Most spend 4 years on\u00a0the Purdue campus. They come, they learn, and they go \u2013 off to make the world a better place (ideally). I spent the better part of 13 years\u00a0at Purdue (no, not solely as a student!). I\u2019m not sure if when I get a cut if I\u2019d bleed red or black and gold. Not because I\u2019m a diehard Purdue sports fan (let’s be honest there were plenty of years where there was no reason to be), but because I am a BoilerMaker. Because, during my 4 years on campus, during my undergraduate days, God did a mighty work in my life, bringing me to a greater understanding of who He is and what His Word says about life. It was at Purdue that I learned that God\u2019s Word had answers for the struggles that I faced in this life. It was there that I learned in greater detail about the hope that I have in eternity and how it affects me here and now. It was through the teaching of faithful men like Steve Viars, Brent Aucoin, Rob Green, and others that I began to grow more firm in my own faith and learned what it meant to be a man of God.<\/p>\n
Fairly succinct and accurate words to describe my response to my Purdue and Faith Church communities. To have been able to be influenced and now an influencer on campus and in this community for so long has been a tremendous privilege. It\u2019s overwhelming to consider the number of students\u2019 lives with whom I have been blessed to cross paths. I don\u2019t know the math, but even a conservative number would be 1,000+. What an entrustment. What a stewardship. God help me to be found faithful! May I increase what you have given me and do it for your glory.<\/p>\n
It brings tears to my eyes to know that these days are fading fast. That the door to this chapter of my life will soon be closing and a new one will be opening. I praise God for his sovereign plan. I couldn\u2019t write half as good of a story as the one he has been planning long before I was born. I am thankful to be able to be a part of it though. I\u2019m thankful for the other players and characters that have been brought into this story along the way. From the 100 hours crew, to my PBF and Faith family, to my own family and the many other friends along the way, each has been a tremendous blessing in my life. I certainly look forward to what God has in store next as we move to a new church family in Des Moines, Iowa, but I know I will leave a piece of my heart here in the Greater Lafayette community.<\/p>\n
It brings me great joy and peace to know that there are many godly churches and campus ministries at Purdue. To know that the work will carry on whether I am here or not. I realize I\u2019m not a necessary part of God\u2019s plan to reach Purdue, but it sure was fun to be a part of it while I was here. I hope to be faithful to pray for these ministers and the students they\u2019re ministering to in the years ahead.<\/p>\n
I look forward to the day when I will reunite with all of these dear brothers and sisters without the pangs of sin and death lurking over us. When we can reminisce and laugh at God\u2019s work in our lives and glory in our Creator face-to-face. What a day that will be. A day that goes without end. What a hope and what a delight! I pray that those who read this would have the peace and hope and comfort that comes from knowing that they will be a part of that day. If you don\u2019t, I\u2019d love to talk to you more about that.<\/p>\n
One of my own personal struggles will be to own the hardness of this transition. My preferred way of dealing with change is to ignore it (or at least its implications) until it\u2019s here. That\u2019s not really loving to those who are going through the change with me, so I know I must\u2026 you guessed it, change. I am thankful that God is stronger than my stubbornness and he gives me moments like today where I could meet with a college student on campus to be reminded of all of these things. To be hit with the nostalgia of the years spent seeking to reach college students for Christ. I believe Tim Keller spoke about the need for Christians to be involved in centers of cultural influence, speaking of big cities and college campuses, and I definitely agree. I am thankful to have seen immature boys and girls coming to Purdue and Ivy Tech choose to pursue the Lord during their time\u00a0there and graduate as mature men and women who are intent on serving him in the local church for the rest of their days. What a blessing to be a part of that process. I know it will continue. I pray it will continue. I hope that it will continue. Jesus is building his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Mt. 16:18). He will bring to completion the work that he has started (Phil. 1:6). And that is a source of great hope!<\/p>\n