Archives: News Stories

Trinity’s Department of Campus Safety and Security works to ensure that each student, faculty, staff, and guest enjoys all of the educational, spiritual, and social opportunities that occur on campus every day.

“We’re concerned about the overall safety of everyone on campus, and our students off campus,” said Thomas Kazen, who was named director of campus safety and security in March. Kazen, who is married to Jackie and has three sons, joined Trinity from the Holland (Mich.) Public Schools. Before that, he worked for the Holland Police Department for 27 years and was a detective sergeant at the time he retired.

A friend heard about the job at Trinity and mentioned it to Kazen. He believed that the Lord called him to come to the College, even though it meant uprooting his family. “I believe in spirit and faith,” Kazen said. And even though he worked for the Holland Police Department while Trinity’s President Kurt Dykstra was mayor of the city, they didn’t really know each other, he said.

Trinity’s Campus Safety and Security Department, located in Tibstra Hall, has several missions: promoting a safe campus environment, detecting fire and safety hazards; regulating and enforcing parking and traffic on campus; coordinating local police support; and implementing emergency and action plans. While they aren’t sworn police officers with arrest powers, Trinity campus safety officers work 24/7 to provide security and safety services. They can issue parking and traffic tickets which may be billed to the financial accounts of students. The campus safety department maintains a close professional working relationship with local law enforcement agencies. Training for all full- and part-time security officers includes state certification, CPR/AED certification, and on the job training.

Currently, Kazen is focused on emergency response efforts, overseeing risk management, and working with incoming freshmen to explain safety on and off campus.

Click here to learn more about how the department works to keep us all safe!

Trinity Christian College is pleased to announce that Dr. Aaron Kuecker will assume the role of provost on July 1. From 2008-2013, Kuecker served as associate professor of theology and director of education at the College. Most recently, he was dean of the School of Theology & Vocation, professor of theology, and director of the Honors College at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.

“As provost, I look forward to continuing to cultivate Trinity Christian College’s strong faculty in ways that help them flourish,” said Kuecker. “During my time at the College I really grew to the love the Trinity community and its potential, and I am excited to return.”

“We are delighted to welcome Aaron back to Trinity,” said Kurt D. Dykstra, J.D., president of Trinity Christian College. “He is an exceptional academic leader who is well respected by faculty and beloved by students. I have full confidence that Aaron will elevate and expand an already robust academic program.”

Kuecker’s academic work has largely focused on identity formation in the early Christian church, with an emphasis on New Testament studies and Biblical theology. He received his Ph.D. in New Testament studies from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland; his M.Div., from Western Theological Seminary; and his B.A. in political science from Central College. Before earning his Ph.D., Kuecker served as associate pastor and youth pastor at Community Reformed Church in Zeeland, Mich.

Trinity is pleased to announce that it has been ranked among the top 10 Christian college education programs in 2016 by Christian Universities Online.

To be considered, schools must be members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, or eligible for membership. Schools were then ranked on a variety of factors, including:

• Number of undergraduate and graduate education degrees

• Faculty-to-student ratio

• Percent of full-time beginning undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid

• Selectivity

• Overall retention rate

• Overall graduation rate

“We take seriously the calling to train Christian professional educators, so we are excited and honored to have our high-quality education programs recognized in this way,” said Jeanette Goddard, assistant professor of education.

Trinity’s education programs prepare teachers to cultivate relational peace, educational equity, and justice for all children and to impact the mind, body, and soul of each student through excellence in teaching. Click here to learn more.

Members of Trinity’s class of ’20 gathered on campus for Blueprints on June 17-18, where they got a taste of the college life they will experience in the fall. This annual event allows incoming freshmen to meet their roommates, register for classes, see what their dorm rooms will look like, take part in fun activities, and immerse themselves in the life of Trinity students.

On Friday, students learned about studying abroad, Bridge Sessions, the Honors Program, and many other opportunities Trinity offers. After a Chicago-style dinner and an ice cream social, students took part in a praise service, participated in a late night extravaganza, and enjoyed campfire and karaoke at the Bootsma Bookstore Café.

