June 2022 Connections

JUNE 2022

CONNECTIONS L O C A L & G L O BA L S TO R I E S, N E W S A N D E V E N T S O F C O L L E G E C H U RC H

“One of the most innovative human inventions that illustrates the beauty of unity and the strength of diversity is Legos.”

Read “The Beauty of Unity and Strength in Diversity”

by Manny Mill on page 6

SIDE BY SIDE

Meet Summer Crew PAGE 12 FACE TO FACE

Running Barefoot Through the Heart of Summer VIRGINIA HUGHES | 8 LIFE LESSONS

All the Way My Savior Leads Me MIRIAM BARNETT | 14

TABLE OF CONTENTS PA GE 02

PAG E 14

June Highlights

All the Way My Savior Leads Me MIRIAM BARNETT

PA GE 04

PAG E 16

Prayer Gatherings

Milestones

PA GE 05 From the Editor

PAG E 17

WIL TRIGGS

Artist Spotlight—Ruth Gregornik

PA GE 06

PAG E 18

The Beauty of Unity and Strength in Diversity

Welcome New Members

MANNY MILL

PAGE 20

PA GE 08

LittWorld2 0 2 2 : Stronger Together in Hungary

Running Barefoot Through the Heart of Summer VIRGINIA HUGHES

PA GE 11

JOHN MAUST

PAG E 22 At the Bookstall

Boldly Speak Truth

PAG E 23

EMILY IVERSON

Looking Ahead

PA GE 12

PAG E 24

Meet Summer Crew

Finding Your Way Around College Church

Our Pastors, Directors and Residents: Josue Alvarado, pastoral resident | 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 | Howard Kern, facilities director Bruce Main, interim pastor of visitation and care | Josh Maurer, pastor of discipleship | 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 4nance | 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 Josh Moody, senior pastor | Je Oslund | Roger Sandberg | David Setran | Jeremy Taylor, secretary | Chad Thorson | Brian Wildman

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

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 MIRIAM BARNETT

EMILY IVERSON

After moving from Colorado, Miriam joined College Church in 2 0 1 8 . She enjoys being part of the greeting team and participating in the Living Word Adult Community. She also enjoys spending time with her five married children and 1 5 grandchildren.

Emily Iverson serves with the Sanctity of Human Life Task Force.

She and her husband, Chris, participate in a variety of pro-life activities. Currently, she is trying to figure out what to do if Roe v.

Wade is overturned this summer.

She takes care of the home and is looking forward to spending time in June with her extended family.

RUTH GREGORNIK

JOHN MAUST

has been a member of College Church for 1 4 years and has been on the music and worship staff for half of that. She and her husband, Ryan, live in Glen Ellyn with their three young daughters. Ruth enjoys having “the best seat in the house” on Sunday mornings at the piano— hearing our congregation’s beautiful singing in worship.

is president of Media Associates International, a ministry that helps encourage and develop Christians to communicate for effectively through print and electronic media.

VIRGINIA HUGHES

MANNY MILL

has served in many ways over the years, mainly those related to children and the deaconess board ministries. She and her husband, Roger, have three grown daughters and often drive up to Ann Arbor (MI) to visit their young grandson.

College church evangelist Manny Mill is the executive director of Koinonia House National Ministries, which started in 1 9 with the Koinonia House of Wheaton.

Manny’s trademark “Aleluya” expresses his praise for all God has done for him.

COVER IMAGE: Awaiting Adventure by Ruth Gregornik

JUNE HIGHLIGHTS SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICES

SUMMER FORUM

Everyone welcome

in Commons Hall at 9 : 3 0 a. m.

Joinusat8,9:30and1a.m.Livestream broadcast is at 9 : 3 0 with a rebroadcast at 1 . You can watch it at college-church.org/livestream

FAITHSHARE: Ten Weeks to Grow Your Gospel Readiness

SERMON SERIES

JUNE 12: Understanding the Gospel: Its Meaning and Importance JUNE 19: Sharing the Gospel: The Manner of Effective Witness JUNE 26: Sharing the Gospel: The Means of Effective Witness

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES (KIDS’ HARBOR) SUNDAYS—June 12-August 7 9 : 3 0 a. m. Nursery, preschool and elementary

New Series: Comfort, Comfort JUNE 5: saiah 4 0 : 1 - 2 One Service parking lot at 1 0 : 3 0 a. m.

in the Commons

JUNE 12: saiah 40: 3-5 in the Sanctuary at 9:30 and 1 a.m.

JUNE 19: saiah 4 0 : 6 - 8 at 9 : 3 0 and 1 a. m.

1 a. m. nursery and preschool ( only for children of firsttime visitors and those teaching in Kids’ Harbor)

SUMMER CREW 2022 All events meet at 1 - 3 : 3 0 p. m. for children entering grades 1 - 5 Ticket price: $ 5 per event

JUNE 26: saiah 4 0 : 9 - 1 at 9:30 and 1 a.m.

Registration required for each event at college-church.org/events

SUNDAY EVENING WORSHIP SERVICES

SUMMER ADVENTURE DAYS IN JUNE

Everyone welcome.

JUNE 5: No evening service JUNE 12: nCommonsHallat5p.m.

JUNE 19: nCommonsHallat5p.m.

JUNE 26: nCommonsHallat5p.m.

JUNE 9: Ready, Set, Action JUNE 14: Take 1 : Christmas in June

SPARK STUDIOS VBS Created in Christ, designed for God$ s purpose ( Eph. 2 : 1 0 ) Please attend one VBS session only.

JUNE 20-23 JUNE 27-30 ADVENTURE DAYS AND VBS COMING IN JULY AS WELL.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL (KMS)

VISITORS LUNCH

MONDAYS STARTING JUNE 6: Boys & Girls Bible Studies 1 0 : 3 0 a. m. to noon meet in the North Lot Tent

Are you new to College Church?

If so, you’re invited to our Visitors Lunch on Sunday, June 1 2 , at noon in the lobby outside the Sanctuary.

Come and meet pastors and staff, learn about College Church and find out how you can get involved. Lunch is on us!

WEDNESDAYS STARTING JUNE 8: KMs Wednesday 6 : 4 5 - 8 : 1 5 p. m. meet on the Commons Patio ( and Commons Hall West) THURSDAYS STARTING JUNE 9: Sports Hangout 1 0 : 3 0 a. m. to noon —meet in the North Lot Tent SUNDAY MORNINGS STARTING JUNE 12: KMs Summer Sundays 9 : 3 0 - 1 0 : 3 0 a. m. meet in the KMs room NOTE: All middle school programming will be canceled for Fourth of July week (July 3-9).

HIGH SCHOOL (HYACKS)

TUESDAYS TOGETHER Fun for all ages, food, music, plus time and space to chill together. Begins June 2 1 from 5 p. m. till you$ re ready to go home.

SUMMER IN HYACKS

SUMMER BOOK GROUP

Begins the week of June 6

Wisdom from the Ancients: 30 Forgotten Lessons from the Early Church

SUMMER KICK OFF Wednesday June 8 , 7 - 8 : 3 0 p. m.

SUNDAYS IN THE CROSSINGS at 9 : 3 0 a. m. ( first Sunday is June 1 2 )

WEDNESDAYS 7 : 3 0 - 8 : 3 0 p. m.

NOTE: All high school programming is cancelled for the week of the Fourth of July (July 3-9).

COLLEGE GROUP COLLEGE GROUP BIBLE STUDY on Tuesdays at 7 : 3 0 p. m. at 3 2 E. Union Ave.

CREAM OF WHEATON

by Bryan M. Litfin Wednesday nights at 7 in Commons from June 8 - August 1 7

WOMEN’S MINISTRIES SUMMER BIBLE STUDY As schedules change for the summer, let’s take the opportunity to be intentional about spending time in God$ s Word. We are excited to offer a newly released, 8 - week, video- based study on Matthew for you to use as you organize and gather friends for Bible study this summer. The Seek First the Kingdom study is available for $ 5 in the Commons by the reception desk. We are praying that this study would not only be a blessing to you, but also a support as you seek to minister to the people around you this summer. More information is available on our website.

