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The Power of an Encouraging Word
Letter written by CIU president in 1997 impacts current student
By Bob Holmes
hen he was a high school sophomore, Columbia
International University student John Dabeck was
thumbing through his baby book one day when a piece
of paper fell out. He had seen it before, but previously paid no
attention to it. The letter from the president of CIU was addressed
to Dabeck, and dated the day he was born
(actual letter on left)
.
The letter was given to Dabeck’s
father Larry Dabeck (‘89/’98), who at
the time was a CIU student and staff
member. Up until the moment he
read the letter, the younger Dabeck
was considering college at state
schools and “the party atmosphere.”
However, after reading the letter, his
first thought was, “Well, I might as
well apply (to CIU).”
Now, 22 years later, John Dabeck
recalls a visit to CIU that changed his
life.
“The moment that my foot stepped out of the car, and hit
pavement right in front of Memorial (residence hall), I could feel
that God was in this place,” Dabeck said. “I was convinced this is
where I had to be. I didn’t apply anywhere else.”
In his letter, President Miller was spot-on with Dabeck’s graduation
year. While Dabeck had the credits to officially receive his
undergraduate degree in December, he’ll march with the class of
2019 at the May commencement and continue at CIU toward the
completion of the five-year Master
of Divinity program. The end goal is
to follow in his father’s footsteps and
be an army chaplain defending the
privileges of being born “in the land
of the free,” as Miller stated in the
letter. And that’s just fine with dad.
“I’m most encouraged that John
loves the Lord and wants to follow
Him, wherever that leads,” said
Colonel Larry Dabeck, chaplain
for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the
Pentagon. “If there’s any legacy my
wife Cathy and I pray for John, it’s
that. We’re delighted the Lord led
him to CIU, and we’re convinced CIU
is still keeping Christ at the center of
sending laborers into His harvest. If
the Lord continues to
lead John to the Army
chaplaincy, for me that’s
just icing on the cake.”
As for that 1997 letter
from Miller, Larry
Dabeck says it came
at a time when he
really needed the
encouragement.
“Cathy had a difficult pregnancy with John, who started coming
at 20 weeks,” Larry recalled. “Many at CIU had been praying for
his safe arrival, which was an answer to prayer. Dr. Miller was kind
enough to mail this letter to our home, welcoming John.”
During his first year at CIU, John had the opportunity to meet the
man who wrote the letter. He introduced himself to Miller who was
attending a chapel service.
“It was a very brief handshake and hello, and I thanked him for the
letter and what it had done for me in my life,” Dabeck said. “He
was happy to see that I’d come to CIU.”
A university president can potentially sign
his name to hundreds of important
documents over a career. But also
important to Miller were several
letters honoring parents for their
service to CIU and “to speak to
the future of children’s lives.”
When it was brought to his
attention that this short
letter lives on, Miller quoted
Christian theologian and
philosopher Francis Schaeffer,
“There are no small things
and no small people in God’s
service.”
“I can only pray that all my
service would live on as a
sweet aroma to His glory,”
Miller added. “And that
John’s life will multiply a
thousand times more to His
glory.”
John and Larry Dabeck
“The moment
that my foot
stepped out of
the car, and hit
pavement right in
front of Memorial
(residence hall),
I could feel that
God was in this
place.”
A lot going on. John Dabeck has
passed his physical screening for the
Army and continues to prepare for
Army chaplaincy in his CIU master’s
studies. He is also engaged to CIU
student Claire Byrd, a Church Ministry
major who graduates in May. An
August wedding is in the works.
W
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