Faulkner Magazine Spring 2023

SPRING 2023

FAULKNER MAGAZINE

FAULKNER INAUGURATES 9TH PRESIDENT E.R. BRANNAN ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION CREATING CARING, CHRIST-CENTERED INSTRUCTORS

WELCOME TO FAULKNER MAGAZINE

Schedule of events

Editorial Staff Publisher Patrick Gregory Editor-in-chief Loren Howell Designer Angela Hardgrave Staff Writer Rebecca Burylo Contributors Madelyn Furlong Margaret Humphries Matt Olguin Joel Sellers Audrey Tindoll Cabinet Members Mitch Henry, President Wayne Baker, Vice Chancellor/ Interim Vice President for Advancement Candace Cain, Interim Vice President for Student Services/ Dean, Student Life Billy Camp, Assoc. Vice President for Advancement Charles Campbell, Dean, Jones School of Law

Patrick Gregory, Chief Marketing Officer Jamie Horn, Assoc. Vice President for Finance Renee Kephart, Vice President for Human Resources Mark Hunt, Vice President for Enrollment Management Gerald Jones, University General Counsel Kasey Oakley, Chief Information Officer Dave Rampersad, Vice President for Academic Affairs Joseph Vickery, Vice President for Finance Hal Wynn, Athletic Director Beverly Tolliver, Executive Assistant to the President College Deans Dr. Jeff Arrington Dr. Justin Bond, Interim Dr. Todd Brenneman Dr. Charles Campbell Dr. Sandy Ledwell Dr. Leah Fullman

Board of Trustees Mr. Dale Kirkland, Chair Mr. Michael Eubanks, Vice Chair Mrs. Carlton Freeman, Secretary Mr. Roy Johnson, Parliamentarian Mr. Jason Akins Mr. Sid Aultman Mr. Steve Brannan Ms. Martha Burleson Mr. Terry Cagle Mr. Jim Campbell Mr. Joseph W. Donaldson Ms. Scherry Douglas Mr. Michael Gurganus Mr. Ken Harris, Jr. Dr. John W. Hill III Dr. Mike Houts Dr. Jason Isbell Mr. Frank “Butch” Jones Dr. Billy Lambert

The mission of Faulkner University is to glorify God through education of the whole person, emphasizing integrity of character in a caring, Christian environment where every individual matters every day.

2

Faulkner Magazine

Trustees Emeriti Mr. Dewey R. Barber Dr. E.R. Brannan Mr. Ernie F. Chappell Mr. Archie B. Crenshaw Atty. Fred D. Gray Mr. David Howell

Dr. Jeff Langham Mr. Bob Lee Dr. Mansel Long, Jr. Dr. Henri McDaniel Mr. Brian Mitchell Judge Carole Medley Mr. Phil Norton Mrs. Wilma Phillips Mr. Tim Richardson Mr. Thomas Smith Dr. Bud Stumbaugh Mr. Jon Sykes Sen. J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner Mr. Eddie Welch

Ms. Libby Jones Mr. H. Louis Lester, Jr. Ms. Glenda Major Mr. Robert W. Walters Ms. Anna Weeks

contents

4 Letter from the President 5 President’s Circle Luncheon 6 Inauguration of Faulkner’s 9th President

6

8

8 College of Education Spotlight 15 Faulkner’s New Book Club 16 Faires Austin Shares His Passion for the Faulkner Eagles

20

20 Homecoming Memories 24 Students Bring Back Pro-Life Group to Campus

25 Culinary Management & YMCA Feed Montgomery

26 Faulkner Law Students Have “The Write Stuff ”

28 Community News 24

34

34 E.R. Brannan Honored as Alumnus of the Year

37 Alumni News 43 Supporter Spotlight: Jerry and Margaret Humphries

48 Jamboree 43

Spring 2023

3

Letter from the President Our campus is experiencing a spiritual awakening and I am excited to share that we had at least 13 baptisms near the end of Spring semester 2022, several in the Fall of 2022. So far in 2023, at least 8 students have repented and been baptized. Multiple students are studying the Bible with one another daily and with faculty and staff.

This is happening organically on their own.

Coming out of the pandemic, people are hungry for social and spiritual reconnection. They have endured social distancing, forced on-line worship, and mask mandates long enough, and they deeply desire to be cleansed spiritually, to feel a part of God’s family.

Everyone has recently experienced a death of a friend or a family member due to Covid. We’ve seen death tolls on the news and on our cell phone notifications.

It’s only natural to then think of our own mortality and consider what may happen to our own souls when we die.

Every great spiritual revival starts with repentance. We are seeing this with our students at Faulkner and with our leadership, faculty, coaches, and staff. People are feeling an acute need to be close to God. They desire spiritual cleansing, and they are responding when a friend is courageous enough to share the gospel. Many

4

Faulkner Magazine

of our students who came to the Lord, did so after a friend simply asked, ‘How are you doing spiritually?’

Faulkner’s leaders pray daily for our students to continue to see a spiritual awakening on campus and for it to spread.

To take advantage of the current opportunity, Faulkner has made meaningful steps toward spiritual growth. It encourages new ministers by now offering free tuition to qualified members of the Church of Christ who are Bible majors through the Jack Zorn Scholarship. It has planned Leaders Connect June 12-15, a leader retreat on campus for elders, deacons, and ministers focusing this year on church growth.

After five years without a Bible lectureship, Faulkner is launching Reconnect October 22-26 on campus which will emphasize evangelism and include debates and seminars on the existence of God, legal issues involving gay marriage, and spiritual awakening.

I’m challenging our people to share Jesus. I want us all to experience a spiritual awakening. It’s an exciting time. Join us!

Spiritual Formation the Focus at Annual President’s Circle of Friends Luncheon

by Rebecca Burylo Sam Jackson

Sam Jackson discovered Faulkner University through a football scholarship, but what he found on campus was his spiritual family.

A criminal justice major, Eagles football left tackle and now senior, Jackson spoke to nearly one hundred members of the President’s Circle of Friends at the annual luncheon. He shared with them how Faulkner has been instrumental in his spiritual and professional growth.

“Coming to Faulkner was a way to play the sport I loved, but it has become so much more to me. It’s family,” Jackson said. “Faulkner is amazing because it teaches us not only how to develop professionally, but how to grow in God. I’ve gotten to know so many good people here I never would have met if it hadn’t been for football, mentoring students and my social club.”

“I tell new students all the time, Faulkner is what you make of it,” he added. “If you seek to learn from your professors, you will excel and you will be ready for a successful career, a successful marriage and family and a real relationship with God. The faculty and staff go above and beyond for you. I’m thankful to God for opening up the door for me to come here.”

Jackson is an example of the many students on campus who have found friendships, found the Savior Christ Jesus and found a future career. After interning with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency this summer, Jackson will seek training as an Alabama state trooper after his graduation in May. Jackson is the kind of student donors in the President’s Circle are helping through their generous donations.

Donors who give a tax-deductible gift of $1000 or more over the course of one year are automatically added to the President’s Circle of Friends. Students like Jackson need financial assistance to attend Faulkner. This year, a generous donor has issued a challenge and will match gifts dollar to dollar making your gift double in value.

The deadline to give is May 31.

For those who would like to join, giving is easy. You can mail your checks made payable to Faulkner University to 5345 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36109, or you can go to www.faulkner.edu/presidentscircle.

“Hundreds of students are taught the Gospel message every day on this campus,” said Interim Vice President of Advancement Wayne Baker. “Many of those students are unchurched and are introduced to Jesus for the first time in their lives. That’s when you know you are in the right business. We are in higher education for sure but we are in the Kingdom business for certain.”

Donors’ support of Faulkner University is a critical part of ensuring the continuation of educating young men and women who will be future leaders in their areas of influence.

“When things get tough, you are the friends who will help,” President Mitch Henry told donors.

Henry shared his personal experience with one of these students. “There was a football player from Birmingham who wanted to meet with me about some issues he had off campus. We talked through those issues, and I asked him how he was doing spiritually.

This big guy got tearful,” Henry recounted. “He told me he needed a new beginning. He needed to be cleansed.

We prayed together, and I called Jeremy Smith in to study with him. After their study we went over to the University Church of Christ and that young man was baptized. Since then he’s been fired up and encouraging his classmates and teammates.” Henry added, “There’s a lot of Bible studies happening on our campus, and none of this can happen without your support of this university.”

Henry ended by expressing his gratitude for those who had given to Faulkner’s President’s Circle of Friends. “I appreciate you more than you’ll know, and I’m encouraged by you to push forward. Faulkner’s brightest days are ahead.”

Spring 2023

5

Faulkner Board of Trustees Chair Dale Kirkland, left, conducted the investiture and formally conferred the office of Faulkner’s presidency to Mitch Henry, right

D. Mitchell Henry Inaugurated as the 9th President of Faulkner University

by Rebecca Burylo Hundreds of special guests, students and alumni, faculty and staff and members of the Henry family filled the Tine Davis Gymnasium on January 30, 2023 as they gathered to celebrate the inauguration of D. Mitchell Henry, J.D. as the ninth president of Faulkner University in its 80-year history.

Although Henry took office as president on June 1, 2022, presidential inaugurations have been a tradition for centuries taking place in the first year of a president’s service. It allows the president an opportunity to share their goals and the mission of the university they serve.

Henry, who has already become a favorite among students, has continually put God first in his decisions, emphasizes the mission of Faulkner, which is to bring glory to God and makes sure the student body knows how much he is invested in their academic and spiritual wellbeing. Whether that’s showing up to an athletic event or a band recital, changing a student’s flat tire, handing out pork skins and chocolate milk or taking the time to have a deep spiritual conversation with them, Henry is invested in the lives of Faulkner’s students.

6

Faulkner Magazine

John Lay, a Faulkner Bible major, has witnessed first hand how Henry goes above and beyond for the students on campus.

“President Henry is much more than a president. He is a devout believer in God, he’s a fearless leader, a loving husband, he’s a compassionate friend and he’s definitely a fun person to be around,” Lay said. “He’s more concerned in leading us in the direction of God and building our spiritual success than being popular.

Despite the pressures of being president, he will stop at nothing to make sure this campus is pointed toward Christ.”

Henry’s son, Mitchell Henry, introduced his father, sharing a story of his childhood that demonstrated Henry’s character.

