Vol. 11, Issue 1, Spring, 2016

College News

A publication for Alumni & Friends

MY STORY DEREK STERENBERG | CLASS OF 2008 The Informant came to Kuyper The Kuyper community and an ethics class from had the opportunity at the latest Inspiring Leaders lecture series to hear from Mark Whitacre. A nationally recognized speaker, he was an FBI informant in the Archer Midland Daniels (ADM) price-fixing scandal of the 1990s. Inspiring books and the 2009 Hollywood movie starring Matt Damon, Whitacre’s involvement in that scandal landed him in prison for almost nine years. During that time, he gave his life to Jesus Christ through the ministry of Prison Fellowship. See INFORMANT, Page 6

Transition The Pavilion, the drop-in coffee shop center of the Bridge Street House of Prayer Team update The Presidential Transition Team—formed to HOUSE OF PRAYER search for the new President of Kuyper College— has met four times since early December. ON GRAND RAPIDS’ WEST SIDE Using established best practices and processes of institutions that have gone through recent Derek Sterenberg was born in Caledonia, . He presidential transitions, the team is developing graduated from Kuyper College in 2008 with a double a roadmap for success, which includes a communications plan to provide periodic updates major—one in youth ministry and one in Bible and theology. and ask for feedback from college stakeholders. He and his wife, Heather, are the parents of two children, While the extent of the team’s assignment will take many months, one of the current goals is to assess Asher and Eila Mae. He ministers on the west side of Grand the need for, and partner with, a professional Rapids as the youth discipleship director of the Bridge Street consultant or search firm to assist with the search House of Prayer. This is his story. process. Other tasks include developing an opportunity profile describing Kuyper College and Growing up in Caledonia, Michigan, the church as well. Another influencer was my the presidential role, appropriately recognizing oldest of three children, my parents had a youth pastor, Kevin Schutte. He was one of our present president, Dr. Nick Kroeze, as he major influence on my spiritual growth. the first people to show me that the Christian transitions into retirement, and welcoming the Both of them love the Lord, have always life is more than a set of rules to follow, but College’s new president. been very active in church activities and a way of life dedicated to knowing Jesus and As they seek the wisdom of God in their decision leadership, and made sure that I was given making Him known. making, the team requests your prayers. opportunities to participate in the life of the See PRAYER, Page 4 If you have additional thoughts or questions, please direct them to [email protected]. LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Our God is in control

Many of you know I enjoy exploring the topic of “Faith and Science,” studying the workings of our universe and how what we learn from cutting-edge research complements word and thought set out thousands of years ago in the Bible.

Research that is now unfolding in an area known faith as I see in them affirmation of what the to—the glorious end that is already very real to as “nonlocality” has raised a few interesting Bible tells me of the characteristics of God and Him. As you read the personal stories herein, prospects on our perception of reality. One the assurances He extends to us in our limited note the testimony of the authors as they possibility scientists set forth is that because view of the total reality. Where all this ties in witness to God’s plan and purpose. we are such a small part of what must be a with this issue of The Kuyper News is with how As always, I like to include a note of thanks much bigger reality, we only perceive events as we see the authors of our articles testify to “a to each of you for supporting the mission of coming out of “cause and effect” occurrences, God who is in control.” Their experiences in life the college and our students. Your sense of and the direction of time as headed in only one and their spiritual journeys give evidence of One partnership with and ownership in the college direction—toward the future. Physicists will say who knows the end result and One who sees mean much to us and are very motivational to this is an inaccurate (or, even, completely wrong) perfectly how all things fit together exactly as the students, staff, faculty and board. Thank you picture of what is truly occurring. They will they should. for your friendship, love, care and support! say that “an observer” who can see everything God tells us plainly that we don’t have His from the outside, would see all events as having perspective but that, by faith, we can enter into occurred and would know the end perfectly well the assurance that He sees it all and that He and how all elements fit together smoothly in is much more than “an observer”: He is the leading up to that end. Hmmm! designer who knows how the journey of each Dr. Nicholas V. Kroeze This line of research and thinking excites my of our lives will culminate—and contribute President

Dr. Jeff Fisher’s new Book How a little known sixteenth century evangelical interpreters read and interpret the Bible.” Specifically, the book German theologian’s work helps us read describes how Oecolampadius influenced Reformation history and its theological shifts through his 1534 commentary on the book of Hebrews and interpret the Bible derived from his theology lectures at the University of Basel in 1529-1530.

