June 2021 Connections

Connections Proclaiming the GOSPEL

local & global stories, news and events of College Church

'IN MY QUEST TO PROVE HIM WRONG, GOD PROVED ME WRONG." Dyanne Martin Through Many Toils and Snares page 12 on page 7

JUNE 2021

Life Lessons

Global Voices

Locally Sourced

Something Summery

Celebrating the Life of Gerrie Castillo

Restore Hope

VIRGINIA HUGHES | 7

BRUCE AULIE | 11

MICHELLE KELLEY | 14

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Connections June 2021

June Highlights

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Something Summery VIRGINIA HUGHES

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The Gospel Marches On ZACH FALLON

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Why Are You Moving to Atlanta?

STEVE KROGH

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Prayer Gatherings

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Restore Hope and Provide Opportunities for People to Become all that God Intends them to Be MICHELLE KELLEY

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Prayerful Faith in Action

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New Members

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Summer Reading from our Pastors and Directors

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College Church Fellowship Meals

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The Secret Runners WIL TRIGGS

Celebrating the Life of Gerrie Castillo

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The Summer Book Group Short List

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Milestones/Looking Ahead

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BRUCE AULIE Through Many Toils and Snares DYANNE MARTIN

332 E. Seminary, Wheaton, IL 60187 (630) 668-0878 | www.college-church.org

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Connections is a monthly newsletter published for and about the people of College Church. Send news items and suggestions to: connections@college-church.org. Keep Connections in mind to promote a community event to the College Church family. Send event information by the following dates: For the July issue: June 9 | For the August issue: July 9 | For the September issue: August 9

CONTRIBUTORS

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1 Bruce Aulie is no stranger to the country of Spain, after

spending nearly 20 years there as College Church missionaries. So, it's only fitting that Bruce wrote the memorial piece of missionary Gerrie Castillo, who entered the presence of Jesus in April. Bruce has served College Church as an elder and member of the nominating committee.

2 Zach Fallon from College Churh pastoral resident to high

school pastor to pastor of Christ Church South Metro Atlanta, our newest church plant in Georgia, Zach is excited to follow the Lord's call as the gospel marches on.

3 Virginia Hughes always graces the pages of Connections

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with her gentle humor and delightful stories of her growing up years. Virginia's reflection,"Something Summery," is a good read as summer begins.

4 Michelle Kelley worked for Outreach Community Ministries

before joining the church staff as ministry associate, first in missions and now in women's ministries. Michelle enjoys vacations to Williamsburg, Virginia, where has two nephews and a niece.

5 Steve Krogh and his wife, Lois, celebrate the marriage of their

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youngest daughter, Susannah, this month, and then head south to Georgia to help Zach Fallon with the start of Christ Church South Metro Atlanta.

6 Dyanne Martin is a native of Jamaica, a country whose na-

tional motto is "Out of many, one people." She and her husband, Tom, serve Christ at Wheaton College. When she is not teaching, you will find her reading, cooking, dancing or swimming.

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7 Jonathan Merry works at Bastian Voice Institute as a design consultant and volunteers at College Church filming the Sunday services. He practices photography in his spare time and is the creator of this month's cover image.

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Our Pastors, Directors and Residents: Eric Channing, pastor of congregational care and family ministries | Cheryce Berg, director of children’s ministries | Julie Clemens, director of disability ministries | Erik Dewar, pastor of worship and music | Baxter Helm, high school pastor | Dan Hiben, middle school pastor | Tim Hollinger, technology director | Diane Jordan, director of visitation and care | Howard Kern, facilities director | Josh Maurer, pastorial resident | Curt Miller, missions pastor | Josh Moody, senior pastor | Ben Panner, college pastor | Mindy Rynbrandt, director of women’s ministries | John Seward, executive pastor | Nancy Singer, director of administration and finance | Wil Triggs, director of communications | Michael Walker, pastoral resident Our Council of Elders: David Bea | Mark Berg | Howard Costley, chair | Dave Gieser, vice chair | Randy Jahns| Heinrich Johnsen | Dan Lindquist | Josh Moody, senior pastor | Tom Nussbaum | Jeff Oslund | Roger Sandberg | Jeremy Taylor, secretary| Tad Williams

JUNE HIGHLIGHTS

Sunday Morning Services Feel free to invite people to worship with us.

Join us at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. Masks and social distancing required for 8:00 a.m.. Mask-optional services at 9:30 and 11:15 with no registration or social distancing needed.

Livestream broadcast is at 9:30 with a rebroadcast at 11:15.

You can watch it at college-church.org/livestream Senior Pastor Josh Moody preaches from Amos, Wrong, Right, and Woke, The Good News of God’s Justice • June 6: The Mountains Shall Drip Sweet Wine, Amos 9:11-15 and Communion. Join us in the parking lotfor One Service at 10:30.

• June 13: TBD and commissioning of Summer Crew • June 20: TBD • June 27: TBD

Adult Communities—Veritas Through the Summer Starts June 13 Join us in the Commons at 9:30 as Dr. Daniel Block will lead us this summer exploring Ezekiel’s vision of the temple in the last nine chapters and his vision of the new Israel in the new land. The last four words of the book say it all, “The LORD is there!” (yhwh šāmmâ). Yes, this same Lord has been with us all through these trying COVID times, and he will continue to be with us in the days ahead. We hope to see you there as we gather together in worship.

Congregational Events We are pleased to announce the following opportunities for publicly expressing faith in Christ: • Infant baptisms observed Father’s Day, June 20.

• To move forward with any of these commitments, contact Christy at baptism@college-church.org or call the church.

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Children’s Ministries 9:30 a.m. Nursery and Bible School

• June 29-July 1, 10:30 a.m. -12 p.m.

(Preschool through fifth grade)

• July 6-8, 1:30-3 p.m.

9:30 a.m. "I'm a Christian Now" (Grades two-five) Elective Class Focuses on how to become a Christian; the meaning of salvation, baptism and the Lord’s Supper; the importance of spiritual disciplines; how to tell others about your faith in Jesus; going on mission; and how to grow as a Christian.

9:30 a.m. BOOST! Family Discipleship Five summer workshops on these topics: Who Are My Pastors—June 27 Family Devotions—July 11 Cultivating Generous Hearts—July 25

July 13-15, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

CREW ADVENTURES Theme-based activity days: • June 16, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Entering 1st grade only!

• June 23, 6-9 p.m. Entering 5th grade only!

• July 1, 1:30-3 p.m.

• July 7, 10:30 am-12 p.m.

• July 13, 1:30-3 p.m.

