Archives: News Stories

During the Christmas break, a group from Trinity had the opportunity to walk in Jesus’ footsteps during a visit to the Holy Land. The group, which included 21 students from Trinity and Provost Aaron Kuecker, along with 20 students from Cedarville University, toured from Dec. 26-Jan. 5.

The group began its journey at the Sea of Galilee and visited the Golan Heights, Capernaum, Caesarea Phillipi, and the Mount of Beatitudes. “We visited lots of other stops to talk about the miracles of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and walking on water,” said Madysen Zula ‘21.

The group also traveled to Nazareth, where they went to the Church of the Annunciation, shopped at the local market, and talked about the significance of the Jezreel Valley, along with visiting the ruins of the city of Tel Megiddo. Other stops included Tel Aviv and Joffa. The final stop was in Jerusalem. There, the group saw the City of David, Mount of Olives, the Temple Mount, and the Garden Tomb where Jesus is believed to have been crucified and buried. They also visited the Dead Sea and ruins of the city of Massada.

Several members of the group had a recommemoration of their baptism in the Jordan River.

For Zula, visiting the southern steps of the Temple Mount was particularly powerful. “While we were reflecting, it was the moment for me where I fully realized what I was experiencing,” she said. “I felt the power of the Holy Spirit and how special it is that I am experiencing Israel. It brought me to tears thinking about how good our God is.”

“Let’s Go Higher,” was the theme of this year’s annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., presented by Trinity’s Black Student Union.

Through song, dance, scripture, and spoken word, the Trinity community came together to reflect on the progress that has been made, and the work that remains to be done.

Visit our Facebook page to see more photos of this inspiring event.

The Ferrater Mora Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, based in Oxford, England, is committed to putting ethical concerns for animals on the intellectual agenda. And as a fellow of the Centre, Associate Professor of Social Work, BSW Program Director, and Department Chair Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein, DSW, LSW, will have new opportunities to continue her research and interest in integrating animals into social work practice and education.

“Animals have value and worth, they are part of our world, and they need to be given ethical and moral consideration,” said Bretzlaff-Holstein. “The Centre for Animal Ethics is the first of its kind, and the work they are doing is innovative and ground breaking.”

The think tank brings together academics from a range of fields, including philosophy, theology, science, ecology, and other areas. its fellowship is an international academy dedicated to the enhancement of the ethical status of animals through research, teaching, and publications.

Along with publishing the “Journal of Animal Ethics” and a book series on animal ethics, the Centre offers a “summer school” every year. A lifelong animal lover, Bretzlaff-Holstein first attended the summer school in 2018 and was a scheduled speaker in 2019, until the birth of her daughter caused her to rearrange her plans.

Along with her work at Trinity and as a fellow of the Centre, she also serves as member of the advisory council for the Humane Education Coalition (HEC), as well as an editorial advisor for the organization’s peer-reviewed journal, “The International Journal of Humane Education.” She also serves on the HEC accreditation committee.

Named in honor of Catalan philosopher José Ferrater Mora, the Ferrater Mora Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics was founded in 2006. It is an independent think tank dedicated to advancing progressive thought about animals and to put animals on the intellectual agenda.

Multidisciplinary artist Kwabena Foli will present “god gives rest, not sleep” in the Seerveld Gallery from Jan. 9-Feb. 6. Foli will give an artist’s lecture on Feb. 6 at 6 pm in the ArCC DeWitt Lobby, and a closing reception will follow.

Foli, who currently lives in Chicago, graduated with an M.A. and B.A. from Southern Illinois University.  An award-winning poet as well as a visual artist, Foli is artist-in-residence at the Ragdale Foundation.

Learn more about Foli’s work here.

The Seerveld Gallery, located in Trinity’s Art and Communication Center, hosts solo and group exhibitions by nationally and internationally recognized artists and designers, as well as Trinity students. It is named in honor of Dr. Cal Seerveld, one of Trinity’s first faculty members.

Trinity Women’s Organization (TWO) looks forward to spending time with scrapbookers at its semi-annual scrapbooking event!

The spring 2020 event takes place Friday, January 17: 6-9:30 pm and Saturday, January 18: 9 am – 9 pm. Doors will open 30 minutes before the event begins in the Grand Lobby of the Ozinga Chapel

There are options to register for either or both days. All those who are high school age and older welcome.

Click here for more information.

