Andrews University Agenda

Andrews University Agenda http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/ News and Events at Andrews University en-us Copyright 2024, Andrews University Sat, 23 Nov 2024 23:04:00 +0000 Sat, 23 Nov 2024 23:04:00 +0000 webmaster@andrews.edu webmaster@andrews.edu José Bourget http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/55200 Two of my favorite things growing up were reading Bible stories and memorizing Bible verses. Weird, I know! But these two activities were associated with an experience of belonging, creativity and words of affirmation. Oftentimes our family worship was reading from The Blue Books (formally known as The Bible Stories by Arthur Maxwell) or dramatizing stories from Bible heroes and even playing different types of Bible trivia. We would pray together as a family and review the “lesson.” The real treat was showing up to Escuela Sabatica (Sabbath School) where I would get to see my friends who I hadn’t seen in a week. Then the teacher would punch a hole, or place a sticker, or paste something on an elaborate craft to celebrate when I recited the memory verse of the week. Adventures in the Bible continued when my mom married my stepdad who added three boys to her two. Friday nights, with the invention of handheld screens absent, we really got creative to keep ourselves engaged. It was a simple game that involved our minds, hearts and bodies. Each of us would have our own Bible (mine I earned from getting to Sabbath School early for an entire quarter). One of us would be the “quarterback” who would call out a Bible book, chapter and verse. As soon as you found the verse, you would read it and then you were released to run the course around the house. The first one back to the Bible would get a point. You use your mind to find the verse. Your heart to run. And your body to keep the other brothers from getting through the obstacle course before you. We almost never broke something. True story. As I got older, the Bible was a steady guide when I reached for it. I didn’t always reach for it. But when I did, eventually it provided the right-sized story or verse to give my soul the nourishment it needed. This is when I realized that the Bible is more than interesting stories and encouraging words. It is one of the ways that God speaks to me (and you!). Did you see that I use the word “eventually”? It’s really tempting to always take a quarterback approach when using the Bible as a guide. We expect that we ask our question to the Word and the Word will spiral back the answer. If life was simply about waking up, eating and going to sleep, this approach of “question asked and answered” might be enough. But I want a life that is more than merely existing. I share all this because I learned something new about myself from one of my favorite Bible promises. It is a favorite of many found in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Sometimes I have approached this verse with the lens of one of the worst, albeit popular, versions of a stereotypical man. What does that mean? Let me try to demonstrate. The verse ordains me to plot out uncharted territory. When confronted with obstacles, I will, by my strength and my might, be more than a conqueror. Standing firmly with the spirit of my understanding and prophetic vision. I press on to finish the race second only to Jesus and making sure others see my straight and narrow path. Though I’ve been bruised and mocked, these weaknesses of the flesh reflect the strength of my convictions…..(or something like that). I had a plan. Like a really good plan filled with so many favorite things, and it stretched out years beyond the present, accounted for various contingencies, maximized values, and included life goals. God showed me one next step, then I planned and locked myself into several more steps beyond what God had actually revealed. The Bible tells us to not go to fortune-tellers, but sometimes when we look only inside ourselves that’s what we become, our own fortune-tellers. Here’s another favorite Bible verse: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life” (Psalm 143:8). It was morning when I was presented with a choice to formally and fully serve Andrews University. And my first mistake was pretty typical for me: quick to speak and quick to act. That kind of impulse can sometimes move you to walk on water or other times to cut off someone’s ear. In this case, it was the latter and it was my own ear. I said no, and I wasn’t even aware of the hearing loss I just brought on myself. Even worse, it is hard to actually trust God when you are showing Him the way to go. Moving that quickly reminds me of a guy I used to work for. It took me forever to appreciate one of his best qualities—patience. Of course he didn’t think he was very patient. Yet over and over again, as he gave God time to act, things worked out in ways that had God’s fingerprints all over them. Come to think of it, this man probably felt impatient but wasn’t willing to act until God said so. I’ve gathered that the act of