Slavery Still Exists

Last Wednesday I flew home from four days of fighting human trafficking in New York City as part of the Price of Life NYC.  Friday we watched Journey to Freedom at Large Group to introduce the topic to the Fredonia campus in preparation for our own Price of Life campaign in March.  Today, as I enjoyed the quiet of my own home, I've had a chance to reflect on what the human trafficking trade means for me and wrestled with the hard subject.
There 27 million individuals in slavery now.  Women and children make up 80% of the industry.  As I see these facts, I am thankful that I have been able to live without free of being trafficked so far in my life.  I know that no one is truly safe though and I hurt for those children who have lost their childhoods.  As a teacher, I know the importance of education and I have built strong bonds with some of the students, including many who are between 11-14 (the average age to enter prostitution in NYC).  I can't imagine these students living the lives that I saw through the movies, pictures, and events in NYC.  My heart aches for the families of those involved, knowing many of them are runaways.
My own childhood was filled with many great memories and in reflection and comparison, very little hurt.  I had and still have the freedom to go where I want to go, buy what I want to buy (within reason), and do what I want to do.  Those who were telling me what to do had my best interests at heart and wanted to see me grow up to succeed.  Now as I hear of the sexual exploitation of minors and women, I'm sickened.  What must go on in someone's mind to think that having sex with a fourth grader is ok? or an 8th grader?  Adults need to learn to control their bodies and to not abuse the future generation or other individuals.  The fact that slaves can be bought for as little as $90 or even $200 is disgusting.  Can't they see that those are the boys and girls who live right down the street?  They could be their siblings or cousins?  They are innocent children and that no one deserves to have their freedom taken away to be sold, especially not repeatedly to strangers.  One of the most disgusting things I heard of was sex tourism.  In some parts of the world, you can ask for a girl or boy, any age without questions.  Usually from an orphanage these children who already don't have families to show them the love they deserve, are picked up and given to the men for money.  (Note: Other places on the top 5 destinations for sex tourism have legalized prostitution.) Regardless, I can't even fathom how this could be ok in someone's mind.
Now before you think that I'm all innocent and haven't contributed to human trafficking at all, you're wrong.  No, I have not contributed to the sexual exploitation of anyone, but I have contributed to the labor exploitation of men, women, and children.  See I (like many of you), own a smart phone, wear clothes made of cotton, and eat food imported from other countries.  Some of the raw materials are mined by children or are picked from the fields by workers who aren't paid and have no choice to be there.  As York Moore said at a Price of Life event at NYU "There is not a single person who hasn't contributed to the exploitation of marginalized people."  This hit me hard as I realized that I wasn't innocent, but I was part of the problem.
I want to be part of the solution.  It's not an easy thing to end slavery, but as I sit in my apartment, close to where paths on the Underground Railroad led slaves to freedom in the 1800's and today roads that move slaves into continued bondage, it's time to change.  I am choosing to LoGOFF: To buy local, green, organic, and free trade whenever possible.  I'm blessed by being surrounded by local farms and gardens so I can know where my produce comes from.  I am going to continue to share information about the human trafficking problem as awareness is key to fighting it.  Many are still unaware and some choose to not believe, but the problem exists anyway.  I want freedom for the children to be children and the women (even college students and internationals) to learn and choose where they want to be.  Freedom is something worth fighting for.  "None are free if any are slaves."
Join with me for a community is needed to fight and faith is needed to win.

Alumni: Note from Me

My name is Kathryn Pilgrim and I’m new staff at Fredonia. For those who don’t know me, I am also a 2011 and 2013 alumna.

God is doing great things at Fredonia. As I met with student leaders at our Basileia leadership conference, their passion to reach the campus for Christ was evident.

Over the school year, some of our major goals include:

·         Hosting more events to share the gospel

·         Adding teams with more leaders

·         Focusing our efforts around our vision to see students and faculty transformed, the campus renewed, and world changers developed

To make this happen, we need more time, resources, and volunteers. We’ve trained new volunteers and asked current students to increase their involvement.

International Student Ministry
Our ministry to international student is flourishing. We are working with the International Education Center to build friendships with students and live life with them. Through meals with Saudi students, campfires with Koreans, and attending church with a few of the Chinese who have become believers since they started school, God is working in this new ministry. Last April, I received the following text from a close Chinese friend: “I found salvation today.”  After a year of discussing the gospel, she accepted Jesus as savior and is now helping share the gospel with others!

Urbana 12
Last year, six of our students and three from Jamestown Community College attended InterVarsity’s Urbana 12 missions conference. One student was inspired to challenge our chapter to build 60 medical kits for caregivers in Africa, an extension of an activity that took place at the conference.

