Calvin Theological Seminary (CTS) dedicated its new DeVos Center for Lifelong Learning in a chapel service that included faculty, staff, students, and a host of seminary friends and donors. Richard and Helen DeVos were present to receive the special thanks of the seminary community for their gift that made possible the renovation of the seminary auditorium, an expanded foyer area, the Upper Room (the former coffee shop or quiet study area—depending on which century you were a student at CTS), and the interior courtyard.
The Center for Lifelong Learning represents the heart of CTS’s continuing education program. In 2009 nearly 5,000 people attended CTS-sponsored or co-sponsored learning events. More than half of those people were attending Center for Excellence in Preaching events, a key anchor of the seminary’s continuing education efforts.
With its “smart classroom” technology, the center extends the reach of the seminary beyond the renovated spaces. Last year 38,000 people accessed the audio and video special lectures archive on CTS’s website (www.calvinseminary.edu). And the Center for Excellence in Preaching’s website based there serves more than 10,000 visitors per month with more than 25,000 pages of material.
The dedication service offered the opportunity for both President Neal Plantinga and President-elect Jul Medenblik to lead the seminary in gratitude to God for the ministry opportunities provided by this new space.
For pictures of the event and the renovated facilities, visit CTS on Facebook.
About the Author
Duane Kelderman is interim pastor at Faith Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Mich. He is a convener of the realignment project described in this article.
