A Word from Pastor Nathan

Dear Friends:

When the Rev. Dr. Jon Barnes, Director of Higher Education and Communication, was with us, he spoke about the Thanksgiving Offering that goes to support Disciples-related institutions. Funds for this offering go directly to the institutions and do not fund administrative overhead at the general church level. This fact sparked my imagination for this column, and my sight was soon filled with shades of purple, horned frogs, epic football victories, and a favorite student organization, Disciples on Campus. 

The Rev. Lea McCracken is the Disciples Campus Minister and Church Relations Coordinator at Texas Christian University. She has more energy and enthusiasm than the Energizer bunny and is as genuine a person as you could ever meet. Her work at TCU fuels the faith of Disciples on campus. As many graduates can attest, college is a disruptive and yet transformational time in the life of young adults. Rev. McCracken is the pastor par-excellence to them, guiding students in ways that are life-giving, loving, and liberating. 

Here are some of the activities of TCU’s Disciples on Campus: Every Monday morning, come rain or shine, they pass out coffee and doughnuts at one of the most congested pedestrian intersections on campus. On Monday evenings, they meet for worship. On Fridays during the lunch hour, they bring in a Disciples pastor or convener to lead a Bible study. Every year, the leadership team enjoys a retreat at a nearby conference center. You can also find Disciples on Campus present at Disciples Crossing (the nearby camp) and Regional and General Assemblies.

Apart from these opportunities for formation, the Disciples on campus are transforming the culture of TCU. These students are instrumental in cultivating safe spaces for the minoritized and oppressed. They use their voices to stand in solidarity with those who have been victimized by unjust systems. If you want to find people who are passionate about their faith and care deeply about their academic studies and student-life, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone better than TCU’s Disciples on Campus.

Disciples on Campus, under the leadership of Rev. McCracken, is deserving of our enthusiastic support. Please join me in giving generously to the Thanksgiving Offering.

Go Frogs,