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By Greg Morgan

Of Mesa State’s many on-campus organizations, only a few are religious groups. Of the seven religious clubs listed on Mesa State’s website, six of them are Christian groups, and the other is the Pagan Student Alliance.
This is probably why Pagan Student Alliance (PSA) is so misunderstood. Melanie Rogers, president of PSA, says their signs are constantly vandalized with comments such as “baby eaters” or being torn down.
Most people may envision the Wiccan religion when they think of Paganism. However, “Paganism” is a different idea.
“Pagan is an umbrella term, it encompasses anything that’s not Abrahamic,” Rogers said. Pagans come in many forms, and for most Pagans, religion is their own independent spiritual journey. Paganism is also widely based on a spiritual connection with nature.
“Major holidays and celebrations tend to coordinate with changes in the seasons and moon phases,” Rogers said. Since PSA is an all-encompassing club, it would be difficult for them to have only one belief set.
“Our purpose is just to provide a safe space for Pagans and open-minded people to gather,” Rogers said.
PSA operates more as a general interest group with an emphasis on religion and spiritual beliefs rather than a religious group that gathers solely for the sake of worship or ministry.
As a community, the group gathers to share their different beliefs. According to the PSA brochure, “Meetings are opportunities for all members to share and educate on topics of Pagan interest.”
Meetings for PSA are held every Tuesday from 6-7Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
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A30 p.m. in Medesy Hall 178; for more information contact Melanie Rogers at paganstudentalliance@mesastate.edu.
In addition to PSA, there are also six Christian-based groups on campus. One of the most active groups is Christian Student Fellowship (CSF). Instead of having officers, the group is lead by a team of five students and John Mok-Lamme, the pastor.
“It’s a non-traditional Christian group,” said Jamie Neal, the newest student leader. “A lot of things that we do you won’t find other places.”
Neal’s first experience with CSF was pretty unusual. Pastor John had the group pray using water balloons. He had the group focus on what they needed to pray about and then say it out loud or to themselves as they throw the water balloon.
“He was trying to give us a physical action because prayer can be anything,” Neal said.
Along with gathering on Sundays to sing hymns and do a Bible study, the group also volunteers every other Wednesday at a homeless shelter.
“We cook breakfast and serve the food,” Neal said. “We just chat with them and try to get to know them.”
CSF has also been able to go on two mission trips this year.
“We went on a mission trip to Mexico over Christmas break and built a house for a family,” Neal said. The next mission trip is coming up after the end of the semester.
“We’re doing one to L.A. where we’ll just be working with inner-city kids and homeless people,” Neal said.
CSF meets Sundays from 7-8:30  in Academic Classroom Building 315.
“Sunday’s the best day to come if you want to get plugged in,” Neal said. “It’s good to have a place where people can come and feel free to bring things that need healing or talked about. A place to feel loved. That’s what we’re shooting for.”
For more information, call Jamie Neal at 970-768-5581 or John Mok-Lamme at 970-234-1810.