The Flame, Spring 2026

THE FL AME

MOUNT VERNON NAZ ARENE UNIVERSIT Y SPRING 2026

THE MCCALL PRAYER CHAPEL:

CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF DR. CHARLES AND NOTA MCCALL

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

+ Dr. Marc Hedrick: Teaching Justice through the Word + Immanuel Bible Study: Transformed Through Community

SPRING REVIVAL

FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Alumni and Friends, With a grateful heart, I write to thank each of you for your faithful love and support of Mount Vernon Nazarene University. MVNU stands today because of the countless men and women who have gone before us, those who believed in Christ-centered education, who sacrificed, who prayed, who gave, who served, and who paved a trail of learning, loving, and service for generations to follow.

You are the trail makers.

“The story of MVNU is still being written, and you are an essential part of it.”

CONNECT WITH MVNU

mvnu1968 MVNUAlumni @mvnu1968 Mount Vernon Nazarene University

In the pages of this publication, you will read stories that remind us of the strength of our heritage and the faithfulness of God through every season.

These stories are not simply reflections of the past; they are testimonies of lives transformed and callings fulfilled. They represent alumni and friends who have carried the mission of MVNU into churches, classrooms, businesses, communities, and around the world.

I am deeply thankful to God for those who came before us and built a foundation that remains strong and steady. Because of their vision and obedience, we are experiencing meaningful momentum today. These are great days at MVNU. We see growth, renewed energy, and continued commitment to our mission of being a Christ-centered university that transforms lives through character, scholarship, and service.

At the same time, we look forward with eternal hope. Just as others prepared the way for us, we are preparing the way for those who will come after us.

The story of MVNU is still being written, and you are an essential part of it.

Thank you for believing in this mission. Thank you for walking alongside us. Thank you for continuing to make a difference in the lives of our students.

With gratitude and hope,

VIEW PUBLICATION ARCHIVES AT MVNU.EDU/ALUMNI/ PUBLICATIONS

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Dr. Carson D. Castleman MVNU President

SPRING 2026

IN THIS ISSUE

THE FLAME President Dr. Carson Castleman Chief Development Officer Rev. Brad Kochis ’94 Executive Director of Alumni & Major Gifts Rev. Mike Cheek ’82

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Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Heather Hoag ’98 Vice President of University Marketing and CAPS Enrollment; Chief Marketing Officer Johnna Vanover, MO ’11

MCCALL PRAYER CHAPEL: CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF DR. CHARLES AND NOTA MCCALL Dr. Charles and Nota McCall were early pioneers who helped build the university from its humble beginnings. Dr. McCall served as the institution’s first religion professor, while Nota quietly shaped generations of students through devoted prayer, fasting, and personal ministry in the dormitories. Now, the McCall Prayer Chapel at Mount Vernon Nazarene University stands as a tribute to their legacy.

IN EVERY ISSUE

FEATURES

4 From the President 6 Campus Updates 14 Staff Spotlight — Becky Rockwell 16 Alumni Spotlight — Blaine Hergenrother 18 Athletic Spotlight 20 Spiritual Life — Rev. David Mills

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Faculty Spotlight — Dr. Marc Hedrick: Teaching Justice through the Word Dr. Marc Hedrick brings a unique blend of real-world experience — spanning military service, law enforcement, and legal practice — into his Criminal Justice classroom.

Blending his background with biblical teaching, Hedrick helps students view justice systems as God-given, meant for the good of society.

15 Student Spotlight — Transformed Through Community: The mission behind Immanuel Bible Study In the fall of 2024, Matthew Sekanjako and Kelly Rwema started Immanuel Bible Study, answering a call to create a Scripture-centered, Spirit-led community for students. What began with five transfer students in a small study room has grown into a much larger weekly gathering.

Executive Director of Marketing Samantha Scoles ’22 Editor Joe Huddleston ’97 Art Direction/Design Tricia Bowles ’01 Contributing Writers Dana Pettit Rev. Vince LoPrinzi ‘20 Rev. David Mills ‘99 Alex Stewart ‘17 The Flame is published twice a year by Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050 Subscription Updates: MVNU. communications@ mvnu.edu mvnu.edu On the Cover: Kaye (McCall) Rankin joins her brother, Mark McCall, cutting the ribbon at the dedication of the McCall Prayer Chapel, named in honor of their parents Dr. Charles and Nota McCall.

