May 2004
Back Issues

Contents

• David Marshall named Director of Finance
• Join us at the NACC!
• Emmanuel Commencement
• Meditation: O Boi de Piranha: The “Cow of the Piranha”
• Book Review: Prodigal Sons & Material Girls: How Not to Be Your Child’s ATM
• Clipnotes
• Students recognized on Honors Day
• Historic trees planted in Emmanuel Village
• Faculty News
• Emmanuel on the Road
• Needed: Your email address!

David Marshall named Director of Finance

Emmanuel School of Religion is pleased to announce the appointment of David B. Marshall as Director of Finance. Marshall began his service to the school on May 10.

Marshall, a native of the Chicago area, is a graduate of Milligan College with a degree in business administration. He holds the MBA degree from Keller Graduate School of Management in Chicago, Ill.

Marshall most recently served as Controller/CFO of XIV Karats Ltd., a West Coast conglomerate, and as an Adjunct Finance Instructor for the University of Phoenix. Formerly he was Director of Internal Audit for the State of Tennessee, Department of Human Services, and also served as Controller/Corporate Secretary for Mega Systems International of Chicago.

We welcome David, his wife Martha, and their son, Blaine, to Emmanuel School of Religion.

Join us at the NACC!

Emmanuel will host its annual North American Christian Convention Breakfast in Phoenix, Ariz., on Tuesday, July 6, during the convention. The breakfast will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the Curtis Room AB. The featured speaker will be Adrian Fehl (M.Div. ’96), missionary in Ethiopia.

Tickets for the breakfast are $15 each and may be ordered by sending a check to the Office of the President, Emmanuel School of Religion, One Walker Drive, Johnson City, TN, 37601.

While at the NACC, don’t forget to stop by our exhibit booth, #1502, just inside the main entrance to the Exhibit hall.

Emmanuel Commencement

Please join us on Sunday, May 23, at 3:00 p.m., for Emmanuel’s 38th commencement. Services will be held at Seeger Chapel on the campus of Milligan College. Kay Moll, former missionary in Zambia and director of vacation Bible school ministries at Standard Publishing Company, will deliver the address.

Meditation:
O Boi de Piranha:
The “Cow of the Piranha”

Cowboys of Brazil still drive their cattle to market. As the herd passes through the plains of central Brazil, it will inevitably need to pass through rivers known to be infested by piranha. So the lead driver will select from the herd one cow that is older, slower, or sick that will be given as the “boi de piranha.”

The chosen cow is forced into the water where its hide is cut to allow blood to flow into the current attracting any waiting piranha. Smelling the blood, piranha from the surrounding area will converge on the area and begin their feeding frenzy. As the cow’s legs are devoured from the hide to the muscle, from the tendon to the bone, it will no longer be able to stand and will tip over into the water. As the vibration and blood scent increases, piranha from 100 yards up and down stream will join in the gluttony.

As the carcass floats down stream it takes with it all of the piranha in the area thus allowing the rest of the herd to cross safely.

Jesus has done no less than this for us! But, unlike the “boi de piranha,” Jesus himself comes out on the other side of the river, the first born from among the dead!

His sacrifice and the brutal manner in which he was punished and crucified has provided an escape for us all … an escape from darkness, hopelessness, hate, greed, and the list goes on. It falls on us to incarnate the essence of Galatians 2.20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”

Let us follow Jesus through the river, die with Him, and truly LIVE!

Book Review:
Prodigal Sons & Material Girls:
How Not to Be Your Child’s ATM

Dungan, a former financial advisor for Lutheran Brotherhood, has written an insightful and practical book about kids and finances. Even more so, one might describe the book as a cultural critique that “engages the economic powers” that vie for the hearts and souls of our children.

Dungan suggests that Americans are socialized into a culture under the “hypnotic influence of consumption.” Therefore, he suggests that the present generation (mothers and fathers) and the previous generation (grandparents) need to resist consumer/media pressures and lead children in a different direction - because we have been let down by the rest of “the village”: business, schools, government, and religion.

Spending “attitudes” are summarized as the “Teen Commandments”: “nag, and you shall receive, wait not for what you want, only the best will do, fit in at all costs, grow up as fast as you can, when it’s special, make it extravagant, more is better, you are entitled to what you want, pursue the ‘perfect’ you, and forget reality.” “Just as the original Ten Commandments provided a guide for living, the Teen Commandments instruct young people on a new way of life” (58). Consumer product companies, media conglomerates, and advertising agencies have influences and strategies in place to affect children from age two well into their teens. Such momentum and social engineering continues on into adult life.

