Table Up!!!

Hello, friends! 

I'm slightly dehydrated form being out in the sun all day, my mouth is sore from smiling too much, and Meg and I are wearing the same shirt... it must be time for tabling at Mizzou!!!  =0).

The concept of tabling is simple: You reserve a space on campus, set up your table with information about your group, and have conversations with students who pass by, inviting them to stuff and getting their contact information.  If you do it right, it can lead to lots of new contacts and propel the fellowship into the new year.

Here's the thing: year after year, I see that there are too many factors working against us to ever table well.  Let's run through them, shall we?  

- What's in a name: With a group name like Asian Christian Fellowship, it's not going to be easy when the campus is 85% White and only 5-7% Asian and Asian American.  Students see your stuff, slow down because the swag is good, read the name, and then be on their way.  Some of the bolder ones will even go so far as to come up and ask to still have the stuff, even though "They aren't Asian." 

- High Assimilation: When we do see Asian American students, they are usually with a group of non-Asian American students.  This leads to awkward eye contact and sometimes even spite when you consider that they know the only reason you are eyeing them is because they are Asian American.  ACF was created to reach all the Asian and Asian American students on campus but it works best with high identity students.  The truth is that most Mizzou students are used to being the minority and are totally ok with it.  (NOTE: Reaching out to Asian International Students is MUCH easier because they are high identity and usually travel in packs.) 

-  The curse of, technology:  Ok, so let's suppose you find an Asian American walking down the street.  Even better, he or she is alone so there isn't the awkwardness of group dynamics.  It should be easy from here, right?  Well, that depends on whether or not the student can hear for with the earphones on and the volume turned up on high.  Without getting too old school, back in my day, we talked to people on our way to class.  Apparently, it's all about the music as you move from one building to another.

For all the things that make tabling difficult, there is one huge benefit to tabling each semester.  Even though it may not do much for our group numbers, it grows our leaders in incredible ways.  I am always amazed at how well tabling brings out the best in our student leaders.  At its best, you see students take risks, get out of their comfort zones, and grow in their love for the campus.  Even at its worst, it brings up all sorts of internal issues within students that you can then begin to deal with.  It's not always pretty but it sure is helpful.

So, friends, please continue to pray for us as we continue to outreach.  We have a whole host of events coming up these next few weeks that will hopefully reach more students and grow the ones we have.  We may even table a little bit more.  =0).

Have an excellent day!

~Adam