Archives: News Stories
The Chicago Bridge Magazine and its podcast, which bridge the gap between the person and public figures in music and entertainment on the Chicago arts scene, recently highlighted Trinity’s Professor of Art & Design John Bakker. Bakker was featured on the cover of the magazine and was the guest speaker on the podcast episode, where host King Hoff introduced Bakker as a “legend in and around the community of Roseland and the state of Illinois.”
Bakker offered reflections about his Roseland Portrait project, which was created in an effort to represent a community and its imperfect, but real support of one another. For the project, Bakker has set a goal of hand painting 400 portraits of everyday people from the Roseland community, including janitors, EMTs, school teachers, mechanics, cashiers, librarians, nurses, and others.
The project is a way to tell the stories of ordinary people who make up a real community and address the unconscious white bias that creates a narrative in the news media. “There’s all kinds of good stuff that happens in communities, even communities that are struggling with violence,” Bakker said. “These people get up and go to work every day, they have lives that are interesting. They have the same joys and sorrows. This is representing African-American communities in ways that are ordinary and not extraordinary.”
Bakker views the project as part of his beliefs as a committed Christian and a professor at Trinity. “The essence of the Christian assertion is that all of us matter because we’re made in God’s image. That’s why I do these portrait projects. The other option is that there is some kind of ranking that some people are more important and some people are less important, and I just frankly reject that.”
During the podcast, Hoff thanked Bakker for his vision and work. “It takes a selfless man, and thank you for being someone who is shining a light in the world.”
The Roseland Portrait project is one of several initiatives that connects Trinity to the neighborhood and is part of a grant from the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU). The project has been shared across communities, including at several locations in Roseland, Trinity’s Jennie Huizenga Memorial Library, and the Palos Heights (Ill.) Public Library. Bakker also recently presented a public lecture at the Palos Heights Library about the project, called “Using Art to Build a Community.” The lecture is available here.
— By Patricia Yang ’25
In the peaceful library loft corner, sitting at the tall round table with tall chairs, Rev. Ben Snoek, Trinity’s new interim campus pastor, told his thoughts, hopes, and excitement about Trinity over the steady rushing of the water fountain below. “Pastor Ben,” as he is already known throughout campus, joined the Trinity community in the Fall 2021 semester, following the retirement of long-time Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Formation Rev. Willis (Bill) VanGroningen.
Having grown up in the Dutch Reformed community of Holland, Mich., Snoek knew he wanted to work within that circle; as an ordained pastor in the Christian Reformed Church in North America, Trinity’s identity called to him. It was also Trinity’s innovative side—the preference of innovation over tradition—that really drew him in. “Trinity is always trying something new,” said Snoek. “Trinity always wants to have an attitude of saying ‘yes’ to things.” He felt a match in values there.
Before joining Trinity, Snoek served at Asbury University, a small Christian liberal arts university in Kentucky as Assistant Chaplain for Worship, and then Director of University Chapel. Though he is still adjusting to Trinity’s unique community culture, Snoek is beyond excited to jump in and work with faculty and staff. He also desires to connect with all students: “I feel it’s so important to share my life with you,” he said. “It’s so easy for professional and administrative roles at colleges to kind of get buried down in the paperwork… it’s one thing to talk about students, to talk about what they want, to talk about what’s keeping them up at night—it’s another to talk with them, about their hopes, their dreams, their aspirations. I can’t really create systems and structures and programs that you need if I really don’t know what’s going on in your heart.”
Snoek also related how surprised he was with Trinity’s welcoming and warm atmosphere. “Christian colleges have a reputation for being kind and friendly people. Trinity feels different though,” he explained. “The students are eager to collaborate with the faculty and staff and administration, the faculty and staff are willing to work with each other.” Altogether, he surmised, it makes for a place where everyone genuinely cares about each other. Everyone is supportive of one another. “The staff and faculty seem to care a higher degree more about this school,” said Snoek. “That’s really special. I don’t think we should take that for granted.” He said he felt very welcomed and supported, like everyone here really wanted him to succeed. And he is grateful for that.
