Chi Alpha Campus Ministries
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chi Alpha Campus Ministries (usually known as Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship on campus, but sometimes University Christian Fellowship or "Schoolname" Christian Fellowship, and occasionally Christians in Action) is a Pentecostal Christian ministry for college students. Despite its name, it is not a fraternity or sorority. Chi Alpha is often abbreviated XA.
In many respects Chi Alpha is similar to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship or Campus Crusade for Christ, although it is sponsored by the Assemblies of God and is thus denominational rather than nondenominational.
[edit] Purpose
The goal of Chi Alpha is to reconcile students to Christ, and thereby transform the university, the marketplace, and the world. To this end, the organization holds to a five-fold philosophy of mission: being a community of worship, prayer, fellowship, discipleship, and witness.
[edit] History
The Assemblies of God began a ministry to collegians in 1947 at the urging of J. Robert Ashcroft (father of John Ashcroft), which consisted of a newsletter sent to college students to encourage them in their faith.
It soon became apparent that a newsletter by itself was inadequate, and so in 1953 Calvin Holsinger chartered the first Assemblies of God student group at Missouri State University (at the time Southwest Missouri State University) in Springfield, Missouri - site of the Assemblies of God headquarters. Taking its name from a contemporary Assemblies of God youth movement the group was called Christ's Ambassadors (a phrase in 2 Corinthians 5:20). The X and A come from "christo apostoli."
The first Chi Alpha house was established at UC Berkley in 1964.
In 1978, Denis Gaylor became national director of Chi Alpha, and continues to lead from the national level today.
There are now Chi Alpha ministries on over 225 colleges and universities in America, and many more in sister organizations around the world.
