Today was our university day. We joined students, faculty and staff of Concordia University Irvine (CUI) for chapel at 10:30am. It was a special day for chapel. First, it was the last Monday chapel of the school year, as graduation is right around the corner. And as such, it was also the commemoration of the impending retirement of a long-time and dearly loved faculty member – Dr. Michael Middendorf. If that name sounds familiar it might be because he authored the 2-volume Concordia Commentary on the book of Romans. It was great to hear him teach in person on Acts 2:42-47.
We returned in the evening for a presentation at 5:00pm at the Campus Ministry Center. We were joined by half-a-dozen young people – juniors and seniors – with an interest in church work or international work or both. Though I had an official presentation ready, we just settled into a more comfortable and natural discussion, sharing backgrounds, answering questions, and asking about their hopes and goals. It’s our experience that students are focused for so long just on graduating college, that it can be a bit overwhelming when they do, and they aren’t necessarily sure of the next step (or if they are sure, they aren’t necessarily sure they want to take that step yet!). One or two of the attendees sounded like that might be their situation in the next few months, or perhaps the next year. We pray we were an encouragement to them not to despair if there is uncertainty, while providing them with food for thought about serving the church with their current gifts and abilities.
If Gena didn’t care for her photo yesterday, I can certainly empathize with this rather dismal image of me as we talked with the students at Concordia Irvine.
Gena and I met at a campus ministry and working with younger people remains something we both resonate with. While we’re no longer their peers, we enjoy the enthusiasm and optimism young people bring in lieu of experience and difficulties of life. There will be time for those things later on – enthusiasm and optimism aren’t bad attributes to start with – and hopefully finish with!
Gena graduated with her undergraduate degree from CUI a few years back. Many few years back! It’s a beautiful campus, and it was wonderful to see and hear from some of the folks coming along behind us to take up positions of leadership and responsibility in obedience to the Holy Spirit! Please pray the Holy Spirit continue to raise up young people of faith and hope, and give thanks for places like Concordia University Irvine that equip young people not just with knowledge, but with a vibrant witness to a life of faithfulness.
The Nelson Family Indonesia 