Candidates for the Ministry

Transcription

1 2016 Candidates for the Ministry How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, Your God reigns! Isaiah 52:7 n North America, June is synonymous with graduations. Stores display wares for graduation parties; plenty of households are preparing to host gatherings for a friend or family member who has completed a milestone. From kindergarteners to freshly minted Ph.D.s, graduates are celebrating. In the Christian Reformed Church, June is also synonymous with synod. Delegated leaders from 48 classes (regional groups of churches) gather for a week to review our shared ministries and consider policy and theological matters. On the next few pages, you will find the intersection of graduation celebrations and the work of the church. The 47 men and women pictured here have completed the academic and ecclesiastical requirements that make them eligible to serve the church as an ordained minister of the Word. They have varied stories and varied gifts. Eventually they will serve the church in a variety of ways: as sole pastor in an established church; as a staff member in a larger church; as a church planter, chaplain, or missions worker; or in still other capacities for which ordination is appropriate. What these men and women have in common is a love for the Lord, a love for the church, and a love for the Christian Reformed denomination. They have been trained, at least in part, by the faculty of Calvin Seminary, which is owned and operated by the Christian Reformed Church. They have been mentored, encouraged, and challenged by members of the CRC along the journey that brought them to this point. Review these pages with a prayer of thanks and a heart that is ready to partner with these men and women in ministry. Thank God for our seminary and its faculty, and for the hard work each of these candidates has done to prepare for candidacy. And please pray for these candidates as they wait and seek and discern the place of service God has in mind for them. For contact information, biographical information, and testimonies from each of the candidates, visit the Candidacy Committee website at crcna.org. n *Asterisks indicate candidates who are not eligible for call until they have completed all requirements. Rev. David Koll Director of Candidacy thebanner.org July/August 2016 THE BANNER 43

2 Christopher Allen Yohanes Budhi* Andrew William Carlson* Zhigang John Chen Scott Chiang* Darrell Delaney* Daniel John DeVries Elisabeth DeVries Willem de Vries Trent Elders Kendall Everett Tara Foreman* Laura Guichelaar- DeRuiter Lloyd Hemstreet Drew Hoekema* Brian Hofman Grant Hofman Sarah Hoogendoorn Joshua (Kyong won) Jung* Matthew Kaemingk* Moses Kang Nathan Klingenberg Timothy Kooiman* Jonathan Kool Brenda Kronemeijer- Heyink 44 THE BANNER July/August 2016 thebanner.org

3 Samuel (SangMyung) Lee Sheri J. Leisman Benjamin McKnight Hee (Brian) Na* Katrina Olson Jennifer Palkowski Jesse Pals* Matthew Pearce Kristen Pikaart* Joella Ranaivoson Peter Rockhold Hendrick Roeda* Ivan K. Santoso Kelli Sexton Sharon Smith* Samuel Sutter* Brian Tarpy Ricardo Tavárez Arianna Tolsma Jacob Van Steenwyk* Thomas J. Van Wyk Brad Zwiers* thebanner.org July/August 2016 THE BANNER 45

4 just for kids Brain Power In the movie The Wizard of Oz, Scarecrow along with his friends Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Dorothy and her little dog Toto travels down the yellow brick road to meet the Wizard of Oz. He s hoping the Wizard will help him get a brain. Thankfully, you already have a brain! It was created by God just for you. Your brain has the power to help you do amazing things. And you didn t even have to travel to the land of Oz to get it! Control Centers, Computers, and Storage Boxes Your brain controls everything you do. It is the center of the body s nervous system. It controls thoughts, motions, and memories. Your brain sends special messages to the other organs in your body to keep them running smoothly. For example, your brain sends messages to your heart for it to continue pumping blood through your veins. It is also making sure your lungs keep breathing! Now hold your breath for 10 seconds. Ready... go. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Whew! Your brain just directed your lungs to hold your breath! Your brain tells your body what to do, but you can also tell your brain what to do. Your brain is responsible for communicating with your body when you decide to turn the page of this magazine or click the mouse on a computer. Your brain also takes in new information and stores it in your memory like the way a computer stores data. When you memorize a new spelling word or learn to play an instrument, it s like clicking save. The new information is stored in your brain. Your brain has storage boxes to save the new things you learn. Whenever you need to remember the new information you have learned, your brain gets it from the storage box. The more you practice the new skill you have learned, the quicker you will remember it. Illustration by Scott Holladay 46 THE BANNER July/August 2016 thebanner.org

5 The brain has over 100 billion nerve cells called neurons that constantly send messages to your body. There s enough electricity in those neurons to power a low-watt battery or a small light bulb! The brain of an adult weighs about three pounds. New brain connections are made every time a new memory is formed. Love the Lord with All Your Brain Jesus says, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37). He is telling us to love God with everything in us including our brain! With your brain you can think and feel happiness and joy. You use your brain to talk to God and praise him for who he is. Since our minds store lots of information, it is important that we save the right stuff. So memorize God s Word! Start with Matthew 22:37. The more we store God s Word in our brains, the better we can live by it. About 75 percent of the human brain is made up of water. More electrical messages are formed in the brain in one day than all the phone messages in the world! Brain Salad Ask a parent to help you make Brain Salad with some brain foods listed on this page. Here s a recipe to get you started: What you need: 1 bag washed spinach leaves 2-3 apples, sliced or cubed 1 cup cherry tomatoes ½ cup walnuts, almonds, or pecans Salad dressing What you do: Toss all salad items together in a bowl and serve with your favorite dressing. Your brain will thank you! Brain Food It s very important to eat healthy foods to keep your brain strong. Here are some foods that help your brain cells stay healthy. Eggs Protein from eggs helps you concentrate and stay focused. Greek yogurt Also high in protein, it helps your brain cells send messages to your body. Green leafy veggies Kale and spinach help build healthy brain cells. Fish Salmon, tuna, and sardines help your brain stay strong. Nuts and seeds These have fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals to keep your brain and body running smoothly. Whole-grain foods The fiber in oatmeal, whole-grain bread, and brown rice slows down the amount of sugar your brain takes in. Fruits Apples, blueberries, and plums have antioxidants to help sharpen your thinking skills. Christin Baker is a full-time stay-at-home mom. She is a member of Resurrection Fellowship Church in Grand Rapids, Mich. thebanner.org July/August 2016 THE BANNER 47