Bill Nabers: Kairos Chaplain
What does this Kairos week mean for you?
- Kairos is literally what the name says, it’s God’s time for you to step outside normal pressures and really experience God. This week is part of my spiritual renewal. It’s part of how I recharge my batteries so that I can be a better pastor and a better person.
What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ?
- I think it means that you are open and that you try to create spaces for God to use the talents and skills and all that he has given you as a means by which he can be known to other people. We are far inadequate, but as I read the bible, that’s what it seems like God wants, that which is weak to show that he is strong as Paul puts it.
What is the key thing that you want to share about your Faith?
Hope. In good times and in bad times, I don’t think I have ever lost hope. I have been frustrated, I have been angry, maybe near despair, but I have always felt that God was there so I have hope. That comes not from me, but from God.
What is your sense of being a Synod at an event like this?
The youth and the adults come from many different places and backgrounds, and yet we find commonalities and we journey together. The analogy that I like to use is a river, though there are many currents, there is one river.
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Lizzie Franz: Planning Group Advisor
What does this Kairos week mean for you?
In some sense this week means that I am very busy and I don’t get a lot of sleep. It has a much deeper meaning where I get to interact with the kids closely and helping them to develop their faith and grow as Christians and as people. It’s an exhausting week but it means the world to me.
What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ?
It means that in everything I do, I am representing him. Whether that is teaching Math, coaching soccer, hanging out with my friends, I always try to be as much like Christ for those people as I can.
What is the key thing that you want to share about your Faith?
For me it is an everyday thing and it’s not very in your face. I just try to act out my faith. Also, I think I’ve learned that it is okay to struggle, God doesn’t hate you because you haven’t read your Bible recently or gone to church in a while. Your faith is something that’s always there.
What is your sense of being a Synod at an event like this?
I think it’s extremely special to be a part of a synod that is so involved inside of itself. You can compare vastly different experiences and find common ground. It’s really awesome to be connected and be able to learn from one another.
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Tony DiBiaso: First, Norfolk
What does this Kairos week mean for you?
It means everything. New experiences, the people you meet, there is nothing like it. Here, our friendships are centered on Christ and that’s something we always hold onto and that’s why these friendships are lifelong. This week means being able to be with my family.
What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ?
I think it means spreading grace and spreading love. I think it’s more about expressing who you really are and being there for others.
What is the key thing that you want to share about your Faith?
You have to let go of everything that you expect to happen. You have to be able to ask hard questions. There is always an answer, it may not be what you wanted, but God always answers. Pastor Bill gave me this quote, “If you can’t change the wind, then you need to adjust your sails.”
What is your sense of being a Synod at an event like this?
There is no way that an event like this can happen with people coming from across the state with totally different experiences and they have the same beliefs that you do. There is no way that that can just happen, this shows me that there has to be something bigger at work here.
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Maura Dunbar: Good Shepherd, Virginia Beach
What does this Kairos week mean for you?
It means a lot of different things. One of the main things that I am going to take away from this week is a new respect for people that have had a part in making Kairos happen. I didn’t know how much work would go into it all.
What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ?
The word Christian doesn’t have a very good connotation and a lot of people really look down upon us. What I really like about Lutherans is that we are so welcoming. When you are sharing your faith, you can’t force yourself on anyone, you have to be welcoming.
What is the key thing that you want to share about your Faith?
I think a huge part of my faith is coming to these events and watching everyone come together. All the people in this community are the reason why my faith is as strong as it is. They make me look forward to coming to Kairos every summer.
What is your sense of being a Synod at an event like this?
When you asked that question, the first thing that popped into my head was the sharing of faith. I like being able to share my faith with people from all over and not just in one centralized location.
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Bradley Fielding: Trinity, Newport New
What does this Kairos week mean for you?
I think of Kairos in two respects. There is the personal element of what I get out of it and then there is also the leadership element of what I feel like I give to people. Most people come to Kairos because it is fun and they enjoy being with their friends and then for spiritual renewal. For me, it is mostly about spiritual renewal, perhaps because I am so introverted. I couldn’t have found such good friends without the faith in God that I found.
What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ?
An ambassador is one who represents. Normally we think of other countries where an ambassador represents and speaks for that country. Being ambassadors for Christ is almost entirely outward. It’s about spreading the gospel and going out into the world. Not necessarily through our word, though frequently so, but also through our actions.
What is the key thing that you want to share about your Faith?
