Embrace New Challenges

“My piece of advice would be to embrace new challenges. If something is uncomfortable, try it. God opens many doors. Just go through one, and if it doesn’t work, you can always go to the next one.”

-Kyla Thater

Sometimes the most rewarding experiences come from stepping outside our comfort zones. Don’t be afraid to walk through doors that God opens, even when they lead somewhere unfamiliar.

Ask for Help

“I would say for my advice, ask for help if you need it. We have so many resources here at Grace. And a lot of times I just see students not utilizing the resources they have available. So whatever help you need, there are people here who are willing to help you and will really care for you. So ask for help when you need it.”

• Logan Van Vels

You don’t have to go it alone. There are people around you who genuinely want to see you succeed and are ready to support you.

Walk Closely with God

“My advice would be to seriously take your relationship with God seriously. Like your walk with God. Allow him to order your steps because he will lead you and guide you in the right direction. I know for me, walking closely with him has led me here to Grace. It has led me to good relationships and friendships, and it has deepened my relationship with him. So if you want doors open or just to have a good relationship with him, just really walk hand in hand with Jesus.”

– Jasmine Branch

Your relationship with God isn’t just another checkbox; it’s the foundation for everything else. Let Him guide your steps and watch how He opens doors and deepens relationships along the way.

Don’t Fear Failure or Embarrassment

“My piece of advice is don’t be afraid to fail at things. It can close doors if you let that fear get in. And don’t be afraid to get embarrassed sometimes. Sometimes the key to something is to be weird about it. And then it can make a great memory, and it can open up doors for you.”

• Kyrsten Nolen

Fear of failure can be more limiting than failure itself. Sometimes the most memorable moments and unexpected opportunities come from being willing to take risks and even look a little silly.

Trust God and Keep Trying

“Just put your trust in God. Trust God through everything. You’re going to fall ten times. Get up ten times. And honestly, just keep trying. No matter what you’re doing, just keep trying.”

– Quay Humphries

Perseverance paired with trust in God is a powerful combination. You will fall, but what matters is that you keep getting back up and keep moving forward.

These seniors have walked the journey, faced the challenges, and come out on the other side with wisdom to share. As you continue your own path, remember their words and know that you’re not alone in this journey.

Stepping Forward in Faith

These seniors have walked through college, faced the challenges, and come out on the other side with wisdom to share. As you continue your own path, remember their words and know that you’re not alone.

To our graduating seniors: thank you for your vulnerability, your honesty, and your willingness to invest in those coming behind you. May God guide your steps as you continue to walk hand in hand with Jesus into whatever doors He opens next.

The post Fall 2025 Senior Send-Off: Advice from Graduating Seniors appeared first on Grace Christian University.

Why I Chose Grace

I really loved the community aspect of Grace and how the school is so focused on ministry in every aspect of your life, no matter what you end up doing. That integration of faith and vocation was exactly what I was looking for in a college experience.

Learn, Grow, Serve

Grace’s objectives of Learn, Grow, and Serve are all connected in a beautiful cycle. You learn, and then you grow, and then you serve, and it goes around again. The more you grow, the more you want to serve. The more you serve, the more you want to learn. This continuous cycle has been central to my experience at Grace and has shaped how I think about business and ministry together. 

Why Choose Business at Grace

If you’re considering coming to Grace for Business, I would say be ready to have a lot of fun and to learn how to use your degree in any way you can imagine. It’s so flexible, whatever you’re considering doing with your business degree, it’ll work out. The program equips you for ministry, entrepreneurship, corporate work, or whatever path God is calling you toward.

The Value of My Degree

I think earning a college degree is a good step for wherever you want to end up in life. I want to open my own business, so I’m working to learn more, first about business in general, and then how to apply that to my own business. The education I’m receiving at Grace is giving me the foundation I need to pursue that dream.

My Internship Experience

Right now, I’m interning for Rick Pilieci , and it’s been an incredible learning experience. I run the Grace Ministry team and lead worship most Sundays at different churches. I also run the marketing for a lot of things on campus.

This internship has taught me so much about what works and what doesn’t work in marketing, which will be invaluable for my future business. Working with Rick has also shown me how to work with people and churches effectively, and I’ve learned how to lead worship in different contexts. These practical experiences have been just as valuable as my classroom learning.

How Grace Has Shaped Me

The community at Grace has really shaped who I’m becoming, especially this year. We’re constantly challenging each other and growing into people who follow God in every aspect of our lives. That’s what makes Grace special, it’s not just about academics, it’s about becoming the person God created you to be.

My coach has definitely been one person at Grace who has impacted my view on life. He’s always been there for me and the team. Whenever you’re struggling with something, he really has God pour into all of that. He speaks truth over you, and that kind of investment makes all the difference.

A Day in Someone Else’s Shoes

If I could swap places with any Grace professor or staff member for a day, it would be our Librarian Erin Huebner. I’ve always loved her job and have always wanted to be a librarian. I think it would be fun to experience what her day-to-day looks like!

Just for Fun

My go-to coffee order is a honey lavender latte, and my favorite snack is Cheez-Its. 

The Grace Impact 

Grace Christian University has given me more than just a business education, it’s shown me how to integrate my faith with my entrepreneurial dreams. The ministry-focused approach means I’m not just learning how to run a business; I’m learning how to use business as a platform for serving God and others.

The flexibility of the program, combined with hands-on experiences like my internship, has equipped me with practical skills in marketing, leadership, and ministry. For anyone considering business at Grace, I can confidently say this program will prepare you to use your degree in whatever way God calls you. The community here will challenge you, support you, and help you grow into someone who follows God in every aspect of life.

The post Learn, Grow, Serve in Business – Kristina’s story appeared first on Grace Christian University.

Why I Chose Grace

What drew me to Grace the most was the closeness and togetherness that Grace offers, separate from what you’d find at a bigger school. That sense of community was exactly what I was looking for. I’m from Holland, Michigan, so staying close to the area while getting a quality education made sense for me.

The Value of My Degree

The value I see in earning a college degree is that it sets you up for success. Grace does that exceptionally well with the teachers, counselors, and advisors they provide. You’re not just another number here, you have people genuinely invested in helping you reach your goals.

How Grace Has Shaped Me

My time at Grace has shaped me by helping me become more responsible and grow in myself and my studies. It’s helped me figure out what I truly want to do with my career. College is about learning and growing into who you’re meant to become, and Grace has provided the perfect environment for that development.

The Grace and Cornerstone Partnership

My program works through a partnership between Grace and Cornerstone University. During my freshman year, I took all my core and general education classes here at Grace. Then I take my major-specific classes, like anatomy and physiology, at Cornerstone.

From sophomore year until graduation, most of my classes will be at Cornerstone, but my gen eds and basic theology and English classes remain at Grace. It’s a great setup that allows me to get the specialized education I need while maintaining that close-knit Grace community.

A Professor Who Made an Impact

Kyle Vegh has been one of my favorite professors at Grace. He conveys his material with incredible energy, and because he’s pretty young, he can connect with students really well. What I appreciate most is that he doesn’t go off topic, he stays focused and makes his classes challenging, but he does it in a really effective and responsible way. His teaching style makes learning engaging while keeping high standards.

A Day in Someone Else’s Shoes

If I could swap places with any Grace professor or staff member for a day, it would be Dean Dykstra. He watches a lot of history videos and movies, and I think that would be pretty cool to experience. Getting to see campus and teaching from his perspective would be really interesting.

Just for Fun 

I don’t drink coffee, but my go-to would definitely be a strawberry smoothie. That’s my favorite way to start the day or recharge between classes.

The Grace Impact 

Grace Christian University has provided me with a challenging academic program while maintaining the personal connections and support system I need to succeed. The partnership with Cornerstone gives me access to specialized courses in my field, while Grace’s community keeps me grounded and focused on what matters most. I’m grateful for the professors who invest in their students and for an environment that encourages both academic excellence and personal growth.

The post Learn, Grow, Serve in Exercise Science – Paul’s Story appeared first on Grace Christian University.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I’ve said it too. The truth is, we can’t control the number of hours in a day, but we can control how we use them. And when we begin to see time as a gift from God, we realize managing it well isn’t just about productivity.

Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days so that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
1 Corinthians 4:2 reminds us, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”

Time management, then, isn’t just about productivity. It’s about faithfulness. It’s about becoming good stewards of a gift God has entrusted to us. My hope is that by the time you finish reading this, you’ll have both practical strategies and biblical encouragement to help you manage your time wisely.

Planning Ahead

One of the first steps in managing time is planning your week. Look ahead. Think through what you have going on and write it down. That way, when unexpected things come up, as they always do, you already have a framework that helps you stay grounded.

Part of planning is learning to prioritize. Ask: Is this task urgent? Is it important? Sometimes things are urgent but not important, and those can eat up our focus. Other times, we get caught up in things that are neither urgent nor important. That’s why it’s critical to put first things first, like assignments that impact your grades or responsibilities that help you grow. 

