Past Events

Spring 2024

Professor, What Is Your Story?

Each professor will share their faith journeys and have some time to take questions from the audience.  

Please join us for the event to listen to this special event of sharing personal stories on how these professors came to faith.

Overview:
Date: February 8th, 2024
Time: 11:45 - 1:00pm
Location: Student Union Room 3
Moderator: Damon Moon  

Speakers:  

• Aaron Romanowsky
• Cheryl Roddick 
• Hongrui Liu 
• Jonathan Fung

Agenda:
Opening & Intro
Story Telling Time
Q&A
Discussion
Lunch will be provided to registered attemdees. 

Contact: Damon Moon damon.moon@sjsu.edu

Fall 2023

On Saturday the 26th of September 2023 there was a potluck lunch at the New Beginnings Community Church. 

1st & 3rd Friday noon gatherings near Jamba Juice in student union. 

Spring 2023 

On the 21st of January from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. there was be a family friendly potluck dinner to begin the spring semester.  

There were semi-monthly lunch gatherings in the dining area of the student union.  

An end-of-year evaluation and planning session was held on Fri 2023-05-26 11:45 – 13:30 (PDT).  

Fall 2022 

The kickoff was a BBQ at Santa Clara's Central Park on Saturday the 27th of August.  

There was a lunch gathering on Friday the 9th of December 2022 to discuss plans for the spring semester. 

Spring 2022 

In Spring 2022 the Faculty-Staff Christian Fellowship is meeting on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month at 1 p.m. For the Zoom meeting link and for information about the group, ask Buff Furman (burford.furman@sjsu.edu).

Fall 2021 

In fall 2021 the Faculty-Staff Christian Fellowship met on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month at 1 p.m. The plan for our meetings for most of the semester was to read and discuss the book, Sent: Living a Life That Invites Others to Jesus, by Ashley and Heather Holleman. For the Zoom link for the meetings and for information about the group, ask Buff Furman (burford.furman@sjsu.edu).  

Spring 2021

Conference: God's Kingdom in the Academic World

NorCal Christian Faculty/Staff Conference
Friday evening March 12th and Saturday morning March 13th

‘Blessing for Insult’ in Today’s Argument Culture – Seriously?

Presented by professor, author, and speaker Dr. Tim Muehlhoff.

Dr. Muehlhoff, shares: “at a time when it seems we can’t agree on anything, 98% of Americans state that incivility is a serious problem; while 68% agree it’s reached crisis levels. From cyberbullying, to hate speech, workplace harassment, demonizing political language, verbal abuse, and intolerance the vast majority of us (87%) no longer feel safe in public places sharing our opinions.  

“What do we as Christians owe others as we enter the public square and are met with incivility? The Apostle Peter offers one piece of advice that believers should refrain from responding to an insult with an insult, but rather, give a blessing (1 Pet. 3:9). Could such a strategy work in today’s argument culture?”

Join us as we together discuss and interact on this vital topic, and what this can look like in our interactions with colleagues, students, and others.

Panel Discussion: First Amendment and religious freedom in the academy

We also heard from a panel of legal experts – Brad Dacus, Greg Jao, and Lori Kepner – taking questions on the First Amendment and religious freedom in the academy. 

Virtual Format

This year – due to our virtual format – the conference was able to expand beyond our original Northern California location, welcoming faculty and staff from campuses from throughout California, other Western states, and Hawai’i. 

Fall 2020

Talk: Some Strategies to Stay Spiritually Healthy During Times of Disruption

Heather Holleman, Penn State 
1 p.m. Friday 25 September 2020

Introduction

This past week, I found myself overwhelmed with the disruption of moving to remote teaching at Penn State, caring for students’ fear and disappointments, restructuring our family life in isolation, and managing the onslaught of news and fresh data regarding COVID-19. I wasn’t experiencing the Romans 8:6 promise that “the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” 

I attempted to return to the basics of how to stay spiritually healthy during a time of upheaval. I thought of three primary tasks: sowing to please the Spirit, surrendering, and dwelling in hope. 

Sowing to the Spirit

First and foremost, I remembered the invitation to “sow to please the Spirit” (Galatians 6:8) by spending time in God’s word, praying, and listening to encouraging sermons. I returned to passages of scripture that reminded me of God’s enduring presence. Isaiah 43 brought fresh comfort to my heart this morning as I read, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” 

I realized that, instead of filling my mind with God and His truth—sowing to please the Spirit—I was instead filling my mind with more data, more news, and more social media about COVID-19. I took shelter in data rather than taking “shelter in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91).