“There is nothing that he asks you to do that he would not first do himself. He is a humble servant who strives to look after the needs of others before himself. He is the best father figure a child could ever have and I’m confident he will continue to be an excellent college president,” Mitchell said.

Faulkner Board of Trustees Chair Dale Kirkland conducted the investiture and formally conferred

President Henry and wife Cindy Henry embrace following the inauguration ceremony

Henry’s son, Mitchell Henry, introduces his father

President Henry, right, shakes hands with Jamyla Philyaw, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed’s chief administrative officer & Faulkner alumna

the office of Faulkner’s presidency to Henry. Henry’s address was directed to the students at Faulkner.

“God has a plan and a purpose for you and for us together. It’s because of your plan and purpose that my wife Cindy and I made the decision to come and take the role of president of this school,” Henry said.

“This university is distinctively and courageously Christian. At Faulkner you are learning the core values of the Christian faith in order to lead others to God. You are learning the value of hard work, service, moral character, giving and the value of self-sacrifice.

You’re learning the value of friendship, of truth, and teamwork, leadership, justice and mercy and family.”

“To my Faulkner students,” he added. “You have embraced these core Christian values and these are the values that this world needs desperately at this time. God has a plan and purpose for our nation, our community and the world. Because we live in a fallen world, we need students like you to courageously share the values you learned in this place. So, shine your light and make your work a ministry to other people.”

Guests including Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor of Troy University, college presidents from around the country, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed’s chief administrative

officer and Faulkner alumna Jamyla Philyaw, State of Alabama Representatives and board of trustee members were present to witness the historical occasion.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey provided a special congratulatory message by video. Henry’s brother, Gus Henry provided the invocation and his brother, Garry Henry provided the benediction.

On March 8, 2022, Henry was unanimously accepted as president-elect by the university’s board of trustees and the decision was announced to the public on Faulkner’s Montgomery campus on March 9, 2022. At the time, he was serving as an associate professor at Faulkner University, teaching law to undergraduate and graduate students. He also taught dispute resolution as an adjunct law professor at Faulkner’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. As a 29-year practicing attorney, Henry was a founding member of Webster, Henry, Bradwell, Cohan, Speagle, and DeShazo, P.C. Henry is also a former Elder of the Vaughn Park Church of Christ where he continues to teach Bible and serve. Henry and his wife Cindy have three children, Mitchell – wife Rebecca Mann Henry, Lauren –husband Chase Thigpen, and Ashby.

Spring 2023

7

Education students l-r Caroline Cosner and Destinee Buchanan

College of Education: Creating Caring, Christ-Centered Instructors

by Rebecca Burylo 8

Faulkner Magazine

Faulkner’s College of Education is unique. A student walks into the Education Lab in Johnson Hall, home of the College of Education and is greeted with bright colors, teaching materials, a smile and a “Hi! How are you?” from Sandy Luster, professor and field experience director. They chat about their weekend plans, update them on a family member and share a snack from the dish on the counter. Those in the department have created a familial and safe environment for students studying to be teachers and foster a close-knit Christian setting where students thrive.

The students’ next step is to enter the classroom themselves and they do so during their field experiences and internships.

The professors of the College of Education have been in the classroom. They know what it takes to train an excellent teacher. An excellent teacher is someone who views their profession as more than a job. They are someone who sees their classroom as an important responsibility. They train their students to succeed, encourage them to be a better person and ultimately show them that they are created in the image of God, have value and a purpose.

It’s just one more way the faculty at Faulkner build rapport with their students.

“Our mission as teachers is a very important one.

Sometimes we are the only “Christ” some people ever see, the only “Bible” someone will ever read, so if we think that way, we begin to make every action, every word, every lesson intentional,” said Sandy Ledwell, dean of the College of Education. “The same is true at Faulkner when we are advising students, working through instruction and assessment, the way we interact with our students and speak with them, it’s important.”

“Our teachers know each of our students by name and model the behaviors we want our graduates to leave with when they enter their own classroom. Every child in every seat deserves to have the most equipped, very best teachers to stand in front of them every day to unlock their potential for greatness,” Ledwell added.

“That is our goal at Faulkner.”

Since coming on board as the new dean of the College of Education, Ledwell has been impressed by Faulkner’s students who are studying to be teachers. She’s talked with them about their goals and dreams of becoming a teacher and the positive impact they want to have on their future classrooms.

Ledwell and her team make it a point to be involved in their students’ lives both in the classroom, on the court or in chapel to nurture their potential and build those relationships.

Once students have had a chance to go into a local classroom for their internship requirements, they report back and share with professors during classroom clinics. These clinics give education students the chance to talk about particular lessons they witness, students’ reactions to the instruction and how they can improve for the next visit.

“Our professors feel successful when their students are succeeding and you can just see the joy they have in the process,” Ledwell said. “It comes down to our faculty’s dedication to our students. They ensure our students know and understand the instructional pedagogy needed and model it for them in a safe environment where students are able to practice and receive feedback on their performance. That’s how our students grow and get better. That’s what makes them better teachers.”

The College of Education is doing just that based upon the most recent report card released by the Alabama State Department of Education for all educator preparation programs. The report showed that Faulkner graduates who are now in their first year of teaching are well prepared for the classroom.

Students surveyed overwhelmingly agreed that Faulkner’s program prepared them to be proficient in the content knowledge required by the state to teach, while the second part of the report showed principals had an extreme satisfaction with the performance of those who graduated from Faulkner’s College of Education and are now employed at their school.

“We have an excellent relationship with Faulkner as we place many of their students for internships and lab experiences in our schools. We have also hired many Faulkner graduates and find them exceptional employees,” said Susanne Goodin, human resources director for Elmore County Public Schools. “The Elmore County Public Schools has found students representing Faulkner University well prepared and ready to enter the classroom.”

In particular, 100 percent of employers in the report said Faulkner graduates portrayed leadership qualities

Spring 2023

9

l-r Caroline Cosner, Erika Mitchell, Brooke Moore, Neely Johns, Rebecca Horn

when implementing assessments in an ethical manner and minimized bias to enable learners to display the full extent of their learning.

servant leaders and alumni have gone on to serve their communities through the field of education in leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels.

One hundred percent of employers also said Faulkner graduates exhibited collaboration with others to build a positive learning climate marked by respect, rigor and responsibility.

Apply now at www.faulkner.edu/apply

“As you can see, we have a great opportunity here at the College of Education to broaden our outreach across the tri-county area, the state and the country as we view the classroom as a vocational ministry,” Ledwell explained. “As we are preparing students in this way, we’re sending them out into the world to be a light. Just imagine the impact each of our graduates have on a classroom, and if they stay in the classroom 30 years, how many generations will they be able to teach and reach?”

The College of Education is a CAEP accredited school of education offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees. College of Education teacher candidates are often recognized for their scholarly achievements, campus leadership roles, and service to the community. Candidates represent the true Faulkner spirit in their desire to be

10

Faulkner Magazine

Neely Johns and Brooke Moore

Quick Facts about Faulkner’s College of Education Degrees Available

Meet the Faculty

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education

Sandy Ledwell Dean of the College of Education

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction - Online Master of Education Alt A Master of Education in Elementary Education - Online Master of Education in School Counseling – Online

Faulkner University’s Pre-K, which falls under the supervision of the College of Education, began in 2018 and is the site for two of Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program classrooms. It began as an effort to increase enrollment of four-year-olds statewide. Both classrooms accommodate a total of 32 four-year-olds. Tuition is free and families must live in Alabama.

“At the Faulkner Pre-K we are touching parents’ lives in addition to the children’s. It’s important to me that parents know they have a warm, caring and inviting environment here for their children to learn and grow

Rebecca Horn Assistant Professor, Director of Assessment and Graduate Advising Sandy Luster Assistant Professor, Field Experience Director College of Education Carol Tarpley Associate Professor, Department Chair, edTPA Coordinator Tiffany Till Academic Secretary

in.” Ledwell said. “The benefit of a quality Pre-K or early education is that is ensures students are on track to enter kindergarten with their literacy and numeracy skills and are less likely to need remediation and intervention years down the road.”

Faulkner Pre-K is a way to reach out directly to the community as well as to provide an opportunity to Faulkner College of Education students to observe quality early education instruction and have immediate access to early childhood students and teachers.

Spring 2023

11

Education Students Find Family, Missional Purpose

by Rebecca Burylo Hannah Tolbert

so when you go into a classroom it becomes second nature,” she added.

Just as the faculty of the College of Education, Ledwell, Rebecca Horn, Sandy Luster, Carol Tarpley, and Tiffany Till view their teaching roles as a vocational ministry, so do the students and the alumni of the education department view the teaching profession.

“The classroom is one of the biggest mission fields,” Tolbert said. “You as the teacher are responsible for the future of your students. You are with your students for nearly eight hours of the day and the way you carry yourself, the respect you give to your students, the ways you encourage them and the way you give them confidence to persevere in their studies, should all point toward Christ. You’re showing them through your actions, through kindness and love what it means to be a Christian.”

Faulkner senior Hannah Tolbert burst into the education lab in the College of Education’s Johnson Hall in tears. About to graduate with a degree in elementary education, Tolbert was facing an enormous challenge to grasp and pass her pre-calculus class. Without a passing grade, she’d miss her May graduation and her hopes and dreams of becoming a 5th grade teacher.

“I walked in the lab upset and Dr. Sandy Ledwell was right there to comfort me, and told me to come into her office and we just talked about it,” Tolbert said. “From that day forward, Dr. Ledwell has been tutoring me, and I’ll be set to graduate this May. Despite all the hurdles and responsibilities she has as the brand-new dean of the College of Education, she still made time to pour into me. That’s what everyone who works in the College of Education at Faulkner does. They are the kind of teacher I want to be. A teacher who is willing to do whatever it takes to help their students.”

“When you first start down the path of education, the methods and vocabulary seem overwhelming, but the beautiful thing about being at Faulkner is the teachers here tell you how to use those and how to apply them

12

Faulkner Magazine

It is the same example of caring teachers and tutors that first inspired Tolbert to follow a career involving children. In high school, Tolbert struggled in math and English and so her teachers and tutors at New Life Christian Academy in Millbrook, Alabama gave her one-on-one instruction until she grasped the subject matter. Tolbert realized how important it was to make sure no student was left behind.

Tolbert came to Faulkner as a legal studies major in order to become a child advocate, but she quickly discovered her heart was in the classroom, following in the footsteps of her mother, Cindy Tolbert, who works as the Faulkner PreK coordinator.