Time Blocking and Theme Days

One of the best tools you can use is a blocking schedule. This method involves breaking your day into chunks of time and dedicating those chunks to specific tasks. For example, maybe mornings are for studying, afternoons for class, and evenings for homework or group projects.

There’s a simple rule of thumb: spend two hours per week for every credit hour. That means if you’re taking a three-credit class, you should expect to spend about six hours outside of class reading, preparing, and doing assignments. When you block out your schedule, make sure you’re giving yourself that space.

Theme days can also help. For instance, you might decide that Mondays are study days, Tuesdays are research days, and Wednesdays are project-writing days. When your week has a rhythm, it’s easier to know what needs to happen and when.

Breaking Tasks Into Chunks

Big tasks can feel overwhelming. Think of writing a paper. You can’t sit down and knock it out in one sitting, not without frustration and stress. Instead, break it into smaller parts: research, reading, outlining, drafting, editing. Then, schedule each chunk.

Another effective method is the Pomodoro Technique, work for 25 minutes, then take a five-minute break. This keeps you moving forward without draining your energy. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish in focused 25-minute sessions.

Tools That Help

Your phone can be your best friend, or your worst enemy. On one hand, you can use timers, alarms, and focus apps to keep yourself accountable. On the other hand, the same phone can distract you for hours with TikTok or Instagram. Choose wisely. Download apps that block distractions, silence notifications, or lock your screen while you study.

Having a dedicated study space also helps. If you study in the same place regularly, your brain starts to associate that place with focus. Add noise-canceling headphones and instrumental music (without words), and you’ll create an environment that trains your brain to get to work.

Accountability

This is a tough one, but it works. Tell a roommate or friend: “I’m going to study for three hours. I’ll check in with you when I’m done.” Just knowing someone else is expecting you to follow through increases your motivation. Accountability transforms intention into action.

Blending Study and Faith

Time management isn’t just about productivity, it’s also about spiritual discipline. Pray before you study. Ask God to focus your mind, guide your thoughts, and help you use your time well.

Use the small gaps in your day, too. If you arrive to class early, pull out your flashcards and review. Set three daily goals to keep yourself focused. And don’t just keep a to-do list, keep a to-don’t list. Write down things like: don’t scroll TikTok, don’t binge Netflix. Those small boundaries protect your focus.

The Foundation of Productivity

You can’t be effective if you’re running on fumes. Sleep matters. Eating well matters. Moving your body matters. I know because I lived it, I was a student with three kids, a husband, and a full-time job. I know what it feels like to run on empty.

At a recent workshop, we talked about the importance of starting your day early. Getting up on time sets the tone for the day. Exercise is another key. Even a five-minute walk clears your mind and restores your energy. Pair that with healthy food and enough rest, and you’ll notice a significant difference in your ability to focus.

Reviewing and Adjusting

Don’t just make a plan, review it. At the end of the week, ask yourself: what worked? What didn’t? How can I improve next week?

Keep a done list alongside your to-do list. Cross things off and celebrate progress. Sometimes, I even add something I already finished just so I can cross it off, it feels that good. Reward yourself for progress. Even small rewards go a long way in keeping motivation alive.

Practical Tools for Students

• To-do lists: keep them short and manageable. 
• Planners and calendars: paper or digital, use what works for you. 
• Weekly time management sheets: write down priorities and deadlines. 
• Life balance worksheets: track where your time goes, compare it to where you want it to go. 

Professors usually list deadlines on syllabi. Transfer those into your calendar early. That way, you’re not surprised when a big project sneaks up on you.

Miracle Mornings

One student in the workshop shared that they were dragging every day because they stayed up until 12:30 AM but had to get up at 6:30. It threw off their whole day.

I shared about my son. He read a book called Miracle Mornings while in Alaska, and he came back determined to wake up at 5:00 AM every day. For him, it was life-changing. And to be honest, I couldn’t let him outdo me. So, I started waking up at 5:20 AM.

It wasn’t easy, I’m a night owl by nature. But the change transformed my days. I was more productive, more focused, and more energized. Getting up early, washing your face, brushing your teeth, getting dressed, these small steps set the tone for your entire day.

Student Voices

Workshops are best when students share what’s working for them. Here are some of the insights students shared:

“I’m going to start writing three goals every day and then review them at the end of the week.”

“I like the idea of breaking big projects into smaller tasks. I tend to take eight hours to write a paper in one sitting, but chunking it up will help reduce stress.” —Jamie

“I like the time-blocking idea. I try to fit too much into one stretch and forget to take breaks. Having structured blocks and breaks, and even short walks, will help me stay focused.” —Jace

“For me, planning out my week is the biggest takeaway. I usually take things one day at a time, but I know I need to see the bigger picture.” —Christian

These comments reflect what many of us feel: we want to do better, and with the right tools, we can.

Final Takeaways

Time management reduces stress and increases freedom. Using tools like planners, time-blocking, accountability, and prayer helps you stay consistent.  And remember, you don’t have to do this alone. At Grace, our success coaches are here to help. QR codes are posted on doors and in classrooms. If you don’t know your coach, just ask. You can also email Student Success at gracechristian.edu.

So here’s the challenge: what’s one thing you’re going to change about your time management this week?

Start small. Choose one strategy. Put it into practice. Steward your time well, for your academics, for your health, and ultimately, for God’s glory.

The post 8 Time Management Tips Melissa Moran Director of Student Success appeared first on Grace Christian University.

This is the face of modern higher education, where over 15 million students are redefining what it means to be a college student. With 53 percent of U.S. students enrolled in at least one online course and more than 1 in 4 college students taking classes completely online, the digital campus has become as real and vibrant as any traditional classroom. 

Yet for all its growth, online education remains misunderstood. Critics dismiss it as inferior, while others oversell it as a fix-all solution. The truth lies somewhere between, in the lived experiences of millions of students who’ve discovered that online college isn’t a watered-down version of the “real thing.” It’s an entirely different ecosystem with its own rhythms, challenges, and remarkable opportunities. 

Why Students Choose Digital

The numbers tell a compelling story. 67% of prospective college students valued the ability to attend classes from any location, and 34% of responding students chose to enroll specifically online to allow more flexibility with their time and schedules. But behind these statistics are real people with complex lives that traditional college schedules simply cannot accommodate.

According to comprehensive 2025 research from Inside Higher Ed, 54% of fully online students prefer asynchronous courses, classes they can take on their own schedule. This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about accessibility.

Consider the demographics: today’s online learners are overwhelmingly non-traditional students. They’re working parents, military veterans, first-generation college students, rural learners with limited local options, and individuals with disabilities who benefit from customizable learning environments. 

Dr. Rachel Morrison, who studies adult learning patterns at Arizona State University, explains the appeal: “Traditional college assumes you can drop everything else in your life for four years. Online education recognizes that learning happens alongside living, not instead of it.“ 

This flexibility extends beyond scheduling. Online students can replay difficult lectures, participate in discussions at their own pace, and access materials from anywhere. For students managing chronic illnesses, social anxiety, or unpredictable work schedules, these accommodations are  their necessities that make higher education possible. 

The Connection Paradox

Here lies online education’s most fascinating contradiction. The Inside Higher Ed survey reveals that 67% of online-only students rate their academic experience as good or excellent, higher satisfaction than many traditional programs report. Yet only 31% feel socially connected to their college, significantly lower than in-person peers who report nearly 48% feeling that sense of belonging.

This gap shows something crucial about human learning: we crave both intellectually stimulating environments and social connection, but online environments require different strategies to achieve both. 

Recent research from the University of Michigan shows a decrease in severe depressive symptoms from 23% in 2022 and 20% in 2023 to 19% in 2024 among college students overall. However, online students face unique mental health challenges. 24 percent use social media sites and blogs for support; this was more common with students taking fully online courses (38 percent), suggesting they’re actively seeking connection through digital channels.

The challenge isn’t that online students are antisocial, it’s that traditional campus activities don’t translate well to virtual spaces. A pizza party over Zoom feels forced; a hallway conversation can’t happen when there are no hallways. But innovative institutions are discovering that meaningful connections can form in digital environments; they just require different approaches.

At Southern New Hampshire University, which leads the nation with 96 percent of its students enrolled online, student success coaches report that the most connected students are those who engage in discussion forums not just academically, but personally. They share photos of their study spaces, celebrate each other’s milestones, and create informal study groups that extend beyond coursework.

“The students who thrive,” notes Dr. Lisa Zimmerman, an online learning specialist, “are those who understand that community doesn’t happen to them, they have to create it.”

Academic Excellence in Digital 

The perception that online education is somehow “easier” or less challenging persists despite mounting evidence to the contrary. 88% of students believe employers perceive an online degree from an accredited institution as valuable or more valuable than an on-campus degree, reflecting a significant shift in professional acceptance.

