Significant Summer 2010

ISSUE ONE / SUMMER 2010

SO MUCH MORE THAN A DIPLOMA LIVE. L IVE. L LEARN. EARN. G GO. O.

inside Learning to Lead More Than a Game From Darkness into Light Making Disciples in the Dominican

EDITOR’S TOR S NOTE Timothy was one of Paul’s most loved disciples. Being figure A called Paul’s “spiritual son”, Timothy was responsible THE GREAT COMMISSION for speaking up against false-teaching even though he was young. Paul encouraged Timothy not to let people look down on him because of his age, but to set an example for believers in how he lived (1 Tim. 4:12). ¶ (disciple) The challenge from Paul to Timothy can be daunting for students today. Pop-culture and the barrage of the “information age” leave many students saturated with information but no time to process it. I have seen students struggle to make an impact in their world (making disciples) because of the rubble of false-messages that they need to climb out from. ¶ This reality was prevalent for Timothy as well. Timothy had watched acquaintances like Alexander shipwreck their faith (1 Tim. 1). However, Timothy had the encouragement of a mentor discipling him. Paul worked hard to help Timothy understand the (who make disciples) world from God’s perspective. Because of this, Timothy is instructed to remain in Ephesus and continue the work of an Apostle while being discipled by Paul. ¶ Sadly, many students in our churches fall more in-line with Alexander than Timothy. Many have shipwrecked their faith due to a lack of Biblically-based education and proper discipleship. I think you’ll get the sense as you read through this publication that students aren’t ISSUE ONE/SUMMER 2010 merely educated at Hillcrest, they’re being called to engage and interact with the world from a BiblicallyWAYNE STENDER | Editor based foundation. ¶ The theme for this first issue of RYAN ERICKSON | Design Significant is Disciples making Disciples. The following SIGNIFICANT is a student-focused pages are all about students who had the opportunity publication of Hillcrest Academy. Have to do just that while at Hillcrest. ¶ I want to encourage comments or questions? Write us at you to read this magazine knowing that these are significant@ffhillcrest.org testimonies of the work of God at Hillcrest. I also want Visit us online at www.ffhillcrest.org to invite you to connect with me online through our Twitter @HLAtweets school website and facebook group. This magazine is only a small taste of what our students are experiencing and how they’re gaining so much more than a diploma at Hillcrest Academy.

etc.

- Wayne

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S E

ABOUT THE WRITERS

I go to sleep, or in another quiet room, with nobody else around WHAT MOVIE WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE TRAPPED IN Charlie and the Chocolate Factory SHOULD PEOPLE TUCK-IN POLO SHIRTS Not unless they are really old people, who play golf

LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE-POP 1093 licks on average WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A KLONDIKE BAR Sing a song WHAT MOVIE WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE TRAPPED IN Inception HOW DOES YOUR NAME DESCRIBE YOU Jared means “ruler”- and throughout my life God has placed me in positions of leadership among my peers, so I would say my name suits me well

WAYNE STENDER WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT THE SUMMER Sunsets in Minnesota last 3 hrs WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO DO DEVOTIONS At my kitchen table with a cup of Trader Joe’s coffee WHAT IS THE MOST OBSCURE BIBLE STORY YOU’VE READ When Ehud the left-handed watched his sword get engulfed in flab by king Eglon of Moab (Judges 3) WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED FOR IN 2011 To hear what students learn from the mission trips I get to be a part of NAME FAMOUS PEOPLE YOU’VE MET I met Starfield once in Minneapolis and when I saw them again a few months later they remembered my name and what we talked about

ANNA KLEPPE WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT THE SUMMER Late nights, bbqs, swimming, and ice cream with friends WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO DO DEVOTIONS In my bed, right before

SOPHIA UNDSETH IF YOU COULD PLAY ANY SPORT WHAT WOULD IT BE Olympic beach volleyball WHAT IS THE MOST AWKWARD SITUATION YOU’VE BEEN IN It was too awkward, I can’t even share it. What happens on band tour, well... you know IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR FUTURE SPOUSE AN ANIMAL WHAT WOULD IT BE Lion... yep HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE YOU TO GET TO THE TOOTSIE-ROLL CENTER OF A TOOTSIE-POP I don’t know, I always bite it before I get there WHAT IS THE MOST COMPELLING EVIDENCE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD The human body

