The Journey Magazine | Spring 2023

THE LORD’S GYM

TRAINER RASHEED TERRY SHARES JESUS EVERYDAY

TWO CONTINENTS ONE MISSION

DR. SAM’S PASSION AND PURPOSE NEVER CHANGED FROM

ROCK BOTTOM TO THE SOLID ROCK

JESUS CONQUERED SANDI COOPER’S ADDICTION

Faithful & Courageous I

’LL ADMIT THAT I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING REALLY SIGNIFICANT. Haven’t we all? You know, like win a championship game, write a best-selling book or a chart-topping song, be a nationally recognized hero, or even discover a cure for cancer?

But the thing is, all these accomplishments come about by taking action in the best way at just the right moment because of a unique opportunity or skill. In this issue of The Journey magazine, you’ll read about truly great people whom God is working through in amazing ways to impact untold hundreds and thousands. These people—who’ve studied or served (both, in some cases) at Grace—are great because of their daily faithful commitment to obey God and show up. They’ve held in the highest regard their responsibility to serve Christ right where He has called them, wherever that may be. It wasn’t a singular task or accomplishment that made them great. It was an unwavering drive to show up again and again and again and thus impact whoever God put in their path each day, impacting countless lives and even generations by their grace and love for the Lord.

These are some of my heroes! Beverly Wallace, Linda Siler, Dr. Jim Webb, Dr. Sam Vinton. All gracious and smart, but none has widespread fame and notoriety. Each one meets God’s requirement and desire for our lives, even while so many fall short: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2, NIV). These heroes’ stories show their faithfulness— and God’s as the giver of grace. He entrusts each of us with talent, time, and resources to use for His glory. These stories highlight the faithful ones who make Grace Christian University a place used by God to fulfill our mission: Graduating courageous ambassadors for Christ who make an eternal impact wherever they go.

Gratefully,

Ken Bruce Kemper President

THE JOURNEY | SPRING 2023

President | Dr. Ken Kemper ’85

Managing Editor | Emily Gehman

Photography | Darrell Goemaat, Meghan Bradley

Graphic Design | Tim Peters

Writers | Sarah Cross ’24, Rob Kilgo ’21 Haley Forbes ’23, David Turner

Archive Photos | Erinn Heubner

Advancement & Alumni | Ami Walker, Emily Lazor

This issue is dedicated to the courageous ambassadors who march forth with faith amid uncertainty. We borrow their courage and lend it to those behind us in grateful appreciation to the God who gives these good gifts.

GRACECHRISTIAN.EDU

Rasheed Terry ’22 went from homelessness and hard times to college graduate, rescue mission discipleship coordinator and gym owner whose goal is to share the Gospel every day. Read his story on pages 6-9.

©2023 Grace Christian University

All Rights Reserved

Photo by Meghan Bradley

LEFT

BELOW

Rasheed Terry finished a B.S. in Leadership & Ministry entirely online.

6 18

20 21

Sandi

Last Hangover

Sandi

Bev Wallace’s signature smile has been around Grace for more than 50 years! 4 6 10 14 16 18 22 12

Happy 20th Anniversary, President Kemper

President Kemper becomes the longest-serving current college president in West Michigan!

From Physical Fitness to Spiritual Life

Rasheed Terry’s passion for physical fitness training became his mission field for sharing spiritual life.

Dr. Sam’s Lifelong Purpose

Grace’s living legend, Dr. Samuel R. Vinton, Jr., celebrates 90 years of God’s grace.

Registrar Extraordinaire Linda Siler

A teacher at heart, Linda Siler helped Grace students solve their college career puzzles one piece at a time.

Super Fan Bev Wallace

A 2011 Grace Tigers Hall of Fame inductee, Bev Wallace has always been a fan of Grace students.

Big Dreams, Bigger God

Here’s where we’ve been, how we’re doing, and where we’re going!

Congrats To…

2022 Alumni Award Recipients and the Class of 2022!

Mulonge Kalumbula: A Passion for Students

Middle school assistant principal Mulonge realized his passion for students when he was in med school.

Jim Webb: That’s Just Jim In remembrance of Jim Webb, 1942–2022.

RIGHT Sandi Cooper shares her story.

ABOVE Linda Siler and Linda Holton are “The Lindas.”

BY DAVID TURNER

IN 2003, KEN ’85 AND KATHY ’84 KEMPER WERE HAPPILY SERVING AS MISSIONARIES IN TANZANIA, AFRICA.

“We viewed mission work as our life’s calling. It was very fulfilling,” President Kemper says. “We raised our kids in Africa, and my youngest daughter is still in Africa working as a missionary.”

But then a new mission appeared on the western horizon: Grace Christian University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On February 1, 2023, Grace celebrated President Kemper’s 20th year of service, making him the longest-serving current college president in West Michigan. Only two other colleges in the state boast longer-serving current presidents.

Kemper was not new to Grace— both Ken and Kathy graduated from then Grace Bible College—and Kemper’s father, Bruce Kemper, served as president just prior to Ken taking the helm. As a student, Ken was a standout basketball player and was inducted into the Tigers’ Hall of Fame in 2010.

