FRONTLINES - Faculty Commons

[Pages:2]FRONTLINES

?1 A Window into America's Universities

September 2020

Faculty Commons? ? A CRU MINISTRY

Our Pivot

Anchoring in the One who called us, is timeless, and always delivers. ?1

Welcomed Conversations

A thoughtful welcome bag can open office doors to meet new faculty at Clemson. ?2

The Go-to Guy on Campus

CMU Professor becomes a Faculty Affiliate after long faculty and student ministry. ?3

Life Through Death

Launching an online version of our Grad Fellows Summer Mission. ?4

Our Pivot

Rick Hove, Faculty Commons? National Director

The worldwide COVID19 crisis appears to have single -handedly resuscitated our English word "pivot."

Previously sequestered to the vocabulary of dance and basketball, the word "pivot" erupted upon the scene, the ubiquitous description of COVID-19 survival behavior. Every organization, business, individual, and university pivoted. And pivoted. And continues to pivot.

Take Faculty Commons: Over a few days in March, when so many great conferences, trips, and other ministry opportunities vanished in an instant, we pivoted to embrace new opportunities. Much to our surprise, the land of Zoom offers new previously undiscovered advantages: ? Professors seem to be more open to online

prayer gatherings, which erase the burden of travel. ? Faculty scattered across many states seem to relish connecting online, when previously many of them were unable to connect because of distance from one of our groups.

? Students seem to enjoy connecting with faculty virtually. Therefore, we are developing various strategies for faculty to reach out to new freshmen--online. Whenever this mess comes to an end, we

will have gained new ministry ground and reached new people, because of these "pivots."

But higher education, like much of America, reels as it "pivots." Consider one of the lead stories in the current Chronicle of Higher Education: "This Will Be One of the Worst Months in the History of Higher Education: Layoffs, declarations of financial exigency, and closures are imminent. Here's who's most at risk." Ouch. And one of the current USA Today headlines: "College students left `frozen' by job market are forced to pivot."

During these trying days, most COVID-19 pivots in the university, unlike pivots in basketball or dance, are accompanied by great loss, even desperation. But Faculty Commons' pivots progressed surprisingly well. Why?

A "pivot" in basketball involves a "plant" foot. For something to pivot, it needs a point that remains solid, stable, and unmoving. For Christians, during these uncertainties, our "plant" foot must be Jesus Christ. We do not know if universities, as we know them, will disappear. We do not know if faculty-student interaction will one day be all virtual. We do not know if our events scheduled months from now will happen or be canceled.

Timely Words

Students involved with Cru at City College in New York City took a step of faith in May by emailing their professors that, as Christian students, they wanted to thank them for all their hard work and were praying for them.

One professor immediately replied: Oh my goodness...thank you so much for emailing me. Needed to hear this today. Thank you for your prayers. I will pray for you and your family as well.

Another wrote: I am speechless. Thank you for your kind message. I think this message alone made all of my time, effort, and money spent in NYC worth it.

But we do know this: "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58). And Jesus is active on campus: "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself " (John 12:32).

The more uncertain conditions become on campus, the more Faculty Commons will pivot to adjust to these times. But we will strive to anchor in the One who has called us, who is timeless, and who will always deliver.

May God guide and bless millions of pivot-

weary professors and administrators as they seek to lead well in the fast-approaching fall semester. And may He give Faculty Commons opportunities to love, serve, and offer the hope of Jesus Christ in the midst of a pandemic.

Thank you for partnering with us in the great cause of offering the hope of Jesus Christ to our universities! Now, more than ever, we need you, and we are grateful for you. We pivot together, to face the world, anchored to the One who never changes.

National Director of Faculty Commons? Rick Hove and his wife, Sonya, live in Durham, NC, and have three adult children.

?2 Welcomed Conversations

Ministry Profile: Barry & Susan Bouchillon, Faculty Commons, Clemson University

Phil Randall, one of the key Christian professors at Clemson University, enjoys watching Faculty Commons staff member Barry Bouchillon meet new professors. Barry stops by their offices to say, "Hello, welcome to campus. I'm with a group of Christian professors called Faculty Commons." He doesn't come empty-handed. Barry brings with him a "welcome bag" full of thoughtful treats--good coffee, snacks, and a welcome letter from the Faculty Commons professors. His wife, Susan, makes homemade poppyseed pound cake and etches a glass coffee mug with the Clemson tiger paw. "But there's something more that comes with the treats in the welcome bags," says Phil. "It's the chance to meet Barry." A Clemson alum himself, Barry directed Cru's undergrad student ministry for 31 years. By 2017, a thriving Faculty Commons group had developed at Clemson, and he and Susan transitioned to full-time ministry to faculty. Every year, Clemson hires 90-100 new professors. Barry makes a point to meet all he can find. In fall 2018, he knocked on the office door of Roberto Risso, professor of Italian. Already on a spiritual journey, Roberto had been reading the Bible and talking to God. "I saw it as a sign of God himself reaching out to me," Roberto remembers. Soon after, Barry and Roberto met at a local coffee shop and spent an hour walking through Romans 3 phrase by phrase. Roberto began attending Faculty Commons meetings and was attracted by the friendliness and warmth he

found there. "They genuinely care about you," he explains.

