Chi Alpha
Chi Alpha | |
---|---|
ΧΑ | |
File:Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship Logo.png | |
Founded | 1953 Missouri State University (fmr. Southwest Missouri State College) in Springfield, Missouri |
Type | Christian Fellowship Social Club Student Society Service Organization |
Emphasis | Christianity |
Scope | International |
Motto | "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20)[1] |
Virtues | Prayer, Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Mission |
Pillars | Community, Creativity, Diversity, Excellence, Integrity, Servant-Leadership, and Evangelism |
Colors | Black White Gray Red [2] |
Symbol | Christogram |
Flag | File:Chi Alpha Logo 2006.jpg |
Philanthropy | Convoy of Hope |
Nickname | Christ’s Ambassadors[1] |
Affiliations | Chicago Agreement: Unity in Mission |
Headquarters | Chi Alpha Campus Ministries 1445 N. Boonville Ave Springfield, MO 65802, United States |
Website | Official website |
Chi Alpha | ΧΑ (sometimes XA, χα, xa, or SfC - Students for Christ,[3] officially known as Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship), is an international and interdenominational coeducational Christian fellowship, social club, student society, and service organization founded in 1953 on the campus of Missouri State University (then known as Southwest Missouri State College) in Springfield, Missouri. Chi Alpha is sponsored by the Assemblies of God USA,[4] a Pentecostal denomination established after separating from the historically African American Church of God in Christ in 1914.[5]
Chi Alpha defines as mission as "to reconcile students to Jesus Christ, thereby transforming the university, the marketplace, and the world..."[6] It describes its core values or pillars as community, creativity, diversity, excellence, integrity, servant-leadership, and evangelism. Its self-described five-fold approach is prayer, worship, fellowship, discipleship, and mission.[7] It's philanthropic and service organization affiliation is the Convoy of Hope.
Etymology
The name Chi Alpha was inspired by the contemporary Assemblies of God youth movement, Christ's Ambassadors (a phrase in 2 Corinthians 5:20). The initials "CA" were changed to the Greek alphabet initials "ΧΑ" (and its Latin Script's stylized equivalent of "XA") in order to resemble the names of other college organizations, in particular Greek-letter fraternities and sororities.
History
Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship originates from an Assemblies of God USA a ministry to collegians in 1947 at the urging of J. Robert Ashcroft (father of John Ashcroft), consisting of a newsletter sent to college students to encourage them in their faith. After Ashcroft's newsletter publications, it soon became apparent that a newsletter by itself was inadequate, and so in 1953 Dr. J. Calvin Holsinger chartered the first Assemblies of God student group at Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University) in Springfield, Missouri where the Assemblies of God headquarters is located;[8][9] the Assemblies of God USA and its World Assemblies of God Fellowship were originally established in Arkansas upon separating from the historically African-American Church of God in Christ in 1914 in disagreement with episcopal governance and other controversies pertaining to race relations in the United States.[5] The movement inspired and sponsored by Assemblies of God quickly spread to other campuses. For example, the first Chi Alpha to own property was the UC Berkeley chapter, which purchased a house next to campus in 1964.
Chi Alpha began its development internationally in the 1970s, establishing chapters in Europe under the name Students for Christ,[10] and also into Latin America under various names.
In 1977, the first ever Chi Alpha internship was launched at Western Washington University (WWU) in Bellingham, Washington by the WWU Chi Alpha campus director Brady Bobbink.
In 1978, Dennis Gaylor became national director of Chi Alpha, and served until April 2013. Chi Alpha is currently led by Scott Martin.[11]
Annie Dillard wrote a widely reprinted essay—"Singing with the Fundamentalists"[12]—about her experiences singing with a group of students from the Chi Alpha chapter at Western Washington University (a chapter which operated under the local name of Campus Christian Fellowship).