• July 21, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Outreach—August 1

I'M A CHRISTIAN NOW

Loving Like Jesus—August 15

Three-day camp that focuses on how to become a Christian; the meaning of salvation, baptism and the Lord’s Supper; the importance of spiritual disciplines; how to tell others about your faith in Jesus; going on mission; and how to grow as a Christian.

(This is the same as the elective class that meets on Sundays, June 13-July 25)

11:15 a.m. Nursery & Preschool Summer Crew Events June and July 2021 (for children entering grades 1-5)

AHOY, CREW! Meet the Crew team as you join them for fun games, snacks and activities.

• June 10, 4:30-6 p.m/

• July 20-22, 1:30-3 p.m.

THE FINAL FARE THEE WELL Bid Summer Crew farewell during an afternoon of fun and games.

• July 27, 1:30-3 p.m.

CREW CLUB Gospel-focused VBS-style outreach. Bring your friends to learn about Jesus as you hear Bible lessons, play games and do fun activities together.

Pick ONE session (three days each): • June 22-24, 1:30-3 p.m.

*All summer events are at College Church. Register at: college-church.org/ children/events *All events are $5.

Summer Crew events are for kids entering grades 1-5. All events mask-optional, inside and outside; events will be outside when possible.

Reservations required for each. Bring friends!

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Middle School Tuesdays: 6:45- 8:15 p.m. for worship, teaching and small groups through June 8 Mondays starting June 14: Sports Hangout, 1:30 p.m. at Northside Park Tuesdays starting June 15 at 1:30 p.m.

Summer Book Group for Girls (This Changes Everything) and for Guys (Disciplines of a Godly Young Man) Wednesdays starting with Summer Kickoff June 16, 6:45 p.m.

Thursdays starting June 17, 1:30 p.m. Summer Bible Study (Colossians)

Lisa Burlingame

Fridays starting June 18, 1:30 p.m. Board Game Hangout

High School HYACKS: "A Summer Together" Weekly Wednesday Night HYACKS Gathering: June 9 through August 4, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.: There will be Bible teaching, games, fellowship and worship. In our summer Bible study, we will be walking together through the Psalms of Ascent.

Summer Worship Nights at the Helms: June 27 and July 18t.

Bring a blanket or a chair and come on out for an evening of prayer and praise in their backyard - 317 E Illinois St. Special Events To Be Announced Soon: June 19th, July 10th, August 6th: Mark your calendars for these SPECIAL events.

You will not want to miss them!

STARS The last Zoom Sunday school class for STARS is June 6 The first in-person class for STARS is June 13 at 9:30. The STARS community is very glad to regather.

All STARS Parking Lot Event with dinner | 6-7 p.m., June 4

College Group Summer Bible Study: Join us on Tuesdays during the summer (through August 3) at 7 p.m. at the Clark Home, 915 Gary Ct in Wheaton, for a weekly Bible study with your peers.

College Group Summer 2021 Discipleship Groups: College students, join a mentor-led group of 3-5 students to cultivate the spiritual habit of reading God’s word and to exhort and pray for one another. Email bpanner@college-church.org for more information.

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Women’s Ministries Summer Bible Study The slower pace of summer can be a great time to invite neighbors and friends together for Bible study. Each summer we like to find a shorter video-based study to recommend and make available for groups that would like to meet over the summer.

This summer we are offering a six-week study on the Book of Habakkuk. Think of someone you can invite to study with you and stop by the church to pick up a free study.

Mom2Mom Summer Park Play Dates Warmer days are on their way and our summer park play dates are here. Please join us on Monday, June 21 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. as we explore and encourage one another in our journey of motherhood. This month we will meet at Reed Kepler Park in West Chicago.

LIFE LESSONS

Something Summery Virginia Hughes

On any summer Saturday morning Dad may announce, “All who dig 25 dandelions with a worthy root, will win a first-class seat to a picnic at Salamonie Reservoir this afternoon.” We would respond with squeals of joy and race to the garage for buckets and hand weeders.

Those of us who remembered the Salamonie picnic from last summer, were anticipating the swimming, hiking and picnic to come. “But what if I don’t wanna dig weeds?” A slacker dared to squeak. Dad would not answer such questions with words; rather he would beam a laser from his eyes toward the offender, and everyone would commence digging.

Overachievers bartered extra weeds to younger siblings trading upcoming chore duties such as clearing the table, vacuuming carpets, or burning trash, the only fun chore among them. No one was left at home on these outings because from eldest to youngest, we worked it out among ourselves. Within this weed driven economy for children, we lessened the burden of weeds in the lawn and worked up big appetites for Mom’s bread and butter refrigerator pickles, grilled chicken and potato salad.

Mom’s table presentations were elegant; picnics included. Living in rustic locations had solidified her resolve to elevate us in all ways. She always set a beautiful table even after giving birth to her “eight barbarians,” one of Dad’s pet names for us along with “my dear heathens,” and “behold the clamoring of the uncouth.”

While my dad used colorful phrases, he would never ask us, “Were you born in a barn?” One may think it was out of respect for the birthplace of Jesus, but some of his children were born in such unplanned places, that a barn would have been an improvement. My parents’ commitment to church planting in the boonies had us moving a lot and being born or as Dad may say, “Breaking and entering into the world,” in various odd places such as the church aisle during a Christmas Eve service, the edge of a rice field, the thatched hut that served as our local medical clinic which regularly burned down; and one in a jeep on the way to the hospital. Dad had many dramatic accounts about doing his best to get to the doctor before a birth.

During a typhoon when flooding washed out a bridge, he had to turn the jeep around and figure out an alternative route.

Through howling wind and pounding rain, he called out to encourage Mom as she dealt with advanced labor in the backseat, “Hold on Frances, don’t have the baby yet!” And

Mom answered back with certainty, “Just keep driving Bill, because the baby has arrived!”

My mother brought composure to chaos. She was a warrior for elegance who placed a beautiful lace tablecloth over a rustic wooden picnic table. Glassware and silverware were set alongside good plates, cloth napkins and condiments in pretty dishes with serving spoons. No paper plates, plastic cups or plastic silverware on her table. We carried coolers, picnic baskets and thermoses filled with iced tea, cold water and lemonade as well as folding chairs to the station wagon as it sagged under a load of people and provisions. We chugged along until we arrived at Dad’s favorite picnic spot up on a gentle hill near the boat ramp, with beach visibility and hiking paths off to the side.

My brothers had their island machetes safely buckled in cases around their waists as they enjoyed feeling wild. They were ready for snakes and bad guys which thankfully we never encountered in the Indiana woods. Running on trails brought a freedom we all needed.

The sky was a more welcome ceiling than the tabernacle where we would attend services in August’s boiling heat come camp meeting season. Out here birds sang blissfully in the treetops.

