HCF hosts new series, “Why Race Matters”

Hopkins Christian Fellowship (HCF) is hosting a month-long “Why Race Matters” series, which seeks to address the relationship between race and religion in society.

HCF staff member Uesin Kim spoke to an auditorium full of students of all races, ages and religions.

“What would the world look like without racism?” he said. “Come alongside me, with me. Challenge yourself in a new way. Reconciliation is not just a part of our message, it is our message.”

Kim was the first of four weekly guest speakers for the HCF’s series. According to Kim, HCF has always tried to place an intentional emphasis on diversity, both on campus and in faith.

“For the past three to four years we’ve done a series of panel events of different students in the fellowship, creating a time and space for them to share their experiences both on campus and in the fellowship,” Kim said. “We want to create an open dialogue.”

Kim added that this particular series branches off the overall theme of diversity but is a bit more focused on racial tensions on campus and around the nation. The Wednesday night speaker sessions are led by student leaders in the fellowship. There will also be a guest speaker chosen by the students at each event to address an aspect of race. Guest speakers range from HCF staff members to local pastors and Hopkins professors.

“What we wanted to do was to affirm those people who feel discriminated against on campus but do not have an outlet to share their thoughts as well as answer the question of what Jesus has to say about what is going on in terms of racial tensions,” Kim said.

HCF staff member Justin Tibbels added that even though the events are set up like a worship service with music and prayer, it is not only for current fellowship members.

“We hope to speak to several different groups of people, one of them being minority students, many of whom feel hurt or unheard,” Tibbels said. “Our hope is to show them that Jesus really cares about them. He wants to comfort them, to see justice and to see things improve.”

Tibbels added that the series is also geared towards students who aren’t usually interested in or affected by racism, or who don’t believe that racism is still prevalent.

“A lot of them happen to be Christian because, unfortunately, Christians don’t have a good track record on this conversation and whole idea of race or ethnicity,” Tibbels said. “Our hope is that those students will wake up a little and start to care a bit more about this conversation and maybe have some practical ways to enter into this conversation.”

HCF Large Group Coordinator Ernest Scalabrin added that he hopes this series will bring together people who care about this issue and Christians who may not be completely on board.

“I hope it convinces [people] that Jesus is actually necessary to resolve this and bring about racial reconciliation,” Scalabrin said. “I hope that this will convince them that the Bible and the gospel and Jesus call us to break down barriers of races and ethnicity.”

Scalabrin added that people need to understand that the issue of racial reconciliation is not just a moment, it’s a movement.

“Even I fall into the trap of talking about the issue and listening to sermons but not actually realizing that our black brothers and sisters have to deal with this for the rest of their lives,” Scalabrin said.

Kim said that he believes that millennials are living in a confused and hypocritical time.

“We see racism as something our parents or grandparents have and yet there are instances, even on campus, or through Yik Yak or online that reveal that this is still an issue,” Kim said. “It’s just evolved into something unique to our generation.

Kim said that this speaker series is just one way to provide opportunities and encouragement to work towards this issue. His goal is to get more students to understand his vision of equality and commit to combating racism.