Winter 2014 | www.bethel.edu
BETHEL PARENT A newsletter for parents of Bethel University students
and men who are marked by a gratefulness of heart, authenticity of relationships, and a love of discipline required for a lifetime of service to Jesus Christ and His kingdom.
Li’l Sibs Weekend This longtime tradition is back! Younger siblings (ages 10-18) of current Bethel students are invited to join their big sister or brother at Bethel the weekend of March 1-2, 2014. Tentative plans include activities on Saturday night and Sunday morning/afternoon, with siblings staying overnight on Saturday. Visit bsa.bethel.edu for updates and details. n
Q&A with Bob Bjorklund Athletic Director
Tell us about your role at Bethel. As Director of Athletics, I oversee the operation of Bethel’s 18 varsity sports. This includes daily interaction with the coaches and athletic trainers as they seek to maximize the impact of their passion and expertise with the experience of the student athletes. It is my responsibility to commit to a team building process Bob Bjorklund that energizes students for excellence in education. Some of the major components of my job are paying careful attention to the well-being of student athletes, pursuing competitive success, budget management, maintaining an effective working relationship with departments throughout campus, and fostering a vital connection with colleagues in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). What makes the athletics program at Bethel distinctive from similar universities? The coaches and student athletes produce a culture within the Bethel athletic department that is phenomenal. It is a situation where students are coached, mentored, and discipled to live out what it means to love the Lord, love each other, and love their sport. It creates an atmosphere of selflessness that is dynamic and fruitful. There is nothing soft, mushy, or ethereal in this standard. When we are fruitful we will leave a lasting mark. The evidence of fruitfulness is in the results. How is success measured in Bethel’s athletics programs? “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Our efforts as an athletic department need to contribute to the development of young women
What would you like parents to know about Bethel’s approach to coaching/leadership/relationship & skills building? To interacting with student athletes? We have a burning passion to pursue competitive excellence while at the same time knowing winning isn’t our primary goal. Our dance with the ...students are King is treasured and we want coached, mentored, our walk with Him to be our joy. and discipled to live It is important to not treat as orout what it means to dinary what has been consecratlove the Lord, love ed to us. Committing to a team each other, and love building process that reinforces their sport. It creates the core values of Bethel, as the an atmosphere of challenges and opportunities selflessness that is inherent in sports training and competition unfold, is essential. dynamic and fruitful. We seek to apply well organized and high energy efforts to build a vibrant culture within and among our sport teams. Part of that process requires embracing what is authentic and blowing up what is phony. The value of a Bethel education should not be underestimated. Teenage boys and girls grow into young men and women while in college. At Bethel, they grow with other guys and gals who love the Lord and that impact will effect change that will last the rest of their lives. I believe that the combination of valuing winning and training to excel on the scoreboard and in our relationships produces a sweet aroma. When our athletes jump on board wholeheartedly, they create opportunities for greater growth for themselves as well as for those who come behind them. —Bjorklund continued on page 2
Show ’Em Some Love Show your son or daughter some love and order a special Valentine gift. Donations above the $10 cost of the gift help to fund grants for faculty members. To order, see the enclosed flyer, or visit bethel.edu/parents/valentines to order online. n
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Faculty Grants Enhance Student Experience These grants help faculty members attend conferences focused on their areas of expertise, engage in research, and obtain equipment and resources critical for engaging students. Thanks to the generous support of parents, Chuck Hannema, associate professor and chair of Bethel’s Business and Economics department, received a grant last year. With his $1,200 grant, Hannema was able to register for the first level of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program. The globally recognized CFA charter is designed for investment professionals. Hannema’s goal is to build finance curriculum around the CFA charters, so enrolling in the coursework is the first step in enhancing the Business and Economics program. n
—Bjorklund from on page 1 What’s one piece of advice or information that you’d want to pass on to parents? It isn’t easy to live out who you aspire to be. There is a battle going on for the hearts and minds of young people, and there is good reason to think about what is decidedly Christian and what is being distorted by cultural fog. I want our athletes to decide, with the help of our coaches, faculty and teammates, who they want to be and then “BU” (be you). Be you by committing to what it means to having the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, “so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13). Who you hang out with is a big deal because “He who walks with the wise grows wise and he who is in the company of fools is in danger” (Proverbs 13:20). Who you spend time with is going to mark your life. Bethel athletics is an environment where students will have the opportunity to have a whole cadre of friends who will assist them in the quest to “BU.” n
Spring Music Tours The Bethel Choir, Wind Symphony, and Women’s Chorale are hitting the road in March to worship with Bethel friends through song. Visit bethel.edu/events/arts/music/ performances for details, including locations. Each group will also perform a concert at Bethel’s Benson Great Hall: March 7 Bethel Chamber Orchestra Spring Concert 7:30 p.m. March 28 Bethel Wind Symphony Home Concert 7:30 p.m. March 29 Bethel Choir Home Concert 7:30 p.m. April 13 Bethel Women’s Chorale Home Concert 3 p.m.
OFFICE OF ALUMNI AND PARENT SERVICES 3900 Bethel Drive St. Paul, MN 55112-6999
Connections Reaffirmed at Family Weekend Hundreds of parents, siblings, and other family members joined their students at Bethel in October to enjoy quality family time and renew connections. Mark your calendar for the 2014 Family Weekend: October 24-26. Here’s some feedback from parents about the weekend: What was the highlight of the weekend? “Seeing my son being cared for academically, socially, and spiritually as he invests in the Bethel community. A second highlight would be getting more acquainted with the faculty and spiritual leadership on campus.” Tell us about your experience at Sunday’s Community Worship Service. “It was very meaningful, inspiring, and significant. I believe our family attending with our son will help him grow in Christian community with Bethel—we were able to share in the community that he is becoming part of. What a blessing!” n
Congrats, Grads! Approximately 100 undergrad students participated in commencement ceremonies in December. It’s never too early to start thinking about life after graduation. Encourage your student to visit the Office of Career Development and Calling at bethel.edu/ offices/career-development for support and resources. n
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Dates to Remember January Convocation Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January 13
Last Day of Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 16
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no classes). . . . . . . . January 20
Study Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 21
Last Day of Interim Classes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January 28
Final Exams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 19, 20, 22, & 23 (please don’t schedule family vacations on these days)
Spring Semester Classes Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 3 Spring Break . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 17-21 Classes Resume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 24 Convocation Chapel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 16 Good Friday (no classes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 18 Monday after Easter (no classes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 21
Visit bethel.edu/events/calendar for more information about events. Office of Alumni and Parent Services 651.638.6462 (800.255.8706, ext. 6462) parents@bethel.edu bethel.edu/parents