Once the picnic was devoured, Mom sat in peace with the latest copy of “Reader’s Digest.” She occasionally looked through binoculars to watch over her flock by day. As we tired of hiking, we turned to wading in the lake and building sand lumps, called castles on the shore. Dad, exhausted from church business and family raising, snored contentedly on a blanket in the shade.

Reducing the confines of the schedule, changing the setting, and getting outside to breathe is understood by all who seek simple joys outdoors. We pass this legacy of reveling in creation onto our children and grandchildren. We look up in worship to say, thank you Lord for this immaculate sky, shapes in the clouds, breeze in the grass, nodding wildflowers at our feet, a splash in the lake and warm sunshine on our skin.

Thank you for our loved ones who grow dearer with every passing day. Thank you for a season to shake off the indoors, busy schedules and chores. We race outside to become something summery.

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SIDE BY SIDE

The Gospel Marches On Zach Fallon

"But the word of God increased and multiplied." - Acts 12:24 As our time in Wheaton with our beloved College Church family comes to a close Christine and I wish to express our joyful gratitude to God and to you all for the high privilege of serving as a pastor among you. Once upon a time, in a different season of life, I never imagined that I would ever be a pastor in the local church. Yet now, after five years of growing alongside our beloved church family here in Wheaton, I can hardly dream up a calling that I would rather pursue in this brief and momentary life. Such has been the joy we have experienced in sharing in Christ together with you all. As we make this move down to Atlanta, we depart with such loving affection in our hearts for you all and a hopeful desire to hear of your continued faith in the days ahead as Christ continues to be formed in you.

And yet before God through much prayer we acknowledge that our time of transition has indeed come. We are confident that we have seen his providential hand at work in our lives, uniquely leading us to the good works that he has prepared for us to walk in for the good of his church and the glory of his name. As we have observed the Lord's leading, it has also seemed good to our elders that we should be sent out as the first non-local church plant. Such is the confidence we have together in the Lord's leading and such is our expectation that the Lord will do wonderfully transformative things in us and through us in the days and months and years ahead as he sees fit.

And so, as it has been since the day of Pentecost until now, we depart from those whom we love in faith, believing that this message of the gospel that we have so joyfully received is so irrepressibly glorious, so transformatively powerful, so worthy of our proclamation, that whatever loss we may experience in our brief life pales in comparison to the surpassing gain we have come to know in Christ. It is our eager and prayerful expectation, therefore, that as our church family here in

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Wheaton continues in faithfulness to the gospel, so too the gospel will march on through us to the people of South Metro Atlanta and beyond.

We ask only that you will continue to hold us in your prayers, to see us as an extension of your very heart, to think of us as family members who have gone away for a little while to fulfill a task that the Father has assigned. In all the ways that matter most we are with you, College Church, in heart and soul and we are eager to make you all proud of us as we hold fast to those convictions and commitments that have united us.

Please do stay in touch. Your genuine interest in our work and correspondences will do more good to refresh our souls than you might ever know. You can reach Christine and me at: zcfallon@ gmail.com.

We would also love it if you would stay informed of all the Lord is doing in this new work, so please sign up for our updates or check out our website at: www.christsma.org.

Yours in Christ, Pastor Zach

SIDE BY SIDE

Why Are You Moving to Atlanta?

Steve Krogh

“So, why are you moving to Atlanta? Do you have family there?”

Lois and I have been asked these two questions often in recent months by a variety of people, from close friends, as well as from post office workers and the next-door neighbor who just moved in.

Now, as we pack our earthly belongings, look out the window and see the “For Sale” sign in the front lawn, and count down our final Sundays at College Church, Lois and I look at each other and ask ourselves what in the world are we doing?

Why are we moving to Atlanta? We don’t have family there.

We remind ourselves of the many logical reasons we are moving there. First, we were invited by Pastor Zach Fallon to join him and his wife, Christine, in planting Christ Church, and the College Church Elders affirmed that we can serve in helpful ways--Lois in discipling and caring for women, and I as a lay elder.

Second, with our daughter Susie getting married next month and moving to Alabama, and our son Luke away at the University of Richmond, we find ourselves with a window of opportunity—we are empty nesters for the first time.

Our other four adult kids, three spouses and five grandsons are spread from California to Texas to Virginia, and we are so thankful that the winds of God’s grace has filled their hearts and placed them in various locations according to his providence and purposes.

Third, having served in pastoral ministry for thirty years, our hearts are with the local church and with pastors. We believe Pastor Zach and Christine are gifted and graced for the church planting work to which God has called them. We are confident that they will do well.

We also know that the words of William Blake (from his poem “Auguries of Innocence”) ring especially true for those in pastoral labors: “Joy and woe are woven fine, a clothing for the soul divine.

Under every grief and pine, runs a joy with silken twine.”

We are moving to Atlanta so that God will be glorified as Christ is formed in the hearts of his people who will gather in a new church: Christ Church of South Metro Atlanta.

There is much we don’t know. Sometimes we have more questions than answers. But we take comfort that we are in good company, the company of another planter who Jesus said didn’t have all the answers: “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29) College Church, thank you for being our church family these past seven years. Thank you for sending us to the ends of the earth as College Church missionaries, training pastors around the world through Training Leaders International. It is a work we delight to do. We look forward to seeing you again at upcoming missions festivals.

Thank you for praying for us as we now scatter the seed of the kingdom in a new place. Thank you for praying for Christ Church.

Why are we moving to Atlanta? For his own glory.

By God’s grace, we look forward to doubling the Fallons’ joys and halving any of their sorrows. But ultimately, there is a greater reason we are moving to Atlanta. Every “why” question has the same answer: for God’s own glory.

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PRAYER GATHERINGS ONLINE & IN PERSON Call the church office or email info@college-church.org for details on these prayer meetings.

Sunday Morning Prayer (Online) 8-8:40 a.m.

Led by Pastor Eric Channing Monday Morning Prayer (In person) 6:15-7:15 a.m. in C104A. Led

by Elder Rob Wolgemuth Wednesday Night Prayer (Online) 7-8 p.m.

Led by the Missions Office • June 2: Dina Hilliard (Outreach Community Center) • June 9: Jamie and Kim Viands • June 16: Speaker TBD • June 23: Susan Perlman June 30: Wendy, mid-term worker Friday Lunch Prayer for the Persecuted Church (In person) 12-1 p.m. in C101.

Aaron-Hur Prayer Fellowship will meet on Thursday, June 24, at 7 p.m. at the home of Marr and Mary Miller, 1607 Stoddard Avenue in Wheaton (630) 668-8828). Our guest will be Kristen, serving in Asia.

Hannah Prayer Fellowship will

meet on Wednesday, June 9, 1:30 p.m. in the Commons C103. Jane Pelz from Intervarsity Christian Fellowship will be sharing with us. She and Jeff reach out to international students at COD. Come and hear what God is doing among these students through Jeff and Jane.

