I don’t say that to scare you. I say it because I’ve been there. More than once. And after a few messy finals weeks, cramming, half‑sleeping, rewriting the same paper three times, I realized something: I didn’t need to suffer to survive. I just needed to know what I was doing with my time, my brain, and my energy.

Here’s what I wish I knew before finals week: it doesn’t have to feel like an endurance test. It should feel like you’re at your best, not your most exhausted.

Panic feels productive, but it isn’t

The first trap? Mistaking panic for focus. When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to think that if you’re stressed, you must be working hard. So you doom‑scroll through your notes, open three different tabs, re‑read the same slide, then stare at the wall wondering if anything is actually stuck.

I used to call that “studying.” But it’s not really studying. It’s emotional multitasking. And at the end of the night, you’re tired, maybe a little wired, and not much closer to actually understanding the material.

Here’s what changed for me: I stopped trying to feel dramatic and started trying to be clear. I’d write down one thing I needed to finish, like “review chapter 6” or “draft intro paragraph” and then shut everything else out for 30–45 minutes. No comparing notes with friends, no checking your phone every three minutes. Just one thing.

It works so much better than frantically having “I’m‑so‑stressed‑look‑how‑hard‑I’m‑working” energy every time.

Not every study session has to feel like a workout 

There’s this unspoken rule on campus: if it doesn’t feel like suffering, you’re not trying hard enough. You need the all‑night library grind, the empty coffee cups, the “I haven’t slept in 48 hours” flex. As if exhaustion is a badge of honor.

I wish I’d known earlier that intense study sessions are not the only kind that count. Some of my best review days were short, boring, and actually kind of chill. I’d sit down for 30 minutes, go over flashcards, quiz myself, then walk away.

Here’s the thing: your brain doesn’t learn better because you’re miserable. It learns better when you’re rested, focused, and not trying to cram everything in one night. Spread your studying out. Revisit notes a few times instead of once at the last second. You’ll surprise yourself with how much you remember.

Sleep is part of studying, not the opposite of it

I still remember walking into an exam after a “study all night” experiment. I told myself I was being brave. I told myself I was committed. In reality, I was half‑asleep, half‑panicked, and my brain felt like it was moving through syrup.

I did okay. But I could’ve done better with a few hours of sleep and a little less ego.

Here’s what I wish I’d known: sleep is one of your best tools. When you’re tired, your working memory drops, your focus drifts, and your ability to problem‑solve takes a hit. You might think you’re “reviewing more” by staying up late, but your brain is actually learning less.

Aim for 7–8 hours, even during finals. If that feels impossible, start with at least 6. And if you have to choose between rereading one more chapter and going to bed, choose bed almost every time. You’ll walk into the exam with a clearer head, and that matters more than you think.

Your phone is stealing time without warning you

We all know this, right? You sit down “to study,” grab your phone to check one message, watch a quick video, and suddenly you’re 20 minutes deep into something that has nothing to do with finals.

By the end of the week, that adds up to hours.

Here’s the version I wish I’d tried earlier: admit the phone is a distraction and design around it. Put it on silent, drop it on the floor, or leave it in another room. Turn off notifications. Use a timer if you need to. If you’re the kind of person who studies in the library, keep your phone on airplane mode and only open it during breaks.

You don’t need to give up your phone for the whole week. Just give yourself windows where it’s not there. When that happens, you’ll notice your focus sharpens, your watch goes faster, and your stress goes down.

You need people more than you think

Finals have this weird way of making students go into isolation mode. You tell yourself, “I just need to lock in for a few days,” and then you disappear from group chats, avoid the dining hall, and forget to talk to anyone.

That’s when burnout starts creeping in.

I used to act like finals were a solo mission. Then I realized: a quick conversation with a friend, a study partner who asks you questions, or even someone who just says, “You got this,” can actually help you think better.

You don’t need a huge support system. You need a few real check‑ins. A roommate who reminds you to eat. A classmate who asks if you want to review together. Connection doesn’t just make finals feel lighter, it makes your brain feel lighter too.

Burnout starts before you notice

Burnout doesn’t always announce itself with a dramatic crash. It sneaks in. You start feeling weirdly tired even when you’ve slept. You snap at your roommate over tiny things. You open a textbook and your brain just… shuts down. You keep scrolling or staring at your notes without actually reading them.

I ignored those signs for a long time, thinking I “just had to push through.” But pushing through burnout is like driving with an empty tank, you’re eventually going to stop whether you like it or not.

