By Derek Weaver
The Scene staff
A new club at Forest Park gives students from different cultures a chance to socialize and talk about their faiths.
The Global Faith Community became an official club this semester, but members of a core group have been friends for five years.
“There’s a set of students … interested in exploring their spirituality on campus who founded it together with me,” said Faculty Adviser Erica Li, a retention coach in the health, information and technology program.
The club fills two voids, according to members. It provides a sense of community and allows students to talk about religion.
“There were a lot of people who seemed to want friends and want to have that community, but it was really hard for them to figure out how to find that,” Li said. “And then, also, there wasn’t any real place for people to explore their spirituality.
“So they wanted to make a place where people could talk about their spirituality and (learn) about Jesus and the Bible and also find friendship and community.”
The club has about 10 members. It’s open to Christians of all denominations, as well as Jews, Muslims and even atheists. They don’t always agree, and some discussions get heated.
“Sometimes Erica and I disagree about different views on the Bible or an interpretation of the Bible,” said Club President Christal Benford, 27, an event planning major.
“But we don’t debate.”
The club’s constitution states that members may be removed if they “pose any form of a threat — physical, spiritual or psychological – to any member of the organization or if they disrupt chapter meetings or other activities.”
Computer animation major Courtney Carter, 24, has been involved in the club for five years. He likes getting together to learn about Jesus and the rest of the world.
“The group helps me meet other people throughout the college and learn more about other cultures,” he said.
Carter particularly liked one of the Bible studies, held on Art Hill in Forest Park.
The club plans a game night the first Friday of each month at members’ homes. They play board games or video games, depending on who shows up and what interests them.
“We also will do part of the game night like a group game, so people can get to know each other if they’re new to the group,” Li said, calling that an “icebreaker.”
The club also holds Bible studies every other Saturday at homes or public places, such as the St. Louis Zoo or Missouri Botanical Garden.
They sing spiritual songs and discuss Scripture, including questions about the text and how members will respond to it in everyday life. They often pray for family or individual needs, such as clear thinking on tests, safety while traveling or direction for the future.
“Sometimes it’s challenging to get everyone together for a meeting because everyone has different schedules,” Benford said.
Fellow event planning major Adriana Miller, 28, who is from Brazil, met Li at a Forest Park International Club meeting.
“I started talking to her on a weekly basis,” Miller said. “She became my friend. I like the group of friends, and I believe they are very welcoming.”
Miller joined Global Faith Community last fall. Her favorite part of meetings is getting to know people from different cultures.
“We share different experiences and different points of view,” she said.
Students must be enrolled at Forest Park to join the Global Faith Community. For more information, contact Li at 314-644-9285 or eli@stlcc.edu or ericali@ivstaff.org.
The club will soon have a Blackboard community website. Until then, meeting announcements are made by phone, email or Facebook.
“Anyone who is interested in reading what is in the Bible and discussing it or debating it should show up,” Li said.