The Power of Targeted Prayer How Are You Doing?
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FRONTLINES A Window into America’s Universities APRIL 2020 Faculty Commons® A CRU MINISTRY §1 – How are you doing? The Power of A Tentmaking Not Falling Targeted Prayer Professor Through Cracks Eliciting hope and bringing comfort in the How God specifically set the stage to develop Cal Poly professor helps others live out their We want every grad student to have the ravages of a pandemic. §1 a thriving faculty ministry at NC State. §2 faith in academia and business. §3 opportunity to know Jesus. §4 How are you doing? Rick Hove, Faculty Commons® National Director to each other, “Aren’t we glad to be home!” As I On March 5 write this, our Israel/Italy trip is so far from my Sonya and I mind. A dear friend with Cru struggles to live. My Duke doctor/professor friend suits up in planned to hazmat gear to care for those with the disease. COVID-19 has rocked our world, leaving our leave with mouths agape, wondering in disbelief how this could be, and speculating what will be. So, like three other a daffodil emerging in spring after a deep freeze, anything emerging these days as couples for an extended “certain,” “reliable,” or “comforting” becomes trip to Israel, which would cherished indeed. One thing that has emerged as certain, re- culminate with a visit to our Faculty Com- liable, and comforting is that we need each mons work in Italy. One of our traveling other. From the moment normal life began friends is an infectious disease doctor/profes- to unravel, I sensed the Lord encouraging me Reimagining Ministry sor at Duke, who obviously kept a watchful eye to ask folks, “How are you doing? How is this Faculty Commons has been reimagining what ministry looks like given social distancing on this new virus across the globe. hitting you? Can I do anything?” Others have and quarantine. God had already equipped us for this unique period in history with im- Just three days prior to our departure, on asked me this, too. And boy, I have needed it. portant online video conferencing technologies such as Zoom and Google Hangouts. These March 2, upon his advice (and the advice of As our staff began to ask professors these have now become indispensable tools in making ministry connections. Although most of his mentor), we sadly canceled the trip. At the questions, pages and pages of email responses the articles in this issue highlight approaches God was using before this pandemic, He is time, not one of us feared the disease. What poured in. You would not believe the stories. now giving us new ways to let the light of Jesus Christ shine in a dark and needy world. terrified us, however, was being overseas in Faculty have cried on the phone. One Faculty quarantine, unable to return. Or, in quarantine Commons staff couple told me they had to fessors, universities, and the world. The way We are so grateful for you, and we’d love to once we returned. limit each day how many people they emailed we start this is important: love those around know. Feel free to contact me at rick.hove@ In hindsight, we were so wrong about the with these questions. The responses were just us. Take time to ask, “How are you doing?” cru.org or any Faculty Commons/Cru staff. disease and so providentially right about the so sincere and overwhelming that they did not Care. Jesus modeled this. Every human yearns God’s blessing upon you in this time of great reality of getting stuck overseas (we would have time to reply in earnest to each response. for this, and is, in fact, made for this. loss and need. have) and our decision to cancel. The profound power of asking: How are you The simple question, “How are you doing?” National Director of Faculty Commons® Rick That week, the pre-tremors of COVID-19 doing? Simple. Life-giving. Hope-producing. is powerful enough to elicit hope and bring Hove and his wife, Sonya, live in Durham, NC, leveled much of life as we knew it, pummeling Faculty Commons’ mission is to build move- comfort in the ravages of a pandemic. That is and have three adult children. us with one devastating, inconceivable blow ments of Christ-following professors who take amazing. after another. More than once we commented the hope of Jesus Christ to our students, pro- How are you doing? §2 The Power of Targeted Prayer Ministry Profile: Mike & Sharon Mehaffie, Faculty Commons Representatives, NC State Univ. When was the last God set the stage leading the Mehaffies to time you experienced pray and led these faculty members to restart God answer prayer in a faculty fellowship. Soon a core group of an unexpected and five professors met regularly for prayer and surprising manner? planning faculty events. They started small- Mike and Sharon group Bible studies and A Grander Story book Mehaffie, Cru cam- studies for colleagues. To make their presence pus staff at North known on campus they distributed gift