One Month In
It has been exactly one month since we all met. That seems crazy to say, considering how much closer we have grown together and how we continue to learn and discover more about each other every time we are together. We have now had four classes, four roundtables, and two retreats that have fostered much growth and knowledge. During class, we have been working through a few books prayerfully assigned to us throughout the year. We have read Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller and Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero, and we are currently going through God’s Big Picture by Vaughn Roberts and The Gospel Comes With a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield.
During our roundtables, we have the chance to share a meal, catch up with fellows we don’t see much during the week, worship together, and, most importantly, hear the story and testimony of one of the fellows. It has been one of the most unifying experiences to listen to each person’s origins, struggles, triumphs, and, most importantly, how they have come to know Jesus and how the Lord has moved in their lives. Emily, Stephen, Brooks, and I have been the ones to share this past month. While it can be difficult and sometimes emotional to be vulnerable, this openness has allowed us to be unified in Christ and truly understand who each of us is.
In the last few classes, we have had the opportunity to learn from many teachers and speakers who have taken time out of their day to pour into us and lead us closer to Christ through their knowledge. While going through God’s Big Picture in class, we had the chance to learn from Eric and Scottie about how to read the Bible through the lens of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. We also discussed finding God and glorifying Him in our work, emphasizing that everything we do, no matter how mundane, has a purpose for the Lord. We are also exploring how to engage in radical ordinary hospitality while reading The Gospel Comes With a House Key. This class is particularly compelling because we discuss how we can reflect the way Jesus welcomed us. Just as Christ welcomed us, we need to welcome one another.
Lastly, we went on our first retreat since the opening retreat, called Group Dynamics. On Friday night, we went bowling and had a great time bonding. On Saturday, we had a packed day filled with information on everything from handling conflict to the Enneagram. We spent a few hours discovering each other’s natural approaches to conflict and learning how to communicate maturely in any situation. In the second half of the day, we learned about each Enneagram type after taking the test earlier in the week. This allowed us to not only understand our types but also to learn about everyone else’s. This knowledge ties into the first half, as we now have the tools to communicate with each person, keeping their Enneagram type in mind.
All this to say, these past weeks have been both exhausting and incredibly rewarding, filled with opportunities for growth and connection that truly glorify God.
Joe Mina, Class 12
Hometown: Franklin, TN
Graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
