CHANGE IS NOT EASY

In my last letter, I talked about how New Jersey is a “different world”… but really, it’s more like college life is a different world.

When a freshman walks onto the college campus, he/she is very aware of the differences from home life. Sometimes these differences stem from their ethnic cultures. Often students will start to feel alone, misunderstood, and frustrated by the second month of the semester… unless they meet a friend… someone else who may feel alone or scared but chooses to smile and say “hello”.

Beyond college life, many people are scared of what they do not know or understand and often that leads to assimilation or isolation. However, when someone is bold enough to engage with another person made in the likeness of God, they choose freedom over the bondage of fear.

A friend of mine gave her 3-year old daughter advice for whenever she would meet someone new at our biennial staff conference in July of this year. After her daughter greeted me, Sarah said “Pheobe, do you have a question for Ms. Tabitha?” “Oh yes…. Ummm…. What’s one good thing that happened to you today?” Pheobe would reply. Sarah is teaching her young daughter to not live in fear of the unknown when it comes to relationships but to engage in conversation that leads to freedom over fear.

At Cru15, I witnessed God do something with the fear once in our leaders hearts that was passed on to the 5,000 staff in the room.

Steve Sellers and the national leadership team began to look around and truly SEE who was and who was NOT yet in the room and then they encouraged us to wrestle with the question “why”...Why were there so few ethnic minorities on staff with the ministries of Cru in the United States?

I believe this year's national staff conference was the visible beginning of change for Cru in the U.S. and may even impact Christian evangelicals in America for the next decade. For forty days before the conference, staffs were invited to fast and pray for the Lord's hand in and through Cru15. The staff at Cru15 engaged in difficult conversations, many of which helped bring up some underlying racism they didn't know existed. We did this so that we can move to expand in our diversity ethnically as staff in order to show God’s love in our unity to a dividing nation. We were also challenged to grow in our commitment to share the Good news, move forward in building partnerships with the body of Christ, and take the good news beyond our borders so that everyone may have the opportunity to know God personally.

Jersey Cru

Kean Cru Group @ Jersey Cru at Rutgers University

Once a month the Jersey Metro staff team organize an event where college students from across the state gather together to rejoice in testimonies they hear and worship through various song and scripture. 

The cool part about Jersey Cru in comparison to nearly any other Cru ministry across the United States is the sheer diversity of the students. In surveying about 200 college students, nearly 75% of the room confidently affirmed that they can speak a second language and about 10% of them can speak a third. We are literally reaching the nations at our doorstep and can continue to reach the nations right here in New Jersey as we engage in spiritual conversations with new students and build up believers in their faith to do the same.

Last month, national director of Cru High School, Darryl Smith, came to speak at Jersey Cru. As the only African-American national director, Darryl and his wife, Gwen (pictured right) have been put in many situations as minorities but Jersey Cru was an entirely different story. It was very uplifting to see Darryl and Gwen respond with such positivity and joy to the culturally diverse ministry of the Jersey Metro campus ministry. "I was so encouraged by the diversity in that room. It just shows the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!" Darryl said as I drove him to the airport. "I just wish ya'll would invite me back when it's warm!" he finished. :)

Darryl and Gwen have been a great influence in my life since I interned in 2007. It was such a blessing to be near friends I'd consider spiritual parents who pour wisdom into me every chance they get! Praise God for the few minority men and women on staff across the states willing to step into a difficult situation so that ALL may see, hear and know Jesus Christ.