Online students consistently report strong academic satisfaction, with 70% saying their education matches their needs. This success stems from factors that traditional classrooms often struggle to provide: personalized pacing, enhanced accessibility, real-world integration, and digital literacy.

However, success requires active engagement. The most successful online students treat their education as seriously as any on-campus experience, establishing dedicated study spaces, maintaining regular schedules, and actively participating in virtual discussions. 

The Stress Spectrum

Online students face a unique stress profile that differs significantly from their on-campus peers. While they report less chronic academic stress than in-person students (13% vs. 26%), they struggle more with balancing competing life demands. 52% versus 44% of traditional students report being burdened by personal, family, or financial responsibilities.

This creates what researchers term “integration stress,” the challenge of merging student identity with other life roles. The COVID-19 pandemic provided insights, many traditional students who were forced online struggled with blurred boundaries, highlighting skills online learners develop daily, like time management and self-motivation.

Mental health support for online students requires different approaches. 83 percent of students utilize the internet and 67 percent use social media for support, with online students being even more likely to seek help through digital channels.

Career Readiness: Preparing for Tomorrow’s Workplace

Online students approach career preparation with intentionality. Surveys show they highly value virtual mentoring, digital job fairs, and asynchronous professional development workshops that accommodate complex schedules but also want stronger connections to internships and professional networks. 

This has sparked innovations such as virtual reality interviews, digital portfolio development, industry partnership programs, and alumni mentorship networks, preparing graduates well for remote work, virtual teams, and digital communication 

Innovation in Online Community Building

The challenge of creating belonging online has sparked remarkable innovation. Leading institutions create new approaches beyond virtual translations of in-person activities: cohort models, interest-based communities, local chapters for meetups, digital storytelling, and online virtual group activities. 

“Though I study online rather than on campus, the connection I’ve built with the Grace community has been remarkable, from my supportive advisors to my approachable professors who genuinely care about student success.” — Brittani Ambrose

Technology as Enabler and Challenge

The technological landscape continues rapidly evolving. Students gain digital fluency, a highly valued workplace skill, by mastering diverse platforms and communication formats. However, technology gaps, unreliable internet or older devices, remain hurdles online students face disproportionately

Successful online students become adept troubleshooters, learning to manage multiple platforms, collaborate across different digital tools, and communicate effectively in text, audio, and video formats..

Eight Strategies for Online Student Success

Here are evidence-based strategies for success as an online student. 

1. Create physical and mental boundaries.
2. Engage proactively in virtual communities.
3. Develop a support network.
4. Master time management systems.
5. Communicate with instructors.
6. Create accountability partnerships.
7. Invest in technology setup.
8. Practice digital wellness 

Bible- Centered Online College

Grace Christian University online programs are not an afterthought. They are one of the ways we carry out the mission God has entrusted to us. Every class is Bible-centered. Every professor teaches with both academic excellence and spiritual care. And every student, whether in Grand Rapids or across the country, is invited into a community that is more than credits and assignments.

We are convinced that education must form the whole person. That’s why our online students are not only gaining knowledge; they are growing in faith, character, and boldness in their faith. Our vision remains: to graduate courageous ambassadors for Christ who step into the world ready to make an eternal impact.

A Community That Reaches Across the Miles

The digital world can feel distant, but Grace online tells a different story. We see students logging in from kitchen tables, base housing, or lunch breaks at work, and yet they discover that they are not alone. They are part of a community that prays together, studies Scripture together, and encourages one another in Christ.

I often hear from students who say, “Even though I’m online, I feel like I belong here.” That is the heart of Grace. Whether face-to-face or screen-to-screen, we believe God is shaping lives, building community, and preparing men and women to serve Him faithfully wherever He calls.

The Future of Online Education

As the world advances, AI personalizes learning, virtual reality offers immersive simulations, and analytics help support student success. With 75% of undergraduates taking online courses, hybrid models will likely be standard. Successful students are self-directed, tech-adaptable, and excel at creating structure in flexible environments. 

Defining Your Online Education Experience

Online college is a  different approach offering unique advantages that require specific skills to thrive. The flexibility draws students not just for scheduling but for real-world integration. Social challenges persist but can be overcome through active engagement. The students who thrive take initiative and create their experience. 

Online education isn’t better or worse than traditional college, it’s different, with distinct advantages for students who approach it thoughtfully and institutions that support it innovatively. As the boundaries between online and in-person learning continue to blur, the skills, and perspectives that today’s online students develop will likely define successful learners across all educational formats.

Learn More  

The post What Is Student Life Like in Online College? appeared first on Grace Christian University.

Choosing My Path

My major at Grace is psychology, and discovering this school felt like destiny. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, learning that Grace was also from Michigan felt like a beautiful coincidence. Though I study online rather than on campus, the connection I’ve built with the Grace community has been remarkable, from my supportive advisors to my approachable professors who genuinely care about student success.

My experience with the school has been nothing short of excellent. The enrollment process was seamless, financial aid was straightforward, and I was able to begin classes almost immediately after making my decision in January. Everything fell into place exactly when I needed it to.

Finding the Right Fit

I researched several institutions, but I had specific criteria that mattered deeply to me. I wanted a school that wouldn’t just focus on my major but would also integrate biblical principles into my education. Having a relationship with God is central to who I am today, though this wasn’t always the case.

There were many years when I felt disconnected from God, struggling to find that relationship I desperately wanted. Once I finally discovered that connection, I was determined never to let it go. When my older sister shared her positive experiences at Grace, I knew I’d found what I was looking for. Since enrolling, I’ve been able to explore biblical perspectives on life while diving deep into psychology, sociology, and leadership studies. The integration of faith and learning has been exactly what my heart needed.

Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt

Returning to school after more than a decade away was terrifying. I questioned everything: my ability to learn, to retain information, and to succeed academically. The fear was overwhelming, and self-doubt crept in constantly. Would my brain even remember how to study? Could I compete with younger students who hadn’t been away from academia as long as I had?

God’s Calling

Despite my fears, I felt God’s unmistakable call on my life. He made it clear that He needed me to become a therapist for children, a calling that resonated deeply with my love for young people. So I made the leap, diving headfirst into this new chapter. Looking back, this experience at Grace Christian University has exceeded every expectation and has been absolutely transformational.

Facing Challenges Head-On

My journey hasn’t been without obstacles. Grace structures their program with five courses running consecutively, one per week, which initially felt manageable. I started strong in January, but by June, the workload began to feel overwhelming. Anxiety crept in, and I found myself struggling to keep up.

Rather than suffering in silence, I reached out to my advisor, one of the best decisions I made. I was honest about feeling anxious and overwhelmed, admitting that I didn’t feel equipped to succeed in my current class. Instead of pushing through and risking failure, I asked if I could step back from that particular course and return to it later when I felt more prepared.

Exceptional Support System

The response from Grace’s staff was incredible. They didn’t make me feel like a failure or question my abilities. Instead, they worked with me to find a solution that supported my success. This experience reinforced something I’ve learned about Grace: they truly want every student to succeed, and they’ll go the extra mile to make that happen.

I haven’t encountered a single negative experience with anyone at the school. The staff, advisors, and professors are all genuinely invested in student success, creating an environment where learning can flourish.

What I’ve Learned So Far

One of the most valuable skills I’ve developed at Grace is improved communication. I’ve learned to organize my thoughts more effectively and express myself with greater clarity. Initially, I was convinced my brain wouldn’t retain information after being away from school for so long. I overthought everything and psyched myself out before I even began.

Once I settled into my coursework, however, I realized my fears were largely unfounded. The material was challenging but manageable, and I discovered I was more capable than I’d given myself credit for.

Course Structure and Learning Style

Eight months into my program, I’ve noticed that many courses focus on drawing out what students already know while building upon that foundation. The approach is often discussion-based, asking for personal opinions and perspectives on various topics.

In my current sociology class, for example, we explore questions like “What do you think sociology is?” and “How would you connect sociology to your Christian worldview?” This approach makes learning feel more personal and relevant, connecting academic concepts to real-world applications and faith-based perspectives.

Growing Through Academic Writing

One area where I’ve experienced tremendous growth is academic writing. Before Grace, I had no idea what APA or MLA formatting meant; these were completely foreign concepts. Learning these academic writing standards was initially challenging, but as I practiced, I discovered that proper formatting actually helped me express my ideas more clearly and professionally.

The improvement in my writing has been remarkable, and I credit this growth to both the structured requirements and the extensive support available at Grace.

Comprehensive Student Resources

Grace provides resources designed to ensure student success. They offer on-demand tutoring, peer review services for papers and assignments, and professional editing support. Honestly, with all these tools available, I believe it would be nearly impossible for a motivated student to fail.