“I’m really excited to see where God might lead the Campus Ministries office,” said Snoek. Now that Trinity is back in-person despite COVID’s still-roaming presence, Snoek believes it is a good time to start dreaming again and trying new things. He is eager to re-launch in-person chapel after a year of online worship. “We have a really good opportunity here to try to be innovative, to be creative, to see where the Spirit might lead us.”
At first, Snoek did not imagine he would ever be working in ministry. He considered other careers throughout high school—but always, in the back of his mind, he was thinking of ministry. “I just had a moment where I sort of felt that that was something God was calling me to do,” he mused. “I just knew that ministry was something I should follow and pursue.” God really surprised him with this call to ministry; he never expected to be where he is now. “When I came to college, my only picture of ministry was a senior pastor of a megachurch, so I thought, ‘Oh, that must be what I want to do too.’” Yet God had different plans. After working here and there at both small rural and urban megachurches, Snoek was led to Palos Heights Ill., and Trinity.
Snoek earned a B.S. and M.A. from Indiana Wesleyan University and completed ordination studies at Calvin Theological Seminary. Alongside his work as a campus pastor, Snoek is also writing his dissertation for a Ph.D. in systematic and liturgical theology at Columbia International University. “It’s just a fancy way of describing theology from the perspective of worship.” He noted that there were quite a few books on how to lead worship in churches and seminaries, but that was about it. “There’s really no research in what worship looks like in colleges,” said Snoek. “My research is hoping to answer what that sort of stuff looks like.” He loves studying and thinking about worship, yearning to dig deeper beyond musical styles or lights or the sermon. “Worship is a high-stakes activity: worship is where God encounters God’s people, and God’s people actually get to communicate with God.”
Prior to working full time at Trinity, Snoek was a musician and string orchestra composer. He still publishes a bit on occasion. He also worked as a graphic designer in college and actively participated in music ministry, but currently, he is looking for a new hobby. “So, if anyone has recommendations,” said Snoek, “they can send me an email.”
Overall, Snoek is delighted and eager to work more with the Campus Ministries office and all of Trinity. He looks forward to all the spiritual growth and connections to make in the years to come.
Learn more about Snoek and get in contact with him through Trinity’s website or follow him on Instagram.
–By Patricia Yang ‘25
On a cool October afternoon, as the sun peeks out between the clouds, Trinity Christian College’s campus is nice and quiet—save for the spot tucked behind the Tibstra Parking Lot. At The Shack, next to the Mail and Print Center, there is a food truck, tables and chairs. A vibrant blue piñata swings from a wooden beam, while speakers resound with upbeat music. There’s dancing, food, musical chairs, and a lot of laughter. It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Sabor Latino Club has come forth to celebrate this at Trinity with all its might!
Even before the pandemic, the club had been inactive. Yet after a period of dormancy, the members of Sabor Latino are back. Now that things have returned to a more normal state after the pandemic hit, the club is eager to step back into the light. Sabor Latino desires to invite all of Trinity to come experience and learn about the Hispanic culture. Melissa Ballesteros ‘24, president of Sabor Latino, said, “We hope to have events that teach people, ‘Oh, this is the type of things Latinos do,’ as well has having fun together and joining and thinking.” This Hispanic Heritage Month event was that big first step into that.
This was the first time in Sabor Latino’s history to celebrate Hispanic heritage as a club and with everyone on campus. “So far it hasn’t been done in the past years,” said Ballesteros. A big smile grew on her face as she continued, “But we’re trying to start that.”
The members of the club are eager to become more visible to Trinity again. “I saw people wanting to actually learn about our culture, which is something really inspirational!” said Ballesteros.
Near the end of the event, everyone gathers round the blue piñata. “Our favorite thing to do is laugh,” said Ballesteros, with a laugh of her own. As people become dizzy striking at the piñata and sticks break off one by one in comical fashion, there is no denying that. The piñata breaks at last and the candy all flies out. People joke and chatter happily with one another, and the music continues to play loudly in the background.
Sabor Latino is excited to express its culture, and that is what it did with this event and is eager to invite all of Trinity to come along. “We’re all a big family in the end!”
Find out more about Sabor Latino by following its Instagram page or emailing the president of Sabor Latino at Melissa.Bellesteros@trnty.edu.
Trinity is excited to be hosting the upcoming conference “Knowledge for the Future: Higher Education, Change, and Christian Responsibility,” sponsored by Coram Deo. The conference, which takes place on campus on Nov. 11-12, features renowned speakers from around the country, as well as Trinity professors.
