April 2004

Dear friends and ministry partners:

We are glad to be serving Christ in the university. We hope you read our letter prayerfully and join us in spirit as we pioneer new areas and penetrate an arena that perhaps appears difficult. We are equipped with faith in Christ, obedience to his Word, experience in ministry, and are supported by your prayers.

The university exerts an extraordinary influence on human culture and society. God calls committed Christians to pursue excellence in every field. Our mission with Graduate and Faculty Ministries is to encourage Christian professors and graduate students to live out their Christian faith as fully committed followers of Jesus Christ in the context of the university. They need to be encouraged to do this. An important part of our task includes personal spiritual formation and building Christian communities that become a witnessing presence in the university.

Florida International University

Entering room 3350 at noon each Friday in the engineering building at FIU seems like an ordinary event in the course of my week. But I anticipate it with much joy because as soon as I round the corner to enter I find myself in a considerably different environment. Smiling Asian faces greet me with warmth and hospitality. Sometimes, I hear friends speaking to one another in their native Chinese as they search the Scripture while Pastor John is leading a study in Exodus. Two engineering professors regularly bring lunch to serve these Chinese student scholars faithfully each week. One professor shared with me recently about how significantly he was impacted when he met with other students for Bible study and prayer while he was in graduate school. Zhou, an Asian scholar who does research for the Department of Energy through FIU, joyfully told me that his wife had given her life to Christ! His life was transformed when he met Christ three years ago and since then had been praying for his whole family to know him. 

I also had the privilege of co-working with Gerri Plummer as she re-established the Faculty Breakfast at FIU at the end of February. There were faculty and administrative staff from many different departments there with a hunger to develop Christian community at FIU. We rejoice that there is a place for them to bring their friends where God is moving. Our desire for both students and faculty is to: 1) Facilitate fellowship. 2) Point seekers to Christ. 3) Help them consider their role as Christians in the University. 

University of Miami

Recently, Marlene and I met with the Chaplains Association at UM to be formally introduced to the other chaplains and to meet the Dean who acts as the liaison between campus ministers and the University. We discussed with them our vision and the role we play in working with graduate students and faculty. Pray for our relationship with this group since they recognize and approve all of the ministries serving on campus.

We continue to meet with some professors and have discussed issues that are important to them as scholars and as Christians. They understand the influential role of Christians in the academy as “salt and light” in the environment of higher education. These men have a genuine pastoral concern to reach out to their colleagues. They appreciate the encouragement and have asked that we continue meeting with them. Pray with us for the faculty and for new connections with graduate students at UM. 

Nova Southeastern University

We were not thinking of pioneering other schools besides UM and FIU when we began this journey. Two is plenty.  But, do you recall the vision in Acts 16 where Paul saw a man beckoning him to come to Macedonia? Our hearts are stirred as we visit a small group of pharmaceutical graduate students at Nova Southeastern University. They asked us for help. So, we are visiting their weekly Bible study and praying with them about how to help them become more established.  We have also met two pharmacy professors. One of these professors was strongly positive toward the idea of starting a faculty prayer fellowship. Let’s see what the Lord does!  

2004 Colloquium on faith and learning.

Our 2004 colloquium on faith and learning addressed the theme: “Bearing the Image of God in the Academy.” Myself and two other Florida staff coordinated this statewide colloquium on faith and scholarship on March 20. Its purpose is to help equip Christian faculty and graduate students to be a redeeming influence among the people, ideas and structures of the university and professions.

Dr. Amy Black, professor of Political Science at Wheaton College, was our presenter this year. The day included worship, fostering community in small groups and looking at our theme in scripture. We also included a response panel of faculty and graduate students. It was engaging, and the response has been excellent. Here is what students are saying:

"I can't tell you how uplifting the conference was and I thank you (x5000) for telling me about it."

                                                                                       –- A poet working on his Masters degree.

“I left quite inspired for the weeks and months to come (stressful days ahead in med school, boards in June!).  Thanks again for your part in a beautiful day, one I will cherish."
                                                                                                 --A Medical Student

You can visit our web site at www.gfmse.org and click on conferences to learn more as well as view previous conference highlights.

Thanks for reading.

Gary and Marlene

We invite you to consider including our ministry in your planned giving this year. We were given several significant gifts last year that helped us get through the year, which will not be repeated. As we prepare to enter the new fiscal year on July 1, we will need to find about $1500 per month to meet next year’s budget. Would you consider becoming one of our 2004-2005 donors? You might consider $10 per month, $20, 50, or $100. A faith promise is a support gift in any amount that God places on your heart, which challenges you to believe that God will provide for you to give it. Ask God to show you what level of giving is right for you, and then put your faith to work! Paul, in Philippians 4:18-19, refers to support gifts as “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” He then says to the Philippian believers: “ And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Consider joining us, as we trust God together by marking and sending in the card to let us know of your intentions. (If you are a current donor and are happy with your level as it is, please indicate it on the card as well). “To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Phil. 4:20).