MVNU President Dr. Carson Castleman, right, looks on.

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NEWS & NOTES

CAMPUS UPDATES

MOUNT VERNON GRAND HOTEL EARNS 2026 BOOKING.COM TRAVELERS’ AWARD The Mount Vernon Grand Hotel has been named a recipient of the 2026 Travelers’ Award from Booking.com, one of the travel industry’s most recognized guest-driven honors.

The hotel, owned by MVNU Management, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and operated by CUSA LLC, is located at 12 Public Square in downtown Mount Vernon. The fivestory Victorian hotel offers 46 rooms, a parlor, and a complimentary hot buffet breakfast for all guests.

Amenities include a fitness center, high-speed Wi-Fi, a business center, and two conference spaces.

The Travelers’ Award is determined solely by verified guest reviews submitted through Booking.com, making it a direct reflection of the guest experience rather than an industry panel or nomination process.

For reservations or more information, contact the hotel at (844) 700-1717 or visit mountvernongrand.com.

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MVNU STUDENTS BRING HOME TOP PRIZE For Matthew Sekanjako ’26 and Assol Abasova ’26, a long night of coding, collaboration, and creativity became an opportunity to showcase how Mount Vernon Nazarene University students are applying classroom learning to real-world innovation challenges.

Sekanjako (Cybersecurity) and Abasova (Computer Engineering) teamed up with Kenyon College students Wisdom Akanwe and Godwin Idowu and built Pchz (pronounced “Peaches”) for HackOHI/O 2025, the 24-hour innovation hackathon hosted by The Ohio State University. Pchz is a real-time, video-first platform where creators and innovators share wide-format project pitches and connect with collaborators, recruiters, companies, and investors.

The project earned First Place for Most Original Project.

Sekanjako and Abasova stated that the vision behind Pchz is rooted in serving others, creating tools that uplift people, open doors, and help individuals share the ideas and skills God has placed in them. Their hope is to build technology that serves communities and honors Christ.

To learn more about their project, visit www.peechz.com.

FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS Lindi Wells Martsolf, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biblical Literature, recently successfully defended her doctoral dissertation titled “Labor Pains in Prophetic Poetry: A Study of Isaiah’s Birth Metaphors.” Her research examined how labor pains function within the Birth Metaphor in Isaiah as a shifting motif, reflective of the transitional religious-political landscape of the prophetic era. She will graduate in October 2026 from the University of Manchester (Nazarene Theological College).

Krishana White, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Education, led MVNU Teacher Education to achieve the highest rating possible for the Ohio mandated literacy core, ensuring full alignment with the Science of Reading through comprehensive curriculum development and collaboration with state auditors.

Gbemisola Bamiduro, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry, recently published two articles in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering.

The first, co-authored with Elsayed M. Zahran, examines bismuth-based photocatalysts for the degradation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and was published in volume 13(6), 120321. The second article, co-authored with Lance Manley and Elsayed M. Zahran, explores visible-light S-scheme Pd@BiVO4/ BiOX heterostructures for efficient degradation of trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, published in volume 13(6), 119291.

Rachel Young, Ph.D., MSW, LISW-S, Associate Professor of Social Work, Division Chair, CAPS Coordinator, published a book review on Nov. 5, 2025, in the Oxford Academic Journal for the National Association of Social Workers, reviewing “Leading with Empathy: Supporting People in a Hybrid World” by Carolyn Reily.

Dr. Ken Larimore attended the NACSW Conference (Nov. 1316) in Norfolk, Va., conducting a pre-conference training for ministers on “Faith in Action: Supporting the Spiritual, Emotional, and Practical Needs of Your Congregation” and presenting “Motivational Interviewing: A Christian Perspective.”

Tiffanie Victoria Jones, Ph.D., LMSW, Associate Professor of Social Work, served as keynote presenter on Jan. 29, 2026, at the United Way of Knox County, presenting “The ALICE Report: Knox County — Bowls of Hope.”

The presentation addressed ALICE employees’ financial obligations and structural challenges, while identifying community partner resources to reduce worker burdens and improve work quality.

STUDENT & PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENTS

Stephen Samuel, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Exercise Science, Exercise & Health Sciences Program Director, published two research articles as part of his doctoral advisory mentorship, advancing MVNU’s research reputation. His work in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention demonstrates how exercise improves muscle mass in cancer patients, while his publication in PeerJ explores how laser therapy reduces radiation-induced complications in cancer care.

