Covenant News

CBC-Ecuador Grad Chooses Mission Over Hockey

LA MERCED, ECUADOR (May 23, 2001) - One year ago, Kris Birch was playing alongside some of the top junior hockey players in the United States and it seemed a college scholarship was within his reach.

Birch reached for God instead. Last fall, Birch attended a school where no hockey program exists - a year ago the school didn't exist - heading to the newly formed Covenant Bible College (CBC) in La Merced. He and 35 others comprised the first graduating class this past week.

"CBC was amazing," said Birch, who hopes to pursue cross-cultural and other mission work after college. "To wake up every morning for worship, to have all classes focused on the Bible and everything we do focused on growing (spiritually), was wonderful. The main reason I was there was to get a biblical basis for my faith, so the scripture base was great. But I grew in other areas, living out my faith and understanding that what I did affected everybody in the community, whether it was good or bad. And the taste of another lifestyle was really moving."

After earning All-State honors as a high school boys hockey player in Minnesota, Birch competed in a junior hockey league and thought seriously about trying to earn a Division I scholarship. But after serving as a camp counselor at CHIC2K in Knoxville, Tennessee, Birch changed his mind. He has no regrets.

"It's something that's been calling me for three years," said Birch of CBC. I was actually registered to go to CBC (the campus in Canada), the year before, but decided to play junior hockey again. This time, I just decided to listen to God. I've had my good days and bad days, going forward two steps and then back one. In January 2000 I decided that I wanted to revolve my whole life around God and not take any steps back. I think hockey was something that God was asking me to give up because it was getting in the way of Him."

At CBC-Ecuador, students attended classes from 8 a.m. until noon most weekdays, with a focus on spiritual disciplines and interacting with culture. Afternoons were often spent with other students and studying. Vespers and chapel services were part of the week's regular activities. Weekends were spent traveling to various sites, including soccer games, beaches and a hot spring located an hour from La Merced. Birch even hiked around some active volcanoes near La Merced.

Besides traveling, students got involved in service projects, once studies were completed. Birch and other classmates ministered to people living near the city dump in nearby Quito, a city of more than one million people. He and his class put on a Christmas festival for kids and their parents. He called it the most moving experience during his year in Ecuador.

Birch will attend the University of Minnesota this fall and wants to attend North Park University in 2002. He said he might opt to play hockey at Minnesota, although it isn't the obsession it once was.

"I can't imagine not ever playing hockey again, but I don't think my life will revolve around it," said Birch, who attended Salem Covenant Church in New Brighton, Minnesota, and became a Christian at age 13. "People ask me to tell them what happened (at CBC) and I tell them everything I did was applicable to my life. Hopefully, my faith will show in my actions."

Printable version of this page.