Peter Sensenig, a 2005 graduate of EMU, has spent the last decade working in various capacities in Central and East Africa. On the evening of Nov. 17, Sensenig paid a visit to EMU’s campus to speak about his recently published book, “Good Guestwork.”
“Good Guestwork” is an answer to the question of how Christians and Muslims can not only coexist, but thrive in shared communities. For Sensenig, the key to building and maintaining positive relationships across religious boundaries is the willingness to become the guest of others. In doing so, Sensenig says, people can not only better understand others, but learn how to themselves be better hosts when the time comes.
Justin Hochstedler, a sophomore student chaplain at EMU, was one of the attendees of the event. “I heard from Brian Burkholder that there was going to be an event talking about how Christians and Muslim can relate to each other,” he said. “That’s something that interested me, because I’m going to travel to Indonesia this spring semester, which is a predominantly Muslim country.”
In planning his trip to Indonesia through a Study-Service Term with Goshen College, Hochstedler has had to give some thought as to the differences in hospitality between cultures. “I think that in American culture, we’re not as good at hospitality and being generous towards others,” he said. In other cultures, though, “You can’t turn away hospitality without being disrespectful.”
For Fortie Chipeta, a junior, the differences between how cultures experience hospitality also stood out, saying, “I’m originally from Tanzania, and my biological family is all about hospitality, treating others as a family. If they offer you food, you take it because they made it for you. But coming to America, it’s like, get your food or don’t get it. If you go to someone’s house you can ask them for food, but there’s no expectation.”
Once, when visiting a Guatemalan friend, Chipeta shared, she was offered food when already full. Being aware of the cultural importance of the act, she accepted. “In my mind I was like, ‘But I’m gonna be full. I’m gonna be sick.’ But was it worth it? Yes, because you’re showing that you are thankful for them.”
Chipeta, who is also a student chaplain, connected the importance of learning about how to be a guest to her work on campus. “I took his message to heart about how different faith perspectives can come together. It was very intriguing,” she said.
Brian Burkholder, the University Chaplain and Director for the Office of Faith and Spiritual life, was also in attendance. Nov. 17 was not Burkholder’s first time meeting Sensenig, since their time at EMU overlapped. “Peter was an undergraduate student a while back… and at one point served in a student leader position,” said Burkholder. This was formerly called campus ministries.
During his time at EMU, Sensenig was a Culture, Religion, and Ministry major – a program which is now defunct. Burkholder noted that “there was a lot of synergy between what he was studying in the classroom and being involved in ministry among his peers.”
Burkholder appreciated what Sensenig had to say, sharing, “I think his argument that Christians and Muslims need each other, and that it’s essential to be not only tolerant, but actually guests of one another… is compelling, certainly in the context of seeking peace, knowing our neighbors, and taking scripture seriously.”
In particular, Burkholder said, he found Sensenig’s emphasis of the “whole gospel” to be important. Burkholder said that in the context, that means “not separating missionary efforts or evangelism, if we understand them as invitational rather than impositional, from peace and justice.”
In considering how Sensenig’s ideas might be applied on EMU’s campus, Burkholder shared various events held by the school and partner groups aimed at increasing intercultural engagement and religious awareness. But, he said, “Could we do more? Probably… it’s just a matter of what’s wanted, what’s needed, what resonates, and what’s honorable for everyone involved.”
