Engage Newsletter 5
In this issue we celebrate our faculty and their missional achievements: Dr. Karen Johnson published her book on ordinary Christian heroes in racial justice, and Dr. Johann Buis shared his research and film on the Tanzanian Vingwengwe tradition. Furthermore, Dr. Yousaf Sadiq was appointed a global co-leader for the Lausanne Initiative, supporting the persecuted church worldwide. Finally, we welcomed a message in Edman chapel from Trustee Rev. Ricky Jenkins, and offered congratulations to Dr. Crystal Cartwright on completing her doctorate!
Feature Story
History Chair Dr. Karen Johnson publishes her new book, sharing empowering stories of ordinary heroes and racial justice in U.S. Christianity.
Thank you for speaking with us. Please, what is your current role at the College and what classes do you teach?
I am the Professor and Chair of the History Department. I teach courses like Race and Religion in U.S. History, and Sports in America.
Congratulations. What is your new book, Ordinary Heroes of Racial Justice: A History of Christians in Action, about?
The book, which was published in July, focuses on ordinary heroes during the 20th-century Civil Rights Movement, like John Perkins. It highlights historically significant individuals who resisted racial segregation, demonstrating that change happens through local, individual transformation—not just by famous leaders.
You did extensive fieldwork in Mississippi and Georgia for this book. How did those "embodied" experiences shape your understanding of cross-cultural ministry?
The fieldwork, supported by a John Stott grant, was transformative. I had read about the systemic sin of segregation, but physically being there—visiting the sites and working through the archives—gave the history a reality that intellectual study alone cannot provide. This experience highlighted the importance of proximity in cross-cultural work.
What is the main insight you hope students take away from your book?
I hope they realize that anyone can be an ordinary hero. By adopting the historical habits of mind from the book—like truth-telling and empathy—students can learn to actively seek connection across differences and build a community that honors the Imago Dei in everyone.
Lastly, what is your favorite scripture?
I find great guidance in Proverbs 3:1-6.
What are your upcoming projects that you want to share?
My current focus is on promoting this new book and discerning future research. However, I’m also excited to travel to South Africa soon to learn more about the global church. I have several upcoming academic speaking engagements, including the American Historical Association and the American Society for Church History in January.
You encourage the value of historical thinking in your new book. How can doing this help us in our commitment to respect and love one another?
Historical thinking grows us into more faithful disciples by fostering humility, empathy, and contextual understanding. My book encourages seeking first to understand why systemic issues exist—the history and assumptions behind them. This approach allows us to Enlighten ourselves so we can better understand and respect our brothers and sisters.
Recommended Readings from the Office of Intercultural Engagement
Kindred
The Navigators
A seven-session Bible study that provides a biblical foundation for understanding how diverse backgrounds are woven together into the family of God, with every nation playing a vital role in His mission.
In Church as It Is in Heaven
By Jamall E. Williams and Timothy Paul Jones
This book explores the biblical foundation for an ethnically diverse community, reflecting the congregation around God's throne. This book provides warrant for establishing this multiethnic reality in local churches, offering a unique apologetic for the gospel.
Healing Racial Trauma
By Sheila Wise Rowe
As a professional counselor, Sheila delves into the symptoms and effects of racial trauma. Structured around personal narratives and interviews with individuals of color, the book guides readers toward resilience and the healing processes they have undergone.
Wheaton College Trustee speaks in Chapel
Wheaton College Trustee and Senior Pastor Ricky Jenkins spoke in chapel on October 8, 2025, and delivered a powerful message from Psalm 142 on how Christians navigate sadness and grief. His sermon emphasized choosing an active, biblical way to deal with pain through the "Four A's of Praying through Sadness." The core message was, The Lord will deliver us, like David who came out from his “cave”, and give us Kingdom authority for the work ahead.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
We celebrate Dr. Yousaf Sadiq (Adjunct Assistant Professor and Senior Fellow for the Humanitarian Disaster Institute) as he has been appointed a global co-leader for the Lausanne Initiative for the Persecuted Church. This critical mission is focused on identifying and filling the resource gap to effectively amplify the voices and discipleship of over 380 million Christians worldwide who are suffering for their faith.
