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It’s Time to Leave the Shire, Frodo!

It’s Time to Leave the Shire, Frodo!

I love a good story. I especially love it if the story is of epic proportions where the underdog, an unassuming hero, encounters unimaginable peril to accomplish some noble goal such as, let’s say, saving the world! Among such grand stories of many dangers, adventures and sacrifice, Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings trilogy stands as one of my very favorites. Oh, my good man (sorry Hobbit!) Frodo, who chose to leave the tranquility of the Shire to go to a distant land, throws a ring in the fire, and once and for all stops Sauron, Middle Earth’s greatest enemy! Did you know what all of your quest would put you through, Frodo? Could you even imagine how your decision to say yes to that call would forever change you? Did you know the cost in advance? And—had you known—would you still have said yes if you could go back and choose it all over again? In the end, was it worth it, Frodo?

We left a comfortable life in Dallas roughly nine months ago. And after just a few months in Brazil, I’ve come to realize that Dallas was our Shire. Sure, Texas was not devoid of problems. We struggled with stress. I myself at times felt overwhelmed with the demands of life and with my own demons. My wife and I still had our occasional marital problems. But… still… Dallas was safe, predictable, and comfortable. No matter how stressful things got, our Texan Shire was filled with delightful family times at the Dallas arboretum, Target runs, and delicious Starbucks drinks conveniently ordered in advance from an app so I wouldn’t have to bother talking to another human being at the ungodly early hours of my morning. Oh, and lest we forget, how do I even tell you how much we miss Amazon prime. Oh, sweet, sweet Amazon—we could purchase almost anything through your website and have it delivered to our doorsteps within two days (or within an hour, if you live in a place like Dallas!). We also miss our dog (Oh George, how we miss you!) and our beautiful house.

So you don’t think I’m super shallow, our Shire also included a wonderful church with gospel-centered preaching that is second to none, not to mention a wonderful small group that my family and I had been a part of for several years. Those people were our friends, our community. Our Shire. We miss all of that.

Unlike Frodo, we didn’t leave our Shire behind to literally save the world. We came to Brazil to fulfill a lifelong dream of serving here. I don’t stand behind a pulpit every week preaching to the masses, nor do I think I ever will. Much of what we do is somewhat invisible, behind the scenes.  Our ministry is small, translating counseling related resources into Portuguese, meeting with folks one on one, and leading small workshops.

There’s nothing about counseling that is flashy. Our story does not include magical rings or enchanted beings, but it is still epic. It is my epic narrative where my family and I, unlikely “heroes” that we are, get to make sacrifices for the sake of others. To bring to them something or someone, who can indeed save their lives.

It’s been a slow process, but during these past nine months I have felt the Lord waking up my soul from the slumber of comfort and convenience that marked our lives back in the U.S. Waking up is wonderful and difficult, invigorating and scary, all at once. But when you leave your Shire, your soul wakes up to deeper realities that changes you and allows you to see life (and yourself) from a completely different perspective. And there’s no going back. And there’s nothing better.

Please, please don’t misunderstand me. I am in no way saying that enjoying the comforts of life in our wonderful America is wrong. Nor am I saying that you have to leave your home to leave your Shire. All that I am trying to do is to invite you to consider some fundamental, life-changing questions that only you, in your heart of hearts, can answer. No one else can do that for you.

Are you constantly bored with the life you are leading?

What comforts, what safety, what predictability, what pleasures have you left behind for the sake of being part of something greater than yourself?

Are you willing to leave your Shire for the sake of the gospel?

Are you living your epic story?

If Jesus Himself left the Shire of heaven to destroy the ultimate enemy and save us, how can we—His followers—do any less?

“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35)

Come Learn How To Facilitate Christian Growth In A Small Group Setting!

Come Learn How To Facilitate Christian Growth In A Small Group Setting!

 

“Christian community is the place where we keep the flame of hope alive among us and take it seriously so that it can grow and become stronger in us.” – Henri Nouwen

Relationships are essential to God’s very nature because He himself is a relational being who has always existed as a triune being with eternal interactions of love, intimacy, empowerment, and service between the Father, Son, and Spirit. It is no surprise, therefore, that relationships are also essential to the Christian life. Because we are created in the image of a triune, relational God, we simply cannot be healthy as Christians while living in isolation. Every aspect of the Christian journey involves others in the Body in some capacity, from our very conversion to our sanctification.

Just like the disciples grew in their relationship with Jesus in the context of their relationships with each other, we too are called to become conformed to the image of Christ by loving, serving, encouraging, admonishing, accepting, submitting, and forgiving one another—just to name a few!

