As many of you know, I am working toward a second master’s degree. I am scheduled to take History of Christianity 2 at Abilene Christian University this spring semester.
The professor asked the class members to post Facebook responses to these questions: “What is your name and what would you like to be called? Where are you from? Tell us something unusual about your hometown. Tell us about your family. Are you single, married, have children? What is your vocation and/or occupation? Why are you taking this class? How do you see it fitting with your vocation or ministry? How comfortable are you on a computer? What do you do most often when online? What music do you listen to or what kinds of films do you enjoy? What attracts you to specific bands or movies. What do you enjoy reading or doing when you have free time? What else would your best friend tell us about you? What else would a parent or teacher tell us about you? What things are you excited about concerning this class? What are your apprehensions or fears about this class? What else would you like to tell us about yourself?”
My response was two posts, as indicated by the P.S. Here is a modified version. Happy New Year!
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My parents named me Steven Tramel Gaines. My first name derives from the biblical character with the same name (misspelled in the English translations of the Bible, of course). My mom gave me her maiden name as my middle name, leading to a tight connection with my extended family. Obviously, my last name comes from my dad’s family. I call myself “Steven,” as do most people. I also answer to “Steve,” but I never sign my name that way, except when I sign a birthday card “Uncle Steve.”
While my parents were living in Prosper, Texas, I was born in a neighboring city, McKinney, Texas. Both of those cities are northern suburbs of Dallas. My family moved several times, and we lived in a few Texas towns (Allison, Lamesa, and Afton) and at the New Mexico Christian Children’s Home before finally “settling” in the tiny community of Imperial, Texas, which housed about 400 people. The high school was small enough that I got to participate in many extracurricular activities, both academic and athletic, including six-man football. The town is flat, hot, and dry. It’s a desert community with a passion for football.
Tamara is my fantastic wife, and we married in July of 2005. We met when she moved to Abilene to start graduate school at ACU, where she earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology and then taught and counseled in the Department of Student Success for three years. She has a heart for marginalized populations and is a former board member of Hope Haven of Abilene. She is originally from the northwestern part of Arkansas and completed her bachelor’s degree at Harding University. She is a Razorbacks fan. We do not have any children yet.
I keep one foot in church ministry and one foot in higher education. My full-time job is with the Central Church of Christ in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I’m primarily a campus minister, directing our new ministry with university students; but I also preach occasionally and do some other tasks for the congregation. In addition to working with Central, I teach two public speaking classes each semester at the University of South Carolina Upstate.
As a Master of Divinity student, I am taking this class as a degree requirement. More than a requirement, this course provides knowledge that can help ministry be more responsible and stories that can enrich faith and life.
Computers and I usually cooperate fairly well, as long as everything works properly. When I encounter any technological problems, I dial a friend. Most of my time online involves email, Facebook, blogging, and finding recipes.
I listen to music that enhances my faith, raises my soul, and/or helps me understand culture(s), especially worldviews and experiences of university students and young adults. I enjoy films that challenge my faith.
I like to read books that increase my understanding of faith experiences and struggles in my generation and that of the students I serve. I also occasionally read poetry and novels, preferably from other cultures. (Yes, of course, I read the Bible each day too.) In my free time, I play cards or board games, hang out with Tamara and guy friends, going on hiking and camping trips, watch occasional movies, write, and visit local coffee shops (no Starbucks, please).
My parents would tell you I am the greatest son ever. My teachers would say I need to be very intentional about staying disciplined in my studies. And I would try to live up to their expectations.
I am excited about filling in some of the gaps in my knowledge of our story, and I look forward to sharing some parts of that story with the students I serve. I anticipate ending the class with a greater understanding and appreciation of people, events, and ideas that have shaped who we are and where we are going. I hope to sense God at work through the pages of history.
Apprehensions or fears about this class? I, like David, have heard that the professor is somewhat difficult. But trust me–he is not as vicious in a church setting.
What else can I tell you about me?
I grew up in a Christian family, was baptized just before my tenth birthday, began preaching in high school, and lost my faith and became an agnostic as an undergraduate university student. God brought me back to faith, which now manifests itself in me differently that how I have seen it in many of the traditions of the religious heritage in which I grew up and still live, worship, and minister. Now I relish any opportunity to join students in faith crises.
I try to avoid political conversations in church contexts, and I refuse to pledge my allegiance to any political party, but I do vote. The marriage of the Christian faith with the Republican Party frustrates me. I long for the church to act like Christ’s body in caring for the poor and ostracized of all varieties. I struggle with understanding how to obey Christ’s economic commands in my affluent society. I live in a community with a history of racial inequality, and I try to equip students to embody the reconciliation for which Jesus died.
God has blessed me with many ministry experiences in other cultures, and I recently returned from a short time with churches in Southeast Asia. I am a fan of real Asian cuisines, but I can enjoy some American varieties too. I also appreciate Mexican food and Abilene steaks.
Let me add a P.S. I answered the hometown question by telling you about the town in which I spent the most years of my childhood. Maybe I should tell you about the city I currently call home. Spartanburg, SC, is part of a small metroplex of about half a million people. Spartanburg and Greenville are the largest cities of the region and have many smaller towns surrounding them, creating a mini-DFW. The land is beautiful, with gentle hills, tall trees, lakes, rivers, and lots of grass. The Blue Ridge Mountains are only about a 30-minute drive away, and we can drive to the beach in just a few hours. We are a day-trip driving distance from Atlanta and Charlotte. The community has some cultural richness, as mentioned in my first post. I enjoy working with the church and university in Spartanburg, but I dislike being so far away from family. (My wife’s family is in Northwest Arkansas, and my family is mostly in West Texas–about three hours west of Abilene.)
The new campus ministry with which I work seeks to reach students on five local campuses–University of South Carolina Upstate, Wofford College, Converse College, Spartanburg Methodist College, and Spartanburg Community College. We also are beginning to have a presence on the campus of North Greenville University. USC Upstate is our primary campus of emphasis. All together, there are about 13,000 college students in Spartanburg during the semesters.
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