Congratulations to Crystal Cartwright Braziel in Student Involvement on earning her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Higher Education! Her thesis, "Sing a Black Girls Song," is a powerful autoethnographic exploration of the lived experiences of Black undergraduate women at colleges.
Vingwengwe Documentary
Dr. Johann Buis shares his research and critically acclaimed documentary on the Tanzanian Vingwengwe tradition, highlighting how communal devotion embodies Christian reconciliation.
Please, what is your current role at the College and what classes do you teach?
I am the Associate Professor of Music (Musicology) specializing in Ethnomusicology. I teach advanced music seminar and Intro to Music courses. I also teach World Music and the Peace and Conflict Studies course, “Resistance and Reconciliation in South Africa.”
What is your documentary, Vingwengwe, about?
Vingwengwe: The Rhythm of the Fipa explores a rare, beautiful musical tradition in Western Tanzania. For over 400 years, the Fipa people use this ritual of song, dance, and polyrhythm as a communal identity expression. My film reveals this tradition's sophistication and the community's abundant joy.
What inspired you to make this documentary?
My journey began with a personal search for my late father’s legacy, a brass band director in Tanzania and South Africa. A retired civil engineer in Tanzania shared a story of people singing with upturned clay pots and three-legged stools. That single story led to over a decade of research, culminating in this documentary.
What did you learn about the Fipa people through their music?
I found a community with a remarkable sense of shared resources. Though lacking material possessions, they possess overabundant joy in making music together. They use clay pots which are rhythmically frictionized with three-legged stools, wooden stumps, and leg rattles. They’ve even redeemed police whistles, once symbols of oppression, into sounds of redemption and joy. Their songs blend local folk tunes with Christian hymns.
How does this tradition speak to our own lives and faith?
This tradition is a powerful reminder of the importance of being in intercultural community. The Fipa people reinforce common humanity by setting aside rivalries and animosities. This simple, communal devotion speaks to a deeper truth: a childlike heart that finds devotion in the commonplace is essential to our Christian faith. In a sense, the gospel is enacted through their shared music and joy, and we all learn from the gospel.
Where can people find out more about the documentary?
The documentary recently had a successful live showing on campus as part of Homecoming week. To follow its journey through film festivals and receive updates on public distribution, you can visit the official website: www.vingwengwefilm.com
Welcoming Our Diverse New Students!
Wheaton College’s International Student Programs (ISP) kicked off the year with its annual Cross-Cultural Chill Out on August 13th. New and returning students from 41 different countries gathered for a casual evening of games and community outside the Beamer Center. Notably, this semester welcomes 40 F-1 visa students, marking the largest incoming international class in over a decade!
CLACC Mid-Autumn Festival
The annual Mid-Autumn Festival was a fantastic success, bringing new and returning students together on the Stupe Patio on October 4th. Attendees enjoyed mooncakes and specialty treats while engaging in different cultural practices to celebrate the incoming of autumn. We thank the Chinese Language and Culture Club (CLACC) for their hospitality!
Meet the Leadership Cabinets of our Student Leaders
Office of Multicultural Development
The Office of Multicultural Development exists as a home for students of color and for ALL students committed to a greater understanding of Christ-centered diversity and biblical justice, particularly in terms of racial identity development and relationships as a reflection of the imago dei.
Unidad Christiana
Nexus
Koinonia
Family Group Leaders
1-2-1 Mentors
Gospel Choir
Shalom Community
William Osborne Society
International Students Program
The International Student Programs (ISP) Office exists to support undergraduate F-1 visa students, missionary kids (MKs), and third-culture kids (TCKs) as they navigate life in the United States. Through a wide array of programs, the ISP aims to ensure international students experience belonging and contribute to a beautifully diverse body of Christ.
