Fall 2017 Ambassador Magazine

FALL 2017 WORTH IT The tough job of calling a generation to Christ p. 4 "WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TODAY?" The question that makes the difference p. 6 JUST ONE Danny Davila's journey into youth ministry p. 10

2017 online grad Ashlyn Baugher receives her diploma from Dean of Online Learning Shawn Lindsay.

occ.edu/online |

onlinelearning@occ.edu

CONTENTS TO INSPIRE President’s Perspective Matt Proctor Youth ministers today have a tough job

Featured Theme Kevin Greer

Training and inspiring the next wave of youth ministers

Grads at a Glance

How OCC’s 2017 graduates are making an impact

New Testament Words Kenny Boles

An in-depth look at the language of Scripture

Just One: Danny Davila Amy Storms

How one Ozark grad is changing the world

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TO INFORM Campus News

Recent happenings at OCC

The Big Picture

A snapshot of life around campus

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Meet Your OCC Family Introducing Ozark administrator, Bob Witte

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Coming Soon

Upcoming events at OCC

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TO CONNECT Here’s an Idea Matt Proctor Ten Ways Your Church Can Move More Young People Toward Vocational Ministry

Your Partnership Sergio Rizo

Helpful tools for Christian stewardship

Alumni News

Updates from alumni around the world

One More Thing Amy Storms A final thought from our editor

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The Ambassador magazine is published three times each year to inspire, inform and connect the Ozark Christian College family.

Editorial Team: Kathy Bowers, Jill English, Matt Proctor, Amy Storms Graphic Design: Little Bird Marketing Photo Contributors: Greg Fish, R.J. Harbison, Mark Neuenschwander, Chris Roberts, David Summerlin Contact Us: Ozark Christian College 1111 N. Main Joplin, MO 64801 hello@occ.edu

The ultimate mission of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide.

The immediate mission of OCC is to train men and women for Christian service as a degree-granting institution of biblical higher education. Ozark Christian College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). OCC is also a Candidate for Accreditation with Higher Learning Commimission (HLC).

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

CHANGE YOUTH, CHANGE THE WORLD:

Matt Proctor has served as president of Ozark Christian College since 2006.

THE TOUGH JOB OF CALLING A GENERATION TO CHRIST

Matt Proctor Youth ministers today have a tough job.

A Generation of Extended Adolescence

I live among college students, and on their social media, a new verb—“adulting”—recently began showing up as a hashtag: • “Decided I couldn’t watch Netflix for 8 hours straight and started my homework instead. #adulting” • “Paying my bills today instead of getting the new Legend of Zelda game. #adulting” If you’ve never heard the term (which probably means you’re an actual adult), “adulting” has become an ironic way to describe normal adult activities, like doing household chores or showing up at your job. “In other words, to a growing number of young Americans, acting like a grown-up is a sort of role-playing. Ours is now an odd nation of both delayed grown-ups and adultchildren.” 1 Too many in this generation aren’t well-trained for adulthood.

Indeed, sociologists tell us that, whether because of too much medication, too much screen time, or too many helicopter parents, today’s young people are moving into traditional adult behaviors at a slower rate. Moving out of mom and dad’s house, getting a full-time job, and starting a family are happening much later on this generation’s timeline.

Adolescence is no longer ages 12-18. It’s often ages 12-28 or longer, and it’s hard to move young people toward spiritual maturity when they still struggle with maturity in other areas.

Youth ministers today have a tough job.

A Generation of Deep Brokenness

My heart broke when a student in preaching class started a sermon this way: “I’ll never forget the day I finally fit in with all my friends at school—the day I finally had something in common with all the other kids in my grade. It was the day my parents divorced.”

The breakdown of the American family is one of several factors in the rise of mental health issues among the upcoming generation. (Other contributors include the emotional pressures

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of social media and the consequences of childhood abuse. Today, 1 in 10 children are sexually abused before age 18.)

Compared to my generation from the 1980s, today’s teenagers are 74% more likely to have trouble sleeping. One report found that “more than 25% of college students have a diagnosable mental illness and have been treated in the past year.”2 According to Psychology Today, “the average high school kid today has the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950s.” Sadly, the suicide rate among college students has tripled since 1950.

So in any given church youth group, a high percentage of students are struggling with clinical depression, cutting, pornography addiction, suicidal thoughts, and the often undiagnosed effects of childhood neglect or abuse.

Youth ministers today have a tough job.

A Generation of Religious Apathy

Twenty-six-year-old Marcus Mumford, lead singer of Grammy-winning British band Mumford & Sons, grew up in the church. His parents were the national leaders of the Vineyard Church movement in the U.K., and his lyrics remain full of spiritual themes. But when Rolling Stone magazine asked Mumford if he still “considers himself a Christian,” he answered: I don’t really like that word. It comes with so much baggage. So, no, I wouldn’t call myself a Christian. I think the word just conjures up all these religious images that I don’t really like. I have my personal views about the person of Jesus and who he was. I’ve kind of separated myself from the culture of Christianity.3

It's hard to move young people toward spiritual maturity when they still struggle with maturity in other areas.

Ben Sasse, The Vanishing American Adult, St. Martin’s Press, 2017, 1-2.

Laura Heck, “A generation on edge: A look at millennials and mental health,” Vox Magazine, Nov 19, 2015, 9.

James Emery White, The Rise of the Nones, Baker, 2014, 24.

Most of all, we seek to draw them closer to Christ. Jesus is the only one who can give youth ministers the wisdom, love and courage they’ll need.

And no matter how troubled the next generation might be, Jesus has the power to forgive, heal, and change them forever.

The Difference Just One Minister Can Make

Marcus Mumford speaks for many young people today. While many have no belief in God, those who do have some spiritual interest want nothing to do with religion or church. Sociologists call this “the rise of the nones,” meaning the number of Americans who claim “no religious affiliation” has increased with each successive generation.

• Builders (born 1928-1945): 11% • Boomers (born 1946-1964): 17% • Busters (born 1965-1980): 23% • Millennials (born 1981-1996): 36% • Generation Z (born 1997- ): 53%4 Demographically, the upcoming generation will be the largest in American history, but as James Emery White writes in Generation Z, “This is the first truly post-Christian generation.”5 Calling them to Christ and his church will be no easy task.

Youth ministers today have a tough job.

Change Youth, Change the World

All of which means: we must prepare today’s youth ministers wisely and well.

At Ozark Christian College, we believe that—despite the challenges—the gospel is still “the power of God that brings salvation,” and we train men and women to make disciples among the next generation.6 For years, CIY (Christ In Youth) had this motto: “Change youth, change the world,” and that remains one of OCC Youth Ministry Professor Kevin Greer’s life themes.

(Read his article in this Ambassador.) When you reach young people for Christ, you reshape what the world will look like in the years ahead.

So we ground our youth ministry students deeply in God’s Word, with over 50 hours of Bible classes. We equip them with practical skills taught by long-time youth ministry practitioners.

It doesn’t hurt that CIY’s headquarters are right next door, and our students benefit from that partnership both inside and outside the classroom. We require internships for every youth ministry major, so they get on-the-job mentoring from seasoned ministry veterans.

Of course, troubled young people are nothing new.

In 1938, the Pepper Street Gang plagued Pasadena, California—restless teenagers caught up in vandalism and petty theft. The gang’s leader Jack was a notorious troublemaker. The youngest of five children, raised without a father, Jack was hotheaded “with a big mouth and a rattlesnake temper,” as one newspaper described him. Jack was banned from the city pool and YMCA, and white Pasadena storeowners tried to keep the African-American young man away from their properties—by burning a cross in his front yard. To the police, Jack was among their most wanted, and he seemed destined for jail.

But when 25-year-old Karl Downs became the minister at Scott United Methodist Church, things began to change. Seeing the misguided youth in his city, Downs decided to do something.

