SPRING 2012 Northwestern College MagazinetheClassic Following Jesus Christians debate the best way to be the church and reach our world Also Republican Power Broker Bob Vander Plaats The Wedding Gift Three-peat 14Mel Babcock, Val Kleinjan and Jessica Wedel (from left) Contents Classic People celebrate the Raiders’ third consecutive national title— Editor Door Man Duane Beeson Head toward the cafeteria, chapel or RSC, and there’s a good and fifth overall. 712-707-7116 13 chance freshman Paul McCleary will get the door [email protected] 18 for you. Staff Writers Carrie (Odell ’01) Anderson Changing Church Duane Beeson Concern about reaching today’s postmodern generation Anita Cirulis 18 has resulted in a critique of evangelicalism and a new Tamara Fynaardt commitment to the message of the gospel. Amanda Kundert Political Power Broker Designers Ryan James When Rick Santorum won the Iowa Republican caucuses 26 in January—and was elevated to the status of Mitt Roy Trevino John Vander Stelt ‘83 Romney’s main competition—Bob Vander Plaats deserved some of the credit. Web Designer Dan Robinson ‘01 The Wedding Gift The Classic is published three times a Natsuki Nagakawa became so close to her Northwestern year—in April, July and November— 27 host family that she paid for their trip to her wedding in for alumni and friends of Northwest- ern College. So named because it Japan. served what was then known as the Northwestern Classical Academy, the Classic was the school’s first student newspaper, begun in 1891. Departments It has been an alumni publication since 1930. 2 Zwemer View Send correspondence or address On the Web changes to the Classic, Northwestern 3 In Box College, 101 7th Street SW, Orange City, IA 51041-1996 or classic@ Your Turn nwciowa.edu. Share comments about any article in this 3 Around the Green issue. Opinions expressed in the Classic 8 Of Course do not necessarily reflect the official position of Northwestern College. 26 11 Face Value classic.nwciowa.edu On the cover: visit 14 Red Zone Followers of Jesus don’t 16 1,000 Words always see eye-to-eye on how best to live out their faith. 29 Class Notes 36 Classic Thoughts 16 27 DAN ROSS Northwestern Classic 1 Zwemer View Green Above All around the Passing Grade ive years ago, as a candidate for Northwestern’s presidency, one of the first documents With the national pass rate for actuarial exams at below 50 percent, I became familiar with was the Vision for Learning, which articulates the four goals we what’s the probability that the four Northwestern students who took have for graduates of NWC. We want them to: exams last year would pass every one? 1. Trust, love and worship God oss Seniors Kristen Humphrey, Abby Korthals and Jacob Vander Ploeg R F an 2. Engage ideas D and junior Nathan Nieuwendorp undoubtedly could come up with the 3. Connect knowledge and experience answer. They each have passed two of the exams—probability and finan- 4. Respond to God’s call cial mathematics—that are required before they can begin practicing as I still remember being struck by the fact that the first goal listed was for our graduates actuaries. The 2011 national pass rates were 42 percent on the probability to trust, love and worship God. That spoke volumes to me about Northwestern’s values. Few exam and 49 percent on financial mathematics. institutions of higher education share this value, much less articulate it so prominently. Northwestern is one of just 84 colleges or universities nationwide It is one thing to make this claim, but another to deliver on such a promise. Yet the with an “advanced undergraduate” actuarial science classification from the fulfillment of this goal is something I witness consistently in the lives of our students and Society of Actuaries. alumni. Each time I return to Orange City from visiting alumni around the U.S., I am The career placement rate of Northwestern’s actuarial science gradu- reminded again that our graduates trust, love and worship God. ates is consistently near 100 percent. Actuarial alumni are working in The culture that has been created over many decades at Northwestern nurtures this value. Fifteen Japanese high school seniors developed relationships with Northwestern firms across the U.S., including at Modern Woodmen of America in We are blessed to have dedicated faculty and staff who share this commitment. They take students while studying English and American culture in January. Omaha, Principal Financial Services in Des Moines and The Segal Com- very seriously their responsibility to teach our students about its importance, but they also pany in Chicago. model it in the classroom, across campus, and in their churches and communities. There are many things that make Northwestern graduates stand out from the crowd, but perhaps none is as distinctive as their understanding of all of life as worship. This worldview Warm Winter Welcome is what compels them to be lifelong learners and Christ followers. It spurs