CRU at PVCC: A Fellowship Open to All

Charles Stish, staff writer

Sunny, warm, and bright are the words to describe the weather Sept. 7, 2016. Other than the high heat, the weather complemented the personalities of the Cru at PVCC members quite well.

The members and participants were laughing, joking, and smiling with each other as they set up assorted refreshments and activities. For them, this was not just an event but a gathering of friendship and camaraderie. They hope not only to have people learn about Cru, but also for people to join Cru with hopes of expanding the feeling of fellowship to all of PVCC.

“Myself and the other leaders in the club want to show that we are not just an organization, but a family. And ultimately we wish to include everyone in the Piedmont family by spread of the gospel,”  said Donnie Wilson, president of Cru at PVCC. Even though it is a non-denominational Christian fellowship, Cru is open to all religions and everyone. Donnie Wilson said, “We would ultimately allow you to join the club and participate. But because we are a Christian club, we would show you the way of the gospel and not try and force you to convert. Following Christ is a personal decision and we, as Christians, are just called to plant the seed.”

Cru hopes to create a welcoming atmosphere and place for all. Evan Kiernan, worship leader at Cru and PVCC student, said, “CRU at PVCC, to most students, is where they feel welcome. As a Christian community, we aspire for unity in people, being able to share Christ in a compassionate way, and create a really friendly environment.”

Cru often holds extra-curricular activities for its members, mostly focusing on what its college student members would enjoy doing. Since Sept. 7, Cru will have already held several events; one being a weekend-long fall retreat to Watermarks Camp in Scottsville, Virginia. Aside from its interesting outside of school events, Cru at PVCC meets on Wednesdays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in Room M155. Cru at UVA meets on Thursdays at 8 p.m. in the UVA Chapel and is open to Cru at PVCC members as well.

One of Cru’s goals is to create a welcoming environment for new and old members no matter what school they attend. This way, a student member of Cru who transfers to new college should have a welcoming and familiar environment immediately. Overall, the goals of Cru are to create unity, fellowship, and a place of welcoming to all.

Cru at  PVCC is a small part of Cru as a whole. Cru is present in most major college campuses both nationally and internationally. The organization started in 1951 by Bill and Vonette Bright at UCLA. It was first called Campus Crusade for Christ, and its goals, like now, were to connect school and church life, create unity under Christ and to create a world wide fellowship because of it. Since then, Cru has expanded into sub-groups, and it supports other world benefit groups such as the International Justice Mission.

If you would like to learn more about Cru at PVCC, here is contact information:

Student Contact/President: Donnie Wilson, dsw2752@email.vccs.edu

Club Advisor: Andre Luck, aluck@pvcc.edu