After exploring Christianity with Barry and a local pastor for the next 18 months, Roberto was baptized as a believer in May 2019.

Sometimes Barry's welcome gifts also unearth Christians. Dr. Dhaval Gajjar was not expecting to find a group of Christian professors when he took a job at Clemson. Then Barry knocked on his office door. "I didn't even have to find the group, it came to me through Barry," Dhaval recalls. "I'm really connected now because of that one welcomefocused conversation."

Fall semester is launching again at Clemson, and Barry will begin delivering welcome bags along with the love of Jesus to a new crop of professors. "The poppyseed cake is being churned out daily," says Susan.

Barry and Susan Bouchillon's thoughtful gifts welcome new professors to Clemson and invite them to engage with the Faculty Commons group. Susan's homemade poppyseed pound cake (right) is a hit!

Clemson University

In 1889, Thomas and Anna Clemson noted the "country is in wretched condition, no money and nothing to sell." In his will, he bequeathed property in the Blue Ridge Mountains foothills and assets "for the establishment of an educational institution that would teach scientific agriculture and the mechanical arts to South Carolina's young people." More than a century later, Clemson now provides an annual $1.9 billion economic impact on the state through its educational and research opportunities.

? Undergraduate Students: 20,195. ? Graduate Students: 5,627. ? 27th best national public university (U.S. News & World Report). ? Named among the "Best Value Colleges" for 2020 (The Princeton Review). ? In 1917, the entire senior class enlisted in WW1 and 33 alumni died

in the conflict. ? Ranks 7th nationally in 2020 for having the happiest students

(The Princeton Review). ? Winner of three national football championships: 1981, 2016 and 2018. ? Go Tigers!

The Hub houses a 400-seat dining hall, campus bookstore, recreation, caf?, and retail dining. The student wellness and recreation level includes cardio and strength training, a spin studio, group fitness rooms, TRX, artificial turf, locker rooms, and office space.

?3 The Go-to Guy on Campus

Faculty Profile: Dr. Robert Bromley, Professor Emeritus of Accounting, Faculty Commons Affiliate, Central Michigan University

"Dr. Robert Bromley is the go-to guy...the describes him as a support and advocate for

mainstay...the backbone of the faculty minis- Christian students who seek him out for

try," explained Tobias Keyes, the Cru student insight and advice on ministry and life. Dr.

ministry director at Central Michigan Univer- Bromley encourages all his students to reach

sity. "When I arrived on campus in 2009, he out to professors who sign the holiday ads. He

was already busily engaged in faculty and stu- and the faculty leadership team promote ways

dent ministry."

they can be involved with student groups on

In the mid-1980's Dr. Walter Bradley and Dr. campus to advance the gospel.

Rae Mellichamp were instrumental in devel- When Dr. Bromley learned that most inter-

oping the Cru faculty ministry. They came to national students had never been invited to an

Central Michigan to provide encouragement American home, he began to host Christian

and guidance for the newly formed faculty Christmas celebrations in his home. He and

group.

his wife, Mary, issue the invitations, arrange

Dr. Bromley and other professors faithfully transportation for students to their home, and

put into practice what they learned. Weekly provide a gift for each student. Students hear

meetings for Bible study and prayer began. the true Christmas message and discuss it with

They encouraged each other to reach out to Christian students and faculty who also attend Rob Bromley mentors not only colleagues and students, but also Cru campus team leader Tobias Keyes.

students and colleagues. These meetings have the party.

continued to provide fellowship, resources, Newly retired, Dr. Bromley has now become prayer, and opportunities to join in evangelis- a Faculty Affiliate, a program for former pro-

On Death

tic outreaches for over 30 years.

fessors who want to continue ministering on Book Review by Jim Hynds, Faculty Commons Staff Representative,

Every year the faculty group publishes campus. They receive regular coaching from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

creative Christmas and Easter ads in the uni- Faculty Commons staff and have access to

versity newspaper as an outreach to students and other faculty. These ads enable professors to stand together to publicly acknowledge their faith. On average, 60-65 faculty and staff sign these ads.

For 20 years Dr. Bromley was the faculty advisor for the Cru student ministry. Tobias

ministry resources. Their years of experience uniquely qualify them, for no one understands the realities and opportunities of the academy like they do. Dr. Bromley's desire to stay engaged as an influence for Christ at CMU makes him a model Faculty Affiliate.

Many of us have a modus operandi of "don't go there" concerning the subject of death--but in the end, no one dodges its reality. Timothy Keller recently published On Death, a short book about the topic taken from sermon notes he preached at his sister-in-law's funeral. He acknowledges that "death is hideous and frightening and cruel and unusual" and clarifies why we so avoid discussing it. Woven through-

Join us in Prayer

out the book are his thoughts on what "grieving with hope" truly means.

