Archives: Initiatives

–Christy Wolff ’10

Stephen Henderson ‘08 is clearly demonstrating what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus. After his youngest child received an incurable medical diagnosis, Henderson began the important work of involving himself in the redemptive process of healing this broken world. He credits Trinity for preparing him for this journey: “Trinity begins equipping us with the knowledge and skills to serve in our spheres; we have to figure out how we’re going to use that to serve in God’s Kingdom.” 

Originally from Pella, Iowa, Henderson and his wife Lacey ‘08 graduated from Trinity; he majored in history with minors in education and special education, and she earned a nursing degree. Both immediately started grad school – with a baby on the way! “I have pictures of me and Lacey doing homework for grad school with our newborn daughter on our lap,” Henderson recalls. Over the next several years, they would welcome three more children – with one more due October 2021. 

In 2018, Henderson was nearing the finish line of obtaining his doctorate degree. He had completed the coursework, written his dissertation, and was scheduled to defend it before October when his fourth child was due. Everything worked according to plan, and the Hendersons welcomed Estella in October 2018. 

Two months later, he was preparing to walk across the stage at his doctoral graduation. “For years, I longed to acquire the earthly title of being a doctor; I wanted the recognition,” he described. But as his new title was announced – Dr. Stephen Henderson – he heard the topic of the first chapter of Ecclesiastes repeat in his head: Everything is meaningless. “The Spirit was prompting me that something was coming in my life that I hadn’t experienced that was going to make everything else seem meaningless.” 

Six months after graduation, Estella was diagnosed with Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC), an ultra-rare neurological disease that affects one in one million kids. “It’s like having seven difference neurological diseases in one person,” Henderson explained. AHC causes episodes of paralysis, uncontrollable muscle and eye movements, intellectual disabilities, difficulty walking, and behavioral disorders – among other challenges. 

“The early days of seeing these symptoms in Estella were filled with lots of emergency room visits, speeding down the highway wondering what was wrong with our daughter.” 

When the family finally received a diagnosis, they were told there was no cure. As Henderson said: “It’s like being told your own child has no hope for her future. We retracted into ourselves. We didn’t socialize, we didn’t take her into public, we didn’t even share what life was like with others.” 

Henderson realized that it’s important to walk through the grieving process and wrestle with God. He spent the better part of one year pleading with God and shouting at Him, questioning why He would let this happen to his family – to his own child. 

“I came to the conclusion that the evil disease that my daughter has is not from God nor was it caused by God nor was it given to us by God; there is evil in the world and it exists because we live in a fallen, sinful, and broken world.” He went on to say, “If we, as Christians, are called to be part of the redemptive process of renewing God’s creation, then I’m called to redeem the world and rid it of this sinful disease.” 

With that prompting, Henderson became involved with the Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood Foundation (AHCF), an internationally known foundation that has funded millions of dollars in research, with the mission to end AHC. 

His own fatherly desire is much the same: to find a cure for Estella. “My quest to cure AHC, along with my colleagues at AHCF, is my way of reclaiming a broken part of God’s creation.” 

The painful symptoms Estella experiences can come on so quickly. “You just don’t know when an episode is going to happen for her. You can see her body slowly start to shut down to where neither of her arms work, and within 20 minutes she could be completely paralyzed and could stay like that for days.” These events are known as “episodes.” They can last minutes, hours, or even days. “Just imagine your child writhe in pain, screaming uncontrollably while you watch helplessly. That is life with AHC.” 

Being stripped of every aspect of feeling in control, Henderson shared, “Maybe this is what God is talking about when He tells us to rely on daily bread – when you have nothing left that day and have the complete inability to control anything in your life.” 

One thing that brings him joy in the midst of these life-altering challenges is watching how his three other children treat Estella. “They look at Estella and love her for who she is: their baby sister. That’s an image of how God looks at us. He loves us for who we are and doesn’t see our brokenness.” Elena (10), William (8), and Adriana (4) clearly model Christ’s love to Stephen and Lacey. And with their fifth child due any day, Henderson said, “God is giving us an opportunity to have a little more joy in our life where sometimes there exists much sadness.” 