Saturday began with a faculty-hosted breakfast, followed by academic overview sessions. Students and professors engaged in one-on-one advising and registration in the Jennie Huizenga Memorial Library. Parents had the opportunity to participate in an open house, and informative sessions on student life, college finances, and the first year experience were held. After a barbecue lunch in the Dining Hall, students said goodbye until they return for classes in August.

To stay up to date on Trinity, visit the College on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/trinitychristiancollege/ and on Twitter at @TrinityTroll

Trinity celebrates with Dr. Benjamin Ribbens, assistant professor of theology, following the publication of his new book, “Levitical Sacrifice and Heavenly Cult in Hebrews.” The book, published by De Gruyter, examines Hebrews’ understanding of the relationships between old covenant sacrifices and Christ’s new covenant sacrifice, particularly as it relates to efficacy.

According to Ribbens, the book grew out of his Ph.D. dissertation, which he completed at Wheaton College in 2013. “It was very exciting to see the book in print,” said Ribbens.

He credits his colleagues at Trinity and Wheaton for their support, advice, and encouragement while he wrote and defended his dissertation and pursued the book’s publication.

Trinity’s Dr. John J. Fry, professor of history, department chair, academic dean, and director of foundations program, has been awarded a Hoover Presidential Foundation Travel Grant. With this grant, he plans to spend several days in June at the Hoover Presidential Library-Museum and Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch, Iowa, to research “The Faith of Laura Ingalls Wilder.”

Fry has been studying the life of the author of the Little House books for 20 years, beginning in graduate school. He intends to focus his research on Wilder’s faith, which he described as an unexplored area. According to Fry, while most biographies of Wilder portray her as a devout Christian, some of the representations of church and other Christians in her books are less than positive. “There is an edge in some of her books,” he said. “For example, she writes about one pastor she doesn’t like at all.”

As part of his research, Fry intends to explore whether some of those views in the published books may be at least partly influenced by Wilder’s daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, who served as editor and advisor on the books. “Her daughter was a libertarian and an atheist at the time the Little House books were written. So it could be that edge comes from Rose Wilder Lane,” he said.

Lane was a friend of Hoover’s, and the presidential library houses the “Rose Wilder Lane Collection” of papers. While in Iowa, Fry can view the original manuscripts of the Little House books. He will also have the opportunity to examine Wilder’s correspondences with Lane and others.

Fry is maintaining a blog about his research, with regular updates and insights into his findings.

More than 50 alumni and friends of the College came together for the 16^th Annual Alumni Golf Outing, raising more than $5,000 for the Alumni Excellence and Alumni Association Scholarships. The event took place on June 11 at Gleneagles Country Club in Lemont, Ill.

For the second year in a row, the winning foursome consisted of Jamie Prins ’09, Rich Tameling ’09, Eric VandenBerg ’09, and Ryan Wories ’09. Their score was a 62, which was eight under par.

Event Sponsor:
Ozinga

Gold Sponsor:
ProviNET

Silver Sponsors:
Media Resources, Inc.
Evenhouse & Company PC
Colonial Chapel
Proven Business Systems

Dozens of Trinity friends and alumni recently gathered aboard the Odyssey II for the first-ever Blue & White Gala, celebrating the College’s connection to the world-class city of Chicago and taking in the spectacular skyline.

Pres. Kurt and Leah Dykstra greeted the guests, who boarded the yacht at Navy Pier on May 20. The attendees, which included multiple Trinity vice presidents and members of the Board of Trustees, enjoyed dinner and strolled the Sapphire deck as the yacht toured the breathtaking Lake Michigan shoreline. As part of the spirit of the festivities, many guests came decked out in blue and white attire.

The event raised more than $62,000 for The Trinity Fund, an operational fund for the College that supplements the school’s income from tuition. If you were unable to attend but would still like to support the College’s students with a gift to The Trinity Fund, visit http://trnty.edu/give.

And if you missed all the fun at this year’s Blue & White Gala, there are plans to host future events that showcase the incomparable architecture and natural beauty of the Windy City.