What I wish I’d known: rest is not a reward for suffering; it’s a requirement for staying functional. If you’re taking breaks, getting outside, eating decent food, and not expecting yourself to be “on” 24/7, you’re already doing better than most students during finals.

Good grades matter, but they’re not your whole story

This is the one I wish someone had told me earlier: your worth is not tied to your GPA.

Grades matter. Deadlines matter. Your effort matters. But one final exam, one bad paper, or one rough semester doesn’t cancel out everything else you’ve done. Finals week makes everything feel bigger than it is, like one test will decide your whole future. It won’t.

And when everything starts to feel overwhelming, this is where you need to pause, not just to rest, but to reset. Prayer, worship, and  as showing up to chapel can do more for your mind than another hour of stressed-out studying. It gives you space to breathe, to refocus, and to remember that you’re not carrying this alone.

If you don’t know where to start, here are 10 Bible Verses to Help You Through Finals Week that can help ground you.

What I’d tell my younger self

If I could go back and talk to myself before finals week, here’s what I’d say:

Plan earlier than you think you need to.
Sleep more than your pride wants you to.
Put the phone down.
Ask for help.
And stop treating stress like it proves you’re working hard.

Finals week will always be busy. It will always feel tight. But it doesn’t have to ruin you. The students who get through it best aren’t the ones who never struggle. They’re the ones who know when to focus, when to rest, and when to step back and say, “I’m doing the best I can, and that’s enough.

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Goshen, IN – The Tigers went on the road to Goshen College to take on the Maple Leafs in a midweek matchup. The Tigers came into this matchup at 16-16 on the year and aimed to push their record back up over the .500 mark.

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That’s kind of the whole point of this post. If you’re a college student in the Grand Rapids area, there are actually a lot of cheap hobbies you can do that don’t require a ton of money, don’t need fancy equipment, and don’t make you feel like you’re pretending to live a lifestyle you can’t afford. A lot of the best hobbies are simple, local, and honestly kind of underrated.

I’ve also realized that hobbies matter more than people think. When classes are piling up, your brain feels scrambled, it helps to have something that’s just yours. Something that isn’t a homework assignment, a job shift, or another group text trying to make weekend plans. Sometimes you just need a thing that makes life feel normal again.

So if you’re trying to find cheap hobbies, here are some of the ones I think are worth trying around Grand Rapids and West Michigan.

Nature Walks 

This one is probably the simplest, but also one of the best. West Michigan is a really good place for this because there are so many trails, parks, and little spots where you can just go walk around and not spend any money. You don’t need gear, you don’t need a plan, and you don’t even need to be in a good mood at first.

I’ve had days where I was feeling kind of off for no clear reason—not even dramatically upset, just mentally cluttered—and for whatever reason, taking a walk always helps more than I expect it to. There’s something about putting on a hoodie, tossing in headphones, and just walking through nature.

Grand Rapids has tons of easy‑to‑reach spots, like Millennium Park, which is one of the largest urban parks in the country and has nearly 18 miles of free trails winding through woods, fields, and along the Grand River. West Michigan in general has that mix of city and nature, so whether you need a quick walk around the river or a longer loop in the woods, you’re never far from a reset.

Thrifting in Grand Rapids

Thrifting is basically a rite of passage if you’re a student trying to save money. It’s one of those hobbies that starts out as “I’m just looking” and somehow turns into an hour-long adventure where you find three things you don’t need but suddenly feel emotionally attached to.

Grand Rapids has a lot of good thrift stores, and honestly, that makes the whole experience better. You can make a whole afternoon out of it with a friend. I’ve gone into thrift stores with zero expectations and walked out with something weirdly perfect, like a jacket, a mug, or a random book I now feel like I was meant to own.

A solid Christian‑themed thrift store very close to Grace Christian University (in the Grand Rapids/Wyoming area) is New Life Christian Thrift Store, located in Wyoming. It’s a Christian‑run thrift store that supports several local Christian schools with its proceeds, so shopping there ties back to a faith‑based mission. Hours are roughly 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on most weekdays, with slightly shorter Saturday hours, making it convenient after class or on your way home from campus.

The best part about thrifting is that it doesn’t have to be about clothes either. Sometimes it’s decor for your room, sometimes it’s old records, sometimes it’s a stack of books. But it feels fun because there’s an actual sense of discovery in it. You never know what you’ll find.