JUNE 2-5: Bring a friend by our display in Memorial Park

WOMEN’S MINISTRY SUMMER BOOK CLUB

STARS

SUNDAY, JUNE 26: Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren

RUN FOR THE STARS

THURSDAY, JULY 14: Made for More by Hannah Anderson

JUNE 11, 8 A.M.

SUNDAYS NCLUS ON CLASSES

on the Commons Patio, rain location Commons Hall, 7 - 8 : 3 0 p. m.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9: Worthy by Elyse Fitzpatrick & Eric Schumacher

MOM2MOM

at 9 : 3 0 and 1 a. m.

Summer Park Playdates, 9 : 3 0 - 1 AM

TEEN STARS at 9 : 3 0 a. m.

JUNE 13: Triangle Park in Wheaton

YOUNGADULT/ADULT/MULT-GENERATONALat9:30a.m.

JUNE 27: Graf Park in Wheaton

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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 8 : 1 5 - 8 : 4 0 a. m. in C1 0 1 Monday Morning Prayer 6 : 1 5 - 7 : 1 5 a. m. Board Room Wednesday Night Prayer ( Zoom only) 7 - 8 p. m.

JUNE 1: Chris and Dana H JUNE 8: Judy Blumhofer JUNE 15: Dr. Samuel Naaman, SAFC JUNE 22: Josh and Elise M JUNE 29: Harry and Wendy Robinson

HANNAH PRAYER FELLOWSHIP will meet on June 8 at 1:30 p.m. in room C103. Melissa Warner will be sharing with us. She has been accepted at Cornerstone Counseling Center in Chiang Mai as one of their counselors. You are invited to join us as Melissa shares the vision God has given her to serve in Asia.

DORCAS PRAYER FELLOWSHIP meets to hear from a missionary and to pray for some of our CollegeChurchmissionariesonWednesday,Juneat ,51 03:1 p.m.in , theUpperDeckatCovenantLivingatWindsorPark.

Men and women are welcome to visit or join the group.

AARON-HUR PRAYER FELLOWSHIP

Aaron- Hur Fellowship will meet on Thursday, June 2 3 , at Friday Prayer forthePersecutedChurchBoard ( Room)1-2 7 p. m. at the home of Ruth Diffin, 1 9 1 7 Ardmore Lane, p.m.LedbyWilandLorraineTriggs.Theweeklyprayerguide Unit B ( 6 1 0 - 2 9 1 - 2 4 3 7 ) . Our guests will be Chris and Dana H., serving in Asia. is also available at our website: https:/ bit.ly/3vzdcAz 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.

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FROM THE EDITOR THE LAST BREAKFAST

Back from LittWorld, Media Associate$ s nternational$ s triannual confer ence, there is much to think about. But the last breakfast keeps me hungry for more.

I’m thinking about Byato. He had sat in front of me in a workshop on publishing books, but we hadn’t spoken until that last morning breakfast.

He pulled out a chair at the same table where Lorraine and I were sitting.

He described Mongolia, his homeland, as a culturally Buddhist country.

He didn’t grow up knowing much about religion. Mostly what he knew was terror at home. His dad had been abusive, so much so that he and his brothers plotted to kill him. The plot failed, and his childhood ended.

As a young adult, he fell into bad habits. His mother su ered. Already living with the dizculties of her husband, she was now seeing her beloved son make bad choices.

He saw this, too. Byato tried to stop them to ease her pain. He described trying to wash the smell of tobacco out of his clothes without much success and the subsequent pain of not being able to either stop or successfully hide his habit from his mom, which he knew caused her pain. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop all the bad habits. He could not get the smell out of his clothes.

When he went into a church for the 4rst time, he heard people singing as he approached. t drew him in.

The people were singing about the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood, how it could make a person truly clean.

It wasn’t just the smell of tobacco on the surface of his clothes, but the utter failure in his soul that they were singing about—cleansing from the inside out. Somehow, by the Holy Spirit, he knew it was true and, in that truth, change and life came to him. We talked more about his work as a Christian broadcaster.

Then breakfast was over. Time to go our separate ways. There was so much more I wanted to know.

Every year, I tell the story of Hudson Taylor to the Kindergarteners—a similar story of faith in curriculum I inherited from Linda Murphy. Mr Ni was an idol worshipper. Yet he never could get over his sense of sin.

One night he heard a bell ringing, and he followed the sound and found people in front of a building. t was Hudson’s home.

One of the people told him that a man was in the building who would tell them about God. Curious, Mr. Ni went in and sat down. Hudson told of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins. Mr. Ni raised his hand and stood up in the middle of the message. Hudson shared more and Mr. Ni believed.

A few days later Mr. Ni asked Hudson how long it had been since they had 4rst heard about Jesus in his home country. Thinking he would hear 2 0 or 3 0 years, Mr. Ni was shocked when Hudson told him that it had been hundreds of years.

Mr.Nithoughtofhisfather,whohaddiedneverhearingaboutJesus. Whydidittakeyousolong?(heasked. n his good and loving sovereignty, God directs our paths. Working now on our Cream of Wheaton display, I’m praying for opportunities this summer, that we might have the courage to sing the song and ring the bell.

WI L T RI GGS

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L OCA L L Y S OUR CED

The Beauty of Unity and Strength in Diversity Manny Mill I am a Christian who happens to be Cuban. In other words, my faith in Christ dictates to my Cuban culture, not my Cuban culture to my Christian faith. I left Cuba as a refugee with nothing, but I am still Cuban. I am loud, love to dance for Jesus, and eat black beans and rice and much more of our Cuban cuisine, but I no longer let my culture direct how I live as a Christian. Jesus is my King, my Lord, and my Older Brother. Your culture may be different than mine, but we both matter to God.

galaxies in space, the immense seas, and their occupants, all the vegetation and animals on the earth! It is truly amazing and breath-taking. Likewise, as humans, we are also diverse, and each of us is eternally valuable with a body, soul, heart and a mind with ideas that can change for the better who we live, as we contribute to the wel fare of each other. We are each unique, but we are one human race with the same color of blood! We must value our fellow human beings, especially those who look, think, or act differently than we do. We must defeat discrimina tion, and eradicate xen ophobia, which is fear of people who look dif ferent than we do. As an old Amish saying goes, “The only time to look down on your neighbor is when you are bending over to help.” We must train ourselves not to react, but to respond in love. First John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear in volves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

(NKJV)

Diversity is the topic of the day! It is a sensitive subject, but an essential one we must wrestle with.

Many are afraid to tackle it because we can easily understood. I have had the privilege of not only talking about it, but most importantly living it out passionately, intentionally, and with integrity for over 03 years. I may not under stand your particular situ ation, but I can tell you that as a former inmate I feel your pain and your bur den, and I have chosen to enter into others’ personal

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the heart of Christ in me.

No man or woman is an island to himself or herself.

We need each other. Each of us has an essential role to play, no matter your color, class or culture. Colorful diversity is a beauti ful thing when it unites us and infuses us with the security and strength we all need. A very appropriate word to clearly de scribe this type of intimate, colorful diversity is “ koinonia ,” which in Greek means “belonging together in mutual partnership.”

Jesus said in Luke 10:27, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (NKJV) Who is our neighbor?

Anyone and everyone that God chooses to send our way, regardless of what they have done or where they came from. According to the Scriptures, we must embrace them with genuine God-given love.

You see, as we look at God’s majestic and glorious crea tion, we see unbelievable diversity, trillions of stars and

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached on the parable of the Good Samaritan many times in his career, including

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the last night of his life. He was an extremely eloquent and effective communicator and used the Scriptures, specifically this parable to drive home his message of justice for all. The message of the gospel that he embraced gave birth to the civil rights movement.