According to one of the conference organizers, Trinity’s Assistant Professor of History and Department Chair Kyle Dieleman, Ph.D., the sessions are designed to be useful to a number of people, including those considering higher education themselves, people whose family members or high school students (such as high school guidance counselors or administrators) might be considering higher education, employers who have ideas about how higher ed can meet the needs they have future employees, and those who have responsibilities such as teaching and administration in higher ed.
“We also have a fantastic line-up of world-class speakers from a variety of disciplines, so we’re eager for people to have access to those scholars and learn from and with them,” he said.
Organizers hope that people will leave the conference with a sense of the challenges facing higher education but also with ideas that provide hope for how to meet those challenges. “So, we think people will be inspired to consider again the importance of higher education and ways higher ed can contribute to productive conversations and actions within Christianity and in society more broadly,” said Dieleman.
The conference has been a long time in the planning stages. Originally scheduled for Fall of 2020, it was postponed because of COVID. “The plans came about because I connected with our sponsoring organization, the Coram Deo Program, via a Dutch colleague, Herman Selderhuis,” Dieleman said. “Herman invited me to put a proposal together, and several of us at Trinity started thinking about the uncertain state of higher education in the United States and beyond. With that context, we wanted to explore how Christianity and a Christian worldview might be in a unique position to contribute positively to discussions about the future of education.”
Scheduled speakers include:
Brad S. Gregory, the Dorothy G. Griffin College Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame;
DeAne Lagerquist, who is trained as a historian of Christianity;
Herman Selderhuis, president of the Theological University Apeldoorn (the Netherlands) and Professor of Church History and Church Law;
Vincent Bacote, Professor of Theology and the Director of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill.
Members of the Trinity community, including Dr. Lenore Knight-Johnson, Dr. Erick Sierra, Dr. Keith Starkenburg, Mallory Rosario, Professor Christine Scholma, Dr. Allison Tan, and Dr. Rakisha Vinegar, will also be leading workshops.
The cost to attend is $125. Find more information and register here.
Trinity’s head women’s soccer coach Josh Lenarz ’98 notched his 300th win when the Trolls scored in the 10th minute of their game against Judson University on Oct. 6. Lenarz, coaching in his 20th season at Trinity, now has an overall career record of 300-113-28.
Trolls from all over sent their video congratulations on this remarkable achievement!
The victory came when Brianna Uhl took a pass from Katie Drenth and shot it past the Eagles keeper for her 16th goal of the season. The win also brought the Trolls’ record to 10-2.
Along with his 300 wins, Lenarz is one of the most winning active coaches in the NAIA. Lenarz has led teams to the post-season national tournaments 13 times in the past 15 seasons, which includes five appearances to the NAIA National Championships. In addition, the Trolls advanced to the NCCAA National Championships eight times with the latest appearance being in 2018.
Under his leadership, the team also earned conference regular season championship titles in the 2008 and 2009 seasons. In 2009 and 2017, they claimed the conference tournament title. The team also earned the CCAC Karl Boeck Champions of Character Award four times.
Lenarz was named the CCAC Coach of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2013, 2018 and 2020. He has also been recognized as the NCCAA National Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2008, the NCCAA North Central Region Coach of the Year 13 times, and the 2005 NAIA Region VII Coach of the Year. In 2016, he received the NISOA/NCCAA Frank Jewell Award for Christian character and integrity while coaching.
A graduate of Trinity, Lenarz received a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He also has a master’s degree in higher education-college student affairs from Azusa Pacific University. He was a four-year soccer player at Trinity and earned all-conference honors for four years and was an NCCAA All-American three times.
Mark your calendars for Friday, November 5 and Saturday, November 6 for our annual Fall Fest weekend. We are excited to welcome alumni, students, parents and the community to join us for an event that encapsulates Homecoming and Family Weekend, all rolled together into one giant event.
“Fall Fest offers something for everyone,” said Director of Alumni and Family Engagement Jeremy Klyn ’02. “This Homecoming and Family Weekend provides alumni the space to come back and remember why they love this place. And parents have the chance to visit their students and experience everything Trinity has to offer with them!”
