Author: Mackenzie Mahon
2017-2018 NPTS Student Association President
I love encouragement notes. I’ve amassed quite a collection of them over the years – sweet birthday cards from friends, post it notes left by roommates over the kitchen sink, screenshots of kind text messages, archived emails that bolstered my spirit. These words of encouragement have often sustained me in times when faith seemed difficult.
Over the last week I’ve been studying Hebrews 10:19-25, thinking about how we as the student association can foster a community that “draws near to God with a sincere heart… that holds unswervingly to the hope we profess… and that spurs one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another” (NIV).
The third command in particular stood out to me. Words that “spur one another on” make me feel warm inside, so it seemed like something I could easily accomplish. The more I studied the passage, though, the more I felt challenged by it. One commentator noted that the word which was translated in the NIV as “spur one another on” can also be used to convey a strong emotion of irritation. The NRSV translates it as “provoke one another to love and good deeds.”
Provoke? Provoke doesn’t seem the same as “spurring one another on.” Provoking one another towards love and good deeds makes me feel less like people should be waving “Good job!” banners at me and more like they should be challenging me to live a life that increasingly reflects Christ. I’m not sure if those are the messages that I would be saving in a scrapbook.
And yet this is the kind of community I am praying our seminary becomes this year – one that provokes one another toward love and good deeds. One where we can have honest conversations about topics that matter. One where we can address conflict and injustice and inequality, in our lives and in the world. One where we can talk about why this might feel like a safe space for some and more uncomfortable for others. One where we can lovingly call one another out when we are not living up to all who we are created to be. In doing so, I pray we become a community that is drawing nearer to God.
As SA, we’re also committed this year to creating ways for residential, distance, and commuter students to connect together – because we need all voices at the table. If you’re in our community, but particularly if you’re a commuter or distance student, please let us know how we can be serving you better. Feel free to send any of our council members an email if you have feedback, or if you’d just like to introduce yourself and start a friendship.
Thank you for the privilege it is to serve you. I happily anticipate the good work God will do at NPTS this year.
Meet your SA members:
Mackenzie Mahon, President (mamahon@northpark.edu)
Josh Hiben, Vice President (jhiben10@gmail.com)
Kathryn Larson, Secretary (klarson2@northpark.edu)
Helen Salley, Social Activities Director (hksalley@northpark.edu)
Glen Sandberg, Academic/Financial Concerns Director (glen.m.sandberg@gmail.com)
Peter Shin, Outreach and Mission Director (dpshin@northpark.edu)
Fanchon Kelley, Community Care Director (fjkelley86@gmail.com)
Nadine Bitar, International Student Care Director (nsbitar@northpark.edu)
Glynis James-Watson, Distance/Commuter Student Representative (gmjames-watson@northpark.edu)