NICO MONETTI | staff writer

The office of Multi-Ethnic Programs welcomes Joe Snell as their new director.

Joe Snell, a Texan man who has dedicated his life to bridging racial gaps, was recently appointed the New Multi-Ethnic Programs Director here at APU.

Just across the way from ASB headquarters, the Multi-Ethnic Programs office has the feel of a popular uncle’s living room.

In stark contrast to the usual desk and waiting room stocked with outdated National Geographics the MEP office houses friends, fresh foods and video games.

“The intent of an office with a lounge is to develop community and ideally cross-cultural community,” Snell said.

The MEP office is responsible for organizing and conducting multiple culturally unifying events such as the annual “Gospel Sing” this February, and the “Spotlight Talent Show” in March.

Inside the glass doors of the MEP office, comfortable chairs and couches seat students of all ethnicities.

“I think the best thing this program does is create a family,” Helsel said. “We provide an opportunity for [students] to come and feel accepted and celebrated.”

In addition the MEP office employs roughly ten students who strive to create a more culturally diverse campus by promoting cultural integrating events.

“We put on these events for students who don’t necessarily experience something outside of their cultural norm,” sophomore economics and international development double major Shane Cullen said. “It’s pretty much a way for students to be able to relate to students that aren’t of the same ethnic background as them.”

Snell’s personal history plays a big role in why he does what he does for a living.

“I grew up in Austin in a very strong Christian family,” Snell said. “I grew up in the African American community in Texas during the time of a lot of racial turmoil in the seventies. Those problems bothered me.”

After time spent in prayer, Snell decided to enroll in seminary.

“While I was in seminary I began noticing that the churches that I was involved with were really racially segregated,” Snell said. “Dr. King used to say eleven o’clock [when everyone is in church] is the most segregated time of the day and these segregated environments were causing a rift, especially as it relates to a church.”

A fiery passion for helping to bridge the enduring racial segregation of the United States and his faith in the Christian message led Snell to confront the issue in the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King—through means of Christian ministry.

“One of America’s biggest wounds historically, is this racial thing If the gospel is relevant, and within the gospel is the power of God, [then] those wounds can be healed through the love of Christ,” Snell said. “And if the love of Christ can’t heal those racial wounds, then our gospel is weak or meaningless.”

After graduating from seminary, Snell took on a pastoral position in Philidelphia.

“I was a pastor of a cross cultural, multi—racial congregation,” Snell said. “We were a church engaged in inner-city ministry.

It was through this work that Snell became acquainted with Christian college students.

“I worked with a lot of college students that’s when I discovered Christian colleges,” Snell said. “I [became] aware that those students needed more of an education in working in cross-cultural setting, so after I spent two year as a pastor I took a job at Seattle Pacific Univeristy as the assistant director of student programs.”

Snell then changed to Azusa Pacific University, to further his work in cultural assimilation.

“We have to learn to do like Jesus modeled,” Snell said. “Jesus was a Jew and he goes off and ministers to Samaritans. He crosses these boundaries to share this radical love.”