I had the joy of sitting with Katie Karsten and learning a little more, over a cup of coffee, about her life walking with the Lord. If you see Katie at HDCH, she’s usually in the gym to watch one of her athletic grandchildren play in a volleyball or basketball tournament. She always seems to have a welcoming smile and a slightly mischievous twinkle in her eye.
Katie spent four years at HDCH back in the Athens Street building, graduating in 1969 shortly before the first moon landings! Katie met her husband, Al, at HDCH. His parents had taken him out of school after Grade 8 to work the family farm, but a few years later, with a desire to pursue a university degree, Al came to HDCH for a year to gain some credits for an adult-entry into Calvin College.
So, he and Katie started hanging out during his year at HD, but Katie tells me (with a slight eye roll to show that she didn’t necessarily agree) that Al was clear, when he went off to Calvin in Grand Rapids, that he didn’t think a long-distance relationship was a good idea. That twinkle is back in Katie’s eye when she tells me that, when she learned he was back in town for his spring break and going to the rollerskating rink with some friends, she felt it might be a good idea to go and do some roller-skating herself. They just happened to bump into each other there, and two years later they were married.
Katie also went to Calvin the following year, and both graduated in 1973 with a degree in Sociology. That summer she and Al moved back to Ontario and the young couple soon took up a position as “house parents” in an Elizabeth Fry Society group home, where they were responsible for caring for girls between the ages of 16 and 18 who were in conflict with the law in some way.
The birth of their first child made a move out of the group home necessary. Al took up a position in Child Welfare. At that same time, Al and Katie offered years of volunteering to community agencies such as Homestead (now known as Indwell) and Beginnings, a private adoption agency. Wherever Al became involved, he kept finding himself in leadership roles. People recognized a man who was passionate about serving well and getting things done. He worked for Children’s Aid Society in various units until he left to join Christian Reformed World Missions Canada in 1991.
Al & Katie (Balder) Karsten, class of 1969
Finding a perfect place where his faith could be an explicit and overt part of his work, Al stayed with them until he retired. With retirement came the opportunity to contribute more avidly to local community opportunities some of which were recruiting foster homes, building a neighbourhood association and leading English conversation circles for newcomers at the public library.
Katie meantime found more freedom to get involved in her church and community once the youngest of their four children started school. She worked for 9 years responding to the feedback to the Back to God Hour (now called Reframe Ministries), a radio and television programme of the CRC, and later took a position in Diaconal Ministries Canada, where she served for 16 years.
But, as Katie describes it, there were always opportunities to serve for both her and Al. There was so much joy in the doing and every new connection had the seeds of another friendship (an extrovert’s dream)! When life presented challenges, health concerns and the passing of significant people in their lives, ways to serve were life-giving, a healthy distraction from the pain, and a certainty that life was to be lived as a participant and not a spectator. First Hamilton CRC, and later Hamilton Immanuel CRC, offered a place to worship and also a place that welcomed some of their time and energy.
In the fall of 2005, Al and Katie felt drawn to go to a dinner to hear about the opening of a shelter for refugee claimants in Hamilton. “I was hooked!” says Katie, as she felt deeply convicted of the need for a Christian shelter. It was a radical, life-changing invitation. She volunteered weekly at Micah House, where Al also served on the Board for a season, until his accident in 2019.
But, seeing its capacity limits when Micah House had to turn hundreds away, a conviction amongst friends grew for an added approach. Katie was part of a team of four that launched Open Homes officially on September 11, 2018.
“ I was a stranger and you invited me in.”
– Matthew 25:35.
Through Open Homes, people sign up to provide a room in their home for about four months as new refugee claimants find their feet, and Katie and her team take on the responsibility of providing settlement and relational support to the newcomers. Since their small beginnings in 2018, Open Homes has served more than 120 guests, and Katie expresses such gratitude to the families (which includes current HDCH staff
“ Pray without ceasing ” and parents) who have opened their homes to provide shelter to strangers. For Katie, this beautiful ministry of care and love for newcomers is God’s call on her life.
– 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
“There are days when I do feel my tank is empty,” she says, “and I pray and I pray for energy and peace in the journey. In this season of my life, when I am a 24/7 caregiver, I remain so grateful for Al, my family and the times that I may still spend with newcomers. I have known God’s strength and presence in a way that I never even knew was possible.”
“Ora et labora” is the inscription on Katie’s HDCH graduation ring, meaning: “Pray and work”.
I ask Katie what advice she has for us and our students. “Go open handed,” she says. “Be ready to let God use you. Listen for nudges where God is leading you and showing you where you should go. He wants to use you for His kingdom. He’s given you passions and gifts for a reason. I’m so grateful for how God has let me be used in this work with refugees.” And as she wipes away tears of gratitude, Katie expresses how thankful she is also that all four of her children and their spouses know and love God. She talks about the incredible joy it gives her when a family member asks, “How can I pray for you?”
“ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth ”
– 3 John 4
HDCH Co-op Equips Students to Serve the Lord With Gladness
Submitted by Richard VanEgmond, Co-op Director
A key question for many high school students is “What do I see myself doing after graduation and how can I get there?”
The HDCH Co-op program provides students with an opportunity to plan a personalized learning experience with a community partner business or organization that is related to their post secondary career plans. Co-op placements are available in all four post secondary destinations (Apprenticeship, College, University and Workplace) and are most often done in a half day or full day placement. Planning builds on the work students have done in Gr. 10 Careers class, where they develop a career life plan, beginning with a conversation and questions like “What would an ideal co-op placement look like? What career areas are you interested in exploring for 4 months? and How can I serve the Lord in this vocation?”
