Winter 2020
Beacons Shine in These Times
PRESIDENT’S LETTER 16 If any of you have something else in mind, some less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision – you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. 20-21 But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him. – Philippians 3 (selections from The Message version) Growing up, my mother read to us at bedtime, from the Bible mostly, but from other sources, too. Perhaps the most influential to me was John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. In Bunyan’s tale a man named Christian undertook a hazardous journey from his home in the City of Destruction to The Celestial City and ultimate salvation from the darkness of sin and estrangement from God. Along the way he encountered a great many trials, internal and external and met a host of colorful characters. Some helped Christian, some served as distractions, some were dangerous as they sought to keep him from the way. Among those he met, were Simple, Sloth, and Presumption who would not heed Christian’s call to journey with him toward truth and grace... and Formalist and Hypocrisy who were intent on finding an easier route than that of the narrow and difficult way that Christian traveled. Lately, I’ve been thinking about two fellows Christian met after he entered through the narrow gate and had been relieved of his great burden. Nearing the top of a great and difficult hill, Timorous and Mistrust came rushing down in the opposite direction after facing lions and fearing they would be pulled to pieces. Hearing this, Christian responded, “If I go back to mine own country, that is prepared for fire and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish there. If I can get to the Celestial City, I am sure to be in safety there. I must venture. To go back is nothing but death; to go forward is fear of death, and life-everlasting beyond it. I will yet go forward.” – The Pilgrim’s Progress, pg. 57 Perhaps we may, at times, feel like this. After a number of challenges and hardships is one more too much? The past months may seem to us like lions lying in wait as we try to answer God’s call on our lives. Tired along an arduous journey, one obstacle after another, facing lions in wait – it may seem prudent to turn tail and run. My mind keeps wandering to these characters, and this exchange that has been burned in my memory. Christian responds to Timorous and Mistrust by admitting his own fears, but he wonders where he might go to be safe. Though pressing on means facing the “fear of destruction,” he “must venture.” Like Christian we must encourage one another to hold to Christ and stay the course. As we read from Paul, we must weigh the value of knowing Jesus to the point of internalizing the benefit of sharing in the challenges we face along the way in His service, “pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) In this addition of The Beacon you will read about how Beacons are venturing forward. Faculty, students, and alumni who in the face of a pandemic, racial injustice and strife, and communities destroyed by wildfire are on the “right track” in their service to God’s Kingdom, trusting “He is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.” I hope in the midst of the challenges we are facing as a society you will find, as I have, inspiration in these stories of resilience and faith. Blessings,
Joseph Womack ’89, Ed.D., President
IN THIS ISSUE President Joseph Womack ’89, Ed.D. Vice Presidents Gene De Young, MBA Michael Fuller, M.A. Dennis Lindsay, Dr.Theol. Keith Potter ’84, D.D. (hon) ’11 Editor Corynn Gilbert, M.Ed. Contributors Angela Doty ’00, M.A. ’05 Corynn Gilbert, M.Ed. Emily Johnston, M.A. Cami Ogden, M.A. Alyssa Perovich ’21 Keith Potter ’84, D.D. (hon) ’11 Joseph Womack ’89, Ed.D. Photography Tom Boyd, AHM Brands Tomas Carradero ’19, MBA ’20 Jeremiah Leslie Cover Photo Chris Pietsch Art Direction, Design, and Production AHM Brands The Beacon is published by Bushnell University as an information service and is posted on the Bushnell University website. For information, call 541-684-7318. Readers are encouraged to submit text for publication via email to alumni@bushnell.edu or via mail to: Office of Advancement Attn: Corynn Gilbert, Editor 828 E. 11th Avenue Eugene, OR 97401 Bushnell reserves the right to edit all copy. Articles should include names and class years (if applicable) for all individuals mentioned.
Winter 2020
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ON THE SIDELINES
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IN THE HEADLINES
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ON THE FRONTLINES
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NEAR THE FIRELINES
Life in the WNBA bubble provides Trustee and alumnus Mike Petersen ’83 with a unique perspective on faith and worldview.
Bushnell professor Dr. Kaj Kayij-Wint finds strength in God’s redemption during a time of personal loss.
John Tastad ’84 reflects on the intersection of ethics and compassion during the greatest medical crisis of this century.
The Oregon wildfires called for Brent Caulley ’11 to serve in all his vocational capacities, as teacher, pastor, and firefighter.
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Living Abroad in These Times
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Creativity in These Times
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Pastoring in These Times
Purity Maina & Tyler King
Hannah Bucher & Jesse Gerlach Northwood Christian Church & Twin Oaks Christian Church
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Celebrating in These Times
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Around Campus
A Virtual Evening of Tribute
Beacon Classic Giving in These Times Leaving a Legacy In These Times In Memorium Alumni Updates New Trustees Meet the Faculty Dr. James Watson
ALSO IN THIS ISSSUE
President's Letter – Inside Front Cover From My Point of View – Inside Back Cover
Living Abroad In These Times PURITY MAINA & TYLER KING
WRITTEN BY EMILY JOHNSTON, M.A., RESIDENT DIRECTOR & COORDINATOR FOR STUDENT PROGRAMS
STUDENT PROFILES
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ushnell University sophomore Purity Maina came to America from Ngong, Kenya in an exchange program for her junior year of high school. Her parents’ (a pastor and a teacher) prayer was answered when she was placed with a wonderful Christian family, the Larkins in Bend, Oregon. After one year, Purity returned to Kenya to finish high school, but came back to visit the Larkins. During that visit, the Larkins’ daughter Grace brought Purity to Preview Day at Bushnell University. They both applied and decided that Bushnell was where God was calling them to complete their university degrees. Arriving in 2019, Purity is now in her second year at Bushnell. She works in the Admissions Office and served as a summer resident assistant. She’s partly able to fund her education through the Phillips Legacy Foundation scholarship. Reflecting on living life across multiple cultures, Purity sees a continuous process of balancing life in the U.S. with her African heritage. Building deep relationships has been the hardest part for her, despite her outgoing and bubbly personality. She doesn't always share the same taste in music, clothing, and leisure activities with her American peers, but her closest friends celebrate her diverse perspective.
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yler King, also a sophomore, spent less than five years in the U.S. before arriving as a Bushnell student in 2019. He’s the son of Bushnell grads, Matt ’92 and Jan (Albritton) King ’92, dorm parents at Rift Valley Academy, a Christian boarding school serving a multicultural and international community in Kijabe, Kenya. Proximity to family, the close-knit school atmosphere, and scholarship opportunities for Christian Church missionary families make Bushnell a perfect fit. The family straddles two worlds. During his first year, Tyler’s parents were on furlough in Independence, Oregon. This August, they returned to Kenya to find that the pandemic has forced online classes with no students in the dorm. The tension of feeling at home on two continents feels normal to Tyler. In Kenya, students and families come and go from all over the world. Community is truly multicultural. Tyler’s mom always told him, “Play in the yard you’re put in.” When in Kenya, he enjoys Kenyan things— chai, rugby, and playing in the forest. When in the U.S., he enjoys city life, better access to technology, and American foods. The difficulty lies in trying to build and maintain relationships across continents.
Staying on campus over the summer, Purity experienced the pandemic’s impact on both her families from afar. Kenya suffered a governmental shut-down and temporary curfew. Schools remain closed, forcing her mother to seek alternative employment. The distance feels intense. She doesn’t know when she will be able to go home again, even if a family member gets sick. Thankfully, all are healthy and she has maintained close contact with them throughout this trying time. Life as an African in the U.S. during racial tension has been challenging and enlightening. While Purity doesn’t understand the African American experience in the U.S., she has experienced racism firsthand in Eugene. That difficult experience inspires her to learn more about the history and present realities of racial injustice in this country. “When people see me, they don’t see African. They see Black. So how do I appropriately defend the Black community while not imposing or pretending to know what Black Americans are feeling?” Among the tensions of straddling two cultures, Purity is on a journey, committed to approaching it all with patience, grace, and prayer. Ngong, Kenya Kijabe, Kenya
Despite holding an American passport, Tyler experiences culture shock each time he returns to the continent from Kenya. He is used to dorm life and new people, so living on campus is an easy transition. But the lack of cultural diversity, as well as large stores with endless choices, are the most difficult adjustments. When here, people ask him if he lives in a hut. In Kenya, they ask if he knows famous people personally. These stereotypes and assumptions are amusing but reflect a lack of cultural understanding all around. With an international upbringing, Tyler celebrates diversity. He doesn’t fully understand the racial divides in the U.S. and feels like an outsider looking in. Though he is listening and learning, he is grieved over injustice and the sinful perpetuation of racism. He sees prayer, listening, and helping as his role. “I don’t think we’ll ever have perfect equality on earth. It’s something to look forward to in heaven. But we can still shoot for it.” Tyler hopes God will use his unique upbringing and love of diversity to restore broken relationships among God’s people. He is majoring in missions and plans to live abroad, perhaps in remote areas doing Bible translation or church planting. He’d love to return to Africa. Bushnell University 5
STUDENT PROFILES
GETTING CREATIVE IN THESE TIMES Hannah Bucher & Jesse Gerlach WRITTEN BY ANGELA DOTY ’00, M.A. ’05, DEAN OF CAREER & ACADEMIC RESOURCES
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imes of adversity reveal all sides of humanity—both the good and the bad. As a community living through the challenges of 2020, we are facing both collective and individual hardships through which our character is tested and tried. Romans 5 provides a reminder that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Through perseverance, character takes shape and the capacity for creativity, innovation, and hope emerges. In true Beacon fashion, several Bushnell students rose up during these challenging times and invested their gifts, talents, and abilities in artistic and productive ways, shining a light in the darkness.
