Obviously the Lord knew what He was doing when He created us limited to being in one place at a time. Some of us would no doubt add to our stress by being in multiple places at once. The limitation, however, does not stop us from wishing.
It happened to me a few weeks ago. I was sitting in a meeting during which we were making some significant decisions, when Ron Carlson (Kansas-Nebraska Conference president) caught my attention with a photograph of the Union College student body, faculty, staff and friends—some 840 strong—taken that morning before they launched into the 33rd annual Project Impact day. For the first time in five years I was missing out on participating in that event. I just couldn’t be in two places at once.
Over my years of working with Project Impact I have been privileged to clean and sort library books for the Lincoln Public Library system, install roofing and siding on Habitat for Humanity houses, put up fencing and playground equipment for a single-moms halfway house, and tutor second graders in math and reading. All of it alongside our wonderful Union College students.
And it’s not just once participating in community service one day a year. According to national surveys, Union students are far more engaged in campus activities than the vast majority of other college students. Whether in or out of the classroom, Union students are creating strong friendships, building resumes through internships, conducting original research and learning through hands-on student employment.
They are also meeting with faculty spiritual mentors, exploring new ways to worship, and praying regularly with classmates. Every week students lead out in 10 small group Sabbath schools scattered across campus. And during the week over 30 students work in Campus Ministries, coordinating spiritual activities with every department on campus and organizing volunteer community service.
I have long been asking the question “If my church burned down would the community even notice once the fire was out?” Well, I can assure you that if Union College would somehow cease to exist, not only would the Lincoln community miss it, our entire Mid-America Union and beyond would be negatively affected in an incredible way.
The impact that Union’s graduates have on the Adventist Church continues to amaze me—all across the spectrum. I run into alums in business, medicine, healthcare, education, church leadership, ranching, overseas missions and more. And the ones I encounter are nearly all still deeply committed to the Lord, His message and His church.
The campus itself has undergone a major transformation over the last two years with a couple of substantial construction projects. The new math and science complex and the newly renovated space for the Physician Assistant program and International Rescue and Relief program are an investment in the long range future of our school, its coming generation of students and the mission it promulgates. If you haven’t been on the campus for a while, we invite you to come home again soon and tour these beautiful new facilities.
Of all my responsibilities, working with the leadership of our college is one of my most fulfilling roles. Dr. Wagner and his administrative team are completely dedicated to fulfilling the mission of Adventist education at Union. I would urge you with every fiber I have to lift up Union College in prayer on a daily basis. We need the Lord’s presence by His Spirit on our campus to sustain us— not only to do the right things, but to do them in the right way.
Union College is your school, my school, but above all His school.
Photo Caption: Students from Union College’s International Rescue and Relief Program have helped in the aftermath of disasters across the nation and close to home.
Photo Credit: Union College