“A Christoscopic Reading of Scripture: Johannes Oecolampadius In the book, Fisher compares Oecolampadius’ exegesis with more than on Hebrews,” a new book written by Dr. Jeff Fisher, professor of twenty-five of the most relevant interpreters from the early church to the theological studies at Kuyper, and published by V & R Academic, Reformation. He shows that by recovering and adapting an Alexandrian explores issues of theology and church interpretive notion of Christ as the goal of Scripture, Oecolampadius’ history pertaining to the Reformed Christoscopic reading of Scripture served as an essential step in the shift community at large. toward Reformed interpretative approaches, such as that of John Calvin.

As Fisher explained, “The title says it all: Beyond this book, other works by Fisher include journal articles related Christoscopic and Johannes Oecolampadius.” to Oecolampadius, which are currently under review, a work on the During his research, Fisher coined the word doctrine of the Trinity as described by some Reformers, and a multi-year Christoscopic, whose meaning, according to him, project on Isaiah for InterVarsity Press’ “Reformation Commentary on is surprisingly simple. “The goal (in Latin, scopus, Scripture” series. The Isaiah commentary relates again to Oecolampadius and in Greek, skopos) of all Scripture is Christ. because he, as Fisher explained, “was the first Reformer to teach This point is demonstrated,” said Fisher, “through and publish a commentary on Isaiah.” In the future, then, the Isaiah the lens of the work of a little-known Reformation theologian, Johannes commentary will allow Fisher to generate additional papers and articles, Oecolampadius, who, though often overlooked, actually played a pivotal helping others learn more about the ways Oecolampadius continues to role in making [Christoscopic reading] the way most Reformed and influence generation Christians to this day.