TWO is a volunteer organization of women dedicated to encouraging and uplifting students while raising funds for student scholarships.

With the purchase of the former Back to God Ministries International building at 6555 W. College Dr., Trinity has the opportunity to create a first-class welcome experience at the new, highly visible front door of its campus for the first time since the early 1970s.

We are nearly to our goal of $3.3 million to fully fund our new Welcome Center! Take a virtual tour of the new building and hear from President Kurt Dykstra why this building will be so impactful to Trinity’s campus.

Should you feel led to make a contribution that will help us raise the last $300,000 and open doors to future generations of Trinity students, we would love to see alumni like you get involved! As you know firsthand, a Trinity education is valuable! Better visibility for the College means more opportunity to impact more students for God, for good, and for the world.

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO), in residence at Trinity Christian College, rings in the holiday season with guest conductor and Music Director of Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra Allen Tinkham for the Home for the Holidays concert at Ozinga Chapel on December 21, 2019, at 3 pm. IPO will also share the stage with the Elmhurst Choral Union, led by Conductor and Artistic Director Scott Unddenberg, for the second time.

Patrons will enjoy a family-friendly afternoon of goodwill and holiday spirit in a program that features John Williams’ Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas; Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and A Christmas Festival sing-a-long; Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus; Tchaikovsky’s Suite from The Nutcracker; and many more holiday classics!

Tinkham said, “A holiday program is something the whole family can enjoy together. Whether you are 7 or 70, whether you attend the symphony regularly or have never heard an orchestra in your life, there will be plenty to love. There will be some classical Christmastime favorites like excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Handel’s Messiah, as well as traditional carols played in unexpected styles like klezmer or soul, and even a chance for everyone to sing along!”

The presenting sponsor for Home for the Holidays is the Ozinga Foundation.

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

ABOUT THE ILLINOIS PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra is celebrating its 42nd season in 2019-20. From its community orchestra roots in Park Forest, the 69-member orchestra has grown into a critically acclaimed professional regional orchestra.

ABOUT ELMHURST CHORAL UNION

Elmhurst Choral Union has been singing since 1952. Established initially as a student and faculty ensemble at Elmhurst College in 1961, ECU expanded to include singers from the community when they merged with a pre-existing choir run by Elmhurst Park District. Elmhurst Choral Union continues to welcome skilled singers of all ages.

The Trinity community celebrated with the Fall 2019 graduates today, as students received master of arts, bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of social work degrees.

At the ceremony in Ozinga Chapel Auditorium, President Kurt D. Dykstra provided the welcome, and Laura E. Zumdahl ’02, chair of Trinity’s Board of Trustees, gave the greeting. Indira Yazmin Escalante Bustillo ’19, 2019 Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy and a graduate, offered the invocation.

Aaron J. Kuecker, Ph.D., introduced the three professors who gave commencement reflections on the theme of “What I know now that I wished I knew when I graduated from college”:  John J. Fry, Ph.D., Professor of History; Department Chair; Academic Dean; Director of Foundations Program; Mario Guzmán, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology; and Kelly Lenarz, Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Education; Director of Education Assessment, Innovation & Traditional Undergraduate Programs.

Kuecker also recognized Escalante and Gabriel Soler ’19 for their leadership in Trinity’s Diversity Scholars Program at Trinity. He praised them for their academic excellence and participation in campus wide inclusion and advocacy efforts.

After degrees were conferred, master’s candidates were hooded, and diplomas were presented, Dykstra provided remarks to the graduates. Rev. Willis Van Groningen, Ph.D., Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Formation, gave the benediction.

Music Professor Minkyoo Shin, D.M., and Professor of Music Mark Peters, Ph.D., provided music throughout the ceremony. Trinity’s Honors Ensemble led the singing of “Joy to the World.”

You can view the Commencement 2019 Livestream here.

Trinity’s fall semester 2019 commencement will take place in Ozinga Chapel Auditorium at 10 am on Saturday, Dec. 14. Click here for more information.

At the Dec. 14 commencement, three of Trinity’s professors will offer reflections: John J. Fry, Ph.D., Professor of History and Department Chair; Mario Guzmán, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology; and Kelly Lenarz, Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Education; and Director of Education Assessment, Innovation & Traditional Undergraduate Programs.

You can view the Commencement 2019 Livestream here on Saturday morning.

Trinity congratulates all our Fall 2019 graduates and their family and friends!