waiting to hear the voice of God during devotional time guided his professional life as well. He also got exceptionally annoyed when I attempted to finish his sentences. And those two things make a lot more sense now. Here’s why. The Bible presents really good answers. But taking time to listen allows the living Word to come alive in us. Basically, when I’m quick to listen and slow to speak, I give God time to finish His own sentences. It’s one of my new favorite things. Giving time to listen for the voice of God. I’d like to tell you that I know exactly why and to what end God has brought me to Andrews University now. The simple fact is I don’t. But I did eventually allow God to speak a complete sentence. Essentially He said “Go!” So I made the trek of about 100 yards north. Now it is time to listen so we can hear the next step God wants us to take. Hopefully, we’ll give time for God to finish the sentence. Tue, 21 Jan 2020 10:20:42 +0000 Ale Pineda http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/51190 High school was ending, and I had to make a decision to go to college somewhere. It was hard to decide because I was so comfortable where I was. I had a solid group of friends, I was in a relationship, I was doing really well. I was refusing change. A month or two before graduation, all the doors to come to Andrews opened up, so I decided to just go with it and see where life took me. I remember getting into the car at the South Bend airport and driving to Andrews University. It was one of the longest car rides of my life. I wasn't sure what I was doing—I didn't understand my purpose. I remember being so incredibly scared and asking God why I had to be here. Orientation week was one of the hardest weeks of my life. I moved to a different country, I didn't know anyone, I was unsure of my major, and I was going to be in an education system I knew nothing about. I remember craving a typical Hispanic dish: rice and beans. The Thursday of orientation week, I remember waking up and praying that God would give me a sign to show me there was a reason I had to stay here because I was so ready to pack my bags and go home. I walked into the department orientation breakfast and found the education table (I was an education major at first) and met a few different people who told me about this little place called the Gazebo. They told me all about the “cheap” prices and the really good quesadillas. I asked my mom if we could go and try it out. And as I walked into the Gazebo, I saw the TV screen advertising rice and beans for $2.27. This was the sign I needed. This was God talking to me and showing me how he would provide for me. Three years later, I can definitely see my purpose. I can tell how much I’ve grown. I can tell how much the environment around me has influenced my personality and who I am on a day-to-day basis. I am forever grateful for everything that has happened at Andrews and all the opportunities I’ve been provided. Tue, 23 Oct 2018 11:51:56 +0000 Gabriela (Gabi) Melgar http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/48056 Gabriela (Gabi) Melgar works at Griggs International Academy as the director of Student Services, overseeing the enrollment, financial and academic resources available to students. She also teaches high school Spanish I & II and Algebra I for Griggs. Gabi interacts with students from all over the world as she troubleshoots issues and has found that making a difference in student lives is rewarding work. In one particular phone conversation, Gabi was reminded about the practical ministry and support that Griggs offers. A woman had learned about Griggs from a random lady at the grocery store and wanted to learn more. As Gabi responded to the questions, the woman started to cry. The Griggs program was a huge answer to prayer—it would provide an excellent Adventist education without the obstacles of finances or proximity to a brick-and-mortar school. Gabi was blessed to share the news. Gabriela is from Bolivia. When she lived there, neither of her parents was Adventist, so it was her abuelita (grandma) who introduced her to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Abuelita would pick her up for church, mid-week prayer meeting, Conquistadores (Pathfinders) and other special church events. Since her parents hadn’t dedicated her as a baby, her abuelita arranged to have her dedicated in church when she was about 9 years old. When Gabi was about 10, her father wanted her to learn English, so he sent her to live with his sister in the United States. At 11, Gabi moved to Berrien Springs with her aunt and uncle, Charo and Dan Widner. She went to Village Adventist Elementary School for sixth grade and to Ruth Murdoch Elementary School (an Andrews University school) for seventh and eighth grade. However, her dad brought her back home to Bolivia for high school because academy tuition was beyond their means. After finishing high school, Gabi went to a public university in Bolivia but felt it wasn’t a good fit. She talked with her dad about going to the United