Vision has to do with seeing things clearly and at a great distance. It is seeing what others do not see. A vision is a consuming, fervent and compelling inner picture. All leaders are supposed to have vision. Fundamental for the servant leader is not so much organizational vision, but theological vision.
Foundational to the servant leader is a theological vision of our identity within the Christian fellowship. Listen to the biblical images of our relationship to others:
•brothers and sisters in Christ,
•fellow travelers on a spiritual journey, •members together of Christ’s body,
•a fellowship of God’s people,
•a microcosm of the Kingdom of God on earth,
•a community of faith,
•a sacramental community in and through which the grace of God flows.
Effective leadership within the Christian fellowship, I believe, is grounded in this biblical perspective of our identity, and not in organizational skills. Skills, of course, are needed. However, sharp skills without Christian motives easily lead to manipulation. The primary orientation and motivation of our actions as servant leaders must be deeply theological. The degree to which we remain captive to this conviction will determine the degree to which our leadership is judged “successful” in the biblical perspective.
Affirming the identity of those with whom we work within the fellowship is fulfilling. However, the servant leader gets equally excited about helping others succeed—regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey.
Ministry, as you know, is service to others in Jesus' name. It is the extension of the service of Jesus in our world. The people of God are Spirit-empowered to incarnate his healing, guiding, sustaining and reconciling work in the lives of those with whom we work and live. If we are Christian, we are called to this ministry.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer in “Life Together,” lists seven expressions of ministry by which a Christian community must be judged and characterized.
•The Ministry of Holding One's Tongue
•The Ministry of Meekness
•The Ministry of Listening
•The Ministry of Active Helpfulness – simply assisting others within the Christian community in external matters.
•The Ministry of Bearing (supporting)
•The Ministry of Proclaiming (enfleshing the Word of God through our words and deeds)
•The Ministry of Authority (leadership)
For Bonhoeffer, these practical expressions of Christian ministry provide the context within which our specific calling must function.
My prayer is that this theological vision of who we are at MVNU will profoundly capture all of us so that our vision for ministry will increasingly characterize us.
May it be so Lord, Amen.
Italy: Sabbatical Offers Reminders of Heritage andForChallenge Future
By Sonja Smith, Education Division Chair
As a fifth grade Sunday school teacher some years ago, I spent weeks with my students learning about the travels of the disciples throughout the Roman Empire as they “went into all the world to preach the gospel.” I grew up in a Nazarene parsonage and have heard countless sermons about the journeys of Peter, Paul, Mark and the other early Christians. None of that prepared me for the powerful images of the life and death of people who led the early church.
I was very fortunate to travel with a group of 41 MVNU students, professors and guests on a January trip to Italy sponsored by the Art Department. Our first stop was Saint Paul’s Basilica in Rome. I have been in many churches named Saint Paul’s. I understood they were named in honor of this individual who persecuted those who followed the teachings of Jesus – until he met the Master and became a Christian himself. I was amazed to discover an elaborate tomb in the middle of the huge sanctuary and learned that Paul is buried there. Imagine, this man who helped preach and teach about Jesus really lived and died in Rome, and was buried right there!
We visited many beautiful churches, including Saint Peter’s and Saint Mark’s Basilica, where I continued to be awed by the significance of each one as the contribution of the patron saint was told in the beauty of mosaics, frescos and marble statues, columns, floors. I felt God’s presence as I tried to absorb what I was seeing and learning about art and, even more, about being a Christian under difficult circumstances. Many were persecuted, even to death. They hid in the catacombs in order to worship God safely.
I was challenged to examine my comfortable life where nearly everyone with whom I have daily conversations is a Christian. Some days my work is hard and I depend on God for guidance and strength. Never do I have to ask for my life to be spared from torture for my faith. Because of those men and women who were willing to sacrifice their personal goals, physical safety and even their mortal lives, we have a rich heritage that we often take for granted. My prayer is that God will help me keep alive this new appreciation I have for our freedom of worship, for our comfortable churches and for our call to serve Him at MVNU.
My sabbatical period extended over six months, during which I worked on many projects and found time to read, spent time with family and traveled. This trip was just the last two weeks, but it had the biggest impact on me and is what I will always associate with memories of my sabbatical. I was truly blessed to have this experience!
Papua New Guinea:
Village Medicine and Simple Truths
by Katherine Stevens, junior
The priceless scenery, intriguing culture, captivating people and dynamic missionaries are not far from our hearts and minds as we return from the beautiful land of Papua New Guinea. For 18 MVNU world travelers, PNG is no longer just some island in the South Pacific, and Kudjip Nazarene Hospital is more than a picture in a photo album.