A parable is a story about human interaction and dilemmas, but with a heavenly meaning. In this parable we have a man representing you and me. He is walking somewhere, perhaps to the market, when he is attacked and robbed by thieves, who represent the devil and his agents. Their mission is to kill, steal and destroy, so the Jewish man is robbed and left for dead on the road. A priest and then a Levite, both Jewish religious leaders, pass the injured Jewish man and keep going. Then comes a Samaritan, who is from a culture that despises the Jews. This man has compassion; he stoops, goes down to the level of his Jewish neighbor, changes his plans for God’s plans, and does the right thing. Though the Samaritans and Jews are enemies, this man takes the initiative, risks it all, even his reputation, crosses culture, and breaks tradition, driven by love that becomes visible and tangible for his fellow human being! This brings reconciliation, which is what we desperately need today. Diversity and compassion must keep winning!

died on the cross as our Substitute as the required payment for our sin, to free us from our slavery to sin as we become reconciled to God, our Creator. At Calvary we find total forgiveness for our sins and can then be merciful and forgive others. This is the best news a human being can receive . . . the gospel. Aleluya! That is why we responded in love to God’s call with our very first ministry in 1 9 0 . We established, against all odds, a beautifully diverse Koinonia House in Wheaton, a post- prison familyhome model to disciple men coming out of prison, serving as a strong bridge between the church in prison and the church in the street. Later we partnered with AWANA Ministries to begin “Malachi Dads” to see dads in prison reconcile with their children. You see, over 8 5 % of our neighbors in prison come from broken homes, and over 9 0 % have children, and many of them need to learn how to be fathers.

One of the most innovative human inventions that illustrates the beauty of unity and strength in diversity is LEGOS. Each piece, whatever its color and size, is essential for the whole to become what the designer has intended it to be. Our sons spent hours creating differe masterpieces, fitting each piece in exactly the right place.

And friend, that is exactly who you are . . . an important piece in God’s plan, and there is a definite place for you in the whole of God’s perfect masterpiece. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” ( Ephesians 2 : 1 0 , NLT) That is, you! Read Psalm 1 3 9 and meditate on the purpose of God in diversity and his loving wisdom in making us all different. Trust him by trusting his Son Jesus. Come to him with humility and expectancy to see his glory manifested in you and through you, an important piece in God’s masterpiece, which he has created for his glory!

Note that the Good Samaritan was equipped with the right tools to help his neighbor and make all he had available to help the neighbor he had never met before, including bandages, oil, wine, the donkey to transport him to the inn, the money to pay the inn keeper, and even the time to listen and stay in the same room with a stranger. Above all, his heart, mind, ear, and soul became fully available to his neighbor in need, desiring to see him fully restored, alive and healthy. Likewise, each of us is the solution to the needs of others; we are dependent on each other. This is how our Master Designer fashioned us to function. Dr. King said, “The priest and the Levite ask themselves the same question: What is going to happen to me if help my neighbor? But the Samaritan asked . . . a different question: What is going to happen to my neighbor if don$COMMUNION t help my neighbor?” Each of us should ask that question, AT COLLEGE CHURCH regardless of our neighbor’s color, culture, class, crisis JUNE 5 and even crime. We must look at all people through the eyes of compassion and be vessels of mercy to bless, not hurt, others. Until we enter into people’s suffering, walk in their shoes and feel their pain, we will not be able to understand their need or dilemma.

That is why God our Father called Barbara, my wife, and me over 3 0 years ago to be equipped, pitch our tents, and suffer with those behind bars all over the world, with the same deep compassion and love demonstrated by the Good Samaritan and Jesus Christ. Jesus, totally innocent,

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Virginia Hughes

Running Barefoot Through the Heart of Summer

F ACE T O FA CE

Most of the days felt like summer in the hot, tropical islands of the Philippines where my family spent the early part of my childhood. Many of our locations were near the coast often surrounded by rice fields. Two elder brothers, ages nine and eleven, plus a couple of missionary pals their age and me around the age of six would frequently run together down the local paths.

We ran because we were blessed with good health and the freedom that existed in a time where parents did their grownup work and elder siblings loosely watched their charges. Our engines were set to run, run, run and we ran everywhere seeking something more interesting than school lessons and chapel services.

Our feet bare and running at a steady gait through tall sea grass swaying in

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the breez e s. The rice frogs, no longer polliwogs j u mped freely, and we chased them. But we didn’ t pick them up yet. They were too small. Months later we would chase them again and bag a few to take to the campus cook Nita, who would transform our muddy gift into crunchy fried frog legs. In our summer kingdom, we dined eagerly from tin plates with no silverware, sitting on empty rice bags leftover from our frog foraging.

As an adult in the U.S., frog legs crossed my path again as part of an upscale brunch buffet. They did not taste as scrumptious as they had in childhood.

The island atmosphere was missing along with the continuous running which worked up a ravenous appetite.

A pristine china plate did not hold frog legs as finely as a tin plate had. And the empty rice bags to sit upon? Missing.

The stateside frog legs did not taste like chicken as some liked to claim, but just as froggy as one may imagine.

everything; and if I didn’t follow the new rules I’d never get to play with the big kids. I didn’t like being an alien; even less being “frozen” and “caught” from two adjacent When we ran barefoot through the tall grass, we did not away. No, to the phasers and all the new Trekkie backyards consider there might be snakes in the grass, because we lingo and how serious my brothers were about it. It was relied on our snake map Richard had drawn and thought not real, and they were acting like it was; and that was we kept track of their whereabouts. The cobras preferred more frightening than being shaken on the bamboo bridge to nest under the mission home and lurk in the bamboo above the stony river. I ran indoors into neutral territory grove, the sugar cane field by the wall, or in Mom’s where I would be caught in a lecture from two elder sisters poinsettia shrubs. We occasionally encountered and snakes Mother about washing face, hands and feet and being in our living quarters, but never in theirs. Thankfully, more ladylike. t was a di erent kind of prison, but it felt a we never did get snake bites despite our lack of care or little safer than playing sci- 4 games outdoors. thought to snakes in the tall grass. Groups of birds flew up and we spread ourselves out in the grass. We longed to rise as high as they did way up into the clouds and fly on tidal winds to unseen places.

Once we caught our breath after stretching out and looking up, we raced over the cliffs onto the swaying bridge, clinging to the ropes tied to bamboo sections.

The bridge shook on both sides, while each of us took a turn in the middle of the bridge. The object of the bridge game was to hold on tightly and not be shaken off and cast down into the rocky riverbed. None of us fell onto the rocks or into the shallow river below. We managed to hang on and the ropes stayed attached to the bamboo as we squealed, closed our eyes and clung to the ropes with great, glorious fear.

Arriving in the States, off the long flight from the Islands, Now in second grade, I refused to play “Star Trek,” from that we rested for a few days at Aunt Clara’s house in Pasadena, point forward. I took up jacks, jump rope and hopscotch California. We wanted to swim, but immediately ran too with any neighbor kids recruited on the midwestern fast and were hollered at to sit and endure a series of sidewalk. Learning to ride the large, green bicycle with twitchy time-outs meant to slow us down and stop us the handlebar basket, found in the garage, occupied from continuously running around the slippery edges of some time. A neighborly mom suggested that the bicycle the pool. was too big and needed training wheels as she lifted the bicycle We drove east and were soon living in ndiana where my off where it had pinned me to the sidewalk. I tried brothers, neighbors and I ran through the adjoining yards to explain that this was the only “found” bike there was. If it didn’t come with training wheels, there weren’t going to and alley playing army. When my brothers discovered “Star Trek,” from watching the program on a neighbor’s be any training wheels. The neighbor then talked to Mom TV set, all the intergalactic plot lines were absorbed and who nodded in polite agreement about the dangers of me outdoor army games changed to, “Beam me up, Scotty.” riding that big bicycle. Mom told me to take a break.