This year’s Fall Fest features activities intentionally designed with students in mind, as well as alumni and parents. Those activities include a video-gaming truck, a basketball game featuring a DJ, a powderpuff football game, and more!
“We are really excited to have this event again after not holding it in 2020,” said Director of Event Services Brooke Simkins ’14. “The opportunity to enjoy these events together is not something we take for granted.”
As part of the weekend’s activities, Fall Fest will welcome back the class of 1971, the College’s first 4-year graduating class, to campus to celebrate their 50th class reunion. The class of 2020 will also have the opportunity to return to campus to join President Kurt and Mrs. Leah Dykstra for a relaxed evening catching up and celebrating their accomplishments amidst a most unprecedented time.
There will also be opportunities for alumni of the nursing, business and social work programs to reconnect, along with the chance for former members of the Gospel Choir to gather together.
On Friday night, Trinity’s Alumni Board invites all alumni to Mama Vesuvio East near campus, where they can catch up with old friends while enjoying an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet. After dinner, attendees can head on over to DeVos Athletic and Recreation Center to watch the men’s basketball team take on University of St. Francis and check out the improv show by “Well Versed Comedy” and Alumni players. Or they can stay at Mamas and catch up with old classmates until they close it down.
Feel like playing a little basketball instead of just being a spectator? Then sign up for the 3-on-3 tournament on Saturday. Trinity’s Alumni Board is also hosting its inaugural Bean Bag Tournament to benefit the Alumni Scholarship fund.
There will also be plenty of other opportunities to sample great food throughout the weekend, from food trucks to a Chicago-themed dinner in the Dining Hall.
The annual Troll Market craft and vendor fair provides an opportunity for getting a head start on Christmas shopping. There will also be a 3.1 run, KidsZone, yoga with Emeriti Professor of Psychology Mary Lynn Colosimo, and so much more. And it all culminates in Trollstock, the TrollNation annual talent show.
“Representatives from multiple departments serve on the Fall Fest committee,” said Simkins. “This two-day event is a massive undertaking, but something we are proud to share with our students, their families, our alumni, and the community.”
Check out all the great events on the Fall Fest page. Some events require advance registration. We can’t wait to see you November 5-6.
During his time at Trinity double majoring in finance and marketing, Zach Fitch ’18 didn’t plan to become an influencer or work for one of the biggest TikTok marketing agencies in the world. Yet since graduating from the College and doing a career pivot when COVID-19 hit last year, Fitch has achieved those objectives and more.
Fitch recently returned to campus from his base in Los Angeles to share his story, offer career advice, and provide insights into social media to several classes of business students.
In early 2020, Fitch was selling legal products to businesses and consumers. “Then COVID hit, and I lost 70% of my business in a couple of months,” he recalled. Around that time, Fitch’s younger brother challenged him to see who could get the greatest number of TikTok followers. As Fitch remembered with a laugh, he had some time on his hands and didn’t want to lose to his little brother. So, he began creating TikTok videos. “It started as a joke, but I began building a following,” he said. Once he reached more than half a million followers, he started getting offers from companies to promote their brands. Yet TikTok is still a new platform, and there are few guidelines or other people working in that space who could offer advice and guidance. “It is the Wild, Wild West,” he said.
Those experiences led to his current position as director of campaign execution at Ubiquitous Influencer Marketing, one of the largest TikTok influencer marketing agencies in the world. Ubiquitous works with content creators, as well as major brands like Disney, American Eagle, Netflix, and Lyft. For Fitch, his work is an extension of his Christian faith. “The whole reason Ubiquitous started is so creators don’t get taken advantage of,” he said. “We want to ensure that everyone gets treated fairly.”
Fitch demonstrates the importance of being flexible, according to Assistant Professor of Business Omar Sweiss. “I’m a big believer in experimenting and adapting,” Sweiss told students during one of Fitch’s presentations. “Zach had to adapt, then adapt again.”
On September 17, 1787, the Founding Fathers signed the most influential document in American history, the U.S. Constitution. And every year, Trinity commemorates that world-changing event by recognizing Constitution Day.
For this year’s observation, Trinity students read two speeches that were given at the ceremony marking the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks at the Flight 93 Memorial in rural Western Pennsylvania.
