Last week I passed my oral comprehensive exam and dissertation defense. From this experience, it could not be clearer to me that Wheaton desires to produce scholars who engage the academic world with rigor, seriousness, and evangelical convictions and pursue their vocation as service to Christ and His church. It will be an honor toContinue reading “I made it!”
Category Archives: Family Updates
Back from the D.R., defense this week!
I returned late last Sunday night from a four-day trip to Santiago, Dominican Republic, where I taught survey of the Old Testament at the Seminario Teológico de Santiago (STS). For reflections on my visit to STS last August, see here. Around 60 students attended this course—40 connected via Zoom and 20 in person. I triedContinue reading “Back from the D.R., defense this week!”
Teaching in the D.R.
When I read the book of Exodus, I often have a hard time understanding, much less relating to, the Israelites. Israel suffers, performing back-breaking labor under an Egyptian king who stops at nothing to keep them in slavery, including killing their children. God hears their cries, demonstrates his power over rival “deities” and “kings,” showsContinue reading “Teaching in the D.R.”
2026: THE Year
It generally takes me a while to remember that we are in a new year. That is not the case in 2026. My family and I have been looking forward to this year, in one way or another, for thirteen years! Adriana and I moved to the US in 2013 to pursue the training weContinue reading “2026: THE Year”
Happy Thanksgiving!
The date of our departure from the US nears! We aim to return to Peru in the summer of 2026. This has caused us to marvel all the more in the beauty of Michigan’s fall and to delight in little things like cutting down our own Christmas tree, the way sunlight sparkles on freshly fallenContinue reading “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Dominican Republic and the Gospel
59,000,000. By 2050 there will be approximately 59 million more Christians in Latin America than there are now. 59,000,000!!!!!** If there is only 1 pastor for every 100 Christians, then Latin America will need at least 590,000 new pastors in the next 24 years. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity calculates that onlyContinue reading “Dominican Republic and the Gospel”
We’ve Signed!
I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this? I recently encountered Jesus’ astounding statement in a new way while working through John 11:17–27. Jesus speaks these words to Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus, while she suffers a tragedy. She grieves the loss of her beloved brother and worries over the financialContinue reading “We’ve Signed!”
Big progress as the summer begins
“How long, oh Lord?” “How long will you hide your face from me?” “How long…” “How long…” Four times, David cried out to God in Psalm 13 for an answer from the depths of despair and doubt. He needed an answer not to why this was happening but to when it would be over. DavidContinue reading “Big progress as the summer begins”
Gracias Dios por…
As we drove from Michigan to Pennsylvania for a Thanksgiving reunion with Adriana’s older brother (my best friend since high school), our sister-in-law, and their two kids, I asked Adriana: “When we move back to Peru, what U.S. traditions would you like our family to continue?” We agreed on two: We love Thanksgiving because weContinue reading “Gracias Dios por…”
Slow but steady…
Since we returned from our vision-trip to Peru in July, our kids often ask, “when we live in Peru, will we…?” They are excited and thinking about our move. Their enthusiasm encourages us as we slowly but surely make progress toward the goal of returning to Peru in January or February of 2026. We haveContinue reading “Slow but steady…”