2 KUYPER COLLEGE NEWS STEWARDSHIP IN MY WORDS IRA Charitable Rollover Convergence Tax Hike Protection at Kuyper College At Kuyper every financial gift helps our students to achieve their ministry or professional career objectives with as little Some of my earliest childhood memories are education debt as possible. That is why we want to share with tied to Christian higher education. My father you a very important development that may positively impact taught music at the Grand Rapids School of your giving plans. Debbie Hendricks Bible and Music, and I remember being on their Faculty Associate campus when I was 4 or 5 years old. I have been This past December, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes in Assessment told that around that age my brother Jim and I Act of 2015 was signed into law. The law includes a permanent once sang in chapel. My parents both graduated extension of the IRA Charitable Rollover for individuals who are from GRSBM where they met five other couples with whom they continue 70½ or older. to be friends to this day. I loved Explanation of Provision hearing the stories of memories “Seven years later … I and songs they all shared, and Individuals may make gifts to charity from traditional and Roth received a call from the IRA accounts without any federal tax liability as long as the gifts have watched them support are “qualified charitable distributions.” No charitable deduction each other through many major Kuyper College provost, may be taken by the owner, but distributions will qualify for life events. This made a big who asked me to teach a impression on me while growing all or part of an IRA owner’s required minimum distribution. class. I taught as an adjunct Therefore, you can make charitable gifts directly from your IRA up, and while attending a public to a ministry or other charitable organization tax-free. high school, I looked forward to instructor for two years, going to a Christian college. There are some conditions that apply to the IRA Charitable and then joined the Kuyper Gift, including: I attended Grand Rapids Baptist College staff full-time, • Gifts are tax-free up to $100,000 per year College (now Cornerstone working in the Academic • This opportunity is now permanent University) for my undergraduate • Gifts qualify for all or part of required minimum distributions degree. I earned my master’s Office with programs and • Gifts must be made directly to a charity degree at Michigan State University and then taught at Cornerstone for assessment. Since then, Who benefits most from this law? seven years. At that point, I made I found that the things I There are several groups of individuals who will benefit from the decision to be a full-time stay- loved most about previous the Charitable Rollover: at-home mom. I was sure of God’s leading, but I had to make peace Christian institutions 1. People who normally don’t itemize their deductions can with the fact that I might never avoid taking the IRA distribution as income and send it continually converge have the opportunity to work on directly to charity. This may reduce both their federal and a Christian campus again. Seven at Kuyper to provide a state income tax liability. 2. Individuals whose IRA distributions increase their income years later, when my youngest was distinctive environment of in school, I received a call from the to a level where 85 percent of their Social Security is taxed community, academics and may want to make a qualified charitable distribution to Kuyper College provost, who asked reduce their income. me to teach a class. I taught as an open worship of God.” 3. Individuals who give over 50 percent of their income to adjunct instructor for two years, charity will not be constrained by the 30 percent and 50 and then joined the Kuyper College staff full-time, working in the Academic percent limitations on charitable deductions on gifts from Office with programs and assessment. their IRAs. Since then, I found that the things I loved most about previous Christian 4. Individuals in high income brackets who have large IRAs institutions continually converge at Kuyper to provide a distinctive may have substantial income tax savings not otherwise environment of community, academics and open worship of God. Each available because of charitable deduction limitations. A year when we hold Honors Convocation and Student Scholar Day, I revel in qualified charitable distribution up to $100,000 may have the watching the students God brought here, knowing their lives have changed triple benefit of reducing their taxable income, reducing the forever. I am now in my 12th year at Kuyper, and I consider it a privilege to be value in their IRAs, and meeting their required minimum part of an exciting campus with faculty who are called to apply their academic distribution. rigor in various fields to engage and educate our students for the glory of God. If you have questions or would like to make a gift to Kuyper College from your IRA, please contact Ken Capisciolto at [email protected] or at “In My Words” is a feature of The Kuyper College News highlighting first-person stories by 616-988-3676. Kuyper College faculty and staff.

BRINGING GOD’S GRACE INTO TODAY’S CULTURE 3 PRAYER from Page 1

In many ways growing up, I was like any other kid. In high school I ran track, was an average student, and enjoyed watching TV and playing guitar. But beneath this normal appearance, like most teenagers, I was in search of answers to the big questions like, “Who am I, and what’s my purpose in life?” And like many teenagers, I didn’t have the maturity to know that I was asking those questions or where to find the answers. But I knew I had a yearning deep inside to be loved and accepted. From this place of insecurity and longing, I found myself drifting from friend group to friend group, eventually finding camaraderie with the party crowd—ironically, the most accepting people at my high school.

