Duane Keilstrup,
Professor Emeritus of German
University of Texas-Arlington
[February 4, 2014] –
I was never a cutting-edge scholar or dynamic orator during my career in academia. I was, however, in love with the Lord Jesus Christ. By His grace, God led me one spring to be part of a Faculty Commons short-term mission to universities in South Africa.
Although unsure how I might contribute, I was excited to be a part of this amazing outreach. Yet my willingness to be used by God did not exempt me from adversities — before, during, and after this trip. At the time, I suffered from severe stomach disorders. We were, of course, asked to speak before several campus groups. Each day, I feared I would not have the stamina and clarity to present my lectures.
Unusual Freedom
To my amazement each time I approached the podium, I felt completely free of pain. In workshops for Christian faculty, I explained how I integrated the Gospel into my teaching of German language and culture. These workshops led to conversations with individuals afterward.
One day, a Cru student leader introduced me to a science professor whose wife had been urging him to come to faith in Christ. He expressed interest but had not yet come to a decision. He said he felt he just needed a push. Sensing the Holy Spirit’s leading, I shared my story with him. Though my journey with the Lord made sense to him, he still was not ready to accept Christ’s forgiveness for himself. Later, as our group was boarding the plane for our flight home, news came that he had indeed finally yielded to Christ.
After I had returned home, I heard that the talk I gave to the faculty at Johannesburg College opened new doors for our host professor to share Christ with other profs and also several small student groups.
New Challenges
Back home, new challenges revealed the New Testament reminder that we serve at times out of our weaknesses. First, I received several mean-spirited teaching evaluations—something I had never faced before. On that same day, I found myself in a verbal confrontation with an out-of-control lab technician. Almost overnight, I had plunged from the spiritual African mountaintop experience into a valley of frustration and disappointment.
Hadn’t I done what God wanted?
Help in Time of Need
The next morning, God graciously intervened. A custodian left a beautiful drawing with words of encouraging Scripture on my desk. God clearly led this young man to provide encouragement, because he had no way of knowing of my frustration. More drawings arrived daily. Gradually, we developed a friendship. I learned about his problems and his need for mutual encouragement. By his simple expressions of faith through art, this building custodian encouraged me to continue to share Christ with others on my own campus, even as I had done in South Africa.
Through all this God reminded me that although we are weak, the Lord can use our trials to increasingly transform our lives as we yield to Him and step out in faith.
(c) 2014 Keilstrup