I began summer deeply connected to my local scientific and Christian communities in
Montreal. After attending two Christian conferences in Toronto, Canada, and Jakarta, Indonesia, my experience with God has grown from a Canadian, discipline-focused perspective in McGill University, to a global, holistic movement of Jesus within worldwide universities.
This year, the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) co-organized the annual conference with its official expression in Canada – the CSCA (Canadian Scientific Christian Affiliation) – to celebrate the 50th anniversary of CSCA. With lectures, workshops, and discussions on important issues ranging from public health, human psychology to cutting-edge technologies, the four-day conference hosted at U. of T. – Mississauga invited scholarly conversations on the intersection of science and faith. I had the chance to worship and connect with Christian scientists from across Canada and the United States. I found it encouraging how openly the Christian faith can be integrated into scientific discussions and contexts. From biological molecules, astrophysical phenomenon, to church partnerships, the wide range of research struck me as diverse gifts God has blessed this Christian academic community with.
This appreciation expanded across the globe when I attended the quadrennial IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students) World Assembly in Indonesia as a student delegate with InterVarsity Canada. IFES is celebrating its 76th anniversary with 164 member movements of evangelical student ministries around the globe; envisioning “a clear witness to Jesus Christ established in every university in the world”.
Here, we explored ‘Tabah dan Tangguh: Witnesses in the University and Beyond’ in sermons, seminars, small groups, and the arts to discover how God equips us to become resilient witnesses amid challenges in today’s world. Through the book of Psalms, we praised, mourned, reflected, and celebrated as a global fellowship during the 10-day Assembly. We discussed topics important to universities such as creation care, mental health, justice, and arts & creativity.
Given all that I saw and heard, I’m overwhelmed by the diversity of needs across the world today. Some of what my heart was moved to pray for after the conference are encouragements to the global nature of our faith and testify to God's faithfulness in universities worldwide, as shared at World Assembly:
Let us mourn
for the presence of sin, just as we mourn for the absence of human rights in the Middle East and North Africa region, and the abuse of freedom in North America.
Let us pray
without ceasing, drawing inspiration from the Australian organization’s prayers for the continued presence of the IFES movement, Perkantas, in Indonesia.
Let us unite
as one body in Christ, following the example of movements in Francophone Africa and Latin America, who despite linguistic difference, come together to serve their countries through theology and science projects.
Let us trust
in the promises of God, mirroring the trust shown by our brothers and sisters in Christ from sensitive countries who rely on God’s faithfulness and guidance in their local student ministry.
Let us celebrate
the lives that Jesus has been transforming worldwide by sharing our testimonies and lifting our voices in songs of praise; proclaiming His faithfulness to future generations.
The Logos and Cosmos Initiative (LCI) equips young Christian academics to lead projects that spark curiosity and wonder about science and theology, and how they complement each other. We provide training, mentoring and funding for these “Catalysts” to lead initiatives in the University in collaboration with their IFES national movements.
GSC learns from students. Checking in with Dr. Stephen Ney, we found...
IFES Logos & Cosmos Initiative's Catalysts are doing big things.
Human Genome Editing:
Rightness to Righteousness
Catalyst, Alvaro Perez is a biotechnologist from Ecuador.
Responding to Christian concerns about science 'playing God,' Perez is working on an ethical and theological response to scientific research that seeks cures for diseases through laboratory work on living organisms (including humans), including gene editing. He rejects a fearful, conservative posture:
"I believe gene editing is the exercise of our God-given human creativity to love our neighbour as ourselves. Humans are created in God's image (Gen 1:26) so we have the ability to design. Understanding how nature works and modifying it allows us to have an active role in creation and not just be spectators".
Keen to fill a void in research in the Latin American context, Perez has a deep appreciation for the bioethical and theological importance of the subject. He aims to promote dialogue that moves the conversation from "Is gene editing right?" to "How can it be done righteously?" and plans to explore how faith communities might inform new advances in medical treatment.
Oral Tradition in the Transmission of Science, Faith and Culture
Catalyst, Laurent Kayogera is a communications scholar from Burundi
Even in our own most learned centres here in North America, important information is passed orally - think University lecture halls - despite our culture's seeming hesitancy on its reliability. But oral tradition plays a bigger role in Burundi, where a significant percentage of the population remains illiterate (there is gender disparity in literacy rates), where few libraries exist, and where people prefer to pass information verbally. In this context, Kayogera seeks to harness the power of orality for communication about faith and about science. He seeks to build on indigenous traditions by developing communications methods for use in the university, the church, and global movements like IFES – methods that respond to contemporary needs by promoting critical thinking and independent research skills.
Kayogera will explore the effectiveness of Colonial era missionaries sharing the gospel in Burundi and comparatively explore how pastors are trained today, especially in rural settings where literacy rates are lower. The strength of oral tradition is that it develops community: "People still enjoy listening to people sharing stories. They'd rather quote what someone else said than something they've read themselves." He seeks to bridge divides by building on the strengths of an important Burundian tradition.