Initially, Kemper was only helping Grace find potential candidates to succeed his father.

“To my surprise, I was told that I was on their ‘short list’ of candidates. It wasn’t something we were considering–I was a missionary, not an educator,” Kemper says. “When the offer came, we prayerfully considered it and felt that the Lord was asking us to make Grace our next mission.”

Under his tenure, Grace Bible College grew from 145 students to more than 1,000 students on campus and online, added graduate studies, became Grace Christian University, and in 2022, opened the

Grace Townhomes residence hall.

“Ken has taught, trained, and equipped courageous ambassadors for Christ,” Board Chairperson Gretchen Johnson says. “Because of Ken’s leadership and vision, our graduates are equipped to serve the needs of church and society.”

“One of the things I’m proudest of is the dynamic and high-functioning Board of Directors here at Grace,” President Kemper says. “We’ve built an active, vibrant culture. The Board knows and understands our mission to change the world through higher education.”

Grace Christian University has been a part of the Wyoming, Michigan community since the early 1960s. Mayor Ken Vanderwood says the city celebrates this anniversary, too.

“We’re so thankful for the partnership President Kemper encourages with the City of Wyoming, its staff, and residents. The city wishes him a happy anniversary and looks forward to continuing our partnership for years to come.”

President Kemper plans on continuing this mission.

“Our goal at Grace Christian is commitment to preparing the leaders of tomorrow to be courageous ambassadors for Christ … educationally, socially, physically, and spiritually in their life and work endeavors post-college. I’m excited to carry on this important work.” ■

David Turner is the Director of Marketing at Grace Christian University.

Rasheed Terry

FROM PHYSICAL FITNESS TO SPIRITUAL LIFE

BY SARAH CROSS ’24

GRACE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

GOD

RASHEED TERRY ’22 SAYS HE WASN’T ANTI-GOD.

“But I was a potty mouth. I listened to whatever I wanted to. I didn’t respect anybody. I just had no respect; I rejected Him in that way.”

And he had no plans to change any of that.

AROUND THE WORLD AND BACK

Rasheed Terry was born in Queens, New York, and raised in Brooklyn. After two years in college, he spent 11 years in the US Army, having served two tours of duty overseas. A partying, drinking, and unhealthy eating lifestyle caught up with him, and he was honorably discharged. Rasheed and his wife, Michelle, passionate about health and fitness, moved to Orange County, California, to open Point Target Fitness. But their dream was short-lived; after only a year of building the business, they ran into financial trouble and found themselves homeless. Rasheed, Michelle, and their 13-year-old son spent some time in hotels, but eventually they moved into the gym, with no heat, no shower, no kitchen.

“This is where doubt and depression began to set in,” Rasheed said in an interview with VoyageLA.com. “We had no idea how much God had his hand over our lives.”

God was at work. They survived the winter, and worked long hours to dig themselves out of the financial mess they were in. They spent three years living in their own gym before finding an opportunity to manage an apartment complex and live there. Life was back on track. Then sorrow struck.

AN UNLIKELY ALTAR

When a close family member died suddenly, it hit them hard.

“We were really broken from it,” Rasheed says. “It was just out of nowhere. We saw him one week and he was fine. Next week, he was gone.”

But it was there, at that funeral—perhaps the last place anyone would ever expect joy and excitement to run rampant—they were

I JUST WANT TO SERVE

THE BEST WAY I CAN, AND LEARN AS MUCH AS I CAN.

captivated by a message.

“I’d never heard the Gospel spoken about in that way,” Rasheed says. “I don’t even remember if I’d ever heard the Gospel.”

After the service, Rasheed and Michelle had dinner with the preacher and his wife, who didn’t pressure them for a response to the Gospel.

“They just ministered to us, and man, it made such an impact,” Rasheed says. “The very next week we went to church and we ran to that altar.”

The Gospel changed everything. Suddenly, they were eager for more. So they found a church, engaged in discipleship, and discovered a preacher online who they like to call “Bible Study John.” Rasheed wanted to learn and become competent in spiritual truth and Bible study, and he began to build his spiritual life with the same rigor and determination as he did his physical regimen.

“I was just so hungry for the Lord, so overzealous,” Rasheed says. “I just want to serve God the best way I can, and learn as much as I can.”

FINDING GRACE

A Google search led him to Grace Christian University, and after a phone call with admissions, Rasheed decided Grace was the place for him: he would attend online, meanwhile continuing to build Point Target Fitness. And though now he definitely wasn’t anti-God, he was “anti-reading and anti-writing.” But not for long.

“Grace taught me how to love school,” Rasheed says. “Grace helped me develop great writing skills, which is something I never did. I was never good at putting my

thoughts on paper.”

But Rasheed grew to love writing—so much so that he recently completed a manuscript for a book about spiritual health and fitness. He finished a bachelor’s degree in leadership and ministry in the fall of 2022, and now, Point Target Fitness isn’t just a gym or a business, it’s a ministry.

“As Christians, we now have the tools to give them something that provides life,” Rasheed says. “It’s not forcing it down their throat; it’s conversation and opening them up to the idea that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He saves the lost.”

