil. Yet he did so that he might reach out to those who might not come otherwise. Recent graduate Alex Eppstein, College ’05, commented, “I think it's great, actually, for an environment to appear worldly, since we Christians are inviting the world into something more.” The location helped to achieve this aim as the party was situated not far off campus in the midst of an infamous party block. Being thus shoulder to shoulder with other tax-collector parties, this party gave many the chance to avoid the “typical college experience” and be among friends who offered more than just friendship. Eppstein also noted that “although most of the freshmen attending already were Christian, the party was a good way for them to have the thing which most students pursue, while at the same time keeping things pure.” By all accounts the party was a success. It was able to attract a number of freshmen, give others an opportunity to meet together for the start of the year, and provide a Christian presence amidst the college party scene. On a campus where the pursuits of a worldly culture make difficult our calling to be the salt and light of the campus, the party was a welcome opportunity to be in the world and yet not of it.
[From left] Jess Benash, Scott Watkin, and Kevin Pang gave their testimonies. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Penn’s InterVarsity (IV) chapter has been described by more than a few people as “the fellowship of outcasts.” Ninety percent are self-proclaimed introverts and a few insist they have Social Anxiety Disorder. Picture, then, an Ice Cream Social. Despite being filled with loving people and willing hearts, IV’s initial meet-and-greet event has been riddled with awkwardness and uncertainty for years. I remember from my freshmen year following signs taped to the ground, walking into a huge room and drinking several cups of flat soda until someone said Hi. We chatted until it was time for a cheesy skit and a long “Who We Are and What We Do” talk. The whole experience was somewhat artificial, and has been for years, until this year, when a few leaders with vision decided to shift the paradigm. On September 8, the event took place in a building well known to freshmen. In place of a presentation, small info sheets were stacked on each café style table, along with slips of paper on which to write contact information. In place of uncomfortable mingling in a gigantic room, a smaller venue forced people to get close and personal, allowing conversation to take place more naturally. Just when I thought IV had managed to create a comfortable, inviting atmosphere, out of the corner of my eye I saw something that nearly set off my cringe-alarm. We’re going to have testimonies? Are we trying to run these people off? Yet, as Kevin Pang (‘07) stepped up and took the mic, he commanded the room. In his quirky way, he told of his Christian walk during high school, his backsliding while in the Singaporean military and his feelings of being awash at Penn. The way he described Christianity as a “slippery slope” was heartfelt and genuine. He understood that “…small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,” (Matthew 7:14) but also that he was blessed beyond imagining to be one of those to find it. Penn IV’s vision statement this year focuses on those who find life. It is based on the parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl found in Matthew 13. In the parable, there are two types of people: the stumbler and the seeker. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man stumbled upon it, and in his joy went and sold all he had… Scott Watkin (’07) gave the second testimony. His story was familiar: born to Christian parents, he came to know Jesus at age six and grew up in the church, but didn’t grow much spiritually. When he came to college, he deemed it “the year the world would come to know Scott Watkins.” But, his year turned out differently from what he had expected. The nagging voice of his mother changed things, calling in October to ask if he had found a church. To placate her, he decided to go “once or twice” to a Bible study. This soon turned into many, and he experienced revival in his heart after taking a step onto the slippery slope of God’s will. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a woman looking for fine pearls. When she found one of great value, she went away and sold all she had… Jess Benash (’06), the final presenter, investigated many religions. She searched for ones that were palatable to her, ones that appealed to her sense of reason. She wanted to carve out her own corner of truth. However, as she searched, Jesus wove himself into her story. She confessed that “the confusion that Jesus inspired in my heart was maddening and distasteful…everything about him was counter-intuitive.” Yet she began to see Jesus. “Little by little he reveals more of himself, draws you in closer,” she says. “That is one of the things I love most about him…I could never provide for myself the kind of wisdom he holds.” After the testimonies, the group split up by dorm and left to socialize in a more intimate way. The whole event took less than forty minutes, but Penn IV experienced a dramatic change through God’s blessing. Penn has all the excitement and thrills a university can offer, making it difficult for IV to preach Christ crucified! In a school with 49 Greek chapters and 24 Jewish student groups, we preach a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks and Gentiles. Jesus has sent us to reap what we have not sown for he has already done the work. It is true; we are workers in the harvest. But, it is sweet relief that no one can come to Jesus unless the Father has enabled him. These three testimonies bear witness to the fact, and hopefully will inspire many more testimonies to come. For more information on Penn’s InterVarsity chapter, visit www.penniv.org.
Justin Mills PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - An investment in a $160,000 undergraduate education should have amazing returns, like gaining the coveted acceptance letter to Harvard Medical School, a well-paying job on Wall Street, or a position at the prestigious Lucent Technologies. Could the result of four years of grueling academics and financial stress be a summer of fund-raising for a meager income doing a campus ministry internship? It could, and is the case for those laborers the Lord has called. One of these laborers is Penn Engineering graduate Justin Mills, class of 2005. Justin first felt the call to serve in ministry during his sophomore year at Penn when he attended the Ivy Conference sponsored by the Christian Union. There, he realized the need for Ivy League graduates to do full-time ministry. “With the potential of graduating and getting a high-paying job, many students are discouraged from doing ministry. [For the first time], I realized taking a year off doing ministry was a possibility,” said Justin. Justin now views the campus as a mission field. “College students are going to affect the world. In college, they determine their direction and worldview. [Ministering to them] provides an opportunity to reach students before they decide their path,” said Justin. With this take on influencing the future generation of leaders on a global and local level through interacting with college students, Justin anticipates meeting, spending time with, and discipling students. Developing such intimate relationships with people, particularly young men, is Justin’s passion. For the school year, Justin will be working primarily on the campuses of Ivy League universities. With his experience of participating in and serving as a student leader for Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) at Penn, he feels equipped to advise students dealing with the unique stresses of the Ivy League culture. “I hope to ease the burden of students who are overwhelmed; it’s more their job to go to school than to do ministry. It will [also] be good for them to have an outsider’s perspective and guidance,” said Justin. Justin admits being excited at the prospect of staying involved in the lives of Penn students whom he has known for several years. CCC has been a major part of both Justin’s college experience and his growth as a Christian. Thus, he not only understands its significance but holds the ministry dear to his heart. “Most of my college memories are with CCC. CCC was where my core group of friends that I trusted and hung out with were drawn from,” said Justin, recalling how he felt most comfortable in that community. On top of that, Justin met his fiancée in CCC. Justin has encountered a bit of difficulty upon deciding to do this internship. Since he lacks a large pool of personal contacts, raising financial support has been a test of faith. He also struggled to overcome his parents’ anxieties about his decision. Justin, however, remains motivated by Luke 12:48: “…Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required…” He feels as though God placed him at Penn for a reason, and that reason was ministry. “I want to do what I feel God wants me to do,” said Justin.