States to pursue a college degree. While he wasn’t very eager to send her back, he still supported her decision by giving her some cash to get her started. Gabi got on a plane and headed to Berrien Springs. Even though Gabi really wanted to attend Andrews, she lacked the financial resources so went to a community college for her associate’s degree. As an international student, Gabi had a visa that allowed her to stay in the States an additional year to work locally. She found a job with nearby health service providers as an interpreter serving the migrant worker population. During that year Gabi became very close to a coworker. At the end of the work year, the coworker asked Gabi if she had been able to save enough money to go to Andrews University. Gabi shared that she had been able to save $6,000 but she would need $16,000 to enroll. As an international student, Gabi needed to pay the tuition in advance or find a sponsor. The coworker was not an Adventist but was a Christian who saw a need God could help her fill. She left the room for a moment and came back to the room with a check of $10,000 for Gabi. As Gabi accepted the gift, her eyes filled with tears—she would now be able to attend Andrews University. Gabi felt like God really wanted her to go to Andrews, yet the degree she sensed God calling her to would mean four years of tuition. As an international student, she wasn’t eligible for the loans that are available to some students. If God wanted her to get a math degree with a secondary education certificate, He would need to provide a way. Gabi knows that He did. When Gabi graduated, she only owed $4,000 because of the support and generosity of many people. They knew that an Andrews University education was good for Gabi and that Gabi was good for Andrews University. And Gabi has seen evidence of God’s leading in her life every step along the way. When I asked Gabi about her future she said, “It really depends on what God wants.” If you get a chance, ask Gabi about the rest of her story. You can find her around campus, at Griggs Hall or at my favorite place to run into her—when she is teaching Zumba at LifeRx in downtown Berrien Springs. Thu, 30 Nov 2017 15:59:01 +0000 Jessica Felicio http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/47516 It’s hard to build a positive self-image when you are constantly battling the effects of body shaming. Growing up in Portugal was not easy for me. I wasn’t originally from Portugal, so my features and my size greatly contrasted the norms for Portuguese women. As early as my elementary school years, I can remember lamenting my color and my shape. Being bullied was a consistent part of my elementary years. I dreaded going to school, but I dreaded the way I looked even more.  As I grew older, issues I faced concerning body shaming caused me to cope in unhealthy ways. Transitioning into puberty made things even worse. I was still the only Black person in my class, and I had not been taught about the different body types inherent within different ethnic groups. I had more curves than my female peers, and I was much larger than they were. Being big and being black made me the center of negative attention. My self-concept was destroyed, and I developed an eating disorder. I became bulimic. At the time I didn’t know bulimia was an illness. To me, it was just common sense. If I wanted to lose weight, and food was stopping me, then I needed to get rid of the food. I lost 60 pounds in two months. When I went back to school in September, everybody started commenting, “Wow! You look amazing!” and “Wow, you’re the prettiest black girl I know!” Fueled by the fast results, I kept doing it while also exercising at a high rate. Inevitably, this lifestyle was unsustainable, and one day I literally collapsed from malnutrition and exhaustion. My health scare did spark a desire to stop. I successfully stopped for two weeks; however, I also began to binge eat during my two-week rehabilitation effort. I ate so much food that I felt the need to begin vomiting again. This began a dreadful cycle of abstaining for a little bit and then starting again. And throughout all the body changes I experienced during this time in my life, my mindset never changed. No matter how much weight I lost, I still hated the way I looked. During my high school years at Shenandoah Valley Academy, I discovered that I had a mental illness. I didn’t have the power to change on my own. I had the knowledge, but I still didn’t have the ability to stop. I needed help, and I needed help fast.  