Dr. Katie Terry attended the CSWE Annual Program Meeting (Oct. 22-26) in Denver, Colo., and presented in two sessions on neurodivergence.

Young Artist Competition Winners — Claire Vallance and JoAnn Odonkor performed with the Knox Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, Jan. 31, as featured winners of the Young Musician Competition. Vallance, a senior engineering major and member of the MVNU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, studies French horn with Mrs. Sarah Jancura. Odonkor, daughter of Professor Margaret Allotey-Pappoe, placed first in the high school division and studies piano with Dr. JoAnn Koh-Baker.

MSW students work with H.O.M.E. Court program in Newark, Ohio, which was recently featured on Fox 28 Columbus.

This transformative justice system approach to addressing homelessness has helped nearly 20 homeless Newark residents secure housing and a fresh start.

Academic Partnership A new articulation agreement creates a clear pathway from MVNU Exercise Science to Indiana Wesleyan’s MSAT (Athletic Training) program, positioning MVNU undergraduates for graduate school competitiveness and career readiness in health professions.

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MVNU CELEBRATES RECORD-BREAKING GIVING DAY Mount Vernon Nazarene University announced a record-breaking Giving Day, raising nearly $518,000 in support of students, programs, and campus initiatives. The total marks the most successful Giving Day in the university’s history.

The annual event drew strong participation from alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and supporters, each contributing to areas of the University that hold personal significance. Gifts were directed toward immediate campus needs as well as programs, teams, and communities that continue to shape the MVNU experience.

$517,862 “Each contribution represents a meaningful investment in our students and in the mission of MVNU,” said Rev. Brad Kochis, Chief Development Officer. “This outpouring of generosity reflects a shared belief in the transformative work happening on our campus.”

Funds raised through Giving Day will directly support students both inside and outside the classroom enhancing academic opportunities, strengthening spiritual formation, and equipping students to pursue their callings with confidence.

RAISED IN SUPPORT OF STUDENTS, PROGRAMS, AND CAMPUS INITIATIVES.

Kochis emphasized the success of Giving Day is a testament to the strength and commitment of the MVNU community.

“This level of impact is only possible because of the faithful support of our alumni and friends,” said Kochis.

“Their generosity is shaping lives and extending the mission of MVNU far beyond campus.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GIVING DAY OR WAYS TO SUPPORT MVNU, VISIT MVNU.EDU/GIVE.

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Spring 2025 | 8

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

TEACHING JUSTICE THROUGH THE WORD

By Dana Pettit Digital Content & Social Media Specialist

In his Criminal Justice classroom at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Marc Hedrick, J.D. often looks at Scripture to begin his lesson.

“My favorite thing about MVNU is that I can use the Word of God to teach,” Dr. Hedrick said.

One passage that anchors his instruction is Romans 13. In the chapter, the apostle Paul describes governing authorities as established by God to maintain order and restrain wrongdoing. For Dr. Hedrick, that theological foundation is essential to how students understand the field.

“Criminal Justice is God’s gift to mankind,” he said.

Dr. Hedrick challenges students to see law enforcement, courts, and corrections not simply as systems of power, but as institutions intended for the good of society. That integration of faith and practice is what Hedrick believes sets the program apart.

Before entering the classroom, Dr. Hedrick built a career grounded in public service and the justice system. He served as a security officer in the United States Air Force; worked as a police officer in Marion, Ohio; and later practiced law as an attorney. Those experiences now shape the way he teaches. Rather than relying solely on theory or research, Hedrick regularly draws from real cases, field experiences, and courtroom insight to help students understand how criminal justice systems operate in practice.

“Big state universities use professors that are research-based,” Dr. Hedrick said. “I bring real-world experience to the classroom.”

His background allows him to present practical scenarios that mirror the decisions students may face one day.

“

My favorite thing about MVNU is that I can use the Word of God to teach.”

Whether discussing difficult cases, constitutional rights, or procedural law, Dr. Hedrick incorporates examples from his time in the military and in legal practice to enrich student’s learning.

“Giving our students real-world examples set them up for success,” he said.

At MVNU, practicality is paired with spiritual formation.

Dr. Hedrick, who joined MVNU in 2023, encourages students to consider not only what the law allows, but what justice requires. By grounding coursework in Romans 13 and drawing from years in the field, he seeks to prepare graduates who pursue justice with integrity and a clear sense of calling.