Since the beginning of the 21st century, there have been Chi Alpha ministries and fellowships on over 310 campuses throughout the United States.[13][14]
The Chi Alpha chapters at Georgetown University and the University of New Hampshire were highlighted in a 2003 article in The New York Times entitled "Of Bart and Homer, and the Many Ways of Faith" —an article about their use of The Simpsons as a Bible study tool,[15] and in 1986 The New York Times mentioned the chapter at Columbia University as representative of a trend of growing Christian fellowships on campuses in the northeastern United States.[16][17]
In the 2014-2015 school year, Chi Alpha at CSU Stanislaus was removed from campus because they required that their leaders be Christians. The case gained national attention and was covered on conservative news channel Fox News.[18][19] The chapter was eventually reinstated.[20] In 2022, the fellowship was highlighted for accusations of discrimination.[21]
Chapters
North America
United States
~28,000 student members in the United States[22]
**This is not a comprehensive list, to find a chapter visit the Chi Alpha website**
- A
- AU Chi Alpha: American University[23][24]
- Chi Alpha Angelo State: Angelo State University[25]
- ASU Chi Alpha (Chi Alpha Arizona State University): Arizona State University[26]
- A-State Chi Alpha: Arkansas State University[27]
- Chi Alpha Arkansas (Chi Alpha UCA, UALR, ATU, Hendrix): Arkansas Tech University[28]
- Chi Alpha Auburn (Auburn University Assemblies of God Ministry): Auburn University[29]
- Chi Alpha Augusta: Augusta University[30]
- Chi Alpha Austin Peay (XApeay): Austin Peay State University[31][22]
- B
- BSU Chi Alpha: Ball State University[32]
- Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship at Baylor University: Baylor University[33][34][35]
- Bellevue College Chi Alpha (BellevueXA): Bellevue College[36]
- Bemidji Chi Alpha: Bemidji State University[37]
- Above the Haze: A Chi Alpha Campus Ministry (Boston Chi Alpha) | Boston University[38]
- Chi Alpha Peoria (Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship On The Campuses of Peoria, Illinois): Bradley University and other universities in Peoria, Illinois.[39]
- BuffaloXA (Buffalo State Chi Alpha): Buffalo State College[40]
C
- California State University, Chico
- California State University, Sacramento
- Chadron State College
- Central Washington University
- E
- RiddleXA: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.[41]
- G
- GMU Chi Alpha (GMUXA): George Mason University.[42][43] This Chi Alpha chapter at GMU also goes by the name Kairos U (Kairos University Christian Fellowship) due to it simultaneously being a chapter of Kairos Young Adult Ministries.[44]
- GU Chi Alpha: Georgetown University[24]
- I
- Indiana University Bloomington Chi Alpha
L
- Langston University Chi Alpha (LUXA): Langston University[45]
M
- Missouri State Chi Alpha: Missouri State University
- N
- NC State Chi Alpha: NC State[46]
- NAU Chi Alpha: Northern Arizona University[47][48]
O
- OSU Chi Alpha: Oklahoma State University–Stillwater[49]
- P
- Purdue Chi Alpha: Purdue University[50][51]
- Q
- Queens College Chi Alpha: Queens College[52]
- S
- T
- U
- UAA Chi Alpha: University of Alaska Anchorage
- UL Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship: University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- UVA Chi Alpha (XAATUVA | The Chi Alpha Hub): University of Virginia[56]
- University of Dayton
- University of Northern Iowa
- UC Berkeley Chi Alpha: University of California, Berkeley
- V
- Virginia Tech Chi Alpha (VTXA | The Chi Alpha House): Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University[57]
- W
Canada
University Christian Ministries British Columbia[59][60]
- British Columbia Institute of Technology
- Simon Fraser University
- The University of British Columbia
- The University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus
- University of the Fraser Valley
- University of Victoria
- Vancouver Island University
- Chi Alpha Memorial (XA MUN): Memorial University of Newfoundland[61]
Latin America
Europe
Students for Christ[63]
- SFC-Rotterdam: Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands[64]
- SFC Maastricht / Damascus Road University Ministry: Maastricht, Netherlands; Maastricht University, etc.[65]
- SFC Utrecht: Utrecht, Netherlands; Utrecht University, etc.[66]
Germany: Studenten für Christus Deutschland[67] und Europa []
- Remix Groupe D'Étudiants[68]
- The Bridge International Church (Rueil-Malmaison, France)[69]
- SFC Bruxelles : Campus de la Plaine (Brussels, Belgium)
- SFC Kingdom: UCLouvain Saint-Louis – Bruxelles (Brussels, Belgium)
- SFC Liège: Liège, Belgium
- SFC Louvain-la-Neuve
- SFC Namur
Ireland: SFC Ireland
- Crossroads KBH (Copenhagen, Denmark):
Eurasia
Russia: SFC Russia—chartered at Kemerovo State University.