A TRANSFORMED HEART, LIFE, BUSINESS

Now, Rasheed and Michelle are outspoken Christian business owners, and they’ve seen God change the lives of their clients just like He changed their own lives. One client, who knew the Terrys before they were Christians, noticed the radical transformation. And on the last day of her ten-session package, she wanted to become a Christian, too.

On top of running the business, praying for clients, writing a book about spiritual fitness, and sharing

Jesus and joy on Instagram, Rasheed also ministers through Union Rescue Mission. He focuses on Los Angeles’ Skid Row, a large homeless population. Rasheed knows what it’s like to jump from hotel to hotel and live without essentials. His past homelessness wasn’t just something he had to overcome, but rather a tool to help serve others.

“If it wasn’t for Grace and the people that just poured into me, I wouldn’t have the confidence to even do half the stuff I’m doing right now.”

Although Rasheed was never anti-God, today he’s more outspoken than ever. Using his gym-turned-ministry and social media platforms, Rasheed’s mission is to “make sure the Gospel goes forth every day.” ■

SCAN TO VISIT RASHEED’S INSTAGRAM

Sarah Cross ’24 is a student in the communication program and a freelance writer and editor.

IT’S NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE DR. SAMUEL R. VINTON, JR. ’55 JOGGING ACROSS CAMPUS—even in the middle of a cold Grand Rapids winter—or talking to students in the Commons and eating lunch with them in the cafeteria. Dr. Sam celebrated his 90th birthday this year, and while his nine decades have included multiple continents and ministries, it never really matters where Dr. Sam lives or works; his heart for people remains steadfast.

CAUGHT, NOT TAUGHT

Samuel R. Vinton, Sr., arrived in Africa in 1928 to evangelize and start churches, but he soon saw an ever-increasing need for medical care. So he decided he needed to add medical work to his evangelistic focus. He first went to Paris to learn French, and then to Belgium where, sponsored by the Belgian government, he studied tropical

LIFELONG PURPOSE Dr. Sam’s

BY SARAH CROSS ’24

medicine. After his internship in the Congo, he married a fellow missionary, Marie Mikula, and then went to Kama, Congo. The medical center he opened there still exists.

In March 1933, Marie knew she had an anything-but-normal journey ahead when she was pregnant with her first child. At that time, the closest hospital was a nearly twoweek trek. First there was a ten-day trip through the forest riding in a tipoy, a hammock carried by four men. Then a five-hour train ride followed by 50 miles in a Model T to the Methodist Mission hospital in Tunda.

“I bounced for ten days in my mother,” Dr. Sam says with a laugh.

It’s the story he tells when people ask about his animated preaching style—but of course, it’s not the only trait he caught from his parents. The Vintons, committed to meeting Africans’ physical and spiritual needs, quickly became known as Baba and Mama Vi.

“When I hear my dad’s story,

about his concern for people, it became part of who I feel I am … they didn’t teach it; I saw it.”

THE POWER OF MENTORSHIP

By 16, Sam had traveled to America with his two younger brothers to spend a couple years with their grandparents. When he returned to Africa, Sam met Chris and Edna Mae Egemeier, who had joined the Vintons’ ministry in Congo to lead evangelistic and Bible teaching engagements in village churches. Chris was among those who had started Youth for Christ in Chicago, so, naturally, he took an interest in 16-year-old Sam. Over the next two years, Chris involved him in their ministry, having him lead music, give testimonies, and even preach to over 200 young men and women.

“Without me really knowing it, Chris began to mentor me,” Dr. Sam wrote in a 2014 issue of Truth

Magazine. “I thank God that He privileged me to have had what I call ‘the mentor par excellence.’”

Dr. Sam credits the Egemeiers for teaching him not only the practical side of missionary work, but also the fun side—and how to build relationships in the community. Combining the things he “caught” from his parents, the skills the Egemeiers taught him, and God’s call and leading, Dr. Sam knew he was headed for ministry. At 18, he left Africa, bound for Milwaukee Bible Institute—but planning to return to the mission field. After his 1955 graduation and Grace Gospel Fellowship ordination, he married Becky Stringfellow, who he’d met at Milwaukee Bible College. The two shared a heart for missions and ministry.

“She said, ‘Well, the first time I saw you … I said, “well, maybe that’s the way I’m gonna get to Africa!”’” Dr. Sam says.

Soon after the wedding, they left for a life of missions. After a quick French language course in Belgium, they arrived in Congo, Central Africa in 1956. Right away, because he knew Swahili, Dr. Sam began teaching and directing the Kama Bible Institute and the Kama Pastors School, which he founded in 1957. During the last six years of their 21-year ministry in Congo, he was asked to lead the Swahili Bible translation committee. The Vintons raised their children, Bill and Debbie, in Congo, and survived seasons of unstable political conditions.

“We went through a couple of rebellions. Twice, our house was completely looted, and we lost everything,” Dr. Sam says. “But this is where we felt the Lord had called us.”