Pretend army guns became phasers. And I was cast as an alien with no phaser in our backyard play. The neighbor showed me comics of the alien I was to be which led to complaints of not wanting to be that icky, alien creature with the alligator face. Shortly after the game commenced, my brother Bill with a mere glance from two yards away commanded me to freeze, “You are now a prisoner of the Federation!” he declared.

No one had tagged or caught me, so took o running.

He pursued and called out accusations of how I ruined

Running less that summer provided the time to cultivate a family gang of my own in the twins. Much to my dismay, I had often been tasked with watching them for life, but now, as they turned five they could tag along with me as I had formerly followed my elder brothers. And we quickly learned that our plan to get rich from a lemonade stand was impossible. Between the three of us we lacked the discipline to not drink all the lemonade ourselves.

Continued on next page

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continued from previous page

finding friends to play backyard games of kickball, spud and steal the bacon.

Movingalotwasaconsistentfactorofourlives.Wemoved again the next year and were in another Indiana home During the hottest part of August, we spent weeks with no sidewalks. Our parsonage had acres of mown sweating through old time camp meetings in the big grass with a tall picket fence around it. We rantabernacle. and ran Funeral fans waved in every rough plank pew. through the grass which felt like green velvet on our bare It was a time of intense, fiery preaching which included feet. We climbed a ladder to get to the top of the illustrations shed of what might happen in a traffic accident to and jump onto an old mattress below. Dad had pulled the one who left the service without being saved that night. old mattress out of the house for trash pickup. In those The long altar calls begged one to get saved, “Just as I days of intense frugality, the mattress must have been in Am, ( and Oh why not tonight? Wilt thou be saved, oh why abhorrent shape or one of us would have slept upon it. not tonight?” The question was asked numerous times: Yet outdoors it became a safe landing pad. We dragged “Are it you ready to face the judgment of the Lord and all to the edge of the shed and rapidly flapped our wings to eternity?” It resonated and frightened me so vividly that I fly before landing. We did this only a few times eachran-walked as it forward to the altar to receive salvation each was not a soft landing; yet somehow no one broke a limb. of the first three nights. On night four, my sister Mary We tired of the shed and ran to the pear tree attold the me back to sit still and hold her hand through the services corner of the yard. during altar call. She whispered in my ear that I need not go forward and get saved every day, that I was saved The pear tree was covered in nearly ripe pears and a enough for now and we would talk about it later. few neighborhood teens liked to gather in its shade and smoke cigarettes. The twins and I climbed up into the Reminiscing as adults, my siblings and I acknowledge tree and our first act of neighborhood evangelism was to there is no human reason we survived the perilous places pelt the cigarette smoking teens with pears, yelling that where we ran barefoot as children. Relatives back in the smoking was a sin. Mother brought out cookies and Kool- States and faithful churches prayed countless prayers Aid and invited all the kids to Sunday School. We forwere us. Unknowingly, we put the words to the test that ordered down from the tree and sheepishly apologized Jesus spoke in Matthew 1 8 , verse 1 0 , See that you do for throwing pears. Then we were told to run inside with not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in no cookies or Kool-Aid for us and await our punishment. heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who We knew what was coming and the twins were already is in heaven. ( The angels spoken of in Psalm 9 1 : 1 - 1 3 , had crying. Spankings and tearful prayers for forgiveness led charge over us to guard us in all our ways and on their to a sanction that us three pear throwers were not allowed hands, we were borne up, lest we strike our feet against near the pear tree for a week. We rued that the a pears stone. would ripen without us. With time served, the burden of punishment lifted, and we ran again to the pear tree to We thank our Father in heaven for his care. For his protecting angels who continually ran with us through dine on delightful, ripened pears. the summers of our childhood and on throughout our In fourth grade we moved again, and part of each summer lives. We pray they run with our own beloved children and day now began with helping Mom in the house and garden delightful grandchildren. And with great joy we plan to run and keeping an eye on not two, but three siblings younger and fly with the angels again someday in total freedom than me. At times we ran through the neighborhood barefoot through the summers of eternity.

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L OCA L L Y SO U R C ED

Boldly Speak Truth EMILY IVERSON

Conversations with those who don’t share our beliefs, you guys were here praying?” I took out by cell phone and whether it’s one-on-one, in a group, private or public is looked at the time, One hour and 1 minutes ago! ( crucial to changing the culture. Silence doesn’t work.

As I told her the story of the couple who decided to exit My husband and I recently were part of two events that Planned Parenthood earlier that day and she started to helped facilitate conversations about abortion in different tear up. I then explained to her that we know three women ways. The first event called Life Chain took place on April who chose life for their babies since March 2 when the 9 in Wheaton. The Life Chain gathered around 1 0 people 4 0 Days for Life Spring vigil began. who displayed life-affirming messages to commuters on Roosevelt Road This event, hosted by St. Michael Catholic She wanted to know more about what 4 0 Days for Life stood for as an organization. I explained that the visible, Church in Wheaton, was a great encouragement as people came together to share this simple, but important biblical public centerpiece of 4 0 Days for Life is a focused, 4 0 truth printed on our signs: “Abortion takes a human life.” day, twelve-hour prayer vigil Monday through Saturday outside abortion facilities. Our peaceful presence se We received a lot of encouragement from cars passing by. However, some did not like our message, and they a powerful message to the community about the tragic reality let us know that, too. We gave them the peace sign and of abortion. continued to share our message. told her, There are 5 8 vigils throughout 6 0 different

The second event was called Speak Life 2 0 2 on April 2 3 countries just like the one here in Aurora. I pulled up the 4 0 Days for Life web page and showed her that there at the University of Chicago. Around 6 0 college students attended. Pro-Life Speaker Scott Klusendorf did a great have been 3 7 0 babies known to be saved at vigil sites part job of reminding the students to remain calm when way through this spring vigil—three of those babies were someone is antagonizing them, to ask questions, to saved right here. understand the concerns of the pro-choicers and address She quivered and said, “That gives me goose bumps!” them. If we know the foundational truths of the pro-life I explained that our goal is for clients to leave Planned position, we can refer to them in every conversation on Parenthood$ s darkness and death for Waterleaf this topic. Recent developments in the Supreme Court pregnancy resource center’s life, hope and help. She said make it more important than ever to understand and be she understood and then agreed that I could pray with able to articulate that every human life has value. her. I thanked God for her and her inquisitiveness, for the babies spared We pray that current and future conversations will be from death, and the couple that had earlier left Planned Parenthood for Waterleaf$ s help. fruitful. One way you can boldly and publicly indicate that you are pro-life is to pray outside of an abortion facility. Join the Sanctity of Human Life Task Force in prayer across Sarah Lindquist leads this prayer time outside the Planned from Planned Parenthood. We pray in partnership with Parenthood in Aurora.

4 0 Days for Life$ s year- round peaceful prayer vigil for the FROM A PRAYER VOLUNTEER AT THE 40 DAYS FOR LIFE PRAYER VIGIL SITE

vulnerable, abortion industry workers, and our culture.

A woman who lives in the apartments across from Planned Parenthood was walking to Mariano’s and talking on her cell phone, when she stopped and asked me, “Does this really work? Does praying on this hill really do any good?”

Park at Mariano’s or behind AutoZone and meet on Waterleaf pregnancy resource center$ s property acros from Planned Parenthood Aurora’s driveway.

Saturday, June 4, 1-2 p.m.

Sign up at www.college-church.org/impact/sohl to receive said an emphatic yes. And she replied, When was the SOHL monthly e- newsletter to receive events schedul last time someone pulled out of that parking lot because and life-related news.

