Lutherans, Muslims, Jews discuss faith’s challenges

ST. CATHARINES, Ontario – It’s challenging to be a “fool” in the eyes of a secular society, believing in an ultimate truth in an age of postmodernism, says Andrew Korchok a member of Brock University’s Lutheran Student Fellowship (LSF).

Frequent Lutheran Student Fellowship guest Michael Anastasiou; seminarian Oleg Schewtschenko; Andrew Korchok; Margaret Stephenson; and an interested enquirer in front of the LSF information booth at Brock University’s multi-faith fair.

Korchok, who attends Trinity Lutheran Church, Niagara-on-the-Lake, made those comments during an on-campus multi-faith fair at Brock, Wednesday, February 3.

The event gave students the chance to discuss the benefits and challenges of being a person of faith on a secular university campus.

Also attending the fair were members of the Jewish Student Association, Muslim Student Association, the Student Christian Movement, and other Christian clubs.

Korchok drews his comments from 1 Corinthians 1:18, 23 and a weekly Bible study held Monday nights in the lounge of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, located on the Brock campus.

He also confessed that this ultimate truth is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross for the sins of the world and that salvation is found only in Him.

Margaret Stephenson, of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Niagara Falls, said her faith in this Saviour gave her complete confidence in the forgiveness of sins, freeing her to receive higher education as a blessing from God and an opportunity to live out her life under His grace.

During the fair, students marked areas of agreement where cooperation can exist, as well as areas of danger to their faiths.

An LSF booth attracted many who were interested in the teachings of the Lutheran church and kept Rev. Kurt Lantz, university chaplain, busy answering questions about justification, Mary, icons, baptism, and abortion.

Students interested in further discussion were invited to the LSF Bible study, Sunday services at Resurrection Lutheran Church near the campus, and daily chapel at the seminary.

The LSF Monday night Bible study is led by Lantz and usually draws eight to 12 students of different Christian backgrounds, including Lutheran, Baptist, Pentecostal, and Syrian Orthodox.

For more information, contact Pastor Lantz at klantz@brocku.ca or the Facebook page of Lutheran Student Fellowship, Brock University and Niagara College.