Harbor Covenant Church, Gig Harbor WA

Reflections from a recent Christos Institute graduate, Tim Koop. (Excerpts from the speech he delivered at the graduation service and used with permission).

So…here we are. Two years later and a little older and hopefully somewhat wiser. When we (my wife Mabel and I) applied for admission to Christos, I would have told you that I expected to be challenged both intellectually and spiritually. I didn’t quite expect that Christos would be instrumental in reaching into my heart and soul in quite the way that it has. I must tell you that I haven’t done very well at studying since graduating from university. Most classes that I’ve started since then have been wonderful, challenging, and stimulating…that is until the first assignment was due. I’ve quit almost as many courses as I’ve started.

I won’t say that the Christos assignments weren’t difficult – they were. There was nothing trivial about the reading assignments and the material we were given was equally challenging… And yet, the Christos assignments were different, in that they asked for a personal perspective and reflection on the material covered in the reading and lectures. In doing these papers, I was challenged to actually write down my thoughts (I’m not a journaling type of person). Most times, my thoughts tend to be a jumbled mass of incoherent, half-baked, underdeveloped bits and pieces…certainly not the type of thing that you can put down on paper and expect anyone to be able to understand. So first, I needed to unravel and develop my thoughts so that they could be expressed in language…somehow, the need to translate thoughts into a coherent English sentence forces you to actually finish a thought, instead of leaving it hanging unresolved. These assignments were hard work… My reflections surprised me at times, as I found the freedom to be honest about my doubts questions, and even some of my confusion…and see what paths and conclusions they led me to. In some cases they led to more questions, requiring even more thinking, research, and contemplation of the subject matter.

I felt the Christos program encouraging me to think outside the box of my won presuppositions and simplistic narrow views – while inviting God’s Spirit to walk with me as I ventured into unchartered intellectual and spiritual territory of consideration and discovery (unchartered for me). And as dangerous as such thinking may sound, I have found that my faith and relationship with God were strengthened through these exercises.

I found another benefit in following through on Christos material, as I felt God speaking and leading in a clearer way as we worked through the various subjects. You see, since 2003, Mabel and I had begun to spend much of our vacation time working with an organization that serves orphans in some of the poorest and most needy regions of Africa. And as God turned our part-time curiosity-driven mission trips, into a passion for the work…we considered whether he might be leading us to full-time service.

Several of my courses were helpful in guiding me (and us) through a decision and commitment process to this ministry, and so our last months in Christos became about preparing ourselves for full-time service in Africa…we have another assignment – this one will be in Tanzania. (Note: Tim and Mabel departed on October 22, and are busy getting settled in Moshi, Tanzania.)

Graduation from Christos is an exciting milestone in our lives, but not a culmination of study, so much as a stepping stone in our journey of life-long learning and searching for the truth of who God is, and who we are in relationship with him.

I am so grateful, and I know that I speak for Mabel as well, for this Christos program – you are a gift from God! I’m grateful for all your efforts, for the lecturers you have chosen, for the materials, and yes, for your insistence that we finish our assignments and hand them in! May God continue to bless this work mightily.

~ ~ ~

Harbor Covenant Church

5601 Gustafson Drive NW

Gig Harbor Washington 98335

253 851 8858

info@harborcovenant.org