When Henderson reflects on his years at Trinity, he recalled how Dr. Pete Post (assistant professor of special education emeritus) made a lasting impact in his life. “Dr. Post continually pointed out that parents of special education children and children with special needs are very aware of what they cannot do, and our roles as teachers is to emphasize to those parents and that child what they can do,” That has been true of doctors, too, who repeatedly tell Estella what she cannot do. 

Henderson, now associate academic dean and the chair of the education division at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, shares these insights with his own students. “My students get to know me personally and professionally like at Trinity. I knew early on in my career that I wanted to do for others what my professors did for me as a student.” 

Before holding his position at William Penn, Henderson taught at Pella Christian Grade School. “When I was so new in education and would have behavior issues in my class, I would email my questions to Dr. Post and he would turn them into case studies; he would present them to his class and I would receive emails from his students with their ideas and findings,” he recalled. 

Others at Trinity impacted his life as well.  “I owe a small part of who I am to the influencers in my life, particularly Dr. John Fry, Dr. Bob Rice, and Dr. Pete Post.” These professors showed their care and support during particularly challenging times, such as when his own mother passed away during his sophomore year. “I wanted to drop out of school, but these life mentors stayed with me and became a major part of my life.”  

To this day, Henderson remains in contact with Fry and several other professors at Trinity. 

The Henderson family’s is one single story in a world full of brokenness, and he wants others to be mindful of the suffering that exists in the quiet margins of society. “We have the ability to be the hands and feet of Jesus to help those who are suffering. It doesn’t have to be AHC; we are called to help in the redemptive process of hearing these people and responding.” 

With that calling, he continues to keep his feet firmly planted in his relationship with God. “My daily prayer includes two points: Asking God to please give Estella a good day, and if He doesn’t, then I ask Him to please give me the feet to walk the path that’s laid before me.” Henderson is filled with hope for what the AHCF is doing as they partner with some of the best scientists in the world. “My daughter might not be made whole on this side of Heaven, but I have hope that one day she’ll get to run and play because of what Jesus has done.” 

To support Estella
If you feel led to donate to Estella’s cause, please visit her page: https://ahckids.app.neoncrm.com/estella  

Trinity was excited to recently host the 6th Annual 24-Hour Theatre Project, a campus tradition! This year’s project followed a devised format, which blended the traditional roles of director, actor, and playwright to enhance collaboration, creativity, and continual discovery.

Check out this video about the project on Trinity’s YouTube page!

Luke Weston ’18 recently visited Trinity with his K-9 dog Hudson, to talk about his experiences and answer questions from students. Weston, a detective with the Kane County (Ill.) Sheriff’s Office, visited a criminal justice class and provided a demonstration with Hudson, a Dutch shepherd.

Weston talked about his work with the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, his experiences as part of the K-9 unit, and his time at Trinity. “I was fortunate to have found the criminal justice program here,” he said. “It was an awesome experience. I truly think law enforcement is a calling. Trinity and the program here helped me a lot.” 

Weston began working for the Kane County Sheriff’s Department soon after graduating from Trinity. In 2019, he was honored for heroism for locating three armed suspects after a robbery. Though the men were all brandishing weapons, Weston was able to subdue them without the use of any lethal force, officials said. For his dedication, Weston received the Employee of the Year Deputy David Stewart Award. 

During his time at Trinity double majoring in finance and marketing, Zach Fitch ’18 didn’t plan to become an influencer or work for one of the biggest TikTok marketing agencies in the world. Yet since graduating from the College and doing a career pivot when COVID-19 hit last year, Fitch has achieved those objectives and more.  

Fitch recently returned to campus from his base in Los Angeles to share his story, offer career advice, and provide insights into social media to several classes of business students. 

In early 2020, Fitch was selling legal products to businesses and consumers. “Then COVID hit, and I lost 70% of my business in a couple of months,” he recalled. Around that time, Fitch’s younger brother challenged him to see who could get the greatest number of TikTok followers. As Fitch remembered with a laugh, he had some time on his hands and didn’t want to lose to his little brother. So, he began creating TikTok videos. “It started as a joke, but I began building a following,” he said. Once he reached more than half a million followers, he started getting offers from companies to promote their brands. Yet TikTok is still a new platform, and there are few guidelines or other people working in that space who could offer advice and guidance. “It is the Wild, Wild West,” he said.  

