Contents
22 Grads Receive Degrees
Emmanuel graduated a class of 22 students on May 21.
Six received the Master of Arts in Religion degree, 14 received the
Master of Divinity degree, and two received the Doctor of Ministry
degree. Thirteen of the graduates either currently hold or will be
pursuing positions as ministers in various congregations, three will
pursue doctoral studies, two are headed for mission service, one will
be a campus minister, one will continue teaching at a Christian
College, one would like to pursue a ministry as a writer or teacher,
and one will work in a chaplaincy program.
Leah Moshier, a missionary to the children of
Kulpahar, India, brought the address to the graduates titled, “A
Stewardship Entrusted.” She was awarded Emmanuel’s highest honor,
the James A. Garfield Award, for her noteworthy service to the church.
n
Wayne
Ashworth Dies
We are saddened to
announce the death of Wayne Ashworth on May 21, 2000. Wayne served as
Associate Director of Development at Emmanuel from January 1997 until
October 1999 when he was forced to resign due to ill health. Wayne
died at home in California, where he and his wife, Beverly, lived for
the past seven months. A memorial service was held on May 25 at
Eastside Christian Church in Fullerton, California, with several from
the Emmanuel family attending. President Wetzel and Dan Lawson both
participated in the service.
Wayne served Emmanuel
by overseeing the publication of this newsletter, coordinating
phonathons, and writing appeal letters. His major emphasis lay in
developing relationships with our donors and friends in the eastern
and middle states. In doing so he made many friends for the seminary
as well as for himself. The many notes that the school is receiving
attest to that fact. The strong response to our Heritage of Excellence
campaign is also a testament to Wayne’s hard work.
Wayne leaves behind
his wife, Beverly, and two sons, Blair and Barton and their families.
The family has requested that those desiring to acknowledge Wayne’s
passing with a gift may designate checks to Emmanuel’s
Ashworth-Alumni Hall, a fellowship hall to be built as part of the
Thompson Community Center in the Emmanuel Village. Already over
$50,000 has been committed to this project. Wayne will be greatly
missed by the Emmanuel community. We are pleased to honor his memory
in this way. n
Meditation:
Masquerade
by Jeff Miller (MDiv ’95)
My family and I came
to Tennessee early in August of 1991. As I stepped out of our moving
truck onto Emmanuel’s parking lot, I immediately noticed the smells—freshly
cut grass mingled with hints of various plants and flowers. I had
stepped into the truck a day earlier in Nebraska. We Nebraskans don’t
brag about smells. Tennessee has aromas; Nebraska has odors.
Our next spring in
Tennessee offered even more fragrant surprises—first the dogwoods,
then rhododendrons, honeysuckle, etc. But as I soon realized, the
source of these scents also brought a burden more baneful to me than
any Nebraska feed lot or Iowa pig farm: Allergies. A decade later,
after disproving the claims of all the pills and sprays on the
pharmacy shelf, I still suffer. The month of May is now to me an
itching, sniffling reminder of a greater truth. Life’s bitter
realities often masquerade behind beautiful qualities.
Sirach 13:24 says, “Riches
are good if they are free from sin” (NRSV). The same is true of all
good things. Proverbs teaches that empty charm is deceitful (chapter
31) and that the same is true of wealth (Proverbs 11:4, 28; 27:24).
That strength also can fail is taught in Sirach 40:26 and demonstrated
by Samson, who was undone by beauty gone bad.
What good things does
Christ offer? Love, peace, joy, hope, salvation, comfort, fellowship…
May those of us who seek to represent Christ and his Church be on
guard not to taint the beauty of ministry with any hidden bitterness. n
Book
Review
Martin
Luther King Jr.: An Oral History of His Religious Witness and His Life
By Russel Moldovan
Reviewed by Bruce
E. Shields, Director of Doctor of Ministry Program and Professor of
Biblical Hermeneutics and Preaching
It’s always a thrill
for a professor to see a publication by one of his or her students. It
is even more of a thrill when the heart of the publication is that
student’s thesis. That is the case with this book by Russel Moldovan, published in 1999 by International Scholars Publications of
San Francisco, London, and Bethesda, Maryland. Russel is senior
minister of the Blanchard Church of Christ in west-central
Pennsylvania. He is also a student in Emmanuel’s D.Min. program.
Russel wrote his
thesis under my supervision for his graduation in 1993. He did
extensive interviews with people who had known King—some watched
Martin grow up; others were members of churches he served; while
others worked with him in the civil rights movement. One especially
helpful source was King’s official photographer. I still have fond
memories of Russel’s excitement as he gained access to the personal
stories of the many people he interviewed.
Russel has continued
his research into King’s life and preaching since graduating, and
this book is his thesis supplemented with what he has learned since.
The publication of the book has brought Russel to the attention of
people interested in knowing more about King and his cause. During
Black History Month (February), Russel was interviewed by newspapers
and TV stations in several communities near where he lives and
ministers. He was also invited to present a lecture at a college in
the state of Washington. Perhaps most impressive, he was chosen to
write the article on King in the journal Christian History
(Vol. XIX, No. 1) for its issue on “The Ten Most Influential
Christians of the Twentieth Century.”
