32 / 40
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.