After high school, while studying engineering at Grand Valley State University, I continued down a path of self-indulgence for about two years. It was a dark time in my life—one-part The Sterenbergs and their children, Eila Mae and Asher desperation, one-part rebellion. I turned away from God for a season because I wanted to Thankfully, He is “gracious and merciful, slow is dedicated to sending out laborers for His try something else, so I looked to alcohol, to anger and abounding in steadfast love!” That kingdom. The choice was clear. year, I was a 20-year-old college dropout living drugs and women to fulfill my longing for At Kuyper, I found professors who cared in my parents’ basement, but I was beginning acceptance. During this time, most people had about me as a person and knew me by name. to discover what it really meant to live. no idea the path I was on. I was a wreck on the The small community environment at Kuyper inside, and didn’t know how to deal with the The opportunity came for me to go to was exactly what I needed. I found a group of questions, doubts, fears and longings of my Australia for seven months with Youth With students on campus with similar stories whom heart. That is, until the day God woke me up. A Mission. It was like I stepped into a spiritual I could relate to and learn from. In addition, greenhouse for half a year. I found so much the atmosphere at Kuyper was relaxed and At the height of my rebellion, my best friend healing, my faith grew, the longings of my relational. It felt like family, and the students was arrested for drunk driving, another heart were being satisfied, and God began genuinely wanted to know God. Over the friend went to prison for selling drugs, to give me purpose in life. During my time years it’s been refreshing and inspiring to see and another wrapped his truck around a in Australia, I discovered two new passions: people’s diverse stories, after having converged tree while driving drunk—he miraculously for young people to know God and regularly on this small campus for a season, continue walked away from the accident. These events meeting with God in prayer. This I can to play out in settings all over the world. Yet, all happened within a few weeks of each only attribute to the work of the Holy Spirit the greatest thing I received from Kuyper other. I heard God so clearly and sternly changing me from the inside—I couldn’t was the love of learning. The professors and say to me as a loving Father, “Derek, if you believe it had taken me this long to discover staff inspired me to want to learn more about continue down this road, you will die.” That the privilege and richness of communing with Scripture, theology, writing and ministry. was enough. I had to start over. Within a the living God in prayer. Wanting to give a I felt that I wasn’t merely cranked through few months, I dropped out of Grand Valley, channel to the passions God had placed in a program, but was encouraged to excel in moved back home, and started going to my heart, I returned to Grand Rapids in 2004 my gifts and passions. Kuyper really laid the church again. I knew the path I was on searching for a way to live them out. foundation for my last 10 years of ministry. would lead to death, so I figured it was time Without the encouragement and training to turn to Christ and run toward Him with Knowing that God was calling me to full-time I received there, I’m not sure I’d still be in everything I had. While I could quote Jesus ministry, I looked into several schools that ministry today. when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and offered a liberal arts education, but Kuyper the life,” now it was time to see if that was stood out above the rest. The students and Currently, I serve at the Bridge Street House of really true. I had taken baby steps in my faith faculty I met there seemed to understand the Prayer (BSHOP). I started ministering there in over the years, but God was inviting me to newfound focus of my life. The first time I 2006, while I was studying at Kuyper. At that take a giant leap. I’m so glad I did. Looking entered the campus I could tell that this was point, the ministry was nothing more than a back, I shudder at my arrogance toward God. a place that valued the mission of God and group of 20-somethings living in a couple of

4 KUYPER COLLEGE NEWS houses on the west side of Grand Rapids who were committed to living in intentional Christian community and praying together. The sum of our prayers was: “God, what are you doing here in this neighborhood, and how can we be part of it?” Through that prayer, God began to unite a small group of young people toward a common mission—to know Jesus and make him known in the west side of Grand Rapids and beyond. Within a couple years, we began to envision a coffee shop in a vacant storefront across the street from the house we were living in. Within a year, the Pavilion was born. Why did we name it that? Psalm 27:5 says, “For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His pavilion.” From the start, it has been a safe place in our neighborhood—a place of stability in the midst of chaos. It functions as a drop-in center for neighbors to find community, ask questions, and get a very good cup of coffee—always free of charge. A group of high school students about to embark on a week of discipleship and service on an Immersion trip In 2012 we were approached by a local church about hosting their high school youth group for a local mission trip. We agreed, and Immersion— what we call our summer program for high school students—was born. Immersion LEARN MORE is much more than a mission trip. It is an invitation into a lifestyle of pursuing Jesus To learn more about Christ and embarking on the adventure of a The Bridge Street life of mission for Christ. For nine days, local House of Prayer go to youth groups join us at BSHOP to get to know bshop.org God more deeply, experience intentional community, and be challenged to live out God’s call on their lives. We kick it off with a three- day camping trip up north for a wilderness adventure, team bonding, and the opportunity to draw nearer to God in preparation for the rest of the week. During the following six days, students are immersed in the west side of Grand Rapids to both receive and give. They receive challenging biblical teaching every morning and give of their time and abilities to neighbors and friends of BSHOP every afternoon and evening. We see this as an opportunity for young people to immerse themselves in a lifestyle of prayer and action, and get ahold of their own vision of a life of mission that Mission School starts with a camping trip at Sleeping Bear Dunes they can practice for the rest of their lives.