Coffee Shop Study Sessions

I know coffee can add up if you go overboard, but I still think sitting in a coffee shop counts as a hobby if you’re doing it intentionally. At least that’s what I tell myself when I need an excuse to spend two hours in a nice, warm space pretending to be productive. Grand Rapids has a lot of great coffee shops, and that’s one of the things I really like, Wildroast Coffee is one of my favorites, with its cozy atmosphere and strong, well‑roasted brews. I’ll go somewhere just to change the environment a little. My room can start to feel too familiar after a while, especially when I’ve been staring at a laptop for too long. A coffee shop gives me a reason to leave without needing to make it a huge event. I’ve also had some of my best random thoughts in coffee shops, which is probably because I’m less distracted than I am at home. Or maybe it’s just the caffeine doing what it does.

Frisbee Golf on Campus

This is one of those hobbies that feels kind of underrated until you actually try it. Having a frisbee golf course right on the Grace Christian University campus makes it even better, because it’s one of those things you can do without needing to leave, spend money, or plan a whole outing around it.

I like hobbies like this because they make it easy to do something active without it feeling too serious. You can grab a couple friends, head out between classes or after dinner, and just play a few holes without needing to be amazing at it. Half the fun is honestly just talking, laughing, and trying to avoid embarrassing yourself too badly on the first throw.

Frisbee golf also has that perfect college vibe where it feels casual enough for anyone to join. You don’t need to be athletic in some intense way. You just show up, toss the frisbee, and see what happens.

Pickleball at Pinery Park

Pickleball is one of those things that seemed random at first, but honestly, it makes sense why people like it. It’s easy to learn, competitive if you want it to be, and actually fun with friends. And having the courts at Pinery Park right off campus makes it even better because you don’t have to go far to get a game in.

I think pickleball works so well for students because it’s low-pressure. You don’t need a ton of experience, and nobody really expects you to be perfect. You can show up knowing almost nothing and still have a good time. That’s probably why it catches on so fast. It feels more like hanging out than working out, which is kind of ideal when you’re already tired from classes.

Learning or Playing Music

If you already play an instrument, music is honestly one of the best cheap hobbies you can have. And if you don’t, it’s still worth learning because there are so many ways to start without spending a ton. You can find beginner lessons online, borrow gear, practice on your own, or just slowly build it into your life over time.

I’ve always liked that music can be both personal and social. Sometimes it’s just you in your room practicing the same song over and over until it finally sounds right. Other times it’s playing with friends, doing something at church, or just messing around on a guitar and seeing where it goes. It can be private and expressive, but it can also be a way to connect with people.

I also think music is one of those hobbies that sneaks up on you. You don’t always realize how much it’s helping until you notice that it became part of your routine. There have been times when picking up a guitar for even ten minutes completely changed my mood. Not because I suddenly became amazing at it, but because it gave me something steady to focus on.

Going to The Beach or Lakeshore

This is one of the biggest perks of living in West Michigan, and I feel like people still underestimate it sometimes. The lake is right there. You can go sit by the water, walk on the beach, hang out with friends, or just take a solo trip when you need to clear your head. Holland State Park and Grand Haven State Park are both solid options when you want that classic dune‑and‑boardwalk experience, but if you want to get away from the crowds, there are quieter spots like Windsnest Park (a lesser‑known beach) or Rosy Mound Natural Area, where the trails lead right down to the shore.

A lake day does not have to be expensive. Bring snacks, a towel, maybe a book or a speaker, and that’s really enough. Some of the best days are the ones where nobody had a huge plan. You just show up, sit around, and let the afternoon happen. I’ve always thought being near the water has a way of making things feel slower—not in a boring way, but in a way that reminds you that you do not have to be doing five things at once all the time. College can make everything feel urgent, and the lake kind of pushes back against that. It’s also a pretty great option when you want to hang out with people without spending much. You can talk, walk, eat snacks, and not feel like you need to buy a bunch of stuff to make the day count.

Taking Photos and Making Videos

This one is especially fun if you already like content creation or just enjoy noticing things other people ignore. You really do not need fancy equipment to start taking photos or making videos. A phone is enough. Grand Rapids is actually a pretty good place for this too because there’s a lot visually to work with,  murals, downtown buildings, bridges, the river, parks, little details on random streets, all of it.

One thing I’ve noticed with this hobby is that it changes the way you look at your surroundings. You start seeing light differently. You notice colors, shapes, patterns, weird little scenes. Even a normal walk downtown feels different when you’re looking for something to capture.

I like hobbies that make ordinary life feel a little more interesting, and this one definitely does that. You can make it as casual or serious as you want. Sometimes it’s just snapping random pictures because the sky looks good. Other times it’s trying to make a reel or short video. 

