Religious groups concern campus

For San José State students, spotting religious recruiters on campus is typical, but students have become concerned about being stopped by some recruiters and the dangers associated with these groups.

A group that has raised concerns among students is known as T.H.R.I.V.E. Campus Ministry at SJSU.

Formerly known as D.R.E.A.M. Campus Ministry, T.H.R.I.V.E. is one of SJSU’s recognized religious student organizations, according to a Student Involvement webpage

Orion Jandu, an SJSU fifth-year English student, said he has had experiences with this organization that made him uncomfortable. 

“They initially got me with flattery. I met them at a ten-minute sermon out near the statues (Victory Salute) and I was listening to see if what they were teaching was biblically sound,” Jandu said. “They started using overly kind words to let my guard down and we exchanged contact information.” 

The Spartan Daily reached out to T.H.R.I.V.E. but didn’t receive a statement in time for publication. 

University Policy Department Lieutenant Frank Gonzalez said that since the campus is a public space, these recruiters have few limitations. 

Gonzalez said that while the school has the CSU Time, Place, and Manner policy, UPD cannot limit preaching because of free speech, unless it becomes disruptive. 

“This campus is open to the public, so the one restriction they have is amplified devices. They are not allowed to be out here with megaphones because it disturbs the whole campus operation,” Gonzalez said.  

The CSU Time, Place, and Manner policy addresses how to respond to activities that may threaten student, faculty and staff safety, or disruptions to campus buildings and education, according to a California State University FAQ on the policy.  

After Jandu had already exchanged contact information with the group, he decided to research them and found an article about a woman who was financially manipulated and intimidated by them. 

“When I reached out to the group, saying I did not want to be associated with them, they began using scripture against me to claim that I was not truly Christian,” Jandu said.

Schools such as the University of Southern California have stated that they do not recognize D.R.E.A.M., International Christian Church  (ICC) or Restored Church Worldwide, labeling them as “high-pressure religious groups,” according to the USC Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. 

They may display exclusive beliefs, authoritarian leadership, isolation/alienation, high commitment/exploitation, fear tactics, manipulative recruitment, pressure and deception, totalitarian worldview, and restrictive behavior, according to the same USC webpage. 

An anonymous (fourth/fifth) year electrical engineering student, currently attending Cal Poly Pomona, said they are an ex-member of the church and shared some of their experiences. 

“To my knowledge this campus ministry has ties to a church called International Christian Church (International Churches of Christ), which has a deep history of heavy-handed recruitment tactics, micro-management in personal life decisions and other extensive and invasive practices justified through scripture,” they said. 

The anonymous student said the organization is affiliated with Restored Church Worldwide. 

This church is an offshoot of the International Christian Church/International Church of Christ, according to an  Exploring ICC webpage. 

The ICC/ICOC has been involved in multiple California lawsuits over the years. 

In an ongoing case filed on Dec. 30, 2022, the ICC/ICOC faced allegations of sexual assault involving victims as young as three years old, as well as psychological and financial abuse, according to a UniCourt case summary of Salud Gonzalez et al. v International Churches of Christ, Inc. et al. 

“They split from the previous International Christian Church due to corrupt leadership and rebranding from certain lawsuits,” the anonymous student said. “This church makes it their mission to recruit on almost any campus they can that allows free speech.” 

Jandu said it took mentioning UPD for T.H.R.I.V.E. to finally disengage. 

“I didn’t directly involve UPD. I only mentioned them to get them to back off,” Jandu said. “Nevertheless, I think the UPD and the university could do better at perhaps warning students about these organizations.” 

Jermaine Thomas, SJSU UPD captain, provided a statement about the religious recruiters on campus. 

“They should just be sitting there. They shouldn’t be harassing anyone, and if anyone feels obviously uncomfortable with anything like that, advise UPD so we could go out there and have a conversation with them,” Thomas said. 

Susana Gallardo, an assistant professor for Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies at SJSU with a Ph.D. in Religious Studies, said it is common for some Christian and Mormon denominations to convert someone to their faith or do missions for outreach. 

“I mean, they are called evangelicals for a reason, their faith is not just about believing what they believe, but it’s also about converting other people,” Gallardo said.

The National Association of Evangelicals describes four primary characteristics of evangelicalism: conversionism, activism, biblicism and crucicentrism (a stress on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for humanity’s redemption), according to its About Us page. 

Gallardo said that when the situation escalates to harassment, it should immediately be reported to the UPD or any person with authority.

“It’s not cool, I think any self-respecting religious group would not do that (harass students) because they would want to be perceived as friendly,” Gallardo said. 

Although there have been personal accounts from students in which these recruiters have followed them, Gonzalez said they should not be doing so. 

Gonzalez said that to avoid these groups, simply do not hang around or converse with them.

“In general, they are not going to follow you. They’re going to just be in one spot, kind of preaching what they want to pass,” Gonzalez said.  

Ryan Rajaie, a fourth-year data science student, said he has East Asian friends who have shared experiences about being approached by evangelist groups on campus.

“They (friends) are regularly approached by certain evangelist groups who target foreign exchange students and are usually disinterested once they realize that they’re from here,” Rajaie said.

CSUs are committed to lawful freedom of expression, which includes religious activities, according to their Time, Place, and Manner policy.

Rajaie said that he has had his own experiences with certain religious recruiters coming up to him. 

“Sometimes it’s people who intentionally go up to you looking lost or like they need help or have a question, but then start asking you about your relationship to Jesus or something,” Rajaie said.