AFTER AFRICA

In 1976, the Vintons moved to America when Dr. Sam accepted a position at their alma mater—which had since moved from Milwaukee, WI, to Grand Rapids, MI, and became Grace Bible College. The timing was perfect for both Bill and Debbie to be students in his classroom, and Becky finished a B.R.E., graduating alongside Debbie. Dr. Sam taught missions and theology, all while earning an M.R.E. and an M.Div. at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a D.Miss. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Along with his teaching, he also served for two years as academic dean, then spent five years as president. In his tenure, Grace Bible College achieved regional accreditation which was instrumental for future development.

“But the idea of spending my time in administration and listening to all these government reports and so forth, that really is not me,” Dr. Sam says. “I’m either teaching or doing what I did in the mission.”

So in 1990, he was invited to become the executive director of Grace Ministries International (GMI).

“Our love for missions, our experience in Africa, and my doctoral studies in missions caused us to move into that ministry with the assurance that this was where God was calling us,” Dr. Sam wrote in a 2015 blog.

After over 50 years in full-time missions, ministry, and education, Dr. Sam officially retired in 2012— only to continue teaching part-time as an adjunct. GMI awarded him the status of Executive Director Emeritus in 2012, and in 2019, he became President Emeritus of Grace Christian University.

Even in the midst of the highs, Dr. Sam has seen some low moments. Becky passed away unexpectedly in 2021 after their 66-year marriage and ministry together. Through the sorrow, Dr. Sam courageously continues his ministry across the Grace campus: teaching, caring, encouraging, preaching, and, yes, jogging.

Born to courageous parents— who trekked on foot and by hammock to give birth in a foreign land—and mentored by courageous ministers, Dr. Samuel R. Vinton, Jr. is a full picture of what it means to be a courageous ambassador for Christ. And while his syllabus doesn’t explicitly detail courage and faithfulness, his life shows it, and the Grace community is catching on and honoring him for it.

“Why do I deserve this?” Dr. Sam wonders. “God’s grace. I can’t claim I deserve it.” ■

Sarah Cross ’24 is a student in the communication program and a freelance writer and editor.

DR. SAM BECAME PRESIDENT EMERITUS IN 2019

Sandi Cooper’s

LAST HANGOVER

BY EMILY GEHMAN

SANDI COOPER ’24 PACES THE FLOOR WITH A XANAX® IN HER HAND, talking herself out of the worst panic attack she’s ever had. And she’s too drunk to fall asleep.

She gets no help from her boyfriend, who is too drunk to wake up. Her brother, barely helpful, suggests a pill that might be dangerous with alcohol. After six hours of panic, desperate and exhausted, Sandi kneels.

“I’ve heard that you’re out there,” she prays. “I don’t know how any of this works, but I can’t live like this anymore.”

ALL SHE KNEW

“I can’t even tell you the first time I did drugs,” Sandi says today. “They were just always there.”

Sandi’s earliest memories are of sitting on bikers’ laps at her stepfather’s motorcycle club parties, with beer and marijuana everywhere. Once she caught her mom snorting a line. Adults gave her joints when she was as young as 10. Harder drugs like cocaine were easy to get.

“A friend just knew somebody who knew somebody,” Sandi says. “I dabbled in smoking and drinking, marijuana—pretty much anything.”

As a preteen, Sandi became the primary caregiver for her mom, who had emphysema. Two weeks before Sandi turned 16, her mom died from a healthcare error. That’s when Sandi says she went “completely off the rails.”

“There was nothing that was bringing me joy or happiness, so I was trying to find it in any substance I could ... trying to fill the void where God was supposed to be.”

SANDI AND HER SON, AIDEN

TWELVE YEARS LATER

Over the next dozen years, Sandi went in and out of addiction, homelessness, and despair. Her boyfriend “literally took the pipes out of the downstairs bathroom to sell the copper in order to buy drugs.” They had two children together, and other than her pregnancy, she had never been sober. Alcohol, pills, heroin, meth—anything.

Finally, living in a barn in the dead of a New Hampshire winter and waking to the sound of neighbors killing chickens, Sandi decided it was time to get clean. Her boyfriend “was not a fan of that,” but drove her to Howard City, Michigan where she could stay with her brother. His best friend was a Christian who spoke about Jesus in simple, kind, and nonjudgmental ways.

“Chris knew that I took advantage of his kindness ... and he still loved me. So I knew Jesus’ behavior and I knew a little about who He was.”

Clean from drugs but still a functioning alcoholic, Sandi tried to talk herself out of her frenzied panic attack. Six hours later, spent, hopeless, and holding a pill she knew she couldn’t take, she kneels. A last resort.

“I’ve heard that you’re out there,” she prays. “I don’t know how any of this works, but I can’t live like this anymore. Please take it away.”

For the first time ever, Sandi felt relief.

“From my head to my feet, I was filled with so much calm, warmth, relaxation, and love ... There was somebody with me that said, ‘Okay, I’ll take this from you.’”

HELP AND HOPE

Today, Sandi helps women in recovery at Our Hope Association, a residential home-like long-term treatment center for women in Grand Rapids. Sandi plans to open a rehab center for families like hers, who need help, hope, and God’s unconditional love. She never considered college—or Grace Christian University—until Grace was, oddly, the only option in a dropdown menu on a financial aid website. Within three weeks, she was enrolled, funded, and sharpening her pencils for the

fall semester. Studying in the 4+1 program, Sandi will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in social sciences and a master’s degree shortly thereafter.