On January 7, we began our 26-hour journey to the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea where we were greeted by missionaries eager to get us settled in for our three-week stay. Most of our mornings were spent painting hospital staff housing that would never have been painted otherwise, and the opportunity to interact with the nationals in this way was truly rewarding. We so enjoyed hosting nationals or missionaries for dinner and listening to the stories of how the Lord has called them and journeyed with them to Kudjip.
Our days spent in the hospital shadowing the doctors are unforgettable. I have never been confronted with disease and death as I was for those three weeks, but I also have never been so inspired or encouraged by the work of God in the medical profession. Despite the lack of funds, supplies and professionals, the staff at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital is fulfilling the mission of Christ with every medication they administer, baby they deliver, and family they comfort. As members of this team, we had the opportunity to witness this first hand and capture the Spirit that is changing lives there in PNG.
Long rides in the Land Cruiser over pothole infested “highways” led us on tours of a coffee plantation, tea factory and the first Community Based Health Care village of Domil, where the members of the village are taught to work together to create a healthy community for everyone. We enjoyed the traditional food and customs of a mumu and the festive tribal dress at a sing-sing. Our eyes were certainly opened to this new place and its amazing people as we worshipped in bush churches and hiked with Christians from a nearby village.
God’s power and supremacy spans nations, cultures and languages. On our last evening in PNG, Dr. Jim Radcliffe (’76) challenged us with words that he has spoken to Papua New Guineans many times in pidgin, but the simple truth is pertinent in any language and was especially appropriate as we departed. “Stap klostu long Jisas.” Stay close to Jesus.
Sonja Smith pictured above on the right
Belize: Inquisitive Minds and Wild Creatures
By Andrew Hutcheson, Senior
This past January, I was blessed to take Tropical Ecology in the small country of Belize. I had been on mission trips before – traveling to Kenya with Joe Noonen –but this was a different kind of experience. Two classes went together. For the business class, the experience included mostly mission work. For five others and me in Tropical Ecology, it was a chance to search out those strange and colorful creatures we’ve all seen on the Discovery Channel. We were a bunch of Steve Irwin Crocodile Hunters, basically!
The class was in a learn-at-your-own-pace format and I loved it. There were two major parts to the class: the largest part was on land and the last three days were spent at or in the Caribbean Sea. On land we saw many beautiful birds: parrots, toucans, etc. We saw tiny, shimmering humming birds and the huge Jabiru Stork, the largest bird in Central America. We also explored many Mayan ruins and found amongst them basilisk lizards and a poisonous Fer de Lance viper. We saw howler monkeys up close and fed raccoon-like coatis. By sea, we snorkeled over the second largest barrier reef system on God’s earth!
One week before heading to the barrier island called Caye Caulker, I received a blessing disguised as sickness. Locally referred to as Montezuma’s Revenge, I laid in bed for four days unable to do much else than study pictures of fish and experience James 1:2-4 for myself (Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever
you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. NIV). By the time we went down to snorkel, I was able to identify 95 percent of the things around me. God used a bad experience to make me spiritually stronger and provide an opportunity for extra preparation that would not have been possible otherwise.
This was my favorite class of all the classes I’ve had at MVNU. I would strongly advise any biology students who think they’re tough enough to survive hot temperatures and spiders for bedbuddies to take this class. Take an adventure and find that the God of Ohio has been creating incredible creatures and beautiful people in Belize.
San Diego: Hispanic Children Touch Hearts and Expand Minds
by Abby Bolton, senior
Though the incredible weather and beautiful San Diego surroundings seem more adequate for a vacation than a learning experience, our time at Kimbrough Elementary School and Memorial Junior High proved to be life altering. This cross-country venture was created to fulfill the cultural diversity credit needed for an early, middle and secondary education degrees.
We were placed here to experience San Diego’s dominant Hispanic schools. The schools are considered bilingual because more than half of the students are second language learners. At Kimbrough, 93 percent of the students K-5 are Hispanic and many parents speak only Spanish. Often, our placements had us teaching half a day in English and the other half in Spanish. Our responsibilities included lunch and recess duty, bulletin boards,
MVNU Welcomes Eades as Director of Admissions
By Trinia Huddleston
Mount Vernon Nazarene University welcomes Mr. Tim Eades as the new director of Admissions. A former MVNU employee, Eades was the assistant director of Admissions from 1994-96. He also served as youth pastor at the Beaver Creek Church of the Nazarene (Ohio) and administrative pastor at a Nazarene church in Virginia. In 1998, he began working as a financial advisor for American Express where he led a staff of 16 financial planners, and managed over $5 million in assets.