The support system goes beyond academics. When I was overwhelmed and unsure about procedures, I found myself reaching out to my advisors frequently. Even when they didn’t have immediate answers, they always connected me with the right person or resource. Grace Christian University has created a comprehensive support network that genuinely sets students up for success.

My Future Mission

My ultimate goal is to become a therapist specializing in children’s mental health. This calling stems from my own childhood experience; I often wished I’d had access to a therapist when I was young. Too often, adults dismiss children’s emotional struggles with phrases like, “You’re just a kid; you don’t have real problems. You don’t pay bills or face adult responsibilities, so what could you possibly be worried about?”

This dismissive attitude breaks my heart because children are full human beings with complex emotions and real struggles. Just because their problems might seem small to adults doesn’t make them any less significant to the child experiencing them.

Breaking Barriers in Mental Health

Unfortunately, stigma around mental health therapy remains strong in many communities, particularly in the African American community where I grew up. Many people are hesitant to “tell a stranger all your problems” or view therapy as unnecessary or even shameful.

My heart burns with a desire to change these perceptions and help children understand and process their emotions, whether those feelings seem big or small. Children deserve to have their emotions validated and their experiences acknowledged. They need safe spaces to express themselves and caring adults who will listen without judgment.

My Vision for Child Therapy

When I step into my role as a child therapist, I want to create an environment where every child feels heard, seen, valued, and important. I want them to understand that their feelings matter, their emotions are valid, and their experiences deserve attention and care.

Age doesn’t determine the significance of someone’s struggles. A five-year-old’s worry about making friends is just as real and important as an adult’s concern about work. My mission is to help heal and support every child I encounter, giving them tools to understand themselves and navigate their emotions in healthy ways.

How God Changed My Life

I want to share a powerful testimony about how God transformed my life and led me to this calling.

Growing up, my family attended church regularly. Sunday mornings meant getting up and going to service; it was simply part of our routine. For years, though, I felt spiritually empty. I went through the motions without feeling any real connection to God or understanding of His word. I yearned for a genuine relationship with Him but couldn’t seem to find it.

I often wondered why God seemed silent in my life. I wanted to know Him, to understand His work and His love, but I felt like I was speaking into a void. This spiritual longing persisted for years, leaving me feeling frustrated and disconnected.

A Life-Threatening Wake-Up Call

In 2016, my life took a dramatic turn that would forever change my relationship with God. I developed a blood clot that wrapped around my lungs and enlarged the right side of my heart, though I was completely unaware of this life-threatening condition at the time.

The day it happened started normally. I spent time with my family, shared dinner together, and felt perfectly fine. Then something as simple as getting the hiccups changed everything. When you get hiccups, you naturally try holding your breath or drinking water to stop them. I tried both remedies, but neither worked.

Somehow, holding my breath triggered or activated the blood clot. Immediately, I struggled to breathe properly. I’d experienced chest pain and shortness of breath before, and previous ER visits had resulted in doctors telling me I’d simply “pulled a muscle.” So I assumed this was another minor issue.

Ignoring Warning Signs

Even as my symptoms worsened, walking from the house to the car left me exhausted, my ears became muffled, and my heart raced—I resisted going to the hospital. I’d been dismissed so many times before that I convinced myself this was just another pulled muscle.

When I got home that evening, I told my family about my symptoms but decided to sleep it off. I promised myself that if I still felt unwell in the morning, I’d seek medical attention. Looking back, this decision could have been fatal.

God’s Miraculous Protection

By God’s grace alone, I am alive today. There is absolutely no medical reason why someone should survive sleeping through the night with a massive blood clot wrapped around their lungs, struggling to breathe, with an enlarged heart. Yet somehow, I woke up the next morning.

At the hospital, doctors confirmed the severity of my condition. During my time in the ICU, undergoing surgeries and treatments, I felt God’s presence more powerfully than ever before. I realized that He had protected me through an impossible situation, and there had to be a reason. He had plans for my life, and He wasn’t finished with me yet.

The experience filled me with profound gratitude for life, for my family’s presence during my recovery, and for God’s undeniable intervention in what should have been a fatal situation.

Finding My True Relationship with God

Following my recovery, I began earnestly seeking God, but my breakthrough didn’t come until 2019. Each year, my family participates in a New Year’s fast, but this particular year felt different. For the first time ever, I found myself genuinely excited about fasting, and who gets excited about giving up food?

During that fast, everything changed. I encountered God in a personal, profound way. I learned how to study His word meaningfully, how to cultivate a genuine relationship with Him, and importantly, that I didn’t need to broadcast my faith to validate it. I felt His presence in my heart and spirit in ways I’d never experienced before.

Since then, my relationship with God has remained strong. Of course, being human means I still have moments of doubt and questioning, times when life gets difficult and I ask, “God, why?” But even in those challenging moments, I feel His love sustaining me through my questions and struggles.

Words of Encouragement

I share my story to encourage anyone who feels God calling them to step out in faith. If you sense Him leading you toward something, whether it’s returning to school, changing careers, or pursuing a dream, I urge you to be obedient. You never know what incredible life God is preparing for you.

I firmly believe we aren’t on this earth solely for ourselves. We’re here for each other, to help, heal, grow, and nurture one another. Our testimonies and experiences can touch other souls and potentially bring new people into relationship with God.

Taking the Leap of Faith

If you’re considering returning to school or beginning any new journey that God has placed on your heart, I encourage you to take that step. Trust in God completely. Yes, it will be scary. Yes, it will feel uncomfortable because you’re entering uncharted territory. But I promise you that if you put your faith and trust in God, He will guide you every step of the way.

I’m grateful that God led me to Grace Christian University, where I’m not only gaining my psychology education but also absorbing knowledge and wisdom I once believed I was inadequate to receive. God assured me I was wrong about my inadequacy, and He’s proven that truth every day since.

Final Thoughts

So I want to leave you with this: take that step. Whatever God is calling you to do, wherever He’s leading you to go, take that step with confidence. Trust His plan for your life, even when you can’t see the full picture.

Thank you for reading my story. I hope it encourages and inspires you on your own journey of faith, education, and purpose. Remember, God has incredible plans for your life too.

The post My Journey Back to School: Finding Purpose at Grace Christian University appeared first on Grace Christian University.

Today we are honored to hear from our President, Dr. Ken Kemper, who will bring the opening chapel message. President Kemper has faithfully led Grace with a vision rooted in biblical truth, service, and the preparation of courageous ambassadors for Christ. This morning, he will challenge us with a crucial calling for every believer, especially as we navigate the challenges of our modern world: the call to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

Opening Thoughts: The Honor of Bringing God’s Word

It is always an honor for me to begin these chapels by bringing the word of God. And I will be honest, as my boys say to me, who are both pastors, “Dad, you have an enthusiasm that must bring a lot of sweat.” So this cap and gown can’t suffice to hold me back when I’m preaching.

We had a theme this year. Pastor Danny developed a cool theme, “The Way of the Lamb, Messiah,” this semester from the Old Testament. I hope you’ll be able to attend and enjoy that. I thought about that, and I was really praying, “God, would you speak to our faculty, staff, and students as we begin the new academic year with exactly what you desire for us to hear? Say it bluntly, what we really need, what’s going on in our crazy society as we begin a new academic year.”

And I feel like God has led me to speak about this. It is important. 

The Art of Planting Trees: A Picture of Your Growth

If you’ve ever planted a tree, I’ve planted several of them, there is an art to how you prepare the ground for planting a tree.

And I thought about that illustration, and it’s a lot like parenting. My wife and I raised three children, and we had an opportunity to continue to invest in their lives and to seek to expose them to good people. Sometimes there is some weeding of things in their lives that we help them with.

But at the same time, we wanted them to go to a place like Grace Christian University where they could be planted and start to bloom and blossom and grow and yet have a support system. So that’s why I like that illustration of a new tree being planted. There’s a whole science to how you stake it out and how you tie it.

Don’t tie it too tight. If you tie it too tight, then when the wind blows, it’s so tight it doesn’t grow. There’s a certain science to a tree, when it blows, it releases ethylene gases and it actually becomes stronger. So it needs to blow. So you can’t tie it too tightly, make sure it can sway. So then when you release the bindings from it and the poles, it’s strong. And it’s ready to really bloom and blossom and just take off.

That’s a good illustration of where we are as colleges, we want to see you become independent, grow, be strong, and yet, thank God, there’s a support system. There’s something that says we really want you to weather the challenges of this world and what it means to be a courageous ambassador for Christ as an adult in a world that is sometimes quite hostile to where we are.

Jude’s Urgent Message

I’m going to start in the book of Jude. The book of Jude is not a very common passage to speak from, but it just convicted me as I was reading and studying this. You start in the first verses of Jude and it says, “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.” If that’s true, he’s the brother of James. James is the brother of Jesus. So he could have said, “I’m also the half-brother of Jesus Christ.” He didn’t lord it over them and say, “Hey, you need to listen to me. I know Jesus personally. I grew up with him. He was the ultimate brother who didn’t get in trouble” or whatever it might be.