“God moved mountains and put me right where I needed to be,” Sandi says. “Every single person I have met in this organization—student, faculty, staff, library, kitchen worker— there’s a smile, so much kindness, and genuine care.” ■

BEEN GIVEN

TOOL TO

SCAN TO WATCH SANDI TELL HER WHOLE

I’VE

EVERY

Emily Gehman is a Grace faculty member and managing editor of The Journey

LINDA SILER ’67 TRIED TO AVOID GOING TO GRACE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY. TWICE.

She grew up in Grand Rapids and graduated from Grandville High School in 1964. As a student in the youth group at Berean Bible Church (now Rush Creek), where the youth leaders were students at the new Bible college campus on Aldon Street, she was familiar with Grace. But when it came time for the college decision,

“I did not want to come to Grace.”

Too familiar, maybe. And Linda knew she wanted a teaching degree—which she couldn’t get at Grace. So she went to Grand Rapids Community College for one year.

“And then I said, ‘No, I need to be at Grace.’”

That was the first time she didn’t want to go to Grace.

HEADED FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

“My parents said I lined up all my dolls and all the stuffed animals in

the house and taught to them.”

For Linda, there seemed to be no other option than teaching. Her parents were involved in various ministries at Berean Bible Church. Her dad was Sunday School Superintendent, and her mom was in charge of the nursery and two-year-olds; Linda was always involved with the kids. And she was happy with that plan.

“I want to be with preschoolers and elementary kids,” Linda says. “That’s where I feel I fit best.”

Linda earned an A.R.E. at Grace and then pursued a teaching certificate at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. The personal experience would prove extremely helpful for her future role at Grace—though she did not see herself returning to Grace or working with college students.

THE WINDING ROAD TO GRACE

During the summers, Linda worked at Grace Youth Camp (now Grace Adventures) and there, she connected with a church singing group from Chrisman, Illinois. They

invited her to Illinois to sing with them, so she did, turning down a contract with Grand Rapids Public Schools. She moved to Chrisman, Illinois, and got a job teaching first grade at a growing school where for one year, her first grade classroom was in the high school wing.

“I’d come in some mornings and high school students would be sitting in my desks, holding a child on their lap,” Linda says. “So maybe that prepared me a little bit for working with college students.”

Five years later, it was time to return to Grand Rapids. But not to Grace—Linda still had no plans to work at Grace.

Instead, she took a oneyear position as the director of Kentwood Christian Child Care Center, while earning a master’s degree in early childhood at Western Michigan University. One year stretched to a dozen, making Linda the longest-serving director at KCCCC. Her team cared for about 200 kids a day, from 2 to 12 years old, serving six different school districts and providing before- and after-school programs and even summer activities for local families.

Linda loved it.

Until the church that ran the daycare hired a new associate pastor with daycare experience. They asked Linda if she’d “consider finding another job.”

All this time, Evlyne Beyer, Grace registrar, Linda’s previous professor and now good friend, was planning to retire soon, and had Linda picked out as her replacement.

“She just kept saying, ‘Linda, I really want you to take my place.’”

But Linda said no. She didn’t want to work with college students. She didn’t like being up in front of adults. She just wanted to be with children.

Instead, Linda got a job as Associate Sales Manager at Jonathan & David, Inc. She loved it— her organizational skills fit the bill perfectly. Until two years later, when the company closed. And again, she was looking for a job.

So finally, after years of Evlyne’s prodding, Linda took the bait.

“I thought, Okay, is the Lord telling me this is the direction I ought to move?” Linda says. “So that’s how I got here.”

She had a lot to learn from Evlyne, who stayed long enough to help get Linda acclimated to the new position, one that worked with students in a different way than Linda ever had before: grades, transcripts. academic honors, disqualifications, academic probation, commencement ceremonies, faculty meetings, reporting data, and of course, working with students. As Grace grew and added dual degree programs with Davenport University in 1992 and Cornerstone University in 1996, Linda began advising dual degree students and connecting with prospective students and families. Somewhere along the line,

Linda decided college students weren’t so bad after all.

“I felt my position was now a lot like being with preschoolers,” Linda says. “I might not sit on the floor with them, but we were putting together the puzzle to finish their college degree.”

FOLLOWING GOD, PIECING THE PUZZLE

In the 2010s, Linda Holton ’84 joined Linda Siler in the role, and the pair was unofficially—and affectionately—known as The Lindas. They shared an office, and happily, a sense of humor. They helped students put the puzzle together, doing their part to graduate godly individuals prepared to serve Christ in church and society.

In her 33 years at Grace Christian University, Linda served under presidents Sam Vinton, Bruce Kemper, and Ken Kemper, and worked with four academic deans.

“Seeing the college change over the years wasn’t always easy—setbacks that every place has,” Linda says. But the best part?

Seeing “the consistency of the Lord’s calling on this university.”

Linda describes a supportive culture and a faithfulness that walks in the Grace Christian University halls, embodied in students, faculty, staff, and administration. Especially supportive, she says, as she cared for her aging parents, who passed in 2011 and 2014.