He organized his congregation’s first nursery ministry, started a toy drive for poor children, built a youth recreation center and even held dances at his church. Many of the members protested these unconventional changes, but Downs was willing to challenge tradition. He wanted to reach young people for Christ.

It was no surprise, then, when the bold Downs dropped by the Pepper Street Gang hangout, asking for Jack. When no one would identify their leader (standing in their midst), Karl Downs said simply, “Tell him I want to see him at church.” Intrigued

by Downs’ courage, Jack showed up at Scott United Methodist Church. The young minister played ball with him and his friends and spoke to him earnestly about Jesus. Under Karl Downs’ influence, Jack committed himself to Christ.

That encounter changed Jack—Jackie Roosevelt Robinson— and our country forever.

In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Despite vile and sometimes violent abuse, the fiery Robinson steadfastly “turned the other cheek,” guided by his deep Christian faith. His example eventually helped transform a nation, inspiring everyone from Harry Truman to Martin Luther King in the civil rights effort.

The world was changed…because one young person was changed. Jackie Robinson’s widow Rachel would later write, “Jack said Karl’s intervention—he called it a ‘rescue’—changed the course of his life.”

Youth ministry has always been a tough job. But it’s worth it.

Change youth, change the world.

pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/05/13/a-closer-look-at-americas-rapidly-growing-religious-nones James Emery White, Generation Z: Understanding and Reaching the New Post Christian World, Baker, 2017, 11.

6 Romans 1:16 (NIV) 4 5

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FEATURED THEME

CHALLENGING THE NEXT WAVE OF YOUTH MINISTERS: IF WE DON’T WHO WILL? Kevin Greer Kevin Greer serves as OCC's director of youth ministry relations and professor of student ministries.

I love my job. My name is Kevin Greer, and I get to serve as OCC’s professor of student ministries and director of youth ministry relations. That means I get to teach and challenge college students to serve God through student ministry. It’s a kick!

Now and then, I begin my classes by asking, “What are we talking about today?” I’m usually met with a few blank stares, a few others avoid eye contact and dig in their notebooks to see what’s next on the syllabus, and a few make educated guesses based on what we discussed the day before. Sooner or later, someone responds with the correct answer.

“Changing the world.”

That’s right! Every day, regardless of the course outline or lecture topic, in student ministry classes we’re talking about changing the world. I honestly believe that, or I wouldn’t have invested 39 years in it. It’s awesome to realize that what you do every single day impacts eternity. That’s what hard-working, Jesus-loving, people-loving, gospel-teaching youth ministers get to do. And we need more people to do it.

“You ought to think about being a youth minister.”

“You ought to think about being a youth minister.” I wish these words were spoken more often. We will always need more men and women willing to dedicate their lives to reaching and teaching children and teens with the gospel. Over 90% of Christ-followers accept Jesus as their Savior before age 18, and the chances for those who don’t drops to only 6% who become Christians after age 18.1 Effective churches and Christian leaders promote the importance of reaching future generations. They work to funnel

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quality volunteers toward children’s and youth ministry. After all, these ministries are the life-blood of the church. It’s from them that we raise up future evangelists, missionaries, youth pastors, preachers, church administrators, church planters, worship leaders, teachers and elders. Churches ought to look at their young and challenge many of them to consider ministry as a career. If the encouragement doesn’t come from the church, where will it come from?

Years ago, I was serving at a week of camp when a youth minister arrived with his students. I immediately recognized him as a kid who had attended a high school camp I directed ten years earlier. When he told me he was a youth minister now, I laughed with him about the crazy things he’d done as a teenager. Then he caught me off guard when he told me that I was the reason he became a youth minister.

“One day at camp,” he said, “you sat down on a log with me and told me I should be a youth minister. Then you quoted a Scripture and left me to think about it.” Honestly, I didn’t remember that conversation, but he did. Funny—neither of us could remember the verse I’d quoted. It’s curious how God uses everyday moments—a conversation or a friendship—to alter the course of a life.

That’s what hard-working, Jesus-loving, people-loving, gospel-teaching youth ministers get to do. And we need more people to do it.

David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 2007, 70.

For the past nine summers, I’ve served as program director of Camp Como in Colorado. I get to spend a month in the mountains with teenagers and their youth leaders, practicing what I teach all year long. It’s an amazing, refreshing experience. Before camp began last summer, I determined to have daily conversations with individual campers about more than surface level stuff. I decided I’d force some awkward conversations about their walks with Jesus and their futures. I had some interesting talks. The very first day, I asked a seventh grader to tell me about her life, and without blinking she told me her parents were divorced and her dad was in jail. Each day, I pushed myself into another awkward yet spiritual conversation, asking kids what they prayed about or what their family was like or what their relationship with Jesus was like. And every now and then I’d tell a kid, “You ought to be a youth minister (or missionary or children’s minister).” If we don’t challenge them to think about it, who will?

OCC’s Student Ministry Mission

The purpose statement for the Student Ministry major at Ozark Christian College is “to train and inspire the next wave of youth ministers to effectively lead, organize and administrate Jesus-centered student ministry, guiding and shaping students to be lifelong disciples of Jesus.” This is accomplished through the completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry with a major in Student Ministry. Students who complete this degree have over 50 hours of Bible exegesis as well as classes in psychology, counseling, philosophy, apologetics and more. The major includes nine hours of practical student ministry classes, two hours on counseling youth, a senior-level class where they learn from student pastors around the United States, a summer internship, six hours of preaching classes, and a weekend working with Christ In Youth. In addition, every student ministry major volunteers in a local youth ministry.

By some estimates, there are now more than 60,000 full-time youth pastors serving in churches across North America.2 There will always be a need for more. This is a profession that continues to have openings. OCC receives calls every week from churches Group Magazine, Jan/Feb 2009, 50.

Mark Devries, Sustainable Youth Ministry, IVP, Downers Grove, 2008, 92.

Devries, 44.

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and parachurch organizations seeking people who are passionate about reaching children and teens with the gospel. Every year, we help our student ministry majors find employment in this field.

Encourage Your Youth Minister

It doesn’t stop there. We also encourage our grads on the field to keep up the good work. According to Ministry Architects founder Mark Devries, the average student minister serves a single church for 3.9 years.3 That’s an improvement from 30 years ago, when the average youth ministry tenure was 18 months. The length of tenure can be helped dramatically by the church where the youth pastor serves. Encourage your youth minister verbally, financially, with adequate facilities and with good volunteer support.

It’s funny to think that “youth ministry may be one of the only professions that has settled into the pattern of handing over total responsibility for running an organization to young people just out of college,”4 so here’s a tip specifically for churches hiring recent grads: You can increase your youth minister’s effectiveness by providing someone older and wiser to offer them advice or a shoulder to lean on. It’s best if it’s not their boss or supervisor. I call this the Tom Glenn Principle. Tom was a deacon at the first church I served. He was about ten years older and twenty years wiser than I. Tom told me that he had big shoulders and that if I ever needed to talk or vent, I could come see him. I did, and I believe he was one of the reasons I served at that church for ten years.

One way to measure the health of a church is to look at its children’s and youth ministries. Are they growing? Are they promoted among the major ministries of the church? Are these age groups considered when church decisions are made? After all, ministries to youth are the life-blood of the church. We’re talking about changing the world, and this is where future world changers come from. If we don’t challenge our youth to change the world, who will?

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GRADS AT A GLANCE A survey of our 2017 bachelor degree graduates shows some exciting statistics! Take a look.

2017 Grads Entering Vocational (Paid) or Volunteer (Unpaid) Ministry:

Graduates Surveyed

57.3% Male

42.7%

6%

94%

Female

not entering service

Type of Ministry 2017 Grads Will Enter (Vocational or Volunteer): 23.4% 14.4%

Student/Youth

9.01%

Missions or Intercultural

Worship or Creative Arts

9.01% Preaching

“If you had to do it again, would you choose to attend Ozark Christian College?”