FOR MORE ON MVNU’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM, VISIT MVNU.EDU/CRIMINAL-JUSTICE.

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“For it to be linked to prayer is especially important — because if you knew my mom and dad, then you knew that prayer has always been at the center of their lives.”

Kaye McCall Ranke Daughter of Dr. & Mrs. McCall

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THE MCCALL PRAYER CHAPEL: Celebrating the legacy of Dr. Charles and Nota McCall

By Joe Huddleston ‘97

Dr. Charles McCall considers himself a plain man. At 98 years old, he still preaches twice a year at his church, still revises his sermons, and still works through a 14-page prayer list — certain prayers on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; others on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; the whole thing on Sundays. The list includes family and friends by name, neighbors on his street in Cleveland Heights, the North Central Ohio District of the Church of the Nazarene, and the college he helped build from nothing more than a name: Mount Vernon Nazarene (College) University.

That a small, converted icehouse on campus now bears his family’s name is, to his daughter Kaye McCall Ranke, both surprising and entirely fitting.

“For it to be linked to prayer,” she said at the dedication, “is especially important — because if you knew my mom and dad, then you knew that prayer has always been at the center of their lives.”

AN ICEHOUSE, THE BEAR SHACK, THE SECURITY SHACK, AND SACRED SPACE Before it was a prayer chapel, the building had other lives. In the early lore of the campus, it was known as the Bear Shack — legend had it that someone had acquired a bear from a circus, and the animal had been kept somewhere out near Lakeholm Farm. Over the years, it became the security shed, or security shack: functional, unremarkable, easy to walk past without

a second glance. Then it became home to MVNU Women’s Auxiliary and eventually storage.

When MVNU President Dr. Carson Castleman began sharing his dream of transforming the structure into a 24-hour prayer chapel, Kaye’s first reaction was simple appreciation. “I thought, ‘Nice, that’s wonderful,’” she recalled. She never imagined it would have anything to do with her family.

In some ways, the building itself tells the story. As Dr. Castleman noted at the dedication, it was originally built to house ice — cold by design, cold by purpose.

“Now,” he said, “it is a place that will warm our hearts.” Hearts, he added, that can be “strangely warmed” as people come to pray to the King of Kings and ask Him to intervene in their lives.

Cont'd on Page 12 Spring 2026 | 11

“

Everybody had a story but the same theme kept appearing: the Lord brought them here.”

Dr. Charles McCall, shown here sitting, was the first religion professor at Mount Vernon Nazarene College. He served MVNC/U from 1968 to 2005.

“THE LORD BROUGHT ME HERE” To understand why the McCall name belongs on this chapel, it helps to understand how Charles McCall came to Mount Vernon in the first place — and the remarkable spirit that surrounded those earliest days of the institution.

The college, as Dr. McCall tells it, began with almost nothing. A decision by the General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene had created what was initially called Zone A Nazarene College. There was no location, no administration, no faculty, no buildings. There was only a name. The site hadn’t even been chosen.

When McCall arrived for his faculty interview, the campus consisted of Lakeholm Manor, the icehouse, and a barn. The Campus Center and the dormitory were under construction.

Nothing was completed.

McCall and his wife, Nota, were among the earlier arrivals, and their first hours in Mount Vernon became family legend, largely due to their fiveyear-old daughter, Kaye. Sharp and 12 |

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observant, Kaye’s memory functioned, her father recalled with affection, “like a tape recorder — she remembered everything that was said.” When the family stopped at Bland’s Restaurant on Coshocton Avenue before the interview even took place, Kaye, with a candor that only a five-year-old can get away with, announced to the waitress — and by extension to the town — that her dad was going to be a teacher at the college. McCall hadn’t yet been offered the job.

Through all of it ran a single, recurring theme among the faculty and students who gathered in those early years. Repeatedly, in conversations and in the texture of campus life, the same thing was said: the Lord brought me here.

“Everybody had a story,” McCall said, “but the same theme kept appearing: the Lord brought them here.”

In that first year, McCall was the only religion professor on the faculty. He taught Old Testament Introduction and New Testament Introduction — all the religion classes the college offered.

Dr. Charles McCall Professor Emeritus

“I’ve often said I was the best religion professor we had,” he recalled. “I was also the worst — because I was the only one.”