Mukappa
Ladder
Axis International Apartments
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations
National Hispanic Heritage Month is annually observed from September 15 to October 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic culture to the nation's achievements, culture, and history.
Unidad Chapel
Bajo Las Estrellas
Manos del Mundo
"I Am From"
By Jadisha Vargas Correa de Salas
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are honored to feature a poem from third-year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student Jadisha Vargas Correa de Salas.
I am from an island that breathes sea salt and prayer
Each sunrise a hymn, each wave a confession
I am from an island that smell is so sweet
from an archipelago that tourists visit, eager to meet
an island that puts religion over the rationalist
nevertheless, is never considered by Christian Nationalist.
I am the product of Lolita Lebron, the visionary
the product of Pedro Ablizu, the one lost in tales, dismissed as a fairy
I am from a colony, the oldest in sight
I am from a colony where ¼ of women were sterilized
I am from a place where there is no light,
a phenomenon nobody acknowledges
I am from where at political rallies
It is referred to as a floating island of garbage.
I am from an island where beauty is in each face
I am from an island where two-thirds of us have been displacedA tragedy that hurts us all, where no place left to go
a tragedy that placed me in a new home, Chicago
I am from the one-bedroom apartments, in the packed basement
I am the synthesis of decisions fueled by the Junta and the Jones ACT.
From the religion that preaches to love and be nice
a religion that silent in the midst of ICE
But Juan Lugo he came and he lived what he preached
he saw the calling in everyone, even women could speak
A faith that gives good news to the poor
A message of liberation for the Jibaros at the shore.
And in that faith, I hear the footsteps of Jesus the refugee,
whose dust-stained path still whispers justice to me.
That message gave hope for the black and the brown
a hope that fueled me to create my own crown
surrounded by the humble, the “illiterate”, the “worst”
Bloomed a passion to help the vulnerable and pursue research
The journey to become a clinician gives me hope
to be what I need and to drop a rope.
To help those climb and gain mobility
Until the glass ceiling shatters
To see where I am, I smile and also frown
To see that next to me is all white and
below me remains black and brown…
Filipino American History Month Celebrations
Filipino American History Month (FAHM) is recognized every October to honor the history, culture, and enduring contributions of Filipinos in the United States. It commemorates the first documented arrival of Filipinos in the continental U.S. in October 1587, providing a vital opportunity to celebrate the community’s rich heritage and impact.
Left: (From left to right) Dr. David Cho (Director of the Office of Multicultural Development), Speaker Dr. Gabriel J. Catanus, Dr. Henry Kim (Professor of Sociology), and Amanda Chu (President of Koinonia) Right: Dr. Gabriel J. Catanus, PhD (Affiliate Assistant Professor of Theology and Ethics at Fuller Seminary and Lead Pastor of Garden City Covenant Church).
Koinonia's event was a wonderful demonstration of fellowship and cultural celebration! The Filipino American History Month Event, hosted by Koinonia on Thursday, October 30th, was a fantastic evening of celebration and fellowship. Attendees gathered in Meyer Science 145 to recognize the month with delicious food and an insightful speaker, Dr. Gabriel J. Catanus. This gathering served as a vital space for the community to honor their heritage and deepen bonds. We thank Koinonia for extending an invitation to Dr. Vanessa Quainoo and the CIEO staff!
“We were so excited to have Dr. Catanus on campus to join us for this event, he really spoke to our experience. Personally, we think the greatest strength of the event was how he used our platform to both recognize Filipino American history and then proceed to connect it directly to the broader context of current events. For us, this evening wasn’t only about loving the Filipino American community, but actively extending that support to all minorities, particularly the ones who need it most right now.”