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enior Hannah Bucher, a business major out of Harrisburg, Oregon, launched her own flower business in May. Tapping into her passion for flowers and an aspiration to one day own a floral/coffee shop, she saw the lockdown in Oregon as an opportunity to test out an idea. Purchasing from a local flower stand, Hannah created beautiful floral arrangements for delivery. She took photos and shared them on her Instagram account, soon after opening an account for “Front Door Florals” (@frontdoorflorals) and attracted over 500 followers. Applying her skills in graphic design and social media promotion, Hannah’s small business took off. She averaged 15-20 floral arrangements a week in the first month. As an active and busy college student, starting a small business this summer was not something she would have considered if it had not been for Covid-19. The global pandemic created the space for her to explore an interest, develop skills, and pursue a passion – all while brightening peoples’ days with bouquets of flowers.
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enior communications major Jesse Gerlach also launched a new business this summer. An idea that initially started as a fundraiser for a trip to China during his first year at Bushnell evolved into an online apparel business with even deeper meaning and purpose. Jesse engaged his faculty in the process, completing an independent study course in the spring with Dr. Doyle Srader that studied visual communication through apparel. Later, he consulted with business faculty, Drs. Tim Veach and Pete Diffenderfer, on how to build a business. The restrictions related to the pandemic afforded him a lot more time to develop the concepts into reality, bringing to life “Message.Apparel” (@message.apparel) and its mission “to tell stories that will change our world through ethically sourced clothing.” Each line of clothing is uniquely inspired by a story. Jesse uses a collaborative and critical process for determining the message and design of each item to ensure that it is clear, inclusive, and culturally relevant. He hopes that these products create opportunities for authentic connection and genuine interaction that goes beyond “hey, I like your outfit” and inspires people to have the courage to tell their own story.
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E Angela Doty, ’00, M.A. ’05 recently stepped into a new role as dean of career and academic resources. She oversees the personnel and operations of the Center for Career and Academic Resources, which integrates accessibility services, career development, Kellenberger Library, and tutoring.
ach student started with an interest or a passion, a gift deep from within. They generated ideas and explored the possibilities, refining them into a vision. Inviting the input and assistance from others, they developed a plan. Leveraging their strengths and skills, they put the plan in motion. From a career development perspective, I applaud their entrepreneurial spirit and ambition to seize the opportunity to try something new. In doing so, they developed skills and acquired experience that will serve them well in their future careers. Viewing their endeavors through the lens of calling and vocation, I am inspired by their courage to persevere. Looking beyond the uncertainty and stepping out in faith, Hannah and Jesse used their gifts, talents, and abilities to bless others. They are united by their desire to bring joy and instill hope.
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Pastoring in These Times Pastoral ministry is never easy. During 2020, the role became still more complicated. Two churches with historic ties to Bushnell, one large and one small, have taken extraordinary steps to stay connected and serve their people and neighbors. Bushnell alumni tell their stories.
NORTHWOOD CHRISTIAN CHURCH Springfield, Oregon
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n September 13th Pastor Barry Lind ’84 was preparing for Church in the Field, a celebration of their new construction site and Barry’s 25th anniversary with the church. Then fires hit the forests above Springfield. Seventy church families had to be evacuated. A few lost their homes. The church adapted, helping with evacuations and opening homes. On Sunday they offered breakfast and church for affected families. “We just have to think about ministry differently,” Barry says of Covid-19 and other 2020 challenges. “The three-mile run has turned into a marathon, so I’ve stopped putting an end date on it.” For support, he’s learning to surround himself with encouragers who help him to see possibilities in the midst. 8 The Beacon / Winter 2020
Adjustments include online Sunday worship, weekly devotions, small groups, and Thursday worship nights, while gradually getting back to partial gatherings. Their annual Harvest Festival, which last year yielded $63,000 for partner organizations, has been adapted from a sit-down dinner to a drive-through event, followed by an online program and appeal. “This has been a chance for our techsavvy people to shine and show us how to navigate in this new world.” As a larger church, Northwood has the advantage of a Director of Technology, Jared Keeth ’15 to help with the online shift. Barry sums up their strategy by asking, “How do we help people feel connected in a Covid world? We’re discovering that some people are more
open to God in this Covid time than they otherwise would be. We even had a man thank us from Michigan who’s been watching every podcast.” Meanwhile, Northwood’s worship pastor Adam Rasmussen ’01 tells the same story from another angle. “I miss the corporate gathering for worship. So much of worship is feeding off of other people in the room. But it has forced us to do some things that would have been necessary to be relevant anyway.” As for the fires, Adam adds, “People were forced to briefly gather and found something they need. They were being filled by serving and being with others.”
ALUMNI PROFILES
TWIN OAKS CHRISTIAN CHURCH Eugene, Oregon
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aron Dilla ’11 preaches from a strategic spot below the church steeple in front of the parking lot. The congregation arrives in their cars and turn on their radios. A church member purchased an FM transmitter so the service can be broadcast live. People sing and worship in their cars, honk greetings to one another, and take communion together. “After preaching into a camera, it was refreshing to see faces. Preaching is interactional. It’s nice to be around other people.” Delaney McMahon ’17 leads worship in the unique setup. “It’s complicated with kids in the car, and then there are bathroom issues. But we’re making the most of it. It was a huge relief to see people after being only online for months. I long for the day when we’re together worshiping in the sanctuary again.”
At Twin Oaks, the small sanctuary makes social distancing very difficult. Recent fires even interrupted parking lot worship because of air quality issues. As a rural church on the western edge of Eugene, spotty internet adds to the challenge. “It’s been tiring,” Aaron laments, and then quips, “kind of like being eaten alive by small rabbits.” Still, the church has offered online devotionals and Zoom small groups. The men’s group has grown with socially distanced backyard barbecues. Two people have been “attending” online from California, a few have been baptized, and a family joined the church in the midst of it all. “People have been faithful,” Aaron says. “Giving has been stronger than expected. The congregation has stepped up to serve at-risk people. And we’ve stayed in touch. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how things are turning out.”
These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Psalm 42:4
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FALL EVENTS STUDENT PROFILES
CELEBRATING IN THESE TIMES A Virtual Evening of Tribute
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he annual spring Evening of Tribute gala is an anticipated event. For over ten years, the event has recognized exemplary ethical leadership within our community. Bushnell University sets a beautiful stage to honor, celebrate, and inspire ethical leaders in the business and non-profit sectors. It is a night during which Beacons of today are honored and we collectively dedicate ourselves to invest in Beacons of tomorrow. Evening of Tribute is not just a signature community event, but it is also our primary fundraiser for student scholarships. Usually held alongside commencement in May, this year we had to postpone and adapt as the realities of Covid-19 continue to change and challenge us all. In a year ravaged by wildfires and an ongoing global pandemic, the fiscal impact of postponing this event was a struggle. However, Beacons persevere. We leaned into our courage, character, community, and creativity. Instead of a bustling ballroom, we kicked off the holiday season with a fall celebration–online. Hutchins Hall and the Evans Chapel became
makeshift “TV” broadcast stations where the event was filmed live. Hundreds of alumni, friends, business partners, past honorees, and students near and far tuned in to stream the event on YouTube. By going virtual, the night became international and the breadth of our Beacon community was felt further. The chaos of 2020 hasn’t stopped our celebration. Instead it has offered clarity on why and what we celebrate. Weddings may have shrunk to backyard BBQs. Graduations, birthday parties, and baby showers may be part Zoom. But the commitment of marriage, the recognition of freedom, and the joy we share through life’s watershed moments continue. Even more so, when chaos gives way to clarity we adapt with hope and celebrate with gratitude. Evening of Tribute 2020 brought new lessons and fresh ideas for the future. More importantly, this year’s celebration was evidence that the good (even the socially-distanced, online version) will always be good, because God is good.