JARED SCHULTZ WHAT IS THE MOST OBSCURE BIBLE STORY YOU’VE READ When Jael drove a tent peg through Sisera’s temple. (Judges 4:21) HOW MANY

CON TENTS

SINDRE

NISTAD

IS IT TABOO TO WEAR SOCKS WITH OPEN-TOED FLIP-FLOPS I don’t think so, but fashion has never been my strong suit WHAT IS THE FIRST WORD/ FACTOID YOU WANT TO TEACH YOUR CHILD Quantum mechanics; just for the fun of it WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF BACKSTREET WAS BACK Nothing particular HOW DOES YOUR NAME DESCRIBE WHO YOU ARE It doesn’t, however it describes something else; Sindre means sparkling, while Nistad means new place

ALICIA CONNELLY (WAS HAVING TOO AWESOME OF A SUMMER TO ANSWER HER QUESTIONS -- WE FORGIVE HER)

4 Learning to Lead 6 More Than A Game 8 Darkness to Light 10 Discipleship in the DR SIGNIFICANT • SUMMER 2010 3

LEARNING TO LEAD

It is easy to be distracted in the music and practical details of leading a team. I found these details made it harder to stay focused on what I was doing and why I was doing it.

BY B YA ANNA NNA KL KLEPPE LEP PPE Hillcrest was challenging and life-changing for me. The Bible classes, chapel times, and the school experience in general all worked together to equip me for a life of significance. But what has seemed to be the real privilege of Hillcrest Academy was my opportunity to lead the school in worship.

I don’t know what I expected when I signed up to be a singer for a worship team at Hillcrest.

Regardless of my expectation, I was suddenly the leader of a team. Being the leader was a whole new challenge for me.

I was on a worship team in Norway, but I’ve never been the leader of a full band. My musical abilities aren’t anything special apart from my ability to sing, and because of this I quickly realized that I couldn’t contribute what I wanted to. I now know that being a worship leader is not necessarily about being the best singer or guitar player. I know that leading in worship is about pointing people to God.

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From leading the worship team I learned that my primary purpose was to forward God’s kingdom. I now understand that I get to turn my eyes to Him along with the rest of the team. I saw that as I did this I was better able to invite others to join me. It has been a challenge, but I have learned to work hard and to trust that God has everything under control. My dependence in Christ has grown and I realize that I will never be the ultimate leader. It is all Christ inviting us to know Him and respond to His grace.

I found myself wanting to be a significant spiritual leader at Hillcrest. My desire was to be more than just musical leader; to set an example by seeking Christ whole-heartedly.

As our year at Hillcrest was drawing to a close, the worship team wanted to invite the entire Fergus Falls community to a celebration for the school year.

We started planning the big worship event and were quickly distracted. Some of us were caught up in the stage-lights, others in the sound and still others

in the many details. We repeatedly had to bring ourselves down to earth. As a group, we discussed why we were having the worship night.

Our many conversations ended with us remembering who we wanted to glorify. At every rehearsal we prayed for softened hearts, a genuine desire to point people to Christ, and a night of humble worship. The night of the event we saw how God had been working in us. We were blessed to

see the community join us in a night dedicated to our God. We were able to point people to Him. Hillcrest is not only a place of learning, it is a place that provides opportunities to put knowledge into practice. I had the amazing privilege to learn by doing--not only being equipped for a life of signiďŹ cance, but living it as well.

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More Than A Game

by Sophia Undseth

As I reflect upon my time at Hillcrest , I can’t help but wonder how incredibly different my life would be without it. I can’t describe the impact that the Hillcrest teachers, coaches, staff, speakers, and fellow students have had on me.

the girls from the other team apart from our introduction through the basketball game that night. Because of this, it was easy to overcome concerns about what they might have been thinking.

This year was my sixth year at Hillcrest.

God has blessed me and taught me so much throughout my time there. At the start of this year, I knew that I wanted to lead the school, make a difference, and serve the Lord. What I did not yet understand was that I was trying to do these things on my own strength. God would have none of that.

