Moria Dailey
Published: September 14, 2005
Christian students at PJC now have a place to seek support and guidance. The relatively new chapter of national organization Intervarsity Christian Fellowship is welcoming students with open arms. The chapter was started in March, 2005.
The chapter is headed by student president Anthony Lee, as well as co-advisors Jack Herndon and Bill DePury. DePury is also a co-area director for Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and has been working with the organization for 13 years.
The group, according to DePury, is on campus for two big reasons, “to provide a place for Christian students to get support, and to provide a place for non-Christians to investigate the claims of Christ in a safe, nonjudgmental environment.”
Blake Gammell, a member of the club, said he joined because he felt like “God set this before me, and he doesn’t set anything before me that I’m not prepared for.” Gammell joined the club soon after it was started.
The group also is there to help students apply biblical teaching to modern living, Lee said. They are encouraged to apply the teachings of Christ to their college life, and the group is there to help figure out which lessons and teachings are relevant and how they can be applied.
“It’s really supportive,” Gammell said, “we’ve all become really good friends.”
Anyone is welcome to join the group, but DePury said the general consensus of the group is that the Bible is true.
Lee agreed. “We’re there to establish why the Bible is true, not is the Bible true.”
When people who disagree with Christianity come to meetings, DePury said it isn’t really a problem, although debate generally happens outside the official meeting times, but the group isn’t there as a platform for argument.
“We don’t want people coming just to argue,” DePury said.
All denominations are welcome; the group doesn’t hold to the doctrine of any specific dogma. They have their own doctrinal statement, which DePury said they focus on. Their doctrinal statement, as well as purpose statement and a great deal of other information about the organization can be found on the national organization’s website, .
The group meets every Thursday at noon in Bldg 5, Room 511. According to Lee, the meetings are about an hour to 90 minutes and begin with prayer. A topic is then presented, Scriptures relating to that topic are studied, and then the group’s interpretation of those Scriptures is discussed. Lee also said that the group generally goes out together for lunch after the meetings.
The group is not trying only to involve students in its meetings; they’re trying to provide a support system for Christian students inside and outside the meeting settings, both Lee and DePury said. They’re doing this by being available to each other whenever needed, and doing things together outside of group meetings.
Gammell said they generally go out to dinner, and then do something else. He said they’ve gone bowling or to movies and are trying to organize a game night for the members.