|
Meet A Student: Mark Vander Pol
Why did you choose to attend WSC?
In many ways WSC chose me! My family moved to Escondido in
1983 so that my father could take a position as Director of
Development at WSC, so I grew up around this place, went to
church with some of the professors, and graduated high
school with some of their children. You could say that I
have WSC in my blood, so when I decided to go to seminary,
there was only one option for me!
After being here for two years, I have found it a blessing
that all the faculty are united on issues that are being
attacked throughout the Reformed world. I know that what I
am learning in one class will be strengthened in another,
not contradicted. I always knew that WSC had a great faculty
and, for me, that has only been affirmed. WSC faculty are
second-to-none.
The other thing that has impressed me about WSC is how
academically challenging it is. When I leave this place, I
am going to know how to "rightly handle the Word of truth."
The pressures and challenges I face here will only serve to
prepare me for the pressures of serving Christ in a hostile
world.
You just returned to the U.S. from a short-term mission
trip to Malawi with a handful of other seminarians from WSC.
Would you give a brief synopsis of your trip?
When I decided to attend seminary, I did so because I wanted
to teach theology in a college or seminary abroad, like in
Africa, Asia, or Eastern Europe, where there is such a need
for good Reformed teachers. So participating in this Malawi
trip was perfect! Here was my chance to not only teach some
theology, but also to do so while on another continent! If
there was ever a chance to see if this is possibly what the
Lord is calling me to do, this was it!
Our primary task in Malawi was to teach some classes at
Josophat Mwali Theological Institute (JMTI) in Nkhoma,
Malawi. Four of us taught almost full time for
two-and-a-half weeks (it was supposed to be four weeks, but
that is a long story). Besides teaching we also spent some
time at feeding centers established by Fletcher Matandika (a
current WSC student) and taught Bible lessons to 70-80 kids
for a couple of days. My wife, Michelle, also accompanied us
on this trip and she taught Standard 6 English at the local
primary school.
While in Malawi, we WSC students were also able to bring the
Word of God to the people on the Lord's Day in the
surrounding villages. It was such a blessing to be given the
opportunity to worship with God's people on the other side
of the world.
How did your experiences in Malawi help you to appreciate
your education at WSC?
All of us students who went to Malawi are in the M.Div.
program, and any of us could have taught any class we were
asked to teach because we have already been greatly equipped
by WSC. We taught everything from Greek to Old Testament,
New Testament, Systematic Theology, Church History, and
Preaching. Sure there were subjects in which each of us felt
more comfortable, but we could have filled any spot. It is a
blessing to know that by the time I graduate, I will have been
taught all areas of theology by experts in their fields.
Another thing that my experience in Malawi helped me to
appreciate more about WSC is how WSC is a beacon of Reformed
orthodoxy. Even though the people in Malawi didn't know a
lot about WSC before we got there, they appreciated our
position on a lot of things in which they are being
pressured and challenged. The assurance that we "have their
back" was an encouragement to them.
What do you plan to do after you graduate from WSC?
As I mentioned earlier, I initially came to WSC with the
desire to teach. That is still something that I would love
to do, but as I have taken classes here and served as an
intern of my church, I’ve also been considering going into
the pastorate before pursuing my Ph.D. Michelle and I have
also recently been talking about going back to Malawi for an
extended period of time, maybe a year or two. But there are
still two more years until graduation, and any of these
things may change!
WSC students with some students from African Bible College |
|
Primary school students |
A local family |
|
Michelle with some children |
|
|
Iwan Baamann
(MDiv student)
Sunny Chung
(MA '07)
Paul Ekk (MA '03)
Brannan Ellis (MA '07)
David Holmlund
(MDiv '02)
Daniel Kok
(MDiv '02)
Shane Lems
(MDiv '07)
Brad Lenzner (MDiv '07)
Marcus
MacArthur (MA '04)
Mark Vander Pol
(MDiv student)
Katie Wagenmaker
(MATS student)
|
