the missing stone

Hello to those of you who just arrived here because of the letter you have received from Karin and me in the mail! Take a look around and drop a comment!

Below in the second Mar 15th entry is the text of the support letter. It is much better read in its original Word format, available on the right. But if you really want you can chop through the less polished blog post version.

Thanks for visiting!

Blog you later,

Dan Van Minnen

Dallas Theological Seminary
www.dts.edu .

“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

Dear family, friends, colleagues, peers, brothers and sisters in the Lord,

This is it. This is where we go public. You are receiving this letter because of Karin and my relationship to you, and our desire to include you in our journey as we begin it, namely answering the call to enter into ordained ministry of God’s Word, His church and His mission to all peoples. Some of you we have mentioned this to in passing, over coffee, over great distances by email, or in times past to many dear friends and family we leave behind in countries we’ve come to love and miss. Our plan is to get up and go to the land God has shown to us, Texas! There I will begin a four-year Master of Theology (Th.M.) program at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas.

It has certainly been a long road as far as discerning the call. As far back as 1999 in university I remember telling God that if he wanted me, then he would have to shape me for the task. It has been 9 years since then and by God’s grace he does not call the equipped, he equips the called. Through doubts and trial the desire and the ability only grew until I could do none else but GO, where Christ calls. Supportive friends prayed with us many times in Korea as I researched options. Arriving in Canada in 2006 we hit the road and after visiting Chicago, Grand Rapids, Dallas, Philadelphia and Boston we knew shortly that Dallas and DTS was the place. We applied and based on my previous undergraduate training I was accepted. And we haven’t looked back.

Why Dallas Theological Seminary? Among other things harder to articulate are these more clear features of DTS:

The faculty and scholarship is top notch. Some of the strongest greek, hebrew, and expository preaching training in the world. Many professors with years of experience in mission fields from Ethiopia to Eastern Europe, even when they are not the mission professors. Ministry track selection is the largest of any school, with 11. Ministry formation programs for both me and Karin. Doctrinal emphasis is solidly based on God’s Word. Thorough preparation: DTS offers a four-year Master of Theology (Th. M.) giving you greater mastery of the languages and goes more in depth in all areas of study (most seminaries have a 3-year Master of Divinity program). They study every book of the bible, the only seminary we know that does that. Cost: An excellent longstanding support community has actually caused the average student living cost to drop over 2,000 dollars, making it the most affordable of the schools we’ve visited.

Dallas has a mission emphasis running throughout the school. It was started as a missionary school, and as we visited we were told of how DTS president emeritus and chancellor Chuck Swindoll would get a rented van with some ministry students and church people and drive to Mexico to see how they could reach out to the communities there. This is a man heard by millions on radio, author of over thirty books, past president of DTS and senior pastor of Stonebriar Church in Plano, squeezing into a rental and heading for the border. That’s the sort of ‘school flavor’ that made an impression.

“…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:3b

What do I hope to gain from this kind of training? My goal is to become a servant-leader in God’s kingdom through ministry, mission and teaching. I want to build skills in these three areas so that I am competent to not only preach, but do mission anywhere God leads, and to be able to teach about that mission work and about theology and God’s Word. I am very blessed, even to be alive, and I want to bless many others with the gifts given to me. We want to play our part in motivating the whole church to bring the whole gospel to the whole world. We will not achieve our dreams in four short years. But DTS, as they say themselves, is just a stepping stone to ministry. A very solid one.

Where do you come in? First of all, as is typical of seminary hopefuls we just like to share this news with all the people we love at once in an official way. We really just want you to know, understand and support us especially as this is a kind of journey that’s unique; and we need support for such a thing.

“I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer” 1 Timothy 2:8
“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b

The specific ways that support plays out are like this: We would love for you to partner with us in prayer. Just let us know that you are praying regularly for us, or promise to pray regularly for us (this is a two way street). Although quite good, I am a little concerned with my health, already having lost a year of university due to health. Seminary study is demanding I do not want to lose precious time and marks to sick days. Also our marriage. We need prayers of protection for our marriage as we enter a demanding public vocation. We have already been told, “Our church is praying for you” and “we pray for you guys often” by supporters and that is the most fantastic support bar none that we could receive.

