Polarized debates may be heating up American politics in the run-up to the Presidential election next month but Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix, Arizona, among the largest Christian universities in the United States, reminded its students of the importance of cohesion in the body of Christ with its annual “Unity Walk” and a worship service.
Held on Oct. 15 this year (2024) and just three weeks before the country elects a new President, the annual walk celebrates various cultures that make the college different while highlighting what ultimately unites them: their faith in Jesus Christ and the fact that everyone is created in God’s image.
Organized by the university’s Multicultural Office and Associated Students of GCU, campus groups and athletic teams joined for the 2024 event to show togetherness.
“As Christians we are called to love, to show love, so what better way than to show love in community?” said Zach Broussely, manager of the Multicultural Office. “We are all human and all created in God’s image. We want to show we are all unified.”
A weekly worship service held at the university was relocated temporarily, to mark the importance of the Unity Walk. The walk-and-worship event was also part of celebrations for GCU’s 75th year, showcasing unity and its role in educating the body of Christ.
“The message was hopefully to show that, just three weeks before the election when politics is a lightning rod dividing the country, that it is great to see young people putting that aside and coming together to walk and sing and worship together while praying for our country,” a spokesman for GCU told Christian Daily International.
Students proudly waved poled flags showing their cultural origins and nations, such as El Salvador, Israel, Mexico, Chile and Ethiopia, according to GCU senior writer Mike Kilen. More than 70 countries with 40 tribes were represented among the students at the event.
The walk began in the backyard space in the middle of the campus with a 100-yard (91.44 meter) procession of students, 10-people wide shoulder-to-shoulder, which kept time to a drum beat. It ended under an array of lights at a “Gathering” on the university’s Quad site for the worship service where students sang “How Great Thou Art” and prayed together.
University Pastor Dr. Tim Griffin cited Psalm 133 in his address at the worship service: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”
“God, we thank you for all the students You have brought to campus this year,” he prayed at the time. “We pray that we lift each other, that we would be a blessing to one another.”
Some students made friends at the event, marveling at each other’s flags and enjoying conversing together.
Kaiya Noe, of Polish origin, befriended Ethiopian Hiyaw Ertiro during the walk, reportedly showing him a photo of “injera,” a sourdough flatbread from his homeland, which made him smile. She got the photo from a neighborhood program, wrote Kilen, where she worked as a volunteer and helped to teach refugees English, including an Ethiopian woman.
“It was cool to share a meal with her and meet her family and realize you aren’t so different,” Noe recalled. “She loves to cook, and she loves to play piano. I love to cook and play piano.”
Noe also ventured an opinion about the seeming dichotomy set between people of varying backgrounds against the importance of seeing their humanity.
“We can always see our differences of cultures and religions and ideas but ultimately we are all just people,” Noe said. “We can choose to look at our differences or look at what draws us together.”
Emmanuel Corral, from Tucson, who runs track and cross country for GCU, held a Thai flag although he is Mexican.
“In politics we get divided, but for the most part we get along pretty well,” said Corral.“[Unity is] hopefully everyone getting along. Smiling, having a good time, like they are now.”
Erik Nelson, director of Spiritual Life at GCU, told students at the event that divided politics was a secondary consideration in comparison to the importance of Christ.
“Every few years we have an election. You think about our country and some of the things that may bubble up that may cause division or disunity,” said Nelsen. “Our unity is in Jesus, and we have to go to Him with all things.”
”We are going to take a few minutes now to pray for our country, especially in these next few weeks,” added Nelson as the event drew to an end. “Pray with those around you for humility and wisdom, that as believers we praise the Lord in our country and on behalf of our leaders and those we do life with.”
Meanwhile, GCU continues its 75th anniversary celebrations with a Week of Service from October 28 to November 2. This involves more than 1,000 students serving in 40 different ministries alongside two of their signature events: GCU CityServe and GCU Habitat.
“As a missional, Christ-centered university, service is embedded into everything we do at GCU, so it felt very natural to celebrate our 75th anniversary in this way,” said GCU President Brian Mueller.
“Our students have a heart to serve and a desire to help people who are in more vulnerable situations. It has become part of their educational experience.”
GCO caters regularly for students offering 700 volunteer opportunities available each week, growing to 1,000 such placements during the Week of Service. This means serving in ministries such as with children, elderly, refugees, homeless people and providing household goods to families in need.
“The Bible teaches us to follow the example of Jesus’ life and earthly ministry to serve others,” said Dr. Tim Griffin, GCU Dean of Students and Campus Pastor. “Mark 10:45 tells us, ‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.’
“Serving others brings joy and fulfillment that comes from loving others as God loves us.”
Last month (Sept. 2024) Christian Daily International reported the university marking its 75th anniversary with the private non-profit Christian college anticipating to enroll 125,000 for its fall semester, its largest-ever intake of students.
While celebrating the continuous growth, the report noted, GCU continued its fight against a historic $37.7 million dollar fine for allegedly misrepresenting the costs of its doctoral programs and against the “defamatory” criticisms by U.S. Department of Education Secretary who vowed to “shut it down”.
The interdenominational institution, which once faced bankruptcy in 2008 due to low enrollment in one of the most economically deprived areas in Phoenix, then expected to welcome 25,000 students onsite and a further 100,000 students online, an increase of nearly six percent from the previous year, 2023 to 2024.
