Multiethnic Conference Offers Hope and Grace for the Journey

The title of the recent Multiethnic staff conference, Hope, Grace, Journey, reflects the desire of InterVarsity leadership to understand multiethnic ministry as a pilgrimage. According to several staff who attended the conference, God has given grace and hope to InterVarsity staff as they travel with God in learning to love and value one another.

Paul Tokunaga, national coordinator for Asian American ministries, presented the opening message, speaking from Jeremiah on planting a garden and living in hope of the harvest. In applying the message to the concerns of the assembled staff, Paul invited them to add soil from their campuses to a large bowl on the podium. Throughout the conference, this pot of dirt symbolized the commitment of the staff, having hope that God would produce fruit in the area of multiethnic reconciliation.

The conference brought hope and encouragement to the multiethnic staff through the program—daily community prayer times, a variety of speakers, individual testimonies, community worship, ethnic specific small groups, and work sessions to gather information needed to plan for InterVarsity’s multiethnic journey. Staff who attended were very positive about the conference and where God is leading InterVarsity as we strive to more fully understand his value and purpose in the multiethnic community that is InterVarsity.

InterVarsity leadership is committed to continue the journey of multiethnic ministry within the context of the larger mission to declare the whole gospel to students and faculty on college and university campuses.