In Spanish, “Yo Puedo” Means I Can
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A publication for alumni and friends. Vol. 2, Issue 3, Fall 2007 n Spanish, “yo puedo” means I can. he could see a difference in his parents’ IAngel Rodriguez, class of 1989, has lives, he was not convinced that “religion” proven that to be the case—“with the was for him. He began experimenting with leading of the Lord,” he is quick to add. drugs and became part of the “hard rock” Angel was born in Puerto Rico to nominal subculture. Leaving Puerto Rico to attend Catholic parents who, he recounted, “never Middlebury College in Vermont, he practiced their faith.” However, in 1982 continued on a downward spiral. “I went the pastor of the Christian Reformed deeper into drugs and alcohol with friends Church of Ponce led them to Christ. “Their that I met in school,” he said. “It got to the lives were radically changed and they point that I forgot the reason why I had began living and sharing their faith with gone to college. I was lost in a world that me and the rest of the family,” said Angel. made no sense and which did not satisfy.” “For me, that was the beginning of a So he decided to return to Puerto Rico journey of faith that continues to this day.” where he continued to live in what he calls Yet, at the beginning of that journey, a “depraved lifestyle.” Hitting bottom and YoYo Puedo!Puedo! Angel traveled over rough roads. He had not knowing what to do or where to turn, just graduated from high school when his Yo Puedo Angel Rodriguez shares life lessons with parents first came to Christ, and although continued on page 4 a high school student The faces behind Kuyper athletics Casey the Cougar As the Kuyper College athletic Christian family in Muskegon Heights, “Casey the Cougar” is the official program gets underway this fall, there Michigan, Zach grew up as one of mascot of Kuyper College. Many names are three individuals who are key to this ten children. “My mother was the had been effort— disciplinarian in the house. She made suggested Athletic sure that we all loved each other. We for the Director read the Bible together, prayed together Kuyper Christine and played together.” College Moran, As a teenager, Zach’s family moved cougar Men’s to Grand Rapids. According to him, that mascot. Basketball was the time when he walked away from Prior to Coach Zach God. “I played basketball for four years the end of Harris and at Grand Rapids Central High School the 2007 Women’s where we won city and district school Basketball championships,” he said. “I thought I was year, the choices were narrowed to two Coach very important and began to hang around names. After the vote of the student body Candice with the wrong crowd. Looking back it was counted, Casey was the overwhelming Kalman. was a sad situation. I knew my God favorite. Casey will be at all of Kuyper Zach Harris Here are would never leave me nor forsake me, so College’s home basketball games where his Men’s Basketball Coach their stories: I took him for granted thinking that I energy and encouragement will entertain “My life would always have enough time to get it and support players and fans. The depiction before getting it right with God was in right. Boy was I wrong. Success on the of Casey, as seen in this article, conveys one word: bad,” said Zach Harris about his personal story. Born into a loving Kuyper Athletics Casey continued on page 6 continued on page 3 Kuyper College equips students with a biblical, Reformed worldview to serve effectively Christ’s church and his world. LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT New faculty member “New” is the theme that reverberates in our minds Kuyper as we welcome in the fall semester this year. New faculty, College has new staff, new academic programs, new facility upgrades, welcomed and a new long-range plan for the College all give Richelle White evidence to the blessings and growth God has granted to its faculty as us over the past year. Kuyper College has become a very assistant professor exciting place. It is thrilling to be part of the mission of of youth ministry. this institution! Not only is there the energy of increasing Professor White momentum as we see people respond to our repositioning, holds a Bachelor but there is also the enthusiasm that has been engendered of Science degree from Millersville over the affirmation of how desirable our Bible-based, Reformed worldview University of Pennsylvania, a Masters curriculum and campus life are for a new generation of students. of Divinity from Wesley Theological Indeed, if there is anything “new” over which we are most keen about, it is Seminary and a Master of Arts in the new class of students coming to Kuyper College. These are people who are Christian Education from Union Theological Seminary. She is currently very capable students, who are looking for and acknowledging a special sense of in the process of completing her God’s call on their lives, and who see education at Kuyper as the best way to tie doctorate in Christian education. these two realities together. We are very eager to engage them—along with our In her new position, Professor White returning students—in the ongoing formation of an active, Reformed worldview will teach Contemporary Youth Culture life of ministry and service. and serve as the faculty supervisor for Naturally, the thought of “newness” draws one’s thinking directly to the One the youth ministry internship program. “making everything new” (Rev. 21:5). As much as we anticipate and enjoy new Prior to coming to Kuyper, Professor things, such as those mentioned above, how much more is the focus, purpose White was an adjunct instructor of and joy of our lives anchored in the reality of the new covenant and the new religion at Virginia Commonwealth creation which is—already—ours in Christ Jesus! It is wonderful to be in and University where she taught the course be part of an institution where all of these concepts come together in a dynamic Black Religion. She was also the pastor way that define, characterize and motivate our mission, our studies, our daily of Zion Baptist Church in King and activities and our planning for the future. Queen, Virginia. Before she began this Thank you for being part of this unique and special calling with us. Your position, Professor White was a youth minister for ten years. In this capacity, participation and support are meaningful and are bearing fruit as seen in the she was the founding director of the growth and impact of the College. Your prayers and enthusiasm for Kuyper are “Sisters in the Spirit—Rites of Passage” encouraging and refreshing for all of us as we strive to bring the importance of mentoring program for African- the new life in Christ into our local and global communities. We look forward American women ages 8 to 18. The to being part of this new academic year along with you! God bless. Sisters in the Spirit ministry was the 1997 Maryland State Mentoring Dr. Nicholas V. Kroeze Program of the Year. Commenting on her new position, President Professor White said: “I am ever grateful to God for the opportunity to prepare the next generation of youth ministers, pastors, servants and scholars for effective ministry in the kingdom.” 2 IN MY WORDS Ministerial Butterflies academic ministry. It formed the foundation of a pastoral program Douglas A. Felch, ph.D. of biblical literacy from kindergarteners to octogenarians. It was at Associate Professor of Theology the heart of a published quarter of curriculum on Understanding God’s Word. It has been widely disseminated throughout the Several recent films and books have country and, through my training of international students and showcased the “butterfly effect.” This vocational missionaries, has reached several continents. More popularization of a core concept in chaos theory— recently, it has become my primary instrument for introducing “sensitivity to initial conditions”—depicts how Kuyper students to Biblical theology and redemptive history. seemingly negligible influences can have A few years ago I had the opportunity to meet with that profound and unpredictable effects. Thus, so former professor, not only to thank him for his faithful instruction, the metaphor goes, a butterfly waving its wings but also to share with him how his casual remark and informal in China can lead to a hurricane in the West. diagram had shaped my ministry and had had a worldwide It also explains why long-range weather forecasting is doomed. influence neither he nor I could have anticipated. What is true in science and meteorology is equally true in The spiritual “butterfly effect” reminds us that little things can teaching and preaching. While the lectern and pulpit should mean a lot. This is both sobering and encouraging. It is sobering always reflect persistent effort, substantive content and because knowing that we cannot predict how our lives and teaching consistent quality standards, there remains a certain mystery may affect others summons us to constant vigilance and faithfulness. or unpredictability about the future impact and fruitfulness of It is comforting because knowing that our labor is being used our words and work on our hearers. according to the providential purposes of our Sovereign God When I was at Westminster Seminary, one of my Old enables us to leave its ultimate fruitfulness to the Lord, trusting Testament professors, Tom Nicholas, while answering a tangential that it is he, not we, who establishes the work of our hands.