Amanda Chu and Ian Wang, Koinonia Presidents 2025-26
Koinonia, whose name means 'fellowship' in Greek, is a Gospel-empowered fellowship that seeks to glorify Christ by serving and advocating for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students on campus. Their mission emphasizes celebrating Asian identity in Christ and deepening interpersonal relationships for God. While Koinonia exists primarily to support AAPI students, they actively invite the rest of campus to engage, learn about, and celebrate AAPI cultures, promoting awareness of the diversity within the community.
From Our Graduate School
Last summer, Grad Life created the new Multicultural Graduate Student Lounge on the second floor of the BGH—the first dedicated space to celebrate diverse cultures. Graduate students have been active both on and off campus: they attended the International Student Orientation (which included an art museum visit), connected at the Multicultural Grad Student Breakfast, and explored the city during the Intercultural Trip to Pilsen.
We are thrilled to announce an exciting new space in the Graduate School! Last summer, the Grad Life staff transformed an office into the Multicultural Graduate Student Lounge on the second floor of the BGH. This is the first dedicated space in the Graduate School to celebrate diverse cultures. As Director Cheryl Margason says, they wanted to create "a place to relax, study, talk, have lunch and to foster community in the Grad School." Students are now using the lounge, enjoying the soft lighting, comfortable chairs, and a new library donated by Intervarsity Press. We are excited for this space to continue growing as a vibrant hub for gathering, fellowship, and community!
Intercultural Trip to Pilsen, Chicago
International Student Orientation
Multicultural Grad Student Breakfast
Updates from the CIEO
To welcome the new school year and show gratitude, the CIEO's Office created appreciation bags for our multicultural and intercultural student leaders. Each bag featured our core verse (Revelation 7:9), a custom water bottle, pens, the calendar, and other goodies to encourage their mission. We thank them for their hard work and pray they are empowered to enlighten, equip, and empower all students throughout the year. These bags were a small token of appreciation for the tremendous investment of time and energy these leaders make, setting a collaborative tone for the semester. We hope they feel affirmed as they continue their vital work on campus.
The Office of Intercultural Engagement is excited to introduce Calista Chaidez as the Graduate Assistant for the 2025–2026 school year! Calista is a second-year M.A. student in the Higher Education and Student Development (HESD) program. Her mission is to foster a spirit of hospitality and belonging within the Office of Intercultural Engagement. This commitment is reflected in her favorite pastimes, including hosting gatherings, baking/cooking, volunteering in the community, and connecting with people. Her mission is to actively support students from all backgrounds, to connect them with essential campus resources, and to plan inclusive events. Calista is passionate about ensuring the ENGAGE Newsletter truly reflects the richness of our campus's many voices.
CCCU “Imago Dei" Conference
The 2025 CCCU Imago Dei Conference, held from October 8–10 at Indiana Wesleyan University, was a dynamic space designed for educators to engage in dialogue and showcase best practices for strategic campus transformation . The conference focused on Pursuing Biblical Diversity, Belonging, and Hospitality to meet the needs of all students. The Wheaton College administration was featured in the session, "Kingdom Diversity in Action: Best Practices from Wheaton College," presented by Chaplain Angulus Wilson and Dr. Vanessa Quainoo. Additionally, graduate student Sarah Chang presented her research, "From Competing to Intersecting Leadership Paradigms: Navigating the Tensions Between Personal and Institutional Leadership Frameworks in Student Development," exploring the crucial need to help bicultural student leaders cultivate a distinct and adaptive leadership style. She says that the main mission of her research is to “raise up young leaders who recognize and embrace their God-given identity and sacredly designed story.”
Mosaic Block Party Co-Sponsored with CIEO's Office
The Mosaic Block Party -supported by ISP, OMD, ICAM and CIEO’s office- on Friday, September 19th, was a huge success, transforming the South Jenks Parking lot into a vibrant celebration! This collaborative event featured food items from three food trucks. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy; students had a blast dancing the night away under the lights, and they participated in stations to get to know other groups and clubs on campus.
