Andrews University Agenda

Andrews University Agenda http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/ News and Events at Andrews University en-us Copyright 2024, Andrews University Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:45:00 +0000 Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:45:00 +0000 webmaster@andrews.edu webmaster@andrews.edu Jephthah Ndlovu http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/51947 One of my earliest childhood memories is the fire in my belly to become a pilot. I had never boarded an airplane or visited an airport, but I was, interestingly, inspired by the birds that I’d see flying in the sky. Their graceful flight kept me thinking that one day I, too, could fly the boundless skies. Being cognizant of my dreams, my eternally optimistic mother would always look me straight in the eyes and say, “My son, God will make you fly a plane one day.” Her words added hope to my dreams! I am forever indebted to God for giving me a mother who has UNRESERVED faith in me! I am blessed to have grown under godly parents who are my secondary role models after Jesus Christ. My dad is an ordained Seventh-day Adventist minister, and because of that my childhood was adventurous. One of the early lessons that life taught me was the inevitability of change. My dad’s pastoral ministry meant that we would frequently relocate homes when dad was assigned to a different church. Eventually, my dad accepted the call to serve at Solusi University in Zimbabwe, the place which I now regard as my home. Growing up in a pastoral family and African home meant that I grew up in an extended family. My dad and I were the only males at home until early in my teenage years, when my younger brother was born. In jest, I would use my family dynamics to explain why my cooking skills are less than perfect. As a family, my father instilled in us an honor for the principles of Gethsemane and OneAnotherness. Our Gethsemane is a designated prayer place where our battles are won. And our OneAnotherness promotes love for everyone by understanding that “we do not need to look alike, just love alike.” These principles still serve me well. I have a deep respect for people and a burning desire to spread love—God’s love. In 2014, I had the awesome privilege of attending the Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and visited Andrews University. On my flight back to Zimbabwe, my prayer was, “God, you have placed this calling to be a pilot within me. Moreover, I’ve seen firsthand the fleet of planes at Your institution. Next year this time, I need to return to Andrews and pursue aviation so I can fly and take the Three Angels’ Messages to the whole world.” At that time all I had was a dream! I was on my way back to a country that was still regarded as Third World. I reviewed the information from Andrews University—tuition was beyond my reach. I claimed the promise that “with God all things are possible.” I wanted to become a part of a family of world changers. God saw to it that the next year, fall 2015, I enrolled as an aviation flight student at Andrews. I believe in a God who still answers prayer, and each semester here at Andrews has propagated a testimony. One of the many is God’s mind-boggling intervention in my finances at Andrews. I received an email which I label as a “divine hook-up.” The email was from then-provost Andrea Luxton. At first, I thought it was one of the random messages that we receive as students, but this one had my name on it. God had answered our family prayer. I had received the “Dare to Dream” scholarship, which alleviated my financial burdens. During my first semester at Andrews University, there were countless moments when someone would mistake me as a seminary student. Being a religion major had never crossed my mind. But then I had a life-threatening experience during the second semester of my freshman year and was admitted to the ICU. After this experience and many other indications, I was convicted to add religion as a second major to my aviation flight. I believe these two will complement each other well in my dream to be a missionary pilot. Since my time in the hospital, it has never been medically explained what actually caused the experience. The Federal Aviation Administration interrupted my aviation journey because they would not risk me flying after that experience. They still have not cleared me to fly, though they have asked for information in an ongoing review process. As disheartening as that could be, I am currently in my senior year and scheduled to graduate with a BA in religion. My faith is unwavering because of the promise that He who has begun a good work in me is faithful to mold me into the missionary pilot that He would want me to be. I am humbled to serve with the Watchmen, a contemporary gospel a cappella group delivering an urgent message to a cold world. Since its formal inception on February 9, 2017, God has confirmed that He is willing to use even the chief of sinners to fulfill His great commission. This ministry serves to announce that it is time to make Jesus go viral! Because of God, we just recorded our debut album at the 3ABN studios. It will be released on February 9, 2019. Some of the group members are international students who have been blessed with the grand opportunity to attain knowledge at Andrews University. It is for this reason that the ministry has created the Watchmen Educational Scholarship Fund* to financially support international students who aspire to study at Andrews University. This initiative will be primarily enhanced by the album project. Andrews has greatly influenced my perspective on life. I am determined to change the world starting from the smallest circle of influence I have. I am going by faith into the next phase, praying that God fulfills my dream to be a missionary pilot. My definition of “missionary pilot” has always been about service. Hence anywhere, anyhow and whomever that God wills that I serve, may His will be done. I pray someone is