“I knew my heart couldn’t handle the tough situations many children suffer with, but I knew I still wanted to help children. My mom suggested teaching, and it was a natural fit,” she said.

“Being in the classroom is so rewarding,” said Tolbert, who has helped teach in three local elementary schools as part of her course work. “As a teacher, you may be the only smile your students see that day, or the only sense of safety they experience that day. As a teacher, you have stepped into the role of caretaker just as Christ cares for us, and it’s a position that I will be honored to fill.”

Taryn Brodie and family

Well known in the River Region and the state for his empathy and professionalism within the education system, Faulkner alumnus Jeff Langham is a man of principle, values and faith.

Langham, the retired chief of staff and assistant state superintendent for the Alabama State Department of Education, began his 38-year tenure in education when he enrolled at Alabama Christian College (ACC), now known as Faulkner University. A native of Bay Minette, Alabama, he attended ACC from 1976 to 1978.

It was the mentors he gained at Faulkner, who helped him strengthen his faith and transition to the workplace.

For 2004 Faulkner Education graduate Taryn Brodie, her classroom is indeed her mission field and it’s her goal to instill in them positive character traits in addition to teaching them educational standards.

“At Faulkner, it was more of the experiences I had which molded me into the teacher that I am. There, I discovered true character, perseverance, and a love for learning that carried over into my classroom,” Brodie said. “Every student who has walked through my classroom door has become a member of Brodie’s Best, ones who in turn will go share that with the world. My professors at Faulkner worked to prepare me for this in addition to everything else I needed to learn to enter this demanding but amazing field. I am blessed to have started my career at Faulkner University.”

Brodie, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, graduated from Faulkner magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and recently completed her Master of Education from Faulkner in September 2022. She now teaches second graders at Wetumpka Elementary School in the classroom across the hall from where she interned.

“I absolutely love what I do. Second grade is where they gain their independence and spread their wings, but they still love you and are excited to come to school each day,” Brodie said. “I love to see their growth and am amazed at what we are able to accomplish in my classroom each year.”

“From daily chapel to daily encounters with Godly mentors, my experiences at Faulkner have been enormously influential in my faith journey,” Langham said. “So many ‘giants of the faith’ whose legacies are still rich and alive here at Faulkner, served as role models for me in my most critical junctures in my life beyond high school and before my transition into the workplace.”

As a student, he was involved in every aspect of campus life. Later, he completed his master’s degree at Auburn Montgomery and his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law from Alabama State University.

“My experiences at Faulkner, formerly Alabama Christian College, from 1976-1978 were a true joy!”

Langham said. “During my time there, I benefited tremendously from the guidance of excellent teachers, wise mentors, treasured friends, many of whom are still dear friends to this day, and spiritual grounding that has kept me on course all these decades later.”

“Faulkner set the foundations of my career as it was here that I decided to pursue a degree in English Education,” he said. “My degree from Faulkner set me on the right track that still impacts my daily career adventures.”

Spring 2023

13

New College of Education Dean: Sandra Ledwell

by Rebecca Burylo

Sandra Ledwell

As the new dean of Faulkner University’s College of Education, Sandra Ledwell, Ed.D., brings with her nearly 30 years of experience in education, 17 of which were with the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE).

Ledwell, who began her new position on September 2, 2022, previously served as an adjunct professor for the College of Education while also working for ALSDE as director of the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative. During her time with the state, she provided guidance to instructors, but missed the classroom environment and serving students directly.

“I wanted to get back in the classroom, so I could affirm the instructional strategies I was recommending to our teachers in my role with the state really worked, but most importantly, I wanted to get back in the classroom because teaching brings me joy,” Ledwell said.

“Now, after 15 years at Faulkner, I’m honored to be dean of the college. There are great professors here and it’s been a pleasure interacting with them over the years.

I know the passion they bring to the table. It’s humbling to know I am going to be leading such a team dedicated to this work.”

Ledwell began teaching first grade in 1996 for the Scottsboro City Board of Education and also served as a regional specialist there through 2006. She taught 6th grade from 2002 to 2005 and a year later, she became the education specialist for the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) through 2008.

In this position, she coordinated the development of

14

Faulkner Magazine

statewide teacher training guides, oversaw the selection of science materials and curriculum and coordinated science training at 11 regional sites.

Before becoming director of AMSTI in 2018, Ledwell served as interim co-director of AMSTI for two years.

Once she became director, Ledwell was responsible for coordinating and overseeing $32 million, maintain department and field staff of 200 personnel; provide for the continuous professional learning of individuals; oversaw the creation of instructional materials including units, guides, slides, and other resources; maintained working relationships with 12 institutions of higher education; maintain services to Alabama teachers and students in 146 school districts; leading the initiative through a period of immense organizational change.

Ledwell has a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama, and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Montevallo.

“What keeps me going is believing that every child in school deserves the same opportunity to be whatever they want to be,” Ledwell said. “They need to have someone to help them unlock their potential. Being a part of this university community, I can help mold that way of thinking into our future classroom teachers and administrators. It’s important for teachers to understand the higher calling they are walking into.”

Peyton Jenkins, second from the left, leads the first meeting of the Faulkner Book Club

For the Love of Books:

Faulkner’s New Book Club

by Madelyn Furlong If you like to read and meet new people, Peyton Jenkins and Gus Nichols Library offers students, staff, and alumni the opportunity to pursue both.

For an hour once a month, Peyton Jenkins, Gus Nichols Library’s assistant director of libraries, organizes a book club. The idea behind the book club is to read and discuss classic books people read when they were kids.

Since March 2022, the group has covered books such as, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by C. S. Lewis, “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins, “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman, and “Anne of Green Gables” by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Before each meeting begins, Jenkins asks the group, “What’s one thing you would like to talk about today?”

He facilitates inclusion and the exchange of ideas, and makes sure everyone gets a chance to speak.

The book club is open to anyone, and Jenkins welcomes everyone to come. Even if someone hasn’t had time to read the book, he thinks they would still enjoy the discussion.

To meet more people’s schedules, the book club recently opened another time slot for meetings, with one meeting taking place in the afternoon and the other occurring after-hours.

With a background in public library, Jenkins has often For more information about Faulkner’s monthly book planned events and entertainment for the community. club, email Jenkins at pjenkins@faulkner.edu He’s constantly trying to find ways to connect Angie Moore shares the reasons why Anne with the student body and use his past of Green Gables is her favorite novel experiences at Faulkner. “My personal goal for my job is to make the library welcoming and fun, and this book club is one way we’re trying to do that,” Jenkins said.

Not only does the group encourage people to read books they might not have read before or would like to revisit, but its purpose is to also create community with one another.

Jenkins stresses this aspect of a fun social space where books bring people who may not regularly see each other together. “Because we have multiple generations of people at our meetings,” Jenkins said, “we can interact with others in different stages of life.”

Spring 2023

15

An assortment of Faires Austin’s custom-made signs he displays proudly at Faulkner athletic events

Faires Austin Shares Passion for His Faulkner Eagles

by Joel Sellers Many things could have been said about Faulkner that day.

However, no one could say it had given in. The Lady Eagles played with all they had against William Carey on the afternoon of October 16, 2021. They kept pace with the Crusaders almost point for point. The stat sheet was neck-and-neck. As usual, Tine Davis proved to be a perfect setting for a volleyball match, an intense atmosphere for fans and opponents of the blue and white alike.

Unfortunately, Faulkner was swept in three sets by the razor-thin margins of 26-24, 27-25 and 29-27, one of the closest performances to winning a team can have while still not coming out on top in any frame.

Something else couldn’t be said that day, which takes us from the court to high up in the stands. No one could say Faires Austin, Faulkner superfan and sign enthusiast, gave up on his Eagles. He held one of his

16

Faulkner Magazine

infamous signs, a fairly new one to his collection. It read: If you want a SOFT SERVE Go to Dairy Queen Another one Austin brought to the gym that day read: THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS IS NOT CEREAL, IT’S THE OPPOSITION Austin’s presence at Faulkner sporting events brings a smile and a renewed enthusiasm for the game to both players and spectators.

These are easy takeaways when one meets a man that has plenty of those characteristics to go around.

His cheerful disposition and hearty laughter are infectious, and his quick wit and classic one-liners can keep everyone in stitches. Through it all, though, his

sincerity and generosity can be seen through the giving of his time, whether it be teaching others about Christ through serving as an elder and Bible class teacher at University Church of Christ, or his love for Faulkner, especially the athletic programs.

“We enjoy the sports,” he says. “I go to as many football, volleyball and basketball games as I can. We have a lot of fun at these games.”

a result, Austin got to know more and more people at Faulkner including Joey Wiginton, then the director of admissions and the current alumni director. Wiginton eventually brought Austin to Montgomery.

Austin became an unofficial recruiter for the school, even setting up tables with Faulkner material at statewide church events to share with teens the benefits of Christian education. His efforts had an effect on a good number of his church’s youth, including his own children.

The 75-year-old native of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, has lived in the South for almost his entire life. Though he never played many sports outside of track Austin holds one of his custom-made signs in the stands during a Faulkner in high school, he and his wife have always athletic event with his wife, Margie by his side been huge fans. Since he began working at Faulkner, they have made a point to be regulars at games. While most fans might only show interest in football and men’s basketball, the Austins go to women’s sporting events just as often as the men’s games, supporting each of the teams equally.

His zeal for Faulkner and its athletics began long before he earned his degree from the university.

Austin retired from Faulkner in August 2020 and his wife of over 50 years, Margie, retired from the Financial Aid office five years ago.

They met in 1965 while they were students at Freed-Hardeman University. When he could no longer pay for his tuition, he entered the Air Force and spent a tour in South Vietnam before being stationed in Charleston, South Carolina.

After his service ended and he began work as the owner of a tire company, he never lost sight of the value of a Christian education and wanted to encourage high school students in his church to take that path toward continuing their schooling. While attending North Charleston Church of Christ, he and Margie would take the teenagers in the youth group on a bus to visit Christian universities.

Faulkner, then Alabama Christian College (ACC), was the one they took the teens to most often.

Admissions counselors from ACC would come through Charleston on recruiting trips and would often stay at the Austins’ home. As

Spring 2023

17

Their son Allen came to Faulkner to play baseball.

