Editor’s Desk

Calvin reflections

During our last alumni board meeting, I shared my Calvin story with the board. It’s a new tradition for the board. As I began to sift through my college memories to share with them, a theme emerged—how my Christian faith was deepened and solidified during my Calvin years.

I was blessed to be born into a family with a deep heritage of faith. At Calvin, that gift became my own. The countless everyday experiences I had at Calvin gave me the confidence that my hope was built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

My Calvin memories include Late Night devotions in the residence halls, Wednesday night hymn sings, and retreats. We used to pack into the BeetsVeenstra lobby with song books in hand on Wednesday nights. (Yes, the cute girl from third Veenstra who was our Spiritual Activities Coordinator motivated my attendance to Late Night, but I’ve been married to that same cute girl for 23 years now, so clearly God had a two-fold plan for me all along.)

I remember leading the last hymn sing for Friday chapel our senior year with my friends from Beets. It was an emotional chapel as our dear friend Brian DeWall, who loved hymns like we did, would have been standing right with us. Brian died in a car accident just a few months earlier. It was a tragic moment prompting all of us to ponder our own faith in a strikingly personal way. The classroom deepened my understanding of theology and gave me eyes to see God at work in the world. I remember countless examples of conversations with professors where we talked about what it meant to think and live in a world as Christians.

Many of you have stories like mine. Even as you read this article, you can picture the people who helped shape your faith at Calvin. And you might wonder, what is it

like today?

I have the pleasure to see God at work on this campus in 2021. The Holy Spirit continues to dwell and be at work. Yes, how students worship and grow might be different than it was for you or me. Yes, the world and society might look different than it was during your time as a student.

However, if you want to see how Jesus is at work in the lives of our students, please come visit a Friday morning chapel. You’ll see students eager to worship. But you better get there early; the place will be packed. Of course, students are worshipping and deepening their faith in many other places. In this issue of Spark, you’ll read some of their stories. We hope it inspires you to reflect on God’s goodness to you during your Calvin years and beyond.

BY JEFF HAVERDINK ’97

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

?HOW DID GOD USE YOUR TIME AT CALVIN TO DRAW YOU CLOSER TO HIM? QUESTION FOR YOU

Calvin students and alumni like you have great stories, ideas, and memories. In the upcoming issues of Spark, we’ll ask you a question and then print some of the responses. You’re invited to answer a question for the next issue—find the question and instructions below.

Throughout my time at Calvin, I was exposed to people from different backgrounds and walks of life—these were professors, faculty members, and students living and studying side by side with me, all who pushed me to think about my faith in a variety of different ways. Through these friends and mentors, I was able to truly dive into my faith through different perspectives and backgrounds because Calvin encouraged me to think about what I believed, not just to blindly believe. Questions, doubts, and thoughts were encouraged compared to looked down on, and I found a community I was fully welcomed into, no matter where I was in my faith journey. – Hannah Van’t Hof ’20

Grand Rapids, Mich. Lots of things at Calvin encouraged my faith, but probably the most powerful was the experience of being a resident assistant in Kalsbeek-Huizenga. The community of the dorm staff, the responsibility of leadership, and the mentoring of our resident director, Tom Steenwyk, combined to teach me many lessons of faith and discipleship. – Barb Howerzyl Bulthuis ’92

Longmont, Colo.

Throughout my time at Calvin, I was encouraged in my faith through exploratory learning of Christian doctrine and faith traditions. My professors encouraged diverse opinions in the classroom to facilitate thoughtful discussions on matters ranging from the concept of free will to the written history of John’s gospel. I found myself utilizing this conversational approach in relationships with friends and family where discussions of faith became commonplace and our collective relationships with God were strengthened. God used Calvin to equip me to listen to his voice and pursue empathetic dialogue that affirms others’ humanity. – Emerson Silvernail ’20

Byron Center, Mich.

I came to Calvin College in ’55 as a 17-year-old with a distorted view on God’s calling to ministry. WIth three close encounters with death as a teenager, I felt that God was calling me to something special in terms of vocation. Such callings were associated with preachers, teachers, and missionaries from my perspective.

In a Bible class entitled “Calvinism X,” Professor John Bratt clearly represented a “rubber meets the road” type of theology by inviting guests from various professions to address the class. In effect, these people identified themselves as ministers of Jesus Christ working as doctors, teachers, contractors, plumbers, farmers, electricians, engineers, and the like. My view of calling changed significantly and the Bible seemed to speak to me more clearly of Jesus who was the source of life transformation and world renewal rather than mere theological rhetoric. He is Lord of all. – Duanne (Bob) Korthuis ’59

Billings, Mont.

I am thankful for my professors whose faith in God and testimony in the classroom to God’s sovereignty helped me come to apprehend and worship a big God. We were challenged to go into the world to serve God, to build the Kingdom, to have a transforming influence. I am thankful for that vision, and much more. – Ron Polinder ‘68

Lynden, Wash.

IT’S YOUR TURN!

We’re curious: Do you have a story about a Calvin professor who went above and beyond? We all know Calvin professors are excellent teachers, going to great lengths for their students. Did one do that for you? Let us know your story in a few sentences by emailing spark@calvin.edu.