For the Good of the University - Student Spotlight

When working in college ministry, I think it is important to remember that your students are just that - students. As much as I love having a student who shows up to every event, who helps set up and tear down all the time, and is super involved in the planning of everything -  it is important to help our students be good stewards of their time and talents. Often times the attitude of a ministry is that the students should make the ministry their #1 priority.

    There are a number of problems with this though. As great as RUF is, it isn't the church. It doesn't want to replace the church. Logan and I are very intentional about letting students know that time management is important, and that means an RUF event may not always be what a student needs to be doing. This might sound strange. Yet RUF's philosophy of ministry is that God is at work. If we believe that to be true, it is true in all areas of our student's lives. In their classrooms, at their internship, on the sports team or in the band. If we are serious about being for the university, seeking the university's good, we have to let students be truly involved in university life.

3 out of the 4 Quartet members are a part of RUF
I love having so many talented musicians around!

   It can be difficult to juggle clubs, school work, and even jobs but I think this type of time management is very valuable to learn. The reality is that you'll always be juggling work, home life, church and other activities. How much and when is different for everyone, and every student is different. I'm thankful for the small group of RUF students who devote a majority of their time outside of school work to RUF. But I'm also thankful for the students who come when they can, but can't do everything or be in leadership because they are musicians, or the president of Students for Ending Slavery, or recruiting for their honors program.

   This is why I love going to concerts, plays, or presentations for our students. I love to see them thrive in the university, to see their gifts and talents put to use. This past weekend Logan and I had the joy to attend one of our student's junior flute recitals. It was so great to see other RUF students come out to support her as well.

   There is just something about beautiful music that makes me want to share it with others. As I sat listening to Jenny play, I wished my mom was there to share it, I wanted to tell my sister about it, I wanted the world to share in the beauty of the music. I see God at work in such instances. This is what it is like when we understand the truth and beauty of the Gospel. We want to share it with others, we want to talk about it. So may we ever see Jesus as more beautiful and believable.

Now, let me introduce you to Jenny:

Jenny Lehtonen
Junior, Flute Performance Major

1) When did you start playing the flute & why? I started playing the flute in 4th grade because I thought it a "girly" enough instrument for me (I wanted something high-pitched and versatile). My stereotyped attitude toward the flute has since changed to being that I truly love what I can do with the flute, and I feel it expresses my own personal voice better than other instruments.

2) How did you come to be at Maryland? I knew by middle school that I wanted to be a music major, and I had aspirations to attend conservatory, but when I wasn't admitted anywhere good for performance except Maryland, I settled to come here and I didn't regret it. This school has been an awesome experience, getting to know many great classmates and professors. God led me here, and this was no "Plan B."

3) What do you hope to do with your life? I hope to go to grad school for flute too, and hopefully at a conservatory so that I can be in an intensive program to prepare me for competing in the real world job market. I wish to be a free-lance player, private teacher, and a member of an orchestra, wherever I happen to win an audition in the future. It may take a long time before I achieve that last goal, a position in an orchestra, but I'm willing to wait for my time to come and to continue working until that time arrives. I still believe God is calling me to this path, and he will open a door for me at exactly the right time.

4) How do you see your faith & musical talent intersect? I see my faith intersecting my musical studies in numerous ways. The farther I go into the "Music World," the more I feel that, although it is my responsibility to be disciplined, my own efforts to get what I want compared to what actually happens is completely out of my control. So many musicians around me strive their whole lives to "beat the odds" and figure out exactly how to achieve success, but I've even met musicians in the secular world that admit that there's a little bit of "luck" in the process. I know that what is "luck" for them is actually Providence for me, because I know that God is in control of all outcomes that anyone experiences, good or bad. The musician's life is very painful because we see so many set-backs before we get the things we want, and the sacrifices to get to those points can be enormous. But whatever it will take, I know God wants the best for me, and He's the one who beats the odds for me. In many ways, this lifts a great burden of anxiety about my future off of me, to rest in God's love for me and be obedient to His will. Prayer in general is what really keeps me going in particularly stressful situations in my life.

5) How has RUF been a part of your college experience? RUF is like an oasis in a normally hectic academic life. I appreciate the people who are there, especially Chris Garriott who is such a great preacher and has really fed me in the last few years. I also love my interns Kristy and Logan Lowder who give undying support to the whole fellowship. All the weekly gatherings and special events have been a blessing to me as I've grown closer to God and to all those in the group.

 
Here is a video of the amazing quartet from Jenny's junior recital:

This was my favorite piece from the concert!

Thank you for being a part of RUF through your prayers and support! Know your making a difference in the lives of students like Jenny!

Grace & Peace,