If you missed this year’s event, you can still watch it online at bushnell.edu/tribute2020. If you want to make a gift in honor of our 2020 Award Recipients, visit bushnell.edu/give.
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2020 EXEMPLARY ETHICAL LEADER AWARD RECIPIENTS
KEN BROWN
SENECA
RORY ROBISON ’96
Raised in Elmira, Oregon, Ken Brown has been serving our community for decades. He was part of the team to plant Eastside Faith Center and Hope Chapel. Ken continues his ministry as a chaplain and has worked with NASCAR, Eugene Emeralds, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and leading teams at Bushnell University and the UO. In 2005, Ken founded The Hope Project, a Lane County non-profit committed to a quick response of immediate need. Ken and his team provide resources and relief for everything our community faces, offering special care to our children by providing clothing, food, school supplies, and surprise Christmas gifts. Most recently, The Hope Project has been an impact player in the Holiday Farm Fire evacuation efforts.
Seneca is one of the largest single-location sawmills in the United States and is an international industry leader. Seneca is committed to legacy and people. What began in 1954 as a single operation on Highway 99 in Eugene, Seneca has grown exponentially through technological innovations resulting in over twenty patents, four new sawmills, and a renewable energy electrical plant with over 400 employees. The people of Seneca are family and a point of pride for the business. At the onset of Covid-19 leadership extended care packages to every single employee and adapted collectively to the unforeseen challenges. Seneca invests in their people and our community by supporting organizations with shared values, including community service, education, healthy lifestyles, jobs and the environment, in an effort to cultivate and sustain our land, people, and the place we all call home.
This year, our Distinguished Alumni Award winner was selected from a unique category of alumni—the many Beacons serving in the local business community. Rory Robison ’96 is a 1996 graduate of Bushnell University with a degree in Business Administration and now serves clients as a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies LLC. He is also known and respected for his non-profit leadership, including longstanding partnership with Bushnell University as a member of the Advisory Board for the Center for Leadership and Ethics. Still more, Rory has been a dedicated board member (and current Board President) of Relief Nursery. A recent Exemplary NonProfit Award recipient, the Relief Nursery is a local agency that provides educational, therapeutic, recovery and other services to families and children experiencing crisis, abuse or trauma. Married to Mandy and the father of two, Rory exemplifies what it means to be a Beacon in the home, in business, and in service to the community.
EXEMPLARY INDIVIDUAL
EXEMPLARY BUSINESS
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS
ON THE SIDELINES with Mike Petersen ’83 Alumnus and Trustee / Coach and Broadcaster
The Beacon caught up with Mike, Assistant Coach of the Atlanta Dream, during his season inside the WNBA bubble.
Tell me what I can do. This ethic drives Mike Petersen’s approach to answering God’s call into involvements beyond his work life. As an affiliated staff member for Athletes in Action, Mike trains coaches from all over the world on basketball strategy and leadership practices. As a small group leader in his church, Mike exercises his love of the Bible and his pastoral approach to life. As a Trustee at Bushnell University, he brings an enormous amount of leadership savvy from driving organizations of various sizes and types. For all of these investments, Mike simply wants to serve. 12
photo by Steven Gosling
photo by David Sherman
“Love, serve, encourage, accept, forgive, bear with, honor, build up, comfort, live in harmony with one another.�
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eanwhile, his work life is anything but simple. Mike is an assistant coach for the Atlanta Dream in the Women’s National Basketball Association. He’s also nurturing a growing career as a sports broadcaster, bringing his love of the game plus a quick sense of humor to television. Since those are very public roles in the midst of Covid-19 and racial reconciliation challenges, both unfolding dramas have affected him on numerous levels. On the family front, Mike is grateful that no family members have contracted the virus. But living in the WNBA “bubble” in Bradenton, Florida means that Mike hasn’t been with his wife Patty, or his church, or his closest friends since July 4. “It’s not good. We celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary apart, in Florida and Texas. I’m living in this beautiful resort with world-class athletic facilities, but the separation from Patty is grueling.” As for basketball, the Dream has struggled through a mediocre season. They’ve had positive Covid infections that have sidelined a few players and initiated quarantine protocols. Two team members opted out of the whole season, choosing to avoid the potential for health problems. Political intrigue surrounding team ownership has brought complexity to relationships within the organization and a barrage of media attention. All of these challenges landed while trying to rebuild a team with ten new players out of twelve. They’ve lost a number of close games. “It’s hard to find the synergy you need to win a close game against a good team when we haven’t been able to practice or build cohesion.”
At the same time, eating, working, and playing with a diverse group of people has opened the door to significant conversations. “My life is like a Venn diagram, trying to find my place in the connecting point between two circles. At home in Texas, I’m mostly surrounded by white, older, conservative, Christian people. At work in Florida and Atlanta, I’m mostly with black, younger, progressive people from a variety of faith perspectives. I’m trying to understand everyone and encourage people in both circles.” As for diversity of race and worldview, Mike is convinced that there are “awesome people” across the spectrum of thought and ethnicity. “I don’t have many answers, but I do have some observations. First, those circles really struggle to understand each other. Most of them want to understand and try very hard to understand. But second, they see events around them in such different ways, through totally different lenses. It definitely makes for a very interesting time in our little bubble.” For personal direction, Mike clings to the fifty-nine different “one another” admonitions in Scripture. “Of those fifty-nine ‘one anothers’, only one is confrontative (rebuke or reprove one another). The others are all positive. Love, serve, encourage, accept, forgive, bear with, honor, build up, comfort, live in harmony with one another. I’m going to spend most of my time on the positive fifty-eight. Maybe the rebuke comes around once out of every fiftynine, but if I’m concentrating on the positive it helps me to be careful and to really help people.”
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“don't tell me what I already know. I need you to tell me what I don't already know.”
In looking at our country’s contentious climate, Mike laments, “When did this country become a place where we can’t work or socialize or worship with people who don’t agree with 100% of what we believe? It diminishes the value of relationships and the color and flavor of life.” Because Mike has a number of platforms, as a coach, sports broadcaster and small group leader, he looks for moments to challenge people to handle differences in a better, more textured way. “I encourage people to find someone you disagree with and go have dinner.” With a laugh, he adds, “And try not to get in a fight.” Instead of running from diverse viewpoints, Mike draws them out. “I always say to my colleagues, ‘Don’t tell me what I already know. I need you to tell me what I don’t already know.’” As preparation for this demanding season, Mike credits his years at Bushnell for the formative aspects of his life and career. “I came to college with a very thin faith. I believed, but I really didn’t know what I believed. The influence of professors, administrators, coaches, and peers grounded me in a much deeper faith, and the whole community experience changed me.”
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s a basketball player at Bushnell, Mike scored 20.9 points per game over two seasons, placing him third on the alltime list for career scoring average. Coach Dave Lipp ’71, whose legacy covered two long stints as head coach, calls Mike one of the most talented players in our history.
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Playing led to coaching, and Mike’s first coaching job was at Bushnell, assisting Lipp during the first of seven national Bible college and national small college championship seasons. It’s no coincidence that Mike’s involvement helped to launch a small college dynasty. As a passionate student of the game, Coach Lipp gave his assistants significant teaching and leadership opportunities, both to better the team and to prepare assistants to become head coaches. Mike grew his own coaching legacy by serving as an assistant men’s coach at the University of Oregon, and then head women’s coach at Gonzaga, TCU, North Texas, New Mexico State, and Wake Forest. Over eight seasons and with four post-season appearances, he is the all-time winningest coach at Wake Forest. During his entire career, Mike’s greatest pleasure was walking into troubled programs and bringing hope, stability, and a new winning tradition. Then he would move on to do the same at the next stop. Bruce Shelby ’84 has known Mike as teammate, coach, and fellow trustee. “Pete was one of the best players I ever played with—both athletically and intellectually. I knew Pete would make a great coach. Pete is also one of the funniest people I know, with a Godgiven gift for the one-liner. I’m so glad our stint as trustees has reunited us.” Among current trustees, it’s not uncommon for Mike to remain silent for a while and then drop a refreshing bit of levity or the compelling piece of wisdom
at just the right moment. “Mike brings to the board a wealth of diverse leadership skills and a wonderful, encouraging spirit,” according to President Joseph Womack.