Eades is a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University with a bachelor’s degree in religion, and has also earned graduate hours toward an MA in religion there. His combination of pastoral experience, business savvy, leadership and financial background, previous Admissions experience at MVNU and being a graduate of a Nazarene university, have prepared him well for this new assignment. If you would like more information about Admissions, call 1-866GO-2-MVNU or visit us online at www.mvnu.edu/prosptrad
conferring with students about reading and writing, guided reading sessions, and lessons about Ohio including our famous Buckeye candies.
Even our free time helped expand our vision of the world. Our group’s hearts and minds will never be the same after our visit to an all boys orphanage in Tecate, Mexico. We spent the day playing soccer, basketball and other games. We also sang songs in Spanish and English. What an unforgettable moment—the sound of two cultures coming together to worship the God who sees no differences among us. In countless ways, this cultural diversity class was so much more than a class. Any one of the twenty students and professors involved will tell you that the cost, the long plane ride and being away from home was more than worth it.
This experience has changed our perspective in many areas. These students from poverty-stricken families came to school with the most beautiful and welcoming smiles I’ve ever seen. These children touched our hearts and made lasting impressions in only a two-week period. They even suggested that we move to California and bring our families along! We were blessed to have this opportunity and any one of us would gladly do it again.
Life in Hungary: A Semester Abroad
Dr. Paul Mayle, his wife Ruth and six MVNU students will spend the entire spring semester studying, working, serving and worshiping in Hungary. The students on the trip are Benjamin Dean, Katie Eaton, Donald Finney, Sarah Graham, Jordan Snow, and Amber Thorne. You can read periodic letters from the Mayles and the students and view photos of their experiences throughout the spring at www.mvnu.edu/news/PressReleases/0203/hungary/hungary.html. Please pray for this very special semester and be sure to keep up on all of their Hungarian adventures!
Twelve campus images are now available for downloading as computer desktop wallpaper. Check them out at www.mvnu.edu/alumni/wallpaper.html. Put MVNU on Your PC or Mac Desktop
Excell Grad
Jumps into OSU Ph.D. Program
By John Washatka
Philip Dickison, Excell program graduate with group 71 at Polaris, has been accepted into a Ph.D. program at The Ohio State University.
What’s a bit unusual is his acceptance without any master’s level work.
“We had to develop a career plan in one of our courses in the B.B.A. program, and I wanted to teach in an institution of higher learning,” Dickison said.
Career planning is part of the curriculum in the Business Research series. “These courses required us to complete a scientific research project and to present a career notebook which included the identification of at least five individual learning enhancements designed to promote career success,” Dickison explained.
“So as part of my planning, I looked at programs around the area where I could continue my education. I wanted to stay at [Mount Vernon Nazarene University], but at the time there were no master’s level programs that would fully meet the needs of my career goals. Dr. [Ron] Phillips was a great help to me when I did my planning and in the development of my letter of intent for graduate studies,” he said.
Dickison finished his B.B.A. work in December 2001, and participated in graduation ceremonies in May 2002. In the course of looking at other programs, Dickison talked with officials from OSU.
“I looked at OSU, and when I talked with them they gave me an opportunity to apply to the doctoral program, telling me there was no guarantee I would be accepted,” he explained.
He was accepted into the program, and began classes in January 2003. The program – Quantitative Research, Evaluation, and Measurement in Education – is with the School of Education Policy and Leadership. Classwork consists of 90 quarter hours, with a dissertation.
Dickison is associate director of National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, and has been with the company for thirteen years.
MVNU on the Road
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is going "On The Road" this spring and invites you to experience their exhibit hall, guests and special performances!
This year, Collegians, Music & Ministry teams, orchestra, faculty, staff and administrators will travel to three of our regional churches for MVNU On The Road. It’s a great place to see old friends, familiar faces and hear an update on what’s happening at the University.
We will be at:
Covington First (Eastern Kentucky District) - Saturday, April 5, 7 p.m.
Charleston Elk River (West Virginia South District) - Saturday, April 26, 7 p.m.
Phonathon Update
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported MVNU students by giving to the annual Phonathon! All money raised goes directly toward student scholarships. As of March 6, we have raised $98,500 toward our goal of $110,000 This wouldn't have been possible without the help of our faithful alumni, faculty and staff, community and friends. Your dedication will help more students to have the life changing MVNU experience.
Faculty Member Tells Story in “College Faith”
Dr. Joseph Lechner, Natural Sciences Division Chair and professor, had the opportunity to tell the story of his calling to Christian higher education in a recently released book, "College Faith: 150 Christian Leaders and Educators Share Faith Stories from Their Student Days." In this short interview, he explains why this experience was so important to him. (The excerpt from the book appears below.)
