Check back each month to read the personal stories of our students on their journey through SCC!



Jose Rivera

I'm in my third semester at SCC. It seems that as time passes, God continues to open my eyes to new experiences, thoughts and concepts. This past week our class viewed a video presentation and watched as apanel was presented with the question, "What does it take to be a Christian?"  Two panelists gave the obvious answer,that beinga Christian is to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  Another panelist divided his answer into steps, andit was the first step that caught my attention. Hesaid thatthe first step in being a Christian is making an "honest" commitment to Jesus Christ and an "honest" decision to follow Him. Wow! This responsecausedme to examinemy conscious to see how honest I've been with my decision to follow Him and the level of my commitment.  Thought provoking ideas such as this one are what make studying at SCC so worthwhile.

Jeff Gunther
This is my first semester at SCC and I am really excited about all that I am learning and how God is using it in my life.  The fast track courses just started in the beginning of October, as opposed to the traditional track which started in September, and my work load doubled.  I was overwhelmed and didn’t think I could do it all.  The thought of dropping out crossed my mind until I started reading a book that inspired me that goes along with my Capstone class- (a class that teaches you how to pursue your passions with purpose according to God’s call on your life).  The book is called “Dare to Desire”, by John Eldridge, and in it I found a quote that spoke right into my life.  “The greatest human tragedy of all is to abandon the desires of your heart, to give up searching for life, it is a rare and difficult journey, but a deeply thrilling one as well… a journey of desire.”  SCC is the beginning of my journey and I know this is where God wants me.  I need to push through and do the work!  It is difficult, but well worth it; and I know when I am done at SCC, I will be fully equipped and God will use me in tremendous ways in the rest of my journey.

Shawntel Johnson

This has been an awesome month for me here at SCC.  I’m really enjoying the capstone course with Dr. Pollard.  One of our assignments was to map out our spiritual journeys and now that I have initiated the process to find God’s desire and God’s will for my divine journey I feel a sense of contentment.  This contentment comes from the knowledge and understanding that I am God’s workmanship and I am assured that he who has begun a good work in me shall complete it until the day of my father’s return.

Chris Buss

If you are reading this entry, there probably is a reason for that.  While you ponder that reason I have a question for you.  Do you own a cell phone or an answering machine?  I know, an obscure question, however if you do, you probably can relate to how I came to SCC.  The way I look at it, I had just sat down for a nice, relaxing evening all to myself.  I got the game on the television, a spread on the table, and a six-pack of IBC.  What could be better?  Then the phone rings, you know what I’m talking about, the call which always seems to come right when you are most comfortable, the call that usually appears as “unknown” on the id box.  So what do you do?  You screen it.  You let the machine pick it up; if it sounds good then you’ll answer it.  I mean why disrupt your one moment of comfort just to answer the phone, especially an unknown caller.  Then you hear it, “Chris…..Chris, I know you’re home.  It’s me.”  Beep…………….

You think to yourself will he ever stop calling, but this time something was different.  This time I decided to answer the call from the unknown caller.   I was in my jeep driving to work, in what was comfortable, a good paying job with growth opportunities, moving forward in life, but it wasn’t what God wanted from me.  In answering his call, He led me here, to SCC.  Through the professors and classmates here God is revealing himself more and more to me everyday.  It just shows me the many devices He can use.

I can tell you honestly, that I am not comfortable, in fact at times it is very challenging, but that is the beauty of our faith and answering an “unknown” on the id box.  In time, the unknown becomes known and not in my timing, but God’s.  In today’s world of “can you hear me now”, pagers, cell phones and text messaging we can miss a call.  In fact, we can roam, not be in the right plan or even be trying to find a lost signal, but with God however, we are never out of his range and if He is calling you, maybe it is time you answer the phone and switch plans.  For me it was coming here, what is it for you.

Cynthia Williams
I have come to the full understanding that my life will never be the same. I will not think the way I use to, I will not view people or things the same, I will not take for granted the time that has been given to me. In May I took a class in Spiritual Formation, during this time the Lord spoke to my heart while we were studying from the text of Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster. There are many things that we must take into consideration when picking up our cross and following Christ. I have learned that there are many disciplines involved that I never new before. God Has been dealing with me for the last year and half for simplicity in my life and as the author Foster states "the point for the Discipline of simplicity is the seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of his kingdom first and then everything necessary will come in its proper order." Simplicity sets us free to receive the provision of God as a gift that is not ours to keep and it can be shared freely with others. I am thankful for the fine tuning that the Lord is doing with me in my life and the things that I become so aware of. None of us will be as Christ is until He returns, then we will be like Him.