You know, think about how challenging it was. And we read in the Gospels that the family of Jesus wasn’t always proud of him. In fact, it was like he was making quite a scene and claiming some things that they weren’t quite sure of, even though they knew, and especially Mary, we’re told she cherished these things in her heart and she watched him grow in favor with God and man. She came to absolutely understand who Jesus was. He was born of a miracle birth, a virgin birth. But the brothers, not so much. They had to deal with this. They didn’t have that promise. They didn’t have the appearance of the angels.

So Jude has an interesting position. He’s writing to first-century believers after Jesus has departed. In other words, think about it. They’ve come to faith in Jesus Christ. There’s been an explosion of followers called “the way” who are following Jesus because of the way he taught with authority like no one had ever taught before. And yet now he’s gone. Yes, he said, “I promise the Holy Spirit, just like we have, who will come and who will teach you all things, he can indwell. And if we believe and if we follow his instructions, we will grow in grace and knowledge of God.”

Well, Jude is writing to people to say Jesus has left and the environment is challenging. Be planted and be careful. So that’s Jude’s challenge to these believers after Jesus has left and gone to heaven.

Celebrating Our Shared Salvation

Then we pick up the next verse in chapter one, there’s only one chapter, verse three.

“Dear friends, although I was eager to write to you about the salvation we share,” and that would be the way I’d like to begin today. Let’s come together in our first chapel. Let’s just celebrate the reality that we have chosen to participate as members of the body of Christ in a place called Grace Christian University where we get to share meals and classes and fellowship together. Our sports teams get to compete. We’re going to cheer for each other. We’re going to uphold each other. And yes, there’s brokenness in every one of us, and so therefore we’re not perfect.

But at least we understand, and we have this intention. You’ve been to one and a half days of classes, and I hope you’re not saying, “I’m not going to pass that class.” I hope at this point you’re going, “I’m going to make it. This is going to be a good class. No matter how I performed in high school or at another institution, this is going to be really powerful and good.”

So that would be a great message. Let’s just celebrate the fact that we’re all together in the salvation that we share. And that’s what Jude says to the fledgling young planted church after Jesus has left. That would be a nice message for me to share with you because we are starting life together as a Christian college community. First of all, let me congratulate you and let me encourage you.

The Urgent Call

But then where does Jude go with that? His very next phrase. He says, “But I felt I had to urge you.” Or the ESV says, “I felt it was necessary.” As much as I wanted to just be flowery and congratulatory, I felt like I needed to write you. I needed to warn you. I was compelled, I was moved by the Holy Spirit, God motivated me and gave me a burden that I had to speak.

That’s exactly how I feel today. For your generation, of which I have the greatest hope that I’ve had in many, many years, I also have incredible burden to say there is an important, important message for you that I want you to grasp today as we start this academic year.

“I want you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to all the saints.”

The Faith That Has Been Entrusted to Us

What a message Jude gave. He said, “I want you to contend. I have this burden that there is a faith.” So this faith that was entrusted to all the saints is what the mother tree would have had. It’s what generations before us had. It was a faith that was entrusted to your parents and your grandparents and the parents before them and the founders of our nation and the people in other countries who followed Jesus Christ from the very point of the gospel of Jesus Christ coming and living and dying on this planet and ascending to heaven. He’s passed on a faith that’s been entrusted to people who have said, “I believe in the reality of who Jesus Christ is and the gospel message and the accurate recording of it in Scripture that it’s been entrusted, and therefore I’m a steward of it.”

And I want to say to you, please, value the faith that’s been communicated. It’s the clear truth of the gospel. It’s God’s creative design. And you’re going to have an opportunity at Grace Christian University, unlike a lot of institutions, to study theology. Who is God? Why did he decide to create man in his own image? And why did he care when man was so oblivious to him and went his own way and sinned and erred again and again and again? And we get the character of God, that he’s an incredibly gracious and compassionate God.

Our Studies at Grace

That leads my theology. I quote that verse every morning. When I talk to God in prayer, I talk to God and I say, “God, thank you. God, you are a gracious and compassionate God and a God of mercy and faithfulness and love, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin,” because that means I’m acceptable by your character. Our theology says he’s the right God.

But the second thing we do is study anthropology, the study of man. And we study anthropology in such a way at Grace that we say, and we recognize, because we have the record, how man came into being. He’s beautifully created in the image of God.

But we also understand in our anthropology that where we are today, thousands of years later, that man made decisions because he was given a free will in the image of God and chose evil. And therefore, from then on, all of us have a choice again and again and again to choose to follow God or to reject God. And because he loves us, he gives us that total freedom.

And so our anthropology is very different from other institutions. We said, we recognize this world is beautifully created and we’re made in his image, and yet we’re broken and we’re fallen.

Salvation Through Jesus Christ 

But we also teach soteriology, the study of salvation, and you’ll learn that God didn’t leave us this way. From the time that mankind fell, he promised a savior and a redemption, and he brought him in the fullness of time. Jesus Christ came and he died and he paid the penalty for the sins of mankind who lived at the time, who lived before, which were represented in animal sacrifice. And for us who were yet to be born, he died and his blood covers our sin and gives us a right standing before God.

Hallelujah. I am so thankful that at Grace, we understand we’re great and that we’re made in the image of God. We’re specially formed. The sin of mankind permeates every one of us, and yet God has prepared a plan of salvation.

And last, there’s ecclesiology. We’re here today because ecclesiology is the church. We are the church, not the building, not the denomination, but we are the people of God who have accepted the reality that Christ died for us and he’s given us life. And I hope that you come to Grace Christian University, whether you know that message and you hold it dear, or you say, “I’m open to understanding that better”, because we stand for that: that Jesus Christ died for sins and he gave us life.

Living Out Our Faith in Community

And he asks us then to, with that life, fellowship together as an institution, as a local church, in Bible studies, in small groups, to hang out on ball teams and say, “You know what? Our team didn’t perform at maximum today, but we upheld the name of Jesus Christ in an honorable way.” Or when we won and we totally trounced those guys across town or wherever they are, sorry, I shouldn’t have made a reference to an institution across town, we did it with grace and we didn’t rub their face in it because we honor the Lord Jesus Christ.

That’s what we want Grace Christian University to stand for. So it’s the faith entrusted to our forefathers, entrusted, and I’m asking, would you take that faith and would you treasure it? Would you treasure the gospel for all the value that it has?

Treasuring the Faith Like Crown Jewels

I’ve been to England a number of times. One time we did go to the Tower of London and we walked in to see the crown jewels. This is the crown jewels. Queen Elizabeth could put this crown on when she wanted, or anybody after her, or King Charles. And it’s the crown jewels.

And the guarding around the crown jewels is incredible. You can’t touch it. No, you can’t say, “Can I try it on?” You can look at it and you look through this plexiglass, and no way you can fire anything that would penetrate, those firearms. It is safe and it is sound, and you walk in and those guys who are the, what do they call them? The Beefeaters with the big hats and stuff like that. They seem like they’re just for entertaining, but there is also incredibly tight security.

Why? Because they’ve been entrusted with something that stands for their nation. It is who they are.

Friends, we don’t have a physical representation. We have what Paul calls when he tells Timothy, “Guard the deposit which I’ve given you.” The deposit of the teaching of the Word of God, that Jesus Christ came and died for sinful men, of whom I’m the greatest, and brought salvation.

Friends, you have been given an incredibly valuable gift greater than the crown jewels of the Queen of England. You’ve been given the gospel, you’ve been given the faith.

The Call to Contend

But then he says in verse 3, “Beloved, I was always eager to write to you, but I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith.” That word contend from the original language actually is where we get our word to agonize, but greater than that, to agonize earnestly.

Now I recognize at Grace that we’ve got a lot of athletes, almost half of our student body are athletes, and I love it when I hear that. You had to get up early and exercise at 5:30 to do fitness. And I’m sure you were really thrilled with that too, weren’t you, at 6 o’clock?

But why do we do such a thing? Because we take seriously the athletic events or sports and the competition that we will have. And I know it’s hard to believe, but I was once an athlete. And when I was told to do my line drills, every time I ran that line drill I said, “I’m running harder than the guy who’s cashing in and saying, ‘I’m not doing it.'” And when I was training for marathons, and it was raining, it was yucky, I said, “I’m running today because somebody’s not running today.”

You see, it’s contending, it’s saying, “We’re going to get the advantage.” And Jude says to the followers of Jesus Christ who are young and they’re fledgling like a tree that needs to be supported, “Will you contend? Will you devote yourself? Will you agonize eagerly by working out daily, consistently stretching, building muscle for success and optimal performance because the gospel is that important?”

