I have a new cadre of bad, beautiful, bold Christian women to call my friends. Scholars on fire for Jesus. I am not alone in this—not by a long shot.
---Comment on an evaluation by NY BSAP member
I was introduced to BGM at the beginning of my second year of graduate school…The discussions really helped me as I began to reflect on my relationship with God and further explore the child of God that I am. I am no longer scared of the many different trials I have to overcome at MIT. I am no longer scared of losing friendships because I am in continuous prayer about rebuilding stronger relationships in troubled areas of my life. I wouldn’t have had these amazing breakthroughs this year without the BGM community.
---Letter from a graduate student at MIT involved in Black Graduate Ministries (fellowship at Harvard University/MIT)
What is Black Scholars and Professionals (BSAP)?
It is a new area of ministry within IVCF through Graduate and Faculty Ministries (GFM). The vision of BSAP is to see a generation of African-Americans and people of African descent who are graduate students, faculty, and/or professional students being transformed by Christ, being renewed in their academic pursuits or professional life, and becoming agents of transformation within the African-American and African communities, the church, and the global world.
We hope to :
encourage growth in terms of spiritual formation;
encourage Christ-like thinking, discussions, and writing, particularly in terms of how Christian faith impacts discipline and/or profession;
discuss issues of justice from a biblical perspective – how might BSAP be agents of change in our universities, churches, workplaces, local and global communities?
address issues of practical concern, such as mentoring, academic support, publishing, and issues relevant to healthy lifestyles.
Thus, BSAP’s major activity is chapter planting, particularly in the Northeast and the Southeast, with campus work at Harvard/MIT as well as at the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, GA. There are small groups for women in New York and in Massachusetts. And, our eventually hope is to impact Historically Black Colleges and Universities in terms of the gospel. Tips about evangelism and BSAP is on the IV website here.
BSAP had events at both the Following Christ Conference and Atlanta ’08, IV’s Black Student Leadership Advancement Conference. At the Following Christ Conference there was a BSAP reception and over 30 people of African descent attended. Professor Ron Potter described the group as “hungry” for the establishment of BSAP groups at their campuses. In addition, at Atlanta ’08, there was a track only for BSAP attendees. This track addressed the following topics: the integration of faith within a discipline; relationships; and the issue of justice.
Finally, we are excited about the BSAP urban global project, partnering with the Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship, to serve and learn from Aboriginal Australians. It is scheduled for June 17-July 3, 2009 and a major goal, besides growing in our walk with Jesus Christ, is to learn how to apply and integrate our studies into real life situations.
BSAP restores hope – it is relevant, but most of all authentic in terms of scripture, relationships, and reconciliation.
