Tag: college

Life at Fairhaven Baptist College—Sophomore Year

The summer months of 2006 went extremely quick.  Except for being a junior camp counselor for a week, the rest of the time was spent saving up for the next year’s school bill.  I worked at Discount Tire Co. in Lansing, Michigan from my junior year of high school up into the summer before my senior year of college.  I appreciate all of the hours I put in there, and for the generous compensation I received which always provided for my needs.  Towards the end of the summer, I began to get very excited for the next school year.  Now looking back, I had no idea what all was going to happen in the ‘06/’07 school year.

I Shall Not Want

Like any new or returning student to Fairhaven, you enter into a whirlwind of activity—Stewardship Banquet, class registration, Fall Push, etc.  My activity seemed to be a little more than normal.  After a few relationship events in the first couple of days back, I found myself in one of those “down” times.  Now, those who know me never really see me with much emotion, but it was there a little.  I had never had a dating relationship of any kind up to that point, and I still had no clue what I was doing!  Instead of trusting God, I was relying on myself to provide.  I remember hearing for the first time an early American folk hymn called “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need”—which is a paraphrase of Psalm 23.  Most think of that Psalm as only a comfort in a time of great heartache, but reading into it I found that it is for daily living.  God will always lead me in the right path if I simply follow His leading.  That was a life-changing moment in early September.  I had no idea of what infinitely better things God had in store for me if I just relied on Him.

That fall was my first year being a room captain.  I found that I would have a bit of a challenge on my hands.  I really enjoyed one of my roommates, and the other: well…  I learned a lot of good lessons that year in Room 22.  Arriving back, I had found that my freshman class had dwindled to about half of what it was; mostly as a result of weakening standards and rebellion.  The rest of us still in college bonded until our senior year.  We became good friends.  Now we were” big, bad sophomores”, and nothing was going to stop us (we thought)!  We now had other freshman to put through the same treatment as we got the previous year.  I found that the class below us was full of very good people.  I think the classes of ’09 and ’10 have bonded pretty well over the last few years.

Fall Push at Fairhaven is their Sunday School bus campaign x10!  It includes a ton of work, visiting hours, prayer, late Sunday afternoons, and a little “getting out of yourself.”  A couple of memorable things happened during that year.  First was the second Sunday of the Push:  Zoo Day for our bus.  To make a very long story short, we did not arrive back until 9:00pm due to a few bus malfunctions.  The following Sunday, on Skate Day, I was able to lead a boy from our bus to Christ.  He came faithfully for a few months, with good behavior, and a spirit that was willing to learn.  However, he and his brother suddenly stopped coming to church one week, and we were never able to get back in contact with them.  I would not find out exactly what happened until the very end of my senior year.

I knew as a freshman that my bus captain would eventually be leaving to plant a church from scratch in Chicago.  Just before Christmas break, our bus was combined with a few other routes, and he began deputation to raise support for that church.  I had learned a lot from him, and knew I would miss being on his bus.  When I returned back from Christmas break, I was put underneath another veteran captain in Gary.  God was good in putting me exactly where I would learn and be able to minister the most.  I absorbed even more in the rest of my time at Fairhaven under my second captain.

The Christmas Lights activity is something that every practically every college student looks forward to in the fall semester.  Some call it a “dating activity”, but I never had a date on the activity until my senior year—and it didn’t bother me either!  I loved just walking around the city, with snow flying through the air, eating at some of the best restaurants in the world, and being with friends.  My sophomore year I found myself with a few friends, which somehow grew into a group of 22 people.  Have you ever tried to get 22 people seated in a Chicago restaurant?  Don’t try!  It wasn’t all that fun with half the college (exaggeration) tagging along!  We did eat well…Portillo’s!  We were able to Ice skate some at Millennium Park, which was definitely the highlight of the night.

Also towards the end of the fall semester of ’07, I developed a little crush towards that girl named Andrea Leslie—the one “recommended” to me a year or so before by my bus captain.  Here I was, a little sophomore, liking a beautiful young lady that was taking graduate courses, grew up at Fairhaven, and was a daughter of long-time staff members.  “She probably doesn’t even know who I am,” I said to myself.  I thought there was no chance, but it was always on the back of my mind.  Little did I know that she not only noticed me, but she liked me even before it was mutual.  Things were developing there slowly but surely.

Volleyball Marathon is something that every Fairhaven Baptist College student has experience with.  Volleyball: 24 hours a day for almost five straight days.  All are required to either play or be in the gym for at least sixteen hours during the Marathon.  It is usually in February or March, and lasts for 96 hours straight.  Volleyball Marathon is a fundraising event that helps support the scholarship program of the college.  My sophomore year was particularly fun for me: late nights, early mornings, and crazy people everywhere that are out of their minds a bit!

