Vol. 11, Issue 4, Winter, 2016 College News A publication for Alumni & Friends MY STORY ELEANOR | CLASS OF 2015 Presidential Transition Team Report The Kuyper College Board of Trustees recently welcomed Dr. Carl Zylstra to Kuyper College as interim president. This milestone provides a good opportunity to reflect on the process that led to this decision and also provides a natural juncture to look forward to what lies ahead. A LOOK BACK After Dr. Nick Kroeze announced his retirement plans more than a year ago, the College Board of Trustees commissioned a Presidential Transition Team (PTT) of 10 members to conduct a search for the next President of Kuyper College. After a period of due diligence, the PTT recommended to the Board that the College retain the services of a college leadership search firm—JobFitMatters (JFM). JFM conducted surveys to gather Eleanor, class of 2015, teaches English at a college in Laos. For purposes of confidentiality, information from college constituents. Their her last name and sending organization’s name have been omitted. staff also spent time on campus interviewing individuals to gain a clear picture of Kuyper TEACHING IN LAOS College’s identity and values. Based on all gathered information, JFM I was raised by Christian parents, attending VBS, AWANA, and the PTT created a profile of the desired youth group—the whole nine yards. My five sisters and I were qualifications of the next president, which led to the gathering of several applications from homeschooled by our mom while my dad worked. There wasn’t qualified candidates who were interviewed really a time in my life that I can say was strictly “before Christ” during November and December. However, for me. The name of Jesus was one I knew from childhood. circumstances regarding the PTT’s interview of final candidates prompted a temporary I heard the classic Old Testament stories really alive. I became fascinated with the pause of the search process. As such, the growing up. I knew the basic “should” Bible and its intricacies as I listened to my PTT recommended to the Board of Trustees and “should nots” of being a Christian. professors and my classmates talk about that an interim president be considered. The And I was really good at following rules. their experiences with God. I was driven Board agreed and decided to look for an It wasn’t until I came to Kuyper though, a toward the field of overseas work as the interim president that fit two criteria: The school where I saw people my own age who Father placed new friends into my life who individual needed to be available to start in were actually passionate about a personal were pursuing living and working abroad. January and had to wholeheartedly believe relationship with God and not simply in, and be committed to, the mission of following a set of rules, that my faith became See LAOS, Page 4 Kuyper College. See REPORT, Page 7 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT From the Other Side of the Office Door “Transition” is the word of the day at Kuyper College. This reality is most apparent in the transition to new leadership in the President’s Office—an event I am most excited about! Transition in leadership can provide opportunity for applying fresh energy and vision to the mission we hold so dear and so enthusiastically: training students for lives of ministry and service! I feel very strongly about this mission ranged from International Adoptions to one-by-one, to receive their diploma, and then (“precious” is how I feel about it) and am both Muslim Hospitality to Albino Killings in the College lamp, is immensely rewarding and humbled and thrilled to have been part of it Tanzania. What impressed us was the level of motivational! during my presidency. This thought draws me maturity, spiritual sensitivity and professional I am grateful to each one of you reading this to encourage you not to think so much about preparation seen in, especially, those students newsletter for the role you have had in making the presidential transition as about the more who, just a couple of years ago, began their these transitions a wonderful reality in the fundamental transitions that occur at the freshman year with timidity and uncertainty. context of Kuyper College. Thank you for your College every day. The conversation we had about these support and encouragement before, during The transitions I am referring to are those transitions underscored the degree of impact and now after my years as president. I hope that occur in the lives of our students. I was an institution can have on students when the you are even more excited toward the future reflecting on this thought with a group of atmosphere on campus is one of love, care, as more students come to Kuyper because of faculty and staff around the coffee table as respect and honoring of each other as children God’s call on their lives. For my part, I am we spoke about the “Global Awareness and of God. I saw this daily in interactions excited to join you as an ongoing supporter of Advocacy Day” held on campus. For this between students, with faculty and through the College from “the other side” of the office event, students prepared poster presentations, staff who always care about “coming door! My thanks and God’s blessings to you. dressed in business attire, and stationed alongside” to strengthen and encourage themselves around the school, ready to another person. This is one of the reasons why interact with visitors to their poster and commencement each spring is such a joy: explain further the message they were trying the growth—the transition—we see in each Dr. Nicholas V. Kroeze to communicate. Thirty different topics graduate as they walk across the platform, Retiring President A Time of Transition Transitions can be fun. How great to be able to have a newsletter like the current transition the long standing this where we look back over the presidency of Nicholas Kroeze with mission of Kuyper College will be enthusiasm and gratitude. To be grateful for the great faculty and staff. secure. There is just no possibility that To admire the stunning campus. To reflect on the strong academic the single-minded dedication of service programs that have launched lives of service and ministry for almost and ministry to which Kuyper has been 80 years. Transitions are also times to pause, be thankful, and praise the committed for almost eight decades will Lord from whom all these blessings flow. continue to be less than robust. But transitions can also be a little unsettling. We wonder what the future In fact, the only reason for Kuyper will be like. We think about the changing economic environments. We College’s mission to change now would Dr. Carl Zylstra even get a bit unnerved as politicians hold forth with their latest ideas be if our Lord suddenly returns and Interim President about how education should be shaped. So perhaps, we can be forgiven if completes His Kingdom once and for all we wind up being a little apprehensive during a time of transition. eternity. Should that occur, we’ll all be rejoicing. But until then, the However, as an interim president who will be here only during mission of this College will be ever more needed for the greater glory the transition to the next long-term leader of Kuyper College, I’m of the Savior to whom we offer our praise. And not only praise for convinced that a transition should be a time of joy and hope. Yes, the past but, even as we transition, also joyful praise and a promise of there will be changes. But I have absolutely no doubt that throughout renewed dedication and service for the future as well. 2 KUYPER COLLEGE NEWS STEWARDSHIP IN MY WORDS How to Be An Offering What Kuyper “Today, I watched a teenage boy help an elderly woman with a cane onto the city bus I was riding. He was so College Has careful with her, assisting her every step of the way. The woman had the biggest smile on her face. They both Meant to Me sat directly across from me, and just as I was about to I’ve spent a third of my life at Reformed Bible compliment her for having such a wonderful grandson, College and Kuyper College. When I joined the Dawn Lynema the boy looked at her and said, ‘My name is Chris. staff in 1996, I never thought I would stay as long What’s your name, ma’am?’”* Assistant to the President as I did. But this place—the kids, the staff and the The fundamental truth in this story is that Chris understood of Kuyper College faculty—became part of me. I want to share with that generosity isn’t always about what you give, but actually you what Kuyper College has meant to me. being the gift. According to Romans 12:1, we are the offering: • Compassion—We all know what it is to have compassion for someone, “…offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” but to be on the receiving end is indescribable. • Grace—The people here are grace givers! The faculty, staff and students come alongside everyone. I’ve never witnessed the full power of grace like I have here. • Abounding Grace—I know I mentioned grace before, but it is SO much bigger than just one sentence. • Prayer and Answered Prayer—Over the years we have prayed for many, many things: students to come to Kuyper, students on trips, students who are struggling, for the work of staff and faculty, for those experiencing heartache and loss, and financial situations.