Either way, it’s a cheap hobby that can also grow into something useful if you keep at it.

Reading and Journaling

I know this sounds kind of basic, but I actually think basic hobbies are underrated. Reading and journaling do not always sound exciting, but they’re affordable, personal, and surprisingly helpful. 

Journaling especially can be a good reset when your thoughts are everywhere and you need to get them out of your head. I’ve had days where I wrote down everything I was worried about and immediately felt a little less overwhelmed, even if nothing around me had actually changed. That’s the kind of thing you don’t always appreciate until you’re in the middle of it.

Reading can be the same way. It gives your brain somewhere else to go. It makes the world feel a little less small. And if you find the right book, it can be one of those hobbies you actually look forward to instead of one you force yourself into.

Hobbies Are Better With Friends

Need a better heading for the ending paragraph. At the end of the day, the best hobbies are the ones you don’t do alone. Walking, thrifting, coffee‑shop studying, frisbee golf on campus, pickleball, or beach days all feel more meaningful when you’re doing them with people who actually care. That’s one of the things that makes Grace Christian University different, it’s a place where hobbies and friendships naturally overlap. You don’t have to force it. You can grab a friend between classes, walk down to the frisbee golf course, hit the volleyball court, or just hang out at Pinery Park and realize you’re not just “doing a hobby,” you’re building real relationships. If you’re looking for a campus where people value connection as much as they value academics, Grace is the kind of place where cheap hobbies turn into lasting memories and stronger friendships. 

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When I stepped on campus, I just knew this was where I belonged,” Kaylee Skelley ’08, ’25 says.

As a child in Spokane, Washington, attending a Nazarene church with her family, Kaylee vividly remembers accepting Christ every Sunday out of fear that she had somehow lost her salvation during the week. “I thought if I sinned, I had to be saved again,” she says. It wasn’t until sixth grade, when her grandparents began attending a Grace Gospel Fellowship (GGF) church, that she began to see a different side of faith, one that emphasized the security of salvation through Christ alone.

The following summer, at a camp in July 1997, Kaylee truly met Jesus. Amidst the challenges of a turbulent home life, her relationship with Christ deepened and she found a hope and security she had not known before. That same thread of security would later draw her to Grace Christian University.

Though she can’t recall exactly how she first heard about Grace, Kaylee remembers that as early as fourth grade, she dreamed of attending Grace Bible College. Throughout high school, that dream developed as she attended Berean Church, where Doug Kessler ’83 and Brad Bruszer ’95, ’98 were youth pastors and Dr. Kemper ’85 occasionally visited. Despite her mother encouraging her to look elsewhere, Kaylee’s heart was set. A campus visit solidified it; she immediately sensed that Grace was a place where she would feel safe, valued, and wanted.

More Than Academics

Initially, Kaylee set out for an associate degree in business. She completed her two years, but during a sleepless summer night after her second year, she clearly felt God urging her to finish her degree.

The next morning, she met with Linda Siler ’67 in the registrar’s office, registered for classes just a week before they started, and ultimately graduated with an associate’s degree in business and a bachelor’s degree in human services. Now she could help kids who had faced difficult situations like her own.

Kaylee’s years at Grace were rich with growth, community, and life-changing experiences. Bible classes with Professor Phil Long ’87 were “epic” and Dr. Jan Schregardus left a lasting impression. But it was Dr. Shaw who impacted her the most, not only academically but personally. She recalls group counseling classes that sometimes met at Applebee’s, and a final exam that took place over a home-cooked dinner at Dr. Shaw’s house. “It wasn’t just academics, it was real life and applying those skills,” Kaylee says.

Spiritual disciplines also took root during her time at Grace. Through chapel, small groups, and church involvement, she developed a lifelong commitment to not only being fed spiritually but also serving others. And somewhere in between classes and chapels, she was getting to know Adam Skelley ’08, ’25. They met at freshman orientation and spent time together at Grace Adventures. They dated for two years, were engaged for two more, and married shortly after graduating in 2008.

A Life of Service

Life moved quickly. The couple relocated to Arizona and Kaylee and Adam both found jobs. Kaylee first worked with children with disabilities, then moved into high-needs case management. But the emotional toll of that work led her to seek a different way to serve. She transitioned into higher education, working at Grand Canyon University, where she discovered a new passion: helping students discover their callings and futures.

Throughout her career, Kaylee has always viewed her work as ministry. Whether serving children or college students she sees each role as an opportunity to be a light for Christ. “I always knew I wanted to serve,” Kaylee says. “Grace helped solidify that through opportunities to serve at church, in the community, and through internships. It doesn’t always have to look the same, the heart behind it is the same.”