For the first time in my life, I genuinely prayed to God. I remember my prayer: “Lord, I need your help.” That was it. I didn’t have much else to say. I only knew that I was tired of my disorder; I was tired of fighting it by myself, and I was ready to give my life to a God that I had questioned for so many years. I began to believe that He could help me, and I wanted to be made well. I was baptized that same year. I graduated from SVA in 2012 and chose to attend Andrews University. By then I was not bulimic anymore, but I began to struggle with my unhealthy thoughts as I noticed all the beautiful and slim girls on campus. I started feeling insecure again, and I thought my chances of finding Mr. Right would increase if I lost weight. I became bulimic again. Today, I am doing better; but honestly, I still struggle with my self-image and the temptation to cope through bulimia. I have not forced myself to vomit in a long time. I’ve tried to be open about suffering with bulimia, and I have been able to build a reliable support system of friends and professors who are willing to walk with me on my journey to recovery. Andrews has taught me to be okay with discussing my struggle. The environment here has encouraged me to be honest and open with others. This culture is what I appreciate most about Andrews. I have learned that not all people will reject you or exploit you when you disclose highly vulnerable areas of your story. Sometimes, you meet people who will help you carry your burdens. I met a few of those people here at Andrews University. Mon, 09 Oct 2017 23:37:25 +0000 Teela Ruehle http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/46846 Michigan is home for me. That’s why Andrews University was a natural choice for me when I graduated from academy and decided to study business management and information systems. I had one goal in mind when I stepped on to this campus: Stay focused, graduate, and then work my way up in a company until I was making the big bucks and living the American Dream! There were moments during my freshman and sophomore years that I wondered if the goals I had and the route I was taking were truly what life was about; however, I quickly brushed those thoughts aside since most people in society were telling me that money is the key to happiness. Things began to change when I started working as a residence advisor in the residence hall and started to connect with people from different cultures and lifestyles than me. I started to realize that pain is universal, and that maybe there was more to life that my own happiness. Instead, could the goal be to make someone else’s life better? God had begun to work on my heart and was showing me piece by piece that there is more to life than what society offers. Over the next four years, my goals changed, my major changed, mission trips happened and God’s peace became my goal and reality. I realized we only get one chance at this life, and I don’t want to spend mine chasing manmade dollar bills; I want to make an impact on the world. A passion for caring for people, talking with people and working in crisis situations had developed in me. This has come in handy for my current position as a women’s dean, but probably the deepest passion God has placed in me is for mission trips and relief aid. When the refugee crisis started, I ignored the media. I didn’t want to hear about more pain in the world. It seemed that around every corner the world was in great need. Finally, I made myself read the articles that talked about the reasons the refugees were desperate enough to leave everything they had known. The articles about how they travel hundreds of miles to get on a boat and attempt to make it to a shore called Lesbos. The articles that showed a 3-year-old Syrian boy who drowned trying to make it. I knew God was pressing on my heart: I had to go and I had to find a way to help. Many people ask me why I went to Greece, and what good I was able to do. The truth is I don’t know. But with the words from the children’s book, “The Starfish Story,” echoing in my mind, how could I not go? An old man had a habit of early morning walks on the beach. One day, after a storm, he saw a human figure in the distance moving like a dancer. As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman and she was not dancing, but was reaching down to the sand, picking up a starfish and very gently throwing them into the ocean. “Young lady,” he asked, “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” “The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die.” “But young lady, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You cannot possibly make a difference.” The young woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves, saying, “It made a difference for that one.” The old man looked at the young woman inquisitively and thought about what she had done. Inspired, he joined her in throwing starfish back into the sea. “And the king will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me’” (Matthew 25:40). Tue, 15 Aug 2017 15:31:58 +0000 Ben Regoso http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/45916 I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. My younger sister and I were born of God-fearing and loving parents who emigrated from the Philippines to provide a better life for themselves and us. Much of my childhood is a blur amid large family gatherings, Pathfinder camporees and other church-related activities. I attended Crawford Adventist Academy for 13 years—kindergarten through 12th grade—and developed long-lasting