Michael Hu's vision of bringing the Penn campus ministries is coming into fruition. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - While pursuing his bachelor’s degree, working fulltime as a research technician at Penn and serving as the Eastern U.S. Director of LINK, Liberty in North Korea, Michael Hu has for two years been passionately involved in PennForJesus, an umbrella organization of Penn’s Christian fellowships. “[I want] Christ to have a presence on Penn’s campus through the unity of believers,” said Hu. He spends time casting his vision to others and seeking a strategy for the ministry as well as organizing events sponsored by PennForJesus. Hu’s vision is for PennForJesus to specialize in outreach and building up the body of Christ’s unity, or what Hu refers to as “bodybuilding”. Hu’s goal is for PennForJesus to contain representatives from each of the 15 Christian fellowships who communicate with each other about different fellowship activities. They would also provide additional help for the activities as needed. For example, if InterVarsity was sponsoring a workshop on evangelism, Campus Crusade for Christ could offer help since its strength is evangelism. As the fellowships serve one another, “PennForJesus will empower each fellowship to do what it does better,” said Hu. Hu considers the second component, outreach, to be an overflow of the focus on Christian unity. “‘Bodybuilding’ will create such a presence of love for one another that nonbelievers will notice it,” says Hu. He imagines complete campus saturation, where everyone at Penn will be exposed to the gospel through the unity of believers. Referencing a model of ministry at the University of Texas in Austin, Hu envisions PennForJesus meetings where students discuss the various areas on campus that they’ve targeted for ministry. This would eliminate overlapping efforts and enable fellowships to identify areas that aren’t being evangelized. “We could communicate and come up with a strategy to reach the campus. The best way to do this is to work together.” Hu envisions that love and a focus on outreach from PennForJesus will affect the different campus fellowships so much that all believers on campus will treat others with love and develop a dedication to building relationships with nonbelievers. Hu’s dream for PennForJesus may seem too huge, but he is determined to carry it to fruition. He cannot ignore what God has laid on his heart. “I believe in working towards the fulfillment of the church as God wants it to be: united,” said Hu. He’s not alone in this quest for unity. Many fellowship leaders, including students, pastors and staff, have shared his sentiments and desire to have their groups participate in PennForJesus. The only difficulty is finding the time to spend developing the ministry. Currently, PennForJesus consists of representatives from approximately seven fellowships. These people pray for one another and inform each other of the goings-on in their fellowships. They also organize an annual Jesus Week, during which all fellowships come together to sponsor forums, talks, a coffee house and other evangelical events. One of this year’s events was a concert by Ginny Owens. “It was amazing. Half the time she was talking, but everyone enjoyed her stories as much as her songs,” said Hu. For more information on the ministry of PennForJesus and the fellowships involved, please visit http://www.pennforjesus.com/
Kicker Jay Feely of the New York Giants spoke to students at Athletes in Action about football and faith. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - It’s all about one swift kick, as sneaker sends football soaring into the air towards the goalpost. A strong breeze, or a twist of the ankle could mean the loss of a field goal. And, there’s only one try. Talk about pressure. When one’s career is based on performance, how does one remember God’s sovereignty yet alone strive to bring God glory? Jay Feely of the NY Giants spoke about this topic to students at an Athletes In Action (AIA) meeting on April 13th. Leaning casually against a table, Feely recounted his testimony. He explained his childhood in Florida, coming from a competitive family steeped in sports. “When the family got together, we’d have a tournament: a golf, volleyball, [even] hearts tournament,” said Feely, with a smile. As a youth, he knew about God but had no relationship with Christ. Feely imagined God with a “checklist,” monitoring every good and bad action made. He recalled knowing the kind of person he wanted to be, so he strove to be a good person. In high school, volunteering at a muscular dystrophy camp impacted his life tremendously. “I gained a different perspective on life,” said Feely, remembering how he helped disabled people do things that he’d taken for granted since he could effortlessly do them. The turning point in his life came when Feely was in college at the University of Michigan. An injury in his kicking leg forced him to leave football for some time, taking away not just a fun sport, but also an integral part of his identity. “What I had built my life on was [gone],” said Feely. His initial remedy was booze and partying, which he soon realized was futile. Finally, one day, “I got on my knees and prayed for God to have control over my life,” said Feely. After that his life changed. Feely recalls having a peace about life; knowing that God was in control took away all the pressure he’d been feeling. “I know who I am isn’t determined by my performance. God has a plan and purpose for your life, so submit yourself to God,” said Feely. He recalled that his life didn’t get easier after becoming a Christian. When his injury healed, he returned to football and anticipated going to the National Football League (NFL) after college. But that didn’t happen. Instead he became a financial advisor. Feely remembered exerting so much effort at every trial, always being told that he’d receive a call back, but never receiving one. After two years of working a 9-5 job, starting a family, training intensely, and going to trials, Feely was ready to let go of his dream. “I was at the point where I was fine with not playing football as long as God didn’t want me to go through that door,” said Feely. Then the door opened. Not only was he accepted to training camp, he was even given the opportunity to pick the team of his choice. He chose the Atlanta Falcons. Feely reflects the two years prior to be a test of trusting in God, though his heart’s desire, football, was being withheld. For many students, Feely’s testimony was encouraging. “He had trials getting there, but was able to focus on Christ. I was really impressed with his sincerity and brutal honesty and openness,” said Reid Grandle ’06. Feely was extremely transparent, sharing stories from how he met his wife in college to how his brother’s miraculous struggle with a mentally and physically debilitating disease inspired many people to his family’s spiritual life to experiences at a Bible study with such famous professionals as comedian Jeff Foxworthy and Braves pitcher John Smoltz. When asked if he encountered any negative responses to being a Christian, Feely replied, “No. People respect you when they see true faith. I get the opportunity to show my teammates who I am by my actions.” He then went on to share a story about a plane-ride home when he declined drinking beer with the rest of his team for fear of destroying his witness. “Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. My actions must coincide with my talk about faith,” he explained. He went on to share that 85-95% of kickers, a position distinguished by the great level of pressure associated with it, in the NFL are Christians. Feely explained how he used his career, both as a financial advisor and as a professional athlete, to help others and spread the gospel. He’d give