Day Three... Summit and S.F.U.

The following morning , I taught a course at Summit called “ Starting Campus Ministries”. I began by showing a powerpoint slide with a montage of various campus ministry pioneers from across Canada. As I pointed out each person, I told a bit of their story. It involved how they started their ministry and the model they used. I believe it is so much more helpful to connect models and methods with real people and situations.

Next, I went through an article I wrote years ago where I summarized various methods we had used in BC to kickstart university ministry. It allowed me the opportunity to provide commentary as we moved along and field questions as they arose.



After the class, I trundled over to the chapel. Our mission Canada team was facilitating a week of special missions emphasis at the college and our own Jaz would be the lead off speaker. I must say, the worship throughout the week was awesome. Summit is ridiculously blessed with musical firepower and top notch worship leaders. Our time of praise was a profound experience. It was a revelation to listen to Jaz, who had been raised as a Sikh and who had to pay an awful price to follow Christ at fifteen years of age.


Then it was off to SFU to meet with Seth Greenham and Kirsten Anonby. Both Seth and Kirsten had been involved with Campus Christian Fellowship at Western Washington University and were educated at Regent College. Both of them are rock solid and committed to building a prevailing ministry at SFU.

When I arrived at SFU, I made several observations. First, settled high up on Burnaby Mountain, it provides the most spectacular views of any campus in North America. Secondly, its architecture can be charitably described as “harsh modern” or less charitably as “brutalist” – in your face concrete, steel and glass. Inside the buildings it is even worse. The manner in which SFU is built militates against community. It is an unending maze of square cubicles that masquerade as classrooms and common space. Think of a fusion between office and prison. If it were not for the exquisite views from the windows, it would be barely tolerable. ( the pictures are coming soon..... )

So, it is in this context that Seth and Kristen are committed to building community. Like salmon swimming upstream ( an apt BC metaphor ), they are working against the very structure of the institution. Neither the institutional programming ( too many students and classes for the limited space) nor the physical structure facilitate a sense of community. Further, as I was going onto campus in the late afternoon, it looked as if a neutron bomb had gone off. The open areas were devoid of people. The campus empties as soon as classes are over.

Up until this year, UCM@SFU has not run a general meeting for a long time. However, they have provided flexible, cell based programming. They have six single gender core groups in operation that meet at different times and places. They have leadership training and development. This fall they are focusing on ‘The Hope of the Resurrection’ and working through the biblical foundation of true biblical hope. They are developing the series themselves and enabling students to go much deeper than pop or fill in the blanks Christianity. It is the dimension of discipleship and leadership development that distinguishes them from other campus groups. The picture to the right is on their website and their HOPE invitational postcards. Check them out at http://www.ucmonline.ca/  

So, I was sitting in on their third general meeting. Starting at 4:30 pm, in response to the aforementioned mass exodus, it was in a classroom where the tables had to be moved in order to facilitate chairs being placed in a circle. The worship was unplugged. We all had a song sheet and it was led by a single leader with a guitar. As you know, sometimes simple is good. This was really good. It was straight forward and sincere – with the songs all developing the theme of resurrection and hope.


Kirsten taught on 1 Corinthians 15. I was impressed by the depth, biblical fidelity and accessibility. She taught in a manner that was engaging and understandable. It was a rewarding time.

It was really nice to have supper afterwards with Seth, Kirsten and her husband David Anonby. It was good to hear their take on what is going on in the BC context and how they have overcome the challenges of ministry in the SFU context. They have tons to contribute about creating ministry to a commuter institution that does not easily facilitate community.

Also, they are an integral part of the interfaith chaplaincy at SFU. The Interfaith centre is an interesting place where world faiths intersect and where Islam, with its need for dedicated prayer and oblation rooms, leaves a large footprint. Seth has established a great rapport with the larger religious community on campus. He has paid his dues and has a great deal of institutional cred. It was a privilege to see him at work on his home turf.