Those experiences led to his current position as director of campaign execution at Ubiquitous Influencer Marketing, one of the largest TikTok influencer marketing agencies in the world. Ubiquitous works with content creators, as well as major brands like Disney, American Eagle, Netflix, and Lyft. For Fitch, his work is an extension of his Christian faith. “The whole reason Ubiquitous started is so creators don’t get taken advantage of,” he said. “We want to ensure that everyone gets treated fairly.” 

Fitch demonstrates the importance of being flexible, according to Assistant Professor of Business Omar Sweiss. “I’m a big believer in experimenting and adapting,” Sweiss told students during one of Fitch’s presentations. “Zach had to adapt, then adapt again.” 

Trinity’s Cooperativity Club Presents its first discussion of the semester: “Seeking Reconciliation Between Personal Freedom and the Laws of Physics.” Assistant Professor of Physics Heng-Yu Chen, Ph.D., will speak.

The event takes place on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 5:30 pm in the Vermeer Fireside Room.

On September 17, 1787, the Founding Fathers signed the most influential document in American history, the U.S. Constitution. And every year, Trinity commemorates that world-changing event by recognizing Constitution Day.

For this year’s observation, Trinity students read two speeches that were given at the ceremony marking the 20^th Anniversary of the September 11^th Attacks at the Flight 93 Memorial in rural Western Pennsylvania.

Boluwatife Jegede ’23 read a speech delivered by Vice President Kamala Harris. Caleb Rivera ’24 read remarks given former President George W. Bush.

The Constitution Day event was sponsored by the Department of History and the Historical Association of Students (HAS) — The History Club.

For Alyssa Busker ’24, Trinity is a family tradition. “I heard about Trinity a lot growing up because my grandma was a part of the first graduating class,” said Busker. “She always hoped that her grandkids would come here like she did. My older sister Taylor decided to go to Trinity. Hearing about how much she loved it made me start to consider Trinity as an option.”

Busker was exploring a major in speech-language pathology, after falling in love with the field during an internship her senior year at Aurora Christian High School, in Aurora, Ill. Busker was also interested in attending a college where she could run track. All of those factors led her to Trinity. “I chose to go to Trinity because growing up in a Christian school made me realize how important it was for me to choose a Christian college and continue to grow in my faith and be surrounded by others who want the same thing. I also wanted to be able to continue running track because I loved it so much,” she said.

And her love for track led to a record-setting season her freshman year! Last spring, Busker earned a place at the 41st Annual National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women’s Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in the 100 meter and 200 meter dashes. Not only did she win both events at the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Outdoor Championships, she also claimed the title of National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national champion in both events.

“Being a part of the track team has been such a blessing to me,” said Busker. “We have fantastic coaches who really care about us and help us become better athletes and better people.” Busker said the NCCAA championships have been her most memorable Trinity experience so far. “Our track team really bonded that week, and we all had so much fun using out gifts to glorify God.”

Along with track, Busker is also involved with Trinity’s women’s ministry program. “It has been great for meeting new people and continuing to strengthen my relationship with Christ.”

She said her favorite class currently is Phonetics. “It makes me so excited for all the work I will be doing as a speech pathologist one day. It is a challenging but rewarding class.”

Once Busker graduates, she plans to go to graduate school and then work in either a hospital or school setting.

Graphic design major Yuri Coleman ‘24 came to Trinity because of the College’s size and opportunities that such a close-knit community offers. “I love that I am able to establish close relationships with my professors and students,” said Coleman, who is also minoring in marketing. “These are some opportunities I would never get going to a larger school. The community here is so encouraging, and I am incredibly motivated by the God-centered community and vocation we have on campus.” 

The Glenview, Ill., native said her professors and fellow students have been an important part of her journey. “The professors here are so helpful when it comes to taking physical steps to pursuing my dreams and goals.” Those dreams include someday using her skills at a fashion magazine where she can create layouts and shoot fashion photography.

Coleman was drawn to graphic design because of her passion for art and photography. “When I came and visited the art program at Trinity, I learned more about this field, and it was incredibly intriguing. I am able to combine my passions for art, photography, and graphic design and use that in the professional field,” she said.  

