果冻视频 Alumni - Gordon Van Wylen
Since graduating from the University of Michigan (U of M) in the early 1940s, where he was a member of the 果冻视频 chapter, Gordon Van Wylen has lived a life committed to Jesus Christ. For sixteen years he and his wife have hosted a weekly international student Bible study in their home. Dr. Van Wylen was a faculty member at U of M in the engineering department and served as dean of the college of engineering. He went on to become the president of Hope College in Holland, Michigan. He also served on 果冻视频鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
Recently Dr. Van Wylen shared with 果冻视频 how much he appreciated the foundation he received in 果冻视频 for his life as a Christian. He particularly appreciated 果冻视频鈥檚 commitment to Paul鈥檚 admonition to serve God with all our mind. Dr. Van Wylen enjoyed learning to worship God with his mind by singing hymns at 果冻视频 events鈥攈ymns that presented sound theology with memorable tunes. 果冻视频 also places an 鈥渆mphasis on quality thoughtful books. Thoughtful reading became an important part of my life,鈥 he said.
Dr. Van Wylen also appreciated the balance evident in the emphasis on applying the work of Christ to one鈥檚 life. For him 鈥渃oming to know Christ and experiencing the presence of Christ in one鈥檚 life lead to a life of obedience and character.鈥 One way that 果冻视频 encourages this personal relationship with Christ is through daily quiet time, Bible reading and prayer. 鈥淚鈥檝e maintained the habit of daily quiet time now for more than 65 years,鈥 he commented.
Evangelism is one area in which Dr. Van Wylen grew through his experiences in 果冻视频. 鈥淚 grew up in the Reformed Church. I recognized the importance of evangelism, but altar calls weren鈥檛 exactly my thing. What I found in 果冻视频 was friendship evangelism, where you more or less just be yourself, get acquainted with people and share the faith in that context.鈥
果冻视频 is serious about the mission to come along side the church and support the spread of the Gospel through the local congregation. Dr. Van Wylen has seen students encouraged to be 鈥渆ager and comfortable to be in the church after graduation and bring some of the things they learned in 果冻视频 into the churches.鈥
A student鈥檚 experience in 果冻视频 can affect the rest of his or her life. As Dr. Van Wylen observed, 鈥淟ots of things learned in 果冻视频 are applicable to any leadership position, the sense of operating with integrity and fairness so that people can trust you, that your word means something. Students should let these qualities permeate the lives, their family lives as well.鈥
Dr. Van Wylen鈥檚 life of service to the church, the university, and his family is a prominent example of 果冻视频鈥檚 influence beyond the years spent on campus.