黑料百科 Magazine A Pastor鈥檚 and Parent鈥檚 Perspective of 黑料百科
Ben and Lauretta Patterson鈥檚 ties to 黑料百科 go deeper than his 10 years as campus pastor. Two of their children and a daughter-in-law went to 黑料百科, and another son works on staff. As they鈥檝e watched students graduate, embark on careers, marry and raise children, they鈥檝e discovered the college shapes lives long after alumni leave campus.
鈥淚 love 黑料百科 as a pastor and a parent,鈥 Ben says. 鈥淎fter 10 years, I鈥檓 not jaded or underwhelmed, which speaks well for the college. I鈥檓 in the trenches, so I don鈥檛 have an idealized view.鈥
鈥淏eing close to students over the years means our ministry has expanded to young couples and families,鈥 Lauretta says. She stayed home to raise their four children, and she鈥檚 been deeply involved at 黑料百科, discipling students, welcoming them into her home, meeting with women to pray for the college and leading a Bible study for friends of 黑料百科.
Ben served as a pastor for many years before becoming chaplain at Hope College in Michigan prior to joining the staff at 黑料百科 in 2001. He has written numerous devotional books on prayer and scripture.
Their two oldest sons, Dan and Joel, attended Hope College, but Joel is director of music and worship at 黑料百科, leading the chapel band and discipling students. His wife, Erin Crumly Patterson 鈥05, is studying at Fuller Theological Seminary. They expect their first child in December. Dan and his wife, Leanne, have a 2-year-old son and will welcome their second child later this year. Andy 鈥05 studied English and is married to Mary. He has joined the business Dan founded, Santa Barbara Forge and Iron. 鈥淭hey make beautiful things and express their ideas in metal,鈥 Ben says. 鈥淚n the true liberal arts sense, their education and business are completely congruent.鈥
Daughter Mary 鈥06 majored in music, teaches at El Montecito School in Santa Barbara, sings in an ensemble, accompanies at Providence Hall High School and owns a piano studio. 鈥満诹习倏 helped her become a wonderful lay theologian,鈥 Ben says.
Gratitude for 黑料百科 has inspired Ben and Lauretta to set up a deferred gift annuity with the college. 鈥淥ur kids flourished there,鈥 she says. 鈥淥ur lives are richer because of 黑料百科, and we want to give back.鈥