8.11%

Discipleship, Small Group or Christian Formation

7.24%

Other

7.21%

Children’s

7.21% 6.31% 4.5% 2.7%

Community/Biblical Justice

0.9%

Administration or Business

College Age, Next Gen or Campus Special Needs Ministries Counseling

YES! .00%

2 No.

98.00%

NEW TESTAMENT WORDS

NEW TESTAMENT WORDS

YOUTH Kenny Boles

The Greek word for a youngster aged 7 to 14 is pais, pronounced “pice.” The word usually refers to a boy, although it can also refer to a girl (see Luke 8:54).

In addition, pais can sometimes be as young as two (see Matt 2:16) or as old as an adult (see Matt 14:2).

The most interesting aspect of pais is that it has a meaning in regard to age and a separate meaning in regard to social position. The age, as we have already mentioned, usually has the range of 14 or under. The social position, however, focuses on the role of servanthood. There is a logical reason why this is so. A ten- or twelve- or fourteen-year-old does not give orders; he obeys them. So there is some overlapping between “youngster” and “slave.” In our own more recent history, the term “my boy” could refer to either a son or a servant.

When God spoke of the coming Messiah, he said, “Here is my pais, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations” (Isa 42:1). Should we translate pais as “servant” or “Son” or perhaps both? This is the same servant/Son who is the famous Suffering Servant in Isaiah 52:13ff. He is a Son who serves; he is a servant who is loved as a Son. Okay, then. Is there some lesson we can draw from all this and apply it to the theme of youth ministry? It seems to me that pais has, in fact, a double lesson.

Here is the first: young people—both boys and girls—need to feel loved as the sons and daughters of God. He is their Father and they are made in his image. And here is the second: to be God’s child is to be God’s servant.

Therefore youth ministry is not so much ministering to youth as it is training youth to minister.

Kenny Boles taught Greek and New Testament at OCC for more than 40 years.

TO INSPIRE

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JUST ONE: DANNY DAVILA

NOTHING WORTH MORE Amy Storms

The teenage boy had had enough. His parents were separated, his dad lived out of state, and his mom did her best to keep her son in church. He’d had trouble at school, trouble at home, even trouble with the police. Then one Sunday, it was all too much. He ran.

He ran—quite literally—away from church. The boy sprinted along the back of the church property, across a field, desperate to get away.

“That’s how much I care about you!”

But he didn’t run alone. To the boy’s surprise, there, running right behind him, was his youth minister, Danny Davila.

Danny called out as he came near, “Dude!

These are new shoes!”

Surprised, the boy slowed his pace, then stopped. “I ran all the way out here in the wet grass in my new shoes, just to chase you down,” Danny continued. “That’s how much I care about you!”

Most likely, the boy can’t recall the lesson Danny taught in church that day, but he won’t soon forget what he learned out there in the wet grass. “You’re worth it,” Danny was saying. “That’s how much I care.”

Danny’s journey into youth ministry began in Monterrey, Mexico, where he spent his early childhood. Raised in a Christian home, Danny’s family—mom,

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dad, and older brother—moved to the States when Danny was in the second grade. In Texas, the Davilas attended then Grace Christian Church—now Current Christian Church—every week.

The church was led by former OCC trustee Glen Liston and 2001 grad Jeremy Peterson.

“You should go!”

When Danny was a junior in high school, thanks to the influence and discipleship of his small group youth leader, Lazaro Piña, Danny decided to give his life to Christ. Danny planned to study aerospace engineering at the University of Houston, but God had other plans. When his youth group attended a Christ In Youth conference in Bolivar, Missouri, Piña signed Danny up to receive information about Ozark Christian College—but he didn’t tell Danny. Then, at the end of the week, Ozark’s Kevin Greer awarded OCC scholarships to a few select high schoolers—and Danny won! Surprised, Danny looked around, wondering how his name was even in the running for the scholarship. Then he heard his brother, cousin, and youth leader laughing. “I gave them your name!” Laz Piña confessed. The three encouraged Danny to follow God’s call to kingdom work. “You should go,” Piña said. “I’ve seen how you work with the kids at church.

You should go, and you should be a youth minister.”

The next semester, Danny enrolled at OCC and majored in youth ministry.

“I remember my first week at Ozark,” Danny says, “when we had a welcome party. Kevin Greer walked in, looked around, saw me, and came straight over to talk to me. He remembered me from CIY. I remember thinking, ‘I barely know him, but he wants to talk to me!’ Kevin has been pushing me and giving me great wisdom about life and ministry ever since.”

“Ozark did a fantastic job preparing me,” Danny continues. “I often find myself going back to all my binders and notes and books. ‘What did Kevin say about this?’ I wish I would’ve written down every single thing the professors said.”

“Brian Brubaker and Dru Ashwell challenged me to memorize Scripture. All the professors really cared about us and poured into us. Even though they had tons of other students, they knew us and wanted to encourage us and talk to us,” Danny says. “They knew how hard and how difficult ministry would be when we left Ozark. They knew we needed to get our stuff together then, as students, and develop devotion and spiritual disciplines while we were still at Ozark.”

OCC impacted Danny outside the classroom, too. “Damien Spikereit has always been great to me. He took some

of us guys out to lunch every week—to a greasy, nasty burger joint—but it was so good! The soccer team and my dorm floor, Boatman 3rd, also left a lasting impact on me. I’ll never forget the pranks we played on each other—or the nights we prayed together and the times we had devotions together before class. It was a great community.”

“Why do we do youth ministry?”

But it was Danny’s youth ministry classes with Kevin Greer that made the biggest mark. “Kevin’s philosophy is something I try to live by and communicate to my students: that one day,

they’re going to change the world. Kevin always asked us, ‘Why do we do youth ministry? To change the world.’ We’re going to change the world. So why do I go to my students’ ballgames and attend long school plays? It all comes down to changing the world. God has called us to do just that. I stole that philosophy from Kevin, and I try to implement it in ministry and teach it to my students.

When I write notes to my students, or encourage them one-on-one, I always tell them...‘You’re going to change the world.’”

Danny graduated from Ozark in 2013.

After nearly four years at Blue Springs Christian Church in Blue Springs, Missouri, he recently joined the staff of his

home church, Current Christian Church in Katy, Texas. Danny and his fiancé, Angela Westmoreland, look forward to serving there together, teaching and discipling junior high students at the same place where Laz Piña first discipled him.

“Nothing is worth more.”

“For me, it all comes down to what the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians.

‘I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ’ (Philippians 3:8-11).

Everything I aspire to do that’s earthly... is garbage. Nothing is worth more than knowing Jesus, in everything I do.”

Nothing is worth more than knowing Jesus...so Danny ran after a troubled teen—new shoes on wet grass—to show how much he cared. Nothing is worth more than knowing Jesus...so Danny’s parents raised their sons in the church each week. Nothing is worth more than knowing Jesus...so Lazaro Piña invested in a young man in the youth group, and challenged him to answer God’s call on his life. Nothing is worth more than knowing Jesus...so Kevin Greer inspired Danny to change the world. And now, every day, OCC grad Danny Davila makes an eternal impact as he ministers to his students with faithfulness and God’s Word and Christ’s love...because nothing is worth more.

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CAMPUS NEWS New Board Members, Mark Christian and Brian Jennings

Marva Wesley, Ph.D., Joins OCC Faculty

Welcome to Marva Wesley, who will teach full-time at OCC in the areas of psychology and counseling. Marva has a Ph.D. in General Psychology from Capella University, a Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychology from the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology, History and Sociology from the University of the West Indies. Marva has taught in Canada and Jamaica at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. She has worked as a Mental Health and Family counselor and has partnered with her husband, Gilbert (07), in serving the Lord with the Caribbean Anchor of Hope Ministry in Kingston, Jamaica. The Wesleys have two sons: Nathaniel (OCC 2017) and Timothy (current student).

