Launching the New Year
Dear friends,
The beginning of a new semester brings a fresh burst of energy to a university campus. We are certainly experiencing a surge in excitement and activity at the Michigan Christian Study Center despite the January chill. As director, I have the joy of seeing the Center develop into a community of faithful learners who are bringing a Christian influence to the University of Michigan. In addition, countless other groups have used our Center for year-opening events as our building has truly become a hub of Christian activity and Christian unity at the university. Here are some highlights:
In our first two Friday lunches, students have packed the Center to hear Atlantic journalist Tim Alberta and Burton Lee, M.D. of the NIH challenge them to discern and follow God’s calling on their lives.
The second term of our four-part Program in Christian Studies, “Exploring Christian Theology,” launched last week, providing U of M students with a Christian theological foundation for their university studies.
Students receiving textbooks (and breakfast) for Theology class
The Center also hosted a Wednesday evening reception and public lecture by Burton Lee, “Expertise and Medical Decisions in Christian Perspective.”
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, local pastor Donnell Wyche spoke at a special lunch event on “Martin Luther King Jr., the Gospel, and Restorative Justice.”
In addition to our regular prayer and Bible reading groups, this week includes the launch of our C.S. Lewis book discussion (The Abolition of Man), the first of several faculty “Faith and Scholarship” conversations, and a Friday lunch featuring Michigan Law professor Dan Crane.
Of course, the ultimate purpose of the Center’s work is to impact individual lives at the university. One such example is Center “regular” Diego Reyes, a Secondary Education Math and English major.
How he learned about the Center:
I had heard about it from a friend. She mentioned that it is a great place to study and see other Christians during the day. I was certainly excited about the idea, as I mostly just studied in my dorm.
How the Center has contributed to his intellectual and spiritual development:
The Bible study has been so fruitful and has increased my appreciation for the Word in a way I haven’t felt before. Academically, having a place to study like this encourages me to be productive in my schoolwork and has truly allowed me to make the most of each day here. I have found more joy in studying alongside other amazing people here at the center and having the wonderful hospitality of the staff of the MCSC.
On the value of the Center to his U of M experience:
The people here are truly some of the best and godliest I have met. Everyone, especially the staff, is so welcoming and kind. Heidi [director of operations] never fails to show the utmost kindness and hospitality to me; it is almost like having another motherly figure in my life here at the Center. Overall, this place has given me another home to go to here at Michigan. God has blessed me with this Center and its people, and He is moving in extraordinary ways through the people here!
We are grateful for the help of so many people who make this transformative work possible. As our Christian presence at the U of M continues to expand, so too do the resources required to support that presence. If you have not done so yet, please consider becoming a monthly supporter of the Center or help us with a one-time gift, using the Donate link below.
Thanks for your role in supporting Christian learning and Christian community at the University of Michigan,
Rick
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Dr. Rick Ostrander
Executive Director, Michigan Christian Study Center