Mylia Wagenaar — Staff Writer 

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.”  

Martin Luther King Junior’s famous words hang above Barry Brown’s desk, an encouragement to the new professor who took a blind leap of faith to Sioux Center this fall.  

Brown joined Dordt in November as a business instructor and Director of Global Strategies– an unexpected part of his journey. He’d been serving as a director and pastor at his church for the past twelve years, which followed years of experience in business across the globe. Teaching was not in the picture.  

After attending a Dordt visit with his daughter, freshman Rachel Brown, Barry received a phone call from staff in the business department. They asked if he’d ever considered teaching at Dordt. “The culture at Dordt seems great,” Brown said. “But no, I haven’t.”  

He didn’t believe he was qualified for the open position. But after months of consideration and prayer, Brown took a second trip to Dordt University – this time, for himself.  

After sitting in a few classes, he said, “I think I can teach. I think I could do this.”  

Brown accepted the job in June but held off moving until his church could fill his position. “I was very comfortable where we were. But this has more opportunities to expose people to the mission of God than where I was at. And I’m really enjoying this.”  

Brown has gifts in global outreach and big goals for his time at Dordt. “I want to be as good a teacher as I can be. I want students to learn something and feel it was really valuable,” he said. But he has a greater hope as well: “This would be my dream– I’d want every student at Dordt to understand the mission of God and to be passionate about participating in it wherever they go.”  

He’s gotten a head start on this hope, taking a recent step in his role as a global strategist. He encouraged students to attend a weekend with Engage Global, an opportunity he’s passionate about. 

Engage Global is a training program in Minneapolis that teaches students how to be cultural “learners.” A group of Dordt students attended last weekend.  

“We focused on how to adapt and function within an unfamiliar culture,” freshman Petra Heinze said. “It’s a very eye-opening experience. It re-ignited my passion for going outside of where I’m comfortable.” 

The group had sessions of training, then were immersed into the Hmong and Somalian communities nearby, by being sent out to learn. They were met with welcoming arms in the largest Somali market in the United States.  

“They were happy that people wanted to learn about their culture,” sophomore Brooklyn Vander Veen said. “People don’t usually ask.”  

The group left seeing the gospel in a new light. “The Great Commission isn’t the only place where we see God’s heart for the nations,” said Vander Veen. “We learned the importance of being a global-minded Christian.”  

Not everyone can be a “goer,” but Heinze says Engage Global stressed the importance of doing your part. “It’s about building relationships with people who are outside of the country, praying for them, reading the newsletters, telling them you’re reading the newsletters.” 

The trip pushed the group out of their comfort zone, but they gained great rewards. “I’d love to go again, but I think other people should have an opportunity to experience that,” said Vander Veen.  

Dordt plans to send another group to Engage Global in 2025. Professor Barry Brown is excited to use his role at Dordt to encourage more opportunities like this one. Brown is still settling into the culture of Dordt and his new position here, but says he is enjoying the adventure. 

 “I take one step, and then take another step,” said Brown. “I think a lot of times God doesn’t show you the whole picture. This is a fascinating journey. And I love it.”