We’re excited to welcome Mark Christian and Brian Jennings to the OCC Board of Trustees.

Mark currently serves as senior minister of Christ’s Church of Oronogo in Oronogo, Missouri. Previously, he served as professor and vice president of academic affairs at Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing, Michigan.

Brian serves as senior minister of Highland Park Christian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has authored two books—one of which will release this spring. Brian’s grandfather, Judge Herb Casteel, served as an OCC trustee for many years.

“Mark and Brian have a great heart for investing in the next generation of kingdom leaders,” said President Matt Proctor. “Their experience and wisdom will be invaluable on the board. We’re glad they said yes!”

Welcome, Nancy Martinez

Nancy Martinez has joined the OCC staff, serving in our Student Financial Services Office as a financial counselor. Formerly called the Financial Aid Office, the SFS Office now offers a “one-stop shop” for students to make school payments, pick up campus paychecks, claim scholarships and federal aid and more. We’re excited to have Nancy on board to serve students and their families in this important way!

Sergio Rizo Named Vice President of Development

We are pleased to announce that, effective July 1, 2017, Sergio Rizo is the new vice president of development at Ozark Christian College. A 2003 OCC graduate, Sergio also earned an MBA from Lipscomb University. Sergio and his wife Jackie have been serving at Ozark since April 2016. Previously, the Rizos served in a local church in rural Kansas, in an orphanage in Mexico City, Mexico, and in a bi-vocational church plant in Nashville, Tennessee. Sergio also worked for 10 years in various healthcare and business settings—most recently, in the Office of Investments at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. “In his new role, Sergio brings rich experience, a heart for ministry, a love for Ozark’s mission, and a deep faith in the Lord,” said President Matt Proctor. “He’s an outstanding young kingdom leader, and I can’t wait for Ozark's many friends and alumni to meet him.”

The Rizos have four children, pictured here from left to right: Clara, Lydia, Eliah and Josiah.

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CAMPUS NEWS Jim and Teri Riley Serving as Visiting Intercultural Professors

The OCC Intercultural Studies Department is excited to welcome Jim and Teri Riley as Visiting Intercultural Professors for the fall 2017 semester. The Rileys have served in the Honduras since 1995, planting three churches in their 22 years of service. During their time on campus, Jim will teach the course “Missions in Latin America,” and Teri will teach “Women in Intercultural Life.” The Rileys have four children: Jessica, Jennifer, Josh and Jimmy.

Ambassador Athletics

After a busy summer of sports camps led by Athletic Director Chris Lahm, the athletics department is ready to kick off our fall varsity sports. Fall sports include women’s volleyball led by Devin Walker (head coach) and Ray Ramage (assistant coach), men’s and women’s cross country coached by Jeremy Butler, and men’s soccer led by Andy Storms (head coach) and Nick Hilgediek (assistant coach). Follow all our Ambassador team schedules at occ.edu/athletics.

Changing Seats

Troy Nelson recently concluded his leadership in enrollment management and accepted the role of director of alumni relations.

Troy is a ’96 graduate of Ozark, and he and his wife Tammy (OCC ’98 and music faculty) have two children, Aaron and Michaela. “Troy is a leader with high integrity, deep pastoral heart and wide OCC connections,” said President Matt Proctor. “I’m excited he’s moving into this new ministry. Alongside Jill English, Troy will do an outstanding job serving our thousands of alumni—encouraging them, resourcing them and keeping them connected.”

Bob Witte has moved from the OCC Ministry Center to serve as interim vice president of enrollment management (page 19), and Doug Welch has stepped in as the interim director of the Ministry Center.

Chapel Expansion Update

OCC is in expansion mode again, and construction on the chapel building is going well. As part of our Kingdom Footprints campaign, the project will add 5,500 square feet, 300 seats, an expanded lobby and restrooms, and an elevator to the OCC chapel. Because the construction won’t be completed until January, our weekly chapel services for the fall semester will relocate to the MultiPurpose Building, and our annual Christmas production has been canceled for this December. We look forward to using the expanded chapel at our Preaching-Teaching Convention on February 19-21, 2018.

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CAMPUS NEWS

A Great Week at Creative Arts Academy

In June, 100 high school students came to campus for a weeklong creative arts camp experience. Under the direction Worship Arts Director Matt Stafford, the high schoolers studied photography, filmmaking, improvisational theater, writing, vocal and instrumental music and more.

The week included field trips, main sessions, workshops and a closing presentation of all they had learned. Next summer’s Creative Arts Academy will be held June 10-15, 2018, at OCC. Registration opens December 1 at occ.edu/caa.

Frontline’s Summer Tour a Success

OCC’s auditioned music group, Frontline, hit the road this summer. Led by Isaac Schade, Frontline traveled 8,171 miles across 12 states. They led in 13 concerts and worship services as well as 7 weeklong camps and conventions.

For details on where to see Frontline this fall or to purchase their latest album, visit occ.edu/frontline.

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TO INFORM

TRIBUTE GIFTS FEBRUARY 11-JULY 14, 2017

Memorial Gifts: Dr. William (Bill) Abernathy M/M Wallace L. Rendel Dr. Garland Bare Mrs. Sandra Abernathy, Mrs. Dorothy Bare, M/M Gordon E. Springer Colleen Bennitt M/M R. Keith Corum, M/M David R. McMillin Leah Breeze M/M Ronald R. West Ronald Briggs Mrs. Lenora Briggs Dr. Paul T. Butler Eleanor (Butler) Barnes, M/M Harvey L. Bendure, Mrs. Jeana D. Hayes, M/M Chuck Humphreys, M/M Larry Lankford, M/M David R. McMillin, Sharon (Butler) Riestis, Linda (Butler) Schaefer, M/M Richard M. Webster, Jr. Herbert Casteel M/M Stan W. Casteel, Dr. & Mrs. Jeff Snell Herbert & Jeanne Casteel M/M Jack Allen, M/M Jordan B. Casteel, Gib Clark, M/M Todd Q. Clark Harold Compton Mrs. Faye Compton Jerry Compton M/M Kenneth G. Brown, Mrs. Faye Compton

Esther Grout Christian Ladies Aid, Nortonville, KS, Lloydene Martin Connie Hargrave Mr. D. David Hargrave Ray & Wilma Henry M/M Doug R. Oakes Max Hickerson Connection Pointe CC Elders, Brownsburg, IN, Mr. J. Kent Hickerson, Mr. John Jorgenson, M/M Dustin Ridenour, M/M Bert Walters Judy Lanham Mr. David Lanham Peter Lanyon M/M R. Keith Corum James Marcum Mrs. Sandra Abernathy, Anonymous, M/M J.O. Buxton, Mrs. Irene Constantine, Mrs. L. Kathleen Hannum, Mrs. Jeana D. Hayes, Dr. & Mrs. Irving E. LaFrancis, Mrs. Sonya Marcum, M/M David R. McMillin, Message of Life Ministries, Oklahoma City, OK, M/M Doug Miller, Natural Health Center, M/M Donald E. Reed, Mrs. Linda Short, Mr. Rick Smith, M/M Woody Wilkinson, M/M Randy L. Wilson Connie Mieir M/M William H. Mieir, Sr. Donald Moore M/M Randall Reed, Sr.