bags to Carolina State University since 1981, were new faculty. Now 140 professors sign their Faculty Appreciation Dinners provide a win/win for students and faculty. Students are able to say “thank stunned at how God answered their prayer names to half or full-page faculty ads in you” in a meaningful way, and professors feel appreciated and honored. of faith. the student newspaper identifying themselves for their impact, it is a refreshing change. by a student who survived my tough course. It Early in 2018 the NC State campus staff team as Christians. Mike Mehaffie explains: “These dinners was lovely to spend the evening with her. The met in a planning session. Brainstorming areas Each year the faculty group and the Cru bring non-Christian faculty to hear a thought- speaker was inspiring.” And this year, seven of ministry, they made a list of 30 places student ministry organize a Faculty Apprecia- ful gospel message, and professors are truly professors wanted to know more about being “where we are not.” Each person put their tion Dinner. Christian students each invite affected by the encouraging words of their involved in faculty ministry. name next to one area to pray. Mike Mehaffie a former professor to honor at the dinner. students. We’ve seen faculty beaming and even It’s exciting to watch a faculty ministry chose “faculty ministry.” There had been an In the academic world, faculty are constantly some tears of happiness.” begin anew and then grow because of the effort to develop a faculty ministry years critiqued. When students invite faculty to This February one professor wrote: “It was targeted prayer of Faculty Commons staff and earlier, but it now needed to be restarted. attend a dinner to hear words of appreciation an absolute honor to be invited to this dinner professors. The Mehaffies prayed that God would pro- vide professors to establish a faculty ministry. Within one month they received two unso- North Carolina State University licited emails. Retired Professor Gerald Van NC State, located in Raleigh, NC, first held classes in 1889 and is now the state’s Dyke asked, “Can we restart the faculty minis- largest university. A powerhouse in science, technology, engineering and math, try at NC State?” Then Dr. Steven Hall, a NC State is a national leader in efforts to curb nuclear proliferation, develop a smart electric grid, create self-powered health monitors, help farmers confront professor who had recently moved from LSU climate changes, and build a new American manufacturing sector. to NC State, sent this question: “I was involved with Faculty Commons at LSU. Is there any- • Total 2019 enrollment 36,304. • #3 among national research universities in producing Fulbright Scholars. thing like that here?” • #3 nuclear engineering program, #8 biological and agricultural engineering The year before this happened, God was (U.S. News & World Report). already at work in the lives of faculty mem- • #4 veterinary medicine program nationally (U.S. News & World Report). bers. Dr. Laura Sremaniak and Dr. Ed • #4 graphic design program in the country and best among public universities Gehringer attended Faculty Commons’ 2017 A (Animation Career Review). Common Call conference for Christian profes- • #6 nationally in online graduate computer and information technology sors in Greenville, South Carolina. Afterward, programs (U.S. News & World Report). • One of just two NCAA schools in 2019 to have a first-round draft pick in the Dr. Gehringer emailed Dr. Sremaniak, “We WNBA, MLB, and NFL drafts. James B. Hunt Jr. Library (Centennial Campus) features an iconic modern exterior and an need to get something going with faculty at • Go Wolfpack! interior filled with cutting-edge technological integration. NC State!” §3 A Tentmaking Professor Faculty Profile: Dr. David Janzen, Professor of Computer Science, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA Dr. Janzen was awarded the 2019 Nilson seeking to build a network of Christian profes- Award, given by Faculty Commons to an out- sors at Cal Poly who would work together with standing professor in the U.S. to recognize men the 800-strong Cru student movement there to and women God is raising up to forward His impact their campus for Christ. cause in the university. This provided a perfect opportunity for Dr. When Dr. David Janzen left a lucrative career Janzen to multiply his efforts by now having in the software industry to become a professor, a Christian influence with other professors as he was following a leading from God. “I feel well as students. He leads Christian colleagues called to be in a public space as a tentmaker,” in small discipleship groups to pray, study, he explains, “sharing the gospel, making dis- and join one another in missional activities Cal Poly professor David Janzen and wife, Karen, interacting with students on a recent international ciples, and being a light in a dark place.” on campus.