Vocation Narrative -
Jake VanderPlasHeading

Searching for Covenant Renewal

How does one get from leading Calvin College worship to teaching English in Japan to studying Astrophysics? For Jake VanderPlas, this journey included all three experiences and a few other adventures along the way. Since Jake graduated in May of 2003 he has lived in Sendai Japan, Bass Lake and Santa Cruz California, and presently resides in Seattle, Washington.

Jake came to Calvin College in the fall of 1999 from Palo Alto, California. Since his first year at Calvin, Jake had an idea that he wanted to study the sciences and Physics in particular. He began his first year frustrated by the Liberal Arts approach to learning. However, as his first year continued, he learned there was more to his Calvin experience than Physics courses. Jake quickly found himself filling his schedule with classes like The Doctrine of God, German, Social Psychology, and Christian Worship in addition to Quantum Physics. Professors in various disciplines shaped his life in significant and holistic ways, from spiritual practices to the way he thinks about science. Jakes notes that, “They taught me the great validity of every area of study. Everything we learn can speak to God and God’s character.”

Living in community also impacted Jake. He participated in music and worship opportunities throughout his time at Calvin. Jake was involved in various aspects such as leading Sunday evening worship, planning and leading residence hall worship for two years, and regularly participating in planning chapel services. Near the end of his third student year the Worship Apprentice Program was getting off the ground. Jake had not seriously considered applying. But he stopped by Cindy de Jong’s office one day, and she suggested Jake apply. Jake recalls, “It was two days before the applications were due, and it was the first I'd heard of it. So I threw my resume together and applied.”

Jake was accepted as a Worship Apprentices for the first cohort during the 2002-2003 academic year. He was involved with planning and leading daily chapel worship services and the Sunday evening Living Our Faith Together (LOFT) service. He enjoyed leading worship that year and learning more about his gifts. Jake sorted through his theology of worship and the Church. “I came to value the liturgical tradition that year. Previous to that, I had never understood or valued liturgy in worship. It seemed so rote and dry. As a Worship Apprentice I learned the power of liturgy - the connection it creates with believers who worshiped with the very same words and actions a thousand years ago.” Jake also had time and space as a Worship Apprentice to think a lot about his vocation and explore how he would live it, post Calvin.

Jake increasingly wondered what to do after graduation. He considered a variety of options from seminary, to graduate school in Physics, to teaching English in Japan. Each option connected with one of his passions and past experiences. Weekly mentoring meetings with Cindy de Jong, his Worship Apprentice mentor proved to be a great place to bring these questions. The mentoring relationship was invaluable. “Being able to bounce ideas off of her and hear her questions and advice shaped my vocation. My experience as a Worship Apprentice gave me time to think about the why of graduate school.” As Jake looked ahead toward graduation, a new question emerged for him. “I started to think how my skills could be used to further God’s Kingdom.”

Jake decided to take a risk and discern that question, heading off the beaten path. Jake began his alumni years teaching English in Japan. He had previously spent a semester abroad in Japan during his junior year, and was excited about exploring the culture. Jake jetted off to Sendai, Japan where he was doing private tutoring and working for an organization called the "Sendai Gakusei Sentaa" (Sendai Student Center). While in Japan he also spent time volunteering with Campus Crusade as well. After that assignment ended, Jake headed back to California. Stateside, he taught leadership training at Summit Adventure, a summer wilderness camp for middle and high school youths in California. While he enjoyed the outdoors and working with youth as a hike master, Jake missed science. From 2004-2006 he worked in Santa Cruz teaching science to fifth and sixth graders at a science camp. He realized how much he enjoyed teaching. But also had a sense that he wanted to learn more before teaching full time. That realization led Jake to apply to graduate school programs in physics. In the fall of 2007 Jake began a doctoral program in Astrophysics at the University of Washington.

Nomadic living over the last five years exposed Jake to a variety of worship contexts. Each move has prompted Jake to ask the questions “what does it mean to be a Christian in the world? What role does the Church play in community? What is worship in this context?” Jake realized “I needed to be out of the spotlight of worship leadership to think about worship in different contexts.” While in Japan, Jake experienced “the Body of Christ as it truly spans all time, space, and culture.” Working in Santa Cruz, Jake worshipped at two churches. In the morning he attended Community Covenant Church and in the evenings, he worshiped at Vintage Faith, an emerging congregation. Both congregations welcomed Jake and he shared his gift of music by playing the mandolin in worship services.

Living in Seattle Washington has provided yet another opportunity to ask hard questions about community. Newly married in January of 2008, Jake and his wife Cristin are actively looking for a church home. Given their different upbringings, the church search has brought about some good discussion. “We’re both really asking hard questions about what Christian community is, what worship is, and the role of both in our life.” Jake admits that “I keep digging back to conversations during that year as a Worship Apprentice.” I now appreciate the liturgical tradition so much, I can’t do without it.” Jake has also realized that now, more than ever, worship has new meaning as he works and studies in a secular environment. “"It's difficult...when, for the first time in my life, my best friends, coworkers, and classmates - the people with whom I share my daily life - don't share my faith.”

Similarly, finding a church home isn’t easy. Jake realizes that “in the past my relationship with God was marked by what type of Christian community I was in.” School, church, and home were all spheres of Christian community. Now, Jake and his wife have the freedom to search out and shape the community in which they live and work. Jake realizes “If I was to join a Church and dive in headfirst it would mean abandoning friendships I have now.” This realization has caused Jake to re-think his concept of church. “In the past Church was a place for primary community, but now that concept is shifting as I have found tremendous community in my program and with primarily non-Christian friends.” Traveling around for the last five years, Jake has come to realize that “I value the concept of worship as covenant renewal,” namely, worship as a time and place where each of us remembers who we are as God’s children, and where we renew our faith in God. It is this theology that shapes and guides Jake’s search for a Church community, a place where he can remember who he is and from which he can be sent out to work as a disciple for Christ.