Fred Moore First Christian Church, Webb City, MO Larry Morecraft Kathryn Morecraft Alice Overstreet Homebuilders Class, Carthage, MO Melba Pinney Mary Lou Harden George Roane Mrs. Patricia Roane Tom Ross Mrs. Connie Ross Walter (Jack) Spratt Mary Lou Harden, M/M Woody Wilkinson M/M Owen Still Mr. Glenn Boyes Arlene Storms M/M Ray D. Carter, M/M Rob Hildreth, M/M Chuck Humphreys, M/M Rick L. Jett, Sr., Mrs. Aldena R. Jordan, M/M Steve Lang, M/M Sean B. Summers Sonny Taylor Michael & Margaret Bennett Wanda Wartick M/M C. Robert Hine Don Weece M/M Charles Braun Roy Weece M/M Kevin D. Perdew, Mrs. Carol Weece

Seth & Anna Wilson M/M Richard L. Temple Charles & Dorothy Wittenborn M/M David Wittenborn

Honor Gifts:

Frank Hawkins M/M C. Robert Hine Phylis (Shelton) Ireland M/M C. Robert Hine Elsie Moore M/M Randall Reed, Sr. Clair LaVern Newman M/M Harvey Newman Steve Reeves Connection Pointe CC Elders, Brownsburg, IN David Snow M/M C. Robert Hine Bob & Sharon Williams M/M C. Robert Hine Dow Wort M/M C. Robert Hine

FRONTLINE

frontline@occ.edu | occ.edu/frontline | occ.edu/schedulefrontline 15

CREATING JESUS CULTURE 100 high school students attended OCC's inaugural Creative Arts Academy, a weeklong creative arts camp experience on the campus of OCC. Students learned from professional artists in four tracks: musical, technical, visual and performing arts.

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17

CURRENT CONTENT FREE VIDEO RESOURCES for you and your church

THE GLOBAL MISSION OF THE CHURCH

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TRAINING

MICHAEL DeFAZIO

DOUG WELCH

ROMANS

KEVIN GREER

KENNY BOLES

STUDENT MINISTRY SERIES: IDENTITY

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

JON KEHRER

MESSIANIC PROPHECY

DR. MARK SCOTT

CHAD RAGSDALE APOLOGETICS

MIRACLES

MICHAEL DeFAZIO

SHANE WOOD, Ph.D. REVELATION

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

FREE VIDEO RESOURCES for you and your church

TO INFORM

RANDY GARISS

MARRIAGE SERIES AND LEADERSHIP SERIES

OCC.EDU/NEXTLEVEL

DR. CHRIS DeWELT

18

led by our faculty held at your church

DR. TERESA WELCH

DR. MARK SCOTT PARABLES

COMING SOON PRE-PACKAGED SEMINARS

PRE-PACKAGED SEMINARS led by our faculty held at your church

OCC.EDU/NEXTLEVEL

BOB WITTE: EVERYTHING YOU DO He’s a husband, father, professor and OCC’s interim vice president of enrollment management. He has served as a youth minister and has directed Ozark’s youth ministry relations and Ministry Center. But no matter which hat he wears, Bob Witte serves with all his heart, as for the Lord (Col 3:23).

Bob’s connection with OCC began in St. Louis in the early 90s, when Woody Wilkinson led Bob’s family to Christ. At age 14, Bob met his now-wife, Lisa, who serves as executive assistant to OCC Academic Dean Doug Aldridge.

“I followed Lisa to Ozark,” Bob says. “I didn’t want her to catch another’s guy’s eye. It took less than a semester to confirm that God was calling me to full-time ministry.”

Before returning to work at OCC in 2012, Bob served in a preaching ministry in Indiana and youth ministries in Arizona and Oregon—where Bob’s church was consistently one of Ozark’s top ten recruiting churches during his ministry there.

Bob loves the outdoors—fishing, splitting wood, canoeing and more. He loves Lisa and their high school sons, Joshua and Caleb. Bob loves teaching God’s Word, and is known for using object lessons in his “History of Ancient Israel” class—a miniTabernacle, a slingshot like David’s and even a donkey’s jawbone.

Most of all, Bob loves his Lord and seeks to honor him in all he does. “I frequently return to Proverbs 4:23,” says Bob. “’Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.’”

“It’s a privilege to walk this campus every day and interact with OCC staff and students. It’s my daily goal to work hard, creatively and passionately with each lesson and task. I’m not guaranteed tomorrow, so I give it everything I’ve got, like it’s my last day.”

Bob collects Renaissance paintings of Old Testament stories, including a print of Rembrandt’s The Sacrifice of Isaac.

“I’m a huge fan of The Three Stooges and Snoopy,” says Bob. “I also enjoy playing Risk and other strategy games that Lisa calls boring.”

TO INFORM

19

COMING SOON

Visit OCC at Booth #1341, and join us at our Alumni and Friends Reception on Friday, November 17. occ.edu/icom 20

TO INFORM

COMING SOON

2 0 1 8 P R E A C H I N G -T E A C H I N G C O N V E N T I O N

RICK ATCHLEY

JON KEHRER

DREW MOORE

MARK MOORE

SEAN PALMER

DAVID RUTHERFORD

DREW SHERMAN

FEBRUARY 19-21, 2018 TO INFORM 21

A JESUS SCHOOL BY MATT PROCTOR

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HERE'S AN IDEA

10 WAYS YOUR CHURCH CAN MOVE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TOWARD VOCATIONAL MINISTRY President Matt Proctor

1. Preach on the need for full-time kingdom workers.

2. Make this a dial on your church’s “vital signs” dashboard.

3. Plant seed thoughts in the minds of potential kingdom leaders.

4. Speak of the joys of ministry.

5. Involve young people in ministry now.

6. Connect them to kingdom heroes.

7. Take young people to visit a Bible college.

8. Challenge parents to give their children to the Lord.

9. Support ministry studies financially.

10. Pray.

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TO CONNECT

This list is abridged from an article that first appeared in Christian Standard.

Read the entire article at occ.edu/tenways.

Want to make a difference with your life,

but not sure where to start?

JOIN US FOR A

TUESDAY TOUR JUNIORS, SENIORS & TRANSFER STUDENTS

RECEIVE $500 TO OCC!

TOUR CAMPUS | WORSHIP IN CHAPEL | ATTEND A CLASS

YOUR MISSION IS OUT THERE. TRAINING STARTS HERE.

occ.edu/tuesdaytour

YOUR PARTNERSHIP

ALL THINGS NEW! Sergio Rizo Sergio Rizo serves as OCC's vice president of development.

I love all things new! A new haircut, the fit of new clothes, that “new car” smell (although, with four children, this is a vicarious experience!). But more importantly, I love new seasons, new friendships, new births and new opportunities to serve Jesus.

In July, I moved into a new role as vice president in OCC’s development department. I’m genuinely excited! I’m excited because “new” is what Ozark does.

OCC helps ensure that old truths are shared in new ways. We prepare new youth ministers to share with young people the new life in Jesus. Each fall, new students arrive with great visions of serving Christ.

Each May, a new crop of students leaves empowered to share the gospel and make new disciples.

Ozark is doing new things. We’re adding a new accreditation, starting a new endowed scholarship fund, beginning new programs

like Creative Arts Academy and releasing new NextLevel material. Why? Because this is the work Jesus is about. He brings new compassions every morning (Lam 3:23), puts new wine in new wine skins (Matt 9:17), clothes us in a new identity (Eph 4:24) and gives us a new name (Rev 2:17).

We want everyone to experience newness in him.

In the development department, I have the privilege of sharing new stories, making new connections and celebrating Jesus’ new works. I look forward to meeting you in the coming months. New friendships will be made, old friendships will be renewed, and in the process, I’m sure of this: it will be new fun to see God do big things!

“Behold, I am making all things new” (Rev 21:5).

Contact Sergio Rizo at rizo.sergio@occ.edu or 417.626.1218.

I want to see Ozark’s Missions Building enhanced so Ozark’s mission is advanced!

Here’s my two-year commitment to improve the building’s safety, accessibility and connecting space.