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others,
for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16

Obviously the elephant in the room needs to be acknowledged, and the elephant’s name is finances. Here’s the breakdown: Dallas Theological Seminary costs $26,802 per year – every expense accounted for.

Tuition, fees and books is $10,568. The rest is living expenses, and they go like so (approx. – based on averages from DTS student life department, with wife; all figures $USD):

Health insurance – – -2961
Car (total exp.) – – -1723
Phone & Misc – – -3274
Housing & food – – -8300

And now the bottom line: How much we need from supporters like you.

We have current budgetary shortfall of 16,800 dollars to fill in six weeks. In addition we have moving costs and the purchase of 1 bicycle and a computer. We have brought down our university debt from $32,000 to only $7,700 in the last 20 months. While this has left us in a much improved debt position, we have depleted our net worth. We have each contributed $1,100 to RRSP funds this past year. We are stopping that also, for now. We have stayed in Canada an extra year to prepare better. We expect to have about $10,000 in earnings to put toward school by departure time. We are also waiting on the DTS Canadian scholarship as well as considering a loan, depending on the amount of supporter’s contributions.

We will hopefully both work, ride bikes (we hope to imitate our Korean lifestyle and go as ‘car-less’ as possible), use the on-campus charity food store, etc., and keep costs low, but unfortunately future earnings and savings cannot count towards my first year of studies before we arrive. A full year’s worth of finances, $26,802, must be proven in pledges or actual monies by the May 1st deadline for us to be eligible for our visas and on-campus housing (please refer to “When do I pledge” on the green sheet) . If all goes according to plan, we should need a little less support in the remaining years of my program.

We are asking for your help to make this happen. And speaking from the heart, a one-time gift of 5 dollars and a prayer of 5 minutes is not too small. We will rejoice over any amount of support God moves you to give.

We hope and pray that you will partner with us in prayer, partner with us in finances, and take a genuine and growing interest in this awesome ministry opportunity God has placed before us. If you have any questions after reading the attached contact, giving, and “DTS updates” instructions, please feel free to contact us (below). We thank you so much for taking the time to read our initial letter and may God guide you as you consider your response.

Blessings,

Dan and Karin Van Minnen

Pledge guidelines:

How do I pledge?
Just read the enclosed pledge sheet instructions carefully, fill it out, send it in. Be careful about the $USD conversion. NOTE: I have been informed by phone that one-time gifts of under $999 and monthly gifts of under $200 do NOT need bank statement verification. But, if you are going over those amounts, please follow the pledge sheet instructions.

When do I pledge?
This is an important issue for us because it is tied to 2 very important issues – housing and visas. We can acquire neither of these without raising the full amount of $26,802 in pledges or actual monies by the middle of May.

The housing waiting list is over a year long and we are now near the top. In other words we are guaranteed a spot pending finances. If we miss May 15th our name gets erased from the housing list. And by 12 weeks before the start of school (May 21) for the U.S. gov’t to start our visa process in time.

Therefore we have pledge deadline: May 1st and pledge payment deadline of late July, just before we leave. Non-pledged money should be sent before May 1st.

Example: This means that if you’ve pledged on April 17th a one-time gift of US$50, you do not have to pay the actual $50 until late July, three months later. The pledge simply needs to be delivered to Dallas Theological Seminary before May 1st so we can arrange housing in the two weeks before May 15th and get the visas underway. And by all means, feel free to skip the pledging and give immediately (see giving instruction sheet 2nd green)

Giving guidelines:

How do I give funds, either now or later? Read this helpful quote from the Dallas Theological Seminary website:

“DTS cannot accept wire transfers for student payments. The Cashier’s Office does accept cash, checks, cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Please keep in mind that the payment deadline is generally about 2 weeks before the classes commence. If you have not yet submitted your payment, you will need to make sure that it arrives at the cashier’s office by 4:00 P.M. on that deadline date or your classes will be dropped from registration.
You may fax credit card information as well. If you choose to do this, please include the card number, expiration date, amount you wish charged to the card, and the name that appears on the card. You may fax this information to 214-841-3642. Should you wish to mail a check, you may want to send it by FedEx, UPS, DHL, or some other similar overnight service.” (emphasis mine)

One key difference from quote:
We are asking that you make good on your pledges, not 2 weeks before classes but earlier, just before we leave for the U.S. (end of July) as I have stated earlier. This would ease stress and logistical hurdles for us. Generally, the sooner the better for planning!