financial advice to his teammates based on biblical principles, encouraging people to use money for God’s purposes and not for selfish interests. He was able to have a radio show in Atlanta; during the show he could talk about anything from Jesus Christ to sports to politics. “Part of God’s plan for my life is to talk to folks. Communication is one of my spiritual gifts,” Feely said. He uses his fame to speak to groups like AIA about Christ. Feely also donates money to and serves as a camp mentor for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Christian Minds Matter: Breakpoint Radio’s Jim Tonkowich Advocates Christian Intellectual Engagement PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Like a coach giving a pep talk before the big game, Breakpoint Radio’s managing editor, Jim Tonkowich, D. Min., encouraged Christian Penn students to bring Jesus into any career or arena of life they enter. Tonkowich’s talk, entitled “Christian Perspectives: Yours, Mine and Hours,” was held on March 31st. It was the kick-off seminar for Jesus Week 2005, a week in which Christians at UPenn work together to sponsor events that lift up the gospel. Tonkowich began his talk saying, “All areas of human thinking and human endeavor can be viewed through Jesus. Jesus affects all areas of life.” He then moved on to describe a movie called The Hours, a 2002 film that he claimed sheds light on contemporary culture. In the movie, three women determine which is more important: living one’s life for one’s own happiness or for the happiness of others. Tonkowich used this movie to point out the atrocity of a Christian adopting the world’s selfish agenda. He insisted that Christianity promoted the very opposite. “The language of the Christian faith is a language of love and the willingness to give up one’s life,” he said. Tonkowich warned students to be aware of the contemporary culture’s seductive and painless efforts to conform Christians thinking to that of the secular world. Rather than conforming, he urged students to cultivate their minds into a Christian one with an intellect passionately in love with the Lord. Referencing “the anti-intellectualism” scandal of the evangelical mind as recorded in the book, Fit Bodies, Fat Minds, Tonkowich said that such cultivation of the mind contradicts today’s evangelical church which focuses on doing God’s will, not thinking according to God’s will. Through referencing a number of Bible verses, he showed that God is concerned about the minds of His people, and it is the Christian’s duty to surrender every thought to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Tonkowich even named such people as Jonathan Edwards, John Owens, Dante, John Newton, Thomas Aquinas and many more, as part of the Christian heritage of great minds of the Western world. He encouraged students to join this line of thinkers, complimenting this generation for being, “one of the most intelligent generations ever.” This emphasis on intellectualism was refreshing for some students. “People think Christians go around with our heads in the sand not thinking, but Christianity isn’t about not thinking. It’s completely justifiable with truth and logic and the basic laws God has given us,” said Campus Crusade for Christ member, Brian Wang, ’08. The purpose of focusing on developing one’s mind is not merely to pursue intellectualism and knowledge. Instead, the reason, according to Tonkowich, is to impact and challenge the world in which one lives so as to transform one’s culture through such a mind. “We must counteract an argument with a better argument and demolish fake truth with the real truth,” said Tonkowich. He denounced any Christian message focusing solely on happiness and good feeling “with a side order of God,” but rather embraced one that prioritizes the truth. Tonkowich’s perspective might also explain why he works for Breakpoint Radio. The radio’s mission is to view contemporary culture through a Christian lens and “to equip the church to think and live Christianly.” Through articles about current events like Pope John Paul II’s death and the Terri Schiavo case, Breakpoint Radio encourages Christians to critically consider the world in which they live and influence it with Christ’s righteousness and love.
Different campuses come together for Florida evangelism. PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA - It’s spring break. All you want to do is go to the beach and…tell others about Jesus! This is exactly what thirteen Penn students along with approximately 1100 students did from March 5-12 during Big Break, a Campus Crusade for Christ retreat at Florida’s Panama City Beach. The main purpose of the week was to engage other spring breakers in conversations about Christ Jesus in hopes of leading them to salvation. By the end of Big Break, 78 people made a confession of faith in Jesus Christ! Students at Big Break learned about sharing their faith. There were two large group meetings everyday, during which the speaker talked about the biblical basis of evangelism, and trained students to evangelize using booklets like the Five Spiritual Laws, surveys, and other tools. Students also thought of other creative methods, from engaging unbelievers in a game of volleyball to wearing t-shirts. Penn men, for example, designed t-shirts that said, “We’re Sorry, Ask why.” Many people actually asked that question to those wearing the t-shirts. The response was an actual apology for different immoral acts that Christians have done, such as the Crusades. “We don’t want Christ to be associated with bad things Christians do. I felt the t-shirts actually helped to tear down barriers people had to becoming Christians. Many have been offended by Christians,” said Lindsay Hunt, ’05. Such intentional focus on evangelism had a major impact on students. “It was my first time going out [evangelizing]…I was kind of nervous talking to strangers about something as deep as spirituality. I was amazed at how willing people were to talk to us,” said Jen Heim, ’07. Students were surprised at the fact that God was using them, regardless of whether or not they led someone to salvation. “Who knows what God is doing in the lives of people? You never know what step you are in the process of someone making a decision to come to Christ,” said Lindsay. Heim was particularly encouraged because she had initially felt unsure of her ability to evangelize. “When I came, I was struggling with faith issues and thinking I wasn’t qualified to go out and share Jesus with people. I learned you don’t have to have perfect faith to [evangelize]. No one will come to Christ unless the Holy Spirit draws them. It’s not like I was trying to sell them something,” said Jen. “I learned that I don’t need to be afraid to go out and share my belief.” Besides evangelizing, students enjoyed the fellowship of each other. They went out to restaurants, played games on the beach, and did other activities together. One particular experience seemed to stand out the most in the minds of Penn students. It was when the Penn men decided to show appreciation for the Penn women. The ladies were escorted from their rooms to the beach, and given ring pops and ice cream. The men dug seats in the sand and placed towels on the seat for the ladies to sit on. Then, accompanied by the guitar, they serenaded the women with a song that had verses dedicated to each woman. “It was really sweet. They mentioned random stuff about each of us in the songs,” said Jen, laughing. The evening ended with a game of mafia. Students also got the opportunity to interact with others from different schools. During the week, there were also separate sessions for women and men, at which issues specific to each gender could be discussed. These times were very intimate. “It was great that girls felt comfortable enough to ask questions and be open,” said Jen.
