to bcm at cal

As we stood on Cal's campus today watching the display of cultural rhythms and passionate purveyors of Black pride, I was struck. I was struck by the bold display of our presence on that campus--one whose demographic statistics attest to a shrinking Black population. I loved seeing the different groups out there tabling, giving meandering Black students an opportunity to see that there are others who may be like them, others who've weathered the storms of Cal and come out stronger. But most of all, I was inspired by the leaders and participants of BCM.

You've come a long way, BCM. You students who carry the tremendous mantle of African-American Christian outreach on Cal's campus are carrying forth the vision, prayers and dreams of those of us who came before you. Those of us who preceded you in tenure at Cal can remember the days when all we had in the way of outreach was a weekly Bible study, one study that afforded the five or six of us who came faithfully an opportunity mostly to connect with each other. God gave us strength to endure the trials of attending one of the world's premier educational institutions--a place that lauds constant critical critique and often scoffs at the mere thought of believing in something/one you cannot scientifically or theoretically prove.

Still, we did what God asked us to do; we sought Him, served Him and committed our time and talents to the work of campus ministry. And more than anything, I believe that God set it in our hearts to pray. That time in BCM @Cal's history was one in which God tested our faithfulness to ask Him for what we had need of. This time in BCM @Cal's history is one in which God is rewarding that faithfulness in a way that far exceeds any predetermined expectations we may have had for Him on the campus of our alma mater.

When I sat at that BCM table and looked out at the BCM gospel choir belting out: "I'm goin' home to live with Jesus! Fare thee well, Fare thee well!" my heart leaped within me. For there, on the steps of Sproul, our beautiful people displayed our culture, gratitude and faith. We, a tireless people who have endured ridicule, withstood disparagement and survived dehumanization, can stand tall, link arms, and articulate ourselves with all the intellect, passion, and flavor with which God has so blessed us. As I listened to you all belt out with fervor your love for God, you sang the melodies of those who came before you--not just alumni, but those who paved the way--our parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, and those for whom a university education existed only as a distant dream, but one which they had the faith to believe in for our sakes. All this on the steps of Sproul.

As alumni, we have come to face new challenges and discover God in brand new ways. We've had to trust him with our post-college lives, our careers, our marriages, and new families. But one thing's remained the same; God is still speaking. He steadily reveals his purpose for our lives, makes us reconsider the myth of self-sufficiency and always preserves our hope. There, on the steps of Sproul, his hope was alive in you.

Keep serving.