I have always
been curious about CSF and what they are all about. I had heard of some of my
friends going to many different groups or events that they would host different
nights, but I was usually busy with my school work or had to work the nights
that they were going on. So when I heard that we were going to complete a scene
depiction essay and we would have to choose a group or club that was of
interest to us, I considered CSF. I just wanted to see if it was a right fit
for me. It gave me a reason to look more into CSF and the different groups that
they offer various nights. The group that I decided to do my scene depiction on
was SHIFT, it is every Tuesday night at 7 and it is for freshman. It worked out
nicely that this was the group I was interested and it was just for freshman.
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I had heard
about CSF advertising various groups during K-week and when they pass out
flyers on campus, so I knew that it was just something that whoever could stop
by and it was open to whoever wanted to come. This made getting in touch with
people and going to a meeting much easier. Being able to drop in and sit and
observe at an open meeting , made it less awkward and it wasn’t like I was the
odd man out just sitting in on something that everyone else was very confused
as to why I was there.
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As I’m walking
up to the Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) building, I notice it’s a very long
building and of which there is a door on the right side to which we enter. As I
walk in, immediately to my right is a room of which are a few couches along the
walls where people are in small groups and mingling about. I notice that
everyone is just very casual and comfortably dressed, I can tell it is a very
just “come as you are” type atmosphere. To my left is a large room with a vaulted
ceiling and has dark carpet that is spread throughout. There is a stage near the front of the room with
a drum set and guitars and there is music that is being played by speakers throughout.
There are large round tables with chairs set up around them. Many people are gathered around in small
groups and talking amongst themselves and just waiting around till it starts. I
can tell with their being tables set up it gives the more personal connection
that you have with the others at your table, you not just another person in a
huge crowd. As I make my way downstairs
I see they have dinner provided and most people are making their way over to
the tables where they have a buffet set up. There are also many drinks
available toward the back of the building in a smaller room. I decide just to
hang back and just try to see what this whole “Shift” thing is all about.
Once people have made their plates, they make
their way back upstairs into the large room where the tables and chairs are.
Most people continue to eat and talk amongst themselves at their table while
they wait for it to start. I sit towards the back, and just observe what is
happening around me. Even though I don’t come regularly like some others do, it
seems they still make an effort to make everyone feel welcome and at home. Also,
it seems that most everyone knows everyone else, and it also seems as though
the people that come regularly love it here and want everyone else to love it
just as much.
Music starts to
play and most people just continue talking, then after a few minutes I notice a
woman come onstage, wearing jeans, a nice shirt and cardigan, and everyone
starts to wrap up their conversations. She begins to welcome everyone and thank
them for coming tonight. Then proceeds to ask everyone to stand and join in
worship. After a few songs have been played and everyone has sung along, she
comes back up on stage and starts to talk to the audience again. She then announces
various events that are coming up and that CSF will be hosting this spring.
She introduces a
man of the name, Austin Wofford, who then proceeds to take the stage. He comes onto the stage and introduces the
series that they will be talking about for the next few weeks. The name of the
series is called “myths” and tonight’s message is entitled “Partying—it’s what
we do in college”. As he is giving the
message, everyone seems very interested and paying close attention to what he
has to say. He addresses the many sides of partying and why it is the “thing to
do in college.” He then talks about how it doesn’t have to be everyone’s “thing”
to do in college. Many people just assume that it is “just what you do” in
college and that it’s just expected that everyone party’s in college. He then
elaborates that it’s ok to be different and make you own choices, rather than
just following the crowd and doing what everyone else does. As he is giving the
message he makes an effort to make eye contact with everyone and make them feel
as though he is talking just to them.
Later on he
talks about Shift groups and mentions to everyone that if anyone is not in a
group then they can still sign up for one. He explains that Shift groups are
small groups that meet once a week or so and discuss a book together. The leaders of these smaller groups are older,
upper classman, which have volunteered to be leaders of the freshman groups. As the meeting comes to a close, people are
slowly getting up to leave. Some decide to leave right away, and others stick
around and continue to talk and mingle around. A few are also going to sign up
for shift groups and picking a time that works with their schedule.
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| Courtesy of ukcsf.org |
It is easy to
tell this is a close nit group, by the way they continue to hang around and
talk with one another. The way that the small group members talk with their
leader is in a way that you can tell that the leader generally cares and they
have this caring nature for everyone in the group. Many of the group leaders
are mentors for the freshman, and I can tell that the freshman feel relaxed
around their leaders and are comfortable enough with them to come up and talk
to them about anything they need help or advice with.
After
coming to shift and experiencing more of what CSF has to offer, I understand how
people like so much here and I love how the topics being discussed were very
relatable. It’s not as intimidating when you understand the message that is
given and you can relay it to your own personal life.