Kingdom Leadership for a Kingdom Agenda
The Office of Intercultural Engagement is delighted to announce that the Rodney Sisco Symposium "Kingdom Leadership for a Kingdom Agenda" will return to Wheaton College on Thursday, March 19 through Friday, March 20, 2026.
The OIE will partner with Hasana Sisco, the founder and CEO of The Rodney Sisco Symposium for Transformational Leadership, Diversity and Equity Practices.
This event is a powerful opportunity to inform, prepare, and influence future Christian leaders to see, embrace, and practice holistic biblical Kingdom Diversity through compassion and conviction.
Remembering Rodney K. Sisco
The Symposium is held in honor of Rodney K. Sisco, who faithfully served Wheaton College for over 34 years as the Director of the Office of Multicultural Development (OMD). Rodney was a constant and faithful presence on campus, providing wise leadership in pursuit of the Christ-centered vision of racial and ethnic diversity in Christian higher education. Rodney was a strong pillar in a vast, multifaceted community. He led by example in never taking anyone for granted, often articulating his appreciation for others—not just for grand gestures, but for the small, everyday expressions of grace.
The Impact: A Charge to Grace
The Symposium is intended to continue Rodney Sisco’s legacy by advocating for the kind of Christ-centered community he embodied. He famously shared: “Grace says that we are to be patient with each other. We spend time with each other. We’re preparing young men and women to know…how to be people who are able to engage with difference and conflict in a way that still says we’re doing it as men and women of God.”
We are excited about this year's speakers, Rev. Dr. Don Davis, Founder and Director of World Impact's Urban Ministry Outreach and Rev. Dr. "Coach" Wayne Gordon, Founder, Lawndale Community Church, Chicago, IL.
The core objective of the Symposium is to broaden and deepen intercultural competency and engagement at Wheaton College, powered by Christ's love and obedience to His Word. This mandate requires an intentional resolve to love one another across racial, ethnic, and cultural lines of difference. Our CIEO Dr. Vanessa Quainoo is making an appeal to the entire campus to participate, describing three distinct levels of engagement. This engagement begins with Administrative Leaders and Faculty, who are asked to encourage their divisions and incentivize student attendance. It continues through Classroom Engagement, where Professors can volunteer a class to host a break-out session centered around the Symposium's themes. Finally, engagement is deepened through Curriculum Engagement, which involves the intentional use of recommended reading materials by students, faculty, and staff.
The Rodney K. Sisco Diversity Choice Awards will be presented at the Symposium. Created by the Office of Intercultural Engagement, this award recognizes Wheaton College faculty and staff who embody Kingdom Diversity and a love and respect for all people. Mark your calendars and save the dates! The Symposium will be free and open to the public with registration encouraged. The registration link will be provided soon. For more information, contact the Office of Intercultural Engagement at 630-752 7551.
The mission of the Office of Intercultural Engagement (OIE) is to cultivate a community that fully embodies biblically grounded diversity and Christ's call to reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18–19).
The OIE executes this mission of Kingdom Engagement through three core actions—to Enlighten, Equip, and Empower the campus to view cultural differences as gifts (1 Corinthians 12). This foundational commitment ensures every person feels affirmed and respected as a brother or sister made in the Imago Dei.
Ultimately, the OIE aims to move beyond mere compliance to cultivate a Christ-centered community characterized by humility, mutual learning, and the valuing of every member (Revelation 7:9).
The Office of Intercultural Engagement does not discriminate or exclude, and serves the entire Wheaton College Community. All events sponsored by the OIE are open to everyone.
Intercultural Hospitality
Wheaton College was recently visited by a delegation from Handong Global University, a private Christian university in South Korea. The delegation, which visited on September 29-30, included Dr. Dosoung Choi, President of Handong Global University; Dr. Jun-Mo Cho, Dean of the Institute for Holistic Intelligence Education Development; Dr. Jiyeon Bae, Associate Director of the Institute for Holistic Intelligence Education; and Mr. Gyuseok Kyle Lee, Assistant to the President, shown here with President Ryken and members of SAC.