“[Grace] has just always been there,” Linda says. “Lifelong friendships—whether it was as a student with other students, whether it was faculty, and now as colleagues.”

In 2022, Linda said goodbye to her Monday-through-Friday (and sometimes Saturdays and Sundays) home, retiring after more than three decades of helping people put puzzles together. And after almost making the same mistake twice, she left one crucial piece of advice:

“Follow where you think the Lord is leading you, and be open to where it could lead.” ■

“SHE IS BLESSING PERSONIFIED.”

- LINDA HOLTON

Emily Gehman is a Grace faculty member and managing editor of The Journey

BY EMILY GEHMAN

THE BEVERLY WALLACE ’71, ’91 LEGACY BEGAN

IN 1968, when she arrived on campus as a student— only a few months after hearing about Grace Bible College for the first time.

Born and raised in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Bev grew up going to church, believed the Gospel as a young girl and felt an early pull to missions. In 1968, Bev saw a new adventure when Bill and Nancy Rigg visited Altoona Bible Church to share about Grace Bible College.

“So I applied in June, was accepted in July, and came to school in August.”

She moved to Grand Rapids and graduated in 1971 with an A.R.E. She stayed and worked in the area

before accepting a position in the Grace business office in 1974. She also became the Women’s Resident Director in 1978, serving there until 1985, and she loved it—all except the part where the students leave.

“I just decided I was tired of saying goodbye to everybody,” Bev says.

She’d been on several shortterm mission trips, so when the opportunity came to teach English in Africa for a year, Bev was ready. After the year, she and her three colleagues all wrote—independently of each other—to the Grace Ministries International home office asking to stay another year.

And then, Bev stayed two more years after that. She lived in a new village, learned some

“kitchen Swahili,” and experienced a different way of life. She came home in December of 1989, worked at Grace Adventures for a few months before returning to Grace to earn her B.R.E., graduating in 1991. She planned to return to Africa as a full-time missionary, but God seemed to be closing that door. In 1993, her brother became terminally ill, so she went home to Altoona to care for him.

Soon, Bev found herself again at Grace, eventually landing back in the business office, where she spent the rest of her career, racking up more than 40 years of fulltime work at Grace. She continued serving on short-term mission trips to places like Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and Tanzania.

And she earned another title: Super Fan.

“I have probably seen more games than anybody else,” Bev says. “A lot of times I would even jump on the bus or in the van and go to out-of-town, overnight games with the women’s basketball team.”

Bev never played any sports as a student, yet her photo hangs in the Aldrich Athletic Center as part of

the Grace Hall of Fame. Her famous caramel brownies didn’t hurt her reputation, either.

At her retirement in June 2022, it’d been 54 years since she first arrived on campus as a student.

“You just develop a bond. It’s the friendship, it’s the camaraderie,” Bev says. “They’re my family.” ■

BEV & DOUG VRIESMAN, VP OF FINANCE & BUSINESS SERVICES

Emily Gehman is a Grace faculty member and managing editor of The Journey

YOU JUST DEVELOP A BOND. IT’S THE FRIENDSHIP, IT’S THE CAMARADERIE. THEY’RE MY FAMILY.

By 2025, Grace Christian University will offer every student a path to a debt-free education in a redemptive learning community.

CHARITABLE GIFTS TO GRACE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to enable us to focus on priorities that affect students’ lives and their Grace experience.

Our Vision 2025 is an exciting goal we can achieve through God’s grace and the action of generous people who are dedicated to biblical education and our common values.

This vision will boldly impact society through powerful scholarships for students to finish their education debtfree. This presents an opportunity for them to serve the Lord freely in their chosen vocations soon after graduation— and to duplicate the generosity shown to them as students.

Currently, 19 Family Endowed Scholarships honor and memorialize friends of Grace. These scholarships are awarded annually and help sustain future student scholarships. Our goal is to reach 200 named and funded scholarships of $25,000 (or more!) ready to be awarded by the fall of 2025. Our endowment total

SCHOLARSHIP GOAL

$5 MILLION $1,060,000+ RAISED TO DATE

to date is over $1,060,000—on our way to $5 million!

Scholarships named for businesses or living individuals are called Expression of Gratitude Scholarships and those established in memory of a deceased individual are called Memorial Scholarships. All endowed assets are pooled into one investment, and each scholarship maintains its own fund balance. ■

• Cheyenne Develasco Portrait of Courage Scholarship

• Conrad Schultz Family Scholarship

• Corrine Sonneveldt Family Scholarship

• David & Beatrice Records Scholarship

• Delmar & Pauline Anderson Memorial Scholarship

• Dick Walker Service Scholarship

• Dr. Raymond F. & Kenneth H. Suerig Pastoral Scholarship

• Gladys May Stringham Ministry for Women Scholarship

• Gowdy-Webb Scholarship

• Harold “Pastor Pete” Peterson Family Scholarship

• Jim Rigg for Youth Ministries Scholarship

• John Shyne, Jr. Pastoral Scholarship

• Krombeen Family Scholarship

• Lashley Family Fine Arts Endowment

• Lettinga Family Scholarship

• Pastor Bruce & Judi Kemper Scholarship

• Rick Velting Business Leaders Scholarship

• Ruth Van Dusen Family Scholarship

• Vernon & Marge Schutz Scholarship

If you would like to honor family members and supply needed scholarships in perpetuity for students, please connect with us!