Independent of who
wrote it, the reader of this book is rewarded with passionate insight
into King by people who knew him well. This is a book in which one can
feel the fire that burned through the 1960s and into the present. At
times one feels the comfortable warmth of the fire of Christian love
and at other times the searing heat of the gospel turned against
injustice. These are two kinds of heat we still need in the
twenty-first century. Anybody interested in contemporary preaching, in
justice issues, in the possibilities of the church’s being an agent
for change in society, or in the history of the mid-twentieth century
should not miss reading Moldovan’s book. n
Clipnotes
PATRICIO BEAUTELL (1998–99)
is going to Mexico City as part of GLOBALSCOPE (a partnership between
CMF and Georgia Tech’s campus fellowship) to initiate campus
ministries at two universities.
PALMA BENNETT (MRE ’71)
retired in June after serving as Senior Minister at Harrison Christian
Church in Johnson City, Tenn., for 7½ years. Palma will be available
for interim or weekend ministry opportunities. He and his wife, Helen,
reside in Johnson City.
TED BJOREM (MRE ’72) wrote
an article titled “Cultural Differences, Christian Similarities”
in the April 30 issue of the Christian Standard. Ted teaches at
a college in Salatiga, Australia. He and his wife, Julie, work with
Vine Church Growth in Gatton, Australia, where they reside.
CHARLES CARMAN (1965–69)
retired on April 30 after 29 years of ministry with Raintree Christian
Church in Lubbock, Texas. He and his wife, Roberta, will continue to
reside in Lubbock.
JOEDIR CARVALHO (1994–97)
along with his wife, Marilia, announce the birth of their son, Wesley,
on November 19. Joedir is the senior pastor at a large church in
Petropolis, Brazil.
BRIAN HAUSER (1996–99) is
joining CMF as a new missionary recruit for church planting and
leadership training. He presently leads a missions team in Cote d’Ivoire.
KENDI HOWELLS DOUGLAS (MDiv
’96) has accepted the position of Professor of Missions at Great
Lakes Christian College in Lansing, Mich. She finished course work for
the Doctor of Missiology degree in May, and plans to finish her
dissertation and graduate from Asbury Seminary in 2001.
CAM HUXFORD (1978–79) wrote
an article titled, “Honorable Elders” in the May 28 issue of Christian
Standard. Cam is the senior minister at Savannah Christian Church
in Savannah, Ga., where he and his wife, Sarah, reside.
AARON JONES (MDiv ’97) and
wife, Debra, announce the birth of their son, Caleb Aaron, on June 1.
Aaron is the minister at Alta Church of Christ in Alta, Iowa, where
they reside.
JOE LIEWAY (MAR ’99) serves
with the International Student Ministry at Ball State University in
Muncie, Ind. They serve international students through English
tutoring, a clothes closet, a bike loan program, evening dinners,
Bible studies, and worship services. Joe and his wife, Marie, reside
in Anderson, Ind.
SAM LUBAG (MDiv ’91; DMin
’99) traveled to the U.S. in May and June to promote the Philippines’
Centennial Celebration of the Churches of Christ to be held in Manila
April 23–29, 2001. Sam and his wife, Juanita, reside in Baguio City,
Philippines.
MIKE MCDONALD (MDiv ’98) is
the new chaplain at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Mike
continues his ministry as pastor of Westlake Community Christian
Church in Westlake, Calif. He and his wife, Angela, reside in Westlake
Village.
COREY MILLER (1992–94)
recently began a ministry at Carroll Church of Christ in Carroll,
Iowa, where he and his wife, Julie, now reside.
RUSSEL MOLDOVAN (MDiv ’93)
and his wife, Raylene, announce the birth of their fourth child,
Madison, on May 16. Russel is the minister of Blanchard Christian
Church in Blanchard, Penn., where he and his family reside.
BOB QUINN (MDiv ’00) will
pursue a Masters degree in Professional Counseling at Georgia State
University in Atlanta. He graduated this spring from Atlanta Christian
College with a Bachelor of Theology degree. Bob resides in Smyrna, Ga.
BOB RITCHIE (MDiv ’82) is an
adjunct instructor at St. Leo University in Gainesville, Fla. He is
also the preaching minister at Westside Christian Church in
Gainesville, where he and his wife, Sandra, reside.
LEO SALVADO (MDiv ’88) and
his wife, Zeny, have accepted teaching positions at Manila Bible
Seminary to begin in June. Leo has 21 graduate students who have
completed the course “Moral and Values Development” at the
Philippine Association of Christian Education Graduate School. Leo and
Zeny reside in Quezon City, Philippines.
DAVE SNYDER (1982–83) and
his wife, Suzie, have returned to the States on furlough from their
work with CMF in Kenya. They will reside in Nashville, Tenn., during
their time here. Dave will continue classes for his D.Min. degree at
Emmanuel.
FERNANDO SOTO-DUPUY (MAR ’91)
ministers at First Christian Church in Downey, Calif. The church
conducted its first Spanish language service on March 5. Fernando and
his wife, Nona, reside in Downey.
