Twenty 20-Somethings Living the Faith
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Share this issue Van Belle play Seerveld on ‘De New Human Rights Museum opens in Winnipeg PAGE 5 premieres in Calgary Achttien Dooden’ PAGE 15 PAGE 9 PAGE 12 PM# 40009999 R9375 A Reformed Biweekly | 69th Year of Publication | November 10, 2014 | NO. 2996 | $2.50 News. Clues. Kingdom views. Not about us: Twenty 20-somethings living the faith once asked them Judith Dinsmore how to respond These twenty, hailing from across the country, have four things in to someone who common: they are all young-ish, they are all Reformed, they are all said God ex- Canadian and they are simply not interested in talking about them- isted, but their selves. They want to talk about what they’re doing, thank you very good works were much, and why they’re doing it. good enough for And so what follows is not a glam list of up-and-coming Christian him. “None of celebrities. Rather, it’s a series of snapshots of God’s nurturing, wit- Josh Kooiman, 24 [the kids] had an nessing, society-changing work happening through these millennials. Smithville CRC, Hamilton, Ont. answer because Graduated now for two years, they said they Growing/ Nurturing Josh Kooiman is working in archi- had never met tectural construction and striving for someone like that Katie Mcnaughton, 21 field. I think people can definitely fairness and ethics in his workplace. before. I was like, Edmonton, Alta. be called to work in regular areas on “In construction we deal a lot you’re 14 and In her fourth year at the Uni- the home front,” she explained. with contracts and being ethical in you’ve never met versity of Alberta, Katie Mc- Mcnaughton is heavily in- subtrades; it’s very easy to cheat a non-Christian like that?” Mark DeVos, 28 naughton is a forestry student who volved with campus ministry at and lie and twist the truth and Growing up in the church, Koo- First Hamilton CRC, Hamilton, Ont. spends time with trees and people the university, and said it can be make an extra ten grand some- iman realized, can lead to an iso- Chaplain at Redeemer College, – but not in equal amounts. This a challenge to convince students where,” Kooiman explained. His lated faith that doesn’t know how Mark DeVos has also recently summer she was working in the of the importance of church and company’s challenge is to treat to cope with the world’s questions. begun working for Cardus U, a bush. With 10 days on and four a Christian community: “the stu- everyone with fairness and re- Instead, Kooiman wants to “make social architecture organization, days off, working “in the middle dents have well-rounded lives; spect. ILn the future, Kooiman is it all flow together.” with the mission to introduce of nowhere” in Alberta, she found they’re trying to have a career, get interested in working more with “Rock climbing is good, drink- would-be world-changers to a her job a “real break for my soul.” a job . it doesn’t make any logi- the contracts that bind the contrac- ing beer is good and Bible study is network. But while it affords her time away cal sense to add 4-5 hours to their tors to make them more ethical. good. A lot of people see a discon- He works closely with the Car- from people in the summer, during week.” But with patience learned He also challenges the youth in nect there, but every square inch dus U cohort, five young-ish indi- the school year it affords her time from forestry, Mcnaughton and his church to act more ethically, and everything you do can praise viduals who dream big and seek re- with people. “Forestry is my mission her team persevere. from the opposite perspective. He God,” he said. Continued on page 2 PAGE 2 CHRISTIAN COURIER News Not about us: Twenty 20-somethings living the faith continued from page 1 newal. DeVos explained that Cardus U desired such a cohort Philip Bulsink, 25 and work is really important,” she explained. “If you’re because “they have potential, they have time, they have ideas Calvin CRC, Ottawa, Ont. trying to build intentional relationships, it’s more likely that remain untested, and they understand the value . of Philip Bulsink is a chemist – he to happen with people who are in your lives in a regular working together to accomplish something substantial.” just submitted his thesis for a mas- basis.” Christian millennials, DeVos articulated, are often living ter’s degree – who loves a good con- And yes, that even means the cashier at the local store. within the tension of both desiring to belong and desiring con- versation and a good glass of beer. Kwan and others went