Q.A.
How did you get involved in this project?
Other MVNU faculty and staff members have published their stories in previous editions of this book. My name was submitted to the editor.
Why did you want to share this particular story?
I believe God has a plan for our lives and I believe God calls people to teach at Christian colleges just as he calls pastors and missionaries. I wanted to share the story of my call.
Why did you feel it was important to share this with college students?
Every day I work with MVNU students who sincerely want to do the will of God in their lives. Some think that God’s will only involves being a Christian and participating in a church; they think God isn’t interested in what they do for a living. Others believe God has a plan for their professional lives, and they are seeking to discover his will. The first group needs to hear that God has a plan for every area of their lives, including their education and career. The second group needs to hear testimonies of their faculty who have faced the same questions and issues they face; they want examples of how God has guided other Christian professionals.
How do you think this book can impact students’ lives?
I pray that readers will be challenged to submit their educational and career plans to Christ’s lordship. I want them to be encouraged by testimonies of how God answered the prayers of others. A variety of examples are needed. Every individual is unique and God deals with us in different ways.
“His Good Pleasure”
By Dr. Joseph H. Lechner, Natural Sciences Division Chair and Professor
When I was three years old, my father took me to one of the largest department stores in Boston to see displays of electric trains. I was enthralled. A few weeks later, Dad gave me a train set of my own for Christmas. In retrospect, I can discern a method in his actions: he created a desire, and then he fulfilled it.
As a college freshman, I was very sure that I would take one or two years of preparatory science courses, transfer to a state university, and study there to become a pharmacist. My plans were based on three observations: (a) I liked chemistry; (b) I was fairly good at it; and (c) pharmacy was the only career that I knew of that utilized chemistry.
At the Christian, liberal arts college where I attended, I was soon recruited by a faculty member to serve as a laboratory assistant. My activities included washing dishes, inventorying chemicals, mixing reagents, supervising student laboratory work, and even lecturing for a week when a professor became seriously ill. In short order, I was introduced to many aspects of the teaching profession. I enjoyed myself so much that I soon forgot my original goal of being a pharmacist.
One evening during my sophomore year, I was definitely impressed that God wanted me to teach chemistry at a Christian college. This call to me was as clear as the calls some of my classmates were receiving to the ministry. To accept my call meant finishing college and entering a doctoral program.
God led me through each important step in my career. One of the more dramatic instances of divine guidance occurred one day in March. I completed my application to a particular graduate program, walked to the post office en route to an 8 a.m. class, and mailed it with a prayer that He would show me which school to choose. At 3 p.m., a faculty member from that very school called to ask if I was planning to apply. I truthfully answered that the letter was in the mail. By 4 p.m., I had received a telegram offering me a full fellowship.
When I began my higher education, I knew very little about the teaching profession. Now it is hard for me to imagine anything more fulfilling than to be a faculty member at a Christian college. My heavenly Father created the desire, and then He fulfilled it. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.
Reprinted from “College Faith: 150 Christian Leaders and Educators Share Faith Stories from Their Student Days,” with permission from Andrews University Press (www.andrewsuniversitypress.com).
MVNU Sports
MVNU's Swanson Among Woody Hayes Award Recipients
Mount Vernon Nazarene University's Casey Swanson was among the honorees when the University and Northwest Sertoma Club of Columbus announced the six recipients of the 2003 Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete Awards on Feb. 7. Head Ohio State football coach, Jim Tressel, was the special speaker for the event.
A native of Mount Vernon, Swanson helped MVNU post a 62-26-5 overall record during his career as the Cougars qualified for the NAIA postseason three times and made three trips to the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament. After switching from the forward position to defender following his freshman season, Swanson anchored the MVNU defense over his final three seasons as the team leader in minutes played. Following his senior season, Swanson was selected to the American Mideast Conference South Division First Team and the NCCAA East Region Team.
In the classroom, Swanson has also been a standout as his 3.85 grade point average attests. A mathematics and computer science double major, he has been named to the MVNU Dean's List every semester. He is also a two-time NAIA and NCCAA All-American Scholar-Athlete, and he was named to the Verizon Academic All-District Second Team this year.
Swanson is active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the MVNU Math Club as well as serving as soccer team captain. He has been a coach at the Cougar Soccer Camp for four years, and volunteered as coach and referee with the Upward Basketball youth league for two years at Mount Vernon First Church of the Nazarene.
