§2

reversed when God raises Him from the dead, defeating death forever.

•Awomanof ill-reputefromahatedpeoplegroupistransformed.Themostintenseperse-cutorofthechurchbecomesaconvert.Fisher-menfullycommittedtoonewayoflifebailonitforanother.Unlikelypeoplelikeyou,andlikeme, are transformed.IfyoureadtheBiblewitheyestosee,thevery

mentionofa“lostcause”thatinvolvespeoplewillcauseyoutoperkupatthethought,becauseGodhasahistoryofreachingouttothefurthestaway,andredeemingthemostunthinkable.Infact, if JesuswerealivetodayI feelcertainHewouldspendplentyoftimewithprofessors.Heloves thelost.

Itisprobablyourlotinlifetoviewcertainsitu-ationsandpeopleas“lostcauses.”Thisisbecausefrom our perspectivethesepeopleandsituationsareunredeemable.Andbecausewearesadlyblindtowhata“lostcause”weoncewere.

BUTifyoulookatGod’sheartforthelost,andHistrackrecord,onemightfindgreatreasontojoinwithGodinHisremarkablerescuemissionthatisunderwayinAmerica’sprofessors.Godloveslostpeople,andbecauseofHispowerandmercy,noone,andnogroupofpeople,willeverbe a “lost cause.” Never. It’s not because of thepeople;it’sbecauseofGod.

Wesocovetyourprayersandfinancialinvest-mentinthisgreatcause!

Executive Director of Faculty Commons since 2005, Rick has also directed the Rice and Duke ministries. He is a summa cum laude graduate of both Georgia Tech and Trinity Evangelical Divini-ty School. Rick, his wife Sonya, and their three children live in Durham, NC.

And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The king-dom of heaven is at hand.’”

•Luke 15:4ff:Whatmanof you, having a hun-dred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? . . . And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.”

•Luke19:10:FortheSonofMancametoseekand to save the lost.Thelabel“lost”inGod’seconomy,ratherthan

precipitatingawhiteflagofsurrender,insteadtriggerspassionateactionwiththehopeofa futureparty!

Infact,onecouldmakethecasethattheBibleisastoryoftheremarkablesuccessofprobable“lostcauses”:•GodcallstoHimselfapeople,whothenprompt-lyabandonandabuseHim,condemningthem-selvestohundredsandhundredsofyearsofscatteredexile.Only the tiniest remnant re-mained.YettodayovertwobillionclaimtobeHispeople.

•Abandonedbythosewhowere,intheory, goingtoloveandsupportHim,JesusofNaz-areth is left alone to be crucified by politicalandreligiousauthorities.Whatseemstobethedarkestmomentinthestoryissuddenly

§1 A Window into America’s Universities NOVEMBER 2012 Faculty Commons-A CRU MINISTRY

God’s rescue mission for professors. Uniting hearts and minds for Christ. Friendshipandquestionsofferlife. God’s relentless pursuit of Jonah–and us!

FRONTLINESAre Professors aLost Cause?

God at Work at Purdue

OSU Professor’s Influence

Surprised by Grace

§1 §2 §3 §4

God at Work at PurdueMinistryProfile:CoreyandMelindaMiller,Purdue University

Are Professors a Lost Cause?RickHove,Faculty Commons Executive Director

Doyouhavefriends who distinguishthemselvesbyvirtueof

their forthrightness? I do. IthankGodforthosesweetfolkswhospitoutwhat everyoneelseswallows.

Onoccasionfriendsandacquaintances–strangerseven!–taketheopportunitytoinformmethat“professorsarealostcause.”Suchhon-estyneverfailstoelicitagrinfromme.

Theyarewrong.Professorsmaybe“lost,”butinnowayaretheya“lostcause.”Somepeoplemiss the difference.

IfyoulookthroughtheNewTestamentyou’lldiscoverthefollyofbelievinglostpeople=lostcause.Infact,givenGod’saffinityforthelost,intheBiblelostpeople=Godinpursuit:•Matthew10:5-7:ThesetwelveJesussentout,in-

structing them, “Go nowhere among the Gen-tiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

TheSymposiumhasgivenbelievingprofessorsrecognition,evenbythosewhoopposethem,asamovementofbrightandwinsomeChrist-follow-erswhohaveneglectedneithertheirmindsnortheirhearts.Coreyusesthisevent,aswellas personalreferrals,semesterluncheons,openfo-rum“hot topic”discussions, and referrals fromchurchestomeetnewprofessors.“Weintention-allynetworkwithareapastorsforthispurpose,”Coreyexplains.“Wereceivepastoralrecommen-dationsandtheninturnsendnewbelieversandprospectstotheseareachurches.”