Today, Kaylee serves as the Director of Online Admissions for Grace Christian University, while Adam works as a business analyst and leads the multimedia team at their church. Their life has been full of unexpected turns, especially when their second daughter was born with significant medical issues. But through every season, God has been faithful.

Still Being Written

Looking back, Kaylee hopes the legacy she leaves is simple.

“My mission is to be a light and make a difference, to reflect Christ and not myself. ”To current students, Kaylee says, “Don’t get discouraged. Trust God’s plan. We often think we know our trajectory, but God is in control.”

Now, Kaylee and Adam have both completed master’s degree programs at Grace and graduated in 2025. Kaylee earned an MA in Higher Education Leadership and Adam, a Master’s of Business Administration. Their oldest daughter plans to attend Grace as well, a testament to the lasting impact Grace Christian University has had on her family. “Always keep growing,” she says. “Keep asking God, ‘What else do you have for me?’”

For Kaylee and Adam, their story is still being written. But one thing is certain: through every chapter, Grace has been, and will continue to be, a vital part of their journey.

About the Author: Stephanie Maendel ’26 is a Communication & Christian Studies student at Grace Christian University. She’s passionate about missions and inspiring her generation to live out the Great Commission. After graduation, she hopes to pursue ministry and community outreach, serving and empowering individuals and families locally and globally. 

Earn your Degree at Grace

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Born in Uganda to parents in ministry, Philip was introduced to Jesus from the very beginning. Even in stressful moments, like a hospital stay as a young boy, his desire for spiritual comfort was clear.

One night after surgery, he cried inconsolably, asking repeatedly for someone called “Aunt Bible.” Nurses and family puzzled over the request until they realized he meant his Aunt Nivas, a key figure in his early faith formation. When she arrived, Philip lit up, not because he wanted toys or comfort food, but because he wanted to pray and talk about Jesus before bed.

It was the first of many moments that affirmed how deeply Jesus was woven into the fabric of Philip’s life.

From the time he could walk, Philip was involved at church. He led worship for the first time at age 7, joined the production team at 8, and by age 10, he was managing bilingual presentations during services. He adjusted slides in real-time to make sure the Luganda-speaking congregation felt just as seen and ministered to as the English-speaking one. It wasn’t just about excellence; it was about ministry.

Building a Life

At 12, Philip began attending a Christian boarding school, where Saturday nights were marked by student-led worship and fellowship. Upperclassmen mentored younger students, modeling faith, leadership, and service.

Though he joined primarily for production, Philip gradually taught himself to play various instruments just to ensure soundchecks went smoothly. What started as a workaround became a full-blown passion.

By 15, Philip’s musical gifts and production instincts were impossible to ignore. He joined a prayer group, started reading the Bible for himself, and recognized God calling him into ministry, not just as something he did, but as someone he was becoming.

Though he was also gifted in math and physics, Philip never wavered in his conviction: “I knew that my life would forever be leveraged for the life of the local church.”

After graduating top of his class with an engineering focus, Philip took a gap year to work full-time at his father’s church. It was the first time he saw ministry not just as a weekend rhythm, but as a vocational calling.

That same year, while leading worship at a conference, he was awarded a full-ride scholarship to a Bible school in Sydney, Australia. The opportunity was life changing. “I realized that, yes, I’m in Bible school, but I have to know God personally, not just as a scholar,” he says. His time in Sydney solidified his calling, but just as he was preparing to apply for a bachelor’s program, God shifted the course again, calling him back not into ministry, but into engineering. “And frankly,” he laughs, “I was mad.”

He applied to schools around the world and was only accepted to one: Grand Valley State University in Michigan. He took the open door and moved halfway across the globe. It didn’t take long to discover that the engineering industry wasn’t the right fit. But even then, God was at work. Philip got involved in campus ministry through Cru, helped build the production team, and spent the summer of 2019 on staff at Grace Adventures, drumming, mentoring, and making connections. It was there he met students from Grace Christian University. Curious, he caught a bus from Allendale and attended chapel on campus. The community, he says, was warm, grounded, and full of purpose.

He applied to Grace and another Bible college, and though both accepted him, he sensed clearly that he should stay in West Michigan. “God said to stay local,” Philip says. “And wherever He sends us in the world, Michigan will always be home. ”He began classes at Grace Christian University in the fall of 2021, and three weeks in, he had a job as a worship leader.

