Pentecostal Evangel

My Journey: Student of the Word

I came to Evangel University in Springfield, Mo., in the fall of 2006 with eight suitcases. I came from Oregon, more than 2,000 miles away. I knew very little about Evangel, let alone Springfield. Those suitcases felt heavy and lonely.

The first week on campus, before classes had even started, I applied to be on staff with The Lance, Evangel’s student newspaper. Being on the staff of a student newspaper is kind of like being a student athlete, or having a full-time job on top of your studies. It amounts to far more than one extra class in your schedule. But the benefits outweigh all of the obstacles. Being part of student media gave me a rare perspective of the campus and helped me develop connections with students and faculty I might not otherwise have had.

A love of writing and natural curiosity drew me to journalism. A college campus is a naturally enriching place to be curious. A Christian college campus can be even more rewarding. And, just as you have to be honest in your writing, you have to get real with your faith. It is not only a matter of figuring out what you believe, but why. You discover your beliefs are shaping how you live your life, how you interact with the people you go to school with, and what you do to nurture your relationship with God.

Beyond that growing relationship with God, you begin to see your other relationships changing. Living 2,000 miles from home meant my relationship with my parents was morphing. Class and dorm life colored my relationships with peers. But, from God’s point of view, all of that was valuable.

In Matthew 22, Jesus gives us the greatest commandment: to love God and love others. When loving God and others is your priority, it will challenge you spiritually and also take your relationships to another level.

My college years have included seasons when I felt overwhelmed by syllabus demands, writing schedules and all the loose ends of campus life. I often turned to Nahum 1:7 to find encouragement: “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him” (NIV). Psalm 121 also talks about the Lord watching over us.

College brings plenty of changes in life, but the Lord is always faithful. Worrying about how you are going to pay for college, or whether or not you are going to pass a class, is not going to solve your problems. Taking each challenge as it comes and lifting your cares up to God will counter those fears and keep you focused.

I’ve continued to be on The Lance staff throughout my Evangel career. This fall I am filling the role of online editor. The world of journalism is changing. But as a student of God’s Word and the written word, I am on a constant journey of being flexible in an ever-changing world.

KELLY BEVILL served as an intern at the Pentecostal Evangel in 2009.

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