Religion club seeks to break away from dogma

The Campus Ambassadors for Christ, a non-denominational religious club on campus, tries to make their focus all about Jesus, according to group President Stephanie Stewart.

Through several events held each week, including bible study and a video series about Jesus, the group intends to bring students together to get to know Jesus and make new friends along the way.

Video series facilitator Scott Fuller said, “Non-believers have a bad taste in their mouth about organized religion. Here you can get to know Jesus first and then make your own decision.”

Vice President Dan Stewart said, “It’s a really cool environment where you can come and hang out. It’s open to everybody.”

Students are welcome to attend bible study on Tuesdays, the “Case for Christ” video series on Wednesdays, prayer on Thursdays and a college group on Thursday nights. Posters are available on campus with times and locations.
The group numbers vary between five to 20 participants in each club event, according to Dan Stewart.

Campus Ambassadors for Christ has been an on-campus group for more than 10 years but previously served under a different name with national club attachment, said Stephanie Stewart.

Dan and Stephanie Stewart decided it would be a good idea to break away from the national club because they felt that they weren’t getting enough use of the resources available to them.

“We had no real contact with anyone. We didn’t feel like we were being supported,” said Stephanie Stewart.

“There were a lot of good things about being attached, like the mentorship but our biggest guidance comes from Jesus,” said Dan Stewart.

The group works to get awareness of their club out by putting up posters and tables out in the Main Mall and handing out fliers to passersby.

“I get to talk to a lot of people and see how students feel. Most people are pretty open and friendly,” said Stephanie Stewart.

Dan Stewart enjoys walking around campus and “asking if people know Jesus. It establishes communication with other students,” he said.

“What we believe is when you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you can work out issues with God on your own. We’re not here to judge, we have no right,” said Fuller.

The group’s president and vice president met through the club this past winter term and were married Sept. 3.

“I was waiting for God to bring his best and the same thing was happening in his (Dan’s) life,” said Stephanie about how they met. “I was out tabling and he came up asking about the bible study and started coming to group. We got to know each other.”

Dan proposed to Stephanie on the deck of the Portland Spirit in his Navy uniform back in June.

“I didn’t realize he was proposing. I was totally shocked,” said Stephanie.

The two got straight to work on club promoting when they came back from their honeymoon in the Bahamas and Florida.

Posters with information about the Campus Ambassadors for Christ are available around campus.