California Baptist University

IN ADVERSITY

Student Plans to Use Degree in the Fight for Racial Equality

A long with a majority of CBU, the School of Christian Ministries moved online due to COVID-19. While thankful for the opportunity to continue learning, some students in this program have found the new online setup particularly difficult. For Hozell Francis, senior applied theology major, being separated from his classmates this past year has been an uphill climb. “It’s been hard because we have built that camaraderie over the last few years. We keep each other accountable, keep each other moti vated, and we help each other with our work. The barriers of trying to do that (still) put more pressure on you,” he said. Francis not only felt isolated due to online learning but also because of the color of his skin. He grew up in an all-Black church with a father who is a pastor, but did not grow up with many Caucasian friends. Coming to CBU, he says he felt a culture shock when he became surrounded by white people in all his classes. He found himself alone as the only black per son in his entire cohort for the past four years. “For me being already isolated as a Black person in this program and then further being isolated by not having any real contact with the few people that I have been able to grow

those relationships with has been challenging,” Francis said. Despite online learning, he was still able to continue excelling in the program and was chosen by faculty to represent the School of Christian ministries. “My goal with my degree in applied theol ogy is to be involved in racial reconciliation within the Southern Baptist Convention,” Fran cis explained. “I want to help educate people about things they don’t know. I want to be able to put a voice to the Black Christian experi ence in the 21st century, which has had such an impact on the Christian experience as a whole, and at the same time, not really gained the benefits of the contributions that Black Chris tians have made to the body of Christ. I think I’ve impacted the program by bringing a differ ent point of view and challenging some of the stuff that the Southern Baptist Convention and Evangelical Christianity teaches and stands on.” As the School of Christian Ministries copes with isolation, students like Francis certainly face the challenges of the Christian experience. Yet with a focus on pushing forward in God’s love, these students will be able to overcome.

WORDS Kia Harlan WORDS Kia Harlan

PHOTO Kia Harlan

DESIGN Kia Harlan DESIGN Eunice Hahn

PHOTO Kia Harlan

109 Hozell Francis