Abigail Prayer Fellowship will not meet this month.

Our Prayer Pulse email goes out every Monday. You can get prayer updates via that email. Sign up by clicking "Enews signup" on our website. If you already receive other emails from College Church, click "manage my preferences" at the bottom of any email and select Prayer Pulse to add yourself.

College Church Fellowship Meals Friday night supper on June 18, or Saturday morning brunch on June 19 As we regather both as a church and as a community, we are excited to continue our Fellowship Meals. Meant to provide a friendly, informal and safe way to meet one another, come and enjoy a delicious potluck meal and a sweet time of fellowship together. This isn’t a gourmet supper club, but an opportunity to meet new people or strengthen and deepen existing relationships in our College Church family.

All ages and backgrounds are welcome. We need both hosts and guests—especially hosts—willing to open their homes (or backyards, patios, nearby parks).

Choose a Friday evening supper (for adults only), or a family brunch on Saturday (for families/all ages). These gatherings are for good food, good conversation and ideal opportunities to meet more people in our church family.

Please sign up by June 7 to be part of these church potluck meals.

If you have questions, please contact Jerry Jagrowski at (630) 479-9314 / racharah@sbcglobal.net or Meagan Godoy at (630) 200-8378 / meagan.godoy@gmail.com Please sign up below to be part of these church potluck meals: college-church.formstack.com/forms/fellowship_ meal_signup Sign up for the potluck!

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GLOBAL VOICES

Celebrating the Life of Gerrie Castillo Bruce Aulie (Written by Sophia Wang, SEND International and adapted by Bruce Aulie)

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” – Psalm 116:15 Friday the 23rd of April would have been Gerrie Castillo’s 66th birthday. Instead, on that day, people around the world honored this College Church missionary’s life. He died on April 11 from complications of COVID-19 in the Philippines.

Gerrie, as well as his wife, Casiana (Anneth), were from the Philippines, where they served in church planting and pastoral ministry in Batangas. In 2000, they responded to the call of God to take the gospel to the least-reached and joined SEND, and began to prepare to serve in Spain where other College Church missionaries were serving.

Over the years the Philippine church had grown and became a missionary sending country bolstered by Asian Theological Seminary that College Church supports. When College Church was approached about partnering with the Philippine church to send the Castillos to Spain, the church jumped at the chance to connect the dots. No one knew at that time that my wife, Laurel, and I and our family would not be able to continue in Guadalajara, and the Castillos would eventually take over that nascent church planting effort and see it through to its launch. For almost two decades, Gerrie faithfully ministered to the Spanish people through church planting, evangelism, discipleship and leadership. The Spain team needed an experienced pastor like Gerrie.

In 2020, after facilitating a smooth turnover of the church they helped start in Guadalajara, the Castillos returned to the Philippines where Gerrie began recruiting other Filipinos to serve in cross-cultural ministry.

Gerrie was always quick to credit the Lord for the fruit he and Anneth saw in their ministry. “God led us to move to Guadalajara during our second term of ministry,” he said last September.

“By faith, we followed his lead and began to see God work in us and through us! A couple we were friends with expressed an interest in joining us in ministry in our new location. Together we would eat, pray, study God's Word and go out to the streets and parks to share the gospel. Under God's leadership, Iglesia Centro Evangélico Cristo Vive Hoy was planted. God's mighty hand worked beyond what we could imagine. Glory to God!”

What a marvelous thing to partner with churches around the world for the gospel! “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:3-6) Whether it is church planting in Atlanta or partnering together in Spain, our bond and high privilege is to partner for the gospel. Upon hearing of Gerrie’s passing, Josh Moody expressed his sadness at this loss of a wonderful missionary and then added, “trusting God for this and for Spain…May Christ raise up ten others to fill the void.”

College Church is deeply thankful for Gerrie's many years of faithful service to his Lord and Savior, and know that he has now heard, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

A service celebrating Gerrie’s life was held Friday, April 23, at 7 p.m. Philippine time on Facebook Live. Please pray for Anneth and their four children and grandchildren who will miss Gerrie dearly until they meet again.

(Adapted from a SEND International sketch of Gerrie & Castillo’s ministry and life in Spain)

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I BELIEVE!

Through Many Toils and Snares Dyanne Martin

I came to the Lord late in life at the age of twenty-five. I was raised as a nominal Anglican in Jamaica, and my paternal grandmother made sure I attended church as a child, but when my family moved to the United States, church fell by the wayside. My grandmother had given me a beautiful picture Bible, and my mother claims that even as a very young child I read voraciously; however, I did not like that particular book because the pictures frightened me. I think the rather zealous and macabre illustrator forgot that his audience included small children. As a teenager, I tried several times to read the tiny, pocket-sized New Testament my grandmother had given me, but the thees and thous were off-putting to a young girl more interested in mastering the nuances of a foreign culture and in “fitting in” with her new peers. Even so, God was calling— speaking quietly into my life through various people and in subtle ways.

I always believed in God, but I did not know God. I did not know one could know God personally. But in my mid-twenties, I began dating a man who gave me a study Bible and several apologetics books. As I read one particular text alongside the Gospel of John, I became piercingly aware of my sin and my need for a Savior. Mid-page, I lifted my eyes and my heart to heaven and prayed, “Lord, I don’t know what this all means, but I want to know. Please show me.” And he did. I learned that Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross enabled me to have a personal relationship with God and delivered me from the eternal consequences of my sin. I also learned that this gift was by grace alone and not through efforts of my own—a difficult lesson for someone who was accustomed to performance-based acceptance. God transformed the spark in my soul to a firestorm and filled me with an insatiable hunger for his word and for sound teaching.

The way in which I regarded death changed almost immediately.

Before I accepted Christ, I harbored an unnatural fear of my mortality, even wishing I had never been born so that I would not have to die. I searched for meaning and purpose in books about reincarnation and the power of love. The feel-good nature of these books eschewed the idea of an Absolute Truth or of moral accountability while promoting universal oneness through love. They were comforting, yet something kept niggling at my soul. I was, as the song goes, searching for God “in all the wrong

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places.” At dinner one night, I shared my enthusiasm about the New Age books with my then-boyfriend. He countered my statements and challenged me to read a Bible. I responded, “Why? It was written by fallible people. Why should I trust it?”

He asked how I could possibly argue against something I had never even bothered to read. So, I read. And in my quest to prove him wrong, God proved me wrong. In that proving, God brought the light of his love and expelled my fear of death. The surety of what comes next now fills me with peace: I may not know how I am going, but I know where I am going.