Whether you are a Calvary student or someone from the community, consider enrolling in our upcoming Group Counseling intensive class, which will be offered September 27-29. This course may be taken for credit or personal enrichment. In this class, you will learn the Biblical foundation’s group counseling, as well as practical skills to lead small groups effectively.

To find out more about this and other seminary counseling courses, contact Dr. Joa Braga.

Calvary University Pursues a Partnership With the IABC

Calvary University Pursues a Partnership With the IABC

This previous weekend Dr. Smith, Associate Professor and Program Director for the undergraduate Biblical Counseling Department at Calvary University had the opportunity to attend the regional IABC (International Association of Biblical Counselors) conference at Life Fellowship Family Bible Church in Westminster Colorado. Dr. Smith not only had the opportunity to hear from some wonderful speakers, but he also was able to meet some vendors and speak to prospective students and their parents, about Calvary University and the Biblical counseling program with Bill George, the VP of Enrollment Management for the new Calvary University Innovation Center campus located in Fort Morgan Colorado.

In addition, Dr. Smith also had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Ed Bulkley, president of IABC and share some of the opportunities for Calvary University and IABC to work together in developing a partnership in equipping the next generation of Biblical counselors to serve in the local church. Some of these opportunities include a potential Biblical counseling conference with IABC and Calvary University. Implementing some of the requirements for IABC certification in our undergraduate and graduate programs, and a possible training center in the future for others who are seeking IABC certification. 

 

Keith and Pat Miller:  2018 Alumni of the Year

Keith and Pat Miller: 2018 Alumni of the Year

Weekly Portraits of Calvary Life

The Alumnus of the Year award is given annually to a Calvary graduate who has shown faithfulness in his or her service to the Lord.  This year the President’s cabinet has chosen to honor one individual and one couple based on their outstanding qualifications.  Last week I shared about our first honoree, Alice Thompson.

Dr. Keith and Pat Miller

Our next honorees for 2018 Alumni of the Year are Dr. Keith and Pat Miller.  The Millers were both born and raised in Illinois.  Dr. Miller likes to tell people that he grew up near Normal, Illinois, but now he lives close to Peculiar, Missouri!  They each trusted Christ as Savior as children and dedicated their lives to ministry as teenagers.

Dr. Keith and Pat Miller and I posed for a picture after Commencement.

Pat’s father worked for Moody Bible Institute, and that is where she attended and met Keith in 1966.   Keith says that he had three goals at Moody – to know the Word of God, to learn about being a pastor, “and Lord, if possible, could I please find a wife!”  God answered all three!  Pat says she had three desires for her future spouse – of course, he needed to be a believer, he needed to be headed to full-time ministry, and “please God let him be tall!”  Keith graduated from Moody in 1968, came to Calvary Bible College, and completed his bachelor’s degree in 1969.  Pat graduated from Moody in 1969, and they were married that summer.  They then headed off to Dallas Theological Seminary where Keith earned his Master’s in 1973.

Pastorate

The Lord then took the Miller family to Michigan where Keith served as a youth pastor for a couple of years.  Keith’s first senior pastorate was at a church in Iowa, followed by one in Nebraska, and finally at Argyle Bible Church in Colchester, Illinois, from 1983-1994.  During that time, Keith earned his doctorate from Dallas Theological Seminary as well.  Over the years, God blessed the Millers with four children who are all now married and have added 10 grandchildren to the family.  One son and one son-in-law are currently pastors in the Kansas City area.

Serving at Calvary

Keith had a long-time desire to teach in a Bible College, so he contacted Calvary about the possibility in 1993.  After the usual procedures, Academic Dean Tom Bonine called Dr. Miller in February of 1994 and extended the call to come and be Chair of the Pastoral Studies Department at Calvary Bible College.  Dr. Miller was thrilled to receive his class schedule and find that his very first class to teach would be Old Testament Survey.  Through God’s perfect timing, the Dean of Women position was also open at Calvary.  Pat felt as if God had been preparing her all her life for working as dean.  It was a dream job for her, and she held that position for fourteen years.

While serving as Dean of Women, Pat began to take seminary classes in Biblical Counseling, and she graduated from Calvary Theological Seminary in 2000.  Eventually Mrs. Miller was asked to direct the undergrad Biblical Counseling Program.  The transition was wonderful and very fulfilling for her.  She has continued in this role for the past ten years.  Keith became Chairmen of the Bible and Theology Department in 2015.  He has also served as interim pastor at ten different churches since 2002.