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SI D E B Y S I DE

Meet Summer Crew BRIANNA NEWHOUSE, DIRECTOR WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE CREW TEAM? I loved working with and getting to know the children of College Church last summer! I love working with kids and getting to see them grow in their knowledge of the gospel, God and the Bible was an incredible experience. I am so thankful I get to come back this year!

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE A PART OF SUMMER CREW AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO APPLY? ​I worked with Summer Crew last year and had a blast! I loved getting to know the children of College Church and wanted to continue building relationships and growing their love for Christ. I am so grateful to continue serving the Lord and am excited to combine my leadership skills and my love of working with kids!

WHAT IS THE BEST THING, AND THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT WORKING WITH KIDS? ​The best thing about working with kids is seeing them learn and grow ( and have fun while doing it! ) . One of the more challenging things is being patient when they’re having a little too much fun!

AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE SUMMER, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE LORD DO IN YOU? IN THE CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE? ​I would love to see the Lord grow my humility this summer.

I want the gospel to continue to be more real in my life. For the children, I want the Lord to build their understanding of the gospel and their knowledge of how much he loves them— because everything else stems from that truth.

ON THE WEEKENDS, YOU MAY FIND ME...

Reading! I love reading new books and rereading old favorites.

I also love exploring new places and being outside in nature.

YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS… Some of my favorite memories of elementary school are my first grade read-alouds. Some of my favorite books from that year were The Borrowers series and The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles.

WHAT THREE WORDS BEST DESCRIBE YOU? Organized, creative, others- oriented LASTLY, WHAT IS ONE WAY YOUR CHURCH FAMILY CAN PRAY FOR YOU? ​I would appreciate prayers for leading the team and the children well, and growth in Christ-likeness.

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HOPE AVILES WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE CREW TEAM? I did it last year and the experience was amazing! I love connecting with the children of College Church and the surrounding community and impacting them for Christ. I just think it will be a lot of fun :)

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE A PART OF SUMMER CREW AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO APPLY? Well, in short, was a part of the team last year and absolutely loved it. But on a more core level, in the words of a dear friend of mine, I feel “the pleasure of God” when working with and ministering to children, and this is a wonderful opportunity to not only do that in action, but to grow in doing it well.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING, AND THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT WORKING WITH KIDS? I would say that the best thing about working with kids is the unique joy they find in the little things in life; it is contagious.

The most challenging thing about working with kids is likely that it can be exhausting.

AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE SUMMER, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE LORD DO IN YOU? IN THE CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE? I would love to see the Lord shape me into a more singleminded woman--one whose focus is increasingly to bring Christ glory in my every action. And I would love to see the children not only increase in their knowledge of the Lord, but that their hearts would grow to know his amazing love and grace to them.

ON THE WEEKENDS, YOU MAY FIND ME...

Doing something or other outside, whether it’s reading, drawing, running, dancing, cartwheels or just sky gazing.

YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS… I was homeschooled in elementary school, so my favorite memory of that time was learning about clocks and money from the clock book my mom gave me—it was very exciting to me.

WHAT THREE WORDS BEST DESCRIBE YOU? teachable, nature-lover, exhilaration-addict (hopefully, the double-words count) LASTLY, WHAT IS ONE WAY YOUR CHURCH FAMILY CAN PRAY FOR YOU? It would mean the world to me if you could pray that the Lord provides me with clarity, peace, joy and patience this summer.

At this point in my life, I need all four of these, and I know God to be a generous God who possesses each of these qualities in abundance. Thank you.

ETHAN WALTER WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE CREW TEAM? I love serving in College Church and working with kids.

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE A PART OF SUMMER CREW AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO APPLY? I became a part of Summer Crew because I was notified about the position and application, and it was a great opportunity for me to serve in the church over the summer. I was motivated to apply because of how much I love working with kids and teaching them about God. WHAT IS THE BEST THING, AND THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT WORKING WITH KIDS? The best thing about working with kids is the way they look up to their leaders and the impact leaders can have in their lives, especially regarding their faith. The challenging parts are when kids get disruptive and you have to manage a lot of children.

AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE SUMMER, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE LORD DO IN YOU? IN THE CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE? I hope to see the Lord help me to be an encouragement to others and ultimately bear witness to Him. I hope to see the children find a greater desire to pursue God and find joy in engaging with the church community.

ON THE WEEKENDS, YOU MAY FIND ME...

Drinking tea with friends while listening to the second movement of Beethoven$ s 7 th Symphony.

YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS… Leading a jailbreak in the school play about the French Revolution.

WHAT THREE WORDS BEST DESCRIBE YOU? Three words that best describe me are hard-working, kind and responsible.

LASTLY, WHAT IS ONE WAY YOUR CHURCH FAMILY CAN PRAY FOR YOU? I would appreciate prayer for wisdom as I help lead and mentor the children.

JULIA NORDSTROM WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE CREW TEAM? I think it’s an incredible opportunity to serve the church community and connect with elementary school kids (who are awesome!)

WHAT IS THE BEST THING, AND THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT WORKING WITH KIDS? I love working with kids because they’re teeming with life and vivaciousness! A downside of this is that kids can be exhausting.

AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE SUMMER, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE LORD DO IN YOU? IN THE CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE? Over the summer, $ d like to see children come to a better understanding of the gospel. Pray that we would have energy, persistence and clarity!

ON THE WEEKENDS, YOU MAY FIND ME...

I’m probably working at Stars Resale or spending time with friends.

YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS… My elementary school had an “explore more day” every year, where the kids got to do a bunch of random fun events all day.

That was always a highlight.

WHAT THREE WORDS BEST DESCRIBE YOU? observant, thoughtful and practical

NATHAN ACHZIGER WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE CREW TEAM? I think that it will be a lot of fun to get to know young believers and help further their faith!

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE A PART OF SUMMER CREW AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO APPLY? I joined Summer Crew because my friends were doing it, and kids are fun to be around.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING, AND THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT WORKING WITH KIDS? Kids are always ready to have fun, but they often say or do things that catch me completely off guard.

AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE SUMMER, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE LORD DO IN YOU? IN THE CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE? I hope that the Lord will help me make this a fun summer for all the kids that participate.

ON THE WEEKENDS, YOU MAY FIND ME...

Hanging out with friends or playing with my cats.

YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS… Going to Brook4eld Zoo in 5th grade and seeing the monkeys.

WHAT THREE WORDS BEST DESCRIBE YOU? Fun, reliable, easygoing

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE A PART OF SUMMER CREW AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO APPLY? I decided to apply for Summer Crew because it’s a great way for me to be really involved in the church over the summer. And because elementary-aged kids are awesome!

13

L I FE L ESSON S

All the Way My Savior Leads Me Miriam Barnett

An old hymn comes to mind, and amazingly, I recall the words to the first verse: All the way my Savior leads me; What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my guide?

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

I had a charmed childhood. My parents modeled and lived faith in God’s love, trust in God’s direction and the joy of Jesus’ gift of salvation. From an early age, I dreamed of becoming a nurse.

My parents had prayed that God would direct my life and keep me in the center of his will. They prayed with me and

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soon I made the decision about when and where to commence nursing career.

That day finally arrived, and my father gave me some Bible verses to carry with me: “The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like

a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. ( saiah 5 8 : 1 , NKJV) Of course, my father did remind me to read the whole chapter.

n July 1 9 6 7 , immigrated to the U. S. , Stan was in a surgical residency with long hours and only home two nights a week. Me? I was lonely, encountered a toxic situation at work, had a miscarriage. We attended church but were not really vested in it.

