This time of year is bittersweet. There is joy in seeing the class of 2022 graduate, excitement for what is in store for them, thankfulness for a rest from classes and work, and anticipation of both the summer term and the new academic year, but it is also difficult. Saying goodbye to students with whom I have spent several years is tough. In John 3:27, as John the Baptist’s followers are leaving to go to Jesus, he says, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” He is essentially telling people that the followers weren’t his and that they belong to Jesus. I tend to think of the students as MY students, MY friends, MY children, and in some sense that is true. The bigger truth, the better truth, is that they belong to God; they aren’t mine, they are His. My sincere hope is that this senior class will take all that they learned here at Dartmouth and use that training to glorify God and bless whatever new community in which they find themselves.
Summer is glorious here on campus, it’s the reward for six, seven, or sometimes eight months of winter. I am excited to spend concentrated time with the class of 2024 who will be on campus for the summer term. The 2025s and 2023s will be off to internships, work, vacations, rest, and hopefully some fun. We will also be preparing to welcome the class of 2026 and make sure they get connected to Christian community as quickly as possible. The rhythms of ministry change in the summer but the work of the gospel continues.
Please pray that the class of 2022 will transition well into their post-Dartmouth life. Pray for new church homes, a gospel-saturated community filled with people pursuing the Lord together, and a peace about what is in front of them. Selfishly, you can also pray that they move back to Hanover!
Pray for the class of 2024 who will be here in Hanover this summer. Pray for deepening relationships, pray for new students to find their way into our community, and pray for robust fellowship to be the mark of this summer term.
Thank you for your prayerful support. May the Lord bless you and keep you!
Noah Crane
Interim Ministry Director
Christian Union Vox
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Dartmouth, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
