“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” – Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
When I was a graduate student studying genetics, I was afraid to identify myself as a Christian. Several faculty and many fellow students mocked religious beliefs as ignorant. I feared what people would think of me if I told them I followed Christ.
Then, God convicted me with Luke 9:26, where Jesus says, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.”
As I finished my graduate degree, God called me to opportunities to identify myself as a Christian in front of other biologists, including a room filled with 30 faculty and 100 students. Through lots of prayers, I did it—always nervous, but obedient.
I see now how that prepared me to identify myself as a Christian to my students, now as a faculty member, as I have done for several years now.
Last year, I co-taught a developmental biology course. It was my first time co-teaching with another professor. I was filled with that same fear of letting others know I am a Christian in front of another faculty member.
I wasn’t hiding my Christian faith from my department, but I also wasn’t advertising the small ways I shared about my faith and Jesus’ love. What would my co-teacher think of me?
One day, as the quarter intensified, I planned to tell my students that I was praying for them.
As I drove to work, I was gripped by fear; my heart raced. I seriously considered skipping it. I thought, “What difference could one class in one quarter make?”
But then I prayed and asked God for boldness.
When I got to class, I checked in with my students and, in front of my co-teacher, I told my students I was personally praying for them. I was nervous but obedient to what I believed God had called me to do.
“What difference could one class in one quarter make?” The answer came two weeks later when I received a small white envelope in my work mailbox. Inside was a thank you card from a student in my developmental biology class.
In it, he wrote: “I also wanted to say how impactful it has been for me when you share about your faith in class and wanted to say thank you for doing it….when you let us know you pray for us by name, it really encourages me to be bold in my faith just like you!”
I am so grateful that God chooses to work through me—a timid, broken, earthen vessel. Grateful that God is continuing to work out in me the good work that He started in a scared graduate student. Grateful that God gives a Spirit of power, love, and sound mind. 2 Tim 1:7 (NKJV)
Heather DeBruhl
Biology
Cal Poly SLO
Thoughts from Cru’s legal advisor: At a public university, professors may share personal details about themselves in order to connect with and relate authentically to their students. As you choose to do so, just make clear that you are sharing personal details. This way, you are upholding the university’s expectation that the teaching content and grading criteria are not infused with religious ideology.