Men wanting to join a fraternity at Missouri Southern have only two options. However, in the near future, there may be three.

Hector Amaya, freshman political science major, has been trying to bring a Christian-based fraternity to campus.

Amaya came up with the idea after his first semester at Southern.

“Last semester, I did a lot of bad stuff,” Amaya said. “I wasn’t living the way God wanted me to.”

While back at home during Christmas break, Amaya said he was at a retreat at his church when God spoke to him.

“I just got this picture to start something like this,” Amaya said.

He said he was aware of the different Christian organizations affiliated with the University, but hasn’t seen them on campus recruiting.

“I got the idea and got on it,” he said.

He took the idea to James Jackson, professor of biology.

Jackson supported Amaya’s idea. The two spread the word around campus, talking to students and posting flyers asking for males interested to attend a meeting on April 14.

“We had about 10 people attend,” Amaya said. “They all looked interested.”

An application has been submitted to Beta Epsilon Chi, Brothers Under Christ.

“It’s a Christian fraternity designed to be very ecumenical,” Jackson said. “We’re not at all exclusive; we’re not at all judgmental.”

Amaya said although he has had interest from students and support from faculty, he has also received some negative comments.

He said people are critical of him because of his behavior last fall.

“There’s a lot of peer pressure in college,” Amaya said. “It’s hard not to fall into that.”

He said it’s hard for Christians to be open because of the pressure from friends and other students.

“God loves everyone,” he said. “You can be forgiven. If you truly repent of your sins, you’re forgiven. A lot of college students don’t know that.”

Amaya is currently waiting for news about the application to Beta Epsilon Chi.

“If we don’t get accepted, we’re still going to make something happen,” he said.

Amaya said anyone interested in spreading God’s word should join.

“It’s hard to do that in a college setting,” he said.

Men who would like information or who have interest in helping start a Christian fraternity can contact Amaya by e-mail at [email protected].

“I just want everyone to know we’re trying to start something,” he said. “Our mission is to glorify Jesus Christ. We want to stand up and live a life of Christ.

“In the year to come, we hope to have something started.”