God has also opened the doors for us to launch the Bridge Street Mission School, where young people come for eight months to be trained and prepared for a life of mission by knowing Jesus and making Him known. Our goal is to help young people build a foundation that will help them discover how God has gifted them and might be calling them. God has called some of our graduates to reach unreached people groups in the Middle East, some to be writers, some to be engineers, and some to be in business. God is sovereign. Therefore, whatever our calling, it matters to God. As said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’”

We pray that students who graduate from the Mission School will go on to places like Kuyper College for further training and education so they will be sent into all the world to proclaim the Gospel and bring restoration to His creation no matter what their profession or ministry. This is why we are thrilled that BSHOP has a partnership with Kuyper College that allows graduates of the mission school to receive up to 15 credits toward a Kuyper bachelor degree. This is exactly the kind of path Mission School graduate Jake Melton teaching conversational that we hope our students will take as they devote themselves to knowing English to children in India Jesus and making Him known.

BRINGING GOD’S GRACE INTO TODAY’S CULTURE 5 BRINGING GOD’S GRACE INTO TODAY’S CULTURE 5 Missions in Media How one class at Kuyper helped open the eyes of Grand Rapids’ real estate developer Dave Vander Veen to a world hungry for the Gospel

One may think that someone who was born understanding of God’s call, that provided me with its own distinctive focus and purpose. and raised in the Grand Rapids area, grew up with a clear biblical and historical perspective Unashamedly Christian, MIM pages and in a religious family and attended Christian of God moving throughout history. It gave me sites are updated regularly and managed schools, was a Christian. That was not true in a strategy for today. professionally. my situation. That desire to reach the world, first kindled In 2014, MIM began working on I entered the workplace immediately after during that class, never left me, and after the concept of “Godmercials,” visual high school, working for a Christian employer. spending a career working as a real estate presentations of a spiritual reality tied After a few years, I decided to work for myself developer, the Lord prompted me to start a to biblical themes. As our working title and started a career in real estate. nonprofit media ministry. suggests, these films are brief in length, only 60 seconds to two minutes. In many It was in the early years of that business that Hence, Missions in Media Inc., was launched, ways these segments act as video Gospel I met a young gentleman who modeled the with a mission statement that says who we are: tracts. Our desire is to create timeless short life of Christ to me in a way I had never seen “MIM exists to encourage and promote the films that will leave a lasting impression before. I watched this creation, production, and that people will want to share on their young salesperson distribution and own website or Facebook page. Instead of closely and, seeing consumption of media being tossed out and discarded, they live his integrity and with a distinctive on to be viewed and reviewed and shared passion for the Lord, Christian message, with friends across various social media I became intrigued. I in such a manner platforms. We broadly sow these Gospel saw something in his to cause people to seeds across the world through the Internet. life that was lacking discover Christ as in mine, and I knew I View “Coffee,” a video on Bridge Street House well as grow in their In 2015 MIM began a new project entitled needed what he had. of Prayer’s Pavilion produced by Relevant Docs relationship with Relevant Docs, a new documentary web at: https://vimeo.com/channels/relevantdocs After acknowledging Christ.” series that chronicles how ordinary people that need, Jesus with extraordinary stories have seen God became my Savior, the Lord of my life, and Unfortunately, people today are the product move in their lives. my friend. of the stories that they have been told, stories that have no eternal value. MIM exists to Everywhere we go today people seem to be Sometime later, a friend at church told me looking down—constantly fixated on their develop counter narratives to the world’s about the Perspectives on World Missions class phones or other hand-held devices. Our prayer narratives. We are here to tell the greatest that was offered at Kuyper, although at that is that through Missions in Media’s use of the story that has ever been told, and then to time the school’s name was Reformed Bible avenues these devices make, people will, for the invite people into His great truth. College. It was that class that opened my eyes first time, look up—and be transfixed by the to a world that was hungry for the Gospel. MIM has grown and now maintains several power of the only One who can bring hope and It helped build a foundation, along with an Christian websites and Facebook pages, each change to their world.

