Below is a letter I received from Wayne Crockford, Christian Chaplain at the Multi Faith Centre at James Cook University. He is a friend of OIKOS. There is a lot of confusion amongst Christians as to how we relate to folk of other faiths. Actually Jesus and Paul were constantly in that situation. I found this letter very challenging. Read on…
Welcome to my world!
An interface between the Church and the University community has been fairly non existent. As Christians we have lost our dominance in society as the secular institutions have tried to be embracing, connecting and welcoming to our new citizens and visitors including large numbers of students from many cultures. The bigotry by the church people/leaders and the expectation of the secular to bend to our view and demands because we are Christian is no longer the game plan.
The old definition of chaplaincy has gone out the window due to a pluralistic mix of cultures and nationalities that populate universities and society these days. At JCU there are over 130 different nationalities plus even more cultures with 2000 International Students.
Unfortunately most evangelicals / Pentecostals just don’t get it. Well folks the mission field has come to us. I am in the middle of it and I represent the LORD JESUS. I have learnt that many of these cultures and other peoples from different faiths are very responsive after you have built a trust relationship with them. That takes time and requires more than the evangelical approach ‘preach at them, if they don’t respond move on to the next one’. What that has created is a lasting impression that we really don’t care for them as people. All we are interested in as Christians is another scalp on our belt. Not only is that a shallow approach but that way is also communicating to them they aren’t worth our attention, I believe it is not the heart of GOD. The JESUS modis operandi was far different to our modern approach. Think about it.
The Vice Chancellor of the University asked to celebrate the beginning of the Academic year by having a multifaith service at the Anglican Cathedral. This took place and was well received by the University community but not by some of the church in Townsville. I understand their refusal and where they were coming from.
I went to the LORD over it and found grace and revelation from HIM. Many churches stood out by their absence. However, I was particularly blessed by the new pastor of Calvary Christian Church, AoG, and his support by being the only Pentecostal present.
Last week I was able to share my faith with 5 leaders from the Muslim students because I had built a relationship with them, opened my home in hospitality to them, and they trusted me.
Further, they have asked to have an open sharing in the chaplaincy about what Christianity is about. Their request, not my manipulation or my expectation put on them. The truth is I love them and think highly of them. I get more respect and honour from just one Muslim leader than I get from about 95% of Christian leaders in this town. I realise I am on the cutting edge of something here.
The Faith & Food Festival was a major success again at Townsville Campus last semester. We had somewhere between 1500 to 2000 students attended.
The uni asked us to put the day on because of 13 partner exchange overseas universities coming to JCU. We had every body there from a Pentecostal group, a couple of evangelicals, evolutionists vs creationists, all the different faiths. The sad thing is that some of the strong evangelical churches refused to come because it was multifaith; that is everyone was given a chance to have their say – that is the mandate of the University. The fact we are uninhibited in our proclamation comes from their [uni admin] allowing everybody to have a go. Well a lot of academics are very open to other faiths but when it comes to our faith they would prefer not to have us there as Christians.
Unfortunately for them if they discriminated against Christians that would not fit their rules of ‘engagement’. So we have a voice in the midst of their discrimination because of the other faiths. I believe the attitude comes from a wounded /hurt heart from their ‘Christian’ upbringing and a need to justify their current ‘secular’ faith/stance.
Unfortunately for us we abdicate our influence by our absence; then the vacuum is filled by others. Why should it surprise us society is leaning towards others when we are not on their radar. Who benefits? Certainly not us!
Simply the strong evangelicals/Pentecostals just don’t get it! It is like ‘if you don’t play by my rules and expectations I won’t come’. I would imagine there would be an unanimous “Please don’t come if that is your attitude.” by most in the secular realm. Also I think they would be glad those evangelicals/Pentecostals are not there.
Recently I helped the Muslim students relocate their prayer room within the Chaplaincy. With the increase in International students the Chaplaincy is expanding. Currently there are 6 faiths that use the building set aside by the Uni for religious activities. What a great time we had, 2 Christians and 7 Muslims. They were stoked that I cared for their needs. That’s how it should be.
Since I was sick Sept last year I have reduced my work load. It took nearly 9 months for me to recuperate. During that time I have been all over the place emotionally with the medications I am on – the doctors have adjusted it now to where I am stable. My heart has been filled with grief at how we Christians don’t support one another. We are so ready to crucify one another. Further we are good at putting each other down when another is down. I have lain on my floor weeping for the Church and her condition [Eze 34]. I hope this breaks your heart with compassion, not for me, but for HIS Church I love.
With some of the changes that have happened I was not doing one to one mentoring last semester. This semester I have started a Monday evening group on campus discussing who JESUS really is with the theme “The Radical JESUS!” It seems my connections with students are with those who no longer attend church and are asking very important questions. Fantastic stuff. One sadness is that most of my students who were doing my Bible survey Toolkit with me have graduated. I ask for your prayer to re-establish this not just because I love doing it— but because it is essential stuff. As some churches have deserted sound teaching they have gone into the fluffies and no substance hence their students are unable to stand when they most need it – when they hit the rampant secularism and atheism.
I am getting out more interfacing with students these days on a one to one basis. I enjoy that contact.
Sad things happen every semester; funny how things work out. I was in a major shopping mall the other day and I was on the scene when a JCU student was caught shop lifting. I spent some time being there for her, and later was able to help by arranging support and legal assistance for her. Please pray for her as she has been charged.
Wayne, a servant of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, right where HE has put me, doing what HE wants me to do.