inspired to live to their fullest potential as they await a Jesus who is coming in the fullness of time! Thus far I don’t know how that will happen, but where God leads I will follow! *The Watchmen Educational Scholarship Fund is currently organized and processed by the Watchmen and is independent of Andrews University. Wed, 23 Jan 2019 16:17:55 +0000 Hyveth Williams http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/48612 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9). When God spoke those words to Joshua, I think He had me in mind. He knew that as a trailblazer and trendsetter in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I would need double doses of courage, tenacity and gumption. I have had the distinction of being the first to accomplish many things within the Adventist Church. I was the first black female pastor, and the first female pastor period, to be officially hired by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I then went on to become the first female senior pastor in the denomination and later became the first female professor of homiletics at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. To crown the “firsts” within the denomination, I have authored the first homiletics textbook that features how to preach—“Nothing but the Best”—which is now available online and will be in bookstores shortly. I have not always been known, though, for spiritual accolades. As a young woman, I pursued fame and fortune with passionate intensity. I was the victim of childhood sexual abuse, and in my young mind I could not reconcile that a good God would allow a little girl to suffer as I had. Consequently, I embraced atheism. In an effort to ease the pain of my past, I submerged myself in a world of power and politics, drugs, the occult, broken relationships, pain and emptiness until there was nothing about me to suggest a divine destiny. Like Paul, I had my Damascus road experience and could not resist the irresistible God. With divine urgency, the Father sought His lost child. He had left a longing that only He could fill in the heart of this cigar-smoking, hard-drinking, profane woman. He fanned the spark of unconditional love that would not let me go. I believe that no matter how dark or how brilliant our past, no matter how great or how humble our present, we have this hope: to be eternally united in Christ in heavenly places, if only we trust and obey! Unbeknownst to me, God was always preparing me for a life of public ministry. My earliest childhood memories, on the island of Jamaica, are of reading and reciting poetry on public stages for officials and dignitaries, such as the island’s governor. Additionally, my mother would have me read newspapers to the villagers who could not read. I did not grow up with televisions or radios (yes, there was a time when there was no TV). I found the most joy in simply reading the dictionary, imagining words as pictures. Only God is capable of such orchestration. True to the meaning of my name, Hyveth, which comes from two Hebrew words meaning “life” and “house” (“house of life”), I have been able to provide influence around the world. For almost 14 years, I served as the senior pastor of Campus Hill Church in Loma Linda, California; eight years at Boston Temple, Massachusetts; three years as associate pastor at Sligo Church, Takoma Park, Maryland; and three years as pastoral intern at All Nations Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan. On February 16, 2013, I established a community church plant, The Grace Place, in South Bend, Indiana, where people from the surrounding community now number more than the weekly Adventist attendees. The Grace Place—God’s place of grace for so many—is my place to stay fresh, stay connected and give back! As a professor, I can’t teach preaching by pulling stuff out of the freezer. Thu, 01 Feb 2018 09:54:46 +0000 Lhorraine London Polite http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/47365 I was born and raised in Panama City, Panama. When I was 8, my family relocated to the United States of America. I have fond memories of life in Panama. During that time, family members who were living in the U.S. reported that greater opportunities were available there. As fate would have it, my father lost the job he’d had for 20 years, so my family packed up their lives and transitioned to the United States. Starting over was not easy. Upon arriving, we were faced with the difficulties of learning a new language, finding new jobs and acclimating to a new culture. Here, my parents’ previous work experience was not recognized, so finding meaningful work was difficult. My sister and I attended school but could not speak the language, could not read the texts, could not understand our teachers and could not interact effectively with classmates. We were outsiders. Resilience was a welcomed friend, while hardship was a constant foe. After spending a few months in Brooklyn, New York, we moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where I spent the rest of my youth.  The difficulty we experienced as immigrants has fueled my family’s passion to serve others; I can’t remember a time when my family didn’t value humanitarianism.   Today, my sister lives in Nashville, Tennessee, working with an organization that provides care for immigrant children and their families, and to those rescued from sex trafficking. My parents live in San Antonio, Texas, where my mother works for a non-profit organization that provides health services for low-income households, specializing in immigrant families, and my father is a facilities manager for another nonprofit organization. My family have dedicated their lives as champions for the cause of those who have similar stories to ours. We are professionals (I have an MBA and my sister has an MSW) whose life work is to serve “the other.”   