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ike is much more modest about his part. “Serving the school in any way is a privilege.” Mike credits his Bushnell experience as a key foundation to his entire life and career. “If I don’t go to Bushnell, I don’t have this career. Bushnell is a place that’s had a tremendous impact on my life and on my family’s life.” Meanwhile, Mike’s impact continues to spread on the national scene. During two recent television broadcasts of Atlanta Dream games, the commentators told personal anecdotes about Mike and his wife, Patty. The first was to celebrate their wedding anniversary on the air. After congratulating the Petersons for 42 years of marriage, with humorous side notes, one commentator adds, “Mike is a brilliant offensive mind. I can see why [Atlanta Dream] coach Nicki Collen has him on her staff… Coach P has been around the game a long time on the men’s and the women’s side, the college game and now in the ‘W’.” In the second instance, another personal drama unfolds during the game. Mike is on the sideline, receiving the details of a gender reveal for his first grandchild (a girl). Again, after moments of humor and congratulations, the commentator adds, “Mike is one of the truly good guys.”
photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
In the Head lines. US Embassy KINSHASA, 21 May 2020 Over the past month, armed groups have committed barbaric acts against innocent civilians, including women and children. Reports of calls for reprisals and forming militias, which would further raise tensions, are worrying. This wave of violence has caused tens of thousands to flee their homes in Ituri province, which now hosts over 1.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs).
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reddy Riy Kayij was an older brother, the oldest son in a household with eight children. The rebel of the family, Freddy was the cool kid at school who tried drugs, loved hard rock, and tested his parents. “My parents were very loving. They never gave up on my brother,” reflects Kaj Kayij-Wint, Ph.D., associate professor of counseling at Bushnell University. “My older sisters thought they were too soft, so they acted like mean parents, telling him he was on a road straight to hell.” Life already had some hellish elements for Kaj, Freddy, and others in their sphere. As a Methodist missionary family from the Democratic Republic of Congo, serving in Muslim dominated Algeria, the large family faced terrible persecution. Kaj remembers, “While we were being fingerprinted at the immigration office on the way into Algeria, the agent told us, ‘You are welcome in our country to minister to your own people [other Christians], but if you dare to preach your religion to the Muslim people we will kill you and torture and kill your family.’” Their family endured daily threats of torture and rape. Locals yelled at them on the street, even spitting on the children. “Still, we survived. Believers from every church served together in a very hostile environment. We were not Catholics or Pentecostals or Baptists or Methodists. No lines separated us. I saw people come together with limited resources. God can redeem anything. Race, gender, denomination, nationality. God takes all those barriers away when he asks us to serve together. We were brothers and sisters in Christ. Barriers did not exist.”
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strategic library attracted curious people with elements of Christian literature and an environment of intellectual freedom. This set the stage for Christian discovery. New believers had to be baptized at secret ceremonies at hidden lakes in the middle of the night. That tenure in Algeria came to an end under immanent threat of death in 1994, when the Islamic party 20 The Beacon / Winter 2020
strengthened its grip in a time of political upheaval and “tightened up still more on foreigners.” A breathtaking escape followed, along with a fresh season in Tunisia, where the Muslim influence was strong but not as hostile. Freddy eventually went back to the Congo, where he came to Christ and “became a whole new person and a pastor.” His ministry shifted toward aid for the United Nations refugee population, living in camps for people displaced by war and political unrest. “He saw them as people and loved them as family. He advocated for them and wanted to bring people to Christ and the love of God. His message was very clear. ‘God is always ready to accept you if you are ready to accept Him.’”
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n May 5, 2020, Freddy was murdered in a refugee camp. A victim of mistaken identity, Freddy’s death sent notice around the world about the perils facing immigrant and refugee communities and those who serve them. Through her own terrible loss, Kaj finds some redemption. “Many have reached out to tell us how he loved, preached, cared. Many found Christ after his death and even because of his death. People have found courage to stand up.”
Though the circumstances are different, Kaj has observations about current racial unrest in America, including a proactive approach to bringing real help. “It’s more important than ever to teach our students that people are hurting. I’ve taken a chaplain approach both for their own lives and for how our students help others in the counseling setting. I teach an empathic point of view, both from a cultural perspective and a human perspective. If someone is hurting, we’re all hurting. How can we approach healing in a way that unifies us?” She quotes Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:4 as a guiding scripture: [God] comforts us in our suffering so we can help others in their suffering with the comfort we’ve received from God.
Kaj shares thoughts on being a Black woman living in predominantly white communities in America. “An 82-year-old white woman from North Carolina reached out and touched my hair and then apologized. We had a long conversation and started talking together about all these things. My experience teaches me that we all bear the image of God.” As for Christ in culture, Kaj shares words of wisdom for students. “We have the advantages of being Christian. There is always hope. God is in control even when we don’t feel it.” Even for students who are not yet Christian, Kaj teaches that the counselor’s role is to create hope. “There is a way to shine light even in the darkness. We as the light of Christ have to shine brighter and love our neighbors. As I learned it in the French Bible, loving our neighbor means loving whoever is in our presence.”
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s an academic, Dr. Kayij-Wint’s extensive history in counselor education, as well as hospital and outpatient mental health services, demonstrates her professional lens and her considerable abilities. Dr. Ryan Melton, dean of the School of Psychology and Counseling at Bushnell, sees Kaj as a critical player in this significant program. “She espouses a systemic approach to providing service, to teaching and to social change.” He describes her as someone who is both “understanding and adept” in regard to the impact of social service provisions on the mental and physical functioning of all parties. “And she can translate that skill set to her students. Bushnell University is very fortunate to have her as a core faculty member.” As a recent transplant from St. Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington. Kaj has found the Bushnell community to be intimate and active. “The size of the University means that everyone is welcoming, not just those in the Clinical Mental Health and Counseling community. It has felt like coming into a new family that’s excited to have us.” The Bushnell community has been a blessing as she grieves the loss of her brother. And she continues to find some purpose in this great loss. “Freddy’s death has triggered an international investigation to come to terms with this crisis. While we lost a brother, God took it and turned it into victory. That’s how it is with God’s redeeming love.”
There is a way to shine light even in the darkness. We as the light of Christ have to shine brighter and love our neighbors.
WISDOM FAI •
22 The Beacon / Winter 2020
TH SERVICE •
Bushnell University 23
ON THE FRONTLINES John Tastad ’84 is Coordinator for Advanced Care Planning Program at Sharp HealthCare, San Diego’s largest integrated healthcare delivery system with over 2,700 physicians and 18,000 employees. Formerly a hospital chaplain, John also serves as the coordinator of the spiritual care department at Sharp HospiceCare and serves on the bioethics committees of each Sharp hospital. John was the recipient of the Bushnell University Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015.
We recently had the chance to hear how John Tastad ’84 and his team at Sharp have navigated end-of-life care during the Covid-19 pandemic.
What is your role and how has this season been additionally challenging? My role is to work with interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive comfort care as hospice and palliative care patients go through the end stages of their terminal diagnosis. Access to care has been extremely challenging. You also have to take into consideration each of the issues that each clinician and care provider is facing in their own personal lives (childcare, financial issues, health risks, etc.). When the pandemic began, my team was challenged to provide system-wide staff wellness support to maintain morale, create emotional and spiritual support for clinicians and patients and families who have faced difficulties due to Covid-19. I also helped develop the County’s responsive triage plan in case of scarce resources. It was a difficult, yet encouraging, process to see healthcare leaders from across disciplines and agencies come together in a united fashion in an ethical way. No one wants to talk about allocation of scarce resources.
How has healthcare changed because of Covid-19 restrictions and how are you navigating it? Healthcare on the frontlines has had to become creative. Telemedicine has taken a huge leap forward and is something that is going to be around long after Covid-19. We established a Family Resource Center at one facility and we’ve found creative ways to support staff virtually, whether through Zoom support groups or with our bereavement counselors. We’ve also learned that you can find creative ways to connect with patients, even with the restrictions and limitations. For example, we sent all our hospice patients and their family members a little packet of sunflower seeds that we encouraged them to plant with a note that said “a new season is coming…this has been a challenging time but we will see growth from this.” As you can imagine, we’ve also seen heroic efforts on the part of providers who have had to care for Covidpositive dying patients. You have to be courageous on the frontlines. This time has demanded more of me and I’m particularly grateful for my pastoral training at Bushnell.
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What do you feel like this season has taught you?
What has inspired you during this time?
