Shaped by Faithfulness: My Covenant Story
During my time at Covenant College, my life and faith were profoundly shaped, equipping me with a framework that now guides how I live as a believer.
Community
Community is a common Covenant word. But the community I want to highlight is not the usual one of peer friendships, but that of mentors. I have had the privilege of being deeply influenced and shaped by a lot of women here at Covenant. Several female leaders on campus have all spent time with me and created spaces where I could pour out my heart. They provided wise counsel when needed, and extended a listening ear or a steady presence. The Lord’s love for me was made tangible and evident through these women, and He has used them to speak light into my life when all I saw was darkness. Because of them, I now yearn for deep friendships with older women from whom I can learn.
Prayer
The second essential thing I have learned during my time at Covenant is prayer. People here live as those who believe that prayer really works, and I have experienced that first-hand. During the fall semester of my sophomore year here, I found out that I had to leave the country after the semester was over due to my student visa being denied, and coming back to study in the States was not guaranteed. In the days that followed, I shared the news with my professors. Their response was overwhelmingly beautiful and full of compassion and care towards me. My professors brought my case before the throne of God as they pleaded alongside me for the Lord to allow me to come back to Covenant. And they did so incessantly.
As the semester went on, I was constantly reminded by the faculty that I was being prayed over, and I had no doubt that they meant it. Once I was back in Brazil and I was about to walk into the appointment that determined my future, I was brought to tears as I saw the number of emails from professors who had woken up at 5am to pray for me as I was at my appointment. Our prayers were answered and I came back in the Spring. A few weeks into the semester I got to meet Shelley Madueme, Dr. Madueme’s wife. I was shocked that she knew who I was, and I asked her how that was the case. Her answer led to even greater shock: “Our family has been praying for you before dinner every single night.” The faculty here at Covenant shower us students in prayer, and through that they teach us to do the same for others.
Questions
The third thing I believe is essential to the Christian life is questions. My professors can attest that I ask lots of questions. I have a running Google Document of questions for Dr. Jones, my bible professor, starting freshman year, and whenever we eat lunch in the Great Hall, I get to ask him all sorts of things. It's a great time! What has surprised me during my time here is that my questions have never been shunned. On the contrary, they have been welcomed and encouraged. Covenant not only welcomes academic questions, but also models holy curiosity. So many are curious about others in such a way that they have taught me what hospitality in the Kingdom of God looks like. At Covenant I have learned that because this is God's world, we ought to ask hard questions in our studies. And because we are God's people, we ought to ask questions to know one another.
Lament
The last component I have learned to be essential to the Christian walk is lament. I am still being challenged by this in classes such as Faith & Suffering taught by Dr. Kelly Kapic, Christian Spirituality taught by Dr. Clift Ward, and Psalms taught by Dr. Scott Jones. This year I am learning that not only are we to ask questions about the Created Order, but God also shows us in Scripture that we can ask questions of Him as we lament the brokenness of this world. When we come before the Father, we do not need to come as good theologians; all we need is to come as beloved children. I have been constantly reminded that God is big enough to handle all of my questions and emotions. So, I now hope to practice honest lament before the Lord until He makes all things new.
As Dr. Clift Ward explains, theology is not only taught but also caught. I am thankful for all the ways the faculty and staff continue to shape this campus, not only by what they teach with their words, but by what we catch through their acts of faithfulness. As they shape those around me–my best friends, my roommates, my hallmates–they shape me through them. I pray they continue to find strength to pour into us; we are grateful for it. They are all role models to us of what the Christian walk and life looks like. They make this the special place that it is. As students, we are walking miracles and testimonies of their daily faithfulness to Kingdom Work.