Dungan presents a model of the “Balanced Life” that is based on three elements listed in order of importance: share, save, and spend. This very practical model encourages kids to exercise responsibility, discernment, and planning with respect to money and possessions. With “spending” relegated to third position, the “powers” of “consumerism” and “materialism” lose their tight grip and the character of our children may be formed in such ways as support the common good. Lots of hard evidence and practical suggestions are given in this book, along with resources (including websites) to address the problem. Jesus engaged demonic powers in his ministry - those that sought to capture the hearts and souls of women and men - and children. He calls the church to continue that work (Matthew 18:1-9).

You may purchase a copy of this book in the Emmanuel Bookstore. Contact 423-461-1545 or email bookstore@esr.edu.

Clipnotes

JOSHUA (MDiv ’00) and RUTH BARRON (MAR ’00) welcomed their daughter, Alitzah Charis, on November 17, 2003. Joshua and Ruth currently serve as youth ministers at Belvue Christian Church in Kingsport, Tenn., and are CMF missionary recruits for Kenya. They have previously served as missionaries in South Africa.

DWAYNE CURRY (MAR ’00) and his wife, Tia, announce the birth of a son, Emerson Tate Curry, on April 15. He joins sister Madison (6) and brothers Braden (3) and Gavin (18 months). Dwayne serves as Youth Minister at Capital City Christian Church in Raleigh, N.C.

RON DOWNS (MDiv ’78) closed a 13½ year ministry with Nelson Christian Church in Bardstown, Ky., on April 25.

TOM PFAFF (MDiv ’82) serves as Chaplain for the 366th Maintenance Group at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and will retire officially on August 1, 2004, after 20 years and 14 days of active duty. A ceremony will be held on June 11, the 32nd anniversary of his ordination, at the Mountain Home AFB Chapel.

MICHAEL SOMERS (MDiv ’01) currently serves as Chaplain for Bristol Family YMCA in Bristol, Tenn. Michael and his wife, Brenda, reside in Abingdon, Va.

ART SPHAR (MDiv ’74) was recently awarded the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year award by Pierce County, Wash., for his work as a police chaplain over the past 20 years. Art and his wife, Sandy, reside in Sumner, Wash.

GUTHRIE VEECH (DMin ’96) began a ministry as senior minister with First Christian Church of Olive Hill, Ky., on February 22. He continues to serve as a professor at Kentucky Christian College in Grayson.

DENIS WHITTET (MDiv ’79) celebrated his 10th anniversary as pastor of Gladstone (Ore.) Christian Church on May 1, 2004. Denis and his wife, Debbie, reside in Gladstone.

ROSS (MDiv ’98) and CHERYL WISSMAN (MDiv ’97) report that the International Christian College of Manila (Philippines) held its first Praise and Worship Conference at the end of April with 70 in attendance. The USA team that led the conference presented musical instruments to each church who participated in the conference.

Michele Houser Wollert (MAR ’90) completed the requirements for her Ph.D. in Education at the University of Tennessee in December 2003. She is currently an advisor with the Educational Opportunity Center at East Tennessee State University. Michele and her husband David and daughter Malynda reside in Johnson City, Tenn.

Students recognized on Honors Day

Emmanuel students who excelled in their studies during the 2003-2004 academic year were recognized for the following awards at the Honors Day Chapel held on April 22:

• The Randy and Gigi Huffines Award for Excellence in Biblical Studies, Old Testament: Sam Long

• The Randy and Gigi Huffines Award for Excellence in Biblical Studies, New Testament: Leon Seaman

• The Walker/Richardson Award in Church History: Chang-Woo Lee

• The Joseph Dampier Christian Ministries Award: Chuck Gohn and Kim Parker

• The Christian Education Award: Glenda Hollingshead

• The Stone-Campbell Journal Award: Adam Suter and Beth Wheeler

Six new members were inducted into the Emmanuel Chapter of the International Society of Theta Phi, an honor society for theological students, scholars in the field of religion, and outstanding religious leaders: Chang-Woo Lee, Tay Schield Odor, Steven Larry Page, Heather Dana Davis Parker, Timothy Christopher Smith, and Dr. Jack Knowles of Milligan College. Rachel Knowles received the $500 Theta Phi Scholarship this year.

Students recognized for a GPA of 3.85 or higher after completion of at least 9 hours were: Jesse Bentley, Debra Brewer, Rachel Knowles, Jeremy Lawler, Heather Parker, Marc Smith, and Elena Skopylatov.

