The drab, brick Mudd Hall, with its dark auditoriums and laboratories, came alive on a rainy afternoon with live music filled with messages of love.
Every Sunday afternoon, Mudd, which during the week is packed with stressed Hopkins students working on exams and scribbling notes, transforms into a religious haven for Hopkins students attending Stepping Stone Ministry's Sunday service.
Students were greeting each other enthusiastically, asking about Halloween and school. Newcomers were quickly welcomed by the friendly staff standing outside the doors, while the worship band provided enjoyable background music.
Despite its formation only 10 years ago, the Stepping Stone Ministry has experienced tremendous growth. The Stepping Stones Ministry started with a group of only eight students who were just eager to meet more people and discover God.
"We are supposed to be a conservative Southern Baptist Convention," Hopkins alumna Kristi Dusek, who graduated with an undergraduate degree in public health and is now one of the leaders of the Stepping Stones Ministry, said. "But really, everyone is welcome. We are not an old-school church."
Despite its Baptist roots, a somewhat unique characteristic of the Stepping Stone Ministry is the variety of denominations represented in the group. Some are Baptist, while some are Presbyterian. Some are Methodist, and some are simply nondenominational.
"Stepping Stone Ministry is unique in that it reaches out to people who don't have faith. We reach out to anybody," junior Keun Hee Oh said. "It is not exclusive. It is open to anyone who is looking for a home and who wants to connect with God."
Unlike other imposing churches and cathedrals one observes throughout Baltimore, the Stepping Stone Ministry at the Homewood campus is held in a plain lecture hall. The pastor does not have an elaborate altar from which to deliver his sermons. Despite the lack of a "religious look," students' devotions create a haven of faith.
"I was introduced to Stepping Stone Ministry when I was a freshman," Oh said. "It was a great ministry. Everyone was really focused on what they believed in. Everyone was eager to discover God."
This past Sunday's Stepping Stone afternoon service began with joyful singing led by a worship band. Members all stood up and praised God in different ways. Some clapped. Some moved to the beat of the music. Some stretched their hands toward the ceiling. Some had their eyes closed in prayer. Others had their eyes wide open. The diversity in praising God represented the diverse denominations that were congregated in the room, unified, they believed, through their love and devotion to God.
A time of fellowship followed the praise set, when members mingled with one another while enjoying a delicious snack of caramel apples. This moment of fellowship is also unique at Hopkins to Stepping Stone Ministry.
"Usually fellowship occurs after the service," freshman Elisa No explained. "This is the only ministry I know where fellowship happens in the middle of service. I like it, because it's as if fellowship is also a part of service, a part of learning God."
When the students had finished their socializing and had contented themselves with homemade snacks, Pastor Roger Kim stood amongst the students to deliver his message. With personal anecdotes, a jovial attitude and a video clip from the movie "Jerry McGuire," Pastor Roger told the story of Jonah, emphasizing the victorious Grace of the Lord.
An alumnus himself, Pastor Roger decided to co-lead the Grace Life Stepping Stone Ministry in Baltimore because of his experience as a Hopkins student.
"I was also a student here. More than half of the time here, I felt spiritually deprived. I did not want students here to go through that deprivation again. I want to provide a home to where students can seek out faith as much as they want to," he told the News-Letter after the service.
As he stated, many students find a safe haven in Stepping Stone Ministry. At the end of sermon, which concluded with more praises and individual prayers, one group of students sat in a circle and prayed holding hands. Other groups of students lingered to talk. One student went to Pastor Roger and casually talked about his week.
"I can call this place home," junior Jen Kim said. "This place really cares about you, the individual. It does not care about how many members it acquires or its growth. It focuses on you. Everyone here looks out for each other."
"At this church people not only care about and love God, but we also care about each other," senior John Yahiro said.
"I first came to Stepping Stone on the first prayer night it had for freshmen. I was blown away by the group and how much of a family Stepping Stone ministry is. There was no 'church shopping' for me. I just haven't been able to leave!" senior Ying Guo said.
The Stepping Stone Ministry maintains its family atmosphere through various activities, such as small groups, retreats, Bible studies and volunteer work.
Small groups are led by upperclassmen and provide a setting where one can ask questions, seek and worship God and find support in facing the pressures of everyday life.
The goal of the weekend retreats is to strengthen the family atmosphere as students spend a weekend studying God's Word together and joining in fellowship.
A new group has recently formed in the church to start serving in Baltimore city, calling themselves the Intercity Outreach Team.
"The Intercity Outreach Team was made to serve God through serving, not only by sharing the gospel or spreading His words," leader of the community service team Guo said.
The Intercity Outreach Team is currently collecting blankets and winter clothes for the homeless and will also be working with children in soup kitchens throughout Baltimore.