I moved into the nurses’ residence, excited that I had now embarked on my nursing adventure. When my roommate arrived, she noticed my Bible on my bed and angrily asked It was only in looking back that we saw how God used each metoputitoutofsightmy4rstdirectobjectiontomyof faith. these circumstances in our lives. In our distress we called out to our heavenly Father, and he lovingly heard I loved learning to become a nurse, and I loved being a us. Stan rejoined the army in an anesthesia residency, a nurse. I knew God had directed me and that he was with result of friendships he had made with anesthesiologists me. Over the next four years, however, my Christianin walk Vietnam. Those two years in the residency were joyful. gradually became stale, secondary to nursing, studies and We enjoyed army life, made friends and discovered a good new friends. It was a spiritual desert experience. church. Our daughter arrived during those two years, and my parents came to visit us in the States.

After graduation, I had much to think about and what to do next, but first, I asked God to forgive me and to restore We were next assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington, and our fellowship. My hunger for God$ s Word returned ashad dida month’s leave during which we welcomed our my joy in prayer. And fellowship with others who loved second child, a son, and I got to know my in-laws better.

Jesus became a priority.

During this assignment, Stan met an anesthesia team in I took a job in the operating room of a large city hospital, and one day, I was called to the director of nursing’s office.

I was surprised when she asked me to join the surgical team going to South Vietnam. As I drove home, I pondered and prayed. That evening, after I told my parents about the offer, my father’s first comment was, “You do know that there is a war going on there.” No, I had no idea. My parents were encouraging and positive—maybe this was of God for me.

Medford, Oregon, who invited him to join them when he was discharged from the Army.

We settled in Oregon a good job, lovely children, a fine church and great friends. Yet we felt restless and wondered what now. What did God have in store for us? t turned out that God had twins in store for us. Through World Vision and a classmate of Stan$ s from Wheaton College, we were set to adopt fraternal twins—from Vietnam. This was a new concept at the time, and we wondered if they would ever be cleared to come home. Meanwhile we waited.

twasMay1 9 6 whenleftforSouthVietnam.wastwentythree years old, and my first time out of Australia.

We flew One day, out of the blue, my father called me with a into Saigon—hot, crowded, overwhelming—my home for surprise—he had bought my mum a ticket to the U.S. for the next 1 6 weeks. Signs of war were everywhere. WarChristmas. When asked him how that came about, my injuries in the OR, orphanages full of children, poverty and dad said that God had told him to. This was a remarkable sadness and the U.S. military. gift for my mother, who had traveled alone before, but

she arrived for Christmas in Medford—exhausted and My first morning there, I met an American soldier, who overwhelmed, but excited to connect with our two greeted me as I worked to discard expired blood. “Can children and meet the twins who arrived on Christmas Eve I help you?” he asked. Though surprised, I replied that (our seventh wedding anniversary). it would be sweet if he did. The soldier blushed. In my ignorance of military uniforms, I didn’t realize that he was By the end of June, our youngest son Scott had arrived, a Green Beret paratrooper as well as a physician. and Over we now had five children under the age of five. And the weeks, we got to know each other; his name was Stan yet, we were still restless. We told God that we were willi Barnett, Christian, missionary kid and planning to go to to go wherever he wanted us. As we prayed and waited, England after his tour of duty. Long story short. He left Stan and I decided to make the move to Australia, where Vietnam a couple of weeks before me and promised to the children would have time with my family. The first few write. There were lots and lots of letters going back and weeks there, we agreed to pray separately and specifically forth. We eventually met up in England, where metfor his direction for our future: stay in Australia, return to the folks, who were returning to Kenya as missionaries, and U.S., or go to Kijabe, Kenya, or... it became clear to us and our parents that this was part of God$ s plan for us. We got engaged on October 2 4 in Continued on next page England and married in Australia on December 2 4 , 1 9 6 .

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Continued from previous page

Ten years later, in 2 0 1 5 , Stan was so sick he went on hospice.Ourchildrenencouragedustomoveclosertoone I spent the month pleading with God to not send us to of them, and Wheaton was the choice. And, as always, God Kenya. I was not ready or qualified to be a missionary. left no doubt that this was our next move. Unexpectedly, We went out for dinner for Stan$ s birthday, andthe over military declared full disability for Stan, our daughter the birthday meal, we shared what God had laid in our in Wheaton found a house for us to rent on her street, and hearts we arrived in Kenya in December of 1 9 7 5 . the rent was the exact amount of the military allotment.

We were obedient to what we believe God was putting in learned anything through the adventure of my If I have our hearts, but life did not necessarily become easier, but life, it is that as I willingly submit to God’s plan, I can trust God walked with us through the tough times. my great God because he saved me, loved me and has my

best interests at heart.

In Kenya, Stan used his surgical training daily, we learned dependence on God for all our needs, and we shared Stan’s This year’s women’s retreat speaker, Jen Pollock Michel, love of all things Kenya with our kids. Their worldview wrote in her book Teach Us to Want, Trust is at the center was enhanced. When we left Kenya, God again supplied of holy desire, trust that God is good and wills good for his loving direction as we moved to Phoenix, Arizona. It was people. We trust in asking, we trust in receiving. Holy trus there that our kids grew up, left for college, married and believes that whatever God chooses to give is enough.” grandchildren arrived.

I’ll end with the third verse of my old hymn: Then in 1 9 5 , Stan$ s health began to fail. He lost his ability to walk, speak clearly, and even stand upright. It was a All the way my Savior leads me; the fullness of His love! time of fear and uncertainty as we finally realized that Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father’s house above; my mountain climbing, marathon running, bike-riding When my spirit, clothed immortal, wings its flight to husband was not getting better, and the doctors had no realms of day, answers. We moved to a retirement center, and worked This my song through endless ages, Jesus led me all the way. in a small rural hospital.

M I L E S T O NES MARRIAGES

DEATHS

College Church members Caleb Mikolajczyk and Bethany Taylor were married at College Church on May 1 4 . Celebrating family were their parents Leigh and Sarah Mikolajczyk and Jeremy and Nancy Taylor, as well as grandparents David and Nancy Roth, Wally and Barb Mikolajczyk, Lee and Mary Ryken and Mark and Carol Taylor.

Pray for Elaine (Ed) Meyer and family as they grieve the loss of Elaine’s mother, Audrey Peterson, who passed away on May 1 9 at the age of 9 7 in Carol Stream.

BIRTHS Theodore Jonathan was born to Jonathan and Sarah Nitz on May 1 4 . He joins his siblings Lucy, Jack, Lizzie, William and Henry. Theodore’s maternal grandparents are Randy and Susan Jahns.

Pray for Mark and Josh Trieglaff as they grieve the unexpected loss of Mark’s wife and Josh’s mother, Joy, who passed away in Wheaton on May 1 5 .

Pray for Mark (Kristin) Seaman and family as they grieve the loss of Mark’s mother and College Church member, Doris Seaman, who passed away on April 2 8 in Maryland.

Pray for Scott (Angela) Killian and family as they grieve the loss of Scott’s father, Paul, who passed away in Wheaton on April 2 3 .

Scottee Reed was born to Chris and Bekah Bradley on Pray for Laurie McKevitt and family as they grieve the April 2 1 in San Luis, Obispo, California. Her paternal loss of Laurie’s mother, Marjorie Burns, who passed grandparents are Mark and Sarah Bradley. away in Carol Stream on April 1 8 .

George Peter was born to Peter and Sally Girgis on April 19. Baby George joins his sisters Audrey and Emma.

Paternal grandparents are Phil and Maggie Girgis.

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WATERCOLORS

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

R UTH G REGORN K Watercolor painting has been a series of surprising discoveries. After receiving my 4rst set of paints during quarantine in 20 , started experimenting with them and found that it was somehow helping me process the grief of my grandfather’s unexpected death, postpartum mental health struggles, and the heightened civil and spiritual unrest of the past two years in our world. 4nd that gravitate to painting landscapes perhaps because in hard times each tiny bit of beauty in nature feels more hopeful and more miraculous. All beauty ultimately points to our Savior because he is beautiful and he has infused creation with who he is.

I am challenged to worship Jesus and enjoy him more through watercolors.