Swanson becomes the second MVNU player to be honored during the 16 years in which the Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete Award has been presented. Former Cougar basketball standout Adam Stevens was selected as one of the 2001 recipients.
The Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete Awards are presented annually to the outstanding male and female scholar-athlete in each of the three collegiate divisions in order to establish a perpetual living memorial to the late Coach Woody Hayes.
2003 Lady Cougar Softball Schedule
Phil Argento, a senior guard on the Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's basketball team, put his name in the Ohio record books on Tuesday night, February 4, as he became the all-time leader in three-pointers made with six treys in an 87-79 American Mideast Conference South Division win at Ohio Dominican University to push his career total to 430.
The 6-2 Grafton, Ohio, native, who also holds the state's high school career trey record with 297, nailed his record-breaking three-pointer as he moved past former Malone College standout Phil Gebhardt, who drained 428 treys for the Pioneers from 1988-1992.
Along with Argento, MVNU has four other individuals in the topten ranks of three-point scorers for Ohio. Argento now ranks eighth nationally in the history of college basketball with 447 career treys. Then, on Thursday evening, February 20, Argento became the alltime scoring leader in MVNU history as he tossed in 12 points to give him 2,245 for his career. He eclipsed the previous mark of 2,242 points set by former Cougar standout and current women’s basketball coach Steve Gregory from 1987-1991.
Argento was also presented with the Ron Holmes Memorial Award this season, given annually by the AMC in honor of the former MVNU basketball standout who was tragically killed in a car accident prior to his senior season in 1991. Holmes, who is regarded by many as the best player in Cougar basketball history, was just 418 points shy of becoming the program's all-time scoring leader. He holds the school record for best career scoring average at 18.2 points per game, and for free throws made and attempted in a game, season, and career. The award was implemented to recognize a player who exhibits the outstanding basketball ability, character, and academic achievement that Holmes did.
Apr. 1at Mount Union1:00
Apr. 1at Mount UnionTBA
Apr. 3at Wooster3:30 p.m.
Apr. 5* at Point Park (PA)1:00 p.m.
5* at Point Park (PA)TBA
Apr. 12* SAINT VINCENT (PA) 1:00 p.m.
Apr. 12* SAINT VINCENT (PA) TBA Apr. 15* MALONE 1:00 p.m.
Apr. 15* MALONE TBA
Apr. 17at Tiffin1:00
By Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
Casey Swanson shakes hands with OSU head football coach Jim Tressel.
January Trips 2003 Scrapbook
2003 Cougar Golf Schedule
MVNU students feed the pigeons near St Peter’s in the Vatican.
Wendy Davies stands with the buttressed Ceiba tree in Belize.
Dr. Mervin Ziegler with MVNU students in Bolivia.
A Papua New Guinea mother with child exhibits traditional tattooing of the face. Timberly Sharrock emerges from a rain forest hike in Papua New Guinea.
MVNU students standing in front of falls in Belize. (Above left)
Dr. Mervin Ziegler playing games with children in Bolivia. (Above Center)
Dr. Sonja Smith and Professor John Donnelly in Italy. (Above right)
1980s
1970s
John Follett (’79) teaches social studies at Hagerstown Business College and 6th grade social studies and science at Northern Middle School. His wife Vicki (Gibbs ’79) was named Washington County Teacher of the Year for the 2002-03 school year. She has been teaching 1st grade for the past eight years. They are planning to travel to Ireland with their children, Danielle, Eric and Lee. Lee will be a track athlete as part of Team USA in the Special Olympic World Games.
photo available online. To view these photos, visit www.mvnu.edu/alumni/ grapevine/grapevine.html
Jim Snead (’83) recently relocated to Grove City, Ohio, after serving with Youth for Christ in Vermont for nine years. He is the Church Ministries director with Central Ohio Youth for Christ. Jim and his wife, Sherri, have five children: Todd (14), Autumn (11), Carolyn (7), Curtis (5) and Hannah (3). They attend Grove City Church of the Nazarene.
Ted Hambrick (’85) and his wife Patty recently moved to Charleston, S.C. Ted will pastor the St. Andrews International Community Church of the Nazarene and Patty is the new director of Academic Technology at Charleston Southern University.
Rebecca (Watkins ’85) Zullo and her husband Jeff announce the birth of their son, Paul David, in May 2002. Rebecca had been teaching secondary mathematics since 1985, but is currently a stay-at-home mom. She will continue teaching graduate education courses at Communicate Institute in Canton, Ohio. Jeffrey and Rebecca were married in April 2001.
