Silver and (Squad) Goals: A ShadowShine Christmas Story

Christmas is such a fun and joyous time of year. From the bright colorful decorations and displays, to the nostalgic feelings of child like wonder that the season stirs within each of us - this is honestly one of the most wonderful times of the year. And while presents and gifts and material things tend to be on our minds for the holidays, the truth is that it isn't what you get that makes the day so festive and bright, it's who you have by your side.

As we begin to look toward the end of this year and think back on all the journeys, adventures, and stories we've been able to share in telling - just this year alone - we are incredibly thankful for this team. These wonderful people and artists that make up our family. The real present is being able to call them friends. 

From our squad to yours this Christmas season, Merry Christmas and may you all have a very blessed holiday season and New Year!

Megan Stark's Fear Not

Sometimes simple Saturday afternoon adventures through the woods turn into impromptu photoshoots for your friend and her upcoming senior recital. And believe us, those are some wonderful turn of events. So meet our friend Megan, an exceptionally talented musician and an incredible joy to be around. She'll never let you down when you need a laugh, and she'll always be there when you need an escape from the monotony of weekend chores. 

She also could easily double for Taylor Swift - let's be real.

If you're looking for an evening filled with beautiful music and wonderful people Megan's recital is Saturday night at 7:30pm in the Grand Rapids Theological Seminary on the north side of the Cornerstone University campus.

Oh, and we all need to go on more spontaneous adventures together. Let's work on that.

Maja Lisa Engelhardt's the Golden Cross

Born in Frederiksberg, Denmark in 1956, Maja Liza Engelhardt had a troubled upbringing with a father who was mentally unhealthy and a mother who was an alcoholic. Growing up in the countryside, however, Maja found strength and hope in not just the enrapturing and gorgeous landscapes filled with rolling green hills, ocean views, and waves crashing onto the shores of her childhood, Maja also found a deep faith in the Lord. From an early age Maja loved painting and knew even then as a child that her hope and desire was to become an artist, capturing and depicting the majesty of the created world around her, by tying together her understanding of God, the unseen, with the world he had created, the seen. 

Over the years Maja's faith grew and deepened much as her skill and love for the fine arts. In time it was Maja's relationship and faith in Jesus Christ that led her to find the ability to forgive and love her mother despite the violent and often times turbulent moments she experienced as a little girl.

In 2014 Maja was commissioned by an American friend to create a sculpted cross for Cornerstone University's new Christ Chapel space. Maja's approach for this particular sculpture, portraying a risen Christ through the symbolism of an empty cross, is the same she has taken for many other sacred spaces across the world. Maja notes, "a cross with a Christ figure on it - I could never relate to it... I have made a cross, which is a cross of joy, a resurrection cross, life's tree, joy's tree." Her focus on the resurrection of Christ's story, verses the suffering of the cross, is for Maja the most important part. She notes that "if there was no resurrection then we would be not here, we would not be believers."

Maja's work is a perfect addition to a space developed to be such a beautiful reflection of the hope and promise of life everlasting that is all because of the power and glory of the resurrection of Christ.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

Earlier this summer we reached another pretty big moment for our family - we reached 2,000 likes on Facebook! So, naturally, we had to dedicate that achievement with something special and we knew just what to do - throw a Friends inspired photo shoot overlooking our beautiful and gorgeous city, Grand Rapids!

Thank you to all of our wonderful and amazing followers, friends, and family who have supported us from the very beginning - cheering us on in the moments of joy, coming alongside us in those seasons of difficulty, and joining us on this exhilarating journey of storytelling. Here's to that continued adventure - and of course, the many amazing friends we have still to meet!

Oh... and remember - we'll be there for you ;)

Cornerstone University 2016 Commencement Series

Commencement is one of the most exhilarating moments of the entire college journey. Walking across the stage to receive your diploma or hood, cheering with your friends as you toss your caps into the air, taking photos with your family who couldn't be prouder of you. It's not just the end of something you've worked towards for 4 years; it's the celebration of a new adventure just before your feet.

We get excited every year to share a few of the stories of Cornerstone University's amazing student body with the CU Commencement Series. This year we had the pleasure of hearing and telling 9 students' stories that range from helping those in minorities achieve their full potential, to former prison inmates that are working to help other prisoners turn their life around through education and outreach. From the classroom to the medical field, from a global marketing corporation to international counseling and social work aid, CU's graduating class is full of amazing students who have already begun doing amazing work in the world around them.

Congratulations to all of the Cornerstone University graduating classes of 2016!

Here's to you, and welcome to the CU Alumni family!

Five Years of Storytelling

Five years of storytelling is a truly special moment. From the adventures that have led us across the country, and across the world, to the stories that made us laugh, and those that brought tears to our eyes; storytelling for us is about bringing people to people. To realize, to take a moment and fully recognize, that this has been the journey we have been on for the last five years is unbelievably humbling. To be a part of a much larger story that encompasses our entire world, and to be able to share the stories of those we meet along the way on our own journey - it's indescribable.

For five years we have grown together, we have overcome challenges together, and have continued to learn what it is to be storytellers who love unconditionally, together. From humble beginnings in a college dorm room, to now traveling the world to help share the stories of those in need - and also those working to create a world of peace, a world we all want. It's hard to believe where we are now and who we have become as a team, and more so as individuals. 

This year we are celebrating an ongoing journey of storytelling, a continuing adventure; looking back and reflecting, but also eagerly looking ahead to the future. Dreaming of where these next five years will take us, and all the new adventures we'll be going on. And while no one knows what tomorrow may bring with it, we are excited nonetheless, because we are a family of storytellers who tell stories that bring people, to people.

To Tell the Story

If you know us, ever had the chance to connect with us, or have followed us for more than a day chances are you've heard us talk about the work of telling stories. It's core to who we are, and it's what makes us excited to get out of bed every morning. It directs and inspires us and it's what we firmly believe in.

Storytelling is an old art, but it's something that is so intrinsically a part of who we all are that it will never cease to stop bringing us together. From every corner of the world stories have, and always will, bring people of different walks and understandings together. The ability to help play a role in such a moving force makes us ecstatic.

The chance to help share somebody's journey in a way that countless hundreds can connect and relate to them; the ability to help create a place and moment when we engage with something else other than just a pixelated screen; the privilege to help tell and be a part of a much larger story that is at work in our world - storytelling is an unbelievable tool that in many ways marks who we are as a society, community, and world.

From a small business owner here in West Michigan, to a community working to end the threat of Malaria and extreme poverty half a world away; from a couple exchanging their vows on their wedding day, to a dreamer who has a vision of changing the world for the better - everyone's story is collection of characters and adventures that is telling a much larger story - and it's that story that we continue to chase after and tell day after day. 

That's what we believe in, and that's why we do what we do; to tell the story of who we ALL are, and where we're daring to go next!