Vocation Narrative-Kristin Bush

A Holistic Christian Future

From 10-10:30 a.m. Calvin College students have a break in their day to grab a cup of coffee, catch a quick nap, or worship in chapel. For alumna Kristin Bush this daily chapel break shaped her life.

When Kristin began Calvin she knew, “one of my goals was always to be a role model, the way people had been a role model to me.” While in her first year at Calvin, Kristin was not exactly sure how that would take shape. Kristin found one avenue for exploring what it means to lead and be a role model in the Worship Apprentice program.

Growing up attending a Christian school, worship was always a part of her life. When she began Calvin, she “knew worship was something I wanted to get involved in at Calvin College. The Worship Apprentice Program came up and I knew it was something I wanted to do.” She applied at the end of her First year and was accepted in the first Worship Apprentice cohort.

The team spent the year exploring the purpose and “nuts and bolts” of worship. Kristin quickly learned that “worship is so much more than standing up front or preparing a song. Worship is an integral part of your life.” Guided by Ron Rienstra at the time and Cindy de Jong, the Worship Apprentices explore the meaning and purpose of worship. Throughout the year they have the opportunity to plan and lead worship on campus. This diverse group of Worship Apprentices ranged from those who were pre-med, to psychology and business majors, to Kristin’s English and physics education combination. Each apprentice had a different take on life, and a different way of doing things. She quickly learned “that even though someone had a different method, everything still got done. That working experience was good for me.”

Working specifically on the chapel committee Kristin spent each chapel period working on some aspect of the service. Kristin recounts, “We were given guidance, but also leadership.” Apprentices are able to experience a range of leadership opportunities from planning and leading a day of workshops for high school students, to writing liturgies, to running the sound and audio visual equipment at weekly worship.

The year was pivotal for Kristin. She was able to tap into passions and gifts and learned important life lessons. Balancing a double major in Physics and English, Kristin learned the importance of finding balance between work and school. Working with a diverse team of students and staff, Kristin developed skills of collaboration and leadership. Kristin experienced Christian community and hospitality in new ways. One day after her roommate remarked, “a lot of times I forget this is your job because you’re so excited about it.” she realized being a worship apprentice was her dream job.

The Worship Apprentice Program empowered Kristin and shaped the rest of her Calvin experience. “The worship apprentice program gave me the tools to know how to be a role model and the confidence to try out for other leadership positions at Calvin like being a Resident Assistant.” Kristin was able to hone her leadership skills as a Resident Assistant her junior year, and in her senior year integrated them as a student teacher.

Lessons learned as an apprentice followed her into her own classroom. Kristin looked for jobs in Christian schools because of her desire to connect faith with literature. She landed a job at Illiana Christian School in Lansing, Illinois and quickly found herself serving as the advisor to the Chapel Committee.

Now the roles have reversed. Only two years out of Calvin, Kristin has traded planning 10:00 a.m. chapel services at Calvin College for advising the Illiana student chapel committee. She recounts, “The Worship Apprentice year gave me the tools to know how to be a role model for future students. People had done so much for me. I wanted to give back.” Advising the chapel team is unlike anything Kristin has done before. She doesn’t lecture this diverse group, but equips them to plan and lead worship. In turn, their world and skill set has expanded. “Where else would these different kids serve on a committee together? They are learning that there is more than one way to do things. I wanted to get them out of their bubble and see new ways of doing things.”

Kristin is still learning that lesson in her daily life. The community around her home church is changing. Fifteen years ago the community of South Holland was 100% Dutch, and now it is 70% African American. Living in a world of white flight bothers Kristin. “I am trying to consciously fight against it. I realize I’m not perfect and still struggle to engage with this reality.” Kristin isn’t alone in this struggle; she is a member of a church that is asking the same questions. Peace Christian Reformed Church is intentionally staying in the neighborhood, when so many are moving to other suburbs. Kristen admits being a member of this church “pulls me out of my comfort zone, something I learned about firsthand as a Worship Assistant. I consider my church a part of my vocation.”

The congregation is asking some hard questions about identity. How do they worship holding on to their heritage and embracing their context? Outreach is a challenge because of the community’s history with racism. Together, they are thinking outside the box and engaging with their changing context.

Kristin emphasizes, “My time at Calvin prepared me for all of life, not just a job.” Wrestling with questions of white flight, singing in the church choir, teaching, and engaging in her community are all part of Kristin’s vocation. Now she is learning firsthand that she is not only a high school physics and English teacher, but a member of a particular community, on a journey. Weekly worship and involvement at Peace Christian Reformed Church connects Kristin to that journey.

Two years out from Calvin Kristin is far away from the 10:00 a.m. chapel hour in the chapel. But, the lessons learned there remain. “Different traditions of worship have helped me to look at the world in a different way. That’s why I like literature and people; they all help me see the world in a different way.”

Looking ahead Kristin muses, “I don’t know what God has in store for me. God has put me in an interesting place and I am doing what I can to use what He has given me.” Serving as a Worship Apprentice opened up Kristin’s eyes to the connections between worship and daily living. Worship is an integral part of life, and for Kristin Bush it has changed the way she sees her neighborhood and the world.