around to local businesses when the trol. Cardus U, with its focus on full-bodied, integrative experi- While studying at the University of church started seven years ago, to let them know about the ence, is “responding to a need people have to work on something Ottawa, he helped found a campus brand-new church and ask for prayer requests. substantial” – to belong to a place, and also work to better it. ministry which, among other events, “I’m passionate about thinking about people being mis- Mark DeVos sees himself as “equipping this generation hosts a weekly event at a local pub sionaries in their own communities,” Kwan said. She is to be salt and light in a world that desperately needs both.” centered on just that: beer and conversation. also on the board of the local branch of Resist Exploitation, And even looking 10 or 20 years down the road, he can’t “There were weeks where I was the only one who showed Embrace Dignity (REED). see that commitment changing. up,” he remembers. “But it has morphed into something bigger.” “There are people who show up to Brew who make it Courtney Mooney, 29 Laura Pol, 22 known that they’re not Christians, but they show up for the Crosstowne Community Russell Presbyterian Church, conversation, for the debate that we have,” Bulsink explained. Church, Milton, Ont. Russell, Ont. Also on the Transitional Committee for his church, Bulsink A recent seminary Back when she was a girl, doesn’t see himself as a leader – instead, he constantly points g r a d u a t e , C o u r t n e y graphic designer and photogra- toward the work of other leaders. But he both acknowledges Mooney is not interested pher Laurel Pol knew a woman and enacts the importance of millennials in leadership. in doing missions. That is named Hazel in Kansas. And Ha- “People are really happy to have [young adults] help to say, she’d rather not say zel, though now deceased, is still out with little things, like making coffee on Sundays . it like that. Her work with inspiring Pol. but when you give somebody something real to do, then downtown Hamilton relief “I learned a lot by just watching their engagement goes up,” he said. organization Mission Services really “opened my eyes to a her,” Pol explained. “She was such And the proof is in the pudding: when Bulsink heard whole community that I love,” Mooney explained. a lady, so gracious, so hospitable and so loving.” So Pol the story of a refugee from Uganda in his congregation, it “I don’t want to see it as me doing missions. These took a page from Hazel’s book and last Mother’s Day threw inspired him and others to found Giving Refugees Hope in people have become my friends,” she said. a tea party for the girls in her church, but with a twist only Uganda, an organization living out its name. Mooney is involved with a number of different out- possible in the twentieth century: she crafted a video of the reaches and worship places, including a new restaurant that little girls’ comments about and to their moms. opened up on one of the worst streets in Hamilton, known “The video was not a crazy setup or anything . but Society-changing for its drugs, violence and prostitution. the reactions of the mothers after they saw the video was “Someone called 541 Restaurant ‘a flower in a barren incredible,” Pol said. “Mothers don’t always know that Jennifer Lucking, 27 land,’’ Mooney explained. And Barton Street is certainly they’re doing it right, and that’s hard!” she explained. Pol Westdale Reformed barren. Once, Mooney smiled hello at a guy on the street. “I also uses her photography skills to gift families or individu- Church, Hamilton, Ont. was half a kilometer down the street and he ran up behind als who otherwise could not afford professional photos. Jennifer Lucking is jug- me and tapped my shoulder and said, ‘I just want to thank And Pol is mimicking Hazel’s hospitality as well: she gling several caps: mother of you for saying hi because nobody on Barton does that.’” and her husband open their home to young adult ministry a baby girl, student working Mooney is seeking to live holistically; instead of an “us in their church to help integrate people from a variety of on a masters degree and the and them” mentality, she’d rather just have “us.” She hopes backgrounds through earnest prayer and study. Their goal? RCA’s Coordinator for Hu- someday to do chaplaincy, is currently in a two-year program “The more honesty, the better,” Pol said. man Trafficking Outreach. to be ordained in the CRC, and just began a job at a church After hands-on outreach plant in Milton called Crosstowne Community Church.