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Winter Conference 2010: The Heart of Racial Justice by Carrie Minturn
Students. Scripture. Experience. These threads and more came
together the weekend of February 19-21 to create a powerfully transforming
weekend for the 22 students in the “Heart of Racial Justice” track at our
divisional InterVarsity Winter Conference. While most of our FIFUL programs
bring students into the heart of the city, three of our team journeyed to
Bakersfield to teach and train students in the context of this annual
discipleship conference.
One of the highlights of the weekend was a Saturday morning excursion
to the National Chavez Center near Tehachapi. As students watched a
documentary of Cesar Chavez’s life, toured the center and paused before his
gravesite they were captivated. The example of a man whose faith and values
moved him to address the systemic issues of injustice in our country left a
deep impression on them at a key point in their lives.
About half of the students in the track were alumni of our FUI
program. During the weekend, they were challenged to go deeper with the
things they’d learned during their summer experiences. It can be tempting
to look back at a summer experience wistfully, as if that time and place was
somehow more filled with God’s presence than the moment we’re in. As I
sought to paint a picture of what God’s racial justice might look like back
on campus I challenged all the students, and the FUI students in particular,
to keep displacing themselves…to keep seeking out opportunities to be a part
of bringing God’s kingdom shalom in the context of the campuses they are
connected to at this key time in their lives. May it be so, Lord. May
these students keep growing in their lives with you, in their efforts to
renew their campuses, and as those who will change our world.
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