Confronted with the presence of death, Keller writes "there

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let

are two opposite mistakes we can make: one is to despair

your requests be made known to God." ?Philippians 4:6

too much, the other is to shrug it off and not learn what we

1. In the midst of COVID-19 adjustments, pray that Christian faculty will be an even greater blessing and resource to students and fellow faculty.

2. Pray for academics at the forefront of finding a cure for COVID-19. Pray for insight, wisdom, and for God to show the way.

3. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead and empower our 2020 Class of Grad Fellows as they seek to enter into gospel conversations with their grad peers this fall.

should from it. Neither will be of much benefit to you, so we must do as the Bible tells us to do: We should grieve, yet we should have hope; we should wake up from our denial and discover a source of peace that will not leave us; and finally, we should laugh and sing."

My wife, Cindy, and I read this book out loud together in the first few weeks of the pandemic. We, along with our nation and world, have now been gripped by the reality of death. What an opportune season to have real discussion with people around us about

issues that matter.

This book meant so much to us that we mailed 80 copies to faculty members we work

?4 Life Through Death

with at UTC. A roil of banter and interaction has resulted. One professor commented: "What a thoughtful gift! I've started reading the book and am finding it very timely and

Ashley Holleman, National Director, Cru's Grad Student Ministry

wise!" Another: "I'm loving the book and just want to say thank you. I have learned a lot from it!" And one more: "Such a topic is always timely, especially in the face of the present

It felt like a death when we learned that we five other graduate students with the hope of preoccupation with the pandemic. Death is the surest thing to happen to humanity, and

could not host our annual Grad Fellows Sum- the gospel. They invited these friends to the it is not the final stop."

mer Mission because of the pandemic. But at outreach, a webinar on healthy sleep strate-

Keller concludes with an appendix of Bible verses and comments to read over the course

the same time, God put a promise in my heart gies taught by a Christian professor, and more of a week--one set for those facing their own imminent death and another for those

from John 12:24 that this death could "bear than 70 people participated. Some of our grad facing the death of a loved one. His honest focus on biblical promises for Christians is

much fruit."

fellows later were able to share the gospel extremely helpful.

A normal Grad Fellows Summer Mission with their friends who attended.

I will keep copies of this book handy to offer to friends who are in some way experienc-

involves two solid weeks together in State The digital format allowed us to invite ing their own "valley of the shadow of death." After you read it, I suspect you will want to

College, PA. The schedule would include special guests we could not have afforded to as well.

teaching in the mornings, students applying fly in, including professors from around the

what they learned in afternoons on campus, country, the original creators of several of

and community-building times in the eve- Cru's key evangelistic tools, and Rick Hove

nings. Could we successfully turn this into a for our commissioning dinner.

virtual experience?

Students took incredible steps of faith to

Our team felt led by the Lord to create a practice leading and speaking throughout our

digital summer mission, all hosted through mission and to plan strategies to launch grad

Zoom, and see what God would do. In the ministry on their campuses. This fall, we will

end, it surpassed our expectations!

expand to five new campuses--the Universi-

A virtual event, hosted two evenings per ties of Akron, Florida, North Dakota, Oregon,

week for five weeks, was much easier for and Washington! Many of our existing grad

grad students to attend. We ended up with 20 student movements will be strengthened

students, instead of the 10 we had originally and expanded.

registered. For the month of July, our team of Our team led a truly exceptional experience

12 staff led them through an incredible pro- that built community, cared well for students,

gram. In addition to the bi-weekly evening and offered training for a lifetime of minis-

sessions, we hosted small group Bible stud- try. Now, we'll continue to invest in these

ies, community-building nights, and even an students' lives and ministry for two more

evangelistic outreach--all online.

years through monthly coaching calls. We are Fun team competitions helped build community among 20 grad students who were scattered across

We challenged each student to begin a all praising the Lord for an incredible Grad the country. Every week we mailed them supplies for a new activity. Here they are displaying the Tinker

"care and share" strategy of reaching out to Fellows Summer Mission!

Boxes they built.

Fast Facts:

Through talks, tears, and prayer, a USC Upstate professor helped a student find Jesus by examining the evidence that faith and science do fit perfectly together.

A Mormon student at Utah State, who readily admitted to not understanding Christianity, has dialogued this summer with a professor there about the tenets of the faith.

A LSU professor beginning his career and involved in Faculty Commons said, "I don't want my students to wonder if I am a Christian, I will tell them on the first day of class."

A Univ. of Illinois professor has led three faculty groups through A Grander Story-- Faculty Commons' vision book to help professors make Christ known on campus.

Frontlines is published by Faculty Commons, the professor and grad student ministry of Cru.

?Editor: Bonnie McGee ?Writers: Ceil Wilson, Patti Culver ?Design: Rich Bostwick

We want to hear from you. Please contact us at frontlines@.

Your financial gifts help build movements of professors and graduate students to take the hope of Jesus Christ to the world: give.2271527.

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