June (Gray ’87) Baker and her husband Brent announce the birth
Focus on Alumni
Charlene Aldridge (’77)
Measuring life’s successes by God’s standards
After graduating from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in 1977, Charlene Aldridge set out to climb the ladder of success. From graduate school, to numerous professional promotions to living all over the United States, Aldridge was quickly earning points on life’s scorecard. Until a year of setbacks and disappointments showed her what really mattered.
Aldridge graduated from Cleveland State University with a graduate degree in statistics in 1978 and went to work for Cardinal Federal in Cleveland. Promoted with INA, later CIGNA, she moved to Detroit, Mich. Aldridge was promoted again and moved to Louisville, Ky. In 1986, she went to work for Hanover Insurance and later for a software vendor in Massachusetts. With 1988 came another move—this time to Los Angeles with Transamerica Insurance Group.
In 1994, before moving with TIG’s corporate offices to Dallas, a series of events began to shake Aldridge in her powerful corporate world. An earthquake destroyed most of her belongings, followed
of their fourth child, Steven William on Sept. 27, 2002. Steven joins siblings Matthew (7), Anna (5) and Kristen (2). June has been working at Boardman School System and Brent practices law with Newman, Olsen and Kerr in Youngstown, Ohio.
After several years in the education field, Ray Gallatin (’89) is pursuing a career in fire service. He has completed a one-year paramedic training and firefighting 1 and 2 training. He was hired in July as a fulltime career firefighter/paramedic with the Bazetta Township Fire Department, Cortland, Ohio. He is also in charge of the department’s Special Operations Bureau, which oversees public relations activities and fire prevention programs.
1990s
Michele (Schonauer ’90) Alvavirevic and her husband Vladimir announce the birth of their daughter, JaneAnn, on Oct. 24, 2002. She joins big sister Andrea (3). The family resides in Nashville, Tenn.
Lori (Brisker ’91) Thompson and her husband Jeff announce the birth of their son, Micah Scott, on Sept. 17, 2002. He joins big sister, Mikayla (3). Jeff is a state park officer at Hocking Hills State Park. Lori is a stay-at-home mom and does home childcare. The family resides in Logan, Ohio.
Nancy (Dorn ’92) Hale and her husband Anthony proudly announce the birth of their second child, Nathan David Hale, on Nov. 19, 2002. He weighed 7 lbs., 2 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. He joins big sister Lyndsey (6). The family resides in Florida where Nancy is a children’s pastor at Brandon Church of the Nazarene and Anthony is employed by LifePath Hospice of Tampa.
Pete Ryder (’92) has become the new senior pastor at the Medina (OH) Church of the Nazarene. He is married to Becky (Brisker ’92) and they have two children.
Sherry (Wood ’93) Antle and her husband William announce the birth of their daughter, Caroline Olivia, on Nov. 7, 2002. She weighed 6 lbs., 8.5 oz. And was 19.5 inches long. Sherry is taking time off from teaching to be a stay-at-home mom.
by a tornado that damaged what was left. Together with professional pressures and other challenges, these events brought her to her knees and put her focus back on God.
“I had been driven to succeed—evaluating life based on a limited scorecard. Success isn’t about what position you hold, how big your house is, how many degrees you have or how much money you have in the bank. It is about what you value, how you treat others, and most importantly, how you serve your God,” Aldridge explained. Within two years, and with an entirely new outlook on life, she started her own consulting firm, Aldridge, Kerr & Associates (AKA), and is currently president and CEO.
AKA helps companies improve business practices by providing project, process and documentation solutions. Aldridge said a major challenge to being self-employed is the “feast or famine” factor. Networking, marketing and acquiring new projects keeps her busy. “One of the greatest rewards is knowing I can add value to a client’s organization—by streamlining their processes, providing them with better tools or assisting in implementation of key projects.”
With such responsibilities, it takes an ongoing commitment to evaluating and prioritizing to maintain a balanced lifestyle She commented, “Life is a lot of ‘ands’ and ‘thens ’ We have joy, then sorrow. Failure, and then success. If we would remember that life isn’t about a destination, but a journey, maybe we would be able to take the ‘ands’ and ‘thens’ more easily ” Aldridge appreciates the Christian values reinforced during her time at MVNU because they still impact who she is today. Outside of work, she is involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, the local Republican Party and homeowner’s association. AKA also does some pro bono work for charitable organizations. She will also be the featured speaker at this year's Graduation Banquet at MVNU on Friday, May 23.
Learn more about Aldridge and her company at www.aldridgekerr.com .
Chris (’94) and Tonya (Stimpert ’94) Gamello announce the birth of Lexi Jo on Nov. 26, 2002. She joins big sister Hannah (3). Chris is completing his fourth year as pastor of student ministries at First Church of God in Winchester, Ky. Tonya is a stay-at-home mom.
