PCC Student Speaker

Lynda Berg' 09
Pacific Christian College

"I was a little worried trying to figure out what to talk about today, but then I thought, well at least I know I probably can’t say anything more heretical than Sonnenberg is going to say.

Instead I began considering what would be important to talk about, what essential advice or message could I give to my peers, teachers, and family and friends here today.

And something about my last 4 and a half years at Hope stood out. (Yes I said four and a half, I am on the super senior plan)……but as I was saying, I realized something significant:
       Hope taught us how to think.

This became apparent from my very first memories of being an official Hope student. It was 8am, Monday morning, Theology of Ministry with Professor Richardson (the elder). I recall, as I’m sure many of you recall, half asleep freshman for the first time having their previous views of church and theology shattered by Professor Richardson and his love for Covenants (remember guys: parties, terms, and promises). The idea of covenant would reshape the way we understand our place in the story of God……and of course, who could forget his enthusiasm for the Hebrew language (or at least the word chesed).

We would eventually have Professor Grana or Matson teach us, in everyone’s favorite class, Tools, about this strange word “exegesis” and how it would dramatically change the way in which we read the bible. We could no longer drop our finger onto a random bible verse and talk about what the bible says to me, but rather we were taught to dig deeper into the context and larger narratives. …..while other professors like Sirvent and Holtzen would sufficiently mess with our minds in an attempt to prod us into deeper thinking and reevaluating of the certainty of our presuppositions. And of course Sonnenberg would work towards his goal of making the most theologically provocative statements in one semester as possible…..it’s a wonder we made it to today…..

But truly, through all the questions, papers, theology-wrecking-ball courses, and long conversations in professor’s offices, we had an invaluable skill being imparted to us.

Yes, Hope taught us how to think, it did not teach us what to think; but rather how as intelligent, critical, compassionate, people of God, we are to engage the world around us and question, challenge, and reevaluate again and again. We are taught to see beyond our own lens and our own small story to its place within a much greater picture of the kingdom of God. We are taught that engaging in this process involves a community.

I’m sure that many of you will agree that in this process, learning extended beyond the classroom and into our many trips to yogurt land, late night conversations in our dorm rooms, and dinners at professors houses. Essential to our ability to be sitting here today is our unique community that, while not perfect, cares sincerely for one another.

A year ago I spent a semester in Haiti, and I saw the unique and incredible character of our Hope community first hand. Haiti is the most poverty stricken country in the western hemisphere and during my time there I worked in an orphanage and faced some extremely challenging and heartbreaking situations. While in Haiti and even after my return, many professors and students took the time to inquire about my well being and express their prayers and heartfelt concern for me. Had I failed to comprehend it before, it had now become apparent that Hope was more then just the place I went to school and I was more then just a grade on a paper. I was so struck by the fact that these people truly loved me…. I’m sure the rest of you have faced some sort of similar situation where you found a professor or a fellow student there for you in a way that can only be describe as the working of the Body of Christ.

We have been taught to dig deeper, ask questions, think outside of our own view, and love one another as Christ calls us to. Now it’s time for further application. Remember guys, this is the part in the exegetical paper where we have to make practical connections between what we learned in those massive stacks of commentaries and what the reality of the world is today. Well the reality is that we are up against quite a bit. There is hunger and poverty; oppression, violence and injustice; choices to be made and so much more to be learned. But we are not thrown from Hope alone into the “real world,” we are sent out, commissioned if you will, as a part of one quirky, transnational, sometimes dysfunctional, family of God.

Within this diverse family we must continue use what Hope has taught us about critical thinking and community reliance to challenge these issues and injustices with passion and commitment to Christ’s sacrificial call. That may not be comfortable, and it surely won’t be easy, yet we hear Jesus’ words to his church in the gospel of Matthew shedding light on our hopes and fears today, “I am with you always.” So Church, here we go…."