The professors in Trinity’s Art & Design department have given her the confidence to pursue her dreams and passions.  “Before choosing graphic design as my major, I was about to go into elementary education because I liked kids and I knew that it would be a steady and guaranteed career,” said Coleman. “Art has always been a big part of my life but I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to use my skills in any professional field and be successful. After talking to the professors and learning more about the field I was most passionate about, I actually became more confident in choosing graphic design and the art field. It may seem scary at first, but the professors are here to help you take your talents, passions, and enthusiasm and use that to become successful in whatever vocation you choose.” 

Join us for Stardust Jazz Night, with the Trinity Jazz Ensemble and the Trinity Jazz Collaborative! The concert will take place at 7 pm in Ozinga Chapel Auditorium on Sept. 24. The concert marks the first in a series of events planned by Trinity’s Music Department this semester.

After an opening from the Trinity Christian College Jazz Ensemble, the night will feature a professional performance from Trinity Faculty members Artie Black (sax), Chris Davis (trumpet), and Kevin Brown (guitar) with special guests Katie Ernst (bass and vocals), and Tim Mulvenna (drums). Don’t miss this beautiful evening of live jazz,  right here on campus!

“We are very excited to return to live music after not being able to gather for concerts last year,” said Professor of Music and Department Chair Mark Peters. “Stardust Jazz this year features our student jazz ensemble opening for the Trinity Jazz Collective, a professional combo featuring three Trinity faculty.”

When looking at colleges as a high school student, Rachel Reule ’15 had a good idea of what she was looking for. And Trinity met those criteria.  

“I knew that I wanted to have the college experience, a high-quality education, while continuing to reside at home, which was Crestwood, Ill.,” she said. “I also heard about Trinity’s soccer program and wanted to continue playing soccer at a collegiate level under Coach Josh Lenarz.” 

She also knew she wanted to go into a helping profession of some sort, and Trinity’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree answered that need, too. “It came naturally to me because I have always been passionate, a good listener, and was reliable towards the people that I cared about within my life,” she said. “Social work ended up being the perfect direction for me to go.”  

Reule said the Social Work Department staff and professors, particularly Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein, associate professor of social work and department chair, and Lisa Doot Abinoja, assistant professor of social work, played a key role during her time at Trinity. “They assisted, supported, and encouraged me during major transitions within my young life especially during times of uncertainty or feeling overwhelmed.”  

Other members of the Trinity community had an important impact on her as well, including Dr. Rose Malinowski; Doug Fulmer, LWCS; Dr. Mackenzi Huyser, now the executive director of Chicago Semester; Brad Breems, professor of sociology emeritus; and Mary Lynn Colosimo, professor of psychology emerita. “I will forever remember their classes and their dedication to the field. Their efforts have left a lasting impact on my education and my foundation of being a social worker,” she said.  

After graduating from Trinity, Reule earned a master’s degree in social work from Dominican University, and she currently holds two positions. She works full-time as a high school social worker at UCAN Academy High School, a therapeutic day school on the west side of Chicago. “I am responsible for a case load of about 18 high school level students with Individual Education Plans due to their special education needs because of learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, emotional disability, and/or intellectual disabilities.” Students are given an assigned number of weekly minutes that need to be serviced through social work sessions. “Many of our students have been trauma exposed and often experience crisis situations, triggers, and/or escalations when in the school building. As the social worker, you assist the classroom and other staff in case management services, deescalating students, writing safety and behavior plans as needed, and providing education around mental health conditions that students are experiencing or diagnosed with.” 

After obtaining her clinical license, Reule also started a part-time position at a private practice office, where she provides therapy services to a variety of clients. “It has been a humbling experience thus far to assist people in their healing process,” she said.  

Reule said Trinity has prepared her well for her current work. “The Social Work Department imbedded in me the importance of being a flexible, seasoned professional at all times, utilizing a strengths-based perspective along with other evidenced based practices to provide your best abilities and services for your clients,” she said. “They have instilled the importance of always having effective self-care practices, as well as affirming boundaries and professional standards and ethics, no matter how comfortable a client is with you. Social workers often assist the vulnerable–if not the most vulnerable populations. So, it is essential to always have that in mind.”