More than that, he had a renewed clarity of mission. “Most people figure out who they are during their bachelor’s,” he says. “But for me, Grace was like a master’s program in calling. I already knew who I was; I just needed the space to live it out.”

Building a Family

Grace became the place where Philip sharpened his identity and walked fully in his gifts. He never had to apply for jobs during school; every opportunity found him. One of the greatest of those opportunities came not in chapel or on a stage, but through a person sitting next to him in a Dr. Sam Vinton ’55 class. Her name was Ayondria. “I wasn’t looking to date anyone. I even thought about wearing a fake wedding ring!” he says.

They sat side-by-side for six weeks before he realized she was the one God had for him. But when they finally connected, it was undeniable. “It’s a miracle how God has woven our story together,” he says. “My ministry life is so much better for knowing and being known by Ayondria.”The two married in 2024, graduated in May of 2025, and had baby Hannah shortly after.

After serving on staff at Rush Creek Bible Church for several years, he stepped away from full-time ministry to return to the root of his faith: just being with Jesus. “It’s the invitation to be that kid again, the one who just wanted Aunt Bible so he could pray before bed.”

The Next Adventure

While the Kirabiras weren’t looking to move away, Philip received four different job offers in Ludington, Michigan. It became clear Ludington was the next destination.

Philip will be the Worship Director at Radiant Church. He says he’s both nervous and excited—“nervoucited”—and a bit sad to be leaving Grand Rapids, where so much life and growth happened. “But we prayed for this, and the Lord has provided!” Philip says. “We’re excited to be stepping out in faith and obedience because that is ALWAYS the best place to be with God.”

As Philip reflects on everything God has done, from Uganda to Sydney, Grand Valley, Grace, and now in Ludington, he sees a clear thread: God’s grace, guiding every step.“Grace Christian University has been a place where I lived into my mission and purpose. God gave me the opportunities I needed and sharpened me to be who I know I’m meant to be.”

And for Philip, that purpose has never been clearer: to live a life where the spotlight fades from him and shines on Jesus. Just like he hoped as a child, when all he wanted was five minutes to talk about the Savior who’s been with him all along.

About the Author: Stephanie Maendel ’26 is a Communication & Christian Studies student at Grace Christian University. She’s passionate about missions and inspiring her generation to live out the Great Commission. After graduation, she hopes to pursue ministry and community outreach, serving and empowering individuals and families locally and globally.

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His job at Yellow Rose Transport was empowering, and he was one email away from signing on to a high paying career with Caterpillar (CAT). With a workaholic schedule during his senior year and a passion for mechanics, his next steps seemed obvious.

Until he served in a vacation Bible school at the prompting of his pastor, who had been encouraging him toward ministry. Working with the kids at that event planted seeds of calling in Isaiah’s heart: “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.” And with that, he turned down the job at CAT and prepared for a career in ministry.

Next Steps

At a local Christian music festival, Isaiah discovered Grace Christian University. He stopped by their booth almost on a whim, but the conversation that followed lingered in his mind. “Grace was like a calling, God was telling me I needed to go here,” he says.

After a tour of Grace’s campus, he was locked in. And so he enrolled. But following God’s direction didn’t mean the road was smooth. While he was eager to serve, ministry opportunities were few and far between. It seemed like he’d never be able to “spread his wings,” and he struggled to balance his passions for mechanics and ministry.

A Turning Point

In his junior year, he hit a wall of discouragement. Old friendships pulled him away from full devotion to the Lord. He was torn between loyalty to his friends and the realization that they were leading him away from Christ.

He decided to invest in friendships with peers who were running toward God. It was a difficult choice, but a turning point. Where there had once been silence, there was now abundance. The darkness gave way to light. Opportunities began to pour in. Internships opened up. Ministry doors swung wide.

“Staying faithful when God was silent made me realize that now, in these opportunities, I have to stay faithful too,” he says. “It’s not forgetting God on the mountain just because I cried out to Him in the valley.” One class in particular, about modernity and theology with Dr. Mat Loverin ’98, played a pivotal role in reshaping Isaiah’s understanding of God and theology.

He realized it was okay, even necessary, to wrestle with faith and rebuild it with conviction. The process allowed him to claim his beliefs as his own. “That class started the snowball,” he says. “It opened my mind to realize what actually matters: it’s not about every little doctrinal detail. It’s about salvation, knowing Jesus as your Savior. Everything else flows from that.”

The lesson hit even closer to home when his grandma passed away. Watching her face eternity crystalized what he had been learning: at the end of life, only two things matter, did you love God, and did you love people?

