Have you ever felt like you missed an opportunity to learn firsthand from a man or a woman of God who was in your midst for a season?
I do. Let me share the story.
In 2007 I started a Facebook group called CFNI Alumni, Faculty, Staff & Friends. As a graduate of Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas, it was a way to give back by creating an online community. The group has grown by a thousand members over the past 15 months during the pandemic. During that time I’ve intentionally sought to create more opportunities for the members to engage. One key component of that is a simple question of the week.
Each week a question is posed that is tied to CFNI. Whether asking about who was your favorite chapel speaker or your favorite class at CFNI, the responses are always enlightening and quite enjoyable.
Recently, CFNI alumnus and former staff, Dustin Dauenhauer, posed an exceptional question to the group:
If you could go back in time and give one piece of advice to yourself as a CFNI student, what would it be?
What a question. Here’s my response.
Great question, Dustin. You’re rocking it. Your weekly questions have been phenomenal. I’ve been pondering this question since you posted it a few days back. My initial inclination was to look back at the time of my graduation with trepidation because I now know I’m about to embark upon a very difficult stretch that literally broke me. I’m almost tempted to share a warning of some sort that would lessen the blow; however, it could have an adverse affect that undermines the deep work wrought forth through the fiery crucible. It was certainly a trial by fire that made me the man that I am today.
My answer to your question is something I’ve thought about a number of times over the past year as I’ve engaged this group. The one thing that I would tell myself is this: Be more intentional in getting to know Dr. Belcher outside of the classroom.In hindsight, this is what I would tell the 25 year old CFNI student:1. Engage more with the content of Dr. Belcher’s classroom teachings and assigned readings in the courses that he taught. Go deeper. Ask questions from a heart posture that is seeking hard after God.2. Find creative means to serve and bless him. He probably could have used an extra set of hands at time on the job that required him to wear many hats.3. Once I was no longer single, but married prior to my second year at CFNI, invite him and his wife over for a meal at our apartment in Dayspring. This would’ve been the perfect setting to fellowship over a meal together. My wife is amazing when it comes to hospitality due to her Polish roots.4. Lastly, find means to invite Dr. Belcher to minister at various places where we lived after graduating from CFNI in order to allow him to flourish outside of his normal routine as he blesses even more lives through his teaching.That is definitely the advice that I would tell myself if I could go back in time. Thanks again, Dustin!
That was my response to a question that made me think for a few days.
Although, my interactions were limited with Dr. Belcher, both my wife and I have fond memories of his classes. We had the privilege of sitting in his course on Apostleship during the spring of ’01. It was the first time he taught this course at CFNI; although Dr. Belcher previously introduced the course at the Wagner Leadership Institute. I remember Cindy Jacobs touting Dr. Belcher’s teachings on the apostolic as one of the best she had heard. Altogether his courses were rich, whether it was on the apostolic or the Holy Spirit.
Here’s my favorite memory involving Dr. Belcher.
One late afternoon on campus, my wife and I ran into Dr. Belcher as he was leaving his office. He spoke five simple words that resonated deeply in our hearts: You guys are going places! Those simple words were saturated with fatherly affection that ministered to our hearts. It blessed us so much that he’d take the time to minister to us. Through his actions we felt the Father’s affirmation.
I am thankful for what was deposited in us through his life. But I also wonder at times if there could have been more if I had been more intentional to pursue it. Regardless, I simply praise God for the legacy he left behind in the lives of so many during this time at CFNI.
Reverend Belcher named me the “blessed bus driver” I was driving for DART when I attended back in 1985 or so don’t remember the exact year been a while. John Garlock and Gary Zarlingo as well as David Butterbaugh were there at the time too. Very annointed school!
George, thank you for taking time to comment on my blog. It is always a joy to connect with another CFNI alumni. It sounds like you have some good memories from your time at CFNI.
Were you there last weekend for The Gathering 50/50? We had 50 hours of worship for 50 years of ministry. It was amazing. I just returned home tonight. My heart was so touched by the Lord during this time. I also had opportunity to finally meet David Butterbaugh. Altogether, it was an amazing time.