FOREST ROAD

SPR NG GLOR ES

ALMOST EDEN

God Centered Life the media ministry of College Church, features the Bible teaching of pastor Josh, both online and on the radio. This exciting ministry with a global reach continues to grow in impact. Here in the US, the program is heard on the radio in about 70 locations.

Globally, the ministry also has a mission impact. The teaching is heard online through the OnePlace and TWR360 platforms, which have extensive listenership outside North America. Imagine! More than 35,000 people have been touched with some form of gospel content through this outreach of our church, either an online audio message, a spiritually encouraging article, or a devotional reading.

You can listen locally on Moody Radio (WMBI) at 10 p.m. M-F and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday and can have daily devotionals delivered right to your inbox.

Your prayers and partnership with this ministry are greatly appreciated.

godcenteredlife.org

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N E W M E M BER S

Welcome!

YILI LE

PATRICIA HACKMAN

PLACES LIVED: Yili grew up in China.

She has an adult son.

PLACES LIVED: Born in Germany, attended college in Texas, served in India.

9 TO 5: She works as a software engineer at IBM

FAMILY: Married to James and they have two little girls. They were College Church missionaries in India, and now returnedtotheWheatonarea.

PASTTIMES: Yili enjoys reading her Bible and other books to help her grown in her faith. She also enjoys walking to enjoy nature and jogging.

9 TO 5: Worksasateacherinapublicschool enrichment program.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Joint Heirs PASTTIMES: Enjoys reading, crocheting, cooking and time and Living Word Adult Communities, small group, Women$ s with family Bible Study CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Women$sBibleStudy

TIM & RUTH HAUMERSEN PLACES LIVED: Tim grew up in Wisconsin, the second of nine children.

FAMILY:TimandRuthmarriedin6102 and have two children. They previously attended Holy Trinity/Christ Church in Chicago, pastored by Dave Helm.

Ruth is a daughter of John and Debbie Seward, and sister to Abby Clark.

9 TO 5: Tim works as an IT Systems Architect for a nonprofit associated with the University of Chicago. Ruth works part-time in the DePaul University STEM Center, supporting Chicago Public School mathematics teachers through professional learning opportunities.

PASTTIMES: Tim works as an IT Systems Architect for a nonprofit associated with the University of Chicago. Ruth works part-time in the DePaul University STEM Center, supporting Chicago Public School mathematics teachers through professional learning opportunities.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Tim and Ruth are involved in and help launched the Adult Community Life Together.

JAMES & JERUSHA LUKOSE PLACES LIVED: James grew up in the southern part of India with seven siblings, his parents and two of his grandparents. He moved to the western part of India to finish his undergraduate education in economics and statistics. Jerusha also grew up in India. After marriage, they moved to Bangalore with their sons. They have lived in the western suburbs of Chicago since 1 9 2 .

9 TO 5: James finished graduate school at Moody Theological Seminary in 1 9 8 and became part of the leadership team of Wayside Cross Ministries in Aurora. He currently serves as it executive director. Jerusha works as a medical biller. At heart, she is a homemaker and loves her role as wife and mother.

PASTTIMES: James enjoys books on reformed theology, old classics and leadership and management. He occasionally gets to ride horses. Jerusha likes to read, watch good movies and try new recipes.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Jerusha attends Women$s Bible Study.

MORGAN MOXLEY

BRANDON KROHN

PLACES LIVED: Wheaton

PLACES LIVED: Grew up overseas as a missionary kid, along with his three younger siblings, and spent 1 4 years in Peru, and lived in Ethiopia as well.

9 TO 5: Brandon is a Wheaton College student majoring in Spanish and secondary education.

PASTTIMES: He enjoys all sports, except American football. Enjoys board games, reading, playing the piano, and spending time with friends.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: College Group, STARS

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FAMILY: Morgan has attended College Church since elementary school and has participated in children’s choirs, KMs, HYACKs and College Group. And she is beginning to serve in Kids’ Harbor.

9 TO 5: Morgan is currently a student at Wheaton College.

PASTTIMES: She enjoys baking, knitting and writing for fun.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Small group

MICHAEL MOYER

SARAH PUHR

PLACES LIVED: Michael grew up in Michigan and then moved to Japan at theageof15withhisfamilyforhis dad’s job. He came back to the States to attend Taylor University in Indiana.

PLACES LIVED: Born in Iowa but raised in the Chicago suburbs

9 TO 5: He is a software engineer at First Trust.

9 TO 5: Sarah works as a behavior specialist at a special needs school.

She is also in graduate school at Ball State University for applied

PASTTIMES: He enjoys golf and CrossFit training. He also enjoys learning about the human body and how to help it operate at an optimal level through nutrition and physical exercise.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Small group and 2 0 s Ministry

JULIA NORDSTROM PLACES LIVED: Born and raised in Wheaton, now attending Wheaton College.

FAMILY: Her parents are College Church members and missionaries Robert and Laurie Nordstrom; her siblings attend as well.

9 TO 5: Julia is studying math at Wheaton College; she also works at STARS Resale.

PASTTIMES: When not studying, she enjoys reading and spending time with friends.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: College Group, teaches Kindergarten Bible School

FAMILY: Sarah’s sister is Bekah McKenna, and her cousin is Lindsay McCracken.

behavior analysis.

PASTTIMES: She enjoys sports, running—anything fun and active. She loves hanging out with kids, taking her dog for a walk and reading. She is also learning to play the ukulele.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: 2 0 s Ministry and small group

WILLIAM & NADIA SAFIAN PLACES LIVED: William and Nadia were born in Lviv, Ukraine and immigrated to the U. S. in 1 9 8 3 and 1 9 5 , respectively.

9 TO 5: William works in leadership within the healthcare industry. Nadia works in banking.

PASTTIMES: They both enjoy reading and being outdoors.

TERUMI SCULLY-SCHMIDT

MARK PAULSON & CAROLYN STERK

PLACES LIVED: Terumi was born in Hokkaido, Japan and has lived in California, Texas, Kentucky and now Illinois.

PLACES LIVED: Mark was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois.

Carolyn has lived in Lansing, Illinois, northwest Indiana and now Elgin.

FAMILY: Terumi married longtime College Church member Greg Schmidt at the end of last year. She has two adult daughters.

FAMILY: Mark and Carolyn have two daughters between them, Jessica and Annalisa.

9 TO 5: Mark works in marketing communications. Carolyn, now retired, has worked as a concert pianist, taught music in Christian schools, taught private piano and other instruments, directed choirs and other musical endeavors.

PASTTIMES: Mark enjoys reading, aircraft and trains. Carolyn enjoys time with her grandchildren, reading and playing the piano.

MIA POSEY PLACES LIVED: She grew up in Minnesota and the rest of her family is in Minneapolis.

9 TO 5: Mia is a college student at Wheaton College.

PASTTIMES: She loves to be active and spend time outdoors—walking, hiking, canoeing or Pickleball. She also enjoys cooking—especially with her mom.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: College Group

9 TO 5: She works in the tax department at First Trust Portfolio.

PASTTIMES: Terumi likes to clean their house and enjoys running, cycling, hiking, cooking and spending time with Greg and their family and friends.

ANNA JOY SETRAN PLACES LIVED: Anna Joy has lived in Wheaton and attended College Church her whole life.

FAMILY: Her parents are Dave and Holly Setran.

9 TO 5: She recently completed her graduate studies at Wheaton College with a master’s degree in teaching.

She also works full time as a teacher at Wheaton Academy, and part time at College Church as a ministry associate with the College Group, where she enjoys mentoring and leading discussions and events.

PASTTIMES: She enjoys running and anything else outside. She also enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: 2 0 s Ministry and small group

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G LO B AL VO ICES

LittWorld 2022: Stronger Together In Hungary John Maust “Given the situation the world is going through, LittWorld 2022 was one of the best conferences I have ever attended,” said publisher Sawsan Tannoury of Lebanon.