He is married to Angie, who also grew up in the North Charleston congregation and attended Faulkner. Julie, their daughter, chose Faulkner for her higher education as well and married another Faulkner student, Charlie Knapp, who became an assistant coach for the Eagles’ football program from its inception in 2007 until 2018.

The Austins saw firsthand the quality education their children received from Faulkner and it did not take much convincing for Austin to take the job as director of student housing in August 2001. He then became assistant dean of students a couple years later and eventually was hired as dean of students nine years after that.

While working, he decided to go back to school and finish his degree, and earned his Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies from Faulkner in 2006, in addition to completing a Master’s in Counseling from Liberty University in 2009. He then became a transfer admissions counselor in 2014 and later served in graduate and adult recruiting until his retirement.

Just because he’s retired doesn’t mean he’s slowed down, though. Not in the slightest. He says that he is almost as busy now as he was when employed by the university.

He still gladly gives campus tours to those who ask, as he is quite the expert on Faulkner’s history.

And of course, he still shows up and cheers on the Eagles, with his signs in hand. He was inspired to use these props while watching a popular talk show among college football fans.

“On a football Saturday morning, you’ve got those four guys sitting there at the desk, and they’ve got the College GameDay going,” he recalls. “And they’ve got this big audience with all these homemade signs, some of them are just hilarious!’ That’s how I got the idea of doing that, way back in the early 2000’s. And of course,

18

Faulkner Magazine

our football team didn’t start until ’07, but we had volleyball before then, and basketball before that. So that’s how it got started.”

“I don’t want to intimidate the other team too much, but just a little bit! It helps people to go, ‘Oh yeah, we can do this!’ I like to kind of get the crowd fired up.

When they start hollering, the team does better! People get a kick out of it. I just want to get them enthused and get them in the game, and cheer our team on, whether we win or lose.”

He estimates he has about 80 signs in all that he has had professionally made over the years, whether big or small. He keeps them on racks in his backyard storage unit. He enlists the services of Signs in One Day on Forest Hills Drive in Montgomery enough that Margie says the workers know him by name and the sizes, fonts and colors (mostly blue and white, naturally) that he generally prefers. Some have simple fan sayings like “Go Eagles,” but the ones that really catch people’s attention are the ones that use alliteration, clever puns or other classic one-liners. Some of the ideas are his own, coming from his sharp wit, while he has gained inspiration for others from the internet, College GameDay or word of mouth.

Most of the signs never go out of style and some can even be used across all sports. In fact, his signs with punchlines where the name of the other school is necessary often include a blank place to write in the upcoming opponent’s name. For example: I TRIED TO CHANGE MY PASSWORD TO _____________ BUT GMAIL SAID IT WAS WEAK It’s not just signs he uses. He uses a Faulkner cowbell at football games, where he’ll “ring that sucker!” Another accessory he uses is somewhat unconventional.

“You know, every once in a while, when you catch an NFL game, some of these guys in the stands will be dressed up in weird stuff. The only thing I do like that is, my wife takes a special marker and she puts ‘Go Eagles’ on my forehead. I’m a walking billboard that says ‘Go Eagles!’”

If there have been any historical moments in Faulkner’s athletics history, chances are Austin was there to see

it! The first one he thinks of is this past basketball season when the men’s team notched a 92-73 win over conference opponent Loyola, its first over any team ranked No. 1 nationally. Another he remembers like yesterday is when the 2011 football team played in a marathon game against Union that went into three overtimes. It was the highest scoring football game in NAIA history and the second-highest mark reached by an existent program across any divisional level.

“We have a hard time beating Loyola!” he exclaims.

“And we whupped them this last season, that was their only loss this season! That was a great moment, that was a super moment for us! And then another moment is when, before we got our football stadium here, of course we played downtown at Cramton Bowl, and before that, we played a few games at Alabama Christian Academy (ACA). We played a game over there that lasted, how many hours, five? Because it was 95-89!”

As he reminisces, he marvels at the fact that Faulkner plays some very tough opponents in the Mid-South Conference in football and the Southern States Athletic Conference in all other sports. He points out, as everyone else who has watched Faulkner games over the years can attest, “Anybody can beat anybody on any

given day.” In his mind, that just makes it all the more interesting.

One of his favorite traditions has been to see the football team off on road trips, and sometimes he and Margie have even traveled to away games. When the buses pull away from the fieldhouse he holds up a sign predicting that weekend’s game score. This is uplifting to the players, who often have a long trip ahead of them, sometimes as far away as Kentucky or south Florida. For home games, he uses the same strategy, holding up his prediction as well as one that reads “Hustle, Hit & Never Quit!” by the front gate of the stadium as the players reach the end of Eagle Walk.

He loves seeing the effect the signs have on the crowd, even with members of other athletic programs at Faulkner who are in the stands during the other sports.

He is especially happy when some of the international soccer and golf players who speak different languages understand the messages, as they point at the signs, have a good laugh and start to cheer louder.

“We’re there to cheer on our team,” he states plainly.

“If we want to win, one of the factors is we’re playing at home, that’s an advantage. Number two, if we have spectators that are hollering, cheering us on in a Christian, nice way, that’s like saying, ‘Go get ‘em, boys!’

‘Do the best you can!’ I think it’s important for the student body to be there. Parents are there to watch their kids play, and grandparents want to see their grandkids play, which is great, but the school needs to be behind athletics and cheer these students on. They’ve worked hard, and they deserve it!”

“You know, if somebody’s cheering me on, I’m going to give it a little bit extra sometimes. So, I think that’s very, very important. How sad it would be to have a basketball game, football game, volleyball game, and just the coaches show up? No spectators, none of that stuff. Then, what’s the use, why are we here? We need to be behind the students, these young athletes.

They may go on, but very few, to a higher level. For some, this’ll be it. Let’s make it fun! Let’s make it interesting and fun, and let them know that we’re there to support them. Period.”

Spring 2023

19

20

Faulkner Magazine

Spring 2023

21

22

Faulkner Magazine

Spring 2023

23

Students Bring Back Pro-Life Group On Campus by Rebecca Burylo Students on Faulkner’s campus are using their voice to speak for the most innocent among us: the unborn.

Faulkner’s chapter of Students for Life experienced a resurgence in the fall 2022 semester after the previous chapter was inactive for several years. The national organization, Students for Life of America, (SFL) contacted Peyton Jenkins, assistant director and public services librarian at Gus Nichols Library to see if students were interested in starting the group again.

Students for Life of America is a 501 non-profit antiabortion organization that has formed groups of high school and college students across the country.

Currently, there are over 2,000 SFL student groups across the nation.

“We are trying to rebuild our Faulkner chapter with efforts that started in the fall semester,” said Jenkins, who is the faculty advisor for the student-led group.

“We have already gained a lot of support from both the student body and university staff, faculty, and administration.”

Last semester, SFL was invited on campus to set up a “Cemetery of the Innocents.” Hundreds of white crosses were placed outside the gym to represent the lives lost to abortion. There are at least 1,666 lives lost to abortion each day in America, even after the Supreme Court overruled Roe v Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in June 2022, which put the decision back into the hands of the states.

The display of crosses spurred interest among students on campus to bring back the chapter. Among those were Jade Klose and Kayleigh Bourne, who are now student leaders of the chapter.

While Bourne was introduced to SFL for the first time in the fall, Klose has been following Students for Life on Instagram for some time.

“I want to help spread the pro-life message to others and hopefully encourage them to speak out against abortion,” Klose said. “Because students are the next generation of voters, I think it’s important to raise awareness about the issues that matter--in this case, to speak up for those who don’t have a voice.

“Without the right to life, the most basic human right, the unborn don’t have access to the rights that the

24

Faulkner Magazine

rest of us enjoy on a daily basis. I think if people truly knew what an abortion--the intentional killing of a child--looked like, they would change their minds in supporting it,” she added.

The group, which currently has 10 members, meets once a month to share news, views and to plan events on campus in order to educate others.

“I think educating others about the value of unborn life is so important to me because I love children and killing an innocent baby, or fetus is heartbreaking to me,” Bourne said.

“Hopefully through our club advocating for the unborn, we can change the mainstream idea pervading our culture about babies being ‘clumps of cells’ or ‘not human,’” Klose said. “I would love for the club to expand in the future and have as many students supporting the pro-life stance as we can!”

A few of the events planned for this semester included participating in a local Walk For Life event and a drive where baby products will be donated to local pregnancy resource centers.

Meetings are held monthly at Gus Nichols Library. All students, staff, and faculty are welcome to attend. If you are interested in participating, please contact Jenkins at pjenkins@faulkner.edu. l-r Caleb Otey, Joshua Booker, Madison Allen, Peyton Jenkins, Front row l-r Jade Klose and Kayleigh Bourne

Culinary Management Teams Up with YMCA to Feed Montgomery

by Rebecca Burylo Team members of Culinary Management help load boxed lunches onto the YMCA’s Brown Bag Bus

area churches, City of Montgomery, Montgomery Police Department; trailer parks and neighborhoods, and several vendors.

The Brown Bag Bus drives into more than 20 lower income and “high-need” areas to deliver meals. Kozak witnessed firsthand how children and families clamored toward the bus desperate for one good meal that day.

Dusty Kozak rode on the YMCA’s Brown Bag Bus one afternoon for five hours and walked away with a new mission. She and her team at Culinary Management at Faulkner were going to prepare and provide 500 meals a day at cost to feed Montgomery’s hungry families.

The Brown Bag Bus is the YMCA of Greater Montgomery’s one-of-a-kind initiative to combat the effects of childhood hunger in Montgomery, Alabama. The Brown Bag Bus, outfitted with healthy meals prepared by Culinary Management and other organizations in the area, travels to different parts of Montgomery to serve lunch to those in need.

According to Jeff Reynolds, chief philanthropy officer and senior vice president of YMCA of Greater Montgomery, there are over 30,000 students in Montgomery Public Schools, 70 percent of whom qualify for free and reduced lunch in the YMCA service area.

“Hungry children are an epidemic in our area,” Reynolds said. “Food security means access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. We utilize partners to supply locations and children to serve, supply the food, financial support, and more.”

In addition to Culinary Management, the Brown Bag Bus currently partners with the Alabama State Department of Education Child Nutrition Division, the United Way, Montgomery Area Food Bank, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Montgomery Public Schools, Elmore County Board of Education, the Montgomery Housing Authority, Common Ground, Montgomery County,

“You saw children just running toward us,” Kozak recounted. “What YMCA is doing is a much-needed program and it helps a lot of people, who you can’t imagine the desperation they are facing. They are very much in need of nutrition. It was humbling to see and I’m thankful we can make an impact.”