The next six years entailed severe trials and hardships because of my relationship with the man who had given me the Bible.

We married, but his ongoing abuse and adultery made the relationship impossible. When the marriage dissolved, I thought I would never recover from the pain of divorce, but God used that suffering to build my faith. I devoured the Bible. I attended church faithfully and used my experience as a professional dancer and choreographer to start a worship dance ministry for the youth. I bought almost every sermon I heard on the local Christian radio station because I could not get enough of God’s truth. I memorized Scripture and hid it deep in my heart, where the Lord knew it needed to be for the trials that loomed ahead.

Many years later, my second husband died suddenly and unexpectedly of a massive heart attack three months after our ten-year anniversary. The pain I felt throughout my divorce was but a grain of sand compared to the vast, gritty desert of sudden, unexpected widowhood. In addition to the icy shock of my husband’s death, confusion and fear threatened to heave me off the edge of the cliff to which I was so desperately clinging. A selfmade businessman, my late husband had no life insurance and

left no savings. His will and his retirement account beneficiaries had not been updated since before our marriage ten years earlier. My name was not even on our mortgage, so the bank refused to speak with me about my own home. My husband had, however, left a business that needed immediate and direct supervision. The overwhelming responsibilities of managing his company while teaching my college classes and while struggling mightily with a deep, abiding grief marked a line in the sand between me and God. My heart cried, Why have you forsaken me?

The stress caused my hair to fall out and my skin to erupt in hives. Unable to consume anything more substantial than periodic sips of protein shakes, I lost twenty pounds in two weeks. My heart began to skip beats, and I hoped it would stop permanently: Let me go home to be with you, Lord. But I held fast to God’s promises, choosing to trust that he would work even this incomprehensible ordeal for my good and for his glory.

I knew from past experience that the Lord who saved me for all eternity would not leave me to traverse the desert alone.

So, I reminded myself daily that—despite appearances to the contrary—God’s Word is always truer than my feelings and that he always knows what he is doing. I could not trace his hand, but I trusted his heart.

I entrenched myself in prayer and Bible study. I slept with my Bible clutched tightly to my chest as if the words that served faithfully as a balm would somehow seep from the pages into my soul. I reminded myself continuously of God’s promises, and no matter how bleak things looked or how dire situations became, I refused to break faith with him. I chose to trust him with all my heart and not to lean on my own understanding. For two years, I faced Goliaths as I grappled with my late husband’s avaricious, estranged family members; with dishonest, thieving employees and accountants; and with unscrupulous lawyers for the contested estate. I ran a business about which I initially knew little in order to honor the work of my late husband and the employees in his hire. While I ran interference on all these business and legal affairs at night, during the day I tried to teach my classes with a smile on my face despite the pain that bored unremittingly through my soul. A good friend and wise mentor reminded me at the time, “God will not leave you here.

He has a plan to bring you hope and a future.” I undertook prayer walks every single night, my heart crying out to God.

And though I slept little in those dark days, it is Adonai, Lord of all, who brought me out of that seeming Gethsemane into the joyous life I have now, a life that includes Tom, my sweet, tender husband—a man of integrity who loves the Lord above all else. I learned the hard way that my peace and my joy are not contingent on my circumstances. They are, rather, outcomes of abiding in Christ. They are signifiers of a life lived in dependence on and trust in an omniscient, omnipotent God who made me and loves me—who beckoned and wooed me—and who redeems all things for his glory.

God has repeatedly used the most difficult times in my life to teach me of his faithfulness, love, and power. In fact, this past year, he manifested his abundant grace and strength yet again when my father, a towering figure in my life, died unexpectedly from COVID-19 under Machiavellian circumstances in which his caregiver, for nefarious purposes, tried to keep me from knowing he had the virus and was dying. Not only did the Lord reveal the truth to my family in a miraculous fashion, he also enabled me to reach my father in Florida in time to be with him in the final seventy-two hours of his life. Through painful situations such as these, the Lord has also taught me, among other things, how to bless those who curse me and how to pray for my enemies—lessons, if we are honest, no one really wants to learn. They are, however, lessons that draw us closer to God and enable us to manifest his love and mercy to others on this side of eternity.

Although valleys and troughs have dotted my life as with all who walk the path of faith, with each new experience, God has strengthened and matured me. In all of my ordeals, he has allowed me opportunities to share the wonders of his steadfast faithfulness with other hurting people. We may never know where God has stationed us in the planting process of someone’s life—whether it be to cast seeds of hope or to water them—but without doubt it is the Lord who brings the harvest. We must be faithful to share his love and the hope we have in Christ no matter which role we play in the gardening of a soul. May God bring an abundant yield for the glory of his name.

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LOCALLY SOURCED

Restoring Hope and Providing Opportunities Michelle Kelley

Restoring hope and providing opportunities for people to become all that God intends them to be sums up Outreach Community Ministries. College Church has partnered with Outreach Community Ministries for many years. You may remember just a few months ago promotion for the Outreach Community Center’s Christmas Store. Many of you donated new toys, games or fun items that become discounted gifts for kids in Carol Stream. This store blesses nearly a thousand kids every Christmas.

The Christmas Store is only one small sliver of the work of this amazing organization. At the Outreach Community Center in Carol Stream, the halls buzz with activity.

After school programs including tutoring are a regular part of the Center’s programs for elementary, middle, and high school students as well as mentoring, life skills activities and Christian education. And, during the summer, OCC hosts an all-day, eight-week program with educational activities, recreation and faith development. Graduating high school students can apply for college scholarships and remove barriers for the students to pursue their dreams. OCC’s College and Career Opportunity Program also helps prepare students for what college will be like and includes opportunities to grow their faith.

Outreach Community Center doesn’t limit its programs and services to children and teenagers. They serve older adults, too, encouraging and supporting the wellbeing of those who want to stay independent for as long as possible through transportation, social visits, faith development and financial assistance.

Outreach staff also provide family stabilization services though counseling and assisting people with financial struggles, housing needs, legal issues, childcare needs, navigating public systems,

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budget counseling and employment opportunities.

And this is just at the site in Carol Stream! Outreach also has locations in Warrenville, Wheaton, West Chicago and Villa Park.

Here’s a taste of what happens at each of those locations: Warrenville Youth & Family Services (Warrenville) ▸ After school and Summer programs provide homework assistance, tutoring, life-skills training, recreation, and community service and Christian education. ▸ Family Stabilization: Counseling and assistance with basaic needs with housig, food and financial issues. ▸ Hispanic Outreach in partnership with Warrenville churches.

Wheaton Youth Outreach (Wheaton/Glen Ellyn) ▸ Crisis Intervention, Counseling and Case Management services for parents, teens, young adults and children. ▸ Transitional Housing Supports young adult homeless women and single mothers, ages 18-24, through housing, employment, life skills and opportunitites for faith development.

