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AN INSPIRING THIRD CALLING STORY
written by Richard Bergstrom, D.Min.
Co-Director, Re-Ignite
Recently we traveled to Denver to visit my mother-in-law who lives at Covenant Village of Colorado. To my surprise, I learned that a former professor at Westmont College (my alma mater) lives in the same retirement community. I arranged to meet Dr. David Neu and his wife, Karen, with the intent of giving them a signed copy of our book, Third Calling: What are you doing the rest of your life? I thought it might inspire them in their third-third of life. I didn’t expect Dr. Neu to give me a copy of his book––and share the story of his Third Calling.
Dr. Neu described his life’s passion for organ and congregational music. While studying math at Houghton College, a renowned music professor inspired him to explore his interest in music. He nearly decided to change his major from math to music, but instead pursued a B.A. from Houghton, an M.A. from Cornell University and then a Ph.D. from the University of Washington. He taught mathematics at Seattle Pacific University for several years, and then for three decades at Westmont College. He retired as a math professor, but his passion for music never left him. In fact, all during his career he served as a church organist and also frequently engaged in discussions with students and colleagues about contemporary issues in worship.
I was astounded to hear that in the fifteen years since retirement he had been researching the topic of worship. He pulled out his recently published book, Worship and Congregational Singing: An analysis of the power, function and place of music in Christian worship. A “mere” 561 pages in length, the work is truly worthy of being called his magnum opus. He also wrote a lighter companion piece entitled Volumes of Praise for a Vanishing God. (At least the smaller volume more closely resembled our book in size and stature!)
I came away with a profound awareness of how someone with a purpose, fueled by a passion for a cause or subject, can find fulfillment in the third-third of life. Dr. Neu certainly has found his Third Calling. Although very few of us will ever write a 561-page treatise in our lifetime, we can take a page out of his playbook and pursue that which we are passionate about.
Our book may help you discover your Third Calling––unless, of course, like Dr. Neu, you’re already living it!
Notes: For further information about Dr. Neu's books and ministry, please visit www.neusong.com
Third Calling: What are you doing the rest of your life? by Richard and Leona Bergstrom is available on Amazon.com
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RECOMMENDED READING:
Regenerating Generations by Evelyn Johnson and Alan Forsman; published by Reji Laberje, 2016.
This is an excellent resource for ministry leaders wanting to understand why and how to develop powerful and effective ministry with Boomers and beyond. The subtitle, "An Adventure in Vital Living" should be a clue as to how dynamic and helpful this resource will be.
Regenerating the Generations is available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle version.
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UPCOMING RE-IGNITE
RETREAT:
Church at Sun Valley
Buckeye, Arizona
February 17-18, 2017
For information: 623-363-2609
For a list of other upcoming Re-Ignite Events, please visit our website.
Contact us if you are interested in hosting an event in your church, home or community.
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On our way to Australia!
Richard and Leona Bergstrom, Re-Ignite Co-directors, will be plenary speakers at the Faithful for a Lifetime Conventions in Australia, February 22-March 1. Sponsored by the Christian Ministry Advancement's Q4 Connections, conventions will be held in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Launceston, Australia.
For more information, visit Q4 Connection.
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We lovingly remember Betty Peters, our friend and Re-Ignite ministry partner, who went home to be with Jesus on January 15, 2017.
Betty first attended a Re-Ignite Retreat in 2013 when she was 80 years old. A few months later she traveled with us to Sweden and Estonia to help lead Re-Ignite events and service projects. (Betty is pictured above riding a Dala horse at Skansen in Stockholm.)
We are grateful to Betty for her faithful support and for modeling a life filled with purpose and passion.
--Richard and Leona Bergstrom
Re-Ignite
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Third Calling: What are you doing the rest of your life?
and
Third Calling Study Guide
Available at Amazon.com
The book and study guide together provide a great resource for small groups, classes or individual study. Each of the eight sessions includes:
- Stimulating questions to prompt reflection and meaningful discussion.
- A study of Scripture and the lessons taught through the lives of Bible characters.
- Additional resources to further equip readers in discovering and following their Third Calling.
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