After that initial ride, Kozak agreed to provide 500 meals at cost a day to YMCA’s Brown Bag Bus. That means in a year, they provide the community with nearly 130,000 meals.

“We have had overwhelming support and to have Dusty’s team is very helpful,” Reynolds said.

“Children wait for the bus rain or shine. We have had neighborhoods reach out to see if the Brown Bag Bus can serve their children. Dusty and her team have been very flexible and supply wonderful, nutritious meals.

The flexibility of their hours allows us to serve on weekends and after hours as well. The Y could not do this without the community.”

The Culinary Management team at Faulkner all pitch in to prepare meals for the Brown Bag Bus in addition to their duties to daily provide Faulkner students with breakfast, lunch and dinner. The meals for the Brown Bag Bus also follow the necessary state guidelines for nutrition.

International student and Faulkner Eagles soccer player Nic Fischer is from Germany and works for Culinary Management and helps pack the meals for the Brown Bag Bus. “I’m happy to help them in what they are doing,” the senior business major said. “We don’t have such an organization as the YMCA in Germany, but I’ve learned about their mission. It makes me happy to help those kids, because otherwise they wouldn’t have any food.”

Spring 2023

25

Faulkner Law Students Have “The Write Stuff” by Faulkner Law Staff Writing skills are critical for lawyers.

Whether they’re drafting motions, briefs, agreements, or correspondence, lawyers need to be effective writers to communicate, advocate, educate, John G. Browning and even market themselves and their practices. Faulkner Law requires its first-year students to complete two legal writing courses and its upper-level students to complete a rigorous writing assignment, which is usually a 30-plus page research paper completed as part of a specialized seminar. Lately, however, some Faulkner Law students have been able to add another distinction to their resumes—that of published author.

Students who enrolled in Justice John G. Browning’s Spring 2022 seminar on Social Media, Emerging Technologies, and the Law knew that they’d be expected to research and write a lengthy, scholarly paper on an original topic regarding how technology is impacting the law. But they didn’t expect to be presented with another challenge (and opportunity): research and write a shorter (3–5 page) article for publication in a

26

Faulkner Magazine

bar journal or other legal publication. All five of the seminar’s students not only satisfied their rigorous writing requirement but also became published authors—getting their names out in front of regional and, in some cases, national audiences of lawyers and judges.

Browning presented the challenge early in the semester: go above and beyond the rigorous writing requirement and he’d help get the essay or article published. The first to answer the call was Jonathan Bailie.

After his curiosity Jonathan Bailie was piqued during a classroom discussion about the growing problem of fake digital evidence in litigation, Bailie researched the issue under Browning’s direction. The result was a co-authored article published in the April 2022 issue of Cybersecurity Law & Strategy. This article, titled “You Won’t Know It When You See It: The Challenges of Fabricated Evidence in the Digital Age,” proved so popular that it was picked up by Law.com and reached a large national audience.

Next up was Melvin Dixon, the president of Faulkner Law’s student chapter of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association.

Although he wrote his seminar paper on the international law implications of Melvin Dixon autonomous weapons, he also had an interest in the growing body of evidence drawn from smart devices like Fitbits, Ring doorbell cameras, and Apple watches. The result was a co-authored article entitled “The Wearable Witness: Emerging Sources of Digital Evidence,” which was published in the November & December 2022 issue of For the Defense, a magazine produced by the Defense Research Institute.

Another seminar student, Arjen Meter, was intrigued by the many cases in which jurors had caused mistrials and overturned verdicts by venturing online to “research” the parties or issues in a case.

Arjen Meter His research on the issue, and particularly how Alabama’s courts have dealt with it, convinced Browning that the topic demanded a more in-depth examination. The result of their collaboration was a scholarly article, “Googling a Mistrial: Online Juror Misconduct in Alabama,” which will be published this year by the Faulkner Law Review. “We really wanted this to be a useful guide on this subject for Alabama judges and practitioners of all types, and since no one had ever looked at this subject before from an Alabama perspective, there is a real need,” says Meter.

The remaining two students in the seminar can boast similar success. Katrinnah Harding, who graduated in May of 2022 and became—at 19—the youngest licensed attorney in Alabama history, was particularly struck by the subject of the metaverse. She not only devoted her research paper to the topic of how realworld legal issues will apply to the virtual world of the metaverse, but she also made it the focus of an article being published in Circuits, an online legal journal

administered by the Computer and Technology Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Finally, current 3L Ashley Peacock chose a decidedly more down-to-earth subject.

Drawing upon her Katrinnah Harding internship experience in criminal law, she examined the growing practice of allowing courthouse facility dogs in court, ostensibly to provide a calming influence for testifying children during stressful legal proceedings. Her article, “Who Let the Dogs In? Do Courthouse Facility Dogs Comfort Witnesses or Bias Jurors,” has been accepted for publication by Voice for the Defense, a criminal defense lawyers’ journal.

For Browning, providing students with a leg up as they start their legal careers is important. Faulkner Law, he points out, “has an outstanding legal writing program led by Professor Eric Voigt, and as a result Ashley Peacock we have some terrific student writers. I’m thrilled at any opportunity to share such wonderful writers with a broader audience.” As a litigator for more than 33 years and a former appellate justice in Texas, Browning now serves on the Faulkner Law faculty as Distinguished Jurist in Residence, and he has seen how good legal writing can win both cases and clients.

“Being published as a lawyer identifies you as someone knowledgeable on a particular subject area, and it can help attract both clients and employers,” he says.

And students seem to agree. As Jonathan Bailie notes, “this course significantly assisted me in improving my writing skills. Being published is now a meaningful part of my law school experience and provides the foundation for future writing opportunities.”

THOMAS GOODE JONES SCHOOL OF LAW

law.faulkner.edu Spring 2023

27

information on the Zorn scholarship, visit https://www. faulkner.edu/zorn/.

Community News

At the same time, Matt Olguin is the perfect choice to be our new director of admissions. He’s worked in that department for several years and for the last 2 years as assistant director. His track record and experience make him a great choice for this role.

New Director of Recruiting Position Created to Grow Biblical Studies Program Faulkner University announced, effective March 1, 2023, director of admissions, Mike Horn transitioned to a new position in the Bible Department as director of Biblical Studies Recruitment and Giving.

Effective the same day, assistant director of admissions, Matt Olguin became the director of admissions.

Mike Horn

To fulfill Faulkner University’s desire to increase the number of Bible majors at every level including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral, Horn will specifically recruit prospective students from churches, youth ministry events and other outreach events.

Ten Faulkner accounting students are currently interning with four different accounting firms in Montgomery, Alabama as the demand for accountants continues to rise.

“Since beginning my term as president, the spiritual growth of all our campuses has been my paramount focus. With that, means a renewed emphasis on our Bible programs and an aggressive approach for recruiting godly men and women to attend our V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies,” Faulkner University President Mitch Henry said.

Students Abigail Chavers, Emily Gilbert and Travis Armstrong are interning at Aldridge Borden & Company. Tucker Clifton, Liesl Langer, Isaiah Brooks are interning at Warren Averett. Nolan Taylor, Gage Gillich and Ethan Edson are interning at Kim Clenney & Company, Inc. and Rahdiashia Davis is interning at Jackson Thornton.

Matt Olguin

28

Faulkner Accounting Majors Secure Internships with Local Firms

Faulkner Magazine

There is a great need for more students to go into ministry roles and Horn’s new focus will help Faulkner further develop enrollment in biblical studies. He will also fundraise for the Jack Zorn Scholarship, a full tuition scholarship specifically for on-campus Bible majors in the traditional program. For more

Davis, a senior, is in her second year interning at Jackson Thornton. There, she is responsible for preparing working papers, documenting audit tests and findings within certain programs, and inspecting multiple accounts to confirm accurate records.

“My time at Jackson Thornton has been amazing,” Davis said. “I have already created so many fulfilling relationships in such a short amount of time. Everyone from associates to partners are more than willing to answer any question and help in any way they can. They make it a priority to invest in their young professionals

by planning parties, socials, and events to get us connected within the community.”

To learn more about Faulkner’s Accounting program and how you can be a part, visit https://www.faulkner. edu/accounting/.

Richardson is now serving her company as a quality management analyst after her promotion in June 2022.

To learn more about taking the next step to earning your degree at Faulkner University, visit the BSB and other executive programs at https://www.faulkner.edu/ one-plus-one/ or the MBA program at https://www. faulkner.edu/mba.

Mike Eubanks Speaks at Harris College of Business’ Ethics Institute The Harris College of Business regularly addresses ethics in business by combining biblical principles with contemporary research and invites speakers to address these issues.

Christa Richardson, center and her two sons

Alumna Hired, Earns Promotion Days After Earning Her BSB Degree Christa Richardson, a Faulkner alumna, recently received a promotion thanks to her executive business degree from Faulkner and she is now pursuing her Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Richardson earned her Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB) with an emphasis in Health Administration in December 2021. She first began pursuing her degree 30 years ago, but never completed her degree until she came to Faulkner. Now with two adult sons, Richardson knew she needed to “practice what she preached,” put aside the excuses and complete her degree.

“I had so many reasons as to why I couldn’t go back to school,” Richardson said. “Faulkner’s program eliminated those reasons and replaced them with flexibility, options, and opportunities. The program provides space for the student with full-time responsibilities.”

Three days after her graduation ceremony for her BSB in May 2022, Richardson was hired to work as a member advocate for a not-for-profit health insurance company. Through her studies at Faulkner, she learned what she would need to get to the next level.

This academic year, Faulkner invited board of trustees Vice Mike Eubanks Chair Mike Eubanks to speak to more than 100 business students as part of the Harris College of Business Ethics Institute.

Every fall and spring semester, the Ethics Institute introduces students to successful leaders from industry who exemplify ethical behavior. Our hope is that students will learn from the successes and challenges faced by these real-world business practitioners. Past speakers include Dr. Rick Lytle of the CEO Forum (Fall 2021) and the recently appointed president of Faulkner University, Mitch Henry (Spring 2022).

In addition to our speakers, students encounter business ethics education throughout the curriculum.

Whether it be in accounting, finance, management, marketing, or information systems, each of our courses presents an opportunity to introduce students to discipline-specific examples of ethics in the form of lectures, videos, or case analyses.