Historic trees planted in Emmanuel Village

Seven young trees propagated from famous and historic trees were donated to Emmanuel School of Religion through the generosity of Robert L. Dean, alumnus of Milligan College, to honor men who made a real difference in his life during his student days.

The trees are temporarily planted in a special garden plot to give them growth before planting them in permanent places throughout the Emmanuel campus.

Certificates were presented to the recipients or a family representative at Emmanuel’s Honors Day Chapel service on April 22. Those honored with trees were:

• Dr. Beauford H. Bryant: The Robert E. Lee Sweetgum

• Dr. Owen L. Crouch: The Walden Woods Red Maple

• Dr. Robert O. Fife: The Martin Luther King Jr. Sycamore

• Dr. Byron C. Lambert: The Rudyard Kipling White Pine

• Dr. Frederick W. Norris: The Mark Twain Bur Oak

• Dr. Henry Webb: The Thomas Jefferson Tulip Poplar

• Dr. C. Robert Wetzel: The Gettysburg Address Honeylocust

For more information about these historic trees, visit http://www.historictrees.org.

Faculty News

	PAUL M. BLOWERS gave a presentation along with Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement co-editors Doug Foster and Newell Williams, on “The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery” for the Stone-Campbell Dialogue that convened at East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Ind., April 25-26. He will present the paper “The Analogy of Divine Playfulness in Gregory Nazianzen and Maximus the Confessor” for the annual meeting of the North American Patristics Society, May 27-29, at Loyola University of Chicago. Dr. Blowers published an article titled, “My Mom … Friend and Fellow Servant,” in the April 25 issue of Christian Standard.
	ELEANOR A. DANIEL will return to Austria on May 24 to continue her work with TCM International. Dr. Daniel will teach Children’s Ministry at Haus Edelweiss in Austria May 31-June 11 and will teach Principles of Christian Teaching in Sofia, Bulgaria, June 20-26. Dr. Daniel completed and submitted the columns for “Teacher’s Tips” for Bible Teacher and Leader for Standard Publishing Company for the December 2005 quarter.
	JACK B. HOLLAND continues to preach twice monthly at the Sonlight Church of Christ in Greeneville, Tenn.
	ROBERT F. HULL JR. will attend the meeting of the Chief Academic Officers Society and the Biennial Meeting of the Association of Theological Schools in Garden Grove, Calif., June 24-28.
	THOMAS F. JONES JR. received the Donald A. McGavran Award at the National New Church Conference in St. John, Ind., on April 1, for his leadership and performance in the field of new church planting. Dr. Jones’s book, Church Planting from the Ground Up, was released in April and can be purchased through the Emmanuel School of Religion Bookstore. Dr. Jones attended the strategic planning meeting for national church planting in Napa, Calif., May 6-9; met with leaders from Smoky Mountain Men’s Fellowship on May 13; attended the management team meeting for the Canton, Ga., church plant on May 14; and coached a new church plant in Bluffton, S.C., May 15-16. Dr. Jones will host a Church Planting Assessment Center at Emmanuel School of Religion May 24-27.
	ROLLIN A. RAMSARAN will join five Emmanuel students who will participate in the Middle Eastern Travel Seminar, an educational tour of lands in the Middle East central to the biblical narrative, May 14-June 7.
	CHRISTOPHER A. ROLLSTON recently gave a departmental lecture at Vanderbilt University entitled “The Ya‘akov (‘James’) Ossuary Inscription, the Moussaieff Ostraca and the Jehoash Inscription: Recent Sensational Non-Provenanced Inscriptions.” The Easter Sunday issue of the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine carried the story “Recent Epigraphic Forgeries,” citing Dr. Rollston’s published research a number of times. Dr. Rollston led Carter Christian Church in Elizabethton, Tenn., in a Passover Seder on Holy Thursday. He also taught a lesson on textual criticism of the Old Testament at the Monday Night Bible Study Group of First Christian Church in Elizabethton, Tenn., in April. During the month of May, Dr. Rollston continued to deliver lectures about the Old Testament and Archaeology at Boones Creek Christian Church in Gray, Tenn. He also delivered a lecture about archaeology at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Johnson City, Tenn. Dr. Rollston continues an interim pulpit ministry at Westside Christian Church in Morristown, Tenn.
	BRUCE E. SHIELDS will serve as a volunteer chaplain at Johnson City Medical Center on May 15. Dr. Shields will visit churches in China and teach at Chinese Christian Seminary in Hong Kong May 29-June 11. He will attend the Societas Homiletica meeting in Singapore June 12-17.

Emmanuel on the Road