passionate about food.” The inaugural issue appeared July 1, 2011. James Lowell Wenger Jr.’95, and his wife, Melani Wenger ’95, Millville, N.J., have been serving in a sensitive area of Central Asia for the past five years. They are training English teachers and operating a learning center for English language and computer skills. Their village community has accepted them extremely well, and meaningful, life-changing relationships are being formed. They and their three children were in Pennsylvania and Virginia for a two-month furlough this summer. They appreciate your prayers, especially as their 14-year-old heads to Germany for high school. Nelson Okanya in Martin Chapel at EMU
Kenyan Grad Heads EMM Nelson Okanya, a 2003 Eastern Mennonite Seminary graduate, became president of Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) on October 1, 2011. “Okanya brings a unique blend of experiences – including theological education, pastoral leadership, and cross-cultural missions – that makes him especially suited for serving EMM and its partners in this leadership role,” said an EMM press release. In the release, Okanya commented: “I am looking forward to participating in the re-envisioning mission for the next generation. The 21st century mission context brings unique opportunities and challenges; we are ‘going where the church is not . . .’ and equipping local churches for serious discipleship. The Anabaptist witness and mission, which comes from a marginalized position rather than from the center, continues to be a model for world mission.” Born and raised in Kenya, Okanya’s childhood included moving back and forth between the rural village of Migori and the city of Nairobi. From a young age, Okanya interacted with the Kenya Mennonite Church and the EMM mission community in Nairobi. He is fluent in English, Kiswahili, and Luo. Okanya attended Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya, where he graduated with a diploma in Christian Ministries and won the University Evangelism Award in 1997. He is taking doctoral classes at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In 2005 he was an adjunct instructor in EMU’s Bible and religion department. He has been awarded the Jennie Calhoun Baker Memorial award for excellence in sermons. From 2006 to 2010, Okanya served as associate pastor at Capital Christian Fellowship in Maryland, and then he became the lead pastor. He ended his service there in September 2011. Okanya, his wife Jessica '01, and young sons Barak and Izak live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Okanya succeeded Richard Showalter ’68, who retired after 17 years as president. — Adapted from an EMM press release
Damian Rowe ’98, Newton, Kan., recently opened Prairie Path Chiropractic LLC, a whole-family healthcare center for all ages in Newton. Damian received his DC degree from Parker University’s College of Chiropractic in Dallas, Tex., on Aug. 13, 2011. He also concurrently earned two BS degrees in anatomy & health and wellness at Parker University.
Stephen J. Lowry ’96, Shawnee, Kan., began his practice as a general surgeon with General Surgery Associates of Kansas City in 2005. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center, after earning his MD from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Stephen is a member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons, the Southwestern Surgical Congress, the Kansas City Surgical Society, and the Medical Society of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties.
2000-09
Amy Myers Ruebke, MA ’96 (counseling), Port Republic, Va., was one of five EMU alumni honored at the Rockingham County Public Schools/Rockingham Educational Foundation, Inc. annual awards and recognition program on May 16, 2011. She was one of 24 teachers honored as “2011 Teachers of the Year." Amy is the librarian at Fulks Run Elementary School.
Laura Polk ’00, Washington, D.C., previously worked as a young adult intern at the Presbyterian Church (USA) National Office in Louisville, Ky. She is now in her second year of studying for an MA in applied anthropology at the University of Maryland.
Michael Shank, class of ’96, MA ’05 (conflict transformation), Washington, D.C., is vice president of U.S. operations for the Institute for Economics and Peace. Shank directs its policy, communications, and administrative operations. The Institute annually produces the Global Peace Index and U.S. Peace Index. Shank has written opinion pieces published in The Financial Times, The Guardian, The Economist, The Washington Times, New York Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Christian Science Monitor, The Nation, Roll Call, The Hill, among others. He is a frequent on-air analyst for CTV News, Al Jazeera, Russia Today, and Voice of America’s Pashto, Dari, Urdu and Somali services. Michael also serves on the board of the National Peace Academy and is a doctoral candidate at George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and an Associate at the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict. Between 2009 and 2011, Michael served as the Senior Policy Advisor and Communications Director for US Congressman Mike Honda of California. George (Skip) Tobin III ’96 (certificate of biblical studies), Harrisonburg, Va.,
fall 2007 52 | crossroads | fall/winter/spring 2011-12
has been serving as Virginia Mennonite Mission USA ministries director since Jan. 1, 2011. Skip and his wife, Carol, returned to the states from their long-term mission assignment in Thailand in 2009. Skip will be engaged in encouraging and coaching a movement of church planting and new ministry development in Virginia Mennonite Conference.
Matthew Goins ’00, Richmond, Va., is an anesthesiologist with Commonwealth Anesthesia Associates in Richmond. Nevin L. Mast ’00, Chesapeake, Va., has been the youth pastor at Mount Pleasant Mennonite Church since 2006. Nathan Mussleman ‘00, is the program assistant in EMU’s Summer Peacebuilding Institute. He has an MA in security policy studies from George Washington University in Washington D.C.
Mark Schoenhals ’00, MDiv ’08, Det Udom, Thailand, uses the metaphor of learning to drive in Thailand to describe his first year of mission activity with his wife, Sarah Hawkins Schoenhals ’02, MDiv ’08. Mark and Sarah are in a three-year joint assignment with Virginia Mennonite Missions and Eastern Mennonite Missions. The Schoenhals Missionary Support Team arranged an event at Shady Oak, Weavers Mennonite Church on Sunday, July 17 , 2011, to celebrate the halfway point of their first term serving as missionaries in Thailand. Brent Yoder ’00, Hesston, Kan., is the registrar at Hesston College. Previously, Brent was a chemistry professor at Illinois College. Brent is married to Rachel Hoffman ’00 Yoder. He earned a PhD in 2005 from Virginia Polytechnic and State University in Blacksburg. Jason Gerlach ’01, MDiv ’06, Harrisonburg, Va., began serving as pastor of youth ministry at Community Mennonite Church on a part-time basis in 2004. He began his role as youth conference minister at Virginia Mennonite Conference in Harrisonburg in 2007. Tanya Hoover ’01, Manitoba, Canada, was trained over the last couple of years by the Mary Ainsworth Parent Child Attachment Clinic located in Charlottesville, Va. The Attachment Network of Manitoba organized and brought Dr.