Leaving Bethel...
Three years ago, I graduated from Whitman College fortunate enough to have a great job at CPPC and fun opportunities for coaching. I was also signed up for Seminary at Bethel in St Paul, Minnesota, but not sure what to expect, I chose not to think about it too much.
Seminary started when I was visiting Nora in China. Seeing the syllabus for Hermeneuti
cs and course schedule for Transformational Leadership, I started feeling overwhelmed and wondered why God was having me go to Seminary. Then, when I began reading our introductions to one another and I realized that I was the youngest and least experienced student who was suddenly, hanging out with accomplished pastors, fathers, missionaries, and other amazing, strong people, I really started getting overwhelmed.
That's when I went
to sit at the beach while Nora taught (I think best by the water, that's why I kayak). As I was sitting there, looking toward Seattle (far, far away), I was chatting with God and asking questions. While sitting there, I felt God quietly say, "I'm going to rock your world with Seminary". I didn't know what to expect, but the knowledge that God was going to do something in me meant that He was going to be with me, so I felt much more equipped.
The last four years have been crazy. I have learned about God, about leadership, about myself, and about how they can all fit better together. The classes I've had the opportunity to take and the knowledge that the church was 100% supporting me in this crusade were life-changing. I now see that I'm not equipped to do ministry and the best part is that none of us are. We are not equipped to do ministry without God (you may say duh.... but it's a tough lesson to learn sometimes) and we're not equipped to do ministry without community, trust, and friends. In fact, we're not equipped to do life without either of these things.
I am so incredibly grateful for the staff, faculty, and students at Bethel. My cohort (L!) has become my family: my big brothers, roommies, and some of my best friends. We have gotten
in trouble for throwing frisbees in inopportune places, rung the bells, played a lot of football and frisbee, drank a lot of Caribou, climbed things, and made friends with Frenchy the lunch lady. More importantly, we have had times to pray for one another, walked with one another through some really, really r
ough things, and gotten to know each other in ways I never conceived possible.
God was right when we were chatting in China. He did rock my world... in every sense of the phrase. I now know that community like this is plausible and I want to continue this community with these amazing people, and I want to find it again wherever life may take me.
I have one paper and one exam left in my Seminary career. I'll officially have my Masters of Transformational Leadership on June 5th. It was an amazing road... actually, no, it was an amazing on-ramp as I have gotten on the great highway of life, ministry, and healthy relationships.
Thank you to everyone who made it possible and enjoyable! Thank you God for holding your word given in China and really rocking my world.
Three years ago, I graduated from Whitman College fortunate enough to have a great job at CPPC and fun opportunities for coaching. I was also signed up for Seminary at Bethel in St Paul, Minnesota, but not sure what to expect, I chose not to think about it too much.
Seminary started when I was visiting Nora in China. Seeing the syllabus for Hermeneuti
cs and course schedule for Transformational Leadership, I started feeling overwhelmed and wondered why God was having me go to Seminary. Then, when I began reading our introductions to one another and I realized that I was the youngest and least experienced student who was suddenly, hanging out with accomplished pastors, fathers, missionaries, and other amazing, strong people, I really started getting overwhelmed.
That's when I went
to sit at the beach while Nora taught (I think best by the water, that's why I kayak). As I was sitting there, looking toward Seattle (far, far away), I was chatting with God and asking questions. While sitting there, I felt God quietly say, "I'm going to rock your world with Seminary". I didn't know what to expect, but the knowledge that God was going to do something in me meant that He was going to be with me, so I felt much more equipped.
The last four years have been crazy. I have learned about God, about leadership, about myself, and about how they can all fit better together. The classes I've had the opportunity to take and the knowledge that the church was 100% supporting me in this crusade were life-changing. I now see that I'm not equipped to do ministry and the best part is that none of us are. We are not equipped to do ministry without God (you may say duh.... but it's a tough lesson to learn sometimes) and we're not equipped to do ministry without community, trust, and friends. In fact, we're not equipped to do life without either of these things.
I am so incredibly grateful for the staff, faculty, and students at Bethel. My cohort (L!) has become my family: my big brothers, roommies, and some of my best friends. We have gotten
in trouble for throwing frisbees in inopportune places, rung the bells, played a lot of football and frisbee, drank a lot of Caribou, climbed things, and made friends with Frenchy the lunch lady. More importantly, we have had times to pray for one another, walked with one another through some really, really r
ough things, and gotten to know each other in ways I never conceived possible.
God was right when we were chatting in China. He did rock my world... in every sense of the phrase. I now know that community like this is plausible and I want to continue this community with these amazing people, and I want to find it again wherever life may take me.
I have one paper and one exam left in my Seminary career. I'll officially have my Masters of Transformational Leadership on June 5th. It was an amazing road... actually, no, it was an amazing on-ramp as I have gotten on the great highway of life, ministry, and healthy relationships.
Thank you to everyone who made it possible and enjoyable! Thank you God for holding your word given in China and really rocking my world.
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