In times like this, everyone has to ask themselves “What opportunities do I have to be of service?” People in the medical profession and other service roles have to decide what their work means to them, what the limits of their capabilities are…they have to make real-time ethical decisions about their role in providing support to others. We all have a heightened sense of awareness of our own vulnerability and impermanence because of the Covid-19 virus and we are more aware that we need to be caretakers of each other.
There have been glimmers of hope. One patient planted a sunflower seed and wrote us a note to tell us they were choosing to believe in a new day. Many people are living in fear – fear of contracting the virus, fear of a protest in their neighborhood, fear of someone with a different belief system than they have, fear of different opinions about race and ethnicity. It’s complicated, but in the midst of it there is a sense of really digging deep about what matters most in this time. It’s a new frontier for medicine, but it can be a new frontier for us personally. What do I hold on to? What do I let go of?
Can you share a story that has impacted you recently? When I left Bushnell (then NCC), I moved to San Diego to serve as a youth pastor for a vibrant youth group. One of the young women from that youth group became a nursing leader at Sharp and we’ve run into each other over the years and stayed friends. Recently, her dad was a patient on life-support and I was able to show up for them…their whole family gathered in the front of the hospital because there was nowhere else for them to go. I was able to be with a few family members as they said goodbye to him and discontinued lifesupport at the patient’s request. Death is still death, grief is still grief, loss is still loss, and family is still family. In the middle of it all we were able to show love and compassion and kindness.
How do you reimagine your calling when things look different than you expected? I would tell today’s graduates to learn to be nimble. More than ever before, on so many levels, people have to be flexible enough to adapt to the rapid changes that the current day demands. There are so many pivot points and a person has to be able to move in a new direction. It’s an argument for the liberal arts education…to be a problem-solver, to think creatively, to communicate effectively…it’s how a liberal arts education prepares and equips you to be a resilient Beacon in the world. This is the mission of Bushnell, right?
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Our Long History on the Frontlines of Healthcare
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n the heels of the great pandemic of 1918, along with World War I, the growing towns of Eugene and Springfield cried out for a more advanced and consolidated approach to medical care. Previously served by Mercy Hospital on College Hill and the Eugene Clinic on Willamette, the community looked to the leadership of Eugene Bible University (now Bushnell University) to meet this pressing need. The University Board of Trustees voted in 1922 to raise funds and construct a six-story building at the cost of $225,000. Pacific Christian Hospital was dedicated on March 16, 1924. The School of Nursing was a vital part of hospital life, educating and then sending nurses to hospitals all over the region. In 1936, the Great Depression forced the University to consolidate its efforts and the hospital was sold to the Sisters of St. Joseph
of Newark for $50,000. It became Sacred Heart General Hospital, now known as PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center University District. In 2015, the University’s partnership with PeaceHealth birthed a RN to BSN (Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program, providing third- and fourth-year education to nurses already in the field. In 2018, the University launched a Master of Science in Nursing program to once again answer the call of the wider community for more nurses, and especially nurses with advanced training to provide leadership in the field. The students in our nursing program have been exemplary Beacons, serving the dramatic needs of our surrounding communities during Covid-19 challenges, all while continuing to refine their understanding of best practices in this crucial life calling.
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Near the Firelines WRITTEN BY KEITH POTTER ’84, VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT
It all felt too familiar as Brent Caulley ’11 led me through the burned-out towns of Rainbow and Blue River. Only two years ago, our family offered relief and friendship to the utterly decimated town of Paradise, California, where we once served a meaningful pastorate. While the affected population of the Holiday Farm Fire on the McKenzie River is smaller, the trauma and charred aftermath are no different.
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rent and Katie Caulley have served McKenzie Bridge Christian Church for twelve years. The Caulleys do what most small-church pastors have done for centuries— they parcel together a living by answering more than one call. Katie is a private piano and voice instructor. Brent is a secondary teacher, emergency medical responder, and firefighter. Together, they bring a much-respected presence to the small McKenzie up-river communities. They’re also Beacon parents of Katelynn Caulley, a junior teacher education major. I meet the Caulleys on Labor Day weekend, where I’m speaking at Grove Christian Camp. We share six sessions of teaching and a few shared meals. As we part paths on Labor Day, they go home to a changing world. The strong, warm, west-blowing winds concern Brent on return to the family parsonage and church, nestled in tall evergreen trees. As tech supervisor at the high school and middle school, he’s eager to organize Chromebooks to start online learning. A radio report comes in. “Downed tree on powerline.” He and another firefighter respond, finding a manageable situation. But back at the station, the 7:30 report of a brush fire is more ominous. “We put on turnouts and we’re in the engine and out the door in two minutes.” The blaze is growing. First, evacuations. “I make three trips in and out of Blue River carrying people while the fire’s moving as fast as my rig. I call in another fire behind the Christmas Treasure Store. Everything is burning in a mobile home park near there.”
The forest is beautiful and the river majestic. But now, along the McKenzie River, people face uncertainty on top of uncertainty.
Embers ignite many fires as evacuees clamor for safety. “We end up spending three hours in the middle of the track [at Blue River High School]. But as embers are going over our heads, we have to get these people down the hill.” Some evacuees are disabled or resistant or impaired. Each trip through burning timber and falling debris is harrowing.
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n an early correspondence, Katie tells Brent that a fallen tree has crushed their garage, car, and part of the church building and is draped over a fallen power line. She escapes east with others toward Sisters. Brent stays focused fighting to save schools, homes, and more evacuees, all while losing touch with family until the next day. Morning brings in an arduous week of clean up, wellness checks, and intermittent communication with family and agencies. Church members come in and out. “I become the bearer of bad news for a
lot of people” who’ve lost homes and possessions. Covid-19 scares disrupt recovery efforts. Misinformation and exaggeration about looters, arsonists, burning schools, and burning bridges race like wildfire through social media. The worst moment—a wellness check on the biological father of two of the Caulleys’ three adopted daughters. The news is tragic; the only verified loss of human life in the Holiday Farm fire. “The relationship is a complex one. My daughters have been working hard on it. It’s very sad to lose him this way.”
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eanwhile, a lack of wifi and cell service creates relentless problems. “People ask what they can do. Water? Food? It all helps. But right now, there’s no normalcy without internet access.” Brent laments, “This fire has affected some of our most impoverished folks. Wealthier people can afford to cut a fire-line or put in sprinkler systems. Many others live like squatters, often with too many people in a home. Growing up in Africa [Zambia and South Africa], people ask me about poverty there. I ask them, ‘Have you seen parts of America?’” Brent’s residual worry—that some will end up among the homeless in Eugene or elsewhere, with no assets and nowhere to go with “huge stress and a lack of skills for long-term planning. Government agencies try to help, but those processes are not easy to navigate.” Brent wonders whether the community will come back. With forestry workers, retirees, laborers, and vacationers, the area includes longtime residents
who barely make a living. “During the Covid crisis, I found myself thinking, ‘Something’s gotta give’. It’s stretched our resources way too thin. Add the fire and it’s just hard to imagine.” He talks openly about the need for more and better social services and counselors. We discuss Bushnell’s growing Clinical Mental Health and Counseling department sending workers into that crucial field. All the while, the pastor celebrates a church that’s “actually gained some people who’ve never been to any church. It helps to have a tech geek as a pastor,” Brent says, pointing to the camera planted in the middle aisle of the sanctuary for online services. As we discuss his multi-vocational calling, he says, “We need to change the dialogue. Everyone in the New Testament is bi-vocational.” In the immediate, the Caulley family reunites in Eugene where they’ve been offered some temporary shelter and help. The University’s Beacon Relief Fund contributes to a new generator for the church. “We had snow-pocalypse two years ago and other power outages and emergencies. People come to the church for help and we’ve had no power. So, this will be good for us.”
Driving away, I ponder the challenging life to which the Caulleys are chosen. The forest is beautiful and the river majestic. But now, along the McKenzie River, people face uncertainty on top of uncertainty. I say an extra prayer of empathy and hope. Like other trips into charred remains, we see pain coupled with courage. We see every sign of resilience tested through fire.
Bushnell University 31
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO JOINED US IN SUPPORT OF THE BEACON FUND!
