Just before 5pm on a Thursday, I tried to be inconspicuous as I joined the small cluster of people waiting in a hallway outside a classroom.
My stomach was a little jumpy and my hands not quite dry; it had taken me four years to get to this point, and now that it was here, I was more nervous than seemed reasonable.
A young man – beard long, but not too long – reached out his hand and said with a welcoming smile, “Hi, you must be Dr. Schlef.”
“And you must be Michael,” I replied, shaking his hand, “thank you for letting me come.”
Obstacles
When I began my engineering faculty position in Fall 2019, I saw several posts on the university system for the Upper Room Christian Fellowship, but I couldn’t find any relevant information about them online.
I was overwhelmed with my new responsibilities, and – truthfully – a little nervous about how much I could advertise my Christian faith. So, I put off contacting anyone for another semester.
Then COVID hit.
Then I became pregnant.
Then I had a newborn (sleepless and stressed).
And – truthfully – I was weary in my faith; my husband and I were facing (and continue to explore even now) deep questions about traditions and teachings we previously accepted.
Opportunities
By Fall 2023, some normalcy had returned both to the academic world and my personal life, and I determined to reach out. So, I emailed Michael (the contact listed on the university post), asking to come to a meeting. He enthusiastically agreed and we settled on a date.
I was surprised and encouraged by what awaited me.
Probably half the room was engineering students. On top of that, three of the students were taking my class (and there were more not there that evening). Before then, I didn’t know they were Christians.
I’d heard that many years ago, a particularly bombastic Christian group had come to campus. In response, the administration had put up barriers to any Christian student groups. This group I was attending had worked for years to gain the administration’s trust and be officially recognized. And they were thriving with four committed upperclassman leaders and a room full of students.
During that same semester, another faculty member and I began organizing faculty prayer meetings, roughly three per semester. The goal was simple: meet up (bring a lunch!), chat a bit, then pray. Sometimes it was just the two of us – the highest attendance was maybe four or five. We were small but the time was meaningful.
Outcomes
The lesson I learned is this: I need to seek out and/or create a community of those following after Christ – whether students or faculty or staff – on my campus. Michael told me that before I reached out, he didn’t know that there were any Christians among the full-time engineering faculty.
As for myself, my involvement fulfills one of the deep desires I had upon entering academia – to represent Christ – not to mention the joy and support I also receive from others.
Thank you Father!
