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Mr. Outdoors finds joy in the office

Multnomah alumnus Tim Uthmann serves International Renewal Ministries

In lower Sutcliffe, a war is on. Beanie baby animals fly across the room and hit their target, Tim Uthmann. He calmly says, "We're a pretty quiet, professional office. We like to keep a very steady demeanor." Laughter from his fellow employees in the International Renewal Ministries office fills the room.

Even though Mr. Uthmann spends his days in this office working as the conference coordinator, he loves nature and being outdoors.

His love for the outdoors was cemented during a season he worked for Yosemite National Park in California for about six months, clearing trails and living in tents the whole while.

He loves hiking in his home state of Washington in the North Cascade Mountains. He's done less hiking in Oregon, but last summer he tried to climb Mt. Hood with a couple of friends. However, due to a storm, they had to turn back 950 feet from the top. His goal is to return to Mt. Hood and hike to the top. He would also like to climb Mt. Rainier.

Whether he's hiking or simply outdoors, he is always bird watching. During his senior year of high school, his class took a trip to Florida to spend time on the beach. However, instead of the beach, he and his friend decided to go to the Florida swamps to bird watch. They saw a couple rare birds, one called a smooth billed ani. "It's a cool bird if you know what it is. If not, it looks like a big, black crow," he said.

The ani they saw was the only bird of its kind seen in the United States in 10 years, Mr. Uthmann said.

Mr. Uthmann said he enjoys outdoor sports including whitewater river rafting, canoeing and sailing. Mr. Uthmann has rafted on the Deschutes River and on the Wenatchee River near Leavenworth, Wash. He has also been on a 10-day canoeing trip in Canada and likes canoeing in northern Washington lakes.

Sometimes when he is outdoors, Mr. Uthmann said he simply enjoys the solitude of nature. "I try to get away once at least every couple of months to spend a weekend in the woods alone. I take a Bible, a tent, a backpack, disappear and have time alone with me and God," Mr. Uthmann said.

Rain doesn't keep him indoors or cause him to shy away from a camping trip. But he did add that there is a good feeling when you wake up in a dry tent. Sometimes when drops are falling, Mr. Uthmann said he will go outside and walk alone in the rain for a couple hours.

Mr. Uthmann doesn't favor seasons by their weather. Rather he enjoys the transitions from season to season more than one particular season.

Because of his appreciation of nature, Mr. Uthmann also has a fascination with the Celtic culture in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. "They've tied their Christianity and faith into an enjoyment of nature which sometimes borders on worshiping nature, but there is a balance," he said.

Uthmann's love of nature caused him to go to Ohio State University and earn his associate's degree in wildlife management. However, he said he felt if he was to make a real difference in the world, he would have to go beyond preserving wildlife and nature.

One day while Mr. Uthmann was throwing bricks into a truck, he heard an ad on the radio for Multnomah. And he enrolled with the idea of being a pastor.

For two out of his three years as a student at Multnomah, Mr. Uthmann served as the student body president. A former roommate of Mr. Uthmann, Paul Cypress, remembered one speech Mr. Uthmann gave on the growing problem of a lack of respect for others at Multnomah. "He got up there, crumpled up his notes and threw them on the floor," Cypress said. "He talked from his heart."

Dean Bob Bailey, Uthmann's mentor, said, "His speeches were strong and applicable to students."

Since graduating, Uthmann's plans have once again changed. "One night I was serving spaghetti at the Olive Garden, and the next day I was here [at Multnomah] in a shirt and tie," he said.

This time the change was from waiter to International Renewal Ministries conference coordinator.

IRM is a third branch of Multnomah that works with the Bible college and seminary. Mr. Uthmann said IRM's focus is establishing relationships within local churches to discover their needs. Based on that information, IRM creates conferences to minister to people worldwide.

Uthmann's duties sometimes include tasks such as designing documents, making calls or setting up meetings.

"This is probably the most fun group of people I've ever worked with," said Mr. Uthmann.

The people around him in the office are all Multnomah alumni. They weren't necessarily picked because they were alumni; the group just worked out that way.

Mr. Uthmann graduated from Multnomah last year with a bachelor of science degree in speech communication.

If he stays with IRM for awhile, Mr. Uthmann would like to do some pastoral work part-time. "My vision was to be a pastor and do church planting; since I started working with IRM, my long-term goals are a lot fuzzier," he said. "I'm [now] looking for where I can best serve."

In the future, Mr. Uthmann is interested in going back to school at Multnomah Biblical Seminary and earning a master's degree in leadership management and possibly a doctorate after that. "I enjoy being in school and the learning process," he said.

He is also open to the idea of getting married and having a family. "I'm totally content being single. That's where God has me right now, but I would love to have a family and kids some day," Mr. Uthmann said.

Right now his family consists of his mom, a younger brother who is married and an older engaged brother. Mr. Uthmann will be officiating at his brother's wedding in Seattle.

At the age of 27, Mr. Uthmann offers advice to students: "Embrace the time you have here. Build relationships. Never forget the people."