TITLE SPONSORS
HOLE SPONSORS
RAFFLE SPONSOR A & M Auto Body; Arbor South Architecture; Carl’s Jr./JCK Restaurants; Columbia Bank; D.A. Davidson (Medford); Logo Concepts; Moss Adams; Northwest Community Credit Union; Oakmont Family Dental; Reeve-Knight Construction; Richards Remodeling; Sheppard Motors; The Taylor Group Architects; TechnaPrint; Twin Rivers Plumbing, Inc.; Umpqua Bank; US Bank
FALL EVENTS
The Long Drive: A Tribute to an Extraordinary Beacon After a long tenure of service to the University, Greg Strausbaugh, Director of Stewardship, has retired. In his most recent role, Greg represented the University to constituents around the country in regards to planned giving and estate planning strategies. Prior to this, Greg served as Vice President for Advancement for seven years and served on the Board of Trustees for fifteen years. Greg was instrumental in developing our marquee events, the Beacon Classic and Evening of Tribute. Both events have introduced numerous individual donors and corporate sponsors to the mission and success of the Bushnell story. Greg and his wife, Sharree, have also been generous donors and respected business leaders in our community.
Peter DeLuca (L) Greg Strausbaugh (R)
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GIVING STUDENT PROFILES
GIVING IN THESE TIMES A Concerted Effort
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ife at Bushnell University changed dramatically when the Covid-19 pandemic took hold. As the campus community scrambled to respond to pressing needs, the University reached out to the wider Beacon community for help. The response has been encouraging. First came help from the donors who established the Kathleen Marie Carr Endowed Scholarship, an endowed fund in honor of our former Dean of Students that helps seniors in financial crisis. Those donors allowed this year’s allocation to be used in flexible ways to meet emerging Covid-related financial needs among seniors. Even more, those donors allowed us to reach out in a brief challenge campaign among trustees, former trustees, and key donors to match their efforts. The successful response allowed us to serve emergent needs among underclassmen as well. Campus leaders participated in a phone canvas of the entire student body, assessing need and rendering encouragement during those months of isolation. Fifteen students received direct aid for emergency travel, technology needs, and living expenses due to job loss or unexpected relocation. The entire response stands as testimony to what can happen when we work together to live out wisdom, faith, and service. The recent fires in Oregon, Washington, and California brought a fresh wave of need. More than thirty students, faculty, and staff were affected in personal ways. Another mini-campaign mobilized alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and even students along with their parents. A significant amount of money was raised in a matter of days and support went out in ways that were relevant to each situation. Without these two efforts, many or all of these students would not have been able to continue their education.
Going forward, the great need is for help with unfunded student aid (the Beacon Fund). With a number of students impacted by recent events, the University needs the help of every friend, alumnus, and corporate partner to fuel and sustain the unique Bushnell experience. Donations to the Beacon Fund can be made online at: bushnell.edu/give Thank you for standing with “dear old Bushnell U” in our 126th year, and in these extraordinary times.
34 The Beacon / Winter 2020
Kathleen Marie Carr, 1982
ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS The Heart of Student Support
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ndowed scholarships, established by donors in honor of their loved ones, provide the backbone of ongoing student support at Bushnell University. Over the years, alumni and friends of the University have chosen to establish named scholarships which are awarded to students annually. With an initial minimum investment of $25,000, these funds are able to pay out at least $1,000 per year in direct financial aid each year. Even more importantly, the University endowment provides the necessary financial security for the long-term health and growth of the school. Donors establish these funds to leave a legacy. Rev. Ron ’75 and Kay (Crewse) Naff ’74 decided that an endowed fund was the most fitting way to honor their son, Michael Crewse Naff, who passed away during infancy and therefore would never be able to attend himself. The Bushnell alumni connection ran several generations deep in their family and this allowed them to celebrate their son through the lives of the more than 30 students who have received the Michael Crewse Naff Memorial Scholarship. Their hope is that their gift, though a mustard-seed in their eyes, would support students in their lives of ministry, both in and outside the church. If you are interested in learning more about establishing an endowed scholarship in honor of someone you love, please contact University Advancement at advancement@bushnell.edu or call us at 541-684-7318.
Leaving a Legacy In These Times WRITTEN BY CAMILLE OGDEN, M.A., DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING
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ave you ever been on your last dime and miraculously found a twenty dollar bill in an old jacket pocket? Have you experienced the worry of making ends meet when remarkably the exact amount needed appears? God’s providence is not found solely in our bank accounts. It is all around us. However, three extraordinary and unexpected legacy gifts recently reminded us of God’s hand in providing and preparing for the University’s current financial needs. Legacy gifts are like manna. They arrive silently “with the dew during the night” and are critical sustenance for our mission as a Christ-centered university. Behind these gifts are stories of people and the legacies they choose to leave. Each gift brings a renewed sense of security and sustenance, and usually fills an unexpected financial gap. Most importantly, each legacy gift is an expression of God’s faithfulness during times of uncertainty. What is most striking about the legacy gift is not that it falls from heaven. Instead, it is the revelation of relationships made and cared for over time which have an immediate impact on the present. For example, Bushnell University recently received a substantial gift from the Pierce family estate. According to Trustee Clayton Walker, who played a part in the sale of assets for the distribution of the Pierce family estate, the interest in Bushnell University was generations deep. “Al’s parents wanted the sale of assets to fund a number of faithbased organizations, and Bushnell received a percentage. Al was carrying out his parents’ wishes.” Al Pierce was in his nineties when he died, so the interest of his parents in the work of the University dates back to the early or middle part of the last century. While the specifics remain an untold history, Bushnell University has been blessed immensely by their commitment to our mission.
Faithful friend of the University, Lois Morse, also remembered Bushnell in her estate. Lois and Bill Morse were pillars of the Harrisburg Christian Church. Frank Morse ’66, Lois’s nephew, states, “The Morses had a strong personal connection to the leadership of the college for decades. It was a natural thing for them to support a school that offers this kind of leadership.” Thus, the continuity of our history to cultivate leaders and deploy them around the world inspired Lois’s gift. The legacy of Lois and Bill Morse will be more than financial support. It will be a legacy of investment in leaders of today and tomorrow. Lastly, Evelyn Tapp was a long-time supporter of Bushnell University, making modest yearly gifts to various programs. Her passion for our students and mission was evident. In her final years she was housebound and widowed but remained joyful and looked forward to updates from campus. While regular visits from University staff helped keep the relationship alive, God’s provision was to bring our stories together in the first place. Her heart for the Lord and sense of loyalty giving resulted in a generous legacy gift that will serve students during this time of need. The Pierce, Morse, and Tapp families could have never predicted the challenges that this year has brought, but God knew of them all when he moved in their hearts long ago. God’s preparation of our hearts, needs, provisions, and legacies that allow gifts like the Pierce, Morse, and Tapp estates to rain down like manna in our times of greatest need.
END OF YEAR GIVING
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he end of the year is a special and smart time to make the most of your gift to Bushnell University and is vital to the success of our students. The University Advancement office is ready to help you explore opportunities to give in ways that make sense for your financial plans. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provides encouragement for charitable contributions in 2020 because it increases the maximum of AGI charitable contribution from 60% to 100% for 2020: • You can deduct the full amount of your Adjusted Gross Income—100% of your AGI in 2020. • You can carry forward (for 5 years subject to 60% AGI limitations) your charitable giving which exceeds 100% of your AGI.
WAYS TO GIVE eacon Fund B • directly supports student scholarships orchbearer’s Society T • automatic monthly giving makes giving easy atching Gifts M • many companies will match charitable donations of their employees ife Income Gift L • you can use cash, stock, or real estate to make this gift • if you are 70 ½ or older you can gift $100,000 directly from your IRA without paying additional taxes to transfer funds egacy Giving L • invest in the future through planned giving
HOW TO GIVE bushnell.edu/give @BushnellBeaconFund 541-684-7318 828 E. 11th Avenue, Eugene OR 97401
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In Memoriam In this edition of The Beacon, the In Memoriam section features three extraordinary women with much in common. Among other interests and occupations, all three served as pastors’ wives. While the norms and expectations on the spouses of pastors are gradually adapting in recent decades, the role of pastor’s wife/ spouse has often been considered an unpaid vocation with great responsibility and considerable demands. Our University once taught classes to prepare students for this unique life of service. We honor Barbara, Lea, and Hallie among the many who have been trained and called in this way.
BARBARA ANN DAVIDSON ’59 (12/2/1936 - 4/29/2020) Barbara Ann (Parish) Davidson ’59 grew up on a farm in Twin Falls, Idaho and studied music at the University of Idaho, the University of Oregon, and Northwest Christian College, graduating with a B.A. in Music. Proficient in voice and piano, Barbara exercised her gifts in church, school, and community choirs—twenty-seven groups in all, including the Tacoma Opera. Having met and married Roger ’60, D.D. (hon) ’90, a pastor and fellow NCC graduate, she found her ministry in directing and accompanying church choirs, while serving as a substitute teacher in the public schools. She is survived by Roger, sons John (Denise) and Jeffrey (Ruth), seven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. She traveled all over the world for professional studies and pleasure, especially during a long tenure of serving the First Christian Church of Tacoma.
