by David Melton
Of late, I have become increasingly thankful for students I’ve known, present and past. Boston alumni are all over the map. I’m thinking now of Randall and Rachel doing incredible work for Jesus in a creative access nation. Half a world away I think of Luke, Brian, Tony and Joy, and I’m thankful to have a connection with their efforts to proclaim the Gospel to the nations. And stateside, I’m thankful for people like Rich, Wes, Ron and Michelle, Jeff, Devonne, Joe, Brad and Julianne, and Akeem. I even have some weird thanks. When you are in leadership with a bunch of independent thinkers, you are bound to have alumni from both ends of the spectrum who have no plans to name any children after you! While I’m not saying I enjoy criticism, I’m learning to be weirdly thankful for detractors who want us to be “better.” How can I not be thankful for that?
But I’m profoundly thankful for the alums who are my fellow laborers now. Just yesterday, Randy Ward (for whom I’m eternally thankful!) and I were working on an academic project with one of our alumna, Kristin. I’m thankful Boston was and is part of her life and invaluable ministry. Today, other talented, hard-working alumna are really doing the heavy lifting on another complicated task. Just watching Rebekah, Jill, and Lauren work makes me thankful to have them making us better! And I’m thinking of another alum who talked with me about his life recently and said, “My life’s story probably doesn’t look like much, because I’ve given my life to little churches that nobody else wanted.” I still hear those words ringing in my ear. Somebody, the only One who really matters, “wanted” those churches. I’m proud our college has been a part of those kinds of stories. Call it weird or profound or whatever you want, but just be sure to call it “thanks.”