Wednesday, February 18 – Klaipeda Lithuania – Lithuania Christian College

A busy but satisfying day….Up early to discover there was no heat in the apartment OR hot water….needless to say I was not about to shower! I know…that’s Too Much Information! Turns out I was not being discriminated against…all 200 residents of this brand new and gorgeous dormitory were suffering too. It was fixed by mid afternoon and I enjoyed a lovely cleansing!

LCC is unlike Vienna or Ede or UEB or UCL. There is amazing diversity among our CCCU affiliates. LCC is like a U.S. residential liberal arts college plunked down on the Baltic Sea! Its 300 students are mostly evangelical (students I met thought 50-60%), faculty are all evangelical, 50-60% of the faculty are Americans (the board wants it to be 2/3!) the language of instruction is English, the curriculum has a large liberal arts core (56 of 172 credits…where 4 LCC credits equate to 3 US credits), and the facilities are modern and very American like. (Gymnasium where pro BB teams in Lith play, large stadium seating auditorium, spacious café, hi-tech classrooms, faculty lounges, all brand new…and even a state of the art exercise facility for students with treadmills and TVs. ) Students come from 15+ other countries, including a solid contingent from the US.

U.S. economic woes impact LCC a lot as the number this year has dropped by 20….a big budget hit. Other revenue has to come from their generous board, but that board may not be around forever so the number one issue I heard over and over is the sustainability of the financial model. Since 50% or more of the faculty come on a time donated basis…raising their own support, that hiring is crucial and with the economy everywhere so weak, many are more hesitant to launch out and come for a year or two raising money for their trips. This is a serious issue. As David Skeen said last night any help CCCU can give in identifying staff (Web site for retirees? Tapping the retirees ministry group “Finishers”?) would be very helpful. But finding resources is crucial. Efforts to launch an Advancement department will continue. Early efforts raised a goodly amount, but have stumbled a bit as the transition of presidents left some new donors uncontacted recently. It seems quite salvageable but will need attention.

Spent an hour with Marlene Wall, the AVP. Marlene, like Linda Boyer in Vienna is another one of these amazing women that keep many of our institutions running. She is bright and tireless! She’s been at LCC quite a while and faces significant challenges along with David Skeen and his soon to arrive (June) permanent replacement as Rector/President (Kyle Usery)(sp?) I was much impressed with the commitment to liberal arts in an environment not especially hospitable to it. Marlene and theologian Steve Dintamen with whom I spent time in the faculty lounge in the afternoon, really seem to understand that the intrinsic character formation issues require an openness of dialogue and want to “preach that gospel” wherever they can.

Mel Humphrey is VP for student development, and like Marlene, fully credentialed with a U.S. doctorate, and another of these energetic and passionate women leaders. She too understands the mission of LCC to be Christ-centered liberal arts. These students benefit from that vision…but maybe my own prejudice to liberal arts as BOTH the best spiritual and character formation approach AND the most practical education even in countries needing workforce development…..because of its long-term practical superiority to technical training. But enough of my sermons!

I enjoyed a tour with Mel, including the gym, the residence hall (and chapel built in that accommodates the eastern proclivity to a more meditative worship), and the café…where Mel kindly bought me a bit of breakfast. I next met Nataglia who is responsible for international programs…the first NON-U.S. staff person I’d met. But like the others, she is passionate, bright, energetic, and winsome to the students. Nataglia introduced me to two American women (Amanda from Fresno Pacific and Alex from Gordon) as well as a Lithuanian student (Eulia)(sp?) who had spent a semester at Gordon. Then after they left, I got to meet Altinai (sp?) from Kirkestan (?) who had also been to Gordon, met Ivy George, and is hoping to pursue a doctorate at Brandeis. What an impressive group of 4 young women with vision for their future…all wanting to pursue graduate work here or in the US. They confirmed the makeup of the student body regarding faith, and talked about the liberal arts environment. They spoke of the cultural shocks they felt going both ways. But the understood the value of broadened world-view that derived from studying in this environment of diverse cultures. They understand the value of Christian faculty that are approachable and appreciate the dialogue about fait. They DO like the options for exchange of more students…going to the US has helped them take a wider diversity of upper division courses not available here. LCC has exchanges with Gordon that allow a 1:1 arrangement whereby payments are pooled and split to cover costs at both ends. They wish more of this were possible.

Nataglia pointed out the need for US supported LCC staff development since they really don’t identify with any institutions in Europe….but much more with US schools.

I loved my talk with theology prof. Steve Dintament…..who will apparently be part of the new development/advancement effort in the US following up on couples who made visits to LCC as part of the big push advancement effort that raised $3.5m. He can certainly articulate the LCC liberal arts vision well, and I wish him well….because without such effort and hopefully even more such effort by the new president, it will be very hard to resolve the financial viability issue.

I attended chapel….it could have been lifted from APU, or any US CCCU school! Amazing! Band on stage with guitars, modern computer projector, stadium seating, beautiful new grand piano on stage, pure American accents from the students, American praise songs, and wonderful message on Mary and Martha from Garrett Gilliland a southern Cal 39-year old, bearded long haired LCC sociology prof/local pastor. Great message and great connection with students. He could speak in my chapel any day….his 2 kids sat in front of me while he spoke!

Spent some more time with Marlene to hear her ideas for solutions to the issues we had discussed so long in the morning…..and eventually got a few minutes back at the now warm and warm-watered apartment before David and Becky picked me up for a “tourist tour” of Klaipeda. We saw the old city, the Baltic Sea….grey and cold and snowy beaches…and even got to stop at the super modern up to US standards except with BETTER BREAD!...super market. Bought some supplies for my long bus trip tomorrow morning back to Vilnius….

Finally, ended the day with a great dinner party at Marlene’s apartment. What fun! Scott (a Harvard Education A.B.D., Lorna a very bright and energetic LCC lecture in economics, Redvida an LCC grad who is a licensed guide and I think also teaches, Bonnie the outgoing chair of Business and a real saint of LCC who suffers from Parkinson, along with David and Becky. The corn, sausage, potato soup hit the spot on this cold snowy night. While at her place, I got a call from a man Vadim in Riga, who had gotten my number from Kit…and was wishing I could visit Riga before leaving. But he knew I couldn’t and would try to connect me with his colleagues of New Generation Church either here in Klaipeda or in Vilnious before I leave.

After another trip through the grocery store....got back to pack and found an email from a Jeff Youkey from Shelbyville IL who is Assistant Dean here….works for Tommy Thomas in People Management (now SIAM?) but is here with his pediatrician wife for a year of voluntary service. Former IVCF staffer. What a small world!
I’m racing to get to bed…the odyssey tomorrow will begin by car to the station, bus to Vilnius, train to the airport, flight to Helsinki (again!!), flight to Delhi overnight, flight to Mombai, and end Friday 10:35 am (Lord willing!) in Coimbatore. Will I survive? I hope so.

I should add a note….that after posting my blog link and updating my whereabouts on Facebook in Vienna, I got a very offensive post on my Facebook wall from an ’06 GC grad. Not sure what the issue was but he obviously doesn’t think much of me. Several others of my friends saw it and posted objections to him…..but such is life…..
I thank the Lord for the calling He has given me along with the wonderful people I met today here and have met since I left home…to the life transforming work of Christian higher education.