Fall 2023 Magazine

What personal experiences or life lessons during your Bethel experience have helped you grow in your own faith? Julie 1RWKLQJ FRPSDUHV WR WKH H[SHULHQFH RI *RGŠV ORYH ZDVKHG RYHU \RX WKURXJK +LV SHRSOH 'XULQJ WKHVH \HDUV DW %HWKHO ,ŠYH EHHQ VKDSHG E\ VR PDQ\ SHRSOH ZKR VSRNH -HVXV WR PH DQG UHFHLYHG +LP IURP P\ FDUH DV ZHOO 0RVW UHFHQWO\ IRU PH , WKLQN RI RQH \HDU DJR ZKHQ ,ŠG UHFHLYHG D FDQFHU GLDJQRVLV , FRXOG VHH WKH YDOOH\ LQ IURQW RI PH ZLWK XQNQRZQ GHSWK DQG ZLGWK 2Q P\ ODVW GD\ RI ZRUN EHIRUH EHJLQQLQJ WUHDWPHQW , H[SHULHQFHG D WLGDO ZDYH RI +LV ORYH ZDVKLQJ RYHU PH IURP SUD\HUV RƂHUHG FDUGV ZULWWHQ DQG KXJV JLYHQ E\ +LV SHRSOH DW %HWKHO , KDG WKLV FOHDU VHQVH IURP WKH /RUG WKDW +H ZDV GHƃQLQJ WKDW YDOOH\ IRU PH E\ WKH JLDQW VL]HG ZDYH RI +LV ORYH ƃOOLQJ LW XS Shawn 0\ UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK &KULVW DQG RYHUDOO VSLULWXDO PDWXULW\ ZDV GHHSO\ LPSDFWHG E\ WKH VWDƂ DQG IDFXOW\ PHQWRUV ZKR LQYHVWHG LQ PH GXULQJ P\ WLPH DW %HWKHO , FRQQHFWHG ZLWK VHYHUDO JRGO\ PHQ GXULQJ P\ VWXGHQW years who were approachable, wise and encouraging as I sought to understand God, the Bible and my identity as D FKLOG RI *RG How can we reach students where they are to help them grow in their faith? Julie :H FDQ UHDFK WKHP E\ KHOSLQJ WKHP ƃQG DQG YDOXH FRPPXQLW\ ZLWK RWKHU EHOLHYHUV VR WKDW WKH\ DUH intentional and discerning about the voices they are inviting in their lives, and demonstrating what wholeness in &KULVW ORRNV OLNH ŝ QRW EHLQJ SHUIHFW EXW HPEUDFLQJ KXPLOLW\ FRPPLWPHQW DQG KRQHVW\ ZLWK WKH /RUG RXUVHOYHV DQG RWKHUV Shawn (YHU\ \HDU *RG EOHVVHV %HWKHO ZLWK D QHZ FODVV RI LQFRPLQJ VWXGHQWV 7KH EHVW ZD\ WR UHDFK WKHP LV WR NQRZ WKHP ORYH WKHP DQG FRPPLW WR LQYHVWLQJ LQWR WKHP $QG WKH EHVW ZD\ WR GR WKDW LV R̃HQ LQ RQH RQ RQH DQG VPDOO JURXS UHODWLRQVKLSV ZKHUH WUXVW LV EXLOW DQG UHDO OLIH FRQYHUVDWLRQV FDQ RFFXU 7KLV LV ZK\ %HWKHO LQYHVWV D JUHDW GHDO RI WLPH DQG UHVRXUFHV LQ RXU GLVFLSOHVKLS JURXSV DQG VSLULWXDO PHQWRULQJ UHODWLRQVKLSV +RZ LV GLVFLSOLQJ WKLV JHQHUDWLRQ RI VWXGHQWV GLƂHUHQW DQG RU more challenging than that of previous generations? Julie 2XU VWXGHQWV KDYH JURZQ XS LQ D FXOWXUH RI RXWUDJH DQG GLYLVLRQ 7KH\ HVSHFLDOO\ QHHG XV WR GHPRQVWUDWH WKH IUXLW RI WKH VSLULW WKDW JLYHV WHVWLPRQ\ WR D OLIH OHG E\ *RG LQ FRQWUDVW WR WKH ORXG IUHQHWLF ZRUOG Shawn *HQHUDOO\ VSHDNLQJ WKLV JHQHUDWLRQ LV PRUH GLVWUDFWHG DQG RYHUZKHOPHG WKDQ SUHYLRXV JHQHUDWLRQV 7KHLU UHDOLW\ KDV EHHQ GHHSO\ LPSDFWHG E\ WHFKQRORJ\ VRFLDO PHGLD DQG D SDQGHPLF +RZHYHU OLNH DOO JHQHUDWLRQV DXWKHQWLF UHODWLRQVKLSV PDWWHU $QG ZKHUH WUXVW FDQ EH EXLOW DQG JHQXLQH ORYH FDQ EH VKRZQ GHHS UHODWLRQVKLSV FDQ EH IRUJHG IDLWK FDQ JURZ DQG VSLULWXDO PDWXULW\ FDQ RFFXU :H VHH WKLV KDSSHQLQJ HYHU\ \HDU What are some new initiatives and changes you are implementing? Shawn : :H KDYH LPSOHPHQWHG D FDPSXV ZLGH GHƃQLWLRQ RI D GLVFLSOH RI -HVXV 2QH ZKR knows Jesus, is becoming like Jesus, and is on mission ZLWK -HVXV :H DUH DOVR IRFXVHG RQ LGHQWLI\LQJ YDULRXV VWDJHV RI IDLWK RI RXU VWXGHQWV VR ZH FDQ SXUSRVHO\ KHOS WKHP WDNH WKHLU QH[W VWHSV LQ WKHLU IDLWK MRXUQH\ 2QH RI WKH ZD\V ZHŠYH GRQH WKLV LV E\ FUHDWLQJ YDULRXV OHYHOV RI HQJDJHPHQW IRU RXU PLGZHHN VPDOO JURXSV &RPH DQG SEE , 2) Come and ENGAGE and 3) Come and PRACTICE 7KHQ EDVHG RQ >WKHVH YDULDEOHV@ ZH KDYH FUHDWHG D QHZ GLVFLSOHVKLS JULG IRU RXU PLGZHHN VPDOO JURXS WRSLFV JDWKHULQJV 6 %(7+(/81,9(56,7< ('8̌0$*$=,1(