A MOTHER’S PENNIES, A FATHER’S PRAYER LIST While Charles McCall was shaping the spiritual and academic life of the institution from the front of the classroom, his wife was doing it differently — quietly, persistently, and with a faith expressed most fully in prayer and fasting.

Nota McCall served as secretary in student services, working for Dr. Stephen W. Nease during his presidency.

The family moved into the dormitory when Kaye was in first grade, and they were still there when Kaye was grown, married, and practicing law.

Nota became, in that time, a fixture in the lives of generations of students — especially the young women in the dorm. She had, her daughter said, “a particular calling to young women,” praying with them and praying for them through surgeries and tests and decisions and turning points.

Her fasting was not casual. At a time when, as Kaye observed, fasting might be taken to mean skipping a meal or having a lighter snack, Nota McCall fasted on water alone. She knew, Kaye said simply, “that God answers the prayers of the faithful.”

After her mother’s death in 2014, Kaye found an envelope. Inside were 30, perhaps 50 — she wasn’t quite sure — three-by-five index cards. On each one, typed on a typewriter with the careful alignment that typewriters required, was the verse from the Gospel of Mark about the poor widow.

Taped to each card were two pennies.

Nota had kept them, all those years, for devotionals she gave about the poor widow — a woman who gave everything she had.

For Kaye, the cards were more than a keepsake. They were a portrait of who her mother was: someone who believed, without reservation, in the power of the stories and the power of prayer.

Charles, at 98, still carries that same conviction in his own organized, methodical, unstoppable way. His prayer list covers everything he holds dear, including the college — his prayer that it would continue as a legacy and lead young people to Christ. The sermon he still preaches twice a year takes its text from Nehemiah. Its title is “What Happens When a Plain Man Prays.”

AN ANONYMOUS GIFT, AN ENDURING LEGACY The story of how the McCall Prayer Chapel came to carry that name

begins with a conversation. MVNU’s Chief Development Officer, Rev. Brad Kochis, had been sharing Dr. Castleman’s vision for the 24-hour prayer chapel with potential donors.

One donor asked a quiet question: had anything on the campus ever been named after the McCalls?

It had not.

The donor said they would like that to change — and would like to remain anonymous.

And so, the building that was once an icehouse, then a bear enclosure, then a security shack, became a sacred space.

The sacred space became the McCall Prayer Chapel: named for a Greek professor and his wife who, with their two children, arrived at a barely-built college, helped build a college from the ground up, and spent the better part of their lives pointing students toward Jesus through scholarship and service and — above all — prayer.

At the dedication, Kaye spoke on behalf of her family, her brother Mark (a member of MVNU’s pioneer graduating class) beside her. She spoke about her mother’s pennies and her father’s prayer list and the long list of names who had given themselves to this place in its earliest, most formative years.

“So many people gave all they had in dedication and service to the faith and this place and its mission,” Kaye said.

Like the poor widow. Like two pennies taped to a card.

SCAN HERE TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS OF THE MCCALL PRAYER CHAPEL AND THE DEDICATION.

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STAFF SPOTLIGHT Name: Becky Rockwell Years at MVNU: 45 years Positions held: Data Entry, Financial Aid, Loan Coordinator, Student Financial Aid Advisor and Student Accounts Assistant Hometown: Mount Vernon, Ohio Fun Fact: I love flower gardens. I maintain about 14 gardens (perennials/ annuals/trees), and I am excited to add a Monarch Butterfly garden this spring.

Becky Rockwell, with always a smile on her face, is celebrating 45 years at MVNU.

Favorite Memory of MVNU so far: Dr. (Stanton) Parry, former Vice President of Finance and Management allowed the offices on campus to close so that we could watch the steeple be lifted by a crane and attached to the Chapel.

It was a beautiful day that afternoon.

SEE YOURSELF HERE!

SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT TODAY!

Proudest accomplishment during time at MVNU: I believe that the 45 years that I have been a staff member here at MVNU. The time has gone too fast.

How do you believe MVNU does college differently: The longevity of my colleagues whom I have met and the privilege to work and pray with my family here at MVNU. We serve others in a Christ-like manner and that we focus on love, humility, service and grace to all.

How is the University motto “To seek to learn is to seek to serve” lived out on campus: MVNU encourages students to apply their knowledge, their personal growth and to live out their faith. The importance to meet the community needs in Mount Vernon has always played a vital role which has made MVNU successful.