Dr. Quainoo presents gifts of appreciation on behalf of Wheaton College to Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard, Prelate of the Church of God in Christ (on right) and Rev. Dr. Robert Rogers (on left) at the 100th Anniversary of the Church of God in Christ for All Saints, Morristown, New Jersey.
Drs. Joseph and Vanessa Quainoo, Mrs. Lisa Ryken and Wheaton College President, Dr. Phil Ryken, Mrs. Sharon Wilson and Wheaton College Chaplain, Dr. Angulus Wilson, enjoyed dinner with other members of SAC (not pictured).
Other Celebrations
Billy Graham Scholarship - Equipping Multicultural Leaders
The Wheaton College Billy Graham Scholarship Program is proudly celebrating its 50th Anniversary (1975-2025)! This milestone honors five decades of equipping Christian leaders from over 130 countries, transforming our campus into a vibrant hub for cross-cultural and deep intercultural engagement. The enduring legacy remains fixed in the diverse work of the global Church, serving its people and advancing God's Kingdom. We invite the entire community to join us in 2025-26 as we celebrate this history with a special exhibit and reunion events, providing opportunities for students to meet and be inspired by the alumni who embody this global vision of service.
Dr. Bon Rin Ro '62: Alumnus of the Year
Join us in honoring Dr. Bong Rin Ro '62 as the 2025 Alumnus of the Year. Born in Korea in 1935, Dr. Ro dedicated his life to global missions after attending the 1957 Billy Graham Crusades in New York, a vision that shaped his theological education at institutions including Wheaton College. His commitment to the mission of the global church led him to an immense career of impact: He personally trained hundreds of missionaries from Singapore to Hawaii, taught at dozens of institutions, and was instrumental in strengthening the infrastructure of theological education across Asia. This extraordinary work embodies Kingdom Engagement by modeling how to equip leaders who recognize cultural differences as gifts, fostering mutual respect, and honoring the inherent worth of every member of the global body of Christ.
Looking Ahead
- October 25: Wheaton Gospel Choir Fall Concert: "Love Never Fails"
7:00 pm, Armerding Concert Hall
Hosted by the Office of Multicultural Development (OMD) - October 30: Filipino American History Month Celebration Event
5:30 – 8:00pm, MeySci 145 - November (All Month): Native American Heritage Month (Campus Observance).
- November 7: Gather “Followers of Jesus Pursue Diversity, Justice, Inclusion & Unity”
4:00 – 6:30 pm, Phelps Room, Beamer Center. - November 7–9: Family Weekend (All Day)
- November 8: Koinonia Family Group Potluck
1-3 pm, Phelps Room - November 9: Trip to Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago.
Hosted by Grad Life - November 15: ISP x OMD Olympics
5-8 pm, Chrouser Gym - November 17–21: International Thanksgiving/International Menu (All Week)
Hosted nightly by Bon Appetit at Anderson Dining Hall - November 17-21: International Thanksgiving for All
Hosted by Graduate Life. Billy Graham Center, 2nd floor - November 20: Koinonia Round Table
6 pm, Phelps - November 20: Diversity Council Meeting
Hosted by the Office of Intercultural Engagement - December 13: OMD Christmas Banquet
6:00 pm, Coray Gymnasium. Hosted by the Office of Multicultural Development (OMD) - December 15: OMD Care Day
11:30 am – 4:00 pm, Hannay Room, Beamer Center
Future Wheaties?
Engage Newsletter Staff
- Dr. Vanessa Quainoo, CIEO, Editor-in-Chief
- Calista Chaidez, Graduate Assistant, Editor
- Tiffany Egler, Administrative Assistant