By Nancy Sanchez-Diaz
Entertainment Editor
Through a wide range of activities, like workshops, food drives and faith services, the FDU campus ministry program is committed to fostering the spiritual wellness of students.
“Campus ministry encompasses various faiths and multiple groups,” Jim Om, director of campus ministry, said in an interview with The Equinox. “But it is all about emotional health, physical health, and spiritual health.”
Most importantly, FDU’s campus ministry aims to help students grow in their own journey, Om added.
This past fall semester, the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship program spearheaded a meals ministry to help students combat food insecurity.
“It’s something that we’ve really enjoyed doing,” Om said. “We know that, especially during the pandemic, people are struggling financially and they might not be eating three meals a day. This was an opportunity for us to provide a warm dinner on Monday and Tuesday nights.”
In the past, they’ve also hosted educational forums, like on the similarities of Passover and Easter and the differences between Hanukkah and Christmas.
Today a number of faith organizations, like the Muslim Student Association, still look to bounce back from the pandemic.
“This past year and a half, there has been a hiatus with a number of groups, but we are working with some of the students to get those going,” Om said.
In the meantime, Om encourages students to use other resources on campus.
“We do want to encourage others to utilize the Chapel over on the south end of campus, and the prayer/meditation room at the Fit. It’s a wonderful place for those who want the time to gather their thoughts, who want the quiet,” Om said.
They also have a list of churches and mosques on hand for students looking to practice faith on campus.
“Some universities kind of put physical health to the side, but FDU values the spiritual health as much as the mental and physical,” Om said.
“It’s about holistic wellness, so we work directly with student health services, the fitness center, S-CAPS, and we collaborate on a lot of things. We do workshops together, and that’s an opportunity for us as the ministry to lift our students’ moods.”
As FDU’s campus ministry looks to expand, students are welcome to email Reverend Jim Om for any ideas or suggestions, omj@fdu.edu.
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The campus ministry aims to help students grow in their own journey.
Art by Nancy Sanchez-Diaz