TRANSFORMED THROUGH COMMUNITY:

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

THE MISSION BEHIND IMMANUEL BIBLE STUDY

By Rev. Vince LoPrinzi, Assistant Director of Spiritual Life and Discipleship

In the fall of 2024, Matthew Sekanjako and Kelly Rwema felt a deep desire to join a Bible study that was consistently rooted in Scripture and led by the Holy Spirit. In obedience to the Spirit’s prompting, they decided to start one themselves.

On a Thursday night in mid-October, five transfer students gathered in the Honors Study Room of Central Complex to read Scripture in community. That night marked the birth of “Immanuel Bible Study.”

Throughout the fall semester, the group remained small as they intentionally laid the foundation for what their community would become. By the time spring semester arrived, the leaders sensed it was time to publicly share what God had been doing on Thursday nights.

The group soon grew to around 15 students meeting weekly, united under the guiding principles found in Isaiah 11:10 (NKJV):

“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”

weeks focus on spiritual check-ins, allowing students to share honestly about their walks with the Lord. At times, guest speakers are invited to share testimonies or offer teaching.

Rwema describes the mission of Immanuel as “a people committed to establishing their identity as a people who have their hearts set apart for God — to build a temple for Him. To know what it means for Yahweh to be our banner, to create a deeper and more personal relationship with Christ, and to understand what it means to set your life apart and apply that to daily decisions by including God in everything.”

Regardless of the format, the central heartbeat remains the same: engaging with God together in community.

Over the past 16 months, as the group has grown, the mission has remained the same. The week-to-week programming looks different depending on how the Spirit has been moving in the leaders’ hearts.

Some weeks are devoted to diving deeply into Scripture and engaging in thoughtful group discussions. Other

Many students have shared that Immanuel is not only a time of spiritual enrichment but also a space for meaningful social connection that has led to rich, Christ-centered relationships.

Others emphasize how consistently meeting with the same group has helped keep them accountable in their faith journeys.

Every Thursday night from 7-8 p.m. in the Barn, the fruit of that original step of obedience is visible. Immanuel Bible Study stands as a testament to what can — and so often does — happen on a college campus when students align their desires with action under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

FAITH IN ACTION:

Blaine Hergenrother’s Journey from MVNU to Washington, D.C.

THE PARKING LOT AND THE PATH TO CAPITOL HILL There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles over a car in a parking lot. For Blaine Hergenrother (’25), that stillness came on an ordinary morning when he was preparing to take a polygraph test to become a police cadet. He never made it inside.

Two weeks later, visiting his grandparents in Florida, they presented him with an opportunity to attend Mount Vernon Nazarene University. His conviction in that parking lot cleared space for something he couldn’t yet see.

“I took that opportunity without hesitation, and I have remained eternally grateful ever since,” he said. “Looking back, I truly believe the Lord redirected my path in that parking lot.”

THE LOCKER ROOM AND THE CLASSROOM Hergenrother’s experience at MVNU shaped him in unexpected ways. Dr. Thad Hicks, Professor of Emergency Management, gave him a working knowledge of Federal Emergency Management Agency operations and disaster response.

Dr. William Wantland, Professor of History, taught him how to come up with an explanation and stand behind it.

“I learned how to think critically, construct a well-supported argument, and confidently present it. Those skills have been foundational to my professional life,” said Hergenrother, 16 |

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who majored in History and minored in Homeland Security & Emergency Management at MVNU. Then there was lacrosse. Hergenrother had never played — he was a football player and a wrestler in high school — but coach Ryan Farr gave him a chance. He spent four seasons as a third-string goalie, and early on, he realized his impact wouldn’t come from between the posts. So, he invested in the locker room instead, building relationships with every teammate and helping establish a team Bible study that met on bus rides, in hotel rooms, and in lobbies across the country.

That experience, he recalls, shaped his understanding of leadership, humility, and influence beyond titles.

A DINNER, A PHONE CALL, A CAREER In April 2023, Hergenrother attended the Columbiana County Lincoln Day Dinner, where he was introduced to U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno and other well-known Republicans. The next day, Moreno called him personally and asked if he would like to intern on his campaign.

Hergenrother accepted immediately and has been on the team ever since. Today he serves as a personal aide to Sen. Moreno. His days begin around 7:30 a.m. and rarely end before 9:30 p.m., navigating committee hearings, floor votes, constituent meetings, and occasional White House visits.

The schedule can shift completely in minutes.