We will gladly except cash in hand. Just keep in mind that after May 1st we cannot count it towards the $26,802 for our visa and housing process. After this date cash in hand will just go towards moving expenses, a bicycle, the computer fund, or misc school supplies.

Giving Instruction Sheet

Any questions? Contact me directly! (refer to blue contact sheet)

Important note: If you are pledging a monthly amount, I have been told that right now there is no way to do automatic monthly payments to Dallas from their end. (The website says that they do not accept wire transfers at this time, but that may change in the future) If you know a way you can arrange with your bank, then by all means do so. I will continue to look into this and make sure that the latest news is available to you. (Refer to blue contact sheet on how to stay in touch)

Mailing a check:
What do I write on the envelope?

(the number above my name is my student number)

Who do I make a check out to?

(You may specify “for tuition only” or “for expenses” in the memo line or leave blank for ‘any use’).

Credit Card:
How do I charge it?

Here’s a quote from DTS Accounting to me:

“As for credit card payments, we are making some changes to credit card
processing here at DTS and this is what they will be able to do after
April 11, 2008:
“Fax – fax # is 214-841-3642 = They can fax us their credit card
information which includes: their name, your student name, your student
ID#, their phone number, their credit card number, the expiration date,
the 3 or 4 digit security code, amount to charge, and their signature. I
believe we will be able to do electronic check also. I am verifying
this at this time.”
“…a convenience fee will be charged to the cardholder. If a credit card is used, it is between 2.8-3.5% depending on the amount charged. If by electronic check, there is a $5.00 convenience fee. DTS does not receive any of the convenience fee.” (all emphases mine)

Unfortunately, you cannot receive a tax deduction on any donated monies at this time.

Contact and updates:

After this letter, we will not be snail-mailing anymore. We are trying to go paperless and “green”. (If you live outside North America then even this letter I have emailed to you.) If you prefer a snail mail update, we will happily do that for you, even to those outside of North America. They will be mailed out approximately at the same time as the online version is published.

Here is how we’re going to update you:

I have made a blog site on the internet: It’s here, at the missing stone

(there is no www. and no @ symbol!).

I will email you when there is a new post on the missing stone. All official updates will have be marked with the “DTS update” category. Other posts will be categorized “General” or “academic” and so on.

Check the missing stone more often for the following bonuses:

o weekly updates on DTS life in general
o photos – under “Danphoto” on the right – updated any time
o video – under “Danvideo” you will see the first video: “Danvideo uno”
o archives – check out any old DTS updates or other posts
o Dallas weather
o Books and culture reviews
o get another copy of this letter or the pledge form (in the “BOX” on the right)
o links – any other blogs or online resources I find interesting (bottom right)

Any questions about blogs, DTS, etc., comments or encouragement??

Contact us:

Please download document in “Box” or leave a comment if you want our email. We will be happy to get contact details to you. (I just do not want to leave them in a blog entry)

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.”

Thank you in advance for any support you give – so that we might share that most excellent message.

Yours in Him,
Dan and Karin Van Minnen

So I saw something neat here on CNN yesterday

Wait a minute, I got the name……… the missing stone. And so it begins.

I’m not too narcissistic so I don’t want to stick with “daniel” as a blog name. I want it to be descriptive, simple, catchy, not faddish, provincial, over-specialized, etc. I am proud of the picture though. If you study it it dawns on you that this is in fact a very famous spot in Canada and I took that shot myself. One of my favorite walk about spots. The shot was taken after 11pm on New Year’s Eve 2007. As for the rest of the blog design – work in progress for the month of March.

David Archuleta video from dan the man