them to pursue Fifteen seniors from Meiji Gakuin and develop relationships. Exposure to life excellence in their professional and personal lives—because excellence offered out of faith and Higashimurayama High School in Tokyo in the Midwest included a weekend trip to Box love for God is worshipful. spent two weeks on campus in January, Minneapolis. in We want our graduates prepared to contribute to society through meaningful work, but enhancing their English skills and learning Among the English Training Camp’s staff Impressed above all, we want them to know that abundant life flows out of a love relationship with about life in the U.S. Accompanied by their were Kathy Gabel ’89 and Kristyn Howe ’90, Twice this year, I have been impressed with the Classic. Feature articles on “The Jesus. As the Gospel of Mark says, “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose English instructor, Norimichi Odate ’80, the daughters of the late Dr. Lyle VanderWerff Crescent and the Cross” (Summer 2011) helped me with a 9/11 sermon on reaching your own soul?” students took classes in oral English and ’54, longtime religion professor and director out to Muslim people around us. We have a large mosque a block away in Union May the Lord’s amazing grace continue to be with our community as together we seek to City, N.J. The photography in that issue was so helpful, I shared it with the whole American culture four hours a day, with of international programs who established grow deeper in our trust, love and worship of God. congregation at Grove Reformed. an additional three hours of tutoring by many sister-school relationships with Asian [The article on] DNA and genetic research (Spring 2011) was informative and Northwestern students. colleges and coordinated Northwestern’s courageous—and helpful for my tech people and young adults. “The students are still talking about Summer Institute for International Students. Enclosed is a donation to say keep up your commitment to build a spiritual their experience and would love to come Odate credits VanderWerff for dimension in your student education and action projects—and in what you continue back,” says Odate. “The staff and students encouraging him to go on to seminary and offering in the Classic. at Northwestern welcomed us so warmly. helping to instill within him a passion for Rev. Mel Van Hattem Greg Christy The tutors were patient and a great help, reaching others for Christ. “It is so amazing Wanaque, N.J. President not just in studying but also in adjusting to to see how things work in God’s plan,” WE LOVE GETTING MAIL and understanding American life.” says Odate, about returning to campus with Send letters to: Classic, Northwestern College, 101 7th The boys stayed with area families Japanese high school students decades after Street SW, Orange City, IA 51041; email: classic@nwciowa. while the girls roomed with NWC students his own NWC experience. edu. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Please in Hospers Hall. Assignments to interview Officials hope to continue the English include an address and daytime phone number. Northwestern students during mealtimes training camp in the future. helped the visitors hone their English skills 2 SPRING 2012 Northwestern Classic 3 AROUND THE GREEN AROUND THE GREEN Summer School in Cyberspace This summer, while North- more than 1,400 courses at other to offering courses and eventually theology and science courses. western students bag groceries, institutions, the majority of them whole programs online because the Registration for summer courses deliver pizzas and teach swimming online. college’s mission and high-quality is open to anyone, including lessons, a quarter of them may also “It’s understandable that our education is not only for students alumni, high school students, or be taking one or more of 24 online students take advantage of the who live on campus,” Hoey says. others seeking professional or classes offered by NWC. flexibility of online courses,” “It can also be for alumni who personal development classes. Hearts of Service Rebecca Hoey, director of online says Hoey, who adds that in this want to further their education and More information is available learning, has been encouraging economy, some students are eager students for whom a residential on Northwestern’s website or by and enabling Northwestern to graduate early and begin their experience is not feasible.” contacting Hoey, 712-707-7388 or professors to offer courses online careers. The summer 2012 courses, [email protected]. in order to give students who By offering online classes, listed at www.nwciowa.edu/ value NWC’s relational and faith- Northwestern can ensure they meet online-learning, include those based education an alternative to the college’s rigorous standards and that lead to teaching and coaching the online courses they’re taking contribute to—rather than detract endorsements for working teachers, through other institutions.