TO MAKE A PLEDGE TODAY, FILL IN THE BLANKS BELOW: First and Last Name ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________ City, State, Zip ___________________________________________ Phone ________________________________ Email ___________________________________________________________________________ Two-Year Pledge to Missions Building Campaign: q

$25 a month ($600 over two years)

q

$100 a month ($2,400 over two years)

q

$50 a month ($1,200 over two years)

q

$500 a month ($12,000 over two years)

q

$75 a month ($1,800 over two years)

q

$_____________________________________

TO MAKE A ONE-TIME GIFT TODAY, FOLLOW TWO SIMPLE STEPS: 1. Please write your donation amount: $___________________________ 2. Please select your donation method: q

Donate by check (enclosed), payable to Ozark Christian College.

q

Donate online at occ.edu/donate.

q

Donate by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discovery)

Alumni Project Phonathon From October 9-19, OCC students will call alumni for pledges towared our Missions Building improvements. We look forward to speaking with you soon! occ.edu/alumniproject

Name (as it appears on card) ________________________________________________________________________ Card Number ______________________________________________________ Exp. _______________________

Billing address (if different than address above.) ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Receipts will be mailed to the address listed above. Ozark Christian College is a 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

COULD YOU HELP THE NEXT DEBBIE UP TO THE THIRD FLOOR?

ALUMNI NEWS

President Matt Proctor Debbie Cramer has a heart for missions.

Great Educators, No Elevator

Since starting Gifts for the Nations ministry, the 2008 OCC graduate and her husband Jerry have distributed millions of dollars of needed supplies to mission fields around the world.

But Debbie’s time at OCC was challenging.

She loved Ozark’s Great Commission emphasis. Debbie knew our Missions Building was the first building constructed on campus—a powerful statement that Christ’s last command would be our first concern.

(The three-story structure remains our primary classroom building.)

Missions Professor Chris DeWelt— and all her Ozark educators—guided her passion to share the gospel internationally.

But Debbie’s multiple sclerosis required her to use a forearm crutch to walk, and without an elevator, the Missions Building stairs were daunting. Going to class was a daily ordeal.

“With the Lord’s help, Brother Matt,” she says, “and with the help of other students, I persevered.”

You Can Help the Next Debbie

You can help the next Debbie get to class much easier. In our newly-announced alumni project, we’re asking your help to improve the Missions Building in three ways: Install an elevator. You can help make our main classroom building accessible to every student and campus guest, with an elevator going to all three floors. This is the last public building on campus still in need of elevator access.

Expand the lobby. Expanding the current lobby on the building’s west end will create a space for the elevator. It will also provide a welcoming place for students to study, connect with professors, and enjoy fellowship between classes.

Enclose the outside east stairs. Because they’re on the outside of the building, the exposed metal stairs on the east end pose a safety risk in wet and icy weather. You can help enclose those stairs to provide a safer experience for students and guests.

“How Can I Do My Part?”

I have always loved the story of the paralytic in Mark 2.

Though his four friends could not heal him, they still asked, “How can I help?” They carried him to Jesus, and when they couldn’t get into the crowded house, they broke through the roof and lowered him to Jesus!

Maybe you’re asking, “How can I do my part?”

You can help students gain access to “the Word of Christ taught in the Spirit of Christ” by financially supporting this construction project.

(Unlike the deconstruction project in Mark 2!)

The project will cost approximately $300,000, and we’re asking the alumni to raise $200,000 over the next two years toward that goal. (We’ve already had $34,000 committed toward this goal.) Would you pray about being a part of this project? Your commitment can truly make a difference, and here are three opportunities to help: Fill out the form on the opposite page. You can make a one-time gift by cash, check or credit card. You can also make a pledge to give regularly over the next two years. Just return the completed form in the envelope included with this Ambassador.

Make a commitment online. Go to occ.edu/donate and make a gift under the heading “Missions Building.”

Watch for the letter this fall. We will be mailing a follow-up letter this fall to all of our alumni, and you may want to take the time until then to pray about the part you could play in helping future students—like Debbie—have access to “a Jesus school.”

TO CONNECT

25

ALUMNI NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS

Micah (15) and Sarah Regouby (13) Booe on the birth of Anna Lea on July 6 in Sedalia, MO. Micah is the youth minister with Parkview CC. Jon-Michael (02) and Leslie Brown on the birth of Leia Jeann Marie on July 1 in Florissant, MO. Daniel (15) and Deshay Linn (14) Finch on the birth of Valor Jude on July 20 in Joplin. The Finch family lives in Joplin and is preparing for cross-cultural service.

Jason and Debra Hogg (07) Fulton on the arrival of David Paul on March 30 in Lilburn, GA. Debra teaches music at the New School of Music in Buford, GA. Brandon and Sabrina Garner (03) Glore on the birth of Scarlett Jean on July 20 in Joplin. The Glores live in Neosho, MO. Logan (06) and Aanna Lang (attended) Greer on the birth of Llewelyn on July 13. Logan serves as middle school minister with College Heights CC in Joplin.

Jordan (12) and Hannah Randolph (12) Magelssen on the arrival of Elle Collins on May 27 in Bluffton, SC. Jordan serves as worship arts pastor with LowCountry Community Church.

Tyler (16) and Madison Shields (13) Miller on the birth of August James on October 29, 2016. Tyler serves as lead producer with Element Church in Cheyenne, WY. Adam (06) and Sarah Neldeberg on the birth of Margaret Marese on March 28 in Joplin. Adam works as a counselor with Carl Junction schools.

Jon and Leslie Anderson (02) Petty on the birth of Selah James on October 6, 2016, in Rockford, IL. Leslie is the connections pastor with Northeast CC in Rockford.

Seth (10) and Megan Wulf (09) Philip on the arrival of Titus Timothy on May 29. The Philip family serves as church planters in Japan.

Sawyer (17) and Hadley Davis (13) Smith on the birth of Louis Davis on April 4 in Topeka, KS. The Smith family recently relocated to Joplin.

Silas (09) and Lindsey Parks (09) Steele on the arrival of Keirland Greigh on June 12. Silas is the preaching minister of the New London CC in New London, IA. Tyler and Krystin Hogan (15 & 16/former staff ) Stroud on the birth of Gregory Amik on June 1.

Krystin serves on the children’s ministry staff with Carterville CC in Carterville, MO. Allen (05) and Bre Tyger on the adoption of Hudson Allen on May 15. Allen serves as college/young adult minister with Northside CC in Springfield, MO.

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TO CONNECT

Jacob (09) and Jennifer Ackerman (08) Williams on the arrival of Aria Grace on March 17 in Anacortes, WA.

Tim (10) and Jamie Gibson (09) Hayward on the adoption of Zion Philip, who joined his new family on February 17. Tim is the worship pastor with Grace Fellowship Church in Demotte, IN.

Philip (17) and Cassandra DeFazio (15/current staff ) Lowe on the birth of Aiden Philip on May 22 in Joplin.

Adam (08) and Jessie Bever (10) Schetzler on the arrival of Ezekiel Joseph on July 13. Adam serves with Versailles CC in Versailles, MO, as associate minister.

Anthony (04) and Amber Johnson (03) Sherrell on the birth of Alexandra Kenzie in Claremore, OK, on February 15.

J.T. (08) and Karyn Abercrombie-Cavilin (10) Scott on the birth of Sawyer on May 9 in Oklahoma City, OK.

Aaron (10) and Cara Hedger (10) Pier on the birth of Dodge Russell on May 23, 2016, in Washington, MO. Aaron serves as youth minister with First CC.

ALUMNI NEWS

OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY

Please lift up in prayer the families of the following alumni who have passed away in recent weeks: Tim Bright (68) passed away in Tucson, AZ, on June 13 after a battle with cancer.

After several years of ill health, Doris Davis (attended/former staff ) passed away in Gentry, AR, on July 1.

CLASS NOTES 1950s

Bob Scott (50) began an interim ministry with Double Branch CC in Butler, MO, on July 9. The Scotts continue to live in Joplin.

1960s

Congratulations to Leon (67) and Cynthia Wood (attended) Weece who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception in Miami, OK, on July 15. Leon continues to minister with the Christian Church in Afton, OK.