JOB POSTINGS
GSC FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR
P/T (10-20 hrs/mo) permanent contract position
working remotely (within GTA) with occasional in-person meetings.
Charity experience (solid knowledge of CRA standards)
CPA certification preferred, with compensation relative to qualifications.
general record-keeping, budgeting, and accounting responsibilities.
Professor - Department of Christian Religious Studies Looking to fill a seat. The University of The Gambia is looking to hire a professor (potentially a foreign national) with a Ph.D. degree in New Testament (or potentially theology) to teach in...
Psalm 139:7 - “Can I go anywhere apart from Your Spirit? Is there anywhere I can go to escape Your watchful presence?”
It has been a summer of firestorms, floods and hurricanes, and while the multiple wars continue with their shelling and sabotage, so many feel trapped in lonely or anxious lives where coping hour by hour is the best you can do. We are compelled to ask, “Where are you God?”
Our ministry in Global Scholars Canada is transnational precisely because we
believe God’s passion, power and presence are everywhere. Even in the depths of Sheol, as the Psalmist says. I recently heard a Latin phrase, apparently tied to the Benedictines, testifies: vocatus atque non vocaatus, Deus aderit; meaning, “bidden or unbidden, God is present.”
This reality not always apparent to us when our knees buckle with bad news, and
so it becomes an act of faith and trust to say: God is not elsewhere. He is here.
Some of our scholars have struggled with health, finances, politics, and lack of
resources. But on the other hand, they have also felt the generosity, support, and encouragement of people like you. We see this, too, as fire-fighters battle the flames, as neighbours help each other in the floods, and medics work feverishly through battles.
When we ask, “Where is God?” the answer sometimes can be, “He is here, working
through other people.” That is reason for Thanksgiving. Thank you for being there, bidden or unbidden. God gave us each other as our best first aid kit.
"To Thine Own Self Be True": A Pathway to Liberation or...
Here I explore Canadian sociologist Sam Riemer's book Caught in the Current: British and Canadian Evangelicals in an Age of Self-Spirituality (McGill-Queens 2023). His argument is that concerns over church decline, sexual ethics, and the exit of...
Science and Faith Conference Tackles Wicked Problems: 50 ...
"Moving Forward Together: The Future of Science and Faith" was the title of the annual conference for the ASA and the CSCA July 28-31 2023 at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus. Attendees engaged each other over a host of wicked...
It was a pleasure for my wife Sarah and I to be able to visit and get to know some of the GSC staff and board members better during our visit to Toronto this summer, on our fundraising tour. We are very grateful to be part of GSC and to have your support.
I have been a professor in Colombia for 8 yearsnow and teach in the business school of a top university while doing research in public health. I am originally from Winnipeg but grew up both in Canada and the US.
We are currently on sabbatical in Boston, which is home base, where I am also a part-time Visiting Faculty at the Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School continuing my nutrition labeling policy work in Colombia. Could you please pray for favor in the eyes of my research group / potential collaborators for starting up new projects and writing grants together?
Meanwhile, we are taking care of a few medical issues while here and Sarah will have a major surgery at the end of October, a matter for which we would certainly appreciate some prayers.
In addition, we are fundraising as the economy in Colombia has not done well in the recent past with inflation bringing my local salary to less than half of what it was in value and purchasing power when I started. We need additional funds to cover health and travel expenses. Please, could you pray for this and consider financially supporting us? As always, we are very grateful for your prayer and support.
Dr. Jeremy Young, PhD
PRAY for GSC
Pray with our Ukrainian friend, Oleksandr for an end to the war in Ukraine.
GSC Scholars:
Wendy & Adrian Helleman - Canada to The Gambia, Russia, and Nigeria.
Stephen Ney - in Sierra Leone. Praise for all the positive impacts that Logos and Cosmos Initiative Catalysts' projects have had on the University. Pray they produce fresh thinking and new opportunities.
Dia Diafwila - For graduations, networking and further teaching opportunities. Travelling to Ivory Coast and DR Congo.
Manhee Yoon - in The Gambia. Praise and pray for the beginnings of a graduate level MA program in CRS at UTG.
Andrew Barron - Research on a theology of disability and faith and a new teaching opportunity at Martin Luther University College.
Glen Taylor - Canada to The Gambia. For the right candidate to fill the role of NT Scholar at UTG and for fundraising for the program.
David Koyzis - praise for David's latest project, his book: Citizenship Without Illusions. The first draft is complete and is circulating.
John & Anne Span - thanks for a new visa that allows a longer stay in South Africa.
Jeremy Young - for fruitful time in the US during sabbatical.
Mike Wagenman - for his work with international and graduate students across continents. Canada to UK & South Africa
GSC Student Interns:
Chloe (Montreal) - pray for thesis writing progress and career discernment.
Angel (Calgary) - pray for grace and peace during third year of undergrad. Pray for time management and balance boosts in work.
