Cedarville Magazine, Spring/Summer 2015

32 | Cedarville Magazine Christian Themes Sum Up Standout Cedarville Runner’s Life If there was a listing in Wikipedia for “Themes of the Christian Life,” you might find a picture of Cedarville runner Andre Klaassen ’17. Klaassen is running the race set before him (Heb. 12:1). As a sophomore, he already holds the indoor 60- and 200-meter dash records for Cedarville University and ran the second-fastest outdoor 100- and 200-meter dash times. Besides his adoption as a child of God (Gal. 4:5), Klaassen was adopted as an infant in Louisville, Kentucky. Soon after, his family moved to North Africa, where his parents served as missionaries for 12 years. Growing up in Africa, the Cedarville sprinter learned how to be all things to all men (1 Cor. 9:22). He speaks French and Spanish fluently and is conversant in Arabic. He was educated in a Spanish, then a French, school system and learned to live as a Christian in aMuslim-majority culture. Klaassen also knows how to make joyful music to the Lord (Ps. 100:2). While in Africa, he began playing drums during ministry team worship at his parents’ home. When he got back to the States, he started playing at his school and church. At Cedarville, he is drummer for the chapel band. Breaking Records In high school, Klaassen broke four school records and won three state championships for Louisville’s Whitefield Academy. After hearing about Cedarville from a close childhood friend, Klaassen chose to come to the University to continue his education and athletic career. Since coming to Cedarville, Klaassen has set impressive records, but it hasn’t been easy. Last year, he missed several meets in the indoor season because of hamstring issues, and he missed the end of the outdoor season with a pulled quadriceps. “It’s really eye-opening because you realize how much you depend on the body that God has given you,” he said. “You have to learn how to depend on God for healing.” Cedarville Assistant Track Coach Jason Scott ’07 sees tremendous possibilities for Klaassen. “He hasn’t even scratched the surface of what he is capable of, and he will be the first one to tell you that,” Scott said. Klaassen hopes to run 10.4 and 21.2 for the 100 and 200, respectively, before he graduates. Both times would obliterate school records and likely earn him a trip to the NCAA Division II nationals. He has already run 10.83 and 21.81. “Motivation and talent are what typically separate athletes,” noted Head Track Coach Jeff Bolender ’91. “Klaassen has these.” From the Track to the Drums Even with all his accomplishments on the track, Klaassen is known by fellow classmates more for beating drums than opponents. “In Africa, instead of going to a local church, we would have our team come over for family-led worship sessions,” he said. “I got into playing drums because a lot of those gatherings were at my house.” When he came toCedarville, he received an email about playing for HeartSong and chapel band. He tried out for the latter and made it. “I really enjoy music,” he said. “It’s a second part of me.” Cultural Differences In addition to introducing Klaassen to drums, growing up in Africa made him a world citizen. “My culture growing up was different from a lot of people here,” Klaassen said. “Being plugged into a French school system for a couple of years and then a Spanish school system changed my academics. The culture over there is very different, too: the way people interact, the fact that they’re Muslim and I’m Christian.” Despite the differences and being in America for the past several years, Africa is still special. “I loved it,” Klaassen said. “I would consider it my home.” One More Theme Klaassen desires to go to the nations after graduation (Matt. 28:19). But, as in every area of his life—running, drumming, or growing up in another culture — he’s trusting God first. “I’m a sport business management major, so I’d like to do sports ministry in a lower level of soccer or higher level of track,” he said. “I’d like to go overseas, but we’ll see what God does. I’m open to whatever He throws my way.” And that’s a theme that will take Klaassen to great places for the Lord, no matter what he does.