1980s

Paul Covert (80) is now serving with Pure Heart Christian Fellowship and Catalyst Church in Phoenix, AZ, as prayer minister, leaving a ministry in Mesa.

Marshall Hinds (80) was recently recognized for 25 years employment with Freeman Health System in Joplin, where he works as a certified physical therapist assistant in the home health department. Marshall also serves as the worship leader for Park Plaza CC in Joplin.

1970s

After several years of declining health, Anne DeWelt Dorris (68) passed away on March 21 in Cherokee, OK. Linda Harrison Fagras (attended) passed away on May 6 in Whiteland, IN, following a battle with cancer.

Max Hickerson (54) passed away in Houston, TX, on May 18 following a short illness.

Karanina Raymond Marcet (attended) passed away from complications of heart disease on June 9 in Springfield, IL. Joe Saculla (former staff ) passed away in Pittsburg, KS, on May 1 following an illness.

Following several years of declining health, Arlene Johnson Storms (attended) passed away in Chandler, AZ, on April 20.

Ken White (77) passed away in Simi Valley, CA, on December 13 from complications of respiratory failure and related issues.

Roy Wheeler (54) passed away in Wichita, KS, on August 25, after a long battle with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Chuck Johnston (70) and Darla Weichal were married on July 16 in Fullerton, CA. They plan to return to Chuck’s longtime ministry work in Taiwan.

Best wishes to Mike (70) and Shirley Briggs (70) McMurdo, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 17. The McMurdos live in Kimberling City, MO. Richard Wilson (70) graduated magna cum laude from Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington, IN, with an Associate of Fine Arts.

He has taught public speaking and interpersonal communications there for 15 years.

Dennis Carman (73) is directing Corban Broadcasting, a Christian radio station that reaches 20 Kentucky counties and southern Ohio. The station also streams online at corbanbroadcasting.org.

Curt (81) and Dreama Rutherford (77) Ayers were honored for 25 years of ministry with the Capri CC in Naples, FL, on July 16.

Larry Daniel (83) is serving as preaching minister of the Christian Church in Ramsey, IL. Missionary to his homeland of Haiti, Eddy Bazin (84) continues his ministry via churches and schools and has announced plans to start a Christian Bible Institute in late 2017.

Congratulations to John Scott (85), who celebrated 30 years of ministry with the First CC in Hemet, CA, in April.

The church runs 1,200 each weekend and is preparing to build a children’s center and renovate their youth center.

Moving from Cincinnati, OH, Byron Williams (85) is serving as senior minister of the Ellettsville CC in Ellettsville, IN.

1990s

Mike Brown (90) is serving as minister of the Cory Zion Church in Cory, IN, near Terre Haute.

David E. Scott (92) is serving as minister of the Christian Church in Welch, OK. TO CONNECT

27

ALUMNI NEWS

2000s

John McPhail (00) is serving as director of operations with Watered Gardens Rescue Mission in Joplin.

James Garner (01) is serving as preaching minister with the Christian Church in Burlington, KS, closing a ministry in Unionville, MO. Jud Weece (92) has left a 14-year ministry as executive director of Camp Como in Colorado to become the adult ministry team leader with the Park Chapel CC in Greenfield, IN. David Rozanek (95) has served in Pensacola, FL, for 2 1/2 years. In January, he was promoted to command chaplain for the U.S. Navy base, where he is responsible for meeting the spiritual needs of more than 5,000 sailors, 1,000 airmen and 500 marines.

Congratulations to Brian Williams (95), who received his Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Christian Ethics from Oxford University, Oxford, England, on July 13. The Williams family is headed to Philadelphia, where Brian will become dean of the Templeton Honors College and assistant professor of ethics and liberal studies at Eastern University.

Rob Fleenor (97) has accepted a position teaching Old Testament for Johnson University Florida. Shawnee McCarty (94/former staff ) Fleenor will continue to teach online English classes for Ozark Christian College, Johnson University and Asbury University.

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TO CONNECT

Ben (02) and Amanda Terry (attended/ former staff ) Hedger are living in Joplin, where Ben is serving part-time on the global outreach staff with College Heights CC and also part-time as vice president of USA operations for Blackbox International—a ministry that seeks to restore young boys rescued from sex trafficking.

Aaron Rathbone (02) is serving as campus pastor at Manchester CC in Manchester, NH. He had served as family life minister since 2014.

Matt Berry (04) earned an MBA in Business from John Brown University on May 6. Matt lives in Wichita, KS. Matthew Brands (04) is the preaching minister of the West Village CC in Albion, IL, leaving a ministry in Mattoon, IL. Richard (06) and Tiffany Chesnut (03) Jett are now living in Overland Park, KS, where he is a fireman for the Lenexa Fire Department and Tiffany serves as the Grace Kids worship director at Grace Church.

Chris Fleck (07) is serving as full-time worship and technical minister with the North Liberty CC in North Liberty, IN. Darren Morgan (08), an American history teacher at South Middle School in Joplin, was recently awarded the 2017 Teacher of the Year Award by the Joplin R-VIII school district.

Micah (09) and Justine Wamsley (09) Foreman have joined the ministry team of Scriptures in Use in Tucson, AZ. This ministry is dedicated to sharing the gospel with the least reached people groups of the world.

2010s

Cody Fears (10) and Andrea Wise were married on April 22 at the Shangri-La Resort in Oklahoma. They are making their home in Cawker City, KS, where Cody is in his fifth year as lead minister of the Glen Elder CC. Rebecca Anderson (10) Klobnak recently began serving as early childhood director at LifePointe Church in Ames, IA. Rebecca lives with her family in Cambridge, IA. Aaron Worshek (10) has left a ministry in Pensacola, FL, to become children’s minister at Journey Church in Greeley, CO. Jonathan Lyon-Hart (11) graduated this summer from Regent University with an MA in Theological Studies (Christianity and Culture Concentration).

He plans to attend Cambridge University in England this fall.

Samantha Hays (11) White earned a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Brown University on May 6.

Drew (13) and Amber Palmateer (attended) Hanson are serving as church planters with the Christian Evangelistic Mission of Iowa, planting a new church in Sioux City, IA. Marko Mircetic (14) was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Finance from MSSU on May 13 in Joplin.

Kristi Welch (14) graduated from John Brown University with a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a certificate in Play Therapy.

Brecklyn Brouwer (15) earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from MSSU on May 13.

Tyler Cohen (15) and Brittney Rose were married in Neosho, MO, on July 8.

Evan Moss (15) earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from MSSU on May 13.

ALUMNI NEWS On May 6, Lisa Larsson Ruhl (15/ former staff ) graduated from John Brown University with a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Lisa works at the Ozark Center in Joplin.

Caleb (15) and Jessie McCallum (attended) Shoemake joined the staff of Fun in the Son Ministries at Camp Table Rock in Shell Knob, MO, in May. Caleb serves as facilities manager/sound technician and Jessie serves as office/ personnel manager.

Creighton (15) and Jennie Snyder (16) Tamerius are living in Sarcoxie, MO. Creighton was hired by First Baptist Church as worship minister, where he had been serving part-time for two years.

Tim (15) and Jenn Larsson (15) Umphreys continue to live in Council Bluffs, IA, where he now serves as communications and missions minister with First CC, following a two-year residency with this congregation.

Kendall Beye (16) is serving as youth minister with the Tyro CC in Tyro, KS. He and his wife, Anne Irmgard (15), have been living in Joplin.

Michaela Holub (16) earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from MSSU in Joplin on May 13.

Aaron Othic (16) and Carissa Hayward (attended) were married in Joplin on August 12. Carissa was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from MSSU on May 13 and is working in Joplin.

Travis (16) and Jennifer Scott (15) Wilcoxen are serving on the staff of North Shore CC in Riverhead, NY. Travis serves as church planter in residence and Jennifer as children’s minister. They left a ministry in Grenola, KS.