My mother gave me my name; Lhorraine means “laurel-crowned.” The laurel crown was a symbol of victory in antiquity, and my mother wanted to immortalize that I was born to accomplish great things and to make sure that when anyone said my name, they were acknowledging my life’s calling—to be “victorious” in all that I do. My family and I have had a dynamic spiritual journey. We were Roman Catholics when I was born; we became Baptists shortly arriving in the U.S.; then, my mother began studying the Bible for herself and noticed the Sabbath commandment. She became convicted of the Sabbath Truth, and after studying the Seventh-day Adventist beliefs, she led our family to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. My personal conversion began as a student at Union College attending Allon Chapel Adventist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, pastored by Furman Fordham II. His sermons were life-changing! The music and praise of the congregation taught me to enjoy worship. When Michael Kelly came, he brought a fresh energy and beautiful perspective on the Bible. During his pastorate, I dedicated my life to Christ. I have subsequently married a pastor, Michael Polite, and have served as a pastor’s wife in two congregations. I did not aspire to be a pastor’s wife but it has been an amazing journey! I enjoy watching God move on behalf of our ministry. Michael and I both believe in the Gospel’s mandate to take care of the less fortunate while advocating for the oppressed. Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit would continue to manifest himself as we seek to extend the borders of God’s kingdom. Tue, 26 Sep 2017 16:04:00 +0000 Heaven Shin http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/45618 Only last year, if you were to ask me if I think miracles could happen in my life, I probably would have said yes, but not a huge miracle like the ones told by people in their testimonies. This year, however, I have encountered miracles. In fall 2016, acting on conviction, I decided to change my major from biology to integrated science secondary education. This was a difficult decision for me to make but I felt a deep peace in my heart. During the first week of Christmas break, my parents and I came to the conclusion that we wouldn’t be able to afford the extra year of schooling required as a result of me changing my major. The only viable option seemed to be to switch my major back to biology and hope that in the future I’d find a way to become a teacher. I didn’t sleep that night, as I was on the phone with my parents trying to calculate the credits I would need and the cost of tuition, and as morning dawned, it became clear to me that I should go back to being a biology major. I was greatly disappointed and complained to God for getting my hopes up and letting me go through a semester as an education major only to make me change course again. I knew I had to leave it up to God and let Him guide me, but when I did, it wasn’t because I fully trusted Him but rather because I just felt like giving up. As Christmas break drew to a close, my mom and my dad called me on separate occasions. They asked if I thought I should be an education major again, and in my skepticism, I gave them all the reasons I shouldn’t. I didn’t know why my parents were bringing this up again, but then my dad told me he had a chance encounter with someone he used to work with in the U.S. who had encouraged him about me staying in school for another year to get the degree I wanted. I knew this was God’s way of reassuring our family that he would take care of our financial situation and that I should continue my pursuit of becoming a teacher. After all the tossing and turning, I was able to start my spring semester as an education major. However, as I still had to find a way to pay off my tuition, I finally decided to take a year off to go back home to Korea and teach English for a year. I wasn’t too excited about being delayed another year, but I thought I might as well think positively about this opportunity to build my teaching experience. I visited many offices on campus, trying to figure out how taking a year off would affect me. Things seemed to be working out well and I was quite ready to take a year off with my thorough planning. However, God had a different and a better plan for me. A week later, my professor carefully asked me if it would be okay for her to help me find a possible source of financial support. Even though I knew I shouldn’t get my hopes up, I felt very encouraged just with her offer of help. Over the course of the semester, we seemed to be getting better news about financial support. I prayed, but I was extremely careful not to get my hopes up. Then one day, as I was studying in the Honors office, I received the wonderful news I had been waiting for two months to hear: I would be able to continue my education without taking the year off. This was a miracle. As the semester is now drawing to a close, I cannot but hold my breath as I reconsider the ways God has led me. I didn’t think miracles could happen in my life. I was adamant about making thorough future plans and taking practical and realistic routes in life; however, I learned that through Christ, everything is a miracle. It’s a miracle that I was born, that I can speak English, that I can learn; and it’s a miracle that God loves me and that He will continue to guide me until I reach our heavenly home. Wed, 26 Apr 2017 17:08:59 +0000 Sarah Brockett http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/45299 I was born in Toronto, Canada, to two feisty Seventh-day Adventist Caribbean parents. I had to wake up at 8:30 every Sabbath morning to get ready for Sabbath School at 9:30. My hair was tied in two high buns and secured by gum ball clips and I resembled Mickey Mouse. I had to wear colorful poufy dresses that would itch the living daylights out of me, topped off with knee socks. In my eyes, I looked like a piñata more than anything else, but of course my parents would say, “You look so cute!” During Sabbath School and divine service, as a child, I often napped in church because I didn’t care to be there. I was brought up as a Christian by