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Volleyball Marathon--3:27am

A prominent class that year was Intermediate Greek.  It ended up being a profitable but immense workload.  Twice a week, we had a vocabulary quiz over 40 or so words, as well as some grammar questions.  The biggest thing in the class was the second semester project.  We had to pick out a New Testament passage of 8-10 verses; then translate, parse and comment on them.  All of us in the class ended up with over 35 full pages of work and a numb brain.  I have to say, though, that the passage project was the hardest project I ever had in school, but the one I learned the most from—by far.  I chose Philippians 4:1-9; and to this day, reading over that passage triggers my memory of all the truths that that passage taught: stand fast, be of the same mind in the Lord, help each other, rejoice in the Lord, let your moderation be known, be careful for nothing, think on these things, and do those things.

By the end of March, through many circumstances (which can be told in some future post), Andrea and I began dating.  About a week after I had asked permission of her dad, Andrea was at a meeting for anyone interested in missions.  There she was introduced to the idea of teaching for a year or two at Aguascalientes, Mexico.  Things worked out that she would go, and I knew I would not see her for many months.  She was to leave for Mexico in mid-July, and not return until the following June, except for Christmas.  I thought, “If God wants us together, He will make it happen.”  Follow His lead, just as Psalm 23 says.

The annual Preaching Conference at Fairhaven came in late April, and like always, finals came and went quickly.  Our end of the year activity that year was a trip to the Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio.  Other than a few buses breaking down on the way back, we all had a blast.  Technically, I think that was mine and Andrea’s first date too.

Andrea and I on the "Top Thrill Dragster." Nate Spooner is in the background there too.
Andrea and I on the "Top Thrill Dragster." Nate Spooner is in the background there too.

Soon, I found myself at home working for Discount Tire again for the summer.  Even more than the previous summer, I missed being at college.  The big event of that summer was taking a trip back east with my dad for a history/baseball vacation.  We went to an Indians game, a Pirates game, and a Nationals game; toured Gettysburg, Antietam, Bull Run, and Fredericksburg, spent a day in D.C.,  and took the world famous 100 mile Skyline Drive through Shenandoah  National Park.  I have to say that our vacation that summer was the best I can remember.  I also went down to Chesterton to see Andrea off to Mexico in July.  Looking back, it was a very good time with her, and Mr. and Mrs. Leslie.

I was already half way through college.  In just two years, I had very much adapted to and grown to love everything about Fairhaven.  The next year, my junior, was to be the most memorable and spiritually fulfilling for me.

Life at Fairhaven Baptist College—Freshman Year

As “back-to-school” time rolls around again, I think that I have a little paradox in my mind: this will be the first time in the last sixteen years I will not be going “back-to-school!” I for sure will not miss some of the work involved in getting a good education, but part of me will miss it a little bit—especially college. All four years of college, at least for me, were some of the prime maturing times in my life. So many of my friends are getting back into classes, college activities, athletics, and ministries very soon back in Chesterton. For the next few posts I am going to try to reflect back on my four years at Fairhaven.

Walking By Faith

During my freshman year, I was amazed by everything that I was experiencing. The first lesson I learned is a well known phrase found in 2 Corinthians 5:7: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Did I know which friends to be around? Did I know to what extent I was to be involved in ministry verses studies? Did I know who I was to marry? I sure did not know the answer to those things, but thankfully, someone preached a Sunday evening message that changed my outlook on finding the answers to those questions. I slowly learned (and am still learning!) to rely on God, and His Word.

Praise God, He directed me to some great friends, who still continue to be my friends today. Now, a lot of other students thought my room captain that year was a little annoying, stuck-up, quirky, etc.; but I am thankful that he was my roommate during my first year of college. He helped “show me the ropes” at Fairhaven. Put your heart into the ministry: whether it was a bus game, Saturday visitation, or setting up and serving in banquets. I also learned a lot of good study habits that year from him. Most importantly, I believe, he never had a critical spirit against the administration and college. I cannot remember one negative thing that he said about the staff. That alone made a HUGE impact on me.

No doubt, the other big influence on my life then, and up to today, was my bus captain whom I served under. I walked into the ministry director’s office my first day on campus, and was assigned to a bus route in the northwest part of Gary, Indiana. That one decision changed my whole outlook on ministry, and gave me a mentor to learn the bus ministry from. I remember the first day going bus visiting in Gary: we drove off of the highway and onto Broadway Street, and there at the first stoplight a homeless lady sat with a 5 gallon water jug that said “Hurrycane Katrina Releaf Fund”—with that spelling! My bus captain said, “Welcome to Gary.” Honestly, after hearing about the crime in that city, I was a little nervous going to our first house. That changed over the next couple of months. During my year and a half on that bus, I learned so much of what I know now about soulwinning, doing things right, and loving people. I could just go on and on…

Fairhaven Baptist Church’s 35th anniversary happened to fall on my freshman year too. Anniversary Sunday was such a blessing to me! The great old evangelist, Dr. Phil Schuler preached, and I can clearly remember that many were saved that day. I can also remember the evening service: the choir sang Great is Thy Faithfulness, and the line that really stuck out to me was, “Morning by morning new mercies I see.” God truly was and still is faithful to Fairhaven Baptist Church.