friendships with some amazing people. Some of the core values I remember my parents instilling in me were “don’t limit yourself,” “be resourceful” and “don’t just try; do.” I did not realize the true importance of these values until my freshman year at Andrews University. At the time, I did not feel a calling to Andrews. My parents really wanted their children to attend a Seventh-day Adventist school and Andrews was the closest to us. Logical choice, right? All of a sudden as a college student, I began to discover my limits, my resources were dwindling and “doing” became half-hearted “trying.” It was at that point I realized it was no longer about me but about letting God lead in my life. Eventually I met my wife while at Andrews and graduated with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in computer information systems. After job-hunting for six months, I finally landed a job in South Bend, doing IT work for the State of Indiana. There, I enjoyed going beyond my limits, using my technical knowledge as a resource and being able to make a difference in people’s professional lives. After seven years on the job, a series of events occurred that led me to question whether this was where God really wanted me to be: I got married, the work travel was getting overwhelming, I was involved in a serious car accident while on the job and my base of operations was being relocated further away from home. I was once again at a point where I could not limit myself and had to be resourceful. On top of that, I had to do something about my situation. I prayed, “Lord, where are you leading me? Help me to follow your will.” It was around this same time I was impressed to go online to see if there were any IT job postings at Andrews. I was not expecting to find anything. Yet there it was, much to my disbelief! I applied for the job and the rest, as they say, is history. One of my favorite promises in the Bible is “…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” I aim to apply this on a daily basis in the work I do and the people I come in contact with. Why? Because it is not always about the machines and technology I work with. It is also about the people whose lives I can make better by God’s grace. Whatever your purpose is in life, make sure you stay connected: Connected to your family; connected to your good friends and especially connected to God. In the end, his love is limitless, his life is abundantly resourceful and he has done it all for us. Wed, 24 May 2017 14:59:36 +0000 Bruna Barbosa http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/45394 I have always known that I wanted to become a missionary; however, I assumed that when I went to serve I would be an adult, already equipped with a professional degree that I could use to help others. Instead, God sent me to be a missionary much sooner than I expected. Little did I know; my missionary year would change my life! When I arrived at Southern Adventist University, I was a young, enthusiastic freshman. Being a student missionary was not at all on my radar. Yet, when I began hearing the stories and experiences of past student missionaries, I immediately felt drawn to the experience. I felt a clear calling to become a student missionary. I was not sure which year I would go, and I did not know which country needed me; all I knew was that God wanted me—and that was enough. Then life happened. As a freshman, I did not have the maturity necessary to remain focused. I was a social work major, but I wasn’t sure about this career path, and I found myself doubting my choice often. On top of that, I wasn’t doing well in school. I got comfortable. I started making friends. And I lost the passion to serve God as a missionary. I liked Southern, and decided to stay. Not long after, a recruiter from Andrews came to Southern to give an overview of their health professions programs. After the presentation, I decided to become a speech-language pathologist and transferred to Andrews. I finally knew what I wanted to do with my life, but that revelation only served as one more excuse to forego becoming a student missionary. I knew that if I became a missionary, I would not be able to enjoy more than one year in my current comfort zone. Once again, I was faced with two paths and familiarity seemed to be the easiest choice. This time though I didn’t feel content taking the easy way; I could not shake the desire to be adventurous, to be bold and to be obedient to God’s voice. In April, I decided it was time to become a student missionary. Unfortunately, the deadline to apply had already passed, but I met with the director of Student Missions and she agreed to work with me. Yes, this should have been proof enough, but I still asked God to send me another sign just to make sure I was doing what he wanted me to do. I knew exactly what to ask for: If God wanted me to be a missionary, I needed to see a butterfly. At dinner that evening, I was scrolling through Pinterest when I saw my sign: A gif of a penguin chasing a butterfly flashed across my screen. I know, I