In October 2025, the Spartan Daily reported on T.H.R.I.V.E. Campus Ministry, a recognized student organization at San José State University formerly called D.R.E.A.M. Campus Ministry. An anonymous former member quoted in the article said the group is affiliated with the Restored Church Worldwide (RCW) and has ties to the International Christian Church (ICC).

A fifth-year student told the paper that members approached him with very kind words and exchanged contact details. He said that when he told them he did not want to be associated with the group, they used Scripture to tell him he was not truly a Christian, and that they stopped contacting him only after he mentioned campus police. The anonymous former member described heavy-handed recruitment and leaders weighing in on personal decisions, justified with Scripture.

The article noted that USC's Office of Religious and Spiritual Life does not recognize D.R.E.A.M., the ICC or the Restored Church Worldwide and lists them among "high-pressure religious groups." It also cited Gonzalez v. International Churches of Christ, a lawsuit filed in December 2022 whose allegations have not been decided in court.

SJSU police told the paper that preaching on the public campus is largely protected, that recruiters should not follow or harass anyone, and that students who feel uncomfortable can contact campus police. T.H.R.I.V.E. did not provide a statement before publication.

Questions to consider

  1. When you first said no to a church or study group, how did its members respond?
  2. Were you ever told you were not truly a Christian for disagreeing with a group? What does Scripture say makes someone a Christian?

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