Per Tim’s suggestion on my post linking to the various articles about One (and Tom Short) in the Daily today, I am going to respond with what I think.
On the lead editorial “Poor planning made ’1′ controversial“
Catholics, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Methodists and other churches have a significant student presence and were not adequately involved by the organizing groups, given the idea behind the festival.
Given the tight time frame, we did not have the opportunity (nor desire) to involve every single campus ministry in the planning of this event. Our desire, as the leading three evangelical campus ministries, was to involve as many as possible who subscribe to our ONE faith: Sola Fide, Sola Christos, Sola Scriptura. Only faith in Christ as revealed by the bible. Many of these organizations do not subscribe to this. Besides this letter, I heard complaints from ONLY TWO Catholic students, who as far as I know were not acting on behalf of their church. I could be wrong here.
the funding was assigned through an application process, with only one group proposing a religious celebration. The application process, however, was started in March, making it so few groups would have the time to be able to prepare a significant event for April.
Actually, that’s not accurate. SEVERAL Christian groups, who were known for putting on excellent “festivals” (concerts, etc…) were ASKED BY LINC TO CONSIDER PUTTING SOMETHING TOGETHER. We just happened to get the idea to put our heads together and do something corporately.
Indeed few groups, I WOULD SAY NONE, had the time to prepare a significant event for April given this time frame. Except that severl members of each group decided to make it their full time task, working late hours, and losing sleep, to make this happen. I would also add that each groups members sacrificed their personal funds and raised around $5000 to make this happen.
This was bigger than any one of our groups. It was bigger than our groups combined. No one would have been able to pull off an event of this magnitude in that amount of time. It was our God who did it for us.
On the feature article “For ’1′ night, students come together“
All in all a well written article. I got asked by a few coworkers about my quote. :) The amount of “Chritianese” in this article may be a bit hard to read for someone who isn’t a Christian. But all in all, a pretty good summary of the event. On the opinion column: “When Tom Short comes to town…“
A few noteworthy quotes:
All in all, though, Tom is the most respectable person who comes to campus to preach by the Hub.
A common perception among those opposing Tom’s tactics — including Christians and non-Christians — is that his efforts probably push more people away than he pulls in… …The ironic thing is that by arguing with Tom in a juvenile manner, as some but not all did, said participants may have been sowing their own seeds of destruction.
Indeed, I remember very clearly the first time I heard Tom Short preaching by the hub. I was not a Christ-follower at the time, and kinda chuckled at the quaintness, or cringed at the boldness, one of the two… of Tom. But after listening to him, I could not help but have respect for him. “Let your gentleness be evident to all…” (among other verses I could pull). Tom, you make me proud.
April 25, 2005
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