What Are People Saying About CSF?

Is the IU campus at Bloomington a good college choice for a Christian student? For many students and parents the answer to that question has been an immediate and resounding NO!

That response is certainly understandable given its reputation as a party school and the occasional news headline that reflects sin and spiritual darkness on the Bloomington campus. However, that answer may be changing, thanks to Indiana University Christian Student Fellowship (CSF).

In the fall of 2002 CSF established its new campus house for Christian students at IU. The house is at 1968 N. Jordan, on IU's "Fraternity Row." It had previously been occupied by a fraternity that was kicked off the campus for alcohol violations. With the help of churches and individuals from throughout the state, CSF undertook the job of repairing and renovating the wrecked facility to make it a new base for God's work at IU.

The CSF house now offers Christian students an exciting living alternative on the Bloomington campus. Up to seventy-five students can live in the co-ed house with guys and girls living in separate residence floors.

In just a year and a half, students living in the house have already seen it become a strong Christian community that provides them support and encouragement.

Laura Hayen, a junior from Southport says "I've lived in an apartment and in the house and nothing can compare to the amount of fellowship and community I've gotten through living in this Christian atmosphere." Ginna Irwin, a recent graduate who lived in the house last fall recently shared "It was such an incredible opportunity to live in the CSF house this fall. While I was living there I never realized how special it was, and how much an impact these fellow students had on my life. I truly miss the true, honest love and concern that everyone showed to me and to one another."

Parents often fear that attending IU may result in a Christian student being drawn away from their faith. However, students at the CSF house have found just the opposite to be true. Jason Pratt, a sophomore, says "Here, you are surrounded by people who put their faith in God." He says that the community and ministry activities "have fed my walk." Hannah Rhoads, a sophomore from Crawfordsville says that because of the CSF House and ministry, "My faith has grown a significant amount. The two years I have spent away from my parents has allowed me to develop and grow in my own faith and personal relationship to God, instead of hiding behind my parents' faith.

Christian Student Fellowship's Campus Ministers, Bill Kershner and Paul Steiner provide spiritual guidance and support to students living in the campus house and to non-resident students involved in other activities of the ministry. Linda "the secretary" Sarchet is the fifteen-year veteran on the CSF Staff, and is the ever-present encourager when students "drop in" to the office.

Leanne Kelker, a junior from Ft. Wayne, reflects the students' appreciation for the two campus ministers: "Their support means the world to me. They dedicate their lives to helping us better ourselves and help shape us into the men and women that God yearns for us to be. They stress the importance of us being ministers to this campus as they act as ministers to us."

Kershner says "We want to do more than just help students survive their college years with their faith intact. We want to help them grow and thrive in their faith. It is exciting to see students hunger for more of God!"

While the CSF house provides a supportive environment that helps students grow in their faith, it is not intended to be a protective shell that isolates students from the rest of the campus. The ministry believes strongly in a Christian's responsibility to be "salt and light" to the world, and a student's world is the IU campus.

Ginna Irwin played on the IU Women's Field Hockey Team. She saw the presence of fellow CSF students cheering on the sidelines as a witness to her coach and teammates. The CSF Men's Basketball Team won their intramural division last season and hope to repeat this year. Team member Scott Gambrel sees this as a great opportunity to reflect positively on Christ through their attitude, language and sportsmanship. As a group, CSF students are committed to reaching others on the campus for Jesus Christ.

The ministry also recognizes that college is a training ground for the future leaders of our society. It believes that all Christians are in ministry, whether in their family, their secular career or in full time Christian work. The student responsibilities associated with living in the CSF house provide a training ground for future Christian leaders.

Dennis Smith is a Bloomington businessman who has become involved in supporting the CSF house because of its potential for developing Christian leaders. Smith is a 1969 IU graduate and was a member of a Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He says, "When I first visited the CSF house I was immediately struck by its incredible potential to develop Christian leaders for business, government and education as well as for the church." Says student Leanne Kelker, "I have learned to be a leader through CSF because that's just what they emphasize."

Campus Minister Paul Steiner is a graduate of Johnson Bible College, and has been on the CSF staff for seven years. He too sees the unique opportunity to develop Christian leaders on a secular campus like IU. Steiner says "Students here learn how to do ministry and be leaders in the real world right now. It is not the somewhat isolated Christian environment of a Bible College. If students learn to do ministry here, they can do it anywhere."