know: Some of you don’t think social media signs count, but I do! Excitedly, I jumped up and ran to the Student Missions office. I had received my sign. I was ready to become a missionary. I spent my SM year in Palau. While there, I met a precious gem: Five-year-old Kazia. Kazia could only speak a few words, and she communicated by following people around. Her parents and the community assumed that she was autistic, but after intense testing, they told me that Kazia was not autistic. She suffered from a severe case of language delay and desperately needed a speech-pathologist. Kazia and other children in Palau now fuel me as I sit in classes studying to become a speech-language pathologist. There are no speech-pathologists on the island of Palau. Some children are not succeeding, not because they aren’t smart, but because they are not receiving the therapy support they need. Here at Andrews, I have a mission. I have a purpose. I know what I want to do. I will become a speech-pathologist. I will help the children of Palau.  Thu, 06 Apr 2017 10:28:59 +0000 Chad Angasan http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/44884 The small town of Dillingham, Alaska, has deep roots in commercial fishing, hunting and other forms of gathering food in the wild. Although I have many great memories there, I have painful ones too. Your average Native Alaskan young person has experienced physical, emotional, verbal and/or sexual abuse, and I am no exception. This is why my mother took me out of Dillingham and moved to Keene, Texas. A generous sponsor made it possible for my sister and I to attend Chisholm Trail Academy for a year, and this changed our lives forever. This where God started reshaping who I was. For so long, I was ashamed of who I was. I continually compared myself to everyone else. I was angry at God, and had many questions about why hurtful, harmful things had happened to me as a child. I had a lingering reminder inside me that I would never be good enough, no matter how hard I tried. One day during my sophomore year in academy, my teacher asked who would like to preach. For some reason, as I laid my head on the table, barely paying attention, my arm shot up! I raised my head, trying to comprehend what had just happened. I preached my heart out, and when it was over, I started to focus on that unusual feeling I had experienced but couldn’t explain: The Holy Spirit pouring through me. Following high school, I began studying with plans of being a structural engineer. By the time my first college midterms came around I had come to the realization that I may not want to sit behind a desk for the rest of my life making sure blueprints were up to code. So, I prayed, and God asked me a question in my heart: “Do you want to build structures that will eventually burn up, or do you want to build my kingdom that will last forever?” I switched my major from engineering to theology and after graduation ended up back home in Dillingham. Then the call came for my wife, Liz, and I to pastor in Togiak, Alaska. As we landed and I looked down at the village of 800 people, the feelings of shame in who I was came rushing back. I asked God if he was punishing me. Anger, frustration and insecurity surfaced as I vented to God, “Why am I here?” But God wasn’t finished with me. After visiting many families, I started to slowly remember why I should be proud of being a Native Alaskan. Long ago, before the white people appeared in our villages with their own ideas of civility, my people were survivors and lived in the harshest living environments, and smiled while doing so. My heart was warming up to who God created me to be: An Alaskan Native. Then it happened. I was sitting among my people during a ceremony. Looking straight ahead, we all waited for the stick to hit the drum. As my people told stories of hunting and fishing through native dance, tears fell from my cheeks. It was the most beautiful display of gratitude. I watched each motion. One of my favorite dances was called “Praising:” A dance thanking God for providing us with clothes and food in a harsh climate. This was the beginning of healing for me. I realized that God had brought me back to Alaska to reconcile all the bad that had happened there in my childhood. It was there that God reminded me that he had never left my side; he was actually preparing me every step of the way. My grandmother spent much time in Togiak and connected with so many families that she considered her own. Those young people she loved and adored are now the elders of that village. When Liz and I first arrived in Togiak, we were outsiders. When they found out that I was Malania’s grandson, we were family. I spent two and a half years ministering in that village. Now, I am a second-year seminarian and God has reminded me that I can be proud of who I am, for I am his child—an Alaskan Native child of God! May we show others the native dance of the Bible—salvation—by living God’s word through our actions and words. Amen! Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:19:12 +0000