vocationally, but professors are not the heroes, local church pastors and faithful church members are." Kohler recalls that Kurtz's love for the local church translates into his lectures. She explains that Kurtz teaches his students that the church should teach theology to the congregation. Even though students constantly hear it at Cedarville, Kurtz highly encourages students to join a local church. "Other students and professors are a wonderful gift, but only covenant church members have the responsibility to oversee your soul," Kurtz said. Not only do his students enjoy the topic of the lectures, but they also enjoy Kurtz·s style of teaching. Heath claims that Kurtz is very down-toearth and relatable, while Kohler claims that Kurtz aspires to be the Mr. Rogers of theology with his jokes. "He's got a good, engaging personality," Kohler said, "but also has a clear structure to what he's talking about So it's easy to follow. and it makes sense." According to Kohler, Kurtz despises PowerPoints and goes old school with a whiteboard and markers. Even so. Kurtz makes sure that his students can grasp difficult concepts of theology. He stops to allow students to ask questions. and he answers them with Scripture references to make sure the student understands thoroughly. "I felt like he handled class very well as a professor and being accessible to his students," Heath said. "But also just as a person and being someone who is able to communicate theology with joy and hope. He has a desire for people to learn. I think there was just a clear mark in there of how much he cared." Kurtz believes that his life's calling is to help other Christians, but especially his students, ·to look at Christ until they begin to look like Christ." He embodies his calling in 2 Corinthians 3:18, which said. "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." Both Kohler and Heath attest to Kurtz·s calling. They see that Kurtz loves the church and wants his students to also love it. He has been Fall 2022 Ronni Kurtz wants his students to learn to cherish the gospel./ photo by Logan Howard teaching Kohler that theology is not Just an act of study, but is also an act of worship done in church. "Theology is not only just to give us more knowledge or sharpen our minds, but it's really to direct us to look on God and be like, 'Wow, he's so beautiful!"' Kohler said Heath said that Kurtz embodies the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37, "And Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'" ·1 think he is truly striving to love God, and in his love, in his desire to know him, and his desire to understand this theology. he is trying to strive to know him and love him," Heath said. "I hope students pursue their academic life as a devotion to the Lord." Kurtz said. "I pray that they spend their 1.000 days with us here at CU in a way that would cause them to treasure Christ and cherish his gospel more at graduation than they do today." Chris /(arenbauer is a senior Journalism major anci Uie Edi/or-in-Chief .for CecJars. She enjoys reading and vvriUng. hanging out wiih friends and listening to rnusic
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