This year, Eubanks spoke on the decisions he has faced over his lifetime as an entrepreneur and the ethical stance he took when facing those obstacles. Eubanks currently serves as vice president of Gulf Hauling & Construction, Inc. in Mobile, Alabama.

“Don’t cross the line of getting paid for work you don’t do. It’s an opportunity for quick money that is not right and I see it every day,” Eubanks said. “Contractors come

Spring 2023

29

and go by doing this. They get big quick for making bad decisions, evade taxes and end up getting audited by the IRS. There are a million ways to go down the bad road in business. Don’t go down that road. Make ethical decisions.”

College of Health Sciences students with a young patient

College of Health Sciences Partner with AMBUCS to Donate Adaptive Tricycles to Families

Faulkner University to Freeze Tuition for Traditional Students In light of the current economic stresses facing today’s families, Faulkner University leadership has decided to implement a tuition freeze.

Faulkner University President Mitch Henry made the announcement in December 2022 that the university will not be raising tuition costs for traditional students enrolling this fall.

“As today’s families struggle financially, we want to ease their burden and provide some relief as they look to enroll their graduating seniors into higher education.

We hope you consider Faulkner University,” Henry said.

“We understand the importance of a higher Christian education for your sons and daughters, so while many institutions and businesses raise prices and raise rates, we will implement a freeze on our traditional tuition.”

Apply now at myfaulkner.org and become a part of the exciting changes on campus. Faulkner University is committed to training students in vocational ministry regardless of their choice of study. We understand how important it is to train young men and women to minister to others, serve their communities and become leaders wherever they go after graduation.

30

Faulkner Magazine

Several smiling children left the College of Health Sciences March 3, 2023 with their brand-new, customfitted adaptive tricycles donated by Montgomery River Region AMBUCS. These tricycles were fitted and given to their special needs patients after they took them for a whirl around the Health Science's Marceil Harrison Pediatric Gym. National AMBUCS, Inc. is a national 501 charitable organization with the mission of providing mobility and independence. They do this through providing Amtryke adaptive tricycles to those in need and provide educational scholarships to therapists.

Earlier that same day, AMBUCS provided students at the College of Health Sciences a seminar to teach them how to outfit adaptive tricycles to their patients and the proper use of these tricycles for therapy.

Lady Eagles Soar to SSAC Tournament Title Faulkner reached rarified air on February 25, 2023, winning its first conference title in the 13-year history of the women's basketball program. Doing so required snapping a six-game losing streak against Loyola, the team that entered the evening game having won eight consecutive SSAC tournament games as it sought its third straight title.

Faulkner executed its offense masterfully over the first three quarters of the game, building enough of a lead to survive a dreadful shooting period in the fourth on the way to a 67-55 victory and the right to cut down nets for the first time.

The Lady Eagles made 50 percent of their shots in the first, 35.3 percent in the second and 53.3 percent in the third to carry a 58-43 lead into the fourth quarter. From there, Loyola ratcheted up the pressure defensively to limit Faulkner to just 9.1 percent from the floor with an Angela Grant make accounting for the only field goal of the frame. Faulkner did enough at the free throw line to hang on, knocking down seven of 16 attempts to end the game.

The Lady Eagles asserted themselves early and often throughout the contest, trailing for less than four minutes and never by more than four points. A Jazmene McMillan layup with 7:17 left in the first quarter put Loyola up 8-4.

Summer Mission Trip Opportunity Are you interested in traveling to Africa this summer?

This overseas mission opportunity in Arusha, Tanzania is open not only for Bible majors, but for all undergraduate students at Faulkner. Go global and experience this (approximately) 10 day, life changing adventure in missions!

For more information contact Bible Professor Richard Trull, Ph. D., who is over the Missions Program, via rtrull@faulkner.edu, or scan the QR Code provided.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (ESV) 1 Peter 4:6

From there, Faulkner launched a 10-0 run to vault itself into the lead. A Grant layup and a Morgan Holland jumper tied the game with 5:48 remaining in the period. A layup by Nequoia Adams and two more by Holland put Faulkner ahead 14-8.

The occasion marks the first time since 2018 the Lady Eagles qualified for the national bracket.

Spring 2023

31

Mr. and Miss Faulkner l-r Molly Presnell and Peyton Osborn

the undergraduate department chairs and is the ideal candidate.

“I am so pleased Dr. Justin Bond will be serving as Interim Dean of the Harris College of Business after the tragic death of Dr. Khadanga. Justin has the experience, intellect, and character necessary to move our respected Business College forward during this important time,” President Mitch Henry.

Please keep Dr. Bond in your prayers as he transitions to this new chapter in his career leading the University’s College of Business and Executive Education.

Faulkner’s Offices of Advancement and Marketing Restructured

Seniors Peyton Osborn and Molly Presnell were selected as the 2023 Mr. and Miss Faulkner. Nominees included: Sarah Hardgrave, Crystal Klose, Erin Vansandt, Garrett Akins, Travis Armstrong and Grayson Plunkett.

This year, Faulkner University’s Office of Advancement experienced a strategic restructuring in order to separate the Office of Marketing, which now reports directly to the Office of the President.

With the restructuring, came new leadership and new appointments for each office.

Patrick Gregory began his new role as chief marketing officer on January 1, 2023 and oversees all marketing efforts of the university.

President Mitch Henry, center, announces the 2023 Mr. and Miss Faulkner. l-r Sarah Hargrave, Crystal Klose, Erin Vansandt, Molly Presnell, Peyton Osborn, Garrett Akins, Travis Armstrong, Grayson Plunkett

Justin Bond Named Interim Dean

Justin Bond

32

Faulkner Magazine

In the wake of the untimely and unfortunate passing of Dr. Dave Khadanga, Faulkner has appointed Dr. Justin Bond as the Interim Dean of the College of Business to serve out the rest of this fiscal year which ends May 31. Dr. Bond is a professor within the college, serves as one of

Gregory brought decades of real-world advertising and marketing experience to Patrick Gregory Faulkner when he was hired in 2014, and dedicated the last nine years to helping grow Faulkner’s adult and online programs as director of University Marketing.

Kasey Oakley

Kasey Oakley was promoted to chief information officer on January 1, 2023 and is responsible for the coordination of the information technology functions across the university.

He is charged with providing strategic and operational leadership throughout the enterprise in all aspects of

information technology planning that advances the Faulkner mission and facilitates the operation of the university.

decades and is a staunch supporter of Christian higher education.

Oakley brings decades of IT experience with him into this role, with his most recent experience working in the Education IT realm, helping schools throughout the nation with their Internet and network infrastructure planning and funding. Kasey will be in charge of leading our current IT team and working with each department within the university to optimize technology and business functions.

Donna Churchwell served in the university's department of Human Resources prior to starting her new role as the administrative assistant to the vice president of Advancement.

Wayne Baker

Dr. Wayne Baker, vice chancellor of Faulkner University, is now also serving as interim vice president of Advancement. He has been serving at Faulkner for many

Donna Churchwell

Karen Bruce

Lastly, Karen Bruce is coming from Faulkner Birmingham where she served as director and was highly involved and influential in the community and businesses in the larger Birmingham area. She will use her networking skills well in her new role as Advancement's annual gift officer.

Spring 2023

33

University’s 3rd President, E.R. Brannan Honored as 2023 Alumnus of the Year

by Rebecca Burylo

l-r Dr. Eulie R. Brannan and Faulkner President Mitch Henry

34

Faulkner Magazine

l-r Patric Watkins, Debbie (Brannan) Watkins, E.R. Brannan, Steve Brannan and Brenda Dutton Brannan

Fifty-two days after E.R. (Eulie) Brannan was born, the world spiraled into chaos. The crash of the stock market in 1929 made millions of Americans homeless and jobless. He and his family were among those who lost their livelihoods and moved in search of work to survive the decade-long Great Depression. It’s no surprise then that Brannan lived his life with grit, knew how to work hard from a young age, and was not deterred by hard times. With these values and his faith, Brannan would become one of the pillars of Alabama Christian College, now Faulkner University and served as the institution’s third president.

Brannan was honored during Faulkner’s 2023 Marketplace Faith Friday Forums as the Alumnus of the Year for his dedication and service to the university through the decades.

During those ten years after the Black Tuesday crash, Brannan’s father lost many jobs as he moved his family around Ohio looking for work. Finally defeated, they moved back to the family farm in Gold Ridge, Alabama, located east of Cullman County.

They stayed there until World War II when the economy turned around thanks to the boost in military manufacturing. His father found work in the Alabama

shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. Brannan, a young boy, was sent to Georgia Christian Academy, a boarding school in Dasher, Georgia.

It was always his mother’s wish for Brannan to become a preacher.

They eventually sent Brannan to Montgomery, Alabama so he could finish both his high school studies and begin his college courses at Montgomery Bible College.

He was under the impression that the school was a rich antebellum campus with white colonial buildings like Tara in the famous movie, Gone with the Wind on a rolling 27-acre plot. However, when Brannan arrived, he was in for a surprise.

“I took a bus from Mobile to Montgomery and then paid a taxi a dime to take me to 914 Ann Street since it was within city limits,” Brannan said. “We went up Court Street, turned on High Street and saw these beautiful homes. I couldn’t wait. But then Ann Street was a dirt road, the dust was flying and the car was bouncing when we pulled up to stop in front of 914 Ann Street. The driver said, ‘Sorry, I can’t drive up the driveway. It is washed out.’ So, I got out and walked up the drive to the school and Tara, it was not,” he said laughing. “We slept in bunks in the boy’s dormitories

Spring 2023

35

as president until March 1981. Leaving the college for nine years, he returned in 1990 to serve 14 years as special counsel to Faulkner President Billy Hilyer. Brannan retired in 2004 and then served as the associate minister for Madison Church of Christ for the next 13 years. He retired from there at age 87 and then began writing and has five of his books published.

“What I really enjoyed about my role as president at Alabama Christian was the students. They have always been my primary interest through the years,” Brannan said.

“Helping to make them the best they could be was the greatest reward.”

E. R. Brannan gives instruction as the dean of Alabama Christian in 1958

and the physical look of it was poor quality, but the teachers and the sacrifices they made, were some of the best instructors I ever had.”

