Faculty Commons staff member David ZagRodny recruited the two professors to minister with the Cal Poly students and local Salvadoran Campus Crusade staff at the most influential university in the country— Universidad Matias Delgado.
As always, the American professors open doors for ministry on global campuses. “American university professors are tremendously respected internationally, and we were welcomed by top university officials,” David explains.
The two professors spoke in classrooms, at a noon time gathering of Christian students, and to a group of faculty, both Christian and non-Christian.
“Having Cal Poly professors speak really gave our student ministry credibility,” one of the Salvadoran staff told David later. “Professor Noland’s presentation was great. We made connections with 12 professors who now know more aboutVida Estudiantil [the Latin American name for Campus Crusade] and are supportive.”
Equally valuable is the impact the two professors had in the lives of the Cal Poly students. “The students loved—loved—ministering alongside professors from their campus,” David reports. “I was reminded of the incredible influence professors can have in the lives of students, and it was really true on this trip.”
Student Anna Harris agrees: “It was so encouraging seeing Cal Poly professors live out their faith in front of us, and to have them minister not only to the Salvadoran students, but to us as well.”
For Dr. Noland, that was the highlight of the trip: “I appreciated the opportunity we had to minister on campus and in the community, yet I believe our greatest influence was in the lives of the Cal Poly students. I’d highly recommend other Christian faculty consider participating on a future trip.”
And they are. David has already recruited two different professors to join Cal Poly students on upcoming trips to El Salvador. When it comes to impacting their campus and their world for Christ, he finds, students and professors work better together!