Coreyisseeingpeopleimpactedbyhisminis-trycometofaithinChristandgetinvolved,thenmovetoanotheruniversity,orevenacityoutsidetheU.S.,andtrytostartaministrytheremodeledonwhattheyexperiencedatPurdue.Hesays,“Thisownershipisasignthatwearebecomingamovement.WhenIseeprofessorsgetexcitedabouttheirfaithandstrivetodevelopgradstu-dentswithamissionalmentality,I’monmywaytoworkingmyselfoutofajobsothatIcanstart

againatanotheruniversity.”OneChinesePh.D.studentwassenttotheU.S.

byhis government to studywesternMarxismpriortofinishinghisdegree.WhileattendingclassesatPurdue,hebeganattendingoneofthesmallReadingandDiscussiongroupsthatFacul-tyCommonssponsors.“OverseveralmonthsthisstudenthadhiseyesopenedandhecametoknowChrist!!He’snowback inChinaasan exampleofanatheist-Marxist-turned-Christian-philosophy-professorinaChineseuniversity!”explainsCorey.

CoreyandMelindapraythateachbelievingprofessoratPurduestopsmerelybeingaprofes-sorwhohappenstobeaChristianandinsteadcatchesthevisiontobecomeamissionalprofes-sor,onewhoisintentionalinbringingChrist’spresenceandtruthintotheiruniversityandaca-demicwork.

Theyconclude,“IfbyGod’sgracewecanwinthecurrentorfutureprofessor,wealsowintheirclassroomforthirtyyears!”

“We’vemoved beyondourselves.Weworkintandemwithothercam-pusministries,” saysFacultyCommonsstaffrepresentativeCoreyMiller.“Indeed,withthe greater pastoral

andchurchcommunitiesinvolvedinmuchofwhatwedo,we’renotjustaboutgoingafterthewholecampus,butthewholecommunity.Wearenetworkingourresourcestogether,unifiedinChrist.”

CoreycitesThe Symposiumastheclearest example of this.A joint outreach of severalchurchesandPurdueministries,eachyearTheSymposiumisthesinglelargestoutreacheventinthecommunity.AdozenorsoChristianfaculty,pastors,andcampusministryleadersspeakover30timesontherelevancyofthegospelandtruthoftheChristianfaithbyaddressingavarietyofissues.

Purdue UniversityFounded in 1869 andnamed after benefactorJohnPurdue,Purdueisoneofthenation’slea-dingresearchinstitutions.AccordingtoU.S. NewsandWorldReport’s2012rankings,Purduewas23rdamongpublicuniversities.•Totalenrollmentfall2012:39,256•AssociatedwithsevenNobelPrizewinners•OneoftwoU.S.publicuniversitieshavingthelargestinternationalstudentpopulation

•Morethan20%ofthefacultybornoutsideoftheUnitedStates

•Produced22astronauts,includingthefirstmantosetfootonthemoon,NeilA.Armstrong,andthelastmantoleaveit,EugeneA.Cernan

•ProducedNFLquarterbackswhohavethrownformoreyardsandTD’sintheNFLthanthatofanyschoolandhasthreeSuperBowlMVP-winningquarterbacks

•HasrichhistoryoftraditionsincludingtheBigBassDrum,theFountainRun,andyearly50-mile160-lapgo-kartracetoraisemoneyforscholarships

•GoPurduePeteandBroilermakers!Photo: Purdue University, Office of Marketing & Media ©2012

University Hall

Purdue professors and staff discuss issues of faith at a Faculty Commons Reading and Discussion Group. Participant backgrounds include philosophy, physics, chemistry and engineering.

It’s Official! Earlier thisyearCrubecametheofficialnameofCampusCrusadeforChristintheU.S.Thenewlogoisdominatedbyacrossabove the new name. As our president SteveDouglass explains, “Anyonewho knows any-thingaboutCru,knowswearepassionateaboutonething—connectingpeopletoJesusChrist.Infact,weonlyexistforthepurposeofhelpingpeopleeverywhereexperiencethetransforminggrace and forgiveness of the gospel throughGod’sSon,JesusChrist.”