my parents, I did not have a choice. In my senior year of high school, baptism was not a priority; I was not ready. At the time my relationship with God was neither sincere nor strong; I just prayed in order to get what I wanted. I did not create my own personal relationship with God until my first semester of college. As I grew older, I was experiencing more trials than I ever had before. I had a lot of lonely and sad days. My household was split in two, and arguments between my mother and father were getting heated too quickly. My parents decided it was over and finally agreed to a divorce. It was definitely a hard time in my life because I felt like I was in the middle of their dysfunction. Things were not going my way at all. I felt like the more I made an effort to pray, the more things were getting out of hand. Although my parents’ relationship had run its course, I was hoping and praying that I’d be able to keep my mind clear enough to make the right decision when the time came to choose the college I would attend. Honestly, if anyone would have asked me two years ago if I would go to Andrews University, I would have simply said no! My faith in God was weakening and I wanted to leave the church more than anything else. The deterioration and disruption caused by my parent’s relationship left me with no hope. Finances were not all that great to say the least, and one of my parents was not readily available in my life as much as I had hoped. Being that I was the only one in my family to pursue post-secondary education, there was a lot of added pressure and stress on my back; screwing up was not an option. I needed something in my life to go right. Fortunately, I was accepted to all the universities where I applied. I just needed to narrow down my choices. My attempts to check out every other university went wrong every time. My visits were constantly delayed or cancelled. When I did have appointments, I would find out that the university just did not offer enough. I felt misled. Through it all, my mother kept praying even when I stopped. When it came time for me to visit Andrews, things were actually going right. I could truly imagine myself attending this university. Andrews offered a variety of program choices, and the environment was peaceful and positive. I truly felt at home. Once I was here, I felt more passionately about worship and began attending church regularly and paying attention to the Word being preached. It’s as if every sermon I listened to was designed for me because I could relate to it all. Eventually, the thought of baptism entered my mind again. God agitated my environment to put me in a place where he knew I’d be better off and showed me that through it all, he is with me. On November 22, 2015, at Andrews University, I was baptized for the very first time. I never would have imagined that I would finally take the necessary steps to rebuild my faith and my relationship with God. Being baptized was the first time in my life where I felt like whatever barrier I approached in my path, it was never too high for me to get over because I had God on my side. I am now a sophomore pre-law student at Andrews studying communication. God is before me guiding my path and putting the right people in my life. Just recently, I found out that I had a grandfather who was alive and well, living in the States. He reached out to me after he connected with my father after almost 20 years. Also, I have met two relatives on this campus this year alone. God sent me to Andrews for a certain reason and a purpose. He detoured my path and guided me down a route that would work out for my good, and for as long as I live, I will continue to be patient, steadfast and abide by whatever he has in store for me. I may not know the plan, but I trust him enough to guide my life. I live by this promise: “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.” (Jeremiah 29:11). Wed, 29 Mar 2017 08:11:00 +0000 Wol Bol Wol http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/44792 As a boy of 4 years old, I was a shepherd in South Sudan, herding sheep and goats. I took them to pasture in the morning, where they grazed all day, and returned home in the evening. During that time, foreign militias were raiding homes and killing villagers. When I was 6 years old, I witnessed the plundering of the village where I lived with my uncle. Because of the conflict, I took refuge in Kenya. I lived in a refugee camp for nine years and during this time was converted to Adventism. When violence broke out in the camp, resulting in the shooting of nine refugees, I was only 17. In a twisted chain of events, the violence brought attention to the refugee crisis and I was given an opportunity to interview for asylum in the United States of America. Currently, I am an MDiv student in the Seminary and will graduate in August, with plans to also complete a PhD. I love the diversity here at Andrews University and that I am able to have friends from all over the world. While at Andrews University I had the opportunity to learn Chinese, so I did, then I traveled as a student volunteer to China where I taught and preached. My personal philosophy is that no matter the predicament, hope is never lost because God is. And he will fulfill his plans and purpose for our lives.  