During a recent prayer walk with other pastors and Christian leaders on the campus where we live at Louvain-la-Neuve, we were once again reminded of the innate desire of mankind to belong. We encountered the yearly phenomenon call “the baptism.†This is the “thing to do†among new students in which they are initiated into affinity groups through a hazing process that can include any number of humiliating acts all for the sake of being able to be counted a member of the group. (see photo) Acceptance is a very strong human need. This is especially true of the young person who has been touched deeply by the brokenness of the world in which we live and who may equally yearn for community. We believe our responsibility as Christians is to provide open faith communities through which those around us may find acceptance in Jesus and a sense of family in our midst.
