Dear Theophilus Archive: Sept. 2000

Alumni Column: Hello from Cleveland....Ohio!

Hello to everyone from Cleveland, Ohio! For those of you who do not know me, I am Dan Park, an alumnus of Emmanuel Church. I graduated from Haverford College in 1999 and am now in my second year of graduate school at Case Western University. The past two years have been filled with many challenges, but they have also been years of great growth. I recall my first few months in Cleveland were very difficult, adjusting to a new environment, a new church, and new people. I missed the times I had had with fellow brothers and sisters at Emmanuel; I felt they had left a great void in my heart. And although I had expected a difficult transition, it was still unnerving to never feel quite at ease. I wondered what the purpose of all this was.

The most difficult part of my transition was the lack of structure in my walk with the Lord. During my undergraduate years, there were always things to keep me up. We had prayer meetings and Friday nights and Bible studies. These scheduled times had really sustained me. Now, however, I had to sustain my relationship with God without relying on any outside structures. This became an increasingly hard task, and there were many dry spells along the way. In fact I am probably feeling the real repercussions of those difficult times now. But one day someone said something that really struck me: "The Christian life for me has become less about doing the things I need to do, and more about just enjoying Him and enjoying life in Him." I am not sure if I quite understand how to just enjoy Him, but I see progress along the way.

Earlier this year I experienced a real struggle in deciding whether I should continue to teach Sunday school at my church in Cleveland. I really felt that I had short-changed my students and that I also needed to concentrate on my studies. Yet I felt unsettled. Then God, as He has done so many times before, opened my eyes, literally. He woke me up at 7:30 on Saturday morning to talk. He reminded me of times I have had, and the joy I experience from teaching. But more than that, He gave me reassurance that He would sustain me. It has been exciting for me, because I feel that my passion for the children and for teaching have been renewed and growing stronger.

Right before I left, I recall reading Micah. Micah 4:5 really struck me: "All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever." This has become my theme verse of sorts. Especially in the academic environment that I was placed in, I knew it would be very important to maintain this attitude. My faculty mentor told me, "You have to commit to Christ now, because you won't do it later." This is so true, for I know that the little decisions I make now will affect who I am later. It is my continuing prayer that I keep Him as the center of all that I do. I pray that all of us together are able to make that decision now, in the little things.

Someone asked me what I miss the most. Some may think it is the people or the church or the great sermons, or maybe even b-ball. Nah, it is the bowl noodles during fellowship time. Hmmm, well maybe not. I would be lying if I said that I do not miss everyone in Philly. I still think and pray for you all. Please continue to pray that God sustains me, and especially pray for my fellowship which is going through some transitions. Thanx, and if you are ever in Clev...eh, never mind.

May God bless you and sustain you!
To Him Be All Glory!