Building Spiritual Muscle at Grace

Now, everyday life in America doesn’t build you to contend for the gospel. Grace Christian University says, “There are drills and there are techniques in which you become stronger,” and it’s fellowshipping in chapel. It’s having small groups. It’s having small group time on your athletic team. It’s fellowshipping in the evening. It’s talking about the things of God. It’s filling our mind with things that can be used to be able to overcome the enemy and we can be strong.

And you know what? We don’t contend for the faith by sitting in the recliner or in the rocking chair, but we do it by exercising our muscles to be able to contend for the faith. In other words, some of you have come here and said, “You know, I’ve recently made an acknowledgement of Jesus Christ, but I really don’t have a strong faith,” or we say it this way, “I don’t have an apologetic that I could defend the faith with when talking to other people.”

You’re in the right place. This is an opportunity for you to build your muscles and to practice so that you can contend for the faith because there is a battlefield in the world for the hearts and minds of people, and the devil knows it very well. And so the Lord looks for those who are willing to contend for the faith.

Why We Must Contend: The Enemy’s Tactics

So we go back to our scripture. “Why should we contend for the faith? For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago”, in other words, these are people who are condemned because they are not in Christ, “have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men who change the grace of God into a license for immorality and they deny Jesus Christ as their only sovereign and Lord.”

It says they’ve secretly slipped in among you. You see, the tactics of the enemy is not to blatantly say, “Here’s something stupid to believe that’ll make your life miserable. Why don’t you follow me?” No, he doesn’t do that.

Satan’s greatest ploy is deceit, to bring us along to help us to think that we’re actually going in a right direction and find ourselves at a dead-end street. You see, Satan’s ploy is to secretly slip in and to do it, and he’s been doing it for generations and generations. He does it in the church, he does it in colleges, he does it everywhere in our life and with our friendships.

A Personal Story of Deception

I went to Africa in 1987 to begin my career as a missionary, lived there for the next 16 years. In the first two years after studying language, I found that I was living in a small village, very remote. I was the only missionary, I was the only European in that country, with all my friends of the different tribes that I was working with at the time. I was fluent in the language, I was getting continually more comfortable, and it took me almost a year of living in this small village to understand that my best friend in the village was my best friend for good reasons, for his advantage.

I didn’t know it. Before I came, he had been helping himself to the things that were now my living space and doing that. Now by being my friend, it made him available to be there as much as he wanted, and then pretty soon, without much time passing, he would help me with this, he’d help me with this, help me with this, and the next thing I know, he needed help with all kinds of things that I didn’t even have the money to help him with. In other words, there was an ulterior motive to coming close.

Now, that’s the norm of secretly slipping in, we don’t declare the intentions. And so you should never think as Christians, “Well, we’ll understand and we’ll recognize all the ploys of the devil.” No, we don’t.

Contending means we exercise and we work so hard to know the truth that we recognize when it comes.

The Cultural Shifts

Well, how did we get here? Let me just play a little game with you. How did we get here? Well, this has been going on for the last 100 years.

Ideological shifts, atheism, post-modernism, skepticism said, “You know, it’s really not as simple as you think. You can’t just believe what’s been written for generation after generation. I know even in America, Christian nation, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.” We believe in the science and post-modernism and skepticism, we have to question everything.

The Forces Shaping Our Generation

And then this is probably the most dramatic: technological shifts, which are most dramatic in our time, the dispensing of information without filters. It’s simply, “Let’s just get the information out. Nobody’s saying, ‘Is it true, is it not?’ Let’s just say it enough and enough” to the point where we’ve heard it, we’ve read it on the internet, so it must be true, right? It’s unfiltered and it’s personalized. I get it on my phone and it doesn’t have to go through any of yours, it doesn’t have to go through anybody’s regulations, it’s simply to me, ideas. We read about the ideas and the ideologies of the whole world anytime we want. We can be a student of it and it conflicts with some things that we’re taught, but it’s unfiltered.

The moral and sexual shifts are revolution. The brokenness of marriage in the last 60, 70 years. The thought that marriage and the reality that sex is reserved for marriage, “Oh, that’s really, that’s such a hindrance to my human freedoms.” Yeah, yeah, that’s been popular since the ’60s. It’s nothing new right now, right? And then it went further than that to say, “And besides that, why are we so down on people that are divorced? Why are we so strongly opposed to them? Why do we think that people who have same-sex attractions are not normal?” So we’ve normalized and legalized all of those things.

The Obergefell decision six years ago, the Obergefell decision to allow gay marriage was purported as, “This is so that people can just do what they want to do and leave them alone.” Friends, if you believe that, you are terribly misguided. The first step in an all-out offensive against heterosexual marriage is what that step was. And it continues to be fought out in the courts in America today. And there’s plenty of proof to show that. We are in a crazy battle for the sexual revolution.

Living in a Culture of Shifting Values

Racial and social justice shifts, whether it be Trayvon Martin or Floyd or critical race theory, I just put it up there as it’s the critical theory in general. A Marxist theory that says it’s only about, not your individual responsibility. You’re never responsible individually. It’s about your relationship and your social group. Were you oppressed or were you the oppressor? And all of that is how you should make amends with the world around us. So it’s a continual shift and it’s mind-spinning that we can’t keep up with it.

Then we have the political polarization. I just read an excellent book from a speaker I heard this summer, and he talked about a culture of contempt. So you know what’s happened in the last 10 years? We don’t have any political dialogue. All we have is contempt for the other side. You want to answer that question in a debate? “Well, I’m going to answer that question by saying this man is the worst president we’ve ever had in the history of our nation.” What does that have to do with the question? It’s like, let’s just make the other side contemptible, and then we don’t have to get along with anything. We have more polarization in America than we’ve ever had before.

We redefine all the terms and we simply lead to this point where we’re just contemptible of anybody who’s not like us. Where is that in scripture? Nowhere. But that’s the political process.

The Redefinition of Terms

And in fact, we redefine terms. Nationalism. Didn’t nationalism used to be a great thing? “I’m patriotic, I’m national, I love my country.” And I hope that people all around the world will, and everybody I’ve visited with loves their country. But now nationalism is pretty negative. “Oh, you’re kind of a nationalist. Oh, you’ve gotten off track. You see, you think your country’s better than the gospel.” We redefine the terms.

How about feminism? I would say I’m for feminism. I’m for women participating in sports and having every right to do what they do. But feminism now is against toxic masculinity. That’s the definition if you say you’re a feminist today. In other words, you have to be apologetic that you’re a male because for some reason by being a male, you have made women uncomfortable. No, God made you male. And God made you female. And we celebrate that because we go back to our anthropology, right?

So how’d we get here? This redefinition. How about the lockdowns of 2020? I don’t even know if I can answer that question.

De-churching and deconstruction. There you go. De-churching and deconstruction. “We don’t need the church anymore. We don’t need to go to church. We are the church. In fact, I am the church.” Deconstruction says, “Let me just take everything” and say the deconstruction movement started with, there’s a positive deconstruction. It’s examining “Are you true? Are you having honest doubts?” And now it’s gone to if you identify with deconstruction, you actually should never use the Bible. That would constrain you. You should never think of doing it biblically. You need to deny those things. You need to deconstruct to the point where you are the final authority.

Well, that’s something new, isn’t it? It’s been going on forever. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden heard this. “Did God really say? Would God really want you to not know what he knows?”

They’re the same questions deconstructionists ask today. “Wait a minute. Is it really exclusive? Is it really something that is only for you?”

Recognizing the Enemy’s Aim

See, these are godless men. Their aim is not for you to end up in a good place. Their aim is simply to have you be like them and not be convicted by them because you stand for something.

They change the grace of God into a license for immorality. That’s a powerful one. Let’s think about this for a second.

Our students come to Grace in America today, or in whatever country you came from, with incredible background of their life before they came here. I’m always amazed when I hear the testimonies of our students of the hard life to grow up in America today, the brokenness in families, the brokenness in relationships, the sexual promiscuity, the life of challenges whether it be drugs or cutting or whatever might be the latest thing that’s imposed upon our young people in America as part of the culture.

And God is gracious because he says, “I forgive you for that. I will give you a second chance tomorrow and I’ll forgive you the next day.” And the insidious part of God’s grace is that people take it and they turn it into a license for immorality.

You say, “Well, God is love, right? God is love. So therefore, it doesn’t matter who I love and how I love.” Well, have you read the scriptures? Love never endorses evil, 1 Corinthians chapter 13. Love always upholds truth. God knows, he created us, what love should look like, and he loved us first so that we could respond to him in love, and he gave us opportunity to love friends and family and do it in such a way that honors him.

And yet he is gracious. He is gracious to you. And Satan would have us, rather than contend for the faith, deny God and do what we want. 