SCAN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS

EXPANDING GRACE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Townhome Update

The Grace Townhouses are now officially housing students! The ribbon-cutting ceremony included local dignitaries like Wyoming’s mayor, members of the Wyoming City Council, state representatives, as well as Grace Christian University board members.

The Grace Townhomes provide an amazing living space for our students. We were blessed to have many friends and donors on hand for the celebration, and we look forward to providing a comfortable home away from home for hundreds more students in years to come.

A PASSIONfor Students

BY ROBERT KILGO ’21

DOCTOR MULONGE KALUMBULA'S '00 STORY BEGINS IN AFRICA, over 7,000 miles away from Grace Christian University. Born in Congo, Mulonge enjoyed his childhood. But when he was 12, he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his mother and three of his siblings to be near their father, a Grace Bible College student. Grace became a second home, and he says growing up in two different countries uniquely broadened his view of the world.

“In Congo, we were poor in resources, but we didn’t know it,” Mulonge says. “In America, we were poor too, but I didn’t know that either.”

When he was 15, Mulonge’s parents returned to Congo, and he stayed in Grand Rapids. Soon, he found himself in need. But that’s when the Grace community played a crucial role.

“At Grace, I was surrounded by a loving community that loved God and loved each other.”

Mulonge soon found people who took him in and loved him like a son. He considers Scott and Dee Rolff and Dan and Mary-Ann Conklin his spiritual and foster parents.

“My biological parents … helped

us pursue our dreams, help others, and forge our own paths,” Mulonge says. “My other parents, too, have taught me about life through their love of God and their love for others.”

When it came time for a college decision, Mulonge didn’t have to think very long. Following in his father’s footsteps, he planned to attend Grace and transfer to Michigan State University medical school. But, God had other plans.

“Once I got to Grace, I discovered that I was in love with

the idea of being an MD, but my heart was really in working with youth.”

Teaching always came naturally to Mulonge, as did building meaningful relationships with young people. So he changed his path from med school to teaching high school social studies and biology.

After graduating from Grace, Mulonge earned additional degrees in education and administration, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Research and Technology. Today, he serves as the Assistant Principal at GRPS’ Westwood Middle School. He loves being able to pour into students.

“For the demographic I serve, a quality education is not a luxury, but a lifeline to a productive future,” Mulonge says.

As a nearly lifelong member of the Grace community, Mulonge serves on the Grace Christian University board.

“I am honored to be a part of a board that does God’s work, in God’s way and for His glory,” Mulonge says. “Grace is a special place that gave me so much. I want to be a part of the amazing work that Grace is doing in preparing Christ’s ambassadors.” ■

AT GRACE, I WAS SURROUNDED BY A LOVING COMMUNITY THAT LOVED GOD AND LOVED EACH OTHER.

Rob Kilgo is a 2021 alumnus and the Assistant to the President.

That’s Just JIM

IN REMEMBRANCE OF JIM WEBB: 1942 — 2022

BY EMILY GEHMAN

DOCTOR JIM WEBB WAS NEVER KNOWN AS A FRONT-ANDCENTER GUY. In board meetings, President Kemper says he’d be the one to speak last, summarizing the discussion to provide helpful clarity.

“You always wanted to wait until he weighed in; he was steady and extremely wise,” President Kemper says. “That’s just Jim.”

A LIFE OF SERVICE

Born in Los Angeles, California, Jim grew up in the Midwest, where his father pastored, served on the Grace board, and founded Grace Youth Camp. That’s where he found Joyce.

“We always said we never really met,” Joyce says, laughing. “We probably knew each other at camp around age 10 … He was a good husband.”

Jim and Joyce married at Berean Church in Grand Rapids in March of 1965—reaching almost 58 years of marriage before Jim’s death in November of 2022.

Jim graduated from Rogers High School in Wyoming, Michigan before going on to Wheaton College in Illinois. He attended Wayne State University’s School

of Medicine and completed a residency at Butterworth Hospital. Joyce earned a nursing degree from Blodgett Hospital School of Nursing.

Oh, and he spent three years in Germany serving with the U.S. Army.

In 1977, Jim joined a private practice in Fremont, Michigan, about 50 miles north of Grand Rapids. But his medical ministry stretched far beyond Michigan’s borders as he made countless trips to Africa and Haiti to work in mission hospitals.

In addition to being an active member of the Grace Christian University board for over four decades, he served on the boards of Grace Ministries International, Bethesda Mission, and Anchor Point Bible Church.

Though an accomplished musician—a singer and a saxophonist—Jim didn’t always have to be on stage. He’d often run the sound board, serving in the shadows with an innovative touch, a trained ear, and an eye toward ministry.

“He was always looking for a music student,” President Kemper says. “He wanted students in ministry in the churches.”