Encouraged students of the Lutheran Movement take a moment to pose for a photo shot. ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - When many people think of a retreat, green plants, a blue sky, a log cabin, and reuniting with nature probably come to mind. This, however, was not the case at the Mid-Atlantic Lutheran Student Movement’s (MALSM) Eastern Pennsylvania/ NJ Retreat, on February 11th and 12th. Approximately thirty Lutheran college students, both undergraduates and graduates, gathered in a church near Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, the third largest city in Pennsylvania. The theme of the retreat was: where is God? There were a number of student-led bible studies and discussion periods teaching students about finding God when they feel He isn’t around. Students explored Bible verses showing that God is not only a king enthroned in heaven, but also a friend that dwells among his people. They discussed different places to go and experience God personally, such as their faith community, a graveyard, mountaintops, and even one’s room. “I think we learned that we all experience God differently, and yet we share a lot in our relationships with God as we approach our relationship with God within a community,” said MALSM’s Penn Undergraduate Peer Minister, Christine Myers,’08. Besides studying the Bible together, students participated in two service projects: cleaning the college by raking leaves and doing outreach to senior citizens. Service, a major focus of MALSM, is one of the reasons why the retreat was held in a city. “We go into cities because that’s where the people are so that’s where we want to be,” explained Myers, as she described MALSM’s love of people and the group’s desire to champion social justice. In keeping with this love, one of the scheduled retreat events was visiting a nursing home to spend time with the residents. Due to some complications, the visit was cancelled, but students, determined to express compassion to these senior citizens, made Valentines’ Day cards for them. Students also engaged in fun activities like swimming and playing card games, such as Texas hold ’em poker, using skittles instead of money. The only camping experience these students got was sleeping on the floor of a church. The church not only served as a place of worship but also as a place of rest, housing students for the night. “We often have retreats in churches. It's cheap, we're young, [and] we don't sleep that much any way. So…it's all good,” said Myers. Melissa Aussiccker from the Blue Route Region, particularly enjoyed the experience, calling it “awesome” and expressing disappointment that her region did not organize events during which one could sleep in churches. The retreat ended with a worship service on Saturday afternoon. The weekend was encouraging for many students. “My most memorable moment was walking into the chapel when we first arrived. We were late, and I expected to walk into a small group of people sitting around waiting for us to show up (as usual), but instead, in the front of the chapel were 25 people standing around singing praise songs. It was really moving,” said MALSM’s Penn Graduate Peer Minister Beth Burke. These students came from various schools including UPenn, Temple, Drexel, Lutheran Seminary, University of Delaware, College of New Jersey, Johns Hopkins, and Kutztown. For Burke, such large attendance was heartwarming, and she anticipates that the students benefited from the events that she and others worked hard to organize. For many, this was their first MALSM retreat. “Those that were there for the first time were amazed by the openness of the community and how our community fit their spiritual needs as a college student,” recalled Myers. This was especially important, since one of the values of the group is to be welcoming to all people. Penn Professors Reignite Evolution Controversy PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - On January 5, 2005, more than thirty Penn professors wrote an open letter to the Dover, PA school board criticizing its new policy of mentioning the intelligent design theory in biology classes. According to the York Daily Record, the Biology, Physics, and Philosophy professors argued that in teaching intelligent design, the “quality of science education in your schools has been seriously compromised.” They also implored the Dover school board to, “empower students with real, dependable scientific knowledge.” And yet, according to the York Daily Record, the theory would not actually be taught, but rather, a one minute statement would be read in high school biology courses. The statement informs students of possible flaws in Darwinian evolution and of the existence of an alternative theory: Intelligent Design asserts that, “certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause.” The school district’s lawyer, Richard Thompson of the Thomas More Law Center, responded with a letter of his own to two of the professors. Thompson begins by writing that, “your students should get their tuition money back.” Thompson claims the Dover policy is misunderstood, for the new policy “merely makes students aware of a growing controversy in the scientific community.” He further criticizes the inclusion of the Philosophy professors’ signatures in the open letter. “What does philosophy have to do with this issue?” Thompson asks, arguing that, “the metaphysical implication of Darwin’s theory has no place in the science classroom.” The January 11th issue of The Daily Pennsylvanian featured the story, sparking conversation among many Christians. Christian students recall vividly their classroom experiences with evolution. A sophomore shared that in her introductory biology course, “they talked about how people wanted to teach creationism, but since it can’t be measured, it can’t be studied. It is not within science’s realm.” Julie Rothe, a Geology major, has “encountered both teachers and students who dismiss creationism and the existence of the Biblical God as not possible.” Rothe argues that, “it is easy to manipulate the little evidence we have about the beginning of time to favor what we want to believe happened, evolution or creation. I prefer to look at the present, which we have a full record of, to decide whether or not there could have been a God who created life.” Sarah Sweimler added that evolution is, “very much a belief…and if the school system won’t [inform us of] the different opinions, why choose a certain one to be so prominent?” However, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School who is also on staff at Intervarsity Christian Fellowship does not believe that, “evolution and creationism are mutually exclusive.” Ph.D. student and Penn Graduate Christian Fellowship member Michael Pollack feels similarly, claiming, “intelligent design [is] very speculative, and I'm not convinced that the ID methodology is robust enough to detect design in biological systems. Thus, I'm not in favor of teaching ID in the public schools. But it's certainly worth engaging the minds of college and grad students.” These viewpoints mirror the national polls. Sixty percent of self-described evangelical Christians support teaching creationism instead of evolution according to a November 2004 CBS News Poll. Further, essentially equal numbers of people believe that Darwin’s theory is, and is not, supported by the evidence as seen in a November 2004 Gallup Poll. Pollack, a Pharmacological Sciences student, agrees with this general trend. He relates, “I've found in talking to other Christian grad students and post-doctoral candidates in science that the views of the movement are mixed…and of the Christian professors in science I know, I'd say that the overwhelming majority are not favorable to this movement.” Thus, the debate continues. Penn students today are facing