Puente Del Pueblo (West Chicago- in partnership with Wheaton Bible Church) ▸ After school and Summer school for first grade through high school students, recreational activities and faith development. ▸ Spanish and English Literacy. ▸ Family Stabilization: Assistance with financial issues, public benefits, immigration issues, employment.

York Community Resource Center (Villa Park/Lombard) ▸ After school and summer school programs for elementary and middle school includes tutoring, recreation and Christian education.+ Twice is Nice (Carol Stream), which is owned and operated by College Church, sends all its proceeds to support the Outreach Community Center. Outreach Community Ministries has a few other resale stores which help to fund their sites and programs: Discoveries Resale Store & Furniture Annex (Warrenville) Jubilee Furniture (Carol Stream) Jubilee Cars - provides vehicles for the residents of Jubilee Village and also sells vehicles. The proceeds from the sales benefit Outreach’s programs.

Visit Outreach Community Ministries website and consider volunteering! outreachcommunityministries.org

Prayerful Faith in Action Abortion touches us all as we are literally missing family and

prayers. See this link of a father (of two with a third baby on the

community members because they were never born. As Chris-

way) who approached Christians in prayer at the Aurora site. He

tians, we must not view this heart-breaking moral issue as a U.S.

shared that a week earlier, when he and his wife watched a group

political matter and choose to avoid it. Instead, we can grow in

praying from Planned Parenthood's parking lot, they changed

our relationship to Christ by cultivating faithful prayer and acting

their minds. Instead of going through with abortion plans, his

locally on behalf of unborn babies and their parents. The Sancti-

wife went across the street to receive Waterleaf's free pregnancy

ty of Human Life Task Force invites you to pray outside Planned

assistance. The father spoke of the care they felt when simply

Parenthood Aurora on Saturday, June 12, in cooperation with 40

watching prayer taking place and realizing that God cares for

Days for Life. https://www.40daysforlife.com/ 40 Days for Life

their family. facebook.com/watch/?v=627051241548825

began a year-round prayer effort in Aurora in summer 2020. www.40daysforlife.com/aurora Sarah Lindquist guides prayer and a few hymns once a month on a Saturday throughout the year.

There is up to a 75% appointment cancellation rate when

Saturday, June 12, 1:00-2:00 pm.

• Look for us on Waterleaf's property across from Planned Parenthood's driveway.

women see peaceful prayer outside an abortion facility. Many

• Parking is behind Auto Zone or by Mariano's.

abortion-minded women who cancel say they were looking for

• Visit college-church.org/sohl to sign up for the Sanctity of

a sign. By our physical presence, we can be that sign of caring

Human Life task force monthly emails to stay up to date

and offer hope as we ask the Holy Spirit to work through our

with life related news and events.

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NEW MEMBERS

David & Gayle Ekstrom

Grant & Lisa Gibbons

Danielle Girgis

PLACES LIVED: David grew up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, and Gayle grew up in Pilsen. Other than a brief time in northern Wisconsin, they’ve lived in the Chicago suburbs all of their married life.

PLACES LIVED: Grant was born in Bakersfield, California. Lisa grew up in Wheaton and attended College Church.

FAMILY: Danielle (and her brother Nicholas, also a new member) is from a large family which includes seven brothers and sisters. She lives in Western Springs and has extended family in the area.

FAMILY: The Ekstroms married in 1978, and they have an adult daughter, Abigail.

9 TO 5: David currently works as a pharmacy tech, but for most of his life he has been in pastoral ministry. Gayle works in the retail banking sector; prior to that, she developed technology and engineered systems in the telecom industry.

PASTTIMES: David likes “to make silly gadgets of no practical purpose”; Gayle enjoys reading, membership at the Art Institute and travel. She loves planning their family vacations, which are “destination unknown” to David and Abigail!

FAMILY: Grant and Lisa met at Wheaton College; they lived in California for a couple of years, and then moved back to Wheaton about three years ago. Terry and Vonnie Van Someren are Lisa’s parents. The Gibbons have five children.

9 TO 5: Grant works as a general contractor. Lisa is a homemaker, and also works with Grant with design and other areas for their company, Remnant Homes.

9 TO 5: Danielle is a first-year psychiatry resident at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

PASTTIMES: She enjoys baking, exercise, listening to music and podcasts and taking long walks.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Small group, HYACKs adult leader

PASTTIMES: He enjoys time with their extended families, reading, listening to music, being in the outdoors and woodworking. She enjoys the outdoors, cooking, exploring, creative projects and being with people.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Grant—small group, Boys Brigade, men’s events; Lisa—children’s and women’s ministries.

Nicholas Girgis FAMILY: Nicholas (and his sister Danielle, also a new member) is from a large family which includes seven brothers and sisters. He lives in Western Springs and has extended family in the area.

9 TO 5: Nick is a dental student at the University of Illinois in Chicago – in his second year of four.

PASTTIMES: Enjoys time with friends and family.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Small group, serving in HYACKs and ushering.

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Caleb & Lydia Krumsieg PLACES LIVED: Caleb grew up in North City St. Louis, Missouri, where his parents started a church and other community development ministries.

FAMILY: Caleb is the youngest of four children; Lydia is the second oldest of the nine children of Dave and Julie Sohmer.

She has several sets of aunts and uncles and cousins at College Church. Caleb and Lydia had their first child, Hudson, who was born at the end of last year.

9 TO 5: Caleb was a commercial real estate broker for a few years, and now works in sales at First Trust. Lydia is a stay-at-home mom and also has an RN license in Colorado.

PASTTIMES: They love being outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: HYACKs leadership; Lydia is involved in Women’s Bible Study and has served with HYACKs and Wonders of Worship in children’s ministries.

Jason Liu & Jane Wang Scott & Sonja Lilly FAMILY: Scott and Sonja were married in 2003 at College Church but lived in Plainfield for a time after that. They moved back to Wheaton and College Church around 2007. Sonja’s parents are Robin and Joann DeGroot.

9 TO 5: Scott is a college counselor at Glenbard East High School and worked for years prior to that as a counselor at Wheaton North. Scott coaches volleyball and bowling at the high school where he works. Sonja is a registered dental hygienist and works part-time at a small office in Wheaton.

PASTTIMES: They enjoy riding bikes together and time with their dog. Scott enjoys trivia, basketball and working with his hands. Sonja enjoys making people feel comfortable by cooking and baking for them. She also loves reading.

PLACES LIVED: Jane was born and raised in Shanghai, China. Her family moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 2016.

FAMILY: Jason and Jane were married in 2010. They have one son, Nathan, who is nine years old.