John Barritt (17) and Anna Clark were married on July 9 in Oklahoma City, OK, where they will be making their home.

Matt Eden (17) is attending Emmanuel Christian Seminary and serving as a residence director at Milligan College in Johnson City, TN, with his wife Joy Loveall (16).

Christian Everhart (17) serves as the youth minister at Draper Park CC in Oklahoma City, OK. Melissa Faraci (17) will serve for a year as youth ministry intern at Pacific Islands Bible Church in Oahu, HI. Jesse Furst (17) has joined the OCC staff as a full-time admissions counselor.

Evan (17) and Anna Chandler (17) Hand live in Seneca, MO, where he is children’s minister at Racine CC.

Caleb Heinlein (17) and Kenna Twitchell (16) were married on May 6 and will make their home in Joplin.

Wesley Hasekamp (17) and Tesia Snow (17) were married on July 1 in Greenville, IL, and will make their home in Joplin, where Wes is youth minister at Blendville CC. Tesia also earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from MSSU in May and has accepted a position in the cardiac medical unit at Freeman Hospital in Joplin.

Rhett (17) and Elisa Altman (17) Johnson will be joining Movement CC in Merrimack, NH, as residents, where he will work on the Next Gen and creative arts team. Rhett will also be an assistant coach with the Merrimack middle school soccer team.

Heather Kidwell (17) is serving as a campus minister with Campus Christians at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS.

Caitlin Larimer (17) will be working with Good News Productions, International in Joplin.

Rachel Nutt Lewis (17) graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from MSSU on May 13.

Luke (17) and Brooklyn Park (attended) Logsdon live in Bluffton, SC, where he serves as associate worship pastor at LowCountry Community Church.

Joshua Mathews (17) and Sydney Drumm (17) were married on June 9 and are making their home in Indianapolis, IN, where he serves as student worship minister with East 91st Street CC. Kevin Moore (17) continues to serve as the associate pastor of North Point CC in Spearfish, SD. Zeb Myers (17) is serving as campus pastor with First Church in Verdigris, OK (a campus of First Church Owasso), and started graduate school at Wheaton University.

Andrew Nichols (17) is preaching at Greenview CC in Greenview, IL, and plans to pursue a Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation from Lincoln Christian University.

Luke (17) and Rebekah Moyers (15) Proctor have moved to Plainfield, IN, where Luke will serve as minister in residence with Plainfield CC. Marcus (17) and Caitlin Mueller (17) Schaeffer live in Joplin, where Marcus serves as full-time admissions counselor at OCC, and Caitlin serves as college age ministry coordinator at College Heights CC. Joe Seaton (17) continues to serve as high school student minister with Fairview CC in Carthage, MO. Trevor Sill (17) is serving as the student minister at Journey CC in Greeley, CO. Peyton Stamate (17) will continue to serve at Christ’s Church of Oronogo as the student discipleship minister.

Preston Stanley (17) is the youth minister with North Liberty CC in North Liberty, IN. Alexis Thomason (17) graduated from MSSU on May 13 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a minor in Business.

TO CONNECT

29

ALUMNI NEWS

2010s (CONTINUED)

Michelle Pride (17) Warden serves as part-time children’s ministry director at Highland Park CC in Tulsa, OK. Jake Weece (17) has been hired to serve as junior high minister with Second C of C in Danville, IL. Yunpeng (Chris) Wu (17) is planting a Chinese church in the Dallas area.

ATTENDED

KaLisa Veer (17) is serving as full-time worship minister at Christ’s Church of Oronogo.

Alec Ward (17) continues to serve as the creative arts associate minister at College Heights CC in Joplin.

Steve and Sheila Skiles (former staff ) Altheide are living in Jackson, TN, where he is the senior pastor of the First CC. Alex Buckland (current) and Sierra Frank were married on May 28, and will make their home in Webb City, MO. Randy Erwin of Patterson, NY, recently retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 30 years. He still serves with Taconic CC.

Michael Hicks and Sally Farley (16) were married in Bristow, IA, on June 24.

They are making their home in Kansas City.

Devin Scott and Rebecca Hurley were married in Carthage, MO, on July 21, and are making their home in Joplin.

Kyle Johnson and Lindsay Bruner were married in Kansas City, MO, on May 21.

Craig Price and Cara Maurer (current) were married in Joplin on May 6, and will make their home in Joplin.

PUBLICATIONS Articles

Books

Christian Standard

The Lookout

May “The Isaac Principle” by Victor Knowles (former staff ).

April 9 “The Culmination of Jesus’ Mission” by Jon Hembree (11).

June “Urban Churches, Creative Solutions” by Brent Storms (96).

May 14 “Lesser Known Mothers of the Bible” by Lindsey Poznich Bell (06).

July “In Wayne’s Own Words” by Barry Cameron (77).

June 4 “Clinging to God” by Matt Wilmeth (07).

“A Profoundly Influential Leader” by Ken Idleman (former president).

August “Man of Sorrows” by Jackina Stark (attended/former faculty).

June 11 “Art for God’s Glory” by Dr. H. Lynn Gardner (61/former faculty).

How to Have a Good Life in a Messy World by Willard Black (54 & 57/ former staff ).

Wethair by Dr. Phil Scott (81).

Murder for Emily’s Sake by Larry Timm (86).

“The Lens of Faith” by Jon Hembree (11).

ChurchLeaders “How to Set the Table for Worship” by Creighton Tamerius (15).

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TO CONNECT

Intensive Care: A Manual for the Nonprofessional Who Works with Hurting and Broken Youth by Dr. Gary Zustiak (current faculty).

ALUMNI NEWS: CLASS NOTES

MAKE THE DIFFERENCE These youth ministry majors are training today to make a difference tomorrow... ...and partners like you have always made the DIFFERENCE between what students pay and the actual cost of their education. Your gifts cover approximately 20% of an OCC degree. This year, we’ll raise $2.4 million to help train men and women for Christian service.

Thank you for being the DIFFERENCE as we equip the next generation to reach the world for Christ.

OCC.EDU/THEDIFFERENCE TO CONNECT

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1111 N Main St Joplin, MO 64801

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Joplin, MO 64801 Permit No. 62

Change service requested

ONE MORE THING A final thought from our editor Amy Storms is a wife, mother, Strong Hall dorm mom, and director of marketing and communications at OCC.

NOW IT'S HERE Amy Storms

This fall, my son left home to attend college. Nathan is my firstborn, my only son—the one who made me a mom for the first time 18 years ago. I had Nathan when I was just 23, which means that, to this point, the main focus of my adulthood has been getting him to his adulthood.

My heart has been a lump in my throat since Nathan’s high school graduation in May. But this is what we’ve been preparing for! And now it’s here.

Of course...I’m also a dorm mom in Ozark’s Strong Hall—the same dorm where Nathan now lives as a student at OCC. So when I say that Nathan “left home” for college...well, I really just mean that he moved downstairs. But distance is relative to a mom! Leaving home is leaving home.

It’s either perfect timing, then, or awful, that I’ve recently been studying the book of 2 Timothy—Paul’s heartfelt, final letter to his beloved son in the faith. More than once as I’ve read the text, my mental image of the apostle tearfully writing Timothy has become my own actual tears for my son, and for my teenage daughters, Anne and Molly—and for all our “kids” at OCC. 1. 2 Timothy 1:6, 14; 2:1, 15; 3:14; 4:2, 5 32

Paul loves Timothy as I love them. Paul watches Timothy’s service as I watch the men of Strong Hall serve in their ministries: with joy. And Paul’s charges to Timothy? My heart echoes those as well. And so I write—yes, with tears!—to the students of Ozark Christian College, and to Anne and Molly, and to Nathan, who lives all the way downstairs: Fan into flame the gift of God. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you.

Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved.

Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it.

Preach the word.

Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

This is what you’ve been preparing for! And now it’s here.