Tue, 07 Feb 2017 10:21:28 +0000 Joel Raveloharimisy http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/44185 Home for me is the African island paradise of Madagascar, located in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa. I was born and raised on Madagascar and one of my favorite childhood memories was spending time with my four siblings and my parents, playing soccer and sharing stories together. Both of my parents were teachers. Our daily routine included waking up early every morning, having morning devotions, and getting ready to arrive at school by 7 a.m. The after-school routine involved playing together as a family until dinner was ready. My parents believed it was important for their children to grow the food they ate; thus, each child was given a plot to farm. What we didn’t eat we sold at the market. Chores in our home were mandatory. I enjoyed cooking. I would trade with my siblings to cook instead of doing other chores. In retrospect, there were no gender-specific chores, and to this day I regularly enjoy preparing delicious Malagasy dishes. From the age of 8, my parents allowed me to work as a literature evangelist. Because of this practice, my parents never had to pay for my education and I have never incurred any educational debt, despite earning two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree and a PhD. My life goal is to alleviate poverty in Madagascar. To this end, from 1999 to 2007 I raised funds to construct over 300 classrooms and school buildings and numerous churches throughout rural and urban Madagascar. Between 2003 and 2011 I also helped to establish the first ophthalmological clinic and education center in the country. In 2003 I started Actions for Madagascar, a group of dedicated students and young professionals with a goal of creating positive and sustainable changes in Madagascar by empowering youth and women, advocacy and community development. My team designs and implements activities that assist less fortunate families, women and young people with starting small businesses in both rural and urban areas. Currently, I am raising funds to allow 30 orphans to complete their primary and high school education and obtain vocational training or pursue higher education. Actions for Madagascar provides resources to help students in their efforts to access higher education locally or abroad. We also facilitate capacity building programs such as grant writing, fund raising and project management to allow young people to improve their quality of life and their community. In my role as program director of the Community & International Development Program at Andrews University, I lead a study tour to Madagascar each year. Malagasy students are able to interact with students from Andrews University through youth forums and other cultural activities where they can exchange their knowledge and experiences. Andrews University students are able to make practical application of the theories of international development and learn from the Malagasy culture. The Malagasy students are able to challenge and shape the thinking of our students. The lives of both groups are enriched because of this interaction.   Mon, 28 Nov 2016 10:42:16 +0000 Austin Currie & Chandler Koerting http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/44155 Every once in a while, our stories are marred by tragedy. And so, it is with sadness that we pause to mark the Andrews University story—a story touched once again, by tragedy. On Sabbath, Nov.19, 2016, tragedy took the life of two of our finest—Austin Currie, a junior engineering student from the great state of Illinois, and Chandler Koerting, a junior computer science student, also from Illinois. They were inseparable friends—inseparable in life and in death.                                                I spent my Sunday evening in the Meier Hall Chapel with a gathering of students, staff, faculty and administrators who assembled to share their fondest memories of Austin and Chandler. I am taking this opportunity to reflect on some of the sentiments that were shared.                                                Austin was remembered as a fun-loving and deeply caring friend. He was regarded as one of our best RAs, who often routinely spent Sabbath afternoons cooking for friends. He was also known for sharing meals sent to him by his father with others. A fun fact that brought laughter to last evening's solemn occasion was that Austin wore flip-flops and shorts during all four seasons—even through the snow banks. On one occasion a young lady, whom he did not know, was stranded off-campus on a cold Michigan winter night because her car battery had died. She called one of her friends to assist her in jumpstarting her car, but that friend was unable to help and offered to send his friend instead. That friend was Austin, who showed up in—you guessed it—flip-flops and shorts and jumpstarted her car. That act of kindness to someone whom he did not know left an indelible mark. And that act of kindness was not random—it was a mark of his character.                                                The fact that Chandler genuinely cared when no one else did was a sentiment that served as a common theme during last evening's sharing. He was incredibly kind and sincere. There was depth to his caring. He had a winsome smile that could put anyone at ease. Not to be undone, Chandler’s friends also recounted his funny side—he could manage to take a nap in any position. One of his friends described a time when Chandler, who is much taller than her, placed his arm on the crown of her head during a casual greeting. She became curious when the weight of his arm seemed to get heavier. She looked up, and there was Chandler, taking a quick nap.                                                                                              These two young men have provided us with a legacy of how to live. They have demonstrated with their own lives that our legacy has less to do with longevity and more to do with a life of fullness and quality. Stephen Covey, in his classic, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” opines that one of those seven habits is to begin with the end in mind. In that book Covey also asks us to, perhaps morbidly, visualize our funeral and listen to our eulogy. He claims that what we want to hear in our eulogy is the true core of who we are and we should live that way. Last evening, our campus was reminded that Austin and Chandler lived their core values and embodied the Andrews spirit. And so, as we punctuate our Andrews story with this loss, we say with the throng of the faithful, “even so, come, Lord Jesus.”                                                Amen! Wed, 23 Nov 2016 09:41:31 +0000