As a student, Brannan was active on campus as editor of The Vision School Newspaper, was an Honor Student and was named Mr. MBC as a junior and Best All Around as a senior. It was here that he met his first wife, Merle Moore Brannan who later died on October 3, 1980. She was a favorite among students when Brannan returned to the school to teach and serve as president at Alabama Christian.

Brannan would later marry Willie Metta Brannan, who died in June 2012 and Louise Wright Brannan who passed away in September 2022.

He earned his associate’s degree in May 1947, five years after the school was founded in 1942. After graduation, Brannan transferred to Auburn University for two quarters and then to Huntingdon College where he received his bachelor’s degree in March 1949 and began teaching junior high classes at the Montgomery Bible School. “At that time, we couldn’t live on what the school paid us,” Brannan said. “Our salaries were about $700 for the year.”

He enrolled in graduate school at Auburn and graduated in 1953 with a Master’s degree and earned his doctorate in 1960. Through the years he was promoted to be the Alabama Christian high school principal and then assistant to the president, dean, vice president, finally becoming president in January 1973 and served

36

Faulkner Magazine

“When I was a student at Alabama Christian my desire was to be a preacher. Leonard Johnson asked me if I had ever considered teaching in a Christian school. He explained to me that teaching and preaching fit together like hand in glove when it came to furthering the Lord’s work,” he added.

“That changed my whole perspective, and I went from preaching to teaching to president.”

“It is hard not to feel indebted to Dr. Brannan,” Henry said. “We are forever grateful for what you’ve done for this university.”

Alumni News Jessica Sanders (‘04 & ‘07) has been appointed district judge for Autauga County’s 19th Circuit.

She serves as governmental affairs director for the Alabama Department of Education.

Jessica Sanders

1980’s Col. Steven E. Tindoll & family

Col. Steven E. Tindoll (‘88) was selected as the Deputy United States Property and Fiscal Officer (USPFO) for the State of Alabama in 2020.

He had previously served at the 187th Fighter Wing at Dannelly Field for 34 years. He lives with his wife, Caron, and two children, Audrey and Andrew in Deatsville.

1990’s Tim & Tammie Estes

Tim Estes is in his 28th year as the executive director of the Sumter County Parks & Recreation Department in Americus, GA and just launched a new podcast: The Integrity Sport Podcast. He also serves as one of the ministers at the Oasis Church of Christ.

Malinda Parker (‘96) was named the Jefferson County Commission’s finance director.

Michelle McDaniel (‘05) was named head of school at Emmanuel Christian School.

Michelle McDaniel

Matt Casey (‘06) was sworn into office as Shelby County’s new district attorney on Jan. 13, for Alabama’s 18th Judicial Circuit. Casey won the election in November 2022 and has been the acting district attorney since being appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey Matt Casey on Dec. 2.

Braden Pace

Katrina Hayden (‘07) teaches third grade and was chosen for Flowers Elementary’s Teacher of the Year award and has placed her application for the Alabama Teacher of the Year.

2000’s Russell Ball (‘01) was named the therapy services manager for Atmore Community Hospital.

Michell Ward (‘02) is joining the Troy Bank & Trust team as human resources director.

Braden Pace (‘07) and his wife Jenna welcomed their son Alden Nicholas Pace in May 2022, joining their daughter Aslyn. In October 2022, he became the technology and media outreach minister at the University Church of Christ in Montgomery, AL.

Katrina Hayden

Russell Ball

Spring 2023

37

Mike Segrest (‘08) became the new district attorney of Alabama’s 5th Judicial Circuit.

Mike Segrest

Bethany (Parker, ‘16) and Johnathan Goodrum (‘17) were married in December 2017. Their daughter, Elsie Gale, was born on April 1, 2022.

Bethany & Johnathan Goodrum

Kyle Carson (‘09) has accepted the position of high volume store manager with the SherwinWilliams Company.

Kyle Carson

Will (‘17) and Lacey (Sargent, ‘17) Phillips, had their first child, Noah Parker, born August 28, 2022. Steve (‘77) and Pat Phillips (current and former employees) and David (‘89) and Patrice (‘90) Sargent are proud grandparents.

Will & Lacey Phillips

Savannah (Burns, ‘17) and John Logan (‘15 & ‘22) Dockins welcomed a baby girl, Emma Jo, on October 20, 2022.

2010’s Anthony Maxie (‘10) was named one of 60 scholars who will form the Presidential Leadership Scholars’(PLS) eighth annual class.

Savannah, John, & Emma Jo Dockins Chauntye & Jeffrey Smith

Anthony Maxie

Darius and Brittany N. (Danner, ‘10) Forester were married on January 11, 2023. Brittany was hired as the director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at RxBenefits and joined the board of directors for the Norma Livingston Ovarian Brittany & Cancer Foundation.

Daniel Phipps (‘17) attended the FBI national academy and graduated on March 16th.

Darius Forester

Deana Perry (‘12) was sworn in as the Juvenile Court Associate Judge as Floyd County’s first Black judge.

Daniel Phipps Deana Perry

38

Faulkner Magazine

Chauntye (Marshall, ‘17) Smith married Jeffrey Smith on November 13, 2021. She completed her Masters from Phoenix University in 2021.

Serrah Brooke (Nichols, ‘18) Alexander married J.P. Alexander on December 18, 2021.

Megan & Jacob Smithson

Taylor Green

Taylor Green (‘18 & ‘20) accepted a job with the PreTrial Diversion Program of the Montgomery District Attorney’s Office.

Shan Julian

Auburn, Blaine & Marlowe Johanna Chason

Blaine and Auburn Chason (‘18) had their first child, Marlowe Johanna, on December 13, 2022.

They live in Mobile, AL, where Blaine is the youth minister at Creekwood Church of Christ.

Jake , Kristen & Kolsyn Blake Davis

Megan (Lee, ‘19) Smithson married Jacob Smithson on Sept 24, 2022. She recently returned to Faulkner University as an admissions counselor in July 2022.

Serrah & J.P. Alexander

Blake Levin

Blake Levin (‘19) joined BetMGM in 2022 and has since been promoted to the VIP Hospitality Team and was recognized as one of the top VIP reps for the company.

Donavon and Eliza (Norton, ‘19) Rillion welcome baby boy Peyton John, born January 10, 2023. He joins big brother Easton Cash.

Owen & Hannah Betts

Shan Julian (‘19 & ‘20) was welcomed by The Alabama Farmers Federation, where she will serve the organization’s 345,000 members through event planning and health insurance sales.

Jake (‘19) and Kristen D. Davis (‘19) welcomed a little girl, Kolsyn Blake Davis. Jake is currently working an entry level position at CMC Impact Metals in Pell City, AL.

2020’s Marista Otwell (‘20) is a recruiter/admissions counselor at Faulkner University’s Birmingham Center. She married Andrew Russell (‘19) in February 2022.

Andrew & Marista Russell

Owen (‘19) and Hannah (Temple, ‘19) Betts were married on January 14, 2023. Hannah completed her masters in occupational therapy at ASU in December 2022.

Nicholas Deveaux (‘20) accepted a job as the activities director of Eastdale Estates Retirement home in Montgomery, AL.

Nicholas Deveaux

Spring 2023

39

Brittany & Daniel Ballard

Brittany Merritt (‘20) married Daniel Ballard in 2019 and the couple resides in Santa Rosa Beach.

Jaycy & Jacob Till

Jaycy Till (Nail, ‘20 & ‘22) married Jacob Till on October 22, 2022. Jaycy works in the student accounts office at Faulkner.

Sydney & Sam Moore

Sam and Sydney (Watson, ‘22) Moore were married on Dec. 17, 2022.

Taylor Baker (‘22) was hired as a staff attorney for fellow Jones alum Sabrina L. McKinney (‘93), Chapter 13 and Chapter 12 Trustee for the Middle District of Alabama. Baker started work on February 1.

Taylor Baker

Travis Clark (‘22) is the 4th grade English and literature teacher at Pike Road Elementary.

Several of Faulkner’s law enforcement alumni who have careers at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations stationed in Alabama, reached milestones in their careers over the last year. Justin Bowlin (‘11), Waylon Hinkle (‘16) and Crystal Gregory (‘04) executed multiple human trafficking operations in Birmingham, Alabama during The World Games in 2022 that resulted in over 50 arrests and numerous victim rescues.

Richard Holston (‘09) and Gregory traveled to Republic of Georgia in November 2022 at the request of the U.S. Department of State to educate foreign law

40

Faulkner Magazine

enforcement on victim-centered, trauma-informed investigations in human trafficking investigations.

Michael Morrow (‘10 & ‘12), Holston and Gregory worked the first sex trafficking case of its kind in Alabama that received a conviction and sentence of sixty years in federal prison in December 2022.

Bowlin and Gregory traveled to Washington, DC in January 2023 to be awarded the inaugural Outstanding Victim Protection In Countering Human Trafficking presented by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas.

In Memory “Dr. Khadanga was a fixture and stalwart at Faulkner University and his untimely passing has left our community in shock. He served as dean of the College of Business for almost four decades and under his leadership, it remained the financial pillar of our institution. The introduction of executive undergraduate degree programs in the late 1980s, the university’s first master’s program in the late 1990s, and online graduate and undergraduate degrees in the early 2010s are among a few of his notable achievements.

The college presently offers a robust slate of traditional undergraduate programs as well as both undergraduate and graduate executive programs and constitutes over 25% of the university’s total enrollment. He leaves an indelible mark on the university and was a dear friend and colleague. The Faulkner story cannot be told without him and he will be sorely missed.” ~ Dr. Dave Rampersad

Dr. Dave Khadanga

Dr. Dave Khadanga, 64, of Montgomery, dean of the Harris College of Business died on March 19, 2023.

Please lift up his wife, Dr. Rosie Khadanga (longserving Faulkner faculty member) and their daughter, Dr. Sherrie Khadanga in your prayers.

Louis “Lou” Harris, 80, of Mathews, Alabama, died December 20, 2022. Harris was in the Navy for four years and served as an FBI special agent for 25 years.

“Dr. Dave Khadanga and Dr. Rosie Khadanga are dearly loved by the Faulkner family. Their work together has touched many lives. We all grieve for Rosie and her entire family because of this tragic and unexpected loss. Dr. Dave Khadanga's faith in Jesus Christ gives us assurance and hope that arises from the resurrection.