When I consulted my friends and spiritual mentor about how overwhelmed and fearful I was, they all advised me to limit my media intake, especially before bedtime. My former therapist always told me the same thing. Some of us are simply too sensitive to media intake and must exercise caution when watching or reading things that foster anxiety and depression.

If we are prone to both, we must remember to guard our mind during this time. I needed to. I’d been waking up with that spirit of dread I know so well. I’d been very weepy and overwhelmed. I decided that, at least for a while, when I needed to know the orders from my national and local leaders regarding COVID-19, my phone or husband would alert me. I wouldn’t miss any vital news. Otherwise, I could diminish my intake of any news that doesn’t help me sow to please the Spirit. 

Surrendering to the Lord

I also said a fresh prayer of surrender to the Lord that He can do whatever He wants with my physical body. I don’t want to live in fear of a virus. God is the One I am to fear, not sickness or death. Isaiah 8 tells us this: “The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. . .” And I recited Galatians 2:20 and how I’m already crucified with Christ. 

Dwelling in Hope

I then remembered the astonishing truth of Romans 8 and that God will “work all things for good”—even this pandemic and all the upheaval. This verse reminded me that I can choose to dwell in hope.

I prayed I could be like Jeremiah in Lamentations 3 who famously says “because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him’.”

I returned to a peaceful heart as I committed to sow to please the Spirit, to surrender, and to dwell in hope. And I was able to maintain a peaceful, hopeful presence to my students in my next class. This is how I’m learning to stay spiritually healthy right now.

Spring 2020

Conference: A Common Call

Saturday the 18th of January 2020
Hyatt Regency, San Francisco Airport.

Speakers:

• Dr. Charles Lee (Stanford University)
• Dr. Susan Siaw (Cal Poly Pomona)
• Renee Begay (Nations: Cru's ministry among Native Americans)

emcee'd by Dr. Buff Furman (San Jose State University).

Meetings

The group met at noon on (mostly) first and third Thursdays in Spring 2020.

Fall 2019

Fall Kickoff Potluck

Saturday, August 24, 2019 from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Meetings

• 10/17 Knowing Christ Today book discussion (Chapter 1)
• 11/6 Barbara Snyder on Thomas
• 11/21 Knowing Christ Today book discussion (Chapter 2)
• 12/4 Episcopal Chaplain Kathey Crowe on ministry to SJSU students

Read Knowing Christ Today by Dallas Willard

One project for the Fall 2019 semester was to read and study the book Knowing Christ Today by Dallas Willard.

Talk: Exhausted from your Insta-Snap-Tweeting Life? Sociological and Theological Reflections on Technology

Felicia Song
Friday the 1st of November, 1 p.m.
Campus Village 2 Multipurpose room. (CV2 MPR)
See event poster for details [pdf]

Description: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat. While these social media can help us connect with family, friends, and colleagues, they can also exploit the fears and insecurities that shape complex human relationships. How are the commercial interests behind our screens shaping who we are becoming? And how should communities of faith negotiate these contemporary dictates of the digital? Sociological analysis and theological reflection are brought together to address these key questions of our modern-day dilemmas.

Felicia Song is Associate Professor and Chair of the Sociology and Anthropology Department at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. Having trained in History, Communication Studies and Sociology from Yale, Northwestern, and University of Virginia, and taught at Louisiana State University’s Manship School for Mass Communication, her research is oriented around the rapidly evolving digital technology industry and how the adoption of social media and digital devices fundamentally alters the landscapes of family, community, and organizational life.

In addition to her book, Virtual Communities: Bowling Alone, Online Together (Peter Lang 2009), she has conducted research on expectant women’s online information-seeking habits and the evolution of “mommy bloggers” as social media professionals. Currently, she is working on a book project that explores how our contemporary digital habits form us and our imaginations about personhood, time, and place. When she is not working, she enjoys children’s chapter books, searching local consignment shops, and watching “The Great British Baking Show” with her husband and two children.

Campus Praise Night

December 17, 2019 at 7:30 pm
Spartan Memorial
Sponsored by the Unity in Christ organization on campus.

