Posting this piece in a slot during my last semester, I reflect that one of my top tier classes at Colorado Christian University was "Evangelical Theology," with Dr. Aaron Smith. The subject was important and interesting, and Dr. Smith is a systematic and passionate teacher.
The third of three textbooks was The Younger Evangelicals by Robert Webber. Each student was required to carefully read one specific chapter, and then give a class presentation on the subject of that chapter.
After all of the countless chapters I read at CCU, maybe that sole chapter was a fun blessing from God, and I do not say this flippantly. There were the usual number of chapters in that book, yet the one assigned for my presentation had a quote from an old friend of mine from my first “home” church, the church where I worshiped as a new Christian after turning to Christ in my early twenties. In fact, within the chapter there were two friends who were quoted. And I clearly understood the author’s point.
Being utterly engaged with the chapter, my presentation preparation was a breeze. And….I swiftly planned to do something fun! One of the two friends quoted is named Amy, and I was quite certain I still had a picture of her in a bathing suit, with a net-like robe over her, standing with me near the Chesapeake Bay. I dug into my old photo albums which were buried in boxes in my closet, and I found that photo. That picture was taken at a leadership retreat for my singles group where I was extremely active for many years. During our afternoon free time, some of us went swimming in an inlet of the Chesapeake Bay, which was next to the retreat center. And Amy was no longer in the country to object. She married a minister many years ago, and they moved his native country in Europe.
Come my scheduled presentation day, I was so eager to present. Remaining patient, when it was my turn, I went for it. With the clicker in hand for showing my slides, I patiently rolled with the talk, building up to the quotes. After giving the first quote in the chapter from Bill, and making a comment, I then gave the quote by Amy. Then I hit the big note: ‘Fact is, Amy is a friend of mine from my old singles group, Salt and Light.’
Clicking to the next slide, there was Amy in her bathing suit, next to me, up on the big screen before the class. It was priceless looking at the surprised faces of the students in the class. I specifically noted one young lady near the front who physically leaned forward in her desk, and was staring at the screen with her eyebrows lowered.
It was great.
I add that in my presentation, I disagreed with a point the author made in that chapter, which I articulated near the end of my presentation. At the beginning of the next class, Dr. Smith made a statement that he agreed with my point. His statement to our class meant much to me, and I think Dr. Smith, who I have here again in my last semester, is a classy professor.
And personally, my Evangelical Theology presentation will go down as one of my most fun moments in a CCU classroom!
Hunter