INFORMANT from Page 1

Working for ADM—a Fortune 100 company and the business ethics and redemption through Christ. As largest agricultural company in the world—Whitacre, a speaker, Whitacre speaks with transparency by the age of 32, was as financially successful as a to 90+ groups per year, sharing how Christ has person could be by the world’s standards, complete redeemed him and showing ways that other Christian with an impressive annual salary, a mansion and businesspeople can strive for ethical practices in private jet access. However, in the midst of this their own companies. At Kuyper, he challenged his prosperity, he participated both in ADM’s illegal listeners “to live a life of significance in helping others international price-fixing conspiracy and in rather than choosing a life of success as defined by embezzling millions from ADM. the world.”

Now, back in the business world as a COO of a Matt Damon played Mark Whitacre biotech company, his life is a valuable testimony of in the film The Informant

6 KUYPER COLLEGE NEWS Community Notes

As alumni, we invite you to get MARRIAGES involved and stay in touch by calling • the Alumni Office at 877.229.0941 Brandon Klomp (2012) and Alicia Doornbos were married on January 29, 2016. or sending us an email to [email protected] with your BIRTHS contact information or the most • Dan and Jessica (Cook) Failing (2013), welcomed a baby boy, Isaac, into their family recent news about you. For more on November 8, 2015. information on any alumni issue, • Dave (2009) and Sara (DeJong) Bosscher (2009), welcomed a baby boy, William Douglas, please contact Teresa Janzen into their family on December 7, 2015. at [email protected] • or call 877.229.0941. Justin (2011) and Elise (Hauser) Leasure (2011), together with big sister Julia, welcomed a baby boy, Justin Michael, into their family on January 2, 2016. • Ethan Ezikian (2011) and his wife, Dana, together with big sister Ellis, welcomed a baby boy, Abel George, into their family on January 4, 2016. • Eric (2010) and Kristeen (Lanning) Vander Wall (2010), together with siblings Jackson and Nora, welcomed a baby boy, Lincoln James, into their family on January 11, 2016. EVENTS • Gary and Allie (Wiersema) June (2010), welcomed a baby boy, Isaiah Wesley, into their Honors Convocation family on January 19, 2016. and Student Scholar Day • Seth Lezon (2014) and his wife, Britt, welcomed a baby boy, Elisha James, into their family Friday, April 15, at 9:00 a.m. on February 3, 2016. in the Vos Chapel • Nick and Jessica (VanderPloeg) Kuncaitis (2011), welcomed a baby girl, Nora Sue, into their family on February 8, 2016. Spring Choir • Joe and Joy (Ritsema) Kempen (2008), welcomed baby boy, Kyle Thomas, into their family and Ensemble Concert on February 24, 2016. Friday, April 15, at 3:00 p.m. in the Vos Chapel PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Spring Recitals • Kelly (Oosterbroek) Boer (2014) was appointed to the position of Customer Service Monday, April 18, Representative at Virginia Tile in Grand Rapids, Michigan. • at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Luke Morgan (2010) was appointed to the position of launch director at Kentwood Community Church in Kentwood, Michigan. • Dylan Pahman (2009) presented a research paper at the Association for Private Enterprise Spring Celebration Gala Education conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is also the new managing editor of the Acton Monday, April 18, at 5:30 p.m. Institute’s Journal of Markets & Morality, and an Fellow at Sophia Institute. at Frederik Meijer Gardens • Karen Wiersma (2010) has joined ParaMed Home Health Care in the Niagara Region, Ontario, & Sculpture Park Canada, as a social worker. Commencement Friday, April 29, at 7:30 p.m. NEWS at Sunshine Community Church • Dr. Carol Hochhalter, professor of worship studies, presented The Gifts of Worship-on-Purpose at the Calvin Symposium on Worship. Kuyper College • Hair Length and Human Sexuality: The Underlying Moral Logic of Paul’s Appeal to Nature in 1 Experience Days Corinthians 11:14, an article written by Dr. Branson Parler, professor of theological studies, Schedule can be found was published in the April edition of the Calvin Theological Journal. at www.kuyper.edu/visit • Professor Brian Telzerow, professor of youth ministry, presented a seminar to Cascade Fellowship Church on Digital Citizenship, addressing manners and behaviors for appropriate Chapel use of technology in different settings. Monday, Wednesday • Dr. Richelle White, professor of youth ministry, was a lead facilitator of In Pursuit of Identity— and Friday at 10:10 a.m. Character Education, Self-Esteem, Anti-Bullying and Life Skills Development for Girls at the Gerald in the Vos Chapel. R. Ford Academic Center.