2018

Fall Kickoff Potluck

On Saturday, August 25, 2018 from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm, the Fellowship gathered at Buff and Wanda Furman's home for a potluck supper to prepare for Fellowship activities in the 2018/19 Academic Year.

Read A Grander Story

At the regular 1st and 3rd Wednesday meetings in the 2017-2018 academic year the group read through the book A Grander Story: An Invitation to Christian Professors edited by Rick Hove and Heather Holleman.

This set of essays deals with questions Christian professors ask about how to relate their beliefs to their teaching. 

Francis Su

Noon on Wednesday the 8th of November
CB 222

We had the opportunity for Prof. Francis Su to speak to our group on his way to the math department seminar later in the afternoon. Prof. Su is the recent past president of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) and a distinguished professor of mathematics at Harvey Mudd College

Aaron Romanowsky coordinated Prof. Su's visit.  

More information on Francis Su:

• Francis Su, Harvey Mudd College 
• To Live Your Best Life, Do Mathmatics
• The Lesson of Grace in Teaching

2017

Abigail Carreon - Veritas Forum

At noon on the 18th of October 2017 Abigail Carreon visited the regular third Wednesday meeting of the fellowship to tell about the Veritas Forum and explore possibilities of organizing an event for SJSU.

Abigail is the University Engagement Director for The Veritas Forum and works at both Berkeley and Stanford.

Kickoff Potluck

On Saturday the 26th of August 2017 the Faculty-Staff Christian Fellowship had its annual potluck at the Furmans' home.

2016

Talks by Leslie Wickman, Ph.D.

Wednesday the 16th of November
Student Union room SU 2A.

Dr. Leslie Wickman, Executive Director of the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA, http://network.asa3.org/), joined us for a very interesting discussion about Dr. Wickman's experience of being a Christian and a scientist, as well as talking more about the ASA and its unique mission especially in regards to science and faith. 

How Can We Know Whether God Exists?

7-9 p.m., Wednesday 16 November 2016
ENG 189

Dr. Wickman is an internationally respected research scientist, engineering consultant, author, inspirational speaker and the executive director of the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA).

Talk: Who is the “Real” Jesus? History, Hogwash, and Hot Air by Mike Licona

At 7 p.m. on Wednesday the 14th of September 2016 in ENG 189 (Engineering auditorium) Mike Licona spoke on Who is the “Real” Jesus? History, Hogwash, and Hot Air.

Recent books portray Jesus in radically different ways than how he is presented in the New Testament. Mike Licona shows how to distinguish the authentic Jesus from counterfeits. See http://www.risenjesus.com/mike-licona for more.

The talk is sponsored by the SJSU Faculty-Staff Christian Fellowship in partnership with Ratio Christi.

Kickoff Potluck

On Saturday the 27th of August 2016 the Faculty-Staff Christian Fellowship had its annual potluck at the Furmans' home.

Talk: Tom Woodward on Epigenetics

Dr. Tom Woodward spoke at noon on Wednesday the 9th of March from noon to 1 p.m. in CCB 222.

Dr. Woodward is the author or co-author or several books which chronicle various aspects of the continuing debate between darwinism, intelligent design and creationism. His talk was on epigenetics, the subject of the 2011 book he co-authored, The Mysterious Epigenome: What Lies Beyond DNA. He is the director of the C.S. Lewis Society based in Tampa, FL.

2015

Talk: The Place of Life and the Humanity in the Cosmos

Monday, March 16, 2015 at 7PM
Washington Square Hall 207

Description: Are humans the accidental products of a blind and uncaring universe? Or are they the beneficiaries of a cosmic order that was planned beforehand to help them flourish? Join geneticist and author Michael Denton as he explores scientific evidence showing how both the universe and the Earth are exquisitely fine-tuned to make human life and the life of other organisms possible.

Bio for Dr. Denton: Dr. Denton holds an MD from Bristol University and a PhD in biochemistry from King's College in London. From 1990-2005, he was a Senior Research Fellow in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. He is the author of two path-breaking books, Nature's Destiny: How the Laws of Biology Reveal Purpose in the Universe and Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, as well as many technical articles in major scientific journals. Dr. Denton's research has led to the identification of several new retinal disease genes including the gene used in the first successful gene therapy trial at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London in 2009.

Jane Pantig - Ratio Christi Chapter Director