Four Rooms, One God
Updates from Michigan
Some quick updates from last week – I was in Grand Rapids, Michigan at Calvin University for a back-to-back-to-back series of three events.
First, I was part of a team that hosted (with 3 others), the first ever National Christian Engineering Teaching Workshop. Justin Vander Werff (Dordt University, and the President of the Christian Engineering Society), Brian Swartz (Messiah University), Dave Dittenber (Cedarville University) and I worked across all of the 2025-2026 academic calendar to prepare this workshop, including topics on the mechanics of teaching, relationship building with students, how to teach engineering Christianly and integrate faith, and how to have a sustainable career. We also arranged teaching demonstrations from each of us and practicum teaching sessions where the participants could get feedback from members of their ‘pod’ and the additional six pod leaders from John Brown University, Calvin University, LeTourneau University, George Fox University and Dordt University. First time ever, 35 participants, 10 Universities, and it was absolutely a-mazing. Felt like a huge blessing, and, like something that didn’t exist before was coming into being right before my eyes.
Then, I chaired the 3rd annual Christian Engineering Leaders Summit. Approximately 20 Universities participated, and we discussed topics ranging from how to hire great faculty to how we are all incorporating AI into the engineering curriculum and formation environment at our respective institutions. Having these leaders come together to build relationships and discuss the challenges and opportunities in Christian engineering higher education is huge. That many leaders in the same room, talking honestly about these challenges, still feels a little rare—and a little important.
Finally, I presented a paper at the Christian Engineering Conference on Faith development of engineering students. You could read the highlights last week (link) (great timing!), but the gist, if that post was TLDR, is that faith grows for engineering students, IF you are intentional and build relationships with students. The coolest part may have been attending the very next session where Dave Dittenber from Cedarville spoke about assembling all of the papers published at the Christian Engineering Conference during its 20+ year run. This was great work and involved contacting authors (and heirs) representing decades of submissions. Dave54rt5tr4 then did a themes analysis of the entire database, identifying what topics have been discussed the most and which topics are still gaps in the literature. Almost the first gap he identified? Folks measuring the faith outcomes of their students. Then he turned to me in front of everyone and said – ‘And thanks to Mike McGinnis, at least now there is one paper in the database!’ Pretty neat moment.
On a personal note, my wife was able to sneak out and join late in the week, so we got a lovely, romantic dinner in Grand Rapids, a beautiful weekend in Holland, Michigan, and an incredible sermon as guests at Pillar Church in Holland. The sermon was guest preached by Dr. Jon Wagenveld (a co-author of “Take Your Church’s Pulse: Ten Vital Signs of a Healthy Church), and covered Revelation 21. Dr. Jon was winsome, impassioned and provided clarity and hope about God’s plans for us. All while casually (casually he says, while knowing that the level of preparation and wisdom involved to leave this impression is incredible) dropping in a full, clear and winsome description of the entire gospel – multiple times! A wonderful Sunday morning and I am so glad we went!
So, four rooms, four different conversations, and the same glorious God in the center of all of it. Great week!
Reflection Questions
Where are the different "rooms" in your life right now — work, leadership, study, worship — and would you say you notice the same God in all of them, or does He feel more present in some than others?
The data says faith grows for students when someone is intentional and builds relationships with them. Who did that for you? And who are you currently being intentional with?