On October 4, Keene State College’s chapter of the Christian organization, CRU, joined other New Hampshire colleges at a retreat in Vermont. President of CRU, Jacob Paige, and secretary, Heather Burdwood, explained how the club has a great deal to offer students no matter where they identify.
“You don’t have to be a believer to come to CRU, we just want to be here to support our campus,” Burdwood said.
Paige agreed and said, “We just want to be a very open and welcoming place and have people come and learn about what we believe, and find out what they believe.”
The ability to be open and welcoming was supported by many of the events included in the Vermont retreat. Another member of the club, Heather Fagan, described a topic important to KSC’s CRU chapter. “There were a few speakers that spoke about really relevant topics like how to talk to your friends about Christ and how to answer some of the questions they might have- you know, not in a preachy kind of way- and we also got a lot of free time to enjoy the farm and meet new people, make new friends,” Fagan said.
Contributed Photo: KSC junior and CRU member, Heather Fagan feeds a horse during the CRU retreat in Vermont.
The weekend was filled with more than speakers, however, and focused equally on conversation and building relationships with fellow CRU peers. “There was worship time, and Bible studies, we were also able to just hang out and go on hikes—the Bible studies were focused on topics of faith and science- and the controversial relationship between them,” Burdwood said, “I thought it was very helpful.”
The CRU community is much larger than the Keene State College campus. Campus Safety Sergeant Victor Malavet, the newly appointed advisor, explained the worldwide influence of CRU. “It was founded in 1951 by Bill and Vonette Bright on the UCLA campus as Campus Crusade for Christ. There are operational organization offices in Ghana, India, Hungary, Germany, France, South Africa, Philippines, Singapore, Costa Rica, British Columbia- I mean, everywhere. It’s a great organization,” Malavet said.
Beyond the reach, “CRU strives to be a caring, compassionate community that is eager to connect students with Christ,” Fagan said.“We don’t care who you are, we don’t care what you did in the past, we don’t care what you’re doing now- just come on over, and hopefully we can point you in the direction that we think you may want to go,” Malavet said.
Each person may join CRU for their own individual or particular reasons, and it is the unique circumstances that make the club adaptive, accepting, welcoming and a place members want to go.
“I found out about CRU through the student involvement fair, and I wanted to join… because my religion has always been important to me growing up, and I wanted to meet other people with similar views, make friendships and learn more,” Burdwood said.
Contributed Photo: CRU members sit on a rock wall at the CRU retreat at Ottauquechee Farm in Vermont. KSC was one of many college groups attending.
Students have expressed they feel the Christian group gives them a comfortable place to share their beliefs. “[I] just wanted a Christian group where I could go and talk to people and feel welcomed, and I felt really welcomed in the group even though I was new,” Paige said.
“Just go in and hear something positive, and if it’s not for you then that’s fine, but at least you said to yourself ‘I gave it a shot’,” Malavet said. CRU members are more able and willing than ever to talk about what they do and want to accomplish.
“We do have a couple of events that we are hoping to have soon,” Paige said, adding, “Anyone is welcome to come even if you don’t believe in Christianity.”
“Stand out and be known. Don’t be afraid to say who you are, don’t be afraid to say ‘I’m a Christian’… because you’re not the only one,” Malavet said.
Nicole Carrabis can be contacted at ncarrabis@ksc.keene.edu