9 TO 5: Jason is a PhD New Testament student at Wheaton College. Jane completed five years of professional training in architecture, and currently is the product manager in a software company. She worked for the same company in both Shanghai and Boston. Now she works remotely.

PASTTIMES: Jane enjoys movies, baking and reading. They both enjoy spending time with their son.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Veritas, Women’s Bible Study. Jason and Jane are passionate about international missions.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: The Lillys have served along with Sonja’s parents, the DeGroots, as cooks for the STARS Friday Night Fun. Sonja has been involved in Apples of Gold and they both

Lois Logan PLACES LIVED: Lois grew up in India, Pakistan and South Africa as a missionary kid.

Later, her husband and she served as missionaries in Zambia.

FAMILY: Lois is widowed and has four adult children, including College Church member Rebecca Fox. 9 TO 5: She is a retired missionary nurse.

PASTTIMES: Enjoys housekeeping, playing word games, praying, singing hymns and listening to the Bible being read.

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NEW MEMBERS (Continued)

David & Sally Madio

Kaitie McCollum

Bill & Ardyth Peterson

PLACES LIVED: David grew up in Norwich, Connecticut. He has studied in Connecticut, South Australia and Pittsburgh (PA). Sally grew up in downstate Illinois and spent the last two years of high school in northern England.

PLACES LIVED: Born in Geneva, Illinois. When she was nine years old her family moved to Bogota, Colombia, as missionaries. Subsequently they moved to Maryland where Kaitie lived until attending Wheaton College.

PLACES LIVED: Bill and Ardyth live in Carol Stream.

FAMILY: David and Sally married in 2006 and lived in Texas for a while until moving to the Wheaton area.

9 TO 5: Kaitie teaches math classes at West Chicago Community High School.

She is also taking graduate classes toward a master’s in education and ESL.

9 TO 5: David has taught physics in various places around the country. Sally has owned and operated her own interior design business.

PASTTIMES: They enjoy time with friends and family using their gifts of hospitality. They also enjoy travel, music and reading.

PASTTIMES: Kaitie enjoys running, biking, hiking, sports, reading, board games and watching movies with friends.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Small group and has served in Kids Harbor. Participated in College Group and the 20s ministry.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: They have both sung in church choirs.

Donna Motto PLACES LIVED: Donna is a widow and has lived in various places in Illinois.

9 TO 5: Retired 15 years ago from AT&T after 42 years of service.

PASTTIMES: She enjoys time with her extended family, including lots of time boating in the Lake Geneva area.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Women’s Bible Study and GriefShare.

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FAMILY: Bill was married to Esther for almost 57 years before the Lord called her home. Ardyth lived as a widow for 19 years before bringing Bill into her life. Bill and Ardyth have been married almost five years. They each have three adult children, who are married, and each of them has three children, so they have nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren!

9 TO 5: Bill was in the Naval Reserve for more than 15 years, and then in publications for 30 years. He taught at Judson College and has now been retired since 1990. Ardyth was a homemaker for many years until she joined family business in a showroom to the design trade at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago.

PASTTIMES: Bill and Ardyth live at Windsor Park and enjoy traveling and spending time with their family. Bill also enjoys swimming laps at the pool – almost a mile three times a week. Ardyth enjoys painting with watercolors.

David & Susan Price

Tom & Robin O’Neill

Melissa Milford

PLACES LIVED: David grew up in southern California, and came to Illinois for graduate school.

PLACES LIVED: Tom was born in Philadelphia and raised in central New Jersey.

Robin grew up in Chicago near Midway Airport.

FAMILY: Her mother, Laura Vossbruch, also attends College Church.

FAMILY: They have two adult sons.

9 TO 5: David is retired as professor of mathematics at Wheaton College and financial engineer for Merrill Lynch.

PASTTIMES: David enjoys puzzles and reading, and they both enjoy spending time with their grandchildren. Susan is a quilter and, between 2009 and 2013, she made and gave 164 throw size quilts to the missionaries supported by College Church. She continues to contribute quilts to missionaries Joe and Holly Greeson for use in their ministry.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Veritas Adult Community and small group. Before moving away for a while, David helped with our audio team on Sunday mornings.

FAMILY: They have three adopted adult children. Robin is thankful to have five siblings.

9 TO 5: Tom was in mortgage finance for more than 40 years and has recently retired. Robin is retired after 20 years in professional banking and 10 years as adjunct faculty at College of DuPage.

9 TO 5: She is a grad student at Northern Illinois University studying viola performance, and runs a private studio teaching viola, cello and violin.

PASTTIMES: She enjoys writing letters, baking, reading and anything outdoors (when it’s not freezing!)

PASTTIMES: Their children and first grandchild all live within 30 minutes of them, so Tom and Robin see them often.

They have also recently picked up golf and pickle ball.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Small group, Women’s Bible Study.

Eric & Delena Ollila PLACES LIVED: Both grew up in Michigan; they moved to Naperville four years ago.

FAMILY: Eric and Delena have two young daughters.

9 TO 5: Eric is a CPA. They are both musicians; Delena is on the music staff at College Church, is involved in directing at Wheaton Christian Grammar School, and teaches privately.

PASTTIMES: Eric is an avid golfer and family chauffeur. They enjoy a lot of traveling.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Small group, choir, children’s music.

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BOOKSTALL

Summer Reading From Our Pastors And Directors Baxter Helm, high school pastor

Julie Clemens, director of disability ministries

Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

Joseph by John C. Lennox

Cheryce Berg, director of children’s ministries

Uncommon Ground by Tim Keller and John Inazu

After the Last Border by Jessica Goudeau No Longer Strangers: Transforming Evangelism with Immigrant Communities by Eugene Chow and Samira Izadi Page(editors) Before You Lose your Faith: Deconstructing Doubt in the Church by Ivan Mesa The Enneagram Goes to Church: Wisdom for Leadership, Worship, and Congregational Life by Todd Wilson Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference by Tim Keller

Ben Panner, college pastor Concise Theology by J.I. Packer

Curt Miller, missions pastor Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop

Dan Hiben, middle school pastor Worthy by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Eric Schumacher Uncommon Ground by Tim Keller and John Inazu

John Seward, executive pastor The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman

Made for More by Hannah Anderson

Michael Walker, pastoral resident Providence by John Piper The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution by Carl Trueman

Mindy Rynbrandt, director of women’s ministries Worthy by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Eric Schumacher

Nancy Singer, director of administration and finance Uncommon Ground by Timothy Keller and John Inazu Tithing After the Cross by David Croteau

Wil Triggs, director of communications Chasing Contentment: Trusting God in a Discontented Age by Erik Raymond Delighting In the Trinity by Michael Reeves Recovering the Lost Art of Reading

by Leland Ryken and Glenda Faye Mathes White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

LOOK IN THE JULY ISSUE FOR MORE SUMMER READING! 20

SIDE BY SIDE

The Secret Runners Wil Triggs

The first thing I do when I wake up is walk my dog Pongo. Most days I listen to the daily Bible readings as I walk, listening better on some days than others.

