2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: News
Despite concerns, PennforJesus proud to evangelize next week
Samuel Dangremond
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The week-long event, organized by PennforJesus and now in its 13th year, will focus more on engaging non-Christians at Penn than it ever has before.
And while not everyone is entirely comfortable with this year's proposed evangelism efforts, PennforJesus says its main goal is to raise awareness, not to convert the campus.
"We are shifting to focus more on the campus impact goal of Jesus Week," PennforJesus director Michael Hu said.
Members of PennforJesus will offer to pray for people walking by the group's table on either Locust Walk or College Green. They will also approach people and offer to pray for them, something the group hasn't tried before, he said.
In past years, the main goal of the week was to unite members within the various Christian fellowship groups on campus.
This year, "we're trying to engage people in the exposure to Christianity through prayer, service, [and] dialogue," Hu said
However, the Penn Newman Center - a Catholic student organization - did not feel comfortable participating in the week this year.
"We decided not to participate in Jesus Week this year because we did not wish to partake in the evangelization efforts that had become newly central to the week," Liz DiIulio, president of the Newman Council, wrote in an e-mail.
The Newman Center withdrew from participating after receiving a preliminary e-mail from Hu in late January with suggestions for this year's event. In the e-mail, he wrote "What if … we made Jesus Week the focal point of a campaign to evangelize the campus!"
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 23
Joseph Pinilla C'07
posted 3/28/08 @ 9:08 AM EST
Why is no one at Penn ever concerned with Hillel's near constant evangelization on behalf of the Israel, Judaism, and the Zionist cause? Personally, I don't have a problem with respectful attempts at persuasion by any faith or cause. (Continued…)
SK
posted 3/28/08 @ 12:45 PM EST
PennforJesus says they don't intend to be forceful or manipulative, but what could be more forceful than approaching someone with the intent of conversion. (Continued…)
RE: Josh Piniella
posted 3/28/08 @ 2:53 PM EST
Jews don't evangelize, Josh. As a matter of theology, they have no interest in converting anyone. In fact, Jewish tradition requires a non-jew who seeks to convert to be turned away three times. (Continued…)
Big
posted 3/28/08 @ 6:12 PM EST
You rock, Charlotte. Shabbat Shalom!
Christina Lordeman
Christina Lordeman
posted 3/28/08 @ 6:16 PM EST
As a Christian and a member of Campus Crusade for Christ, I'd like to clarify what our intent in evangelism is. Evangelism has been done in the wrong way so much that I feel most people have the wrong impression of what God actually intended it to be. (Continued…)
to Christina
posted 3/29/08 @ 2:57 AM EST
If you say to me "Hey, check out this movie, I really enjoyed it" that's one thing. But this is not what evangelists are saying.
What they are saying is "I have just seen this movie and I am certain that it is better and more enriching than any movie you have ever seen. (Continued…)
Christina Lordeman
posted 3/29/08 @ 7:42 AM EST
What if evangelists only said, "I have just seen this movie and I am certain that it is better and more enriching than any movie I have ever seen"? Would you find that arrogant too? Maybe this is our problem. (Continued…)
Christina Lordeman
Christina Lordeman
posted 3/29/08 @ 7:43 AM EST
What if evangelists only said, "I have just seen this movie and I am certain that it is better and more enriching than any movie I have ever seen"? Would you find that arrogant too? Maybe this is our problem. (Continued…)
Christina Lordeman
posted 3/29/08 @ 3:25 PM EST
That makes sense, but do realize that Christians don't just pray for people they think aren't doing things right. Christians pray for everybody, including themselves. (Continued…)
Christina Lordeman
Christina Lordeman
posted 3/29/08 @ 3:26 PM EST
That makes sense, but do realize that Christians don't just pray for people they think aren't doing things right. Christians pray for everybody, including themselves. (Continued…)
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