Freshman and sophomore year, he had lived as a severe workaholic, stressing over finances and future plans. Grace provided a space, and mentors, who reminded him: these years are about growing in Christ, not about hustling for money.

Looking Ahead

“Be patient, and trust. Fully let go of control of your life because God is sovereign. Whatever you try to do in your own strength will never work. You have to trust the incomprehensible power of God.”

Falling in love with Jesus, he explained, means realizing just how deeply Christ loves you, and responding with trust. He says it’s like riding a tandem bike. For much of his life, he had been steering while God pedaled. Now, he’s handing over the handlebars too.

His prayer for his life is simple, but profound: that people wouldn’t see him at all, but would see Christ through him. Whether fixing engines, preaching sermons, or simply being a faithful friend, he wants his life to echo one truth: Jesus is everything. “I want to leave a legacy where, when people think of me, they think of God,” he says. “Not for selfish gain, but because my life pointed to Him.”

About the Author: Stephanie Maendel ’26 is a Communication & Christian Studies student at Grace Christian University. She’s passionate about missions and inspiring her generation to live out the Great Commission. After graduation, she hopes to pursue ministry and community outreach, serving and empowering individuals and families locally and globally.

The post How Isaiah Denhof Traded Hustle for Jesus appeared first on Grace Christian University.

Grace Christian University’s mission is Graduating Courageous Ambassadors for Christ Who Make an Eternal Impact Wherever They Go. To prepare students to make that impact, they engage in biblically-integrated learning experiences and key transformational relationships with faculty, staff, and other students on campus and online.

Our academic courses and programs play a pivotal role in the Grace experience, and overseeing all of those programs presents a unique challenge and responsibility that I take very seriously.

Refreshed Learning Outcomes

Without apology, we want the education Grace offers to students to be biblically distinctive. So in the Spring of 2025, the faculty approved these new learning outcomes.

We want our graduates to:

LEARN: Cultivate Bible-centered wisdom in every area of academic learning and professional skill.

GROW: Reflect the love of God and Christian character through transformational relationships.

SERVE: Engage in Christ-centered service in church, career, and community.

Moreover, we want every graduate to display these things with excellence and character that is reflective of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every area of life.

Biblical Integration in Every Course

The “biblical integration” we strive for is the intentional, holistic blending of biblical truths, rooted in Scripture’s narrative of creation, fall, and redemption, with insights from the natural and social sciences.

In every class, Scripture serves as the authoritative lens for evaluating and critiquing ideas, values, and culture. Affirming that “all truth is God’s truth,” this approach gives a privileged place to the Bible as God’s normative authority, guiding a dialogue with human reason and experience both inside and outside of the classroom.

It also helps students develop a biblical imagination, engaging learning with their emotions, senses, and creativity, so that Scripture shapes how they think, feel, act, and respond as courageous ambassadors for Christ.

Academic Programs

I’m happy to say that Grace continues to offer degree program majors that clearly reflect our mission and identity as a biblical university. In the Online campus, our Leadership & Ministry major continues to lead the way, with Psychology, Human Services, and Business degrees going strong.

On Campus, our most popular majors are Business, Leadership & Ministry together with Biblical Studies, Sports Communication and Management, with Psychology and Criminal Justice programs as well. As of 2025, students who take our 30-credit Bible Core can also be eligible for a second major in Christian Studies alongside their professional degree. Grace also offers the two-year Associate of Arts degree, as well as four Master’s degrees in Ministry, Organizational Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, and Business Administration (MBA).

As I lead Academics at Grace, we continue to examine the marketplace for degrees that will be attractive to prospective students. A recent survey indicated that one of the most important things we do for our students is develop degree programs that lead to meaningful jobs in the future.

Artificial Intelligence & Higher Education

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field and higher education is consistently challenged to keep up. I, along with Associate Provost Dr. Scott Shaw, have been named to the national Higher Education Artificial Intelligence Council sponsored by the Center for Digital Education, a division of eRepublic.

This gathering of higher education leaders is meeting several times through the 2025-26 academic year to discuss how AI is affecting colleges and universities in the areas of teaching and learning, student success, and process efficiencies. We hope to both learn a lot from this group, and represent faith-based and biblical higher education well.

Here on campus, I am currently leading the Grace AI Guidance Council, a group composed of a wide array of faculty, staff, students, administrators and board members. Our task is twofold. First, to assemble as much relevant information as possible from the current trends in AI and higher education in order to inform our decision making here at Grace, especially as it pertains to our biblical worldview.

