On Sept. 11, 2001, Tim Case watched as he witnessed what he calls abject evil from a TV screen at his local gas station.
Through the small-screened TV, he saw smoke fill the air. Case stared at the screen and immediately knew something was amiss.
As soon as he got home, he instantly turned on the news. As he watched one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in U.S. history, his life changed.
Case, now a math teacher at SHS and a pastor, uses his strong faith in all aspects of his life. Both inside and outside of the classroom, he practices his religion to positively influence those around him.
“The attacks on the World Trade Centers inspired me, and that changed my life … ,” Case said. “(Being a pastor) means a way for me to positively affect those around me. I accomplish that by not criticizing and judging, but by encouraging and including.”
Case started his path in theology after witnessing the terrorist attack in New York. He says that the event made him want to understand the human condition, so he immediately went back to college. In 2001, he finished his undergrad degree at IU Indianapolis.
Starting off, Case decided to go to seminary, a graduate school for those who want to go into religious ministry, to study theology. Initially, he didn’t have the intent of going into ministry full time.
“I just love critical reading and critical writing,” Case said. “Plus, because of 9/11, I decided I’m going to study theology.”
He says the classes were academically
challenging and required constant time management. For him, every day was filled with writing papers and research.
“My motivation was simply to go to seminary … ,” Case said. “If I ever won the lottery, I would be a full-time graduate student. That’s how much I like it.”
During his second year of seminary, he was required to serve in a church part-time for educational field experience. In 2004, he chose Rosedale Hills United Methodist Church because of his familiar background.
In the late 1960s, he grew up attending sermons and Sunday classes at that church. Since he regularly attended, the church leaders wanted to keep him for a part-time job.
While working part-time at his church, he assisted the head pastor with the Sunday service. He says this experience made him feel like he was doing everything to make a positive difference in the world.
Currently, he delivers only two sermons a year. Regardless of the limited amount, he’s involved in other aspects of the church.
As a part-time associate pastor, he recaps sermons for the younger Sunday school classes and holds open discussions. Additionally, he leads his church’s theater group to help portray religious messages through performances.
When he’s surrounded by his religious community, Case says he feels supported and like he has a purpose.
In his role as a leader in church, he isn’t alone. Math teacher Bradley Mitchell is a colleague of Case and a pastor at his own church. The two discuss theology together, and Case has attended Mitchell’s sermons.
“There’s a lot of people hurting, and there’s a lot of hard things we all go through in life,” Mitchell said. “I think we both believe God is able to help us through those things. We both desire to see people turn to him for help to overcome those challenges.”
Both Mitchell and Case express their love for worship within their own religious communities. They both show their strong faith through sermons and preaching.
Going beyond faith in church, Case believes that worship can happen anywhere.
“I think worship doesn’t just occur in the church … ,” Case said. “Even when I look outside at night, and I look up at the stars, it’s almost like communion with God.”
To him, faith is a vital part of his life, and his religion provides a purpose for his place in the world.
“My spirituality, my theology and my philosophy towards life all contribute to my overall worldview,” Case said. “Don’t fear or hate the differences in others. Let them be them just as you are you. Then, our world will be a much better place.”