Our prayers continue for this good family and all those who are touched by his passing.” ~ President Mitch Henry Lou Harris

Harris was passionate about education. As a tenured professor for 24 years at Faulkner Lou Harris University, Harris was the founder and former director of the department of Criminal Justice. He was an instructor for the Alabama Police Academy and for the Crime Prevention Clearing House, and he directed the development of the major in criminal justice at Huntingdon College.

Harris was a member of the Alabama Sentencing Commission and a co-founder and board president for the Institute for Criminal Justice Education.

Spring 2023

41

In Memory Philip Leonard Hood (‘95), 54, of Jasper, Alabama, passed away on Dec. 12, 2022.

Dr. E.L. Perry, Jr., 83, of San Antonio, Texas, died January 30, 2023.

Perry taught at Faulkner University beginning in August 2001.

John Broam (‘12), 32, of Athens, Alabama, passed on December 2, 2022. He leaves behind his wife Abbie Melvin Broam (‘12 & ‘16) as well as a two-year-old son, Parker, and a daughter, Palmer.

William “Perry” Lucas, 84, of Mobile, AL, died December 24, 2022. Lucas was a former director of Faulkner University’s center in Mobile.

Dr. E.L. Perry, Jr.

In 2014, he relocated to Texas but continued to teach online as a lecturer until May 2019.

Walt Spiro, 95, of Montgomery, died on December 23, 2022. Spiro was an educational counselor in the Talent Search program at Faulkner from 1991 - 2012.

A L U M N I

A L U M N I

Do you or someone you know have news to be included in the next edition of the Faulkner Magazine? Send updates and photos to Robin "Bird" Bradford at rbradford@faulkner.edu.

42

Faulkner Magazine

Supporter Spotlight: Jerry and Margaret Humphries Six Decades of Love Through Ministry Spring 2023

by Margaret Humphries and Rebecca Burylo43

Margaret and Jerry Humphries stand among mission workers during one of their campaigns to Barbados in 1984

When Jerry Humphries came to Montgomery to attend Alabama Christian College (ACC), now Faulkner University, he was adamant he would not become a preacher like his brother. The Lord had different plans and with the help of college friends and a prayerful wife, Jerry would set out on a mission of ministry that spanned 63 years of his life.

Although Jerry passed away on May 16, 2022, his wife Margaret, an Alabama Christian graduate, shares their story of ministry together.

“Jerry and I had a wonderful 63 and ½ years journey working in numerous ways to build up God’s Kingdom.

I am so thankful to our Savior and God for bringing us together and for all the ways we were greatly blessed,” Margaret said. “Yes, we had valleys but we learned to climb the mountains and grow stronger from the experience with much help from God. Jerry won his victory, May 16, 2022. We appreciate so much the legacy, strength and confidence he left us with and look forward to seeing him again.”

Margaret was only 11 years old when her mother

44

Faulkner Magazine

died. She moved to Montgomery to be with her older brother and two sisters, who were enrolled at Alabama Christian and she finished high school there.

It was during this time in summer of 1957 that Jerry began attending Alabama Christian College (ACC).

Jerry, born in Cullman County, Alabama, in 1938, left home after high school and went with a friend to Flint, Michigan to work for General Motors. It wasn’t long before he was laid off and his mother and his brother Ray encouraged Jerry to attend ACC. Jerry moved to Montgomery to enroll in the fall semester, but made it clear he would not become a preacher and would instead major in business.

“Jerry was so grateful to all the people who influenced him to enroll in ACC. It changed the direction of his life. He especially appreciated his brother, Ray who came to Montgomery with his family. Ray and his wife Joan became house parents for the boys’ dorm so Jerry felt he had a part of home there with him,” Margaret said. “His new friends, who were studying to be preachers at ACC were also a big influence on him.

It wasn’t long till he was joining some of his friends,

Several people were baptized in the Caribbean Sea during one of the Humphries’ campaigns to the Dominican Republic in 1982

full-time preacher. They began visiting with the people and soon began Bible studies. God blessed the work and people began to demonstrate their faith and be baptized. Also, many members rededicated their lives to Christ.

“I was always Jerry’s helper when he needed me.

I participated in ministries of churches where we worshiped and I taught classes for children, teenage girls and women and spoke for Women’s Days,” Margaret said.

Jerry and Margaret worked with six other churches full time including, Norfolk Highlands church in Norfolk, Virginia and Shurlington church in Macon, Georgia and four churches in Alabama.

who were preaching for small churches on Sundays.

He decided he would like to try preaching, changed his major and started preaching at the age of 20.”

Jerry and Margaret met on a chorus trip to Opelika, Alabama. Jerry was 20 years old and Margaret, who was still in high school, was 16. Even at that young age, they knew they wanted to share a life together. It was always Margaret’s dream to marry a preacher.

“Jerry and I met quite accidentally on a chorus trip to Opelika,” Margaret said. “We sat together on the bus that night going back to Montgomery, with no idea we were beginning a life long journey together. We soon became friends and sweethearts.”

Jerry and Margaret married on December 18, 1958.

Jerry graduated from ACC and Margaret graduated from Alabama Christian High School in the spring of 1959.

While working with the Shurlington church, the Humphries first son, Alan was born in 1964. A year later, they moved to Cullman, Alabama and began work with the East Cullman church.

“From the time Jerry started preaching full time he had been preaching in a few gospel meetings and the number continued to increase and he was getting many more invitations each year,” Margaret said. “Jerry was always looking for better ways to save souls and grow the kingdom. He presented his plan to preach in meetings full time and resigned as full-time preacher.

The church elders asked him where he was going to get the money. Jerry said, ‘God will provide.’ Jerry was never very concerned about money. He never set a price for an eldership, school administration or board to pay him. He told them to pay him what they thought they should. God is good and He does provide.”

“Many times in life, bad things that happen to us bring us the greatest blessings,” Margaret said. “I feel that God used, my mother’s death and Jerry’s loss of a job, to bring us together to help grow the Kingdom. If all these people had not loved us enough, to inject themselves into our lives, Jerry and I probably would not have ever met.”

They left Montgomery in the summer of 1959 and went to work full time with Hamilton Cross Roads church of Christ in Brundidge, Alabama.

This was a new beginning for the church as well as for the Humphries. They had never had a full-time preacher and Jerry had never been a

Margaret teaches a Women’s Seminar in Kiev, Ukraine in 2000

Spring 2023

45

Jerry and Margaret pose during their first foreign campaign to Arima,Trinidad in 1974

“The people became very involved, we ran 9 buses and God blessed the work and the attendance increased to about 600 on Sunday morning,” Margaret said. “Jerry was still looking for other ways to do God’s work and save more souls and while we were still working with the Hobbs St. church, he became interested in leading campaigns and training Christians to work in campaigns.”

In 1974, Jerry led his first foreign campaign to Arima, Trinidad. About thirty workers joined them to help teach Bible studies and Jerry spoke each night in an open-air facility. He and Margaret were there two weeks before another group took over. Altogether, nearly 200 people were baptized.

Soon after the Arima mission, Jerry resigned from the Hobbs St. church and began training groups to work in missions leading many trips in this country and several foreign countries. He also continued preaching in meetings. During this time, he wrote “Why the Bible Was Written,” a booklet designed to teach one person or small groups the gospel in about 1-2 hours. It has since been translated into Spanish, Chinese, and Russian.

Jerry began in full-time meeting work in the spring of 1967 at age 29. Later that year, their second son, Steve was born and in 1968 their third son, Mark was born.

About that time, Jerry was approached about helping start a school in Florence, Alabama to train preachers and other Christian workers. After prayer and consideration, he accepted and their family moved to Florence in December of 1969.

The school was called International Bible College (IBC) and opened in 1970. Jerry served as vice president, taught evangelism, speech, Bible, and world religions and preached part time for several churches in the area.

“By his mid-thirties, Jerry was known as one of the most used and outstanding speakers in our fellowship,” Margaret said. “God blessed him with the gift of preaching and he loved to study, preach the word, conduct private Bible studies and help people be saved.”

Two years into working at the Bible college, Jerry preached in a meeting at Hobbs St. church in Athens, Alabama. They asked Jerry to preach there full time, and again after prayer and much thought, he agreed to preach and help them rebuild their diminishing congregation.

46

Faulkner Magazine

“We have had feedback, from many including some of Jerry’s students from IBC who have used it for years, telling of their successes and thanking him for writing and making it available,” Margaret said. “We have no way of knowing how many thousands have learned the gospel from someone caring and sharing that little booklet.”

In the spring of 1976 Jerry was asked to come back to IBC and they moved back to Florence in early June of that year. He taught as well as coordinated, led and preached in many of the IBC missions.

Their mission work that summer took them to Cumberland Maryland; Franklin, Pennsylvania; Mount Vernon, Indiana and Flushing, Michigan before heading south to Thomason, Georgia and Kissimmee, Florida to finish out the summer.

“We had no idea what all God had planned for that journey but He caused some great everlasting things to happen,” Margaret said. “It was a great experience for about 30-35 campaigners and the many lives God touched. Sixty-eight obeyed the gospel and 152 Christians confessed wrongs or rededicated their lives.

As He promised, God is always working in Christian’s lives and we give him all the glory.”

In 1983 Jerry made a major ministry change. He saw a great need in the local church for training elders, deacons, Bible class teachers, ministry leaders and to help all members find their God-given abilities, build confidence and use their gifts. The plan was to have seminars in which Jerry and other men would teach combined classes and special classes for men. Margaret and other women would teach special classes for women and their three sons helped put together lessons and prepare mailings.

They named the seminars, “Leadership and Church Growth International” and it spanned 47 states and 50 foreign countries, with in-person seminars. Another 20 countries received free materials. Their work ended there in 2017 after 35 years because of Jerry’s failing health.

From the start of their ministry to 1982, more than 11,000 people had responded to the invitation with 2,200 of those resulting in baptisms.

“Jerry was not boastful about any of his accomplishments but always gave God the credit. I share those numbers to encourage younger preachers to dream big and act on those dreams,” Margaret said.

“I am grateful to Jerry for many things but especially for starting ministries without proper funding and at times contributing more than I felt we could afford. It was sometimes scary for me, but that is one way He helped me grow my faith. God always took care of us.

That is what faith is –trusting God to see you through when you can’t see the way.”

Jerry teaches a seminar in Donetsk, Ukraine in 1994

Spring 2023

47

JAMBOREE 2023

48

Faulkner Magazine

Spring 2023

49

50

Faulkner Magazine