Blaine Hergenrother, shown here with his family on Men’s Lacrosse Senior Day in 2025, took what he learned at MVNU and is applying it in our nation’s capital.

MVNU President Dr. Carson Castleman, left, visited with Hergenrother, center, and U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno this past fall.

“I view diligence, discipline, and competence as acts of stewardship — ways of giving glory to God through my work.”

FAITH DOESN’T CLOCK OUT Hergenrother hasn’t left his faith at the door of the Capitol.

Alongside two other personal aides, he recently helped start a Bible study for “body guys” — the nickname for personal aides. It echoes those bus rides with the lacrosse team. The setting is different. The impulse is the same.

“Our study focuses on the importance of serving well in support roles,” he said. “We’ve spent significant time in Paul’s Epistles, examining how Scripture honors faithfulness, humility, and diligence in unseen positions. It’s been encouraging to build Christian fellowship within the demanding environment of Capitol Hill.”

What drew him to public service, he says, was watching faith and Christian values get crowded out of public life.

At MVNU, he helped establish a pro-life community and participated in Right to Life events. The university strengthened his conviction that faith cannot stay private — it must inform action.

“Laziness is not a Christian virtue. In public service, negligence can have serious consequences. I view diligence,

discipline, and competence as acts of stewardship — ways of giving glory to God through my work,” Hergenrother said.

GIVING BACK TO MVNU AND LOCAL COMMUNITY Hergenrother recently volunteered as alumni coordinator for MVNU lacrosse, hoping to keep former players connected and supportive long after graduation.

“Community shouldn’t end at graduation,” he says.

When his time in Washington, D.C. draws to a close, he has another community in mind. He developed a deep affection for Knox County during his years at MVNU — a place he wasn’t from but became a resident of, one where his life changed profoundly. Running for office one day, he says, is something he would seriously consider.

The parking lot that redirected him wasn’t the last time stillness would set a new course. He has learned to pay attention to those moments — when a door closes and the one that opens next hasn’t yet come into view.

He drives away. And then he sees where he was always supposed to go.

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LADY COUGARS RESET THE STANDARD The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s volleyball team finished No. 10 in the rankings with a record of 27-9 overall and 14-4 in the Crossroads League, making a third straight appearance in the NAIA Women’s Volleyball National Tournament final site in Sioux City, Iowa. The No. 10 ranking to finish the season was the highest overall ranking in program history.

MVNU hosted the opening round of the tournament at Ariel Arena for the third consecutive season, winning in a 3-0 sweep against Rio Grande to advance to Pool Play in Sioux City. The Lady Cougars took a 3-1 win against the No. 19 College of Idaho but would see the strong season run come to an end after a loss to No. 6 Providence (MT) University.

Head coach Kendra Mosher entered her sixth year leading the Lady Cougars.

Mosher was a highly decorated player in her four-year career at MVNU and has

continued that into her coaching.

Assistant coach and former player (2019-23) Molly Galaszewski was honored as Assistant Coach of the Year in her second year.

The Lady Cougars had several key players leading their offensive attack this year, including middle hitter Evelyn Brown, outside hitter Morgan Schlabach, outside hitter Libby Evanshine, setter Reagan Nuss, and middle hitter Faith Maloney. Jaelyn Tang led MVNU on the defensive backrow, ending her fantastic career in a Lady Cougar uniform with over 1,000 digs.

In her first season as a Lady Cougar, Brown was named Freshman of the Year

by AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association), AVCA All-Regional, and the Crossroads League. Brown also earned an All-American Honorable Mention and was a First Team honoree in the AVCA and All-Crossroads League. Schlabach also had an impres-

No.10 sive first season, earning a spot on the All-Freshman Crossroads League team and the All-Crossroads League Honorable Mention team.

In her third season, Evanshine earned All-Crossroads League Second Team honors. Finishing their MVNU career, Nuss was named an All-American Honorable Mention and a First Team honors in the AVCA and All-Crossroads league, Maloney earned the First Team honors for the AVCA and All-Crossroads League, and Tang earned Second Team All-Crossroads League honors.

MVNU will look to build off its historic season in the fall of 2027.

BAKER BECOMES FIRST ALL-AMERICAN IN MVNU MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY HISTORY MVNU freshman Will Baker became the first male runner in school cross country history to earn All-American honors at the 70th annual Men’s Cross Country National Championship on November 21 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida. Baker, from Mount Gilead, Ohio, placed 14th overall in his national debut with a time of 24:44.4. His finish ranked second among all Crossroads League runners in the 8K, capping off a record-breaking first season.