FacultyCommonsisaCruministry.

Faculty Commons groups of professors and staff meet regularly across the OSU campus, gathering for the exchange of ideas and the sharing of lives. Together they wrestle with the ever-challenging question, “As a follower of Jesus Christ, what should I be and do in the academy?”

§3

A panel of three Christian faculty at the University of Florida gave 1100 students the opportunity to ask them questions about God, their faith, and other issues.

§4

Dr.EdHarris,ProfessorandWilliamsChairofEducationalLeadershipatOklahomaStateUni-versity,hasan impactonhisstudents thatgoesfarbeyondclassroomlectures.WithadoctorateinEducationalLeadershipfromTexasA&MUni-versityandamaster’sdegreefromDallasTheo-logicalSeminary,heisinterestedintheinterrela-tionshipoffaith,lifeandwork.Forover20years,Edhasnotonlydoneanexcellentjobofteaching,research,publishing,andservice,healsohas influencedthelivesofnumerousstudentsandcolleagues.

Hisapproachissimple:heasksgoodquestionsandgetstoknowpeople.Inturn,heisintentional

increatinganatmospherewheretheycangettoknowhimaswell.Edisaprofessorwhohas reflecteddeeplyabouttheprinciplesthatguidehiswork,homeandlife.

Notlongago,aPh.D.studentfromapredomi-nantlynon-Christiancountrybeganaconversa-tionwithEd.Overtime,astheydiscussedtheirbackgrounds, beliefs and interests, the studentasked toknowmoreabout theChristian faith.Thedialog inspiredhimtobeginreadingthe Bible,whichinturnmovedhimtotrustChristashisSavior.Soon,hiswifealsobecameaChristian.

Theywere connectedwithChristianmentorsandachurchthatcouldhelpthembothgrowin

OSU Professor’s InfluenceFacultyProfile:Dr.EdHarris,Oklahoma State University

Frontlines is published by Faculty Commons, the faculty ministry of Cru.

•Editor: Bonnie McGee•Writer: Ceil Wilson•Design: Rich Bostwick

We want to hear from you. Please contact us via email at frontlines@facultycommons.org. Faculty Commons, 2001 West Plano Parkway, Ste. 2700, Plano, TX 75075; Ph: 972.516.0516; Web: www.facultycommons.com

bigissuesoflife.”Hehasbeenaleaderinthe OSUFacultyCommonsnetworkofprofessorsforyears,helpingsetthedirectionandencouragingotherfacultytobealighttotheircolleaguesandstudents.Edspeakslocally,nationallyandin-ternationallytootherprofessorsregardingthe theologyofworkandtheappropriateintegrationoffaithintheworkplace.

GarypraisesEd“asoneofthebestmodelsoflivinganintegratedlifewithnodichotomybe-tweenthepersonheisonSundayandtheoneheistherestoftheweek.”

theirfaith.Godhasputontheirheartsadesiretoreachouttotheunderprivilegedclasseswhentheyreturntotheirhomecountry.

This student recently toldOSUFacultyCom-monsministryrepresentativesGaryandGenaHellman,“InowhavepeacewithGodthroughJesusChristandamadifferentpersonthanwhenIcametothiscountry.Myhopeisthatotherpro-fessorswillsharethisimportantmessagewithinternational students whomay have neverheard.”

Edcomments,“Iamthankfulforthisministry,because itprovidesavenue for faculty, staff andstudentstodiscussanddigdeepintothe

Fast Facts:The director of the new Cru ministry at the University of Alaska wants to build a profes-sor/student movement there.

A group of student leaders involved with Cru at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo lead the student outreach to the faculty at their university.

Christian professors at Princeton University hosted an event for graduate students to mentor them as future professors and Christ- followers in the academy.

Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of RebelsReviewbyBillHager, Faculty Commons National Field Director, University of Georgia

lious,promiscuous,drug-usingteenagerwhowaskickedoutofhisparent’shomeatage16andforsixyearsdidhisbesttochanneltheprodigalson.

PerhapsbecauseofhisexperienceofrunningfromGod,Tchividjianhasakeenerunderstand-ingoftheextentofourheart’srebellionandtheextentthatGodwillpursueuswithHismercyandgrace.Whilethisbookdoesathoroughjobofexplainingand interpretingthe twistsandturnsofthebookofJonah,itsenduringvalue isinexplainingandinterpretingthetwistsandturns of the human heart and the God who pursuesus.