LEA RAE MCKERROW ’58 (8/22/1936 - 8/14/2020) Lea Rae (Stegmiller) McKerrow ’58 graduated from the University with a degree in Christian Education, after growing up in Walla Walla, Washington. She met Glenn ’59, a pastoral student, at NCC and they shared 62 years together. They served churches in Oregon, Iowa, Montana, and Colorado. She opened a Montessoristyle preschool in Helena and got further education in drug and alcohol counseling to serve that need in Denver. Along with raising son Mike (’79–’81) and daughter Susan (Fuentez), the McKerrows opened their home to foster children and others needing transitional support. Lea wrote and directed church plays, taught cooking and baking to youth groups, and enjoyed growing and arranging flowers. During her last years, she enjoyed her six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren, and helped feed the unhoused with the First Christian Church in Eugene.
MARY HALCYON WELLS (’51-’52) (11/8/1932 - 7/25/2020) Mary “Hallie” (Morris) Wells (’51–’52) was born in Mooreland, Oklahoma and left the Great Depression Dust Bowl by train for Boise, Idaho with her family, where they owned and operated a gas station. She met Gary ’55, D.D. (hon) ’91 at NCC and married in 1951. They raised Linda (’71–’73), David, Timothy ’80 (see obit on next page), Jonathan, and Janet (’81–’83). Diane, their second child, died shortly after birth. Family describes Hallie as Gary’s “professional partner.” They planted a church in Oakdale, California and served in Santa Cruz from 1965 to 1981. Then they began a long pastorate at Northwood Christian Church in Springfield, Oregon. Hallie worked in the NCC library while Gary taught ministry classes. Hallie taught Bible studies in each church and will forever be remembered for sewing jackets for all babies born into their churches. She was famous for her cinnamon rolls and loved to cook, laugh, and care for her grandchildren. 38 The Beacon / Winter 2020
IN MEMORIAM
L. ANN MCKINNEY BOWLER ’70 passed
away on January 19, 2019. Ann met her husband, Ray Bowler ’58, at the University. Ray and Ann have three children, a son-in-law, and two beloved grandchildren. Ann is remembered for her passion for genealogy and family history. Ann was a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America and Daughters of the American Revolution. Ann and Ray celebrated 60 years of marriage, a few months prior to Ray’s passing in 2017.
VIRGINIA L. (GOBBLE) BOCK ’58 passed
away on December 10, 2019 at the age of 83. Virginia earned a Bachelor of Theology degree at the University. She met her husband, Joe, through their shared passion for the theatre. She is remembered for her love of music, literature, baking, and the theatre. As a member of Disciples of Christ churches, Virginia was passionate about her duties in the church. She served many years as a chaplain for Harborview Hospital. Her love for the arts continued to bring her joy through her last days.
TIMOTHY MARK WELLS ’80 passed away
on February 3, 2020 at the age of 62. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University and went on to receive his Master of Divinity from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Tim worked at MHMR for 28 years, where he worked in the behavioral health clinics, assisted callers on the crisis line, and worked as Program Manager for the Quality Management Department. He is remembered by his family and colleagues as having a heart for others, intelligence, and a great sense of humor. His late mother, Mary Hallie Wells ’55, is also being remembered by the University (see page 38).
Friend of the University, MILDRED (REYNOLDS) CRABER passed away
on February 27, 2020 at the age of 101. She and her late husband, Harold, were long-time supporters of the University. Together they had three children, Donnamae (Craber) Grannemann ’63, the late Helen Marie Bellechez, and the late Loren Craber who attended the University in 1964. Mildred is remembered for her work with youth in Christian Endeavor across the state. She was the last remaining charter member of The Kum
Dubbles Sunday School Class, which was organized in 1940.
JANE ELAINE JONES ’93 passed away on April 6, 2020 at the age of 66. She attended Phillips University in Oklahoma, where she earned her Bachelor of Science. Jane and her husband, Randy (former Director of Admissions), moved to Oregon in 1980, where she welcomed their three children. While here, she earned her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University. She was a joyful woman who took pleasure in sharing her love for shapes, colors, and textures. Jane is remembered as a passionate woman with a heart for nature, arts and crafts, and range of literature. REV. C. EUGENE SABIN ’42 passed away on April 29, 2020. Eugene attended the University and then Pacific University, where he graduated with a degree in Divinity. He married his wife, Bettie, on August 7, 1942. Eugene and Bettie served Christian Churches until 1970, when they moved to Cornelius, Oregon. They served the Forest Grove Church for 11½ years until they retired in 1986. Beginning in 2006, Eugene served as a conductor for Sunday worship services at McCall Retirement Community in Forest Grove, until his second retirement in 2016. DIXIE L. (OLIVER) ELDRIDGE ’59 passed
away on June 1, 2020. She was born in Trenton, Missouri. Her family then moved to Forest Grove, Oregon where she later graduated from high school in 1954. Dixie met Ronald Eldridge '62 her first year at the University. She and Ronald moved to Dallas, Oregon where she began to teach classes at the Community Release Time Bible School. Dixie was involved in women’s fellowship, the HEEKO club, and welcomed many to Christ’s Cupboard.
JAMES “JIM” C. HUDSON III ’69 passed
away on July 11, 2020. He grew up near Abbott, Texas on a family farm. Jim met his wife Sharon (Hays) Hudson ’70, while at the University. Sharon is the daughter of the former University President Dr. William E. Hays. Following his time at the University, Jim served 15 years in ministry and 20 years as an educator in Texas. He was a faithful member at Central Christian Church in Fort Worth,
Texas. Jim continued to learn and teach long after his retirement and shared his passion for photography, writing, and magic with many. He is remembered as a loving and caring husband, father, and grandfather.
DALE E. SEIPP, SR. ’68 passed away on August 14, 2020. Dale met his wife, Kathleen, during his ministry studies at the University. Following his graduation, Dale accepted a call as minister in Lincoln City. He then moved to Johnson City, Tennessee to pursue seminary training. In 1977, Dale became minister of Parkrose Christian Church in Portland, Oregon. He served there for 12 years while earning his master's degree in theology and his funeral director’s license. Dale is remembered as a man who loved the Lord, his family, and his many friends. His memory lives on in the lives of the ministers that he mentored and taught for many years. JANET L. (GREY) JOHNSON ’66 passed
away on August 28, 2020 at the age of 78. She met her husband, Darrell Johnson ’68, while attending the University. Janet and her husband spent time in ministry in Idaho, Kansas, and California. She worked as an office manager at the University Baptist Church in Santa Cruz from 1982 until her retirement in 2006. Janet is remembered as a loving wife, partner in ministry, mother, grandmother, and artist.
JAMES “JIM” S. AYDELOTT ’67 passed
away on September 24, 2020. Jim met his wife, Carla (Gatz), at NCC where they were part of a The Victory Singers. Music was always a big part of Jim’s life and his booming bass voice could be heard singing in churches and church gatherings across the Northwest. Jim’s professional career included sales and management positions for the pharmaceutical, technological, and chemical industries. After he retired, Jim completed a master’s degree in pastoral counseling and volunteered his services as a counselor. He is survived by his wife, Carla; daughter Jocelyn (and David ’06) Hubbs ’09; son J.S. (and Kyna) Alders; his brother Roger ’53 (and Lela ’51) Aydelott, sister Lois ’56 (and Fred ’57) Brandenfels, brother-in-law Lynn Cooper ’55, and his four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Marlene Cooper ’85, and his daughter, Jennie. Bushnell University 39
ALUMNI UPDATES
Humbled by God’s call for her, Anna Howell ’07 is serving women and families. She plans to carry a 2nd surrogate child for a family in Seattle, Washington. She also received her broker’s license at the beginning of 2020 and is working to expand her career in real estate. James Burton ’15 has begun a career in law enforcement and emergency services after 25 years as an educator in healthcare. Also making a humble transition, Alva Good ’57 is staying active after retirement as a volunteer with Oregon State Police division of Oregon State Fire Marshall as a fire code stakeholder on behalf of the Oregon Fire Equipment Distributors. Curtis Fields ’16 has used his humble beginnings as a student of theology and ministry to find his passion, and now he has started a job as a hospice chaplain.
GENEROSITY
Ruth Linoz ’09 is the Republican candidate for State Representative for House District 12 in Oregon's November general election. Also showing great tenacity and grit, Kmbris Bond ’95 has left her non-profit fair-trade store to begin a new venture as a visual artist in Washington. She has taken the initiative to complete a program with Teaching Artist's Training Lab with Seattle Center's Children's Theater, as well as completing two terms as an Americorps member serving with The Nature Conservancy (WA). Tim Aho ’86 and his wife Tammy are working through Equip Britain to church plant and make disciples in an urban setting in England. They are extending this crosscultural ministry experience to newcomers as well.