GREGORY WIDENER (MDiv ’81)
wrote an article titled, “Post Modernism and Christianity” in the
Spring 2000 issue of Disciple Renewed. Greg is the pastor of
East Columbus Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Columbus,
Ohio, where he and his wife, Jeanne, reside. n
Faculty Notes
PAUL M. BLOWERS wrote
the Bible School Lesson titled “Collection For Jerusalem Christians”
in the May 14 issue of Christian Standard. He attended and
presented a paper at the annual meeting of the North American
Patristics Society in Chicago on May 25–27. Dr. Blowers was elected
a member of the board of directors of the Society. He published
articles on “Gregory of Nyssa” and ”Maximus the Confessor” in
the new Biographical Dictionary of Christian Theologians, ed.
Patrick Carey and Joseph Lienhard (Greenwood Press, 2000). Dr. Blowers
also published a review of Frances Young, Biblical Interpretation
and the Rise of Christian Culture in Shofar: An
Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies 18 (2000): 147–149.
ELEANOR A. DANIEL
will be on Sabbatical from June through December. During this time
she will teach for TCM in Austria, Russia, and Romania.
JACK B. HOLLAND preached
at Hasson Street Christian Church in Rogersville, Tenn., June 4.
ROBERT F. HULL wrote
a letter for “The Mailbox” that was published in the April 23
issue of Christian Standard. He preached at Midland Christian
Church in Columbia, S.C., on June 4.
THOMAS F. JONES taught
a church planting class at Alberta Bible College in Calgary, Canada,
June 5–9.
FRED W. NORRIS will
read a paper titled “Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible“
at the Yale-Edinburgh Group on the History of Mission and Non-Western
Christianity at Edinburgh July 6–8. He will attend a workshop on “God
and Time” at the Ian Ramey Centre for Science and Religion at Oxford
July 9–13.
ROBERT J. OWENS will
conduct Sunday worship service at Pine Oaks Assisted Living Center in
Johnson City, Tenn. during the months of June, July, and August. He
will attend the annual meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association in
Los Angeles August 5–8. Dr. Owens published a review of Michael
Weitzman, The Syriac Version of the Old Testament (Cambridge,
1998) in Catholic Biblical Quarterly 62 (July 2000).
ROLLIN A. RAMSARAN will
present a paper titled “Living and Dying, Living is Dying (Phil.
1:21): Paul’s Maxim and Exemplary Argumentation in Philippians” at
the Lund 2000 Conference on Rhetorical Argumentation in Biblical Texts
in Lund, Sweden, July 27.
BRUCE E. SHIELDS preached
at Main Street Christian Church in Saltville, Va., on June 4. He will
lead a European Evangelistic Society tour in Germany June 7–20. Dr.
Shields will attend the World Convention of Churches of Christ in
Brisbane, Australia, August 2–6. He will present a paper on “The
Hermeneutics of Alexander Campbell” at the North American Christian
Convention Theological Forum on July 14. n
Development & Recruitment on the Road
DAN LAWSON
to Northern California in July; to Florida in August.
JERRY RUDBERG to Oregon
Christian Convention in July; to Wi-Ne-Ma Christian Camp in
Cloverdale, Ore., for Week of Missions in August.
C. ROBERT WETZEL to First
Christian Church in Big Stone Gap, Va., Elk Park Christian Church in
Elk Park, N.C., and Capitol City Christian Church in Lincoln, Neb., in
June; to First Christian Church in Hugoton, Kan., Tates Creek
Christian Church in Lexington, Ky., and First Christian Church in
Johnson City, Tenn., in July; to New Zealand, Malaysia, and the World
Convention of Churches of Christ in Brisbane, Australia, in August. n
NACC
Breakfast to Celebrate 35 Years of Emmanuel
Come join the Emmanuel
family to celebrate 35 years of the Seminary at our annual North
American Christian Convention Breakfast. We’ll gather on Wednesday,
July 12, 2000, at 7:30 a.m., at the Louisville Radisson East Hotel,
9700 Bluegrass Parkway at exit 15 off of I-64. Tickets are $15.
Advance reservations are required.
The following Emmanuel
faculty and administrators will be in attendance: C. Robert Wetzel,
Calvin Phillips, Dan Lawson, David Fulks, Tom Jones, Robert Owens,
Robert Hull, Jack Holland, Eleanor Daniel, and Bruce Shields. Plan to
join us for this special celebration! n
World
Convention Breakfast
Emmanuel will host a
special “Get Acquainted” breakfast during the World Convention of
Churches of Christ in Brisbane, Australia, in August. Join us in room
P4 on the Plaza Level of the Convention Center on Friday, August 4, at
7:30 a.m.
Tickets are US$15.
Advance reservations are requested. Tickets may be ordered by sending
a check for the appropriate amount to the Office of the President,
Emmanuel School of Religion, One Walker Drive, Johnson City TN 37601.
If you have questions, phone the President’s Office at (423)
926-1186. Tickets will also be sold at Emmanuel’s World Convention
exhibit booth until noon on Thursday, August 3. n |