The Call to Yield, Not Decide

Oswald Chambers says, “Jesus never asks us to decide for him. He asks us to yield to him.” You see, because it always comes down to, “This is what I want. Let me interpret the Bible what I think is right and what I need.” And God would not tell you to do that. But Jesus said this, “If anyone wants to follow me, let him what? Deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.”

That’s what following Jesus looks like. It’s not, “What do I need and how can I make my spiritual walk and the scriptures conform to what I want.” But that’s what our society is doing and continuing to do and will continue to do. And that’s why I say, friends, contend for the faith. Find the truth and hold to it strongly and deny those who would convince you otherwise.

They Deny Christ as Lord

And then the last point he has in there, he says, “They change the grace of God into a license for morality and they deny Christ.” Listen to that. “They deny Christ as our only sovereign and Lord” and this is rampant in our society.

“What’s wrong with you Christians? You’re so exclusionary. You’re so committed and critical of the rest of us because you think you have one way and that’s the only way.”

No, we don’t say that. Jesus Christ says that. “I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but by me.” “There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” and therefore I want you to know the way since I know the way, this is the way, the truth and the life and I want you to celebrate that with me. I’m not exclusionary.

Contending Without Being Contentious

And here’s the other part. When we say contend with the gospel, we’re not saying let’s be contentious. You see, we have the truth and let’s display it in our lives and with graciousness tell all people that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

See, the church is Christ’s people. It’s always just one generation away from extinction. We pass on and you are the generation that carries the truth of the gospel and you have to be careful to instruct and pass on the truth of what makes us brothers and sisters in Christ because the reality is, I love this when we had our chapel theme on koinonia, on fellowship and we made a definition that says it’s that which brings us together around the centrality of Jesus Christ that we call each other brothers and sisters when you and I would never sit in the same table together if not for that.

That’s the power of the gospel, right? No matter where you come from, no matter what you’re like, whether you like the Yankees,  or you like the Tigers, you can sit at the same table and enjoy a meal, right?

God is good and gracious and we’re not contentious. We are not to be contentious because here’s the reality, we’re not fighting with each other. We’re fighting falsehood. We’re standing for the truth. We’re believing that as the devil works to distract people on the battlefield from minds and hearts, we are the prize and every person living in this planet is the prize because the word of God will stand forever and people will stand forever and the devil knows that and therefore he wants to distract them so they won’t spend eternity with heaven and with Christ in heaven and we say no, we are Christ’s ambassador to wit that God was in us, giving us the gospel of reconciliation where we are able to proclaim this is the way to follow Christ and to live forever with him and it is the only joyful way that you can spend eternity and I would love for you to share that with me.

Recognizing False Teaching

Charles Spurgeon said “The new views are not the old truth in a better dress but they’re deadly errors with which we can have no fellowship.” We need to recognize them. We need to understand that. We understand the push for relevancy can be a dangerous push.

False teaching is a Trojan horse. The Trojan horse comes in, it comes in to destroy, the idea is to permeate behind the enemy lines so that when you get past the enemy lines, you can do destruction and no one knows about it. You see, it’s from the inside out.

There’s no doubt that it’s on our campus that you’re gonna be exposed to people who are wrestling with crazy ideas and you’re going to say, “Let’s compare this with scripture” and you’re going to struggle because you’re gonna be able to do an internet search and find somebody believes this and they’re teaching at some institution. Great, can you build your ability to contend for truth?

How Can We Contend for Truth?

So how can we contend for truth? Let me finish with this and I promise I’m finishing.

Number one, let’s know the faith. Friends, if you know the faith, you cannot be diverted but if you don’t know the faith, you’re susceptible. Study the truth of scripture so you recognize heresy and you name it as such and you say, “No, that is not what the scripture says.”

Number two, how do you contend for the faith? Pray for clarity and understanding. We ask for spiritual discernment. These are spiritual concepts. We ask that God do us. We pray for the confused. Remember that other people who think differently, they’re not the enemy. They’re the people that Satan is holding and that God wants to win. He died for them too, right? And so we wanna see them with graciousness and compassion come to a knowledge of the truth.

How about number three? Share the faith, the truth of the gospel in Christ. In other words, let’s be courageous ambassadors for Christ. Let’s recognize that if we don’t share, how will people hear the gospel? That can be shared whether it be in whatever form you do, your life is example for it, that’s number four.

Live out the faith in every sphere of life. The faith is not for chapel. The faith is not for church. The faith is for you to contend for when you connect with people, when you play athletics, when you do your studies, when you’re with your family, when you do your work. That’s how you live out the faith. Then the faith becomes powerful.

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It has just been an amazing experience thus far. I’m originally from Baltimore, Maryland, but I currently reside here in Georgia, thanks to the military. My husband is active duty Army, go Army!

Choosing Education While Serving

So we do travel, of course, and that was definitely one of the main things when it came to education and how we chose to go about me being able to complete my educational goals.

The funny part about me finding Grace was I actually applied for Grace a couple years ago, not even a couple. It’s been more than five, like back in 2013 or so.

And to be honest, I don’t even remember applying. Let’s just say I guess life was life-ing at that time. That I ended up not starting.

Instead of starting with Grace, I did end up going back to my original college where I started my associate’s and unfortunately did not complete during the time when I should have, but I ended up completing.

Picking Up the Journey Again

At the end of my associate’s, I said, I don’t want to stop. If I do stop again, if I take another break, I’m not going to start back up.

So I started my journey again for the school to go ahead and transition into my bachelor’s degree. And that was Grace again, and I just felt led and drawn back to the school.

So that’s what I did. I applied, and my admissions counselor at that time, was like, hey, you know, you’re already registered.

You were accepted a while ago, but we’ll go ahead and get everything updated and you are accepted again.

And I was just, Lord, I don’t remember applying before, but thank you, Lord, for giving me a second opportunity to start again.

Balancing Motherhood, Marriage, and College

Now, my whole thing was timing. I am 34 years old, going on 35, with three children, one on the way, and a husband, of course.

And my whole thing was just being able to not only find the time to study but also not taking too long to complete my educational goals.

Grace has several programs for one to get there. There’s the 4+1 program, but one that I was able to be accepted in after a few amazing conversations was the dual enrollment program.

So I have been taking dual classes every term. 

Graduating in May 2025

I started this journey in fall of 2023, and I prayerfully graduated with my bachelor’s in Psychology this May 2025.

I’m just so grateful and so in awe of what God has been doing. Coming from a college dropout, this is something just amazing to me and mind-blowing.

But also just a great experience for my children to see me go through, to see me fall on my face once or twice.

Then to see how God can ultimately use those failures, use those times where you don’t feel enough, you don’t feel worthy enough, to bring you back to Him.

A University That Grows the Spirit and Mind

Grace has just been that school that has kept me intertwined with my faith, and also with my educational goals. So it’s been amazing. 

Grace has impacted my life in so many ways, because for one, I understand that there are many schools out there, but what school are you going to meet with your admissions counselor or your graduate counselor and they open up a discussion with prayer, close it with prayer. They’ll give you encouragement in Scripture, or share their own testimonies with you? 

It has just been different. And if I knew it was going to be this amazing back in 2013, I would have just pursued it and continued.

But I’m thankful that God did give me that time in between to go ahead and mature and to grow and to ultimately find myself back to Him prior to me completing this program.

Why Psychology?

As far as how I landed on Psychology, I changed my major so much throughout school.

I’m the type that if I put my mind to it, if I really wanted to do it, I can do it.

So I never really had a focus, so to speak. If I wanted to learn how to lay bricks, I would go to a school that taught me how to lay bricks.

If I wanted to go ahead and just be a mechanic, I would be a mechanic. 

But God brought me to a place where I couldn’t just continue to run from here and there. He only gave me one place to run to, and that was to Him.

He gave me this clear and compelling call and just told me, “Hey, you know exactly what you’re supposed to do. You know what I called you to.”  What I called you to do is help my people.

Bridging Mental Health and Faith

One thing, especially in African American communities and the Christian community as a whole, is we sometimes like to neglect mental health.

Finding that balance for myself between mental health and my biblical faith was tough at one point. And it’s just like, okay, maybe let me go ahead and learn a little bit.

So my associate’s degree was in human services, and I don’t know, it’s just like a spark went off as I was going through those courses.

I’m  like, okay, Lord, this is what You want for me. You want me to come to Your people. You want me to be there, to be an ear, to be a helping hand.

Whether it’s mental health or in any capacity, You called me to be Your hands and feet on earth.

Serving as a Missionary

As a foreign missionary as well, it has just been amazing being able to see different cultures, see different mindsets, the way that people treat different things, and just knowing that I can use my skills now on a broader scale.

So after the completion of my bachelor’s degree, I will be going directly into the master’s program in Organizational Leadership.

To be able to utilize the skills and what I learned during this time on the missions field, both far away and at home.