Boluwatife Jegede ’23 read a speech delivered by Vice President Kamala Harris. Caleb Rivera ’24 read remarks given former President George W. Bush.
The Constitution Day event was sponsored by the Department of History and the Historical Association of Students (HAS) — The History Club.
Join us for Stardust Jazz Night, with the Trinity Jazz Ensemble and the Trinity Jazz Collaborative! The concert will take place at 7 pm in Ozinga Chapel Auditorium on Sept. 24. The concert marks the first in a series of events planned by Trinity’s Music Department this semester.
After an opening from the Trinity Christian College Jazz Ensemble, the night will feature a professional performance from Trinity Faculty members Artie Black (sax), Chris Davis (trumpet), and Kevin Brown (guitar) with special guests Katie Ernst (bass and vocals), and Tim Mulvenna (drums). Don’t miss this beautiful evening of live jazz, right here on campus!
“We are very excited to return to live music after not being able to gather for concerts last year,” said Professor of Music and Department Chair Mark Peters. “Stardust Jazz this year features our student jazz ensemble opening for the Trinity Jazz Collective, a professional combo featuring three Trinity faculty.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced its Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes and NAIA Scholar Teams as a part of its annual NAIA National Awards Day on Wednesday, Sept. 15. Trinity Christian College Athletics had 75 student-athletes receive the honor of Scholar-Athlete and 15 teams earn the distinction of Scholar-Team.
Trinity’s Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes
Baseball: Zach Huisman, Dan Vos, Mike McIntyre, Josh Bakke, Michael Moralez , Jordan Rhodes, Nicolas Guitierrez
Men’s Soccer: Ben Boers, Wesley Trueblood, Emmanuel Iradukunda, Mike McIntyre, Karl Kosary, Chase Rozeveld, Marcos Shimizu, Matthew Tamminga, Alec Belcastro, Ben Morris
Men’s Track and Field: Ross Barz, Jim Bruinius, Caleb DeWeerd, Ryan Mathes, Kyle Graff, Tony Reppman, Chase Rozeveld Men’s
Volleyball: Jake Ostema
Men’s Cross Country: Jim Bruinius, Caleb DeWeerd, Ryan Mathes, Tony Reppmann
Men’s Golf: Nate Kamp, Dan Vos, Mark Schaaf, Mike Maher, Spencer Rice
Men’s Basketball: Noah Andringa, Oleksandr Dolishniy, Vince Overway
Women’s Cross Country: Grace Thelo, Valerie Wellman, Chloe Kikstra
Women’s Golf: Summer Cramer, Ashley Keen
Women’s Soccer: Allyson Kranstz, Drew McCarthy, Kaleigh VanElst, Autumn Bergemann, Selah Hopkins, Miranda Kortenhoeven, Brianna Uhl, Mia Salas, Anna Van Denend, Claire Darby
Softball: Audrey Ricker, Summer Cramer, Emily Montalvo, Alyssa Martin
Women’s Track and Field: Alexis VanRyn, Alyssa Horstman, Ava Kelly, Grace Thelo, Valerie Wellman, Chloe Kirkstra
Women’s Basketball: Summer Cramer, Alexis Marin, Alyssa Mulligan
Women’s Volleyball: Britta Heggeland, Anna Maatman, Danielle Zaner, Julia Belcher, Nicole Belcher, Sarah Hernandez, Madysen Zula, McKenzie Gibson, Brooke Veldman
Trinity’s Scholar Teams, including GPA:
Men’s Golf – 3.63
Women’s Volleyball – 3.57
Women’s Golf – 3.56
Men’s Cross Country – 3.50
Softball – 3.45
Women’s Cross Country – 3.42
Men’s Soccer – 3.41
Baseball – 3.34
Women’s Soccer – 3.31
Men’s Indoor Track and Field – 3.26
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field – 3.26
Women’s Indoor Track and Field – 3.25
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field – 3.25
Men’s Volleyball – 3.14
Women’s Basketball – 3.01
In order to be eligible for the Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete program a student-athletes must be a juniors or seniors in academic standing with a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA. A Scholar Team must have a minimum 3.0 GPA – calculated using the institutions normal GPA rules, include every varsity athlete certified during this academic year, and include fall and spring grades from the current year.