Extending CPJ's Reach

Rev. David H. Kim

Director, Manna Christian Fellowship, Princeton University

In 2002, David Kim found himself at a crossroads. The campus ministry he had been leading at Princeton University for six years was strong, but he knew the students could be more engaged with the world—and he wasn't sure how to make that happen. With a background in both theology and molecular biology, he began questioning his career path, looking for the right road to follow.

On the advice of a friend, David set up a meeting with Jim Skillen, president of the Center for Public Justice (CPJ) in Washington, D.C. Skillen was a gifted leader and would provide sound advice, the friend promised.

Looking back, David says that meeting sent him down a road that quickly gave his life a sharper focus and transformed his student ministry, Manna Christian Fellowship.

A New Framework

What he remembers most from their initial meeting was Skillen's invitation to join CPJ's Civitas Program—a Christian civic education and leadership institute. So, in the summer of 2003, David spent five weeks studying and discussing the history of political development and thought—everything from theological foundations to policy issues.

"I don't mean to be overly dramatic, but that was a bit of a life-shaping experience for me," he says. "Civitas exposed me to a way of thinking that was very formative for me. The experience brought more concreteness to my ministry at Princeton.

"I'd known I wanted to develop kind of a 'worldview' ministry," he continues, "and at Civitas I found a model of how that ministry could take shape. Civitas takes a theological framework and connects it to the ground, where people are. I realized I could take some elements of that model—guest speakers and group discussions on putting Christian faith into action—and make that part of Manna's framework."

Faith into Action

That fall, David launched Manna's Public Lecture Series, hosting seven guest speakers on the topic of Developing a Gospel Worldview. The lectures challenged students to put their theology into practice in all spheres of life. Subsequent lectures in the annual series—featuring many of the people David met through Skillen and the Civitas Program—examined related themes:

  • Political Thought: Christian Action
  • Towards Global Religious Freedom
  • The Legacy of Abraham Kuyper [Kuyper was a Dutch statesman, journalist, and theologian who advanced the idea that every square inch of creation is under the rule of Jesus Christ—that his kingdom isn't confined to the church.]

The lecture series has helped transform Manna from a group focused on personal spiritual development to one engaged in putting faith into action in all spheres of life. The group embraced the changes. "In the beginning, students were hesitant—they didn't know what the worldview concept was all about," David says. "But after the first year, students were very excited about it, and with this year's senior class, the gospel worldview is part and parcel of who they are."

Across campus, too, the group is having an impact. "The Public Lecture Series has raised Manna's profile. People see that we're not just a spiritual formation group but are concerned with larger issues," David says. "This gives us the tools to engage the campus much more effectively—to influence the university in a broader way."

Pioneering Work

David is gratified to have found a way, with CPJ's help, to change how students think and live. "For our students, I can see the direct impact of the Center's work," he says. "CPJ is showing that your faith matters in the public square. They're modeling how to bring faith to bear on issues."

He's not alone in that opinion. "I always ask around, What organizations out there are putting theology into practice?" he says. "And I consistently have heard: the Center for Public Justice. That affirmation from different circles reinforces my confidence."

To David's mind, the Center's principled approach to government and citizenship is what sets it apart. "In many respects, CPJ is at the leading edge of the application of the Kuyperian and Reformed perspective in the public policy world," he says. "They're doing pioneering work that I hope in generations to come will bear much fruit."

Though David believes the Center's influence will grow in future years, he's grateful for the impact he already sees in his corner of the world. "Our students are going out into a lot of different sectors, and there's a new concreteness to their faith. It's encouraging for me to know that this stuff can have practical implications."

That's just what he was looking for, back at the crossroads.

 

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