Rooted introduces new students to religious organizations
The Campus Ministry Fair helped students learn about religious groups.
Published Sept. 1, 2009
Freshmen explored MU's religious life options at the Campus Ministry Fair on Friday, an event hosted by the Christian student organization, Rooted.
Rooted spokeswoman Gwen Daniels, formerly of The Maneater staff, said the Campus Ministry Fair gives new students the opportunity to get to know MU religious organizations in a personal way. Campus religious organizations set up bulletin boards on tables in the Memorial Union Walt Disney Room so students could walk around and ask questions of organization representatives.
"Everything's really new and overwhelming, so I'm just trying to find a place to be," freshman Katie Berry said. "My faith is the center of my life, so I want a place to find people who will encourage me and build me up in my faith."
Freshman Sherman Fabes said he found a place to meet new people at Hillel, a Jewish organization. As he was making his college choice, Fabes passed up universities that lacked a strong Jewish community, coming all the way from New York to MU.
"I wasn't worried about friends because I knew that Hillel would be there at the very least," Fabes said. "I had confidence not only in myself, but that Hillel would accept me with open arms. And that's exactly what they did. Not to mention that the food's pretty good."
When Hillel threw a party Wednesday at Shakespeare's Pizza, Fabes said the group put the tables together instead of everyone eating separately.
"Without missing a beat, everyone just put the tables together in a line," Fabes said. "Everyone wanted to be connected. It's not like there was an awkward silence or anybody was sitting alone. Everyone brought a different aspect of themselves to the table, and that's what Judaism is all about."
Junior Jerryl Peralta said being a part of a religious group on campus renewed his faith when it was lost.
When Peralta came to his first Asian Christian Fellowship meeting as a sophomore transfer student last year, he said he was just in it for the dinner, not the Bible study afterward. After a difficult year of two family deaths, academic struggles, alcohol abuse and a breakup with a girlfriend of three years, Peralta said he had given up on faith.
But by the end of the academic year, ACF had helped him regain his faith and find supportive friends, Peralta said.
"The year of 2008, before coming down to Columbia, was just a complete and utter hell for me," Peralta said. "I'd try to communicate with the Lord but I wasn't receiving any feedback. Being a part of ACF slowly but surely opened up that line of communication with him."
Peralta also said he appreciated the opportunity to make genuine friends through ACF because meeting people in large classes was difficult, and he knew only a few people from his high school. ACF members were quick to start up a conversation with Peralta, as well as offer to pray for him or help him out in any way they could.
"It meant a lot to me because, other than my family, I didn't know anyone else who was willing to take time out of their busy schedule to pray for me," Peralta said. "They offered their friendship right off the bat, without asking for anything in return. Being a part of ACF has had a huge influence on my life. Without them, I doubt I would have made it as far on my own."