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Christian Union at Brown Hosts Block Party by tom campisi , managing editor c h r i s t i a n u n i o n : : t h e m a g a z i n e
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Christian Union at Brown hosted a Chipotle Block Party during its freshman welcoming campaign .
Strategic planning , prayer , and a huge order of Chipotle helped Christian Union at Brown pull off one of its most successful outreaches to date .
On Friday , September 7 , the leadership development ministry hosted approximately 80 freshmen for a block party at the Judson Center . At the beginning of the semester , student leaders and Christian Union ministry fellows coordinated a wide range of freshmen welcoming events to let new students know about a vibrant Christian community on campus and its Bible courses , lecture series , and conferences .
At the block party , burritos were served in the backyard of the Judson Center , which was buzzing with conversations and music under the night sky and strings of hanging bulbs .
“ The block party was very inviting ,” said Tucker Ziegler ’ 19 , a student leader with Christian Union at Brown . “ There were clusters of people all around and conversations between upperclassmen and freshmen .”
Justin Doyle , a Christian Union ministry fellow at Brown , said the block party was a big success and will produce lasting fruit .
“ The freshmen could have grabbed a burrito and run , but almost all of them stuck around and were having a great time ,” Doyle said . “ Sure , there were some who were not interested in Christian Union , but it was such a great opportunity to bless , nonetheless . In all , we probably had about 80 students come out and many of them have decided to get involved with the ministry in some way .”
Planning for the block party began at a retreat before the semester when student leaders and Christian Union faculty came together for prayer , Bible teaching , and vision casting for the upcoming academic year . Student leaders assembled 800 bags with candy , granola bars , crackers , information on Christian Union , and an invitation to the Chipotle Block Party . Three days before the event , they delivered those bags to the freshmen dorms , praying over the students ’ names as they dropped each one at a door .
On the evening of the block party , anticipation was high before the freshmen arrived . Student leaders , dressed in Christian Union T-shirts , received some last-minute coaching from Ministry Fellow Laurel Copp on how to welcome and engage the guests . The first wave of freshmen came 10 minutes early , and the party was under way . Over the next hour , about 50 or 60 more arrived as ministry fellows distributed burritos at a frantic pace . It was exactly the kind of atmosphere that Doyle , Copp , and Ministry Director Matt Woodard hoped to see .
“ I smiled as I saw all the upperclassmen in our ministry making their way around to talk to the