However, later that week we had another playoff game. This time it was against a state ranked team, Parkers Prairie.

Following our loss came our final opportunity to share Christ as a team. I have played against Parkers Prairie for as long as I can remember, and for the first time I had the chance to share the Gospel with these girls. I was nervous, yet I would not trade that moment for anything. Where else could I get that opportunity?

In October I was diagnosed with doublepneumonia and spent three and a half weeks out of school. When I finally returned to school I needed to sit out of sports for another month and a half. I could not understand why God would let this happen. I didn’t understand how I was supposed to serve God at school if I was in the hospital and out of sports.

During that time, I took a step back and truly surrendered my senior year and everyday life to God, but He wasn’t finished yet.

Mark Cahill visited Hillcrest for Spiritual Formations week. He explained that the “One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven” is share the Gospel. Mark challenged me when he said, “Just because you’re nervous, doesn’t mean you give up or quit. Athletes don’t do that when they’re nervous before the big game. We don’t do it either when we share the Gospel. Just be faithful, God will do the rest.”

That night our girls basketball team had a playoff game. It was a night of firsts. It was the first playoff win in a number of years for Hillcrest girl’s basketball, and it was our first time sharing the Gospel with our opponents. I was out of my element. It was the first time we played against this opponent. We didn’t know

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Openings to talk about Christ did not end with the basketball season. Band tour followed shortly after our last game.

We had seventeen days full of sharing the Gospel at the many stops on our tour. Every new place provided another opportunity. People everywhere were curious about the big bus and the load of teenagers inside. Using this seemingly awkward situation, we started all kinds of conversations. Our concerts were performed at churches. Each concert was accompanied by a student testimony, which presented another chance to share about Christ.

The evening band tour ended, the Senior Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic started. This was another obvious focus on sharing the Gospel. We did the Lord’s work as classmates, parents, teachers, and Dominican missionaries. The language barrier was a constant struggle, but we witnessed God use us regardless. It was difficult to leave, but my mission as a believer didn’t end when I arrived home.

Now I look to my future and recognize that no matter where I go I am called to boldly share the Gospel. I learned all of this while at Hillcrest, and my mission continues beyond those doors.

Living Significantly

by Jared Schultz

, Following Spiritual Formation Week a our boy’s basketball team took on s new goal. Hillcrest athletics alway that strive to act and play in a way exemplifies Christ. More than that, our we as a team began to share this ssed witne I ases incre the One of with the opposing team. In faith tual Spiri of ight highl year was the the many ways we started to see er Formations Week. The guest speak We knew that life was re. pictu big us help to taught valuable tools ing about so much more than winn share our faith, challenging each s, and our team game tball baske t Chris and every student to share started to act on that reality. We saw had with at least one person they the that God blessed the team with contact with during the week. I have who those to ss witne to y rtunit oppo to a never witnessed such a response needed Jesus and to encourage those speaker’s challenge. Students were to who knew Him. We were blessed few next the over l schoo to returning make a run in the playoffs that ended with s storie dible incre ng days shari t. in the state basketball tournamen the the rest of the student body. As at this amazing run as a d looke We to up fired were week ended students to God-given opportunity to witness in do the one thing that they can’t do people. more many heaven; share their faith.

nts Hillcrest’s mission is to, “equip stude six to live a life of significance”. In my es years here I have seen the opportuniti . to “live significantly” increase yearly

was Shortly after the state tournament, I on able to be a part of the Senior Missi Trip to the Dominican Republic. Over has the last several years Hillcrest e to provided students with the chanc of share Christ with people outside the United States. The mission team nal shared the Gospel through perso ng testimonies, skits, dramas, and playi . sports with kids in the Dominican able Through all our actions we were to show the people of the Dominican Republic the love of God. There were enormous smiles as we witnessed people verbally committing their lives to Christ. I was moved by what God He did on our trip and am thankful granted me the opportunity to be used in furthering His Kingdom.

It doesn’t matter where you are, there the are always opportunities to share .I love of God and live life significantly all am so thankful I was equipped to do these things at Hillcrest Academy.