Christina (Weir ’94) Smith and her husband Donald reside in Parkersburg, W.Va., with their daughter, Mikayla Dawn (2). Christina is a full-time homemaker and Donnie is a family physician at Mid-Ohio Medical Group.
Melanie (Silman ’95) Glazier and her husband Charles announce the birth of their son, Samuel Ryan, on July 4, 2002.
Jason (’95) and Sharon (Lobdell ’89) Griner announce the birth of their daughter, Alyssa Sue, on Jan. 16, 2003.
Stephanie (Rhodenizer ’95) Nicholson and her husband, Bob, had their first child on May 29, 2002. Bob is a senior manager for the Coshocton County Board of MR/DD and Stephanie is a resident director at MVNU. The family is planning a move to Coshocton County.
Steve Hayes, (’96) passed away on August 2, 2002. Surviving are his
wife, Antoinette (Hamilton ’95) and daughter, Breanna (5).
Monique (Maher ’96) Hurrle and her husband Don announce the birth of their second child, Donald David III, born on June 17, 2002. He joins Kailin Monique (3). Monique is a 9th grade girls’ basketball coach at Wadsworth High School and a stayat-home mom. Don is a business analyst at Westfield Group.
Michelle (Meier ’97) Bernard and her husband Doug announce the birth of their first child, Tristan Meier, on Oct. 30, 2002. He was 8 lbs., 10 oz. and was 20.25 inches long.
Mark Russell (’97) and his wife Kristi announce the birth of their daughter, Emma Grace, on May 10, 2002. Mark is a youth pastor in Waynesboro, Va.
Heather (Sears ‘97) Diaz and her husband Joel will celebrate their 5th anniversary this year. They have a daughter Isabelle (2). The family lives in San Diego, Calif., where Joel works for Cinemastar Luxury Theaters as the director of International Operations for their Mexican Corporation. Heather is a stay-at-home mom.
Sarah (Scott ’98) Buerkle and her husband Chuck announce the birth of their first baby, Scott Edwin, on July 8, 2002. He weighed 8 lbs., 12 oz. and was 21.5 inches long. Sarah is a teacher at Granville Christian Academy in Granville, Ohio. Chuck works at Licking Memorial Hospital. The family resides in Newark, Ohio.
Joshua (’98) and Emily (Hinz ’98) Dyer announce the birth of their first child, Evan Robert, on Dec. 4, 2002. Josh has recently accepted the position of controller at Bedford Public Schools in Temperance, Mich. Emily is a stay-at-home mom. The family relocated to Lambertville, Mich. in March.
Bob (’98) and Rachel (Rutgers ’97) Scroggins announce the birth of their first child, Maya Elizabeth, on Nov. 20, 2002. She weighed 8 lbs., 14 oz. and was 21 inches long. The family lives in Plymouth, Ohio, where Bob is a 5th and 6th grade teacher at Celeryville Christian School and Rachel is a part-time tutor.
Wayne Wilkinson (’99) recently earned a master’s degree in social and cognitive psychology from Ball State University. He is currently a social psychology doctoral student at Northern Illinois University, where he also teaches undergraduate classes.
MVNU Alum in Ninth Season With NBA’s
By Dave Parsons, MVNU Sports Information Director
One of the myths high school students hear when selecting a college or university to attend is that large state schools are the only avenue to the more elite jobs in today’s work force.
However, Mount Vernon Nazarene University graduate Mike Wells (‘93) has disproved that theory, saying that hard work and perseverance go a long way in helping you land that dream job.
Wells, who played Cougar basketball for two seasons before serving as assistant coach, is now in his ninth season as part of the coaching staff for the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
After the Mount Vernon native graduated from MVNU, he completed his master’s degree in sports science at the U.S. Sports Academy in Daphne, Ala.
He then landed an internship with the Rockets in their corporate services department during the 1994-95 season – the second of the team’s back-to-back NBA title seasons.
The next year, Wells was promoted to assistant video coordinator, moving into that role the following year in 1996.
Prior to the 1998-99 season, Wells was promoted again, this time to assistant coach/video coordinator. His duties now include assisting head coach Rudy Tomjanovich on the bench and handling game preparation details. He is still heavily involved in computerized video editing and scouting Rockets’ opponents and potential draft picks.
Wells spent the summer of 2000 traveling with the United States Senior National Team, which played in the Sydney Olympics. He also spent three summers with USA Basketball, assisting at the 1998 World Championship of Basketball in Athens, Greece, and the 1999 Tournament of the Americas in Puerto Rico.
