“We want to live free to love…so we’re going to talk about race- and racism- and pain- and drama- and sin- and forgiveness-and redemption- and hope. Are you ready?” InterVarsity student leaders at Occidental College—Los Angeles asked over 100 audience members. So began RacEthnicitYou, an evening of student testimonies culminating in an invitation to consider how Jesus would respond to problems of racism, racial injustice, and broken relationships.
Students initiated dialogue around the topics of racism and diversity on campus, including the Christian perspective on these issues. Students extended grace to one another by sharing and listening to one another’s ethnic journeys. Participants addressed the audience about how God is bringing reconciliation into their lives through the grace, love, and transformation of the Christian community on campus.
“I don’t think that tolerance, political correctness, and awareness are good enough,” Harah, a student, said. “These things will not change people’s hearts, heal real pain, or truly reconcile divided people. Jesus offers us so much more. Jesus gives us freedom to be ourselves without the fear of being judged. Jesus gives us the hope that things and people can actually change.”
The powerful student testimonies throughout the evening painted an enticing picture of what Christian community could look like, and what students at Occidental College want to see on their campus. “I chose Occidental College because of its diversity,” shared Elen Thompson. “As I got closer to the Christian community on campus, I felt completely different because I am the only black student, but had fun with them. This community cared for me and loved me. In this community I have a second family. I feel like I’m at home.”
All the students’ experiences revolved around Jesus’ power to heal, transform, and reconcile. A Buddhist woman responded after the event, “Your faith really affects your life. My religion only affects a tiny bit of my life, but you Christians—your whole life is changed because of Jesus!” At least a dozen students wanted to talk with those who had shared on stage that evening, and many more signed up to participate in a GIG, (Group Investigating God), a Bible study for non-Christians, to learn what Jesus has to say about race.
Students grew as leaders in evangelism, community-building, and racial reconciliation on campus through preparing for RacEthnicitYou and inviting students to participate in the evening. The event involved the entire campus, both younger and older students, and the wider community. Participants in one of the freshman Bible studies on campus prepared all the food for the evening. “People wanted to know more, and they really appreciated that we actually got up and shared such vulnerable stories,” one of the InterVarsity student leaders said.
Occidental is not alone in dealing with Racial Reconciliation. Diversity issues are common to all campuses throughout the United States. InterVarsity seeks to demonstrate unity in Christ as students and staff proclaim the gospel on their campuses.