Another freshman experience is arriving into the busiest time of year at Fairhaven Baptist Church. First off, most get to be a part of the Stewardship Banquet. 2005 was the last year that the banquet was in the “old gym.” All I had heard was “get involved,” so I signed up to serve the meal. What a blast! Yes, it was hot and stuffy in the old gym, but it was a fun way to throw myself in. I am not a naturally outgoing person—I almost have to force myself to meet new people. Doing things like banquet setup and serving forced me to be more outgoing, and I am thankful to whoever it was that told me to get involved. I basically had one person I knew well going into college, and that was a friend I had grown up with back in Michigan. Over time, I eventually got to know more people, and really enjoyed most of the other college students.

My first semester, like most Fairhaven freshmen, consisted of English Grammar, American History, Old Testament Survey, and a few other classes. I had a couple of rude awakenings with study habits, but through a lot of prayer and work, I got the hang of it in a few weeks. I especially loved Christian Education class with Dr. Voegtlin teaching on practical ministry. The notes I have from eight semesters of that class are invaluable. Even after only being out of college for a few months, I have already pulled them out to look at them.

I can also say as a graduate, as the old saying goes: the more you learn, the more you learn that you don’t know. I really thought I was learning a lot, but the more I got into the Word of God, the more I realize that the truths of the Bible are infinite. I believe it would be impossible for me to effectively minister today without the challenging academics of Fairhaven Baptist College.

My relationship with God became a matter of fact after coming to college. I saw excellent examples all around me, and wanted to follow suite. However, I realized that it was not the person that I was to mold my life after, but the Word of God. God was central in their life, so if I wanted to do something for Him, I had to make God the center of my own life. Having a daily time with just me and God was the only way that could truly come. Along with that, being personally challenged from chapel and church services had to be frequent.

I sure had down times during college too. There were times that I was discouraged or weary, but learned that, “The Lord knows I can’t live on the mountain, so he picked out a valley for me”, as the song goes. I was encouraged by my dorm supervisor during devotions, calls from home, and preaching. Probably the most discouraging times were when peers fell into sin, and either left college or influenced others. Granted, those were definitely overshadowed by all of the good things, but they still had their effect. I saw those who were critically influencing others; and their lives were and are still miserable.

During my freshman year, I was introduced to some GREAT food too! Some may complain about college food, but there was very little that I did not like. My favorite was whenever they had French fries, especially with Italian beef—mmm… I’m hungry now! I ate out a few times too. Anybody from Fairhaven will eventually mention the “world-famous” George’s Gyro Spot in Chesterton. I have never had a gyro, but they are THE place to find classic Chicago street food in Northwest Indiana: Chicago hot dogs (Vienna Beef hotdog, mustard, a little sweet relish, sport peppers, onions, two slivers of tomato, a dill pickle spear, and a dash of celery salt), their double bacon burgers, Italian beef, and of course their fries—and all at a reasonable price! CiCi’s Pizza was a college place to go maybe once a year for all-you-can-eat pizza. Then you can never forget Wrestle-a-Rama: the biggest excuse to over-eat at Fairhaven. Believe it or not, I don’t think I gained any weight at college either!

Something that might have kept my weight down was being on the intercollegiate college basketball team: the Fairhaven Fighting Fundamentalists! We ended up being the first team to play in the new gym too. We won our first two games there, then got slaughtered (probably because of our attitudes!) and had a killer practice the next day. I learned a lot from my coach and being on the team. I will go into that a little more in the next few posts.

Fast forward to the college graduation of 2006; I had learned so much in just eight months, and was so joyful that I was in God’s will. I was living my dream. That year, my room captain and good friend graduated, as well as the woman who would eventually become my wife. No, I did not have a clue that I would be married to her. I had my sights set on others. I knew that Andrea was an excellent young lady, but never really considered her. The only inkling I had to “liking” her was my bus captain saying I should be interested in her. I didn’t really think twice about it at the time. I for sure did not realize what would be coming in the next few years.

I went into the summer of ’06 with a lot of tools to humbly use back home, but at the same time was eager to get back to Fairhaven—to my bus route, my friends, and classes. I enjoyed and was refreshed being with my family, as well as working a lot of hours for the next year’s school bill. God used a number of things to begin to mold me my freshman year, and little did I know how much more I would learn in the coming year. Year one was just an introduction…