Global Christian Fellowship (GCF) has big plans for this year, and they want everyone to be involved.
A fixture on Houghton’s campus for over fifty years, Global Christian Fellowship is committed to increasing global awareness, action, and prayer at Houghton. “GCF coordinates weekly prayer topics that focus on one campus issue and one global issue and that are prayed for by the campus community daily,” according to the description on Houghton’s website. They meet weekly to pray and fellowship together, while taking a look at global issues and events. Anne McConnell ‘19, President of GCF, said, “The role of GCF on campus is to connect our daily lives here to the global church and God’s global mission for the world.” Global Christian Fellowship is one of the longest lasting clubs at Houghton, being formerly called Foreign Mission Fellowship.
Julia Chamberlain ‘18, a leader for GCF, said, “We want to help students use their passions and discover where the Lord is calling them to go. When we meet it is really a time to reflect on how we can serve the Lord today and in the future.”
Other than their weekly meetings, GCF has invested in fundraisers for missionaries and relief organizations. Last year they hosted a pancake breakfast to raise money for One Day’s Wages, which fights to end extreme poverty. They also had a staff and faculty talent show that raised funds for scholarships to support Houghton students going on missions trips this past summer, and plan to have that show again in the later months of the spring semester.
For this fall, GCF has exciting events planned. On Saturday, October 22nd, they are putting on a Frisbee tournament to raise support for a global church planting organization, Alpha Ministries. Chamberlain also mentioned their plans for New Vision Week, which is from October 23rd to the 25th. She said, “We will be having a GCF Koin the Sunday before New Visions Week begins and will be selling artifacts that Papa Shea [Paul Shea] has received from Africa at a booth in the CC.” Chamberlain also added her excitement about New Vision Week, “There are so many awesome missions groups coming, and it will be encouraging to hear how the Lord is working through them in their impact through their ministry.”
About GCF, McConnell said, “It has been very important in my personal journey as a follower of Christ, as it reminds me of the many Christians around the world who are my family.” She added that GCF helps to remind her that many people in the world have never heard the name of Christ, and that she is encouraged to share the love of Christ wherever she is placed.
Madeline Chesbrough ‘18, who attends GCF, said that what she likes most about GCF is the atmosphere. “I actually have just recently started attending this semester and I instantly felt right at home,” she said. Chesbrough also added, “GCF opens your eyes to the world outside of our little Houghton campus. It inspires people who are looking into missions, or who have a heart for the world.”
GCF meets on Wednesday nights from 8 to 9 pm in the Alumni Dining Room.