HUMILITY
Sandra Vincent ’59 owns The Bookkeeping Company, LLC, a tax consulting and bookkeeping firm in Portland, OR that has celebrated 30 years of operation. Melody Katz ’88 owns MLO Media, a media company that partners with businesses in Oregon and Washington to innovate a way to display missing children displays in high-traffic areas to bring awareness to the community. In an effort to create change in her community, Angie Barnhurst ’19 is working as a Disability Access Advisor at the University of Oregon. Her team has created an Accessibility Ally program to facilitate student inclusion. Also using her platform to innovate, Sharaya Agoff ’15 has created an insurance policy through her position at Farmers Insurance Agency for Arcimoto FUV that is now offered nationally as the first of its kind.
TENACITY
INNOVATION
FAITH
Gary and Judy Woods ’74 retired from faithfully serving 30 years in Kenya and Tanzania as missionaries with CMF International. In a similar show of faith, Greg Ishmael ’78 works as a missionary with the Global Training Network to train pastors and leaders in the field. He also exhibits a spirit of innovation as his team works to develop a GTN online academy to continue their work with GTN graduates. Graduating from the University a year earlier, Loren Doty ’77 has shown faith by achieving a 37-year milestone in ministry at Tualatin Hills Christian Church. Lars Coburn ’14 has published his first book, Follow the Way, about how humility, gratitude, and simplicity impact prayer and our relationship with God (available on Amazon). Following success with his song of the same name, Ryan Stevenson ’02 has a book, In the Eye of the Storm, available for pre-order about how his faith was tested through trials in his life, but ultimately led to a deeper relationship with God.
Patrick Fritter ’16 received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Fellow class member and Marine Corps veteran, Cody Brockelmeyer ’16 received the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for performing a combined 500 hours of community service in a 3-year span. Carina Kunkel ’05 is a stay-at-home mom who has chosen to spend her time leading worship at The Well Community Church in Portland.
Beacons are shining everywhere! Find many more alumni updates online at bushnell.edu/alumnistories Send us your own alumni update at bushnell.edu/alumniupdate 40 The Beacon / Winter 2020
NEW TRUSTEES
Daniel P. Smith ’87, Ed.D.
N
ew Bushnell University Trustee Daniel P. Smith ’87, Ed.D. graduated with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. During his time on campus, he was involved in youth ministry at Harrisburg Christian Church and First Christian Church Lebanon. Dan enjoyed playing guitar and leading worship while a student and has continued to be active in music programs at his church. Dan and Dana (Lawrence) were married in 1985. Dan is currently serving as Principal of North Medford High School.
Jill Workman Anderson ’84
J
ill Workman Anderson ’84 is a 30-year veteran of the Trust Department at Wells Fargo where she is a Vice President/Relationship Manager. Besides serving on the Board of Trustees, Jill is also a member of the Board of Wi-Ne-Ma Christian Camp. As an undergraduate, Jill enjoyed going to basketball and volleyball games with her friends, writing and editing the student newspaper, and working in the cafeteria. Jill and her husband, Dan, enjoy volunteering, traveling and working on their house together. Jill believes that we are all in ministry regardless of our career path.
BUSHNELL BEACONS CHRIST-CENTERED ATHLETICS 2019-2020 HONORS • NAIA Champions of Character “Five-Star Institution: GOLD” (2nd consecutive year of the highest honor) • Overall student-athlete GPA: 3.36 • 60% of eligible athletes earned Academic All-Conference honors • 13 of 14 teams selected as NAIA Scholar Teams • 64 athletes qualified for NAIA-Daktronics Scholar-Athlete honors (GPA over 3.5) • Senior softball player Maya Jenkins ’20 named CCC Female Champion of Character
If you’d like to make a financial gift in honor of Beacon Athletics, visit bushnell.edu/give Bushnell University 41
MEET THE FACULTY
Dr. James Watson Associate Professor, English
D
r. James Watson was born in Austin, Texas, and grew up, for the most part, in Beaverton, Oregon. His undergraduate education in applied linguistics, philosophy, and ancient languages was undertaken at Wheaton College and Portland State University. During a hiatus from academia, James worked as a consultant to an accounting and business management software firm. He later went on to complete his doctorate in English literature at Baylor University. In addition to teaching literature at Bushnell, James serves as the director of the Song Nai Rhee Honors Program. He believes one of the highlights of teaching at Bushnell is “the variety and depth of intellectual and faith backgrounds represented by the student body.” In his scholarly and writing life, Dr. Watson has published articles on Cormac McCarthy, Jaques Derrida, Ernest Hemingway, and more. He published his first novel, A Window on the Door, several years ago and has also written numerous scripts for short films and documentaries. He is now working on several projects aimed at film and television markets. When he is not on campus or working at home in his writing shed, Watson says he loves spending time with his wife of 17 years, Meghan, and their five sons, and that he has “acquired an outsized affection for well-tended gardens and antique motorbikes.” Watch for more on the Song Nai Rhee Honors Program in the next issue of The Beacon.
Faculty Books DR. A.J. SWOBODA
KEITH POTTER
After Doubt: How to Question Your Faith without Losing It
From the Dark Domain
Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos. (Due in Spring 2021) Everyone is struggling with some level of doubt. Or, we are walking through what one might call “deconstruction.” And while these experiences are real, few are talking about how we do it. In this book, Dr. A.J. Swoboda irons out some key practices that people dealing with doubt can practice to help them walk faithfully toward Jesus. 42 The Beacon / Winter 2020
Wipf & Stock: Resource Publications, 2020 Keith Potter ’84 has released his first novel, From the Dark Domain, through Wipf & Stock Resource Publications in Portland. This is the first of five novels to be released in the Luke Thomas Series. After publishing other non-fiction works on marriage, leadership and sports, Potter finds great satisfaction in this “work of the heart” with a storyline that culminates in the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
FROM MY POINT OF VIEW
Following God in These Times WRITTEN BY ALYSSA PEROVICH ’21
T
wo weeks before I chose to take the sixteen-hour journey back to school in Eugene, I sat in the office of an orthopedic surgeon who told me that my decade-long struggle with my knees would be over. I would just have to endure two reconstructive surgeries and a year of recovery to be able to walk pain-free again. That should have been my sigh of relief, but instead, it was a new weight added on to my already heavy plate. I had just made the decision to extend my education a fifth year to graduate as an accomplished double major.
Author’s Note: Alyssa Perovich ’21 is from Palmdale, California. She is in her 5th year at Bushnell and is double majoring in English and Communications: Public Relations and minoring in Business Administration. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a career in journalism and publications.
My education has been my only focus for a long time. So, you can imagine that being faced with the decision to better my quality of life or continue my education was a difficult one to make. Many questions were posed about how the school year would look and what opportunities would be taken away due to the state of health that our country is in, and I did not have the answer to any of those questions. I was stepping into the unknown and bracing myself for impact. I am reminded of the perseverance of Daniel in the Old Testament. Despite the decree by King Darius of Babylon prohibiting prayer to anyone but him, Daniel continued to pray to God. And when it was ordered that Daniel would be thrown into the den of lions for disobeying the decree, Daniel still prayed. Daniel held onto his faith and persevered through his fear, and by God’s grace was delivered from the mouths of lions. I chose to be at school this year undeterred by the objections of my joints because I knew that this life would be challenging regardless of my circumstances. I decided that I needed to be fighting my battle where God has called me to serve. Four years ago, I thought that the most difficult decision of my life was leaving my family behind to go to a new state where I knew no one, just to pursue a degree. But that was just the beginning of a long series of difficult decisions. God used that decision to kickstart a sense of bravery and determination in my heart to choose to follow Him wherever He may lead. Many people are pivoting their plans along with me. Whether you are a student bending the plans you had to fit the new mold of school, a staff member shifting your position to accommodate everyone, or even a supporter getting used to the new flow of things, this year is not to be forgotten. As we have been thrown into this dark den of confusion and desperation, we find that this is where our faith is tested. This is where Gods’ wisdom is proven and this is where we decide to either cower in fear or to stand up and serve. Through prayer and perseverance, I believe that we, like Daniel, will get through this challenging time. A lion has roared in the face of all students and staff at Bushnell, and instead of letting our knees quake and tremble in fear, we have the chance to let our God shut the mouths of our calamities.
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