Next year, we will continue our passion for justice by hosting a Price of Life invitational in the spring, modeled after Price of Life: New York City. (see more on the next page).

Basileia and Urbana exemplify what InterVarsity at Fredonia is all about. I’m excited to play a small role in what God is doing through InterVarsity at Fredonia.

While I don’t know most of you, I hope that will change over the coming months and years. You play an important role in the ongoing ministry to current Fredonia students. Please join me in praying for God to continue to work through InterVarsity as we minister to students on campus.

I would love to keep you up to date on the latest happenings with InterVarsity Fredonia. If you prefer not to receive future updates, please let me know.

Warmly,
Kathryn Pilgrim
Kathryn_Pilgrim@ivstaff.org | 607-661-3574

Partnerships

For many years, InterVarsity has relied on partnerships between individuals, churches, and others in the community.  At Fredonia, over the past five years the rewards have been evident to chapter members.  In January, during our week-long service trip, many churches and businesses provide the 30 participants with a warm meal.  Food is one of the ways to college students hearts and this service from the Fredonia/Dunkirk area reminds the students why they are donating their time to community service. 

Recently, we expanded our  partnerships to include borrowing supplies for events (so the chapter only had to buy soap for the carwash), using local church spaces, and connecting students to families  while they are away from home.  We are working to develop new ways for individuals to get involved with the vision on campus: including holiday host families for international students, mentoring students, and helping with events on campus.  If you are interested in actively participating with the vision on campus, contact me. 

Past and Present

Greg Bacon ’93, InterVarsity Staff at SUNY Fredonia.

When I was a college student at SUNY Fredonia, the vision of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship was to Build Collegiate Fellowships, Develop disciples who embody Biblical values, and Engage the Campus in all its ethnic diversity with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today the vision of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is to see Students and Faculty Transformed, Campuses Renewed and World Changers Developed.

When I was a college student in InterVarsity, we used to have “book tables” and would host Investigative Bible Discussions with non-Christians. Today, we have “proxy stations” and hold “God Investigation Groups” with those who don’t yet know Jesus. 

When I was a college student, we attended “Bible and Life” where we learned about the Joy of following Jesus, the joy of inductive Bible study and the joy of discipling others. Today’s students attend “Expedition,” where they participate in various tracks including “Gearing Up” (Lordship), “Map & Compass” (the Word of God), and “Guides” (Godly Leadership).

You see, the words are slightly different today, but the purpose is still the same. InterVarsity’s focus has always been – and always will be – following Jesus. We want to see students repent of their sins, make Jesus the leader of their lives and help them grow spiritually.

I hope when you look at your life today, you can see how God used InterVarsity to help you grow in your faith. And even though your days at SUNY Fredonia have ended, perhaps you can help us continue to reach students for Christ, just like others before you invested in InterVarsity so you could be blessed.

Thank you all for your partnership in this ministry. And may God continue to use you for his Kingdom.

Note from the President

By Alec Hill, President of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA

July 15, 2013

Every June, it is my great privilege to welcome new InterVarsity staff for ten days in Madison. Over the twelve years of my presidency, Orientation of New Staff (ONS) has consistently been my favorite event – more than Urbana, more than Global Projects. The vibrancy and passion of incoming staff is so palpable that my calling to the Fellowship is renewed annually.

But this year is extra special. With 136 newcomers, the ONS class of 2013 represents the largest group of new staff ever. In our 72 year history, we have never had a class this large. Over the past four years, an incredible 516 new staff have joined our community.

Surely this is the Lord’s doing. He is blessing InterVarsity and we stand in awe. If, at the human level, we begin to take credit, we will certainly miss His best. We do well to remember Moses’ exhortation: “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God… (Deut. 8:17).” We are very thankful indeed.

* Kathryn Pilgrim (new staff at Fredonia) can be found in green near the bottom right of the above group picture.

InterVarsity at Fredonia Alumni

My first Alumni newsletter is on it's way out and should arrive in all of the alumni mailboxes or inboxes within the next week.  The alumni version of the newsletter will come out twice a year so if you are interested in receiving it or switching from paper to electronic, please sign up here and select the Fredonia Alumni group. The next few posts include some articles that made it into the paper version, but not the electronic one.  I hope we remember as alumni the blessing InterVarsity was in our lives at Fredonia.

40 Days of Prayer

The NY/NJ region in a few weeks into a 40 Day prayer campaign.  Daily emails are being sent out to the majority of the people who read electronic newsletters.  For those of you who have missed one of the daily emails, feel free to check them out here http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/home/?u=b8ad235dbdf3cdd411d46dca5&id=5d40568ef5  Each includes specific requests for the region, focused primarily on the New Student Outreach which is the main focus of the first few weeks of the year.  I have also included Fredonia specific prayer requests. Thanks for your prayer support!