Graduated: 1998
Missionary: Toronto, Canada
*The missions major existed until 2006, when the
Cross-Cultural Studies Department was created. This interview represents
the missions emphasis within the CCS major.
Why did you choose the missions major (*see
note above)? Simply put, I wanted to be—and believed God wanted
me to be—a missionary.
What led you to Northland? As a
prospective student looking at information from various Bible colleges
and Christian universities, two things particularly impressed me about
Northland: the apparent emphasis on the student’s walk with God and the
spotlight on missions. After my first semester, I was certain that these
were not merely apparent in the information I received but everyday
realities on campus.
Which class has been the most memorable and/or
the most useful to you since you graduated? It would be tough
to narrow the list to one class. Introduction to Missions and Missions
Principles, Practices, and Methods would have to be near the top.
How are using your major today? My
wife and I are currently church-planting with another couple (also
Northland grads) in Toronto, Canada—the world’s most multi-cultural
city.
How would you recommend the cross-cultural
studies major to a prospective student? It will prepare you for
work on the field in ways you do not even realize until you are there
in the thick of preaching and teaching in a different culture.
What words of wisdom to do you have for
current students? Your teachers know more than you do!
Did you pursue further education after receiving your
bachelor's in missions? I went on to earn a Master of Arts in Biblical
Studies.
What education do you think is essential for any
cross-cultural studies major beyond the bachelor’s? There are no doubt
exceptions, but I think most men my age [when I graduated] were not
sufficiently trained or mature to lead a pastoral and/or missions
ministry with a B.A. I think most of us needed, not only the more
rigorous intellectual challenge, but the time to mature and think
through certain issues that graduate school provides. My wife has a
B.A., and she does not feel that her preparation was lacking for the
role that she fills in our ministry here.
How would you describe your experience with
the missions major to someone? The missions major at Northland
connects solid biblical and theological education with the philosophy of
ministry, the history of methodology, and the experiences of current
missionaries to equip you for the task of home or foreign missions.
[Although the program has been restructured, the
essence remains the same.]
How would you recommend Northland to someone?
I would especially recommend Northland to anyone going into ministry
because the teachers work very hard to influence the student, not only
mind-to-mind, but heart-to-heart and life-to-life. I also believe there
are real advantages to preparing for ministry in a setting where that is
the main focus of the entire faculty and student body.