Group shot of Ryerson's year end banquet

After spending a year off-campus, I was given special permission to attend Ryerson’s year-end banquet in April. I was excited to see the students and hear stories of the past year. In addition to this being the final meeting for the year, it was the final meeting for a few students who were graduating; all of whom I’d had the pleasure of knowing and working with all four years they had been students. The banquet consisted of a potluck-style meal, a time for sharing stories of the year, a send-off for the graduating students and a few fun interactive games.

Though I was a little nervous seeing the students again after being away for some time, I was happy to be there. When the time came for sharing stories of the past year, everyone in the room said something, and I was astounded; everything they were saying about ways God had ministered to their hearts and to this community were the exact same ways God had been ministering to my heart and to my regional staff team community! This is the second time a realization like this has happened this year. The first time it happened was at Urbana.  For even though I wasn’t working with Ryerson students, I did spend my free time with them, and found that despite my absence there were still many things that connected us and drew us together.  It served as confirmation, that when the day came for my return to campus that the transition will be relatively seamless, that just living in the fullness of who I am in Christ will provide connections with students.

I was especially struck by the ways students were stepping into risk in the coming year. Each member of the new leadership team: Jenna, Moe, Brian, and Vanessa; are all responding faithfully to the call to leadership, despite some great costs. Jenna will be serving in leadership in her second year of her degree, and is one of  the youngest and newest members of the community; she is also serving on a team of students who will all be graduating in the coming year. Moe will be serving in leadership for the first time with this community and he will have time constraints as he serves in leadership and finishes his fourth year of his New Media degree. Brian is the only returning leader from this past year and will be facing time constraints as he serves this community and finishes the fourth year of his Business degree. Vanessa will be serving as President even though this will be her first year in an official leadership position in this community; she is also entering into the fourth year of her fashion degree. What further amazed me is that each of these students accepted these roles without any confirmation about whether or not they would have a Campus Minister with them next year, stepping out in faith that they will be met by God as they follow His call! Please keep them in your prayers for the coming year.

As part of the send-off for graduating students, I was asked to present an award. This award had been in the Ryerson community since before my time, it is called the Richard Baker Award. Richard Baker, now a Ryerson alumnus, was president of the fellowship many years ago, and served as a model for younger students of what it means to be committed to being part of and serving the IVCF community, especially in one’s senior years. The award is presented to students who have been part of the community and have served in various capacities throughout their years at Ryerson. I was proud to present this award to all 5 graduating students: Ainsley, Reuben, Kelly, Iven, and Joel. Each has used their gifts and talents to serve this community in so many ways and have blessed my life and the lives of those in the community.

After the graduate send-off, we played a few interactive games and ended the evening. Though the banquet lasted almost 4 hours, the time flew by! I was full of life afterward and further excited for the day I return to campus!

2010 Grads: Kelly, Reuben, Ainsley, Iven. Missing from photo: Joel