Authors

During their years of teaching, the Millers have also found time to become authors!  Pat’s first book was Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling Women in 2001.  Then Keith and Pat worked together on Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling Youth in 2006.  Second editions of those books were published in 2013.  In 2014, Keith wrote Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling Men, and they co-authored Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling Couples in 2017.  Pat’s latest book, written with her daughter, Rachel Gorman, and released last year, is called God’s Wisdom for Women.

Retirement

After 24 years at Calvary, Dr. and Mrs. Miller retired in May.  They are looking forward to traveling and seeing what the Lord has in store for the next chapter of their lives.  When asked what she appreciates most about Calvary, Pat said, “Of course, THE STUDENTS!  Hands down they are why we are here and why we stayed.  It has been a delight to know so many students and see God use them.  They have encouraged us greatly, and we love them.”  Keith said that he has appreciated the awesome opportunity to stand before his students and teach them the Word of God and, for the pastoral majors, how to preach and what to expect as pastors.  Calvary will not be the same without the Millers, but we are glad that they will always be part of the alumni family.  It is a great pleasure to recognize them today for their service to Calvary and honor them as 2018 Alumni of the Year.

The Millers both shared a few words after accepting the award.

Sara Klaassen

Alumni Relations Coordinator

J-Term Enrollment Highest in Years

J-Term Enrollment Highest in Years

Weekly Portraits of Calvary Life

Fifty-five students have participated in this week’s J-Term classes.  That is the highest J-Term enrollment in many years.  While many of the students came back to campus to attend these classes, some viewed the sessions online.  J-Term is beneficial for students looking to lighten their course load in the future by taking one class this week before all the others start.  The flexibility of online participation is an added bonus!  The courses offered this week were Bible Study Methods/Hermeneutics, Counseling Cross-Culturally, American Military History, Music Technology, Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics, and Conflict Resolution.

Dr. Gromacki taught Bible Study Methods/Hermeneutics.

Ken Tibberts taught Counseling Cross-Culturally.

Dr. Bitner taught American Military History.

Dr. Cone taught Ethics.

Dr. Hessel taught Conflict Resolution.

Joel Williamson taught Introduction to Philosophy.

Jeremy Schell taught Music Technology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sara Klaassen

Alumni Relations Coordinator

 

Upcoming Basketball Games

January 6, 3:00 p.m. Women vs. Rhema Bible at Broken Arrow, OK

January 9, 5:00 (Women) & 7:00 p.m. (Men) vs. Kansas Christian at Overland Park, KS

January 12, 5:30 (Women) & 7:30 p.m. (Men) vs. Faith Baptist Bible at Ankeny, IA

January 13, 2:00 (Women) & 4:00 p.m. (Men) vs. Emmaus Bible at Dubuque, IA

Upcoming Calvary Events

First Day of Spring Semester                          January 8

Conference on Global Engagement               January 22-25

Engaging Grace Conference                           January 31

Alumni Phone-a-thon                                      February 1-28

New Book Written by Alumni Available Now

New Book Written by Alumni Available Now

Weekly Portraits of Calvary Life

Calvary alumni, Patricia Miller and Rachel Gorman, are the authors of the recently released book, God’s Wisdom for Women: Topical Scripture and EncouragementMrs. Miller graduated from Calvary Theological Seminary in 2000 and is currently the Biblical Counseling Department Chair here at Calvary.  Rachel Gorman is her daughter and a 2010 Calvary graduate.  Mother and daughter teamed up to write a book that points women back to Scripture for the answers they seek about lifestyle, daily struggles, relationships, and more.  God’s Wisdom for Women is available at christianbook.com, mardel.com, amazon.com, and other sites in both spiral-bound and ebook format.

God’s Wisdom for Women by Patricia Miller and Rachel Gorman

Sara Klaassen

Alumni Relations Coordinator

 

Upcoming Calvary Events

The Sounds of Christmas: Music Dept. Concert         December 1

WinterShorts Acting Recital                                        December 2

Bethany Franklin’s Master Recital                              December 17

Upcoming Basketball Games

December 2, 6:00 (Women) & 8:00 p.m. (Men) vs. Union at Lincoln, NE

December 5, 5:00 p.m. Women vs. CCCB at Moberly, MO

December 8, 5:00 (Women) & 7:00 p.m. (Men) vs. Rhema Bible at Home

December 9, 1:00 p.m. Men vs. William Jewell at Liberty, MO