a formidable wave of secularism, but are continuing to learn to dialogue with, challenge, and work with their professors who may or may not respect their convictions. When Islam meets Christianity in Nigeria PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - From the war on terrorism to the fight for democracy in Iraq, the interaction between Islamic nations and other countries has recently taken center stage in the American news. On Tuesday November 30th, the New York Times and Penn Student Agencies presented Penn students with another portrait of Christian - Muslim relations in a Discovery Times’ documentary entitled “The Battle for Souls.” Approximately 50 people gathered in the lecture hall to take in the film’s screening. “The Battle for Souls” featured Nigeria, a West African country with a large and steadily growing Christian population in the South and an established Muslim population in the North. In the middle sections of the country, there have been terribly violent clashes between Christians and Muslims due to a mix of economic, religious, and political reasons. Despite these tensions, Nigeria continues to have a powerful Pentecostal movement, which is sending many missionaries to the Middle East, other parts of Africa, and even America. The film showed different plant churches in New York retaining the same dynamic atmosphere of anointed healing and passionate worship with a Nigerian immigrant congregation. After the screening, there was a panelist discussion about reactions to the film. The panelists included Campus Crusade for Christ alumnus Andrew Rennekamp ’02, Law Grad Adnan Zulfiqar from the Muslim Law Students Association, Faith Fellowship alumnus and BioEngineering Grad Daniel Obeng ’05, Frontline outreach coordinator and undergrad Joey Johnsen ’05, and Kenyan native and Undergrad Benjamin Ochieng ’05. Zulfigar, who grew up in Malawi, recognized differences between Nigeria and other countries in Africa. He emphasized, “You can’t take Nigeria and apply it to the rest of Africa because Africa is diverse. One has to contextualize the film.” The discussion took an interesting turn when one audience member questioned how it could ever be possible for two religions that posit a different absolute truth to coexist. Rennekamp responded by comparing that scenario to science research in academia. “Islam and Christianity can coexist without one attempting to destroy the other [just as] our professors coexist peacefully though they are trying to persuade each other to believe their theory as truth,” Rennekamp said. One audience member especially enjoyed the panelist discussion, saying, “The film was good, but the best part of the screening was the panel. The film missed a lot of layers but the panel did a good job answering people’s tough questions and recognizing that we all have fundamental beliefs.” The event was organized by Julie Yannalfo, New York Times Marketing Representative for Penn Student Agencies. “This is the fourth film screening in a series to get people engaged in the news and the world,” she explained. She considered the event a success since, “people felt comfortable sharing views and even stayed afterward talking.”
UPenn band member Melanie Heckman '06 at practice. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Being a Christian at Penn can be challenging for many students. Despite facing some criticism from professors and peers as well as a degree of ostracism because of their Christian worldview, believers must learn to accurately, boldly and lovingly represent Christ to a relativistic, post-modern and intellectual culture. Melanie Heckman ’06 experienced such a challenge this November when Penn Band, of which she has been a member for three years, decided to perform a show at a football game that parodied Christianity. “There have been differences in morals and whether or not you go along with others in band, but I’ve never dealt with something so blatant,” says Melanie. The show would feature the laying of hands for healing and the request for monetary contributions. Though it was intended to be so absurd that no one would be offended, the show seemed satirical, according to Melanie. The band’s plans posed a tough decision between two loves. Melanie, though raised in a Christian household, received her salvation only a year ago and is now a member of Intervarsity. For Melanie, Christ means forgiveness of sins, healing, unconditional love and so much more. On the other hand, band has been a constant part of her life since the fourth grade. It was in Penn Band that she learned to play percussions, switching from the flute. The choice, though somewhat intimidating, was clear: “I just couldn’t say those things about my God.” Melanie would be taking a stance amidst the fifty band members with whom she practices approximately 5 hours a week. Melanie, along with three other Christians, decided not to participate in the show. She felt God leading her to take further action. She organized a prayer meeting to take place before the football game, to which she invited all band members and Intervarsity members. “I felt that Satan could grab hold of the show’s content and run with it. But God could use it also and turn it around,” says Melanie. The prayer meeting lasted forty-five minutes and approximately 30 people attended, only two of which were Penn band members. That day, it just so happened that the time allotted for the band’s show was shortened to 4 1/2 minutes instead of seven minutes so the band was unable to perform the show. For some, this served as a witness to God’s sovereignty. “One of the band members who isn’t a believer said that his first thought was that God had something to do with us not doing the show,” says Melanie. While Melanie had been nervous to invite the band to pray, fearing they’d become uncomfortable and hostile to the gospel, she saw God work through the entire ordeal. Band members still intend to resurrect the show next year, but Melanie is confident that “God is taking care of it.” She remembers the way a counselor summed up the Bible at a Christian summer camp where she worked: Besides encountering criticism amongst peers, believers also face difficulty with their professors. Certain professors espouse their anti-Christian beliefs in what seems to be an inappropriate way or in an inappropriate course. Some describe one professor in particular, “who used to be a Christian, but is not anymore. He frequently tried to debunk the students’ faith, but now has become much mellower.” Another student cited her once-Christian English professor. She says, “He would make quips in class about how he couldn’t say certain obscene things because there was a Christian in the class, and there were only six people there!” She says that she felt “attacked, but he always maintained a ‘postmodern’ level of respect for me. I just hope that I used that opportunity to show him another side of Christianity.” Further, Campus Crusade for Christ member Christina Watts ’07 relates her experience with her introductory Chemistry professor. He would include “how [he believed] Chemistry disproves Christianity in his lectures. I felt very frustrated because nobody could reply. That definitely changed the dynamic of the course for me.” According to science majors Staci Stewart and Noel Camacho, evolution still remains a hotly contested topic in science classes. Many students report feeling threatened when faced with a teacher who publicized evolution as “fact.” In the midst of such a challenge, the question remains: how do Penn Christians respond? One way is prayer, like Melanie did. Another is dialogue. Even through what appear to be sacrilegious band skits, opposing student viewpoints, and vocally atheistic professors, Christians know that God will continue to be glorified. As Melanie’s counselor said: “God wins, Amen.”