18 |

THE FLAME

MVNU ATHLETICS HONORS FOUNDING LEADER CHET FORAKER

200 WINS AND

COUNTING:

COACH RONAI REACHES A MILESTONE AT MVNU In his eleven seasons leading the Cougars, MVNU men’s basketball coach Jared Ronai has built something special, and his 200th win leading the Mount Vernon Nazarene University program is a testament to the culture he’s carefully constructed over the past decade.

That milestone moment came on Dec. 19, 2025, when the Cougars knocked off Wagner University, 66-64. It was a fitting setting — a hard-fought win that reflected exactly the kind of program Ronai’s built.

Ronai has averaged over 18 wins per year — a remarkable mark of consistency. Along the way, he’s guided MVNU to national tournament appearances in 2019 and 2022, a Sweet 16 run, and a program-record-tying 27 wins in the 2018-19 season, when the Cougars climbed as high as No. 4 in the national rankings. This season the team finished 17-12 overall, including a 9-9 mark in the Crossroads League.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University athletics honored one of its founding leaders with the inaugural Chet Foraker Legacy Award, recognizing the lasting impact of the university’s first athletic director and head coach.

The award, which will be presented annually, recognizes individuals who demonstrate long-term commitment, servant leadership, and enduring influence on MVNU athletics.

Athletic Director Chip Wilson said the award reflects the foundation that Foraker helped establish when the university launched its athletic programs.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to celebrate Chet and the legacy he established,” Wilson said. “Not only did he help establish athletics at Mount Vernon Nazarene College, but Chet Foraker also helped establish the spiritual foundation within the athletic department. He ensured prayer took place before every athletic competition prior to the national anthem — a tradition that we continue today.”

Foraker played a central role in the early development of athletics at MVNU. When the university opened in 1968, he served as the first head coach of the men’s basketball program from 1968 to 1971, the first baseball coach from 1969 to 1971, and the institution’s first athletic director from 1970 to 1971. His leadership helped lay the groundwork for the university’s intercollegiate athletics program.

“We honor what is honorable, and Chet Foraker is an honorable man,” said MVNU President Dr. Carson Castleman. “Coach Foraker helped lay the groundwork for intercollegiate athletics at MVNU, and his influence has extended across generations of students, athletes, and coaches.”

Beyond athletics, Foraker served as a faculty member who deeply cared for his students. During the university’s second year of operation, founding president Stephen W. Nease presented him with the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching during the 1969-70 academic year.

From left are MVNU athletic director Chip Wilson, MVNU President Dr. Carson Castleman, Chet Foraker, and Mount Vernon Mayor Dr. Matt Starr.

Spring Spring 2026 2026 || 19 19

LEARNING TO WALK THE LONG ROAD

By Rev. David Mills, Vice President for Spiritual Life and Church Relations

I’ve always been known for not wanting to stop on road trips. I like to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. One of my proudest (and funniest) moments as a father came when my daughter Karly arrived home from college one weekend. Before we even exchanged hugs, she announced, “Dad, I didn’t stop once on the way home!”

Some of you are like me. Others prefer to slow down and enjoy the journey.

That contrast raises an important spiritual question: Are we tourists or pilgrims?

At the beginning of each year, I reread “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction” by Eugene Peterson. Peterson writes, “There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of

virtue.” His words remind me how easy it is to treat faith like a quick stop instead of a lifelong journey.

A tourist moves through faith looking for inspiration, comfort, and highlights, asking, “What can I get out of this?” A pilgrim walks with God for transformation, obedience, and lifelong formation — the kind of long obedience Peterson describes. Tourists admire Jesus from a distance; pilgrims follow Him, even when the road is slow or difficult.

At MVNU, we have four — maybe five — years with a student on our traditional campus to help shape a life that will impact the next 40 years. For our online adult learners, the time is even shorter. I often wrestle with how we can help students embrace the posture of a pilgrim rather than a tourist. The answer isn’t new or complicated — it’s walking with them and modeling a life of faithful pilgrimage ourselves.

Isaiah reminds us, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord … He will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths” (Isaiah 2:3).

May we remember that faith is not about how fast we arrive but about who we become along the way. Lord, make us pilgrims. Amen.