The 2011 academic year is quickly coming to a close - along with EuNC's residential program - and many of us are exploring what God has in store for our future. With the recent departure of our American exchange students, the approaching end has become more real. However, I am very pleased to report that, despite the trying and difficult days endured since the announcement was made regarding the closure of EuNC's campus, the general atmosphere has been very positive. Students, faculty, staff, volunteers ... none of us know exactly what the future holds, as it brings change for every single one of us. Yet, as two of our students (Johanna Radziszewski and Cezarina Cufaj) reminded us in recent chapel messages, we trust in a good and loving God who promises to be with us wherever we go (Josh. 1:7-9).Gina and I are also thankful for your continued prayer support as we move into a period of transition. My work for EuNC will be completed by Christmastime, and Gina will continue her work for the Eurasia region until our volunteer contract expires in January 2012. She will, of course, continue her work with "Engage" magazine as it does not limit her to a single physical location (see below for news on an upcoming series). We will remain in our campus apartment until that time, at which point we do not yet know where our next step will take us. However, as possibilities and opportunities seem to be multiplying, we are confident that wherever we go from here will be God's best for us at that time.
There are two main options we are currently considering. We can either both focus on our careers immediately by pursuing full-time employment, or we could work toward completing my education at the doctoral level (it would be a history degree, rather than theology). Every other option presented to or interesting to us depends on that basic decision: career or education. It is not a decision to be made lightly, and we are both thinking, praying, communicating and exploring the possibilities in both directions. This is certainly a major area of concern for us, and we ask for your prayer support in this area along with your prayers for EuNC and the region as a whole.
Still, we've got about six months ahead of us, and we plan to work hard and enjoy it! I am helping a pair of students complete the Nazarene History & Polity class I taught online in January. Next week, I begin teaching an online course called Intro to College Studies, which is designed to help familiarize new first-year students with their academic program at EuNC. My main project over the next six months will be to complete the development of online classes for Church History I and II. Each church history class will have two separate approaches: one for 3 credits and one for 5 credits. Neither will be offered anytime soon, and so I am able to work on that project free of any looming deadlines. This morning, Klaus Arnold, EuNC's rector, mentioned his desire for an online version of Holiness & Identity (which teaches students about our Wesleyan theological heritage), so there is a possibility I will be developing this one as well.
In addition to publishing stories and news from the Eurasia region, Gina is working with several writers and a committee of scholars to develop a 9-month article series on mission for Engage magazine. Expected to launch this summer, part of this series will be devoted to clarifying concepts such as "missional," missionary," and "mission vs. missions." Keep an eye out for it at www.engagemazine.com!
You are vital participants in this work through your prayer, your notes of encouragement, and your financial giving. We are grateful to God for you, and your continued support as we move into the final phase of our amazing two-year experience serving God through the Church of the Nazarene in Europe.