The NSP warms up. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Hands were clapping and feet were stomping all in the name of Jesus. This is the sort of energy that overtook Dunlop Auditorium on November 6 at 7 PM, as the New Spirit of Penn (NSP), Penn’s only gospel choir, had their Fall concert, entitled Redemption Song. Approximately 400 audience members watched a myriad of performances, ranging from gospel singing, praise-and-worship singing, to sign language and praise dancing, which incorporated elements of ballet and modern dance. The theme was salvation through the blood of Jesus, and all of NSP’s songs echoed this subject. The songs celebrated the power of the blood not only to cleanse believers from sin but also to heal believers from the effects of sin. The purpose for choosing such a theme was “to get back to the basics of what we should be sharing as Christians,” explained College Undergrad and NSP directress Angella Middleton,’05. With the band jamming and choir members dancing, the concert was vivacious. Even the slow songs were accompanied by outstretched hands as choir members were moved to praise God with all their beings. “The atmosphere of the whole concert drew you into the stage. It made you want to get up,” said College Undergrad Leslie Wilson, ‘07. The concert was also very interactive with audience participation. For example, during praise and worship, led by La Salle’s gospel choir, the choir director instructed audience members to turn to their neighbor and say, “The Jesus in me loves the Jesus in you.” This spirit continued throughout the night as the host, Tony Moore of Tony Moore and Jehovah’s Chosen, an acclaimed citywide gospel choir in Philadelphia, encouraged audience members to hug a stranger sitting nearby. Such an openness and welcoming spirit is characteristic of NSP. “We’re like a family. We have a good time together. Different things that people say make it real fellowship,” said NSP member and College Undergrad Jasmine Perez,’08. The large amount of participation from people outside of Penn was also a reflection of this friendly spirit. Guest groups hailed from Maryland, LaSalle University, and Philadelphia’s inner city. Even the band members were volunteers from different churches in Philadelphia who lacked direct affiliation to Penn. The audience also displayed such diversity as it consisted not only of Penn students but also alumni and family as well as people from the West Philly community and students from other universities. While NSP seeks to be a citywide ministry, it also seeks to be a campus wide ministry not limited to Penn’s black community. Several unique characteristics of NSP enables this vision to be possible: NSP is inclusive in that there are no auditions and one doesn’t need to be a Christian to join the group, so one can become saved through being in the choir; and there is a monthly community service activity where NSP reaches out to its city. NSP has also impacted the lives of its members. “I don’t think I’d be happy at Penn if it wasn’t for NSP. It helped me meet people who are like me: people who love gospel music, go to church all the time, and love to sing. It’s like a support system,” said Middleton. IV's CIA PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - The first week of every month is now affectionately known as “CIA” in Intervarsity circles, standing for “Community Intermission Activities”. Borne out of a desire to actively serve and seek out justice, each small group takes off the first week of the month to engage the community. Here, small group community building and an outreach to the larger Penn and West Philadelphia communities replace normal Bible study and large group for the week. According to one of the proponents and founders of CIA, senior Susie Flood, this idea is unprecedented in recent Intervarsity history. Since the small group leaders choose each month what to engage in, leaders can customize their applications of Scripture to the various activities each month. Thus far, groups have gone to dinner, held game nights, watched movies, and attended “First Friday” in an effort to deepen the bonds between new and old members. To acquaint those unfamiliar with social justice concerns, groups initially watched documentaries, sought to utilize the Civic House’s “Reality Tours”, and even played a justice-minded version of “Monopoly” to educate themselves about their surrounding communities. These blended both economic and racial justice concerns, with discussions following all activities. After a period of adjustment to the idea of CIA, small groups have volunteered at soup kitchens, gone on walking tours of West Philadelphia, and created gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Initially, such urban issues can be overwhelming for some members, especially with small groups of people trying to understand and address systemic injustice. However, senior leader Rebecca Safley relays that, “fatalism may actually just be a lack of faith - if we have a fatalistic view, we have no hope - but that is exactly what Jesus gave us when he rose from the dead.” Small group leaders continue to discuss, seek out, and implement ways to serve their surroundings. According to Flood, CIA has been a culmination of the past eight years of conviction and prayer. More recently, the Gateway urban service summer internship and Spirit and Truth Fellowship have attracted a large proportion of Penn Intervarsity students with their strong focus on urban justice. Gateway is a summer internship through Intervarsity that places students in positions within the city, invigorating and informing their passion for social justice. Further, there was an informal “week off” last year where study leaders could choose to do a passage or work in the community, but such a process has not been formalized until this year. As with any new venture, Intervarsity is continually challenged in navigating the structure and holding the fellowship’s perception of CIA accountable. Although some fellowship members express concern about the decentralized nature of CIA, Flood offers that their discomfort is normal. “The structure jars people out of their routine. It is supposed to be a jolt, to wake us up into being conscious of our walk with God.” Many leaders have also noticed to temptation to let merit and “works” become their primary motivation. On the other hand, a lack of motivation is often caused by school-related concerns. However, sophomore leader-in-training Armand O’Donnell acknowledges, “I personally find [CIA] very enriching, showing me that God will provide opportunities to serve him if I take time out of my schedule to invest in others.” Hopefully, their early struggles will serve as lessons as they plan for the future of CIA. In the long run, small groups look forward to narrowing down their field of activities to a specific organization or type of service. The Kings Court-English House small group wishes to continue their involvement with University City Hospitality Coalition’s soup kitchens. “It is a very tangible way to apply our care for God's people and one another,” O’Donnell shares. The Hill small group also wishes to broaden their activities during the first semester, while during the second half commit more fully to the opportunities within the Philadelphia Cares umbrella organization. So the key to CIA in the future? As Susie excitedly informs, “Intermission is an intervention.”