Africa
Asia Pacific
Countries
Notable alumni
- Kris Allen, the 2009 American Idol winner, was a member of Chi Alpha when he was a student at University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas.[74]
- Carson Wentz, Quarterback for Washington Commanders
References
- ^ a b "Who We Are".
- ^ "Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, U.S.A. Style Guide" (PDF). Chi Alpha. Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, U.S.A. June 8, 2017.
- ^ SfC, Students for Christ, or Studenten für Christus in German, is the most common name used in Europe. "SfC Europe: About Us". Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
- ^ "Our Story". Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
Chi Alpha is sponsored by the Assemblies of God (AG). That means the AG provides each local campus with support, resources and connectivity to a larger worldwide movement. They also work to equip the leaders of each local XA, both the vocational missionaries associated with each group and the student leaders. The sponsorship by the Assemblies of God does not mean that you have to have a history with the AG. You don’t have to have any particular denominational connection to be welcomed in our groups.
- ^ a b Randal Rust. "Mason, Charles Harrison". Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
Mason dreamed of an integrated church and believed that all races were entitled to equal rights and authority. From COGIC’s inception, Mason ordained and allowed whites to join his denomination. From 1907 to 1914, Mason ordained hundreds of white ministers. In 1914, a group of whites left COGIC and established the Assemblies of God. Throughout his tenure, Mason continued to integrate COGIC. A white COGIC pastor named Leonard P. Adams pastored Grace and Truth in Memphis, and COGIC’s first general secretary was a white man named William B. Holt. Mason also conducted integrated funerals, baptisms, and worship services. At the height of Jim Crow, Mason allowed blacks and whites to sit next to each other in church. In the 1930s, Edward Hull “Boss” Crump told Mason he could not continue to allow blacks and whites to sit together. However, Boss Crump did not stop Mason from holding integrated meetings. Mason used COGIC as a platform to fight against segregation and encouraged blacks and whites to embrace racial unity.
- ^ "Grundsätze". October 12, 2007. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
- ^ "Why We Exist". Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ Harrup, Scott (2009). "What can be learned from history?". ag.org. Assemblies of God. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
- ^ Bixler, Frances (2002). "Chi Alpha". In Stanley M. Burgess (ed.). The new international dictionary of Pentecostal and charismatic movements (Rev. and expanded ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House. p. 521. ISBN 0310224810.
- ^ "SfC Europe: About Us". Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
- ^ "National Leadership".
- ^ The Yale Review Vol. 74, No. 2 (Winter, 1985), 312. It has been reprinted several times (see her bibliography for info on the reprints).
- ^ "Group Locator | Spotlight". Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
- ^ "Our Story / About XA". Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ Zezima, Katie (June 14, 2003). "Of Bart and Homer, and the Many Ways of Faith". The New York Times.
- ^ "Religion Plays Growing Role on Campuses". The New York Times. January 5, 1986. p. Sunday Late City Final Edition, Section 1, Page 37, Column 1.
- ^ "The Palm Beach Post - Google News Archive Search". July 14, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Faith under fire at Cal State". Fox News. March 29, 2015.
