Every Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Dining Hall, a group of students join together for a time of worship and to learn from someone from their campus community or the wider Christian community. Global Christian Fellowship (GCF) is a club on campus dedicated to facilitating knowledge and passion for missions around the world. According to GCF Treasurer, Natalia Sytch ’18, “People share the lessons they have learned through their experiences. It’s a source of wisdom and insight into life and living as a Christian. So even if you’re not interested in international things, I think it’s still a valuable place to learn.”
In a meeting two weeks ago, Houghton community members Cindy and Kevin Austin spoke about returning to the Czech Republic to work with Global Partners in a young church. Their focus is development and discipleship. It is common to have missionaries speak and tell stories of what God is doing in their lives. GCF often hosts missionaries from One Mission Society (OMS), an evangelical mission group based in Greenwood, Indiana.
Sergio Mata ’19 serves as a representative for One Mission Society on campus. A highlight of GCF for Mata is the annual OMS weekend retreat. Every year, Houghton students are hosted by OMS for three days. This year’s conference will take place March 3 through 5. At the retreat, students will have the opportunity to learn from different departments at OMS. They will also learn discipleship and leadership skills.
Students who have gone to an OMS retreat say that they experienced real change. Mata said, “I’ve just seen that when people come back from the weekend and share with GCF how God answers a lot of the questions they’ve been wrestling with about missions or what their call is. And when they take that opportunity, to go to the retreat, and spend some time with the Lord, you can see how they’re transformed.”
Another exciting GCF event includes an upcoming Faculty and Staff talent show at 7 p.m. on March 11 hosted by professor of intercultural studies, biology, and Earth science, Eli Knapp. All proceeds from the tickets and bake sale will go toward mission trip scholarships, which will be awarded to various applicants within the student body. GCF President, Cayleigh Pracht ’17, said, “In the past, we have had Dr. Pearse telling stories, [as well as performances by] John Wise and Steve Dunmire.”
The GCF- led chapel is another event the club is looking forward to hosting. Pracht explained, “At the end of the year we have a commissioning ceremony for all of the students who received scholarships or are going out in Christian service. So, people who are going out to work in Buffalo over the summer with refugees or something like that.”
“Essentially, GCF is for those who are interested in missions, other cultures, and service,” Sytch said. She and other GCF members invite the Houghton student body to attend Wednesday meetings and events to find out for themselves what Global Christian Fellowship is all about.