Multicultural

After coming to the University of Minnesota-Morris (UMM-Morris, Minnesota-U.S.A.). I (Sal)never imagined that I'll be meeting folks from different parts of the world. This small college town community (pop. est 5,100+ as of 2000 census) provides that intimate enivronment to build close- strong friendships with many people (if you choose to do so), which I have and continue to do so after graduating from UMM in 1999.

This is my (Sal) favorite weblinked to UMMAlpha's Homepage because "multicultural" is something that we can all relate. We live in a time in America where many of us young generation come from a mulicultured background (e.g. dad may be African American and mom may be Caucasian American). However, we can't really label ourselves just one race or two because we have ancestors from more than one race.

Growin-Up in St. Paul

For example, my parents are from the Philippines, but my great grandparents in my father side is from Spain-European. I can be consider Asian-European American. When I was growing-up in St. Paul, I didn't really thought much about people ethnic-cultural background. I just look at everbody as the same!

I don't want to make your mind boggle because mine is already as I'm writing this. My main reason for writing this is to share my personal testimony on how God revealed my true identity in Christ, which I'm now part of a bigger family/group-family in Christ (no matter what race, ethnicity, or anytype of background)!

Local: UMM-Morris Cultural Share

Some multicultural experiences so far in this area is having the opportunity to come share my Filipino culture in the nearby elementary schools. During college, the local Morris Area Elementary Schools had a Cultural Awarenss Day, where local adults share their specific cultural ethnic backgrounds. I shared some basic facts on the Philippines to some different grade levels. It was an awesome learning opportunity for both of us-presenters and the presentee. There was one time I was invited by a friend of mine temporarily teaching (teachers aid for his Ed. Major) at a small town north of Alexandria-Militona, MN. They had many types of questions from-do you have houses, is there a McDonalds there, etc... I had a chance to show-up my breakdancing moves and a movie-video from the Philippines. After this experience, I've learned to share as much of my culture instead of complaining what people don't know about "me" or "cultural backgrounds" overall around rural west-central Minnesota.

-Multicultural Retreat 1999

Also, the Multicultural Retreat I participated in college, which was the first annual one that still continues today!

One section of the circle of retreat attendees during a dialogue

Chris and Dan doing a skit

State-Twin Cities Experience

My favorite christian multicultural events are the Heart of the City events they have all over the Twin Cities area. It's an opportunity where brothers and sisters in Christ can get together after the "most segregated hour of the week", which is church on Sundays (@10am) where different racial groups get together in their own churches-a popular saying by Martin Luther King Jr.

Summer Picnic

Main Stage in 1999, where different groups performed

Nation Experience

I had the privilege visiting Martin Luther King Jr.'s Museum-King Center (and other related sites) in Atlanta, GA for an African-American Student Conference called-Impact 2000 (every other year event for African-American christians and others from different college campuses across the nation). After learning so much about him on the books growing-up, it was an awesome experience to see "live" what this infamous "world changer" from the Civil Rights Movement did through this museum. This was during one of the breaks of this once-a-lifetime conference for me.

Below are some resources on "multiculturalism", which I've grown to learn a lot more since attending UMM through many activities I participated (eg. Gateway 98', RA at Clayton A. Gay Hall, and many other numerous student activities).

Consequences of no-unity amongst Christians:

converts to Isalm

Event

"Gospel Explosion 99'"

""Several God-gifted singers were guests at this campus-community church ministry sponsored "unity" (breaking down walls of division amongst church denominations and racial lines) event. They sing "Oh, Holy Night", "Silent Night", "O Come Let us Adore Him", etc. as a prelude to this first annual (one of two) campus-commUnity multicultural celebration for Jesus. This was held in the spring of 1999 at the Campus Mall of the University of Minnesota-Morris. It was spear-headed by the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Alpha & Omega...
*see more Pictures...

Separate But Equal is NOT Biblical Message by Dr. Young Part I

"In the Fall of 1999, IVCF hosted (with support by Alpha & Omega) a speaker from Northwestern College (St. Paul, MN)-Dr. Young. He shares a message that some Christians at the campus felt the need for "unity" amongst cross-cultures from our multi-ethnic diverse college campus (University of Minnesota Morris)"
Separate But Equal is NOT Biblical Message by Dr. Young Part II

Separate But Equal is NOT Biblical Message by Dr. Young Part III

*see Kenneth N. Young, D.Min.
Director of Racial and Ethnic Diversity
D.Min., Westminster Theological Seminary (PA);
M.Div., Biblical Theological Seminary;
B.S., East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
-Message
"11When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? "-Galatians 2
Peter's Vision
"9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean...."
Peter at Cornelius' House
..But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?""-Acts 10

Workplace

Churches

Ethnic Stores

Ethnic Music

Immigrants

Performing Arts

Restaurants

Theatres

Worship Experience-Ministries

Business

Career/Internships/Jobs Opportunities

Computer

-Clipart

Foundations

Ministries

Music

-Contemporary
ALL THE WORLD - Point of Grace

"All the World by the group Point of Grace"
-Worship

"5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians (see Iran Chamber Society: "..Iran, Iraq and Armenia, parts of Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, and -for brief periods- territories in Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine."), Medes (see Britannica: "..Indo-European people, related to the Persians.), and Elamites (see Wikipedia: ..an ancient civilization located in what is now southwest Iran."); residents of Mesopotamia (see Wikipedia: "..is an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, largely corresponding to modern Iraq[2], northeastern Syria,[2] southeastern Turkey,[2] and the Khūzestān Province of southwestern Iran"), Judea (see zionism-israel: "... area that roughly corresponds to a part of that kingdom, part of which is in the southern part of the West Bank of the Jordan, including Hebron and Jericho.") and Cappadocia (Turkey), Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"-Acts 2

Bible

-Church

College Campus

Currency

Gospel Resources

Languages