"The work situation in Houston is really unique in today’s professional sports setting," said Wells. "We are really one big family here. While most teams have great turnover in leadership, we have been very fortunate here."
This season has been especially exciting for Wells and the Rockets as they are currently in eighth place in the Western Conference with a 26-22 record at the All-Star break. The team is also poised to move into a new arena next season.
2000s
Crystal Gregg (’00) married Shane Burgel on July 6, 2002. She is a kindergarten teacher at Triad Elementary School in North Lewisburg, Ohio. Shane is a computer programmer at OCLC in Dublin, Ohio.
Mike Hershberger (’00) and Melissa Weaver (’02) were married on June 7, 2002, at Pleasant View Mennonite Church in Berlin, Ohio. Mike is a systems analyst at Ontario Systems in Berlin and Melissa is a staff accountant at Troyer & Associates, Inc. in Sugarcreek. The couple resides in Berlin, Ohio.
Justin Shelter (’00) and Kelly Walters (’01) were married on Aug. 12, 2000 in Franklin, Penn. Kelly is a teacher at Loudonville/Perry Junior High School and the girls’ basketball coach. Justin is continuing his education at Ashland University, pursuing a degree in teaching. The couple attends Wooster Church of the Nazarene.
Brandon Shmidt (’00) and Erin Kuhns will be married in Columbus, Ohio on May 11, 2003.
Matthew (’01) and Ami (Henson ’99) Hammond welcomed their first child, Jacob Matthew, on Oct. 23, 2003. He weighed 9 lb., 3.5 oz. and was 21 inches long. Ami is employed at Unizan National Bank as a sales manager and Matthew is working for Ontario Systems as a programmer.
Josh Allen (’02) and his wife Danica (Wanty ’00) recently gave birth to their son, Taylor Christopher on Oct. 25, 2002. He was 8 lbs., 8 oz. and 21 inches long.
Josh Hooper (’02) and Jennifer Stull (’01) were married on August 10, 2002, in Lexington, Ohio. They are living in Mount Vernon, Ohio, where Jennifer is a kindergarten teacher at Highland Local Schools. Josh is employed by Clear Channel Mount Vernon and works with production and is an on-air personality.
Please feel free to submit photos of weddings, babies, etc. to Mount Vernon NOW, 800 Martinsburg Rd., Mount Vernon, OH 43050, or by e-mail to alumni@mvnu.edu, or online at www.mvnu.edu/alumni/ grapevine/grapevine.html.
From Success to Significance
By Austin Swallow, Executive Director for Development
In the early 1990s, history professor Dr. Paul Mayle invited Marvin and Marilyn Salsbury to accompany him and a group of students to Asia during a January term trip. Since then, they have shared an everincreasing love of MVNU and its students.
Marvin is the director for the Center for Leadership and teaches business and economics classes at Northwest Nazarene University. Marilyn, raised in a single-parent home, was nurtured by a Nazarene church in central Ohio. While Marvin’s career has literally taken him around the world, the Salsburys wanted to support education back in Ohio.
They decided to create the M & M Salsbury scholarship for students from single-family homes who had a financial need. “The Lord has granted us far more than we could ever imagine as we have honored him with our lives,” Marvin commented. “Our reward comes from the thank you letters we get from our scholarship recipients and from the encouragement those brings us. You always receive far more than you ever give.”
That first trip with Dr. Mayle has since led to three other journeys with MVNU personnel. The Salsburys have developed deep friendships on campus and they enjoy renewing those relationships when they return to MVNU for Foundation Board meetings.
Marvin is currently finishing his coursework for a doctorate in international business in addition to his teaching load at NNU. Where does he get his energy? From Marilyn, who is always right there beside him. They believe in the concept of turning success into significance—passing on to others what God has blessed them with.
MVNU is honored to have supporters like the Salsburys. Theirs is truly a life changing investment for the recipients of their scholarships.
MVNU needs you to help support student scholarships. Please contact Austin Swallow at 1-800-367-9294, ext 4311 or austin.swallow@mvnu.edu.
Mount Vernon NOW
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
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Mount Vernon NOW (USPS 761-980) is published four times a year by Mount Vernon Nazarene University, located at 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050. Periodical Postage Paid at Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050
Campus Switchboard: 740-392-6868
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is an intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students and working adults who seek opportunities to learn and grow in an academic community of faith. We provide a transformational experience through excellent academics, service opportunities, caring relationships and a nurturing spiritual and social environment. We challenge students to achieve their highest potential, to become increasingly Christ-like and to make a difference in their world through lifelong service.
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