Students take an active role in contacting prospective employers, establishing learning goals for the placement, and reflecting on what they are learning during the placement through self assessment and feedback. During the placement they consider questions such as, “How does providing the product or service at this workplace allow me to bless others and serve God with my own set of talents? How can a Christ follower make a difference in this workplace? How have I grown the most through the challenges and successes of this experience? What is the best career advice or wisdom I learned from a supervisor or coworker?”
One of our key program goals is to see students appreciate the significant and valuable contributions that Christians make in many different career pathways, and that our God-given gifts are provided so that we can serve God by blessing the lives of our neighbours, clients and customers.
Brodey gets hands on experience at Besseling Mechanical
Sadie creates cheerful bouquets at Gray’s Florist.
Serve the Lord With Gladness
As the end of the semester, Co-op students were asked to reflect on what they learned about their calling and the HDCH mission, to serve the Lord with gladness in their placements. These are some of their responses.
What have you learned about your vocational calling through this co-op placement?
I feel that God has really called me to work in a classroom or any area to help children. This co-op and the mentors I have been given have done an amazing job of showing me the ropes and what my possible career could be. This co-op placement has shown me When it comes to what my post secondary year would look like co-op has helped me to look at programs that would make me a certified teacher in Ontario. God has called me to work in a Christian school and I am so excited for it.
I have learned my calling through mission trips by helping people. This has reassured me about nursing and I could see myself doing this after high school.
It is very rewarding and I love being able to help my patients that I visit daily or new patients by comforting them, encouraging them, and assisting them.
My co-op placement has definitely helped me solidify that this is what I want to do. Seeing how involved you can be in helping a pet get better and how you can help support the owners with good health for their pets. Talking to the others at the clinic about their post secondary school experience has also helped solidify my plans for post-secondary which is to hopefully end up at the University of Guelph as many who are working at my clinic have done as well.
This co-op has really paved a path into HVAC. I love using different tools and helping others, and servicing equipment that helps keep people warm.
At his co-op at Sturgess Cycle, Zach learns bike mechanics.
Ella observes holistic services and treatments at her placement.
In what ways can people serve the LORD with gladness in your co-op placement?
The people at my placement use their abilities with food creation to help make good food to sell to people for consumption. The work benefits people because people enjoy eating the finished meals!
"
Crossroad Equipment provides a great learning opportunity for Tristan.
I have had good chats with [staff] about Christianity and where it plays in my life. I think that my positive attitude and good work ethic is a big part of my service to the Lord as ultimately I am doing it for Him.
Interested in becoming a Community Partner with HDCH Co-op?
Benefits of Hosting an HDCH Co-op Placement:
• With initial training, co-op students can fill a short term need or additional HR needs.
• Allows the employer to connect and work with prospective employees.
• Have the opportunity to give schools feedback about the effectiveness of training programs.
• Gives an employee a chance to train and mentor a student and possible future colleagues.
Scan to apply to be an HDCH Co op Program Community Partner!
Trevor is acquiring experience while on co-op at Fortified Plumbing.
Noah is studying his trade at Oneida Holland Equipment.
Service Comes From Family ...A donor story
~ submitted by Sandra Baker, Director of Advancement & Admissions
Like many members of the HDCH community, Paul has friends and business relationships that started at HD and are flourishing to this day. “Our shared faith and history makes it much easier to get through those inevitable business challenges.”
The birth of their first child kickstarted Paul ‘88 and Anna Vos (VanderVelde) ‘90 to become monthly donors to Hamilton District Christian High. It was a foregone conclusion that the child would attend HD.
Paul is humble about the donation, and even a little surprised that more people do not give in this way.
“It comes from my parents”, Paul explains. “I grew up understanding that the money I have belongs to God and that I would always give to both church and school.”
It has been a source of wonder for Paul and Anna to witness their own children on their different journeys during and after HDCH. Each child is imbued with the desire to serve, and a deep need to help others.
Just as HD plants seeds of service in each of his children, Paul and Anna are happy knowing that their years of giving monthly have helped to plant these same seeds of faith in hundreds of students.
A verse that resonates for Paul is Proverbs 22:6, where it says:
Teach a child the way he should go, he will not stray from it while he lives.
Join us May 24th at the HDCH Spring Market: Growing Together
Proceeds from the Spring Market support Christ-centred learning at HDCH.
A fun-filled day of shopping, food, and community activities, including:
• A vibrant Vendor Market in the gym, featuring a wide variety of local products.
• A cozy coffee shop with tasty treats and drinks.
• Delicious breakfast & lunch options to enjoy throughout the day.
• A beautiful flower sale to brighten your home or garden.
• An Exciting Kids’ Place to keep the little ones entertained.
• The chance to win great prizes by entering Raffle Draws!
• The opportunity to pick up exclusive pre-sale and online auction items.
Praying Parents & Friends
On the first Friday of each month, a group of parents and HDCH supporters meet in the library to pray for our school, staff, students, families, and the work of God in this place. We are grateful that HDCH is covered in prayer, and this monthly meeting is one of the ways that happens. Please pray with us!
Testimonial: A Step Up
~ submitted by Henrietta, HDCH parent
This little step stool is representative of Sophie and what it means to have a disability. She has done amazing things in LifeSkills Pathway at HD. She’s done co-op placements at Fortinos, a thrift store and at The Gleaners. She’s worked in the cafeteria, been responsible for the school vending machines and other tasks around the school. She’s taken gym, art, drama and foods.
This semester she is in a woodworking class. The look of pride on her face when she got off the bus today and showed Jim [her dad] what she had made had me in tears. Sometimes all you need in life is a step up. Not someone to do it for you, but a little something extra so you can do it yourself!
written by: Jason Pizzarello
Mark Your Calendar
Mar 27 & Apr 1 ~ Student Learning Conferences
Apr 4 ~ Praying Parents & Friends, 9am in the library