TchividjianhelpsusseetheeventsinthebookthatnormallyaredepictedasGod’swrathasevi-denceofGod’sgrace.“(T)hestormisn’tpunish-ment;it’sanintervention,broughtonbyGod’saffectionratherthanbyhisanger….WouldithavebeenbetterforJonahifGodhadlefthimalone?ItwasanactofmercyforGodtosend thestorm.”TchividjianhasnoproblemmakingthelessonsofJonahapplicabletohisreaders.

“(Jonah’s) runawayposture isourposture, everytimewesin,whetherinthought,word,ordeed,

…wearetellingGod,‘Mywayofnavigatingthissituationisbetterthanyours….’”Itdoesn’ttakelongtoseethatthisstoryofagreatsinnerbeingsenttoagreatcityofsinisnotjustaboutJonahrunningfromGod,orIsraelforsakingherKing,butabouttheneedourheartshaveforaSavioreveryday.

Auniquefeatureofthisbookistheinclusionof

Jesus:“Ifyouthen,whoareevil,knowhowtogivegoodgiftstoyourchildren,howmuchmorewillyourFatherwhoisinheavengivegoodgiftstothosewhoaskHim?”(Matthew7:11)1.AskGodtoworkinthelivesoflostprofessors,wooingthemtoHimself.Youmightprayforpro-

essorsinyourdepartmentfromyouralmamater.2.PrayChristianprofessorswouldpursueopportunitiestobe“saltandlight”intheirclassesand

departments.(Matthew5:14-16)3.AskGodtoblessChristianprofessorswhostudyandteachinthelifesciencessothattheirlives

andscholarshippointotherstotheAuthorofLife.

Join with us in Prayer

14colorplatesofcenturies-oldartmasterpiecesthatdepictdifferentaspectsofJonah’sexperience.Inthecourseofthebook,Tchividjianinterpretseachpieceofart,bringingdepthandemotionintoJonah’sstoryasonlygreatartcan.

Thisbookissoinsightfulitwillmakeyougetupfromyourreadingchairandfindsomethingwithwhichtounderline.You’llseehowquickly

Investing in the MissionYourfinancialinvestmentwillenableustobuildmovementsofprofessorsandstudentstotakethehopeofJesusChristtotheworld.Willyouprayerfullyconsiderpartneringwithusin thisgreatendeavor?AllcontributionstoFacultyCommonsareincometaxdeductible.Cash donations

MakechecktoCruandmailtoFacultyCommons;2001W.PlanoParkway,Suite2700; Plano,Texas75075.Orinvestonline:give.cru.org/2271527

Maximize your giving to help reach the world for ChristStocks,bondsandmutualfundsheldforatleastayear,whichhaveincreasedinvaluesince thetimepurchased,willreceiveextrataxsavingswhenusedasadonation.

Estate DesignAtnocharge,professionalsattheGreatCommissionFoundationcanhelp youdevelopastrategytomeetyourfinancialgoalsminimizingtaxesandmaximizingKingdomimpact.

Ifyouneedassistance,pleasecontactourDirectorofMinistryDevelopment, RichMcGeeat214-727-6084orrich.mcgee@facultycommons.org.

Support Faculty Commons Staff AspartofCru,allstafftrustGodfortheirsalaryandministryexpenses.Youcancontributedirectlytoindividualstaffatgive.cru.orgbytypingtheirnameinthesearchbox.

Whileonedoesn’texpecttofindgraceasmuchintheOldTestamentasintheNew,it’snotbe-causegraceisnotthere,butbecausewedon’tknowhowtofindit.Surprised by Graceisanapttitle for Tullian Tchividjian’s book about Jonah.Theauthorknowsalittlesomethingaboutgrace.We knowhimnow as the grandson of Billy GrahamandtheonechosentofillDr.James Kennedy’spulpitatCoralRidgePresbyterianChurch.Buttherewasatimewhenhewasarebel-

Dr. Ed Harris spends time with his students, building relationships for conversations about life’s most important issues.

thehumanheartcanbecomeanidol-makingfactory,andhowGodrelentlesslypursuesyouevenwhenyouhavenointentionofchanging—withHisveryeffectivemethodsofpersuasion.Andyou’llmarvelatGod’sextravagantmercyandbesurprisedbyHisrelentlessgrace,andbesur-prisedbyHisrelentlessgrace,andbesurprisedbyHisrelentlessgrace…