- ^ Naidu, Pawan. "Chi Alpha loses recognition from university, proposed bill hopes to fight against similar cases". California State University, Stanislaus. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ Kim, Christine (November 27, 2015). "Christian Student Organization to be Recognized at California State University After Year-Long Dispute". Christianity Daily. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ "SA drafts formal complaint against Chi Alpha after discrimination accusations". The Rice Thresher. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "Group Locator". Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- ^ "Chi Alpha Campus Ministries". Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ a b "Staff Team". DC Chi Alpha. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ "angeloxa". angeloxa. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ "asu-chi-alpha". asu-chi-alpha. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ "astatechialpha". astatechialpha. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ "Welcome to Chi Alpha Arkansas". www.iamchialpha.com. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ "Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, Auburn University | ministry in Opelika, AL | Powered by Net Ministries". www.netministries.org. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ "List of Organizations". List of Organizations. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- ^ "Gmail". accounts.google.com. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- ^ "Ball State Chi Alpha – Christian Fellowship". Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "Yahoo". Yahoo. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "Group Locator". Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship". orgsync.com. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "BellevueXA | Chi Alpha Campus Ministries | Bellevue College". Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "About". Bemidji Chi Alpha. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "Home". bostonuchialpha.com. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship | ON THE CAMPUSES OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS". Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "Buffalo State Chi Alpha". Buffalo State Chi Alpha. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "RiddleXA".
- ^ "GMU Chi Alpha". GMU Chi Alpha. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^ "Home - Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship | George Mason University". mason360.gmu.edu. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ "JCCLife". jccag.org. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ "LUXA – Langston University Chi Alpha". Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ "NC State Chi Alpha". NC State Chi Alpha. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
- ^ "Group Locator". Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ "HOME". chialphanau1. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ "OSU Chi Alpha – Campus Ministry". Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ "- PURDUE UNIVERSITY | BoilerLink". boilerlink.purdue.edu. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
- ^ "Purdue Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship". Retrieved September 20, 2019.
- ^ "Queens College Chi Alpha". Queens College Chi Alpha. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "Chi Alpha @ Stanford". Stanford Chi Alpha. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ "XA Texas A&M University-Kingsville". Chi Alpha Texas A&M-Kingsville. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ "Home, Chi Alpha". Chi Alpha. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ "- @UVA". uva.campuslabs.com. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ "Home". Chi Alpha @ VT. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "WSU Chi Alpha Website". WSU Chi Alpha. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- ^ "UCM". UCM. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "Worldwide Chi Alpha". Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ "XA|MUN". XA|MUN. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ "inicio". www.contacto.org. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "Find a Group". Students for Christ - Europe. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "Students for Christ Rotterdam". Students for Christ Rotterdam. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
- ^ "Damascus Road University Ministry". Damascus Road International Church. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "Christian Fellowship | Students for Christ Utrecht | Netherlands". My Site. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "Studenten für Christus Deutschland e.V. – Studenten prägen. Zukunft gestalten". Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "REMIX". Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "The Bridge International Church Paris". The Bridge International Church. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ (in French) https://sfcbelgium.net/. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Raíces Granada – Piensa. Crece. Sirve". Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "Home". sfcindia.witnesstoday.org. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "Chi Alpha Japan". chi-alpha-japan. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ Elliot, Peter (May 5, 2009). "Arkansas Pastors Shed Light on Idol Finalist Kris Allen". Everyday Christian. Archived from the original on May 9, 2009.
External links
- Articles containing German-language text
- CS1 errors: missing title
- CS1 errors: bare URL
- CS1 French-language sources (fr)
- Articles with short description
- Use mdy dates from November 2019
- Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text
- Official website not in Wikidata
- Articles using small message boxes
- Incomplete lists from August 2019
- Assemblies of God
- Christian organizations established in 1953
- Student religious organizations in the United States
- Evangelical organizations
- Fellowships
- Student organizations in the United States
- Student societies in the United States
- Student religious organisations in Germany
- Christian student societies in Germany
- Student religious organisations in Belgium
- International student religious organizations
- Service organizations based in the United States
- Christian fraternities and sororities in the United States
- Missouri State University