This past year has been a time of transition for me. I’m leaving Rosedale Bible College (RBC), where I served for 15 years—one as a faculty member, 10 as Dean of Students, and four as Academic Dean.
This summer I’m moving into the president’s office at Rosedale International. I’m excited about this transition, but the move has also forced me to look back at the last 15 years. It’s been a rewarding and sacred season as I’ve had the privilege of walking with hundreds of young adults moving from childhood into adulthood.
As I leave, the Communications Team asked me to share five lessons learned during my time at RBC. So here goes:
- The power of the poker face
Young adults love to talk to people who listen. I fight the impulse to jump in and tell them what they need to do. Sometimes it’s painfully obvious to me, but if I want them to keep talking, I need to be quiet and listen. I’ve learned to keep a straight face, whether I am laughing or crying inside, so I can hear their hearts. This is likely true for people of all ages, but the older I get, the quicker I feel like I need to switch into “lecture” mode. There is a time to lecture, but often a poker face will keep the conversation going longer and deeper.
- The power of tea
I brewed Turkish tea in my office twice every week. This became a scheduled time when all sorts of things could be discussed, and questions pondered. Would students have shown up if there hadn’t been tea? I’m not sure, but tea was the excuse that brought people together. And as they gathered, good things happened. Tea may not always be the catalyst for coming together, but we need to be on the lookout for things that trigger connection.
- Formation is a process
I had a student sit in my office one day and say that he could never love anyone else again. He had just had his heart broken. He was in pain. Deep pain. At that point in time, he felt that the life he had planned had been shattered. Of course, he did learn to love again, but it took time. It was a process. I had another student tell me that she had never felt closer to God than during that morning’s chapel. A week later she was in my office asking why God seemed so distant. Ups and downs are inevitable as we follow Jesus, as we form relationships. We need to be reminded that spiritual formation is a process, a journey.
- Embodied community is powerful
Over the years we have tried various forms of online education at RBC, but each time we’ve been reminded of the greater impact and power of physical presence. Online education serves a purpose in some settings, but the change and transformation that I’ve seen in young adults as they seek Jesus together has convinced me of the supreme importance of physical community. We need each other. We need people to walk with, to pray with, to laugh and cry with. There is transforming power in seeking Jesus together.
5. Kids these days… vs. Kids these days!
As I reflect on the past 15 years at RBC, I’m very encouraged about the future of the church. I walked with young Millennials as they tried to sort through life decisions. Then came Gen Z. This brought different challenges, but now we find ourselves prepping for Gen Alpha. There may be differences in some of the defining markers of each generation, but the common denominator that I have seen in each generation of young adults is a sincere desire to follow Jesus in their generation. What will that look like? I don’t know, but I love the passion and desire that I see as young adults meet Jesus and endeavor to follow Him. I guess that’s a big reason why I’m moving to Rosedale International. I hope to see not just young adults, but the whole church, catch fresh vision for what it means to follow Jesus—and to follow Him well.
Photo credit: Annika Conte, RBC
