Welcome to FCFS at OSU
This is the home of the Fellowship of Christian Faculty and Staff on the campus of Oklahoma State University. We gather as a "transformed minority"; men and women who love the academy, who find the person and works of Jesus of Nazareth to be satisfying and true, and who look to Him as the beautiful hope for the world.
We dream of the day when there are small movements of believing professors and professional staff across the OSU campus, circles of people gathering for the exchange of ideas and the sharing of lives. People who are willing to wrestle with the ever-challenging question, "As a follower of Jesus Christ, what should I be and do in the academy?"
FCFS Remembers Dr. Robert Kamm
A public memorial service for Dr. Robert B. Kamm, the 13th president of Oklahoma State University, will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Stillwater on November 16 at 2 p.m.
He served as OSU president from 1966 to 1977 and was a part of Oklahoma State University community for more than 45 years. He and his wife, Maxine were loved by faculty, staff, and students.
Dr. Kamm was a devout Christian man and his faith was an integral part of his life. He had a love for Jesus which was winsome. He was a warm and caring man, genuine and friendly. He treated all people the same whether it was a dean or one of the people who cleaned his office.
Dr. Kamm was instrumental in the formation of this organization and FCFS is establishing a distinguished award in their names to honor them for their service to both OSU and the Fellowship of Christian Faculty and Staff. The first recipient of this award will be Terry Lehenbauer from the college of Veterinary Medicine. Terry is a very qualified individual to receive this distinguished award.
The award recognizes the distinguished service of individuals who emulate the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth through their teaching, research, and service at OSU and abroad, and who contribute to the success of the Fellowship of Christian Faculty and Staff.
Weekly Ministry Minute
The Experiment of Faith
Mark Pritchard
Business
Central Washington University
As believers on campus we are expected to be prepared to give the reason for the hope that we have to our students and colleagues (1 Peter 3:15).
Committing my personal testimony succinctly to paper was challenging, but proved to be quite beneficial. First, I could post it on a personal website and refer folk to it when introducing myself in classes. Second, I felt a little more prepared to respond when asked about my faith.
I was put to the test on this not long afterward during a conference trip to Virginia. A doctor sitting next to me saw the title of a book I was reading (Ravi Zacharias' Jesus Among other Gods ). He asked what it was about, and then whether I believed the claims. The conversation bubbled along as I explained how I had come to faith. He commented that his wife , who was sitting in front of us , was a believer and that he was a skeptic. I still recall him relating that if more evidence had been a part of my testimony then he too might believe (1 Corinthians 14:25).
I didn't fret over his disagreement, but did ponder if intellectual thinkers believe they control the experiment of faith. Some of us design our own requirements for what God must do before we will believe. Jesus captured the situation when He said our generation “ plays the flute, sings a dirge ” and wonders why God does not dance. But if there is a God, are we not subject to His experiment, His sign (Matt 12:40), and not our own design for what constitutes evidence?
Our flight was landing and the conversation coming to a close when the man's wife turned around and thanked me. Perhaps of all that had transpired, her gratitude had the greatest impact on me. Although unspoken, I knew she had been praying for her husband. It is humbling to think that our small voice of encouragement to our students, colleagues, and those we meet on the road may be the answer to a loved one's prayer.
“If you give God the right to yourself, he will make a holy experiment out of you. God's experiments always succeed.” Oswald Chambers
© 2008 Mark Pritchard Used by Permission of Faculty Commons
This Ministry Minute was used by permission from Christian Leadership Ministries. This Ministry Minute may be copied or forwarded in its entirety for ministry purposes.
Welcome Gift to New Faculty
Our organization gives a welcome gift to new professors at OSU. Inside the gift they will find several items we believe they will enjoy. Included is a booklet on how to make tenure by Dr. Rae Melli-champ, a professor emeritus from the University of Alabama. Dr. Mellichamp has given tenure presentations on campuses across the U.S. (including OSU) 
and assistant professors have found it very helpful in the tenure process.
He has published refereed articles in such journals as The Harvard Business Review, Management Science, Decision Sciences, Expert Systems, Interfaces, IEEE, Transactions on Software Engineering, The Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Simulation, and IEEE Networks. He was principal investigator for contract research projects totaling over $1.25 million and served as consultant for AT&T, General Motors, N.A.S.A. (The Space Shuttle Program), and the U.S. Army (Strategic Defense Initiative).
The 15 oz. coffee mug was designed by a graphic artist for our 
organization and includes quotes which help remind professors of who they are as faculty. Along with the mug and booklet we include chocolates, coffee, teas, snacks, and the book, Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis.
It is our hope that each professor feels welcomed by us and that they will find success in the academy (including tenure) as well as achieve an integrated and balanced life.
National Faculty Leadership Conference
Over 300 people, including 175 professors and graduate students, attended the 2008 NFLC on June 27-29 in Crystal City, Virginia. The plenary speakers were Marla Frederick-McGlathery, J.P. Moreland, Richard Pratt, and Ken Elzinga. There were disciplinary papers presented in 14 academic tracks. All plenary sessions and academic guest presenters talks are now available at CCC Audio. You can get them by MP3 download or on CD for a small cost. Here is a comment from a professor who came: "I listened to colleagues in conversation, who, like me, labor in more obscure corners of the kingdom to translate the good news into the vernacular of our discipline and academic culture. It was as invigor-ating as a swim in a fresh ocean of ideas. I heard voices calling to me, unique, different voices from Ivy League and West Coast, from research universities and community colleges, the voices of theologians, of economists, and of anthropologists, all very human, all intentional, all passionate. They called to me to catch the vision of Christ for my campus, for all of academia.”
News
Monthly Luncheon
Our next luncheon will be on November 12th in Taylor's Dining Room (Joe's Room). Dr. Jay Gregg, Department Chair and Professor of Geology, will be talk to us about "The Life, Works, and Influence of Teilhard de Chardin."
Quote of the Month
"Doubts are the ants in the pants that keep faith moving." Frederick Beuchner
Bible Studies
Bible studies and book studies are starting up at OSU. Several groups will be looking at "Parables for Professors" - a study geared for professors. For more information contact Gary or Gena Hellman at 405.743.1559 or ghellman@facultycommons.org.
Prayer
"The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace."
-- Mother Teresa
Arts and Culture
Randy Pausch's Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams. This is an aspiring lecture given by the late Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon professor, while suffering from pancreatic cancer. He said, "I am flattered and embarassed by all the recent attention to my "Last Lecture." I am told that, including abridged versions, over six million people have viewed the lecture online. The lecture really was for my kids, but if others are finding value in it, that is wonderful. But rest assured; I'm hardly unique. Send your kids to Carnegie Mellon and the other professors here will teach them valuable life lessons long after I'm gone." -- Randy Pausch.
Every person has a story - a life story. What's yours? Have you ever stopped to consider how your story fits into the larger story. Check out Life @ Large.
The Memoirs of Professor Jim Breazile "In August, while all freshmen at Mizzou were learning their way around campus, getting their clothes ready and asking about the professors they would encounter, I was well into my secret life as a CIA agent..."