And whoever happened to be there, whether it was a Grace student, a colleague, or a friend,

Jim made sure to take everyone out for lunch at Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille—the gold standard for Jim— after church.

Jim was generous with his skills, his time, and even his hobbies. A Volvo enthusiast, Jim served as the president of the Great Lakes Chapter of the Volvo Clubs of America. And he’d even been known to give away cars when someone was in need.

“I think he supplied almost everyone in our family—and most of his friends—with a used Volvo,” Jim Molenkamp says.

But more than the Volvos, more than the music, more than the medicine, and even more than the missions, Jim was known by his love for Jesus. It was evident everyday by his joy and passion for helping others. And still it lives on in those impacted by his great love for Jesus.

That’s just Jim. ■

YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL HE WEIGHED IN; HE WAS STEADY AND EXTREMELY WISE.

Emily Gehman is a Grace faculty member and managing editor of The Journey

Congrats to... 2022 ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS

BY HALEY FORBES ’23

ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR Zach Kemper

Pastor Zach Kemper ’12 has selflessly served at Mountain View Bible Church in the Post Falls, Idaho community since 2020. Yes–he became the lead pastor just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Although he entered into this ministry position during such a challenging time, Zach led with grace and honor, keeping Christ at the center of the church’s vision. Zach expresses the continued impact the school has on his life. “We have been blessed through the ministry of Grace Christian University.”

ALUMNA OF THE YEAR Erin Kemper

Erin (Benton) Kemper ’13 earned a Bachelor’s degree in human services from Grace and cherishes the time spent at school. Not only did she meet her husband, Zach, at Grace but expresses how grateful she is “for the pouring in that people did outside of the classroom from fellow students, faculty, and staff.” Currently, Erin joyfully serves in several ministries at Mountain View Bible Church such as women’s Bible studies and children’s Sunday school, using her gifts to coordinate large projects, plan retreats, and organize events.

ALUMNA OF THE YEAR Maria McFadden

ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR Steve McFadden

After graduating with a B.R.E. from Grace, Steve McFadden ’82 began serving Christ at West Coast Grace Youth Camp where he spent over 51 years in camp ministry, starting as a camper. From there, his roles varied from counselor to Bible speaker, to Games Director, to Camp Director, and to Camp Pastor, all while mentoring hundreds of young people. Steve is also an active leader in the Grace Gospel Fellowship, and currently serves as the minister of music at Grace Bible Church in Phoenix, AZ.

After her freshman year at a university in Seattle, WA, Maria (Oschner) McFadden ’82 transferred to Grace in 1980 for the positive atmosphere that would help cultivate her faith. “It was the best decision I could ever make, and it changed the trajectory of my life forever,” Maria says. She also met her husband, Steve, at Grace, through the Grace Singers. They’ve both been active in ministry at Grace Bible Church, Phoenix, AZ for over 40 years. Maria has taught children’s Sunday school, facilitated women’s Bible studies, and directed children’s music.

ALUMNA OF THE YEAR

Pam Myhra

Pam (Matychuk) Myhra ’77 earned an A.A. from Grace, with high honors, before continuing at the University of St. Thomas to earn a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude. In the 2010s, Pam served two terms in Minnesota’s House of Representatives, chiefauthored four bills that unanimously passed in the House, and received the Elected Woman of Excellence Award from the non-partisan National Foundation of Women Legislators. Pam has also been an active member in various women’s ministries, and has served as the President of the MN Federation of Republican Women. Pam is now a certified public accountant, a mother of three adult children, and she has been married to her husband, Chuck, for 41 years.

ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR

Brian Sherstad

Brian Sherstad ’88, ’95 earned an A.A. and a Bachelor of Theology in Pastoral Ministry from Grace and a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Brian has served in a variety of roles at Grace since 2000, and he is now the Executive Vice President. He is an active Board member of Grace Ministries International, an elder at Celebration Bible Church and volunteers in their Awana ministry. Brian regularly serves on the Association for Biblical Higher Education Accreditation teams and has presented for the ABHE on training for new accreditation evaluators. Brian and his wife, Pam, served as missionaries in Tanzania in the 1990s, and care deeply for the students, faculty, and staff at Grace in personal and encouraging ways, exemplifying the Grace mission on campus and beyond.

ALUMNA OF THE YEAR Pam Sherstad

Dr. Pam (Wheeler) Sherstad ’89, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and professor of Communication, holds an A.A. from Grace, a B.A. in English from Grand Valley, an M.A. in Communication from Western and Ph.D. in Communication from Regent. Pam serves on the Grace Ministries International board and enjoys volunteering in Awana at Celebration Bible Church. Pam also serves on the Right to Life of Michigan board, passionately advocating for the most vulnerable members of the human family. Brian and Pam have been married for over 30 years, have two adult sons, and are known for their long tandem bike rides. Pam says she feels blessed “to have the experience of being part of the Grace community as a student, as a parent of students, and now as a faculty member.”

Haley Forbes ’23 works in the Alumni & Advancement department at Grace as the Alumni Relations Specialist.

And to the class of 2022!

Read more from our 2022 Alumni Award winners, see photos of commencement, and cheer for the students who made the Dean’s List! Scan this QR code to read and share all these stories online.