Students find home in campus religion

This story is part two of three in a series of articles about faith, religion and fellowship at the University

Sophomore history major Travis Heim tries to read his Bible every day in hopes that through reading scripture and praying, he will stay on the right track throughout his life.

“I try to think for the bigger purpose,” Heim said. “It’s not really me, but God through me.”

Heim said by going to class, doing homework and having respectable friendships, other students may see him as a good example.

His involvement in a faith-based student organization allows him to be a visible example and to show other students the value of being involved on campus, he said.

Heim is just one of dozens of students who have found a “home” in a faith-based student organization — the Christian, non-denominational Reform University Fellowship.

“It is a positive influence definitely, because RUF is like a community of students, we have our lives together and we struggle with the same things,” Heim said. “We recognize that (having similar struggles) and we have a place we can get together and look at scripture to find out how to go through all the college struggles,” Heim said.

He said the two most important benefits gained by practicing faith on campus through a faith-based student organization is a sense of community and ministry opportunities.

Since the University is a public school faith-based student organizations depend on funding from student fees, fund raising and Student Government Association grants, Dr. Howard Patterson, vice president for student affairs said. University officials plan to offer support with the construction of an Interfaith Chapel and are still seeking private donations, Gregg Lassen vice president of business affairs said.

In the meantime, these organizations must meet on campus wherever they can.

RUF meets in Room 118 in the University Center RUF every Tuesday night with worship time and studies a selected book of the Bible. This semester the group is studying the New Testament book of Ephesians.

“Hopefully we can just grow together and have fun,” Heim said.

Each organization member said a community of like-minded students holds them to a higher standard and increases what they can accomplish in life.

“It strengthens my faith and my friendships with other people who have faith,” Stephanie Sorich, a junior health and kinesiology major said.

She said being involved in a faith-based student organization filled a spiritual void she had through high school and provides a support group of Christian believers.

Rev. Dan Conway of the Wesley Foundation said every Tuesday night students can find three things in Room 102 in the University Center: a Bible, welcomed discussion and free food.

Conway said through their conversational faith dinners they are able to discuss topics in a relaxed setting so each member can be involved.

As one of the Bible study group leaders, Sorich said the Wesley Foundation helped her find her personal identity and supported her mission to find her spiritual purpose in life.

“I think that college is a time when a lot of young people have lost their identity,” Sorich said. “I think it is a great way to fill the spiritual void.”

Organization members said being involved also provides a sense of accountability and responsibility for their actions.

Jason Bourque, freshman business major, said being a part of a faith-based organization rather than a subject-based organization can be alienating because members in other organizations do not focus on a shared belief.

However, the need for faith outweighs the isolation, he said.

“Religion keeps you from being so desensitized to the world, in that, you know when you do things wrong every day,” Bourque said.

College is about discovering different ideas and beliefs to make students either more confident or insecure about their current beliefs, Bourque said.

Anna Lewis, freshman nursing major said being affiliated with the Wesley Foundation helps keep members more accountable for their actions.

She said attending regular meetings gives her a sense of comfort, keeps her interested in her faith and keeps her progressing on her walk of faith.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes also provides student athletes a community of not only Christian believers, but Christian athletes.

“A big thing about FCA is that we don’t call it Fellowship of Christian Athletes, we call it FCA, because anybody can come,” graduate student Joseph Towns said.

He said finding a church is one of the hardest issues when going to college. However, FCA is a spiritual “home” for both athletes and non-athletic students.

Towns said FCA allows students to be a part of an on-campus organization with common interests and Christian influences.

Faculty and staff members also are making a faith-based influence on campus through the Christian Faculty Forum.

Dr. Jim Tarter, dean of the college of business and technology, is one of the founders of CFF. He said he and other members started the organization to show students and parents that even public school are not without faith.

“It was an opportunity to be visible witnesses and serve students as well as faculty and staff,” Tarter said.

The CFF is a non-denominational organization of Christian faculty and staff members who want to encourage spiritual support of students and one another, he said.

Tarter said the group has given away educational Christian based books during Christmas and Easter and has placed ads in the student newspaper to announce their activities to show both students and faculty their mission.

He said during a normal meeting members usually do not have Bible studies, but discuss a chosen book, national news or simply share issues that came up in class.

“It’s a small group, a consistent group, that has this desire to really be visible in our beliefs around the campus and to act them out,” Tarter said “It gives me a chance to both serve and be served.”

The Baptist Student Ministry, RUF and Wesley Foundation student organizations also have off campus ministry locations to further spiritually serve and educate students.

“We want to be able to share the testimony of Jesus Christ and we believe that’s done through fellowship and the opportunity to have fellowship,” Kenny Patterson, Baptist Student Ministry campus missionary said.

By Ashlie Osburn Staff Writer