Gateway Fun! PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - “I totally felt like you go to church, read your Bible, but service was the icing on top,” says Wharton Undergrad Mariya Khandros,’07, about the Christian life. In her opinion, service was comparable to an extracurricular activity. But that opinion changed when she participated in Gateway this past summer. Mariya moved to North Philadelphia in June, becoming for the first time a minority in a primarily low-income black neighborhood. The purpose of her relocation was to participate in Gateway, an eight-week program that places college students in full-time internships working and living in the inner city. The students also attend large and small group bible study about poverty, systemic injustice, racism, and reneighboring. The purpose of the program is to teach students about God’s heart for the city and about serving the poor. Mariya did her internship volunteering with a non-profit organization called Project Home. This seemed like a great fit since, “I am really interested in small business development and wanted to do something God-related,” says Mariya. At Project Home, she performed administrative tasks, assisting a business association in its attempt to improve the neighborhood via marketing for business owners, cleaning, and reducing crime. She also did such tasks to aid a house counselor in renovating abandoned houses, teaching inner city low income people about budgeting so they can buy homes, and helping these people find a good mortgage. Besides working for Project Home, Mariya engaged in bible studies with other students participating in Gateway. The most powerful study for Mariya was one about Amos 5, where God is angry at the Israelites for focusing on religious practices while oppressing the poor. “I had missed the whole part of the Bible that talked about the poor. We’re not doing service to just help someone, but we’re doing it because it’s what God calls us to do,” says Mariya. Mariya was able to apply this concept to her everyday life and began considering how to treat a poor person (i.e. the homeless) with dignity. Mariya’s mindset was tremendously challenged. She had previously kept her Christian walk separate from her career pursuits, but Gateway encouraged her to find a way to combine her faith, service and her call to business. It also caused Mariya to become excited about her faith. “Now I have things to pray for and ways to trust in Him. I can expect God will work and see him work,” says Mariya, “not just trudge though the routine and know God is good at the back of my head.” Being immersed in inner city culture also had a huge impact on Mariya, who hails from the suburbs of New Jersey. Some things she enjoyed were the friendly neighbors and walking from place to place. Some disconcerting aspects were drug dealing and shootings. “Rather than having a conglomeration of stereotypes, I now have concrete good and bad - the Philadelphia that isn’t Penn,” says Mariya. On the Battlefield for Our Lord: Joe Johnsen Serves in Frontline PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - What better way to spend a Saturday night than to walk around campus spreading the gospel! These are the very sentiments of students who participate in Frontline, an evangelism ministry led and organized by Campus Crusade for Christ and Grace Covenant Church members, Joey Johnsen, '05, and Jason Young, '05. Every Saturday, approximately seven students from different fellowships at Penn and other universities in Philadelphia spend an hour and a half going from door to door in the Quad dormitory complex to inquire about the spiritual condition of students. The outreach begins with a meeting in someone's room to fellowship and pray in groups of three or four. Then, at most six of the seven students will separate in groups of two equipped with tracts and Bibles to evangelize. Meanwhile, at least one person remains in the room to continue praying. For Wharton Undergraduate Johnsen, serving the Lord through Frontline is what God has called him to do. "I hear my God telling me 'Go out and make disciples of all nations,'" he said, "When I walk around campus, I see people that are going down a path of destruction. Over this past summer, God impressed on me how awful and horrendous eternal punishment will be. Through Frontline, you can have an eternal influence on people." This ministry changes the hearts not only of those hearing the gospel but also of those delivering the gospel. "It has given me a greater heart for the lost-going out there and realizing how in need they are. God's also given me a joy: I get so excited to bring the gospel to people. So many people don't know what they believe so people default to what their family believes," said Johnsen. Johnsen was one of the founding members of Frontline. The ministry started in the Fall semester of 2002 with five sophomores who were roommates and accountability partners as well as close friends. These men took the initiative to go to the Quad every week choosing this dorm because it houses many freshmen. They started evangelizing for two reasons: to share the gospel in obedience to Jesus and in hopes for someone's salvation and to gain experience and confidence evangelizing so that they could share the gospel in other arenas outside of Frontline. One reason for the shortage of Penn laborers is lack of advertising. "When it was spring semester '02, we opened Frontline to be a campus-wide Christian activity and advertised it extensively to different fellowships. Eighteen or nineteen people used to come out. But people who were involved in Frontline that semester graduated and it isn't publicized as much. We barely sent out emails about it." Johnsen said. For the future, Johnsen envisions more involvement of different fellowships. "I pray that people will develop a heart for evangelism. It's important to reach college students because this is the time when they are finding out who they want to be and why, and are developing core beliefs," said Johnsen. Johnsen also desires the evangelism to be relational as well as contact, whereas previously it has always been contact. Frontline servants would check up on people to whom they've evangelized by returning to their room throughout the week or emailing/meeting with the person. "We know the power of loving people and showing them our lives so they can see Christ in us," said Johnsen. CEO and Interim CFO Jim Lusk, WU '78, Mixes Business with Jesus PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - When one mentions the world-renowned Wharton School of Business, words like “cut-throat” may cross one’s mind before the word “Jesus” does. For Jesus Week speaker and Wharton Undergraduate ’78 Jim Lusk, interim CFO of Lucent Technologies and CEO of MIM Pharmaceuticals, Christianity can and should be associated with the business world. He lectured about Christianity in the workplace on March 31st in Huntsman Hall, Wharton building. Lusk began his talk by asking the students what they wanted in life. He went through a list of goals including success and family, sharing his life experiences in each arena. Regarding success, Lusk explained his work philosophy that pushed him to the top of his career: OC = FE (operational cause=financial effect). This can be further explained as a means of bringing value to one’s company via possessing the right skills, team, and options and being able to drive options, which will ultimately solve business problems. He described some amazing opportunities he had because of his success, as well as some drawbacks that accompanied success. “I got to ring the closing bell at the NY stock exchange. You’re thinking, ‘This is great!’ Meanwhile, people are all around you plotting to get your job,” Lusk said. Besides the fierce competition in the business world, Lusk also did not enjoy traveling consistently and being away from his family so frequently. “My daughter kept a picture of me at the back of her bed,” he said. Next, he discussed the things that had motivated him in life as a student at Penn. First was education, which crumbled when he got two Cs in one week. Then there was the pursuit of love. Lusk recalled his affection for Betty Ann and his frustration at the fact that she didn’t date him exclusively. The final driving force was sports. This fell through when he suffered a terrible injury while running in a 4 by 100 meter relay for Penn’s track team. “I had built my life on love, education, and sports. Is there more to life than that?” Lusk asked the classroom. Covering the power-point screens appeared the word, “JESUS,” in enormous letters. Lusk proceeded to explain abundant life in Jesus. “That’s what we really need and want: Someone who wants you. Jesus is perfect in love and perfect in righteousness,” he said. He then discussed how eternity begins with our lives now: OC=FE (our cause=for eternity). Applying this concept to bringing value to our Creator, Lusk pointed out how prayer, fellowship, head to heart (faith and deeds), and meeting needs of others all lead to glorification of God. This method of glorifying God, according to Lusk, even extended into the workplace as well as all arenas of life. “I’m not saying dump your career. I’m saying you need to put it in a bigger context,” Lusk said. “This was the most practical and applicable Jesus Week talk I’ve ever been to. It incorporated spiritual and everyday living. It made me aware of the fact that everyone has a life philosophy by which they approach everything they do and helped me to identify my life philosophy,” said Daniel Obeng, ’03. Lusk emphasized that sometimes your work and your life philosophies will conflict with one another and one will have to take precedence over the other. “It’ll be a never ending battle, but during this battle, the real you unfolds. And you know you have a God who loves you and wants personal righteousness,” Lusk concluded. Full Measure’s Spring Concert PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - A symphony of voices filled the Episcopal Cathedral as over 500 people joined together to sing “Alleluia” at the close of Full Measure’s spring concert on March 28. The concert began at 8 p.m. and mostly featured Christian contemporary music sung in a unique way: a cappella. Such songs as Out of Eden’s “All You Need,” Rachel Lampa’s “No Greater Love,” and Switchfoot’s “Dare You to Move” were arranged with intricate harmonies and creative percussions. There was even an original rap incorporated into “All You Need.” “My most favorite song was “All You Need.” Sarah did a great job on the solo. I also liked the Sarah McLachlan song. It was nice that they included a secular song, because a lot of secular songs could or should be talking about God,” said Andaiye Taylor, ’05. Besides the acoustic value of the concert, the playbill was also memorable to some audience members. The playbill published not only the words to all songs that were performed, but also the responses of the Full Measure members to the songs. “‘Be Near’ was fantastic! While they were singing, I could read along with them. What the singers said about their pieces in the playbill was overwhelming. It was really moving,” said Tanilla Brown, ’04. Interspersed in the concert were four skits. Together the skits told the story of a kind and loyal father and his daughter who missed her dinner date with her father in order to try out for American Idol, which she ultimately did not win. One skit was a parody of American Idol. Full Measure members sang out of tune; one member did a ridiculous dance. The skit elicited thunderous laughter from the audience. Another was a silent rendition of Jesus carrying somebody’s heavy bag for the person and taking the place of someone who was about to be beaten and crucified. The other two skits were about a man setting a dinner date and consistently waiting for a woman to join him, though each night she never came. “The skits were something that everyone could relate to. We hoped the audience would be able to piece together the relationship aspect, the love and devotion of God,” said Full Measure’s Business Manager Christina Yeh, ’04. Rutgers’s Christian a cappella group, First Light, was the guest act. The group sang upbeat songs like Mary Mary’s “Shackles.” Following the concert was an after party in the basement of the cathedral. Food donated by various Christian fellowships on campus was served while people mingled and music played. There were “Designated Christians” from different fellowships as well as from different churches wearing name tags and equipped with tracts, available to talk to anyone who wanted to know more about Jesus. “We wanted to point out that the main point is not to just see us sing. We don’t want the people to just come and hear the music and leave,” said Yeh. This evangelistic approach was evident during the concert when Full Measure member Chadwick Moyer,’06, explained the gospel message and invited the audience to pray along with him. At a university with a dozen a cappella groups, such emphasis on knowing Jesus personally is one thing that made this concert different from any other a cappella concert at Penn. Being in Full Measure has been an experience to remember for many. The group presents an opportunity for people in different fellowships to bond with one another while sharing their love of music. This was the case for Faith Fellowship member Sarah St. Julien, ’05, and Living Water member Yeh. During the concert, the members took some time to honor their graduating seniors. Remaining members gave a brief account of each senior’s influence in the group. Sarah St. Julien, ’05, thanked Yeh for being like her big sister and offering a listening ear and advice when she needed it. Emmanuel Church Fellowship member Jason Min, ’05, expressed his admiration for the spiritual maturity and “studliness” of Grace Covenant member Eric Chen,’04. Others were noted for their encouraging smile, leadership qualities, and spiritual maturity. There were approximately 500 people who attended the event, a far greater number than at past events. Yeh attributes it to God. “It’s definitely not anything we did,” she said when asked if they increased their efforts at advertising. |
UNDERSTANDING THE NET GENERATION
![[object Object]](../images/content/pagebuilder/41738.jpg)
24-Hour Prayer Tent: Central Campus Prayer Sanctuary Draws Attention and Activity![[object Object]](../images/content/pagebuilder/41737.jpg)
Though Penn students were encouraged to sign up for hour slots, often visits to UPHOP were spontaneous and lasted much longer than an hour.![[object Object]](../images/content/pagebuilder/41739.jpg)
On Friday March 24, Penn’s student newspaper the Daily Pennsylvanian (DP) ran an article about the prayer tent. This spurred debate between and amongst Christians and non-Christians over whether the tent was an intrusion into others’ space, and whether it was Biblically sound to have such a public demonstration of prayer. 
Chips of Wisdom: Herr Foods President and Businessmen for Christ![[object Object]](../images/content/pagebuilder/35129.jpg)
Not Just Any Keg Party: Christian Fellowships Offer an Alternative to Penn Party Scene
Concerning Christian Agriculture: Penn InterVarsity Sows Ice Cream to Reap a Harvest![[object Object]](../images/content/pagebuilder/29457.jpg)
Justin Mills Joins the Staff of Penn’s Campus Crusade for Christ![[object Object]](../images/content/pagebuilder/28374.jpg)
Michael Hu Envisions Interfellowship Unity: PennForJesus Ministry Takes Shape![[object Object]](../images/content/pagebuilder/25242.jpg)
![[object Object]](../images/content/pagebuilder/23809.jpg)
Big Break Brings Jesus to Students on Spring Break
