Christy Van Steenburg: Teacher, Principal, and Missionary
Growing at IWU
Christy White arrived at Indiana Wesleyan University as a second-generation student. Both of her parents graduated from Marion College, and so she was proud to be following in their footsteps.
Although the Lord had already been working in her heart prior to arriving at IWU, it was during her time in college that her faith fully became her own.
While at IWU, Christy learned about holiness, sanctification, and a variety of other things which helped to deepen her relationship with Christ. While she grew up a Christian, it wasn't until she arrived at IWU that she began fervently falling in love with Jesus. She also fell deeply in love with fellow believer Barry Van Steenburg and the two were married while Christy was still in school.
Working With Public School Teachers
Christy’s area of study was elementary education with a kindergarten endorsement, and IWU cultivated her God-given skills to a place of excellence. In fact, when she joined other teachers in her first year out of college, she felt far more prepared than many of the teachers she served with. This level of preparation is something she credits to IWU’s education program.
After graduating with a bachelor's degree, teaching certification, and the necessary skills to run her own classroom, Christy went into the public school system and began to work with a variety of other elementary school teachers, preparing lessons and helping students learn.
Over the next few years Christy grew as a professional educator, before eventually becoming a principal. While working in elementary schools was something she was well-suited for, she and her husband Barry felt God redirecting them and decided to follow God’s calling on their lives to enter the mission field.
Given the difficulties which Christian missionaries often encounter, they knew that it would be far from easy, but were committed to following God's calling anyway.
Entering the Mission Field
Christy and Barry would end up serving on the mission field for seven years, along with their four sons. These seven years of missionary work were full of many transitions, with the family living and working in three separate countries during this time, but they were also full of many good relationships and experiences. Christy feels that God taught their family a great deal about His faithfulness and His love for the world.
While she was a highly experienced teacher, Christy did not honestly expect her skills as an educator to be relevant to her missionary work. God showed her otherwise, however, and during their time in Nicaragua, He created an opportunity for her to use these gifts to help prospective teachers in the country.
Teacher Education Programs and Secondary Schools
Using her experience as a teacher in the American public school system, Christy helped with teacher training and a Christian Education Class for private schools in Nicaragua. Between her education knowledge, different abilities, and lesson plans, Christy was able to pour into the teachers around her.
While primary public schools in Nicaragua are as well-funded as possible and get a reasonable degree of support, secondary school teachers do not receive sufficient funding, making Christy's work to help raise up new teachers all the more essential.
Later, while living in Panama, God opened the door for Christy to become chairwoman of the international school her sons were attending. Christy also led a director search for the school while involved in its leadership.
Missionary Efforts
Throughout her time on the mission field, the number of people Christy walked alongside and managed to encourage pleasantly surprised her. She found that she was consistently able to help build up those around her, and was happy to watch them excel in their gifts. Over time, she found great delight in observing the growth of the people she encouraged most. This experience of encouraging others is one she treasures.
Another experience which still sticks in Christy's memory is a trip she and one of her sons were invited to participate in, several years ago. They, along with many of the pastors they knew in Panama, went on a journey to the remote Guna Reservation.
The trip took seven hours one-way; the first two were in a bus, the third was in the back of a pick-up truck, and the remaining four were in a boat which Christy described as a "hollowed-out tree trunk with a portable motor." When they finally arrived at the reservation, they were met by a beautiful and remote community who warmly welcomed them and invited them to learn about their people group.
The pastor of the reservation had lost his daughter just a couple days prior, and so they were able to take part in the ceremony to honor her. The pastor also took the time to explain his culture’s customs regarding death and although it was a somber and sad experience, it was still deeply moving and the relationships forged left a lasting impact.
Reflections
Throughout her time on the mission field, Christy feels her faith was tested in a variety of ways and she grew like never before in her relationship with the Lord. Looking back, Christy believes she saw miracles happen before her eyes and learned to trust in the Lord’s faithfulness more deeply than she ever had before.
From her time at Indiana Wesleyan University to her efforts in the classroom to her work on the mission field to her current role as a Regional Mobilizer for Global Partners’ Resource Team, Christy feels that God has led her through many experiences which have refined and grown her. While no longer on the mission field, her current role allows her to continue to serve God in the area of mission work, helping to equip more people to go out and change the world for Jesus Christ.
