When I was in my late twenties, I thought it would be a good idea to leave a vibrant community of fellow Christians that was built over a period of eight years, and move to Gainesville, Florida to attend graduate school. Career-wise, it was a good decision. However, the first year I was extremely lonely as I was not able to replicate what I had before.
Later, when I was in my early thirties, I moved from a vibrant community of fellow Christians that I had grown to love in Gainesville to San Luis Obispo, California to begin an assistant professor position at Cal Poly. The first few years in this new job were rough as I struggled to adjust to its demands and I did not invest much effort in seeking Christian community.
During many periods of time in my life, I have let my pride dictate that I did not need the community of others to live the Christian life well, and so I foolishly tried over and over again to go it alone.
Do any of these examples resonate with you?
As an academic, your life has probably been uprooted several times due to a move. If you are a proud person like me, perhaps you’ve falsely convinced yourself that you do not need to be in community with Christian faculty peers to experience the fullness of your faith.
The book of Acts gives many attractive and beautiful pictures of Christian community. As we read how the church grew together in faith, our wholehearted response should be to doggedly pursue Christian community too. But, many of us don’t.
My First G-3
In the winter of 2013, I was invited to be engaged in our campus’ first G-3 – a faculty group of three – meeting regularly for fellowship, prayer, and study.
I was also in the process of being denied promotion from associate to full professor. During this difficult time in my life, my G-3 partners supported me, prayed with and for me, had compassion on me, and one of them even collaborated on a research paper with me.
We loved the community God was building, but after a year our initial group was challenged to each launch and lead a G-3 group of our own. Groups have continued and multiplied. Different meeting times have allowed many more faculty to be involved than if we just had one large meeting.
This past Spring, 25 faculty – in seven G-3 small groups – have met regularly to pray together, challenge, and encourage each other in what it means to live “on mission” at a public university. A Grander Story has been an outstanding resource, as well as short articles on faith and work.
Getting Started
Looking back, it wasn’t that hard to get started: just find a couple other faculty with a heart to pray, to grow, and to build into each other’s lives.
If you’re not part of a small group like this, why not take the first step and create one?
You will not regret it.
Chip Appel
Cal Poly SLO