SIGNIFICANT • SUMMER 2010

7

I, Sindre Nistad, died December 7th, 2009 at 2:03 AM in the Boy’s Dormitory at Hillcrest Academy. After being at Hillcrest for nearly half a year I experienced Spiritual Formations week.

Had it not been for the work of Christ during this week, I would probably still be of this world.

the research I had previously done, I saw sufficient evidence to conclude that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are not fictional. More than understanding the reality of God, I saw the necessity of God. I saw that God is necessary to explain simple things like morality, mathematics, science, and logic.

FROM DARKNESS

BY SINDRE NISTAD A year prior I stood a selfproclaimed agnostic and advocate of Darwinian evolution.

Through the questioning of two friends I came to reject macro-evolution, but saw religion as something for the weak, an opium for the masses. My evolutionary belief system had been shattered, but I couldn’t bring myself to replace it with a religious framework.

After arriving at Hillcrest I continued my stand against a God-based belief system.

However, through Spiritual Formations week I had the opportunity to listen to Brett Kunkle from Stand to Reason Ministries. Brett gave evidence and resources that affirmed the God of the Bible with rational arguments. I bought the book, “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist”

by Norman Geisler. Almost halfway through the book I had seen enough. In addition to

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Now that I had professed my faith in Jesus Christ, I began to sharpen it. I had plenty of opportunities to grow in my understanding of Him through debates and the education I received at Hillcrest by teachers, dormitory staff, friends, and countless others.

My faith continued to grow as I responded to God’s call to participate as a member of the Chicago Mission team.

I, Sindre Nistad, am now dead to this world, but I live through the Messiah Jesus Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria.

INTO LIGHT

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Making Disciples in the Dominican

by Alicia Connelly

10 SIGNIFICANT • SUMMER 2010

In six years at Hillcrest the teachers, classes and speakers have equipped me to share and defend my faith.

During Spiritual Formations week in my final semester at Hillcrest, students were confronted with the responsibility they have to share their faith. This reality was very convicting to me, and the entire student body took it very seriously.

It was incredible to hear the numerous stories of my classmates who were witnessing all over town.

As I became more bold in my faith, I desired to turn my conviction into action. The worldview education I had received in the Understanding the Times Bible class gave me the practical tools I needed to feel confident sharing the Gospel.

The concept of disciples making disciples was made real when I had the opportunity to be a part of the Dominican Republic mission team.

As we prepared to leave my fears began to surface. I hadn’t been a part of a cross-culture mission trip before.

I was very scared of flying over the ocean, not to mention the insecurity of not knowing what awaited me in the Dominican Republic. I watched as the Lord met me where I was. I saw God use my classmates and teachers to encourage me despite my apprehensions. I realized that I was not the only one with concerns, and as a team we came became close as we helped each other. Not only were my teammates supporting me, but the rest of the student body supported us with prayer and encouragement. I truly experienced the faithfulness of Christ.

On the trip our leaders and chaperones made sure a minute wasn’t wasted. We shared the Gospel through translators in schools, on the streets, playing

basketball, and during evening services. We were being used to our fullest capacity.

One story I’ll never forget is when a few members of the team and I were walking around witnessing to people in a village. This part of the Dominican was basically an un-reached community. After sharing the story of Jesus with two ladies outside their home I asked them if they had ever heard the message we had given them. To my surprise they both said no. In their response they said they would like to accept Jesus. Holding back tears, we prayed with them. We were planning to give the Gospel in a park nearby that evening and we invited them to attend.

This experience has impacted me so much. Coming from a Christian community I hadn’t really encountered someone who had never heard the Gospel. The Dominican trip reminded me that there are people that haven’t heard about Jesus Christ, and it is our job to tell them.

The opportunities and lessons I’ve learned at Hillcrest have prepared me to live a life of significance for Jesus at college. I have tools to defend my faith and stand-up for Christ. I have had the experience of using these tools to lead people to Jesus. I have witnessed teachers and faculty holding me accountable to make the most of every opportunity I encounter.

I will be forever grateful for the solid foundation for faith and life that was built because of my time at Hillcrest. The opportunities given, lessons learned, and experiences shared were truly unique.

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THIS Y THIS YEAR EAR STUDENTS STUD ST UDEN UD ENT EN TS F T FROM RO OM

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