On one of the warmest days of early fall on Sept. 5 2023, the field house on the Handlon Campus played host to the convocation for the incoming ninth cohort of Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI) students. CPI, now numbering over one hundred students, is a testament to the partnership between Calvin University, Calvin Theological Seminary and the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC). Calvin University President Dr. Wiebe Boer, along with MDOC Director Heidi Washington’s opening remarks, signified the enduring partnership that has enabled CPI students to discover their own self-worth. Furthermore, it solidifies a vision of possibility –– a vision that was created when Calvin University and the MDOC first entered this partnership in 2015.
Delivering the Convocation address was the third member of the partnership, Scott Hoezee, director of the Center for Excellence in Preaching at the Calvin Theological Seminary. The message to the incoming cohort was summed up in one word: Koinonia, which means fellowship, communion, shared experiences, partnership. This message was partnered with a scripture reading from Philippians 1:1-6, delivered by Class of 2025 CPI student Ken Coatsworth. Not to be deterred by the heat or the noise from the fans, the Handlon Tabernacle Choir expressed perfect unity under the direction of Professor Erinn Epp as they performed three selections for the event: “Woke up this Morning,” “New Creation,” concluding the procession of events with the “Calvin Alma Mater.”
While all of these addresses had a significant impact on the incoming cohort, it was the prayer by McConnell Adams and the Reflection by Mark Bell — Class of 2025 CPI students — that was most impactful. Adams’s message was about “linking student’s educational strivings to their ultimate vocations in life — to uplift humanity for the glorification of God — made it fitting to infuse Jesus’s parabolic teaching concerning light found in Luke 11:33 and Matthew 5:16.” Adams further commented, “Being a Muslim leading a majority Christian audience in prayer, I choose Surah 2:155 paired with Psalm 139:1-12, as the foundation for the prayer, leaning into who God is and the mercy He provides His creation.”
Equally encouraging was Bell’s reflection. Bell wanted the “first year students to recognize and embrace the unique opportunity offered through Calvin University while learning to embrace the growing pains of claiming their education.”
“Overall,” Bell stated, “I wanted them to be proud in knowing they in fact were facing the man they were becoming with their enrollment, and to avoid any distraction that was not conducive to furthering their education. From that point on, they are now Calvin Knights.”
One of these new Knights –– Brian D. Peterson –– had this to say when asked about his experience with the convocation: “Without a doubt, what I experienced at convocation has helped me realize that I am part of a bigger community. Meeting some of the alumni and professors brought about a warm sense of welcoming. Taking photographs with President Boer, laughing with the professors or simply having a conversation with others in the Calvin community, made me feel as though there were no walls of separation –– only family.” This welcoming spirit is reflected and reciprocated during every CPI class and event on the Handlon Campus. This point was referenced by Nate Roels in his production of “Beyond Our Walls,”, a documentary about the CPI students who are incarcerated.
A further reflection from Tremaine Moses, Class of 2028, was paired with a quote from Cornelius Plantinga Jr., who wrote, “The learned person has…more to be Christian with.” Moses stated, “Counter culture with the prison environment — which is one that often encourages isolation and separation — the experience of the convocation deeply inspired me. Being in the presence of people who create space for others to flourish was humbling while also affirming why education matters.” Being a first-year student, Moses is quickly learning how the process of being equipped to flourish is more of a community effort, as opposed to an individual achievement.
Continuing with the theme of partnership, Kyale Williams –– another first-year student –– whom this convocation was welcoming, stated, “I feel that I am a part of something larger than myself now, and that requires a better spirit and character than I have ever displayed before. Learning this frightened me at first, but convocation showed me that it’s going to be okay because I am not alone anymore. Recognizing the duty now becomes the responsibility of this loving community to help me become the person God intended me to be.” Williams understands that the value of partnership in achieving goals is what brings glory to God.
While these individual quotes reflect the theme of the convocation, a community message from the ninth cohort was also well-formed. The biggest takeaway we all had from the convocation was the truly humbling sense of welcoming love. It is one thing to be told how welcomed and wanted we are, but in prison it is just not a visible feeling. Convocation made our welcoming visible, and made us feel like we are indeed wanted, and loved. Further, the Class of 2028 wanted me to thank everyone who participated in the convocation events. Jokingly, however, they asked that Dr. Todd Cioffi, director of CPI, choose a cooler day for future events.