Second, to develop guidance and recommendations for decision-makers on campus when it comes to any and all implementations of AI: we want any interaction with this emerging technology to be reflective of our mission, vision, and core values, in short, our identity, as a biblical university.

Rooted in Mission

At Grace Christian University we remain unwavering in our purpose, which remains essentially unchanged since our founding as Milwaukee Bible Institute in 1939.

I can remember when I was a student attending Grace Bible College from 1994 to 1998 and a “new” mission statement was established: Graduating Godly Individuals Prepared to Serve Christ in Church and Society. I remember thinking at the time, “Wow! That’s a pretty succinct statement of what this place is all about. ”I am so grateful to be a graduate of Grace Bible College; this experience made me who I am and is such a key part of my story.

Today, as a biblical university, our mission statement is refreshed once again to reflect both our heritage and the unique brokenness of a fallen world that needs the truth of the Gospel as much as ever before. I am excited to lead Academics as we navigate the changing landscape of higher education.

We are cultivating a learning environment where a new generation of students will understand and experience what it means to be rooted in a biblical identity and to be transformed into courageous ambassadors for Christ.

About the Author: Dr. Mat Loverin ’98 has served Grace Christian University as Professor, Director of Assessment, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Dean of the School of Bible & Ministry, and since June of 2025, has served as the Provost and Chief Academic Officer. Here he shares his vision for Academics at Grace and key plans for moving forward.

The post Dr. Mat Loverin Provost Update appeared first on Grace Christian University.

1. Faith Is Woven Into the Work

At Grace, you don’t just complete assignments, we engage with truth, His truth. Scripture isn’t just an add-on. It’s not a once-a-week discussion. It shows up in your reading, your reflections, your development, and even how you think through real-life challenges. You’re constantly being asked: “How does your faith inform how you grow, decide, and live?”

That question alone will grow you. I was able to grow in discipline through the weekly devotionals and it encouraged me to not just wait for a school assignment to open my Bible but to remain diligent in reading and meditating on my Word daily. 

2. You Learn to Think Differently

Spiritual growth isn’t just emotional, it’s structural.

Online learning forces you to slow down and process:

• What do I actually believe?
• Why do I believe it?
• How does it show up in my daily life?

You’re not just consuming information. You’re being stretched into alignment. And over time, you begin to notice: your reactions change… your priorities shift…your discernment sharpens… That’s growth.

I can’t talk about spiritual growth without being honest about what this journey has done for me personally. One of my previous classes at Grace focused on cultural intelligence and I didn’t realize how much I needed that. It stretched me. It made me more aware of how I lead, how I listen, and how I navigate different environments with both wisdom and humility. 

But more than that, every class I’ve taken has been building something deeper in me. Clarity. Not the kind of clarity that comes from doing more but the kind that comes from alignment. The kind where you start to recognize: “God already spoke this… I just needed the structure to walk it out.” 

That’s what this experience has done for me. It hasn’t changed my calling. It confirmed it, strengthened it. And it’s given me the discipline to actually execute it.

3. Discipline Becomes a Spiritual Practice

Online school requires discipline. No one is standing over you, no one is reminding you every five minutes, unless you have a spouse like mine taking classes alongside you. Even having him by my side I still have to show up. And in that process discipline becomes discipleship.

You learn to:

• Honor your commitments
• Steward your time
• Follow through even when it’s inconvenient

And those same habits begin to show up in your walk with God.

4. Growth Happens in Real Life, Not Just Class

One of the most beautiful parts of being an online student is that you don’t step out of your life to grow but you grow in the middle of it.

In between:

• work schedules
• kids
• Marriage
• Ministry
• responsibilities

You’re learning, stretching, and being refined. And that kind of growth sticks. Because it’s not theoretical.

It’s lived.

5. You Start Seeing Learning as Obedience

This was the shift for me. Going back to school wasn’t just a “goal” it became an act of obedience. A decision to steward what God placed inside of me. At Grace, I’ve learned that education isn’t just about achievement it’s about alignment.

And when you begin to see learning that way, everything changes.

Final Thought

Spiritual growth as an online student doesn’t happen by accident.

It happens when:

• your education is rooted in truth
• your environment challenges you
• and you choose to show up consistently

At Grace, you don’t just grow intellectually. You grow spiritually. Personally. Intentionally. And that kind of growth carries into every area of your life.

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HOLLAND, Mich. — Grace Christian University baseball used a late offensive surge to pull away from Hope College baseball, earning a 5–2 victory on Wednesday afternoon at Boeve Stadium.

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