Grace Walked With Me

I’m still, once again, in awe. I don’t even know how many times I can say that, but this journey has been amazing and Grace has made it effortless. 

Whenever I needed someone, whenever I needed guidance, whenever I needed additional assistance or explanations, someone was always there.

And I think that is a great thing about Grace as a whole.

Preparing for Full-Time Missions

Now, as far as an impactful story of what changed my life, as I stated, I am a missionary. My husband and I together.

I we met and married him on the missions field and he joined me here in the States in 2019.

That laid it on our hearts to one day become full-time missionaries. As he pursues his own degree in Divinity, I am choosing to continue to stick it out with Grace.

In order for my education to be received and used on the missions field, when we do end up there, wherever God leads us, I just know that the insights, the growth, the resources that Grace has provided throughout these last few years will be an amazing tool.

As I’ve already started using it even within our ministries here at home.

A Word of Encouragement

If you are an incoming student, if you are stuck within your decision, if you are a current student, what I do recommend is that you continue to seek God.

There are several great schools out here, but allow the Lord to lead you to where it is that He wants you to gain your momentum for the calling he has placed in your life. 

It is ultimately up to Him. He will lead you, He will guide you, and He will bring you through.

I am a testimony of that, because it was not me, but the strength that He gave me to get this far and to keep pressing forward.

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Start with a Plan

The first thing I always do? I plan it all out. I list my exams, what they’ll cover, and how many days I have to study. Then, I break it down into bite-sized sessions. Don’t try to cram everything into one night, it never works.

One method I’ve had success with is the Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes of studying, then a 5-minute break. After four cycles, I take a longer break. It sounds simple, but it helps me stay focused and avoid burnout. It also creates a rhythm. Experts say it reduces mental fatigue and helps your brain store what you’ve learned. When I first tried it, I was amazed at how much more productive I felt—no more zoning out after an hour of cramming.

Mapping out your study sessions also makes big exams feel less intimidating. You don’t need to study for 10 hours straight. You need consistent, focused time over a few days. Trust the plan.

Study Actively, Not Passively

I used to just reread my notes and highlight things. But let me tell you, it didn’t stick. The game-changer for me was active recall. That means closing your notes and trying to remember what you know first, then checking what you missed.

It feels harder at first, but that’s the point. Struggling to recall information strengthens your memory. It’s like lifting weights for your brain. One of my academic success coaches even joked that rereading notes is as helpful as getting a manicure before an exam. It might feel good, but it doesn’t prepare you. 

So now, I quiz myself. I use flashcards, practice tests, or just write everything I know about a topic. It helps me find the gaps and fix them. It’s uncomfortable, but it works. 

Trade Brains with the Teacher

This one’s kind of fun. Pretend you’re the professor writing the exam. What would you ask? What topics came up again and again in class? What were the big themes in the readings?

I scan my syllabus for essential questions. If a section says, “How does communication shape cultural identity?” I know that’s a huge clue. I try to answer those questions like an essay prompt. It forces me to think deeper.

I even make mock quizzes or lists of potential essay questions and test myself. This strategy helps you connect the dots and prep for higher-level thinking. You’re not just memorizing facts, you’re understanding how ideas connect.

Join a Study Group

I used to think study groups were a waste of time, just friends chatting in the library. But when done right, they’re one of the best tools you can use.

Now, I meet with a group of classmates the week before finals. We each come with questions or topics we struggled with, and we take turns explaining things. It’s surprising how much explaining something out loud helps you understand it better.

It also helps me stay accountable. When you know others are counting on you to show up and contribute, you’re more likely to prepare. It’s also great for talking through tough material and hearing different perspectives.

Create Your Own Study Sheet

This is one of my favorite tips. Even if your exam is closed-note, making a study sheet forces you to summarize what matters most.

I limit myself to one page, sometimes front and back. I include formulas, key terms, concepts, and example problems. It’s like making my own mini-textbook.

There’s research showing that students who use a study sheet feel more confident and make fewer mistakes. You process the material differently when you condense it into your own words. Plus, if your professor allows it, it’s a huge boost to walk in with something you created yourself.

Pick the Right Study Spot

Where you study matters. I’ve tried studying in bed, on the floor, in the dining hall, and honestly, most of those didn’t work for me. 

Now, I pick a spot where I feel alert and focused. For me, that’s a quiet corner in the library or a café with low music. I keep my phone in airplane mode and bring only what I need.

Some universities even make guides to campus study spots, with notes on whether they’re good for groups, solo work, or have food nearby. If your school has one, check it out. Don’t settle for a loud, distracting spot. Your environment affects how much you retain.

Sleep Like It’s a Class

I know it’s tempting to stay up late. I used to think sleeping less meant I had more time to study. But it backfired every time. I’d feel groggy, stressed, and forget stuff I thought I knew.

Now, I treat sleep like it’s an essential part of my prep. I aim for 7–8 hours, especially the night before an exam. Sleep helps your brain store everything you studied during the day.

Experts say poor sleep messes with your focus and memory. And let’s be real, your brain needs rest to work at full power. Don’t cheat yourself by skipping it.

Focus on Understanding, Not Memorizing

It took me a while to realize finals aren’t just about facts. They’re about understanding. So instead of cramming flashcards, I focus on grasping the “why” and “how” of things.

For example, in one of my Bible classes at Grace, instead of just memorizing chapter summaries, I created visual outlines of key themes and scripture connections. I used something called dual coding, combining visuals with text, and it helped a ton.

Another trick is elaborative interrogation: ask “Why is this true?” or “Why does this matter?” When you can answer that, you’re not just memorizing, you’re learning.

Take Care of Your Body

Finals week feels like survival mode, but I promise your body matters just as much as your brain. I bring healthy snacks with me, nuts, fruit, even dark chocolate. I drink water constantly.

I also take movement breaks. Stretching, walking around the library, or even doing a few jumping jacks wakes up my brain.

Experts say your physical health is tied to your academic performance. It’s true. When I eat well and move, I think clearer. Don’t neglect your body, you need it to show up and perform.

Practice with Purpose

The last tip? Practice like it’s the real thing. If my exam is multiple-choice, I make quizzes. If it’s essays, I write outlines or full answers.

One of my favorite things is doing a brain dump. I grab a sheet of paper, write everything I know about a topic, and then check my notes. It’s hard, but it shows me exactly what I know and what I don’t.

Experts say this kind of retrieval practice strengthens your memory and helps you perform under pressure. It makes studying less about guessing and more about preparing.

You’ve Got This

Look, I know finals are tough. But you’re tougher. You’ve learned so much already. Trust your preparation, stick to your plan, and take care of yourself.

Soon this will all be over, and you’ll walk away proud of how you showed up. Let’s finish strong, together. 

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Here is a detailed account of our fun journey!

DAY 1: The Museum of the Bible

Our first stop was the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. This is where we got to tie in a lot of what we learned in the classroom to what we were seeing. At the museum, we were able to walk through exhibits that highlighted the evolution of the Bible from ancient manuscripts to the modern Bibles we have today. We also explored interactive and immersive activities as a class! In addition, the museum showcased the various ways that the Bible and Christianity have influenced our culture and art.

DAY 2: Exploring the City

On this day, we got to explore D.C.’s different landmarks and museums. First, we toured the Capitol and the Library of Congress! It was amazing to see the complicated architecture and artwork that man had made! Seeing it in pictures doesn’t do it justice – it reminded me that God is so purposeful and creative with creation. We then got into groups and explored different museums and landmarks together, which was a fun bonding experience for everyone on the trip!

DAY 3: Sight & Sound Theater

On the third day of our trip, we went to the Sight & Sound Theater to watch a live musical theater production of Daniel from the Bible. There was so much intention and care poured into every character, and it was great getting to see the Bible portrayed in such a creative way! I really liked how they tied Jesus into the story and re-centered it back to him. Watching Jesus stand over the lion’s den was my favorite part of the entire play!

DAY 4: Princeton Theological Seminary

On the last day, we had the chance to visit Princeton’s Theological Seminary and see their special collections of the Bible. It was such a great way to tie up the entire trip because we got to connect what we learned in class and at the Bible Museum to what we were seeing and holding. We had the opportunity to be close to such cool artifacts and see the evolution of the Bible in front of us.

Grateful for a Unique Opportunity

Going on our class trip was truly a great and fruitful learning experience. It not only expanded my knowledge of what was discussed in class but also gave me an opportunity to learn new things about the Bible and its role in our lives as Christians. Trips like these encourage students to learn more about each other, partake in good discussions related to the Bible and Christianity, and expand their perspectives, encouraging them to think more critically. Overall, I’m so thankful for this experience. We are so privileged to be able to travel and experience the Bible in this way. I highly encourage any student at Grace to take advantage of the resources we have to travel and learn outside of the normal classroom setting!

Author – Rachel Tunon

 Leadership and Ministry, Senior, Grace Christian University.

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