Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus the Christ.

I can’t believe the semester is almost a full month in at this point! And what a busy, wonderful one it has been. For this first letter of the school year, I wanted to share with you our Campus Ministry theme for the 25/26 school year: UBUNTU. 

Ubuntu is a South African term that roughly translates into English as “I am because we are.” The story goes of a Christian missionary who visited some of the more remote places in northern South Africa. One day, he devised a game to play with some of the local children. He put a basket of fruit and toys under a nearby tree and told the children, “Whoever gets to the basket first can have all of the contents for themselves.” The children then did something amazing and unexpected. They linked arms with one another and walked together toward the tree. When they arrived, they took care to make sure that each person reached out and touched the bounty at the same time so that none of them could be seen as arriving first. They then shared the fruit and toys and had a wonderful time together. 

When the missionary asked why they had done that, they replied simply, “Ubuntu.” These children believed that they were better together, excelled together, and thrived together. They didn’t need to compete with one another to find out who would come out on top, for they knew that it was together, as one, that they truly were at their best. 

In our theme verse, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Paul states, “You are the body of Christ and parts of each other.” As we remember, celebrate, and meditate on the interconnectedness of humanity and creation, we want to lift up the ways in which those in our community have experienced ubuntu in their lives. Or, even better, the way we feel called to work toward ubuntu in spaces where this truth feels ignored or actively attacked. 

And, we want you to be a part of it. Come join us as we unpack and seek to live into ubuntu. We are better together, and better with you! 

Sincerely, 
Pastor Wes