Covenant News

Seminary Students Seek God in Alaska

CHICAGO, IL (July 14, 2005) - Students exploring the relationship between God and creation say they were inspired during a unique seminary class that included camping and six days of river rafting in Alaska.

"I learned about human responsibility to non-human creation and also how God can communicate . . . through his creation that as creator he loves me," says North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS) student Jodi DeYoung.

"As a result of this class, I think I see creation differently," says Phil Cannon, a recent NPTS graduate and youth pastor at Glenview (Illinois) Covenant Church. Cannon has spent extensive time in the wilderness including leading canoe trips at Adventurous Christians, a Covenant camp in Grand Marais, Minnesota. "All of creation by fulfilling its God-given purpose, attests to the power, goodness, strength and wisdom of God - thus praising God."

Cannon adds, "This place was so much more wild than anywhere I have ever been before. It truly was a once in a lifetime experience."

The class entitled "Wilderness and Faith" began in 1998 and is led by NPTS professors Phil Anderson and Jim Bruckner. This year, students traveled June 2-15.

Class requirements included reading a number of essays and scripture passages prior to the trip. "We work extensively with the biblical texts of creation, nature's praise and glory of God, the responsibilities of stewardship - 'to till and to keep' - and gaining perspective on the meaning of 'dominion' in Genesis -(which means) leadership not domination or exploitation," says Anderson.

"We explore the challenges to the environment in our present day, thinking about our own participation in these problems locally and globally, and what our Christian response should be," Anderson adds. "The wilderness portion is experiential and integrating of our themes. Students then write a reflection paper at the end, incorporating reading, discussion, experience, and journaling. They have great freedom here for creativity and we have had wonderful papers through the years."

In past years the experiential portion of the class has been held in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. This year, Covenanters Paul and Donna Claus provided a donation to give an opportunity for the class to be held in Alaska, Anderson says. The Clauses own and operate the Ultima Thule Lodge, located in a remote area of eastern Alaska.

Paul Claus flew the students to the head of the Chitina River, just below the glacier where it begins. There they spent several days continuing their sessions. Afterward they rafted down the river. "Paul flew in every couple of days to check in on us and to visit with us," says Cannon.

Participants were able to observe moose, a herd of buffalo, a wolf, several bald eagles and a variety of birds. They also saw "plenty of bear tracks," says DeYoung, "but we didn't see any bears which I was totally OK with."

Beyond learning about creation, the students also brought back insights about their personal growth. "I learned I have a lot of fear about what I can't control," says DeYoung. "The water was dangerously cold. That scared me but that was something I couldn't control."

Students must apply for the class, which generally has a limited enrollment of six or seven due to National Park Service regulations, says Anderson. Ten students were able to take the Alaska class.

"We have many more students who wish to participate than can, though most who deeply desire to be a part of the class usually get the opportunity," says Anderson. "We have an application process, and it allows Jim and me to be selective, thinking about balance and the chemistry of a group that will be living and working together for almost two weeks."

Anderson says they try to pick students that will represent a mix of students, including beginning campers to those with extensive wilderness experience.

Three Alaskan churches helped make the class possible. First Covenant Church of Anchorage provided the group with a van and driver as well as meals. Mat-Su Covenant Church in Wasilla provided seminar space and hospitality, with the Rose family providing housing and meals for four nights. Community Covenant of Eagle River served a meal, and member Carolyn Lundberg guided the group to the top of Baldy mountain one afternoon.

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