“We saw how God is spreading his Word, despite the difficult circumstances.”

discussions and mentor consultations provided perspectives and advice for moving forward in the years ahead.

and writers from 50 countries gathered in Siofok, Hungary, April 24-9, for LittWorld 20 , the triennial global publishing conference organized by Media Associates International (MAI). Director Kornél Herjeczki of Harmat Publishers in Budapest and MAI’s European Board served as conference hosts.

The opening two sessions of the conference were livestreamed around the world, with author and counselor Emöke Tapolyai of Hungary speaking on “How to Maintain Hope and Help Others in a Dark World,” and best-selling author Philip Yancey encouraging media to create content that will “lift eyes to permanent things” in a world in crisis.

The nearby war in Ukraine added a dimension of immediacy, with delegates both from Ukraine and Russia. Firsthand reports from Ukraine united the group in prayers for peace. A global bazaar conceived by a delegate from Mexico featured items from countries around the world that were sold at LittWorld.

All the money raised went towards Ukrainian refugee relief in Hungary.

After two-plus years of relative isolation due to the pandemic, participants said LittWorld opened their eyes to the global media com unity and connected them to new global relationships for future growth and innovation.

Many attendees told em that they ew re so glad that ew ew nt ahead iw th the oc n ference despite the uncertainties of VOC

Speakers from Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas wove the conference theme, “Stronger Together: Publishing Hope Be yond Crisis,” into both the general sessions and the workshops. As a result, publishers gained insight for sustainability, editors for grow ing and training new writers, and writers and designers to express themselves in fresh ways using new voices and technologies. Panel

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“It was a time of encouragement and insights,” said Hussam Fakhoury of Jordan. “Just four months earlier I became

director of a publishing house for the MENA region, and LittWorld was an opportunity to get wisdom from experts.( The conference is the largest training event of Media Associates International (MAI), which also holds smaller in-country training initiatives and workshops that satisfy hunger for the written word, go to hard places where the need is great, respond to local needs, and multiply skills and resources around the world.

A SNAPSHOT OF LITTWORLD

By Lorraine Triggs When asked what did at the 2 0 2 LittWorld in Siofok, Hungary, I said that I talked and I wrote—two things I do well. But there was a third thing that came into play as I talked and wrote, I listened and heard stories of reporters, broadcasters, podcasters, writers, publishers and cartoonists/illustrators—the last group perhaps being the most creative of all.

“Thank you again for all the organizing, all the attentiveness, all the kindness and love you have shown to us,” Romanian author and screenwriter Balázs Zágoni said.

Creatives such as ivan Anaya and Carlos Mena from “I can only repeat what I have said before: If I could choose ElSalvador,colleaguesatMercyWays,wherevanistheart onlyoneconferencetoattendinmylife,itwouldbeLittWorld. ( director and writer, and Carlos is the director of projects.

UPDATE: THANKSGIVING EVE OFFERING: “THANK YOU FOR HELPING US GO.”

Mercy Ways began in 2 0 1 7 , as a partnership with the Bible Society of El Salvador, when Ivan and Carlos created the comic, “Fear Not.”

OurThanksgivingEveO eringlastyearmadeitpossiblefor When we were kids, the Christian material wasn$t that someoftheLittWorldattenderstoreceivescholarship help. visually engaging, and couldn’t compete visually with Here are what some of the scholarship recipients had to everything that was out there,” recalls Ivan. And “Fear say about the conference and its impact on their ministries.

Not” came out of Ivan and Carlos’ desire to tell a quality, visual story of Jesus that would help kids cope with fear.

write to express my gratitude for LittWorld 2 0 2 . The conference came at the nick of time in my career as a writer. I feel that after such training, I am able to fly and make a greater impact.”

Jonah Nyoni, journalist, Zimbabwe I wanted to express my gratitude for the opportunity of attending Littworld 2 0 2

“It was a new way to tell the stories of Jesus that would challenge and meet the needs of people,” explains Carlos.

The team at Mercy Ways has also illustrated one children’s Bible and is working on another Bible for children and are focused on producing their own comics with quality writing and quality visuals in the Chronicles of Faith comic book series.

“A comic can tell kids that they can trust Jesus,” Ivan says.

“The Chronicles of Faith series is about heroes such as It was a time of encouragement and great insights as I just David, Samson and Gideon, and uses visual metaphors. started 4 months ago to direct the publishing house for It helps kids cope with anxiety, loneliness, rejection or the MENA region. The conference was very informative bullying, while reminding them that the real hero of the and a great time to get wisdom from experts. story is Jesus.”

Hussam Fakhoury, publisher, Jordan

van and Carlos were invited to LittWorld by fellow cartoonist and graphic artist José Carlos Gutiérrez Martínez, so thank you for the privilege of attending LittWorld an MAI trainer, and they traveled to Hungary ready to network and meet people. “But even more than that, we 2 0 2 . think you for your kind and wise heart. thank were inspired by others as we discovered that we are you for the scholarship. was not expecting this. thank you for supporting my Ukraine. will push my Ukrainiannot alone in wanting to create in new ways,” Ivan shares.

friends—authors and publishers—to get involved with MAI Both Ivan and Carlos describe El Salvador as a country and attend the next conference. t is really very helpful. in a bubble—a small country with a small country perspective, which makes it dizcult for people to And I dream that some of the next conferences will be accept an innovative medium such as comics. “Pastors held….in Ukraine!”

Vasyl Novakovets, publisher, Ukraine

are open to what we$re doing, and during COV D, when there was no church or school, we wrote a play based on ‘Fear Not,’ and the kids loved it.” Ivan notes.

LittWorld was a great adventure for me. felt like Alice in “In the end it’s theological, and we want to be sure we Wonderland. ( are telling the right story,” sums up Ivan, which is the Liliya Daskalova, author, Bulgaria

goalallLittWorldparticipantshavetotelltherightsto for their audiences.

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at the Bookstall SUMMER READING

JOSUÉ ALVARADO,

MARK BERG,

Praying the Bible

No Little People

by Donald S. Whitney

by Francis Schaeffer

The Valley of the Vision

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

pastoral resident

Puritan prayers, edited by Arthur Bennet

elder

Defending Your Faith

by Agatha Christie

by R.C. Sproul

Midnight in Chernobyl

by Adam Higginbotham

CHERYCE BERG,

director of children’s ministries

Treasuring Christ When Your Hands are Full

by Gloria Furman

Family Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes

by Voddie Baucham Jr.

The Connected Parent: Real-Life Strategies for Building Trust and Attachment

by Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualis

Who Am I and Why Do I Matter?

by Chris Morphen

LISA BURLINGAME, hospitality committee

Everyday Holiness

by Josh Moody

Revelation, A Shorter Commentary

by G. K. Beale

More Than Conquerors

by William Hendriksen

Deeper

by Dane Ortlund

DAVID GIESER, elder

Peace Child

by Don Richardson

Mission Drift

by Chris Horst and Peter Greer

Watch for more summer reading lists in the July issue of Connections.

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LOOKING AHEAD

W E N

S E T A D

ART SHOW

Wild Woods 19

7 - 9 PM

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10AM 3PM

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AUGUST AUGUST

presented by STARS FAMILY SERVICES A DISABILITY MINISTRY

COLLEGE CHURCH COMMONS

WOMEN’S MINISTRIES

Book Club

Sunday, June 26

on the Commons Patio at 7 PM

Cheer for our STARS in Wheaton$ s Fourth of July Parade.

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FINDING YOUR WAY SANCTUARY BUILDING

101

006 014

TUNNEL

TO COMMONS

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THE COMMONS BUILDING

TUNNEL TO SANCTUARY

Commons LL2

CROSSINGS BUILDING Wesley Street

Clapham School

STARS Resale Shop

Toms DER TION UNPrice UC STR N O C

Front Street

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