On the morning Daylight Saving Time pushed clocks forward an hour, we were walking in the 5:45 pre-dawn darkness again.

As the Scripture reader continued reading from Numbers, we rounded the corner on Cypress, and my mind wandered to Run for the STARS. Last year, the disappointments of shut down were piling up. Still, I remember Julie sounding more excited than bummed when she told me that it was going to be a virtual 5K. Whatever that means, I thought. So I put duct tape across the bottom of my run yard sign, wrote “virtual run” on it with a thick permanent marker and pushed it into the grass feeling cheated. I love helping out at Run for the STARS—working at one of the water stations, being a course marshall, doing social media during the event, cheering everybody on. It’s all good and fun and totally impossible last year.

What a baby.

It was on one of the morning walks last year that I realized that there was one thing I could still do to help—and that was to actually run the 5K myself.

Absolutely not, I told myself.

I imagined myself running at a pace where four-year-olds to 94-year-olds would all be passing me by, all of them smiling and laughing. Meanwhile, something would happen to a foot or an ankle and I’d need to walk/limp the rest of the route. I knew everyone would be nice. But still. I didn’t want to come in first in my age-group, just not embarrass myself.

Or maybe I just prefer swimming.

I realize on a lot of levels, that the world isn’t about me and neither is a 5K. People think about their own running. Or their kids or parents or whatever. They don’t care about me in the 5K. That’s a good and normal thing.

So it was surprising when I came to realize that this kind of inner weirdness was going on in my head. I mean, do I really want to admit this to people? When I was in junior high, I gave up track for trumpet. I was good with that decision, but maybe there is something leftover from when I used to run sprints with the guy who stayed in track and won the all-city meet that year.

I don’t know. It surprised me.

Here’s the thing. While walking with Pongo last year, I thought about how I could run the 5K whenever I wanted. No one would be running with me. I could time myself. I could run when I wanted, stop and walk for a bit, run again. It seemed about as low risk as could be. And it would help STARS. I realized that there was a part of me once that liked to run, and maybe that part of me might still be in there somewhere. Maybe I actually wanted to do this. It dawned on me that I could actually run/walk the 5K without an ounce of self-consciousness. I could just enjoy it and help STARS at the same time.

So that’s what I did.

I started by lengthening my walks with the dog. I figured out how many times round our neighborhood I needed to go to make a 5K. I actually ran on the scheduled race day. Early Saturday morning, I got up and ran. I was doing the Run for the STARS without being at the Run for the STARS. My dog ran/ walked about two thirds of it with me and I was done before the 8:00 start time of the usual run. (By the way, online registration for this year's virtual run just opened.)

The pandemic shutdown made me do something I never thought I’d do.

There are all kinds of other examples I’ve heard about—taking up gardening, rearranging your sock drawer, writing actual letters, baking yeast breads, cooking more, putting together crossword puzzles, redoing a room in your house or apartment.

But those aren’t the only things people are doing. Some people are sneaking into services; they’re secretly running to churches.

Even possibly College Church.

Like me and running, they don’t want anyone to see them. They don’t even want to admit it to themselves exactly. Or maybe they’ve never even thought about it before. Perhaps they’ve never been to a church, but they met someone who goes. Or they drive by on the way to work and they get curious. Maybe they have memories of church, good or bad, maybe mostly bad, and yes, Sunday morning rolls around and . . . click. Welcome to College Church. They can watch from bed, the couch, the deck, wherever.

Put yourself in their running shoes.

OK. No. Absolutely not. But what is it like?

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You remember the thing that happened that made you not like church, or it’s not part of your tradition and it would just be too much for your family to take. Or you developed that mental objection or changed political parties, or the emotional hurt never quite healed, or life just got going in another direction until Sunday became a different kind of day than the day you go to church. You think Jesus is better than ok but you aren’t sure about the organized church.

I’ve thought this is such a great opportunity for people to turn to God. Yet the church, well, self-inflicted wounds don’t necessarily make us seem like the most inviting and welcoming people on earth, which of course, we should be at some level. There shouldn’t be such a gulf between us and the God who loves us and the people we think of in our Jonah-like perceptions of our own personal Ninevites. Why doesn’t God get with our program?

Pray with me for those Secret Runners. Pray that this good news of Jesus would reach them and change their lives and ours.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

(Zechariah 9:9)

Think about them in their homes. God is there. Jesus is alive.

The Holy Spirit starts to get a little buggy. Leave me alone, you think.

We estimate that 1,845 viewers on 671 viewing devices joined the Sunday morning services through our livestream, YouTube and Facebook pages last week. And that was lower than usual.

That’s a lot of people.

More and more I’m thinking about those Secret Runners like me who are clicking their way into church. How can they take the next step? What can we do to make it seem like a place worth going; are we as a people a group worth knowing? What about Jesus and forgiveness and this Easter thing coming up?

MILESTONES Condolences • Pray for friends of Dan Barabas who passed away unexpectedly on May 18. Dan was the son of the late Mary Jane Barabas and nephew of Olena Mae Welsh, wife of one of College Church’s past pastors, Evan Welsh. Services were held.

• Pray for Dan Krc and family as they grieve the loss of Dan’s wife, Angie, who passed away on May 16 after a long battle with cancer.

• Pray for Lisa Burlingame as she grieves the loss of her father, Dr. Reginald Westmoreland, who passed away on May 15 in Denton, Texas.

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• Continue to pray for Vijai (Alma John) Kuruppacherry and their family as they grieve the loss of Vijai’s mother who passed away on May 15, one week after the passing of his father on May 8. They both died from complications of COVID. • Pray for Kent (Courtney) Graham and family and friends as they grieve the loss of Kent’s mom, Joyce “Romelle” who passed away on April 22.

Births • Arthur Isaac was born to new College Church members Cameron and Lauren Price on May 1.

LOOKING AHEAD

https://bit.ly/3vGtRRX

Coming this Summer LORD'S SUPPER June 6, July 4

• Tuesday Toogether Events • Summer Book Group Watch weekly emails and social media for details

Visit Pastor Josh’s Bible-teaching ministry at godcenteredlife.org. You can have daily devotionals delivered right to your inbox. There is also a daily teaching program streamed online, through podcasts, and at over 50 radio stations nationally. You can listen locally on Moody Radio (WMBI) at 10 p.m. M-F and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Your prayers and partnership with this ministry are greatly appreciated.

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