BRINGING GOD’S GRACE INTO TODAY’S CULTURE 7 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID 3333 East Beltline N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525 GRAND RAPIDS, MI (616) 222-3000 | www.kuyper.edu PERMIT NO. 1199

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KATILYN DYER | CLASS OF 2016 Students to Watch When I was very young I remember my parents tucking me in at night, and after they had left the room, I pleaded with God, begging Him to let me into heaven. The thought of dying and going to hell and not being with the rest of my family in heaven tormented me.

My parents had extended an invitation for me to ask Jesus into my heart which meant I had to carry it at all times on many occasions, and I would assure them that I already had. Finally, I during the weekend. At the end of the retreat Katilyn Dyer gave in. I thought that if I got help from the “experts,” I wouldn’t have to our youth pastor had us lay our two-liter water Grand Rapids, MI doubt whether I was going to heaven or not. Unfortunately, the prayer I bottle and the burden we had been carrying by Major: Social Work repeated after my mom did not yield much spiritual results. And, although the weight of our sins at the foot of the cross. at times I felt guilty for not This was the first time in my life that I realized God is not guilt; He is Love. “I fell in love with social reading my Bible or praying, I had tried to follow rules, and every time I failed I just felt more guilt. For work and its focus on nothing ever changed. the first time I realized the reality of grace in my life. human worth and dignity. It was not until junior high that While in high school I knew I wanted to attend Kuyper College. My older For the first time in my I started to take an interest in brother, Justin, and his wife, Elise, had both graduated from Kuyper, and Christianity. Until that time, I do I saw firsthand the kind of strong community they were surrounded with. life, I felt like I could excel not think I quite understood the I thought I wanted to pursue occupational therapy and work in a special academically.” real meaning of being a Christian, education classroom, so I only anticipated attending Kuyper for one year since I only defined it by the fact to get a Bible certificate. However, halfway through my first semester, my that I read the Bible and sometimes prayed. However, midway through heart ached at the thought of having to leave a community I had grown to eighth grade, I realized that I was no different than any other person at love. So I asked Justin’s opinion about my future. He suggested I look into school, except I might have been slightly more judgmental. This saddened the social work program, as he could see my personal strengths being used me, but I didn’t know how to be different, or perhaps it wasn’t so much I in that profession. I met with Dr. Meerman and decided to give it a try. didn’t know how to, but rather that I was not willing to surrender my life. I fell in love with social work and its focus on human worth and dignity. For the first time in my life, I felt like I could excel academically. However, So I continued to struggle, at times blaming God for the things that were social work was not the only subject I fell in love with while at Kuyper. happening in my life. It was not until my senior year in high school, while Here, I also met a handsome man by the name of John Dyer (JD). attending my youth group’s fall retreat, that real change began to take place. The theme verse for the retreat was Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom Now in my senior year, married and having completed my internship at that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves Wellspring Lutheran Services in foster care case management, which is the be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” During the first night all of us area that I desire to work in, I am grateful for all the opportunities Kuyper were given a two-liter pop bottle filled with water. Symbolizing the heavy College has provided me. God is amazingly good, and I am grateful to be burden of sin, it was not to leave our sides for the duration of the retreat, part of His kingdom.