I want people to know that it’s okay to be different, it’s okay to be an intellectual and still maintain a relationship with God. That is a stereotype that has always bothered me. Being one who asks questions, one who tries to fit all the pieces together as much as human knowledge can, it bothers me to think that people think that you’re Christian just because you aren’t intelligent enough to see the supposed flaws. One of the great things about being a Lutheran is that it’s okay to ask questions. All the greatest theologians have been the ones that have asked the wrong questions.
What is your sense of being a Synod at an event like this?
I think that conversation is key. To forge bonds and understanding, there must be communication. I like to think that a synod is a group of people who speak together about Christ because the word is so important. If we are not afraid to talk about God and what is on our minds then we can come to a deeper understanding of it. We need other people to help us sort out our problems and on our minds. Those people are God’s Gifts.
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Sarah Humphreys: First, Norfolk
What does this Kairos week mean for you?
I made a lot of good self-discoveries that really helped me to define who I am. It means affirming all of the friendships that I have made. It continually strengthens my faith in ways that I didn’t even know was possible and it has made my faith stronger than I ever thought possible. It has been a really reflective week for me, looking back at how far I have come.
What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ?
It really means sharing your faith story even if you’re are still unsure and helping others figure out and go forward within their own faith story. It means doing things that allow others to see God in you.
What is the key thing that you want to share about your Faith?
My Synod friends are a really big inspiration to me in my faith. Without them, I don’t think I would have come nearly this far.
What is your sense of being a Synod at an event like this?
I love it. I think it is really powerful. This is how I have met all the amazing people that I did. Before these events, Church was routine. After I started going to these events, Church as a get to instead of a have to. As in I get to go to church this morning. Coming together like this, it really flips your perspective.
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Phillip Lane: Emmanuel, Virginia Beach
What does this Kairos week mean for you?
Towards the beginning of the week, it seemed like an ending because it’s my senior Kairos. After prayer around the cross I have realized that our lives aren’t over because this event is over. Now, God is sending out the seniors. He has been training us for so long, it’s like he is sending is out into battle.
What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ?
Personally, I think being an ambassador for Christ is lighting up a room with Joy and bringing God’s presence with you everywhere you go. It should be all the time. That’s what God wants us to do, extend ourselves for other people.
What is the key thing that you want to share about your Faith?
My faith wouldn’t have grown without these events. I always knew God was there, I went to church, I was a good little boy. After these events, my faith has just branched off and grown. It’s different, I don’t really know how to explain it, but I like it a lot.
What is your sense of being a Synod at an event like this?
I think it’s great that we can all come together. It’s a great way to let your emotions out and unpack your baggage. Everyone feels supported and comfortable with each other when we come together. I love this community and I love everything it has done for me.
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Megan Morris: Peace, Charlottesville
What does this Kairos week mean for you?
This was an opportunity to take a leadership position that I hadn’t had before. It was a chance to get my message across to other people. If one or two people can relate to me, I really feel like I have done something to shape the event and others’ faith and that is such a huge privilege to me.
What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ?
I think it means being open to sharing your beliefs and the experiences that have given you an opportunity to shape those beliefs. I really think that it’s helping people along in their own faith journey.
What is the key thing that you want to share about your Faith?
My faith has really been shaped by experiences. It’s really something has developed over time and events like this have really developed a strong foundation.
What is your sense of being a Synod at an event like this?
I thinks it’s a unique time to build a sense of community. I come from a small congregation and how many of these people would I have gotten the chance to meet if it hadn’t been for these events? It’s really a chance to branch out and see what other people can bring to the table. It’s a really unique opportunity.
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Celeste Wilson: Christ, Fredericksburg
What does this Kairos week mean for you?
Since I started coming to all these synod events, I knew there was something more. It wasn’t until my 8th grade Lost and Found when I found a connection with people and that’s when my faith started strengthening. The people in this community are completely different than my friends at home. When I come here, I feel refreshed.
What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ?
Inspiring people. My brother is here this week and I want to inspire him to love God’s word and get him out there. Being an Ambassador for Christ to me is showing that you can do good things through God.
What is the key thing that you want to share about your Faith?
A couple months ago I was dealing with a serious bullying problem and my faith was really shaken. I couldn’t understand why God would want anyone to treat someone like that. I think the key point of my faith is my synod friends. They are my blessing that I have been given by God. Whenever I feel alone, I know God is there, but when I’m with my synod friends, it’s almost as if I see God through them. I see how strong their faith is and that gives me the inspiration to strengthen my own faith.
What is your sense of being a Synod at an event like this?
I adore this Synod. I am an extrovert and I love to get to know people. I love this statewide community because I have friends from all over the state. There is a stronger emotional relationship because of the distance, knowing that even though we are separated, we still have so much in common.
