the magazine of ozark christian college
GUIDING YOUR KIDS INTO A FAITH OF THEIR OWN
An excerpt from Dr. Teresa Roberts' recent book p. 6
MARTIN LUTHER
The man I thank for Children’s Church p. 12
IHOP, DUNKIN’ DONUTS, & WAFFLE HOUSE
Meet the OCC chief academic officer p. 21
The vision of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide. The mission of Ozark Christian College 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 Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), the Association for Biblical Higher Education (abhe.org), and the Association of Theological Schools (ats.edu).
Ozark Christian College admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.
Matt Proctor
“It takes a village to raise a child.”
In my childhood, it was true. I was blessed with a Christian family, and I won the parent lottery. My mom and dad are saints, but as a scrawny, know-it-all little twit, I could be obnoxious. I’m sure there were times they were ready to be done with me. (“Where exactly is this village? If someone could give me directions, I need to drop a kid off…”)
Every parent needs help, and as great as my mom and dad are, they didn’t raise me alone. New Testament Christian Church was my village. (I still know the address thirty-five years later—1578 Hilton Road, Keokuk, Iowa.) There I had 100 parents:
• Gordy and Linda Blankenship wore funny skit costumes in Children’s Church, gave me goofy nicknames, and taught me it was okay to laugh in church.
• Scott Porter smiled whenever he saw me, invited me to Monday night men’s basketball as an awkward junior higher, and gave me tips to improve my game.
• Deep-voiced veterinarian Marlin Hentzel and barrelchested Vietnam vet Dennis Schulte (who lost part of a leg there) drilled God’s Word into me in Sunday School.
• Candy Schulte told me I should be a preacher someday, asked me questions like I was a grown-up, and—when I did grow up and go to Bible college—sent me letters with $20 bills inside.
• I watched Oscar Davids live his faith as a school principal, musician Tommy Tinder use his band to reach nonChristian friends, old Mrs. Blakeslee give out grape gum to every kid, and young Mrs. McDowell endure cancer with hope.
None of those folks were church staff. But they each knew my name, each invested in me, and each helped me grow from an insecure, know-it-all nerd into a genuine Christ-follower.
It takes more than a village to raise a child. It takes a church.
In the 1940s, author Stetson Kennedy went undercover to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan, learning their secret codes and rituals, intending to write an exposé. His resulting book, I Rode with the Ku Klux Klan, caused a sensation, but that wasn’t why one author called him “the greatest single contributor to the weakening of the KKK.” Instead, Stetson made his biggest impact when he called the popular kids’ radio program The Adventures of Superman.
In 1946, with Stetson’s help, the writers broadcast a 16-episode series with Superman battling “The Fiery Cross Clan.” Kids everywhere suddenly pretended to be the Man of Steel, fighting white-robed racist bad guys. The real-life rituals and codes of the Klan—given to the writers by Stetson—were seen as silly, and even Southern kids saw the organization (that their fathers and grandfathers belonged to) as worthy of ridicule. Recruiting dropped, and the Klan was eventually weakened.
If you want to make a change, mold the children.
The Lord knew that. He made it the last half of his greatest commandment. You remember: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children” (Deut 6:5-7).
When God made a to-do list for his people, the top item was children’s ministry: “Love God (and teach children to love God).” The Lord knew that if he wanted humanity to follow him, he should start with the kids.
I was excited when Ozark started a church planting major, and I quoted well-known missiologist C. Peter Wagner, “Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic strategy known under heaven.”
I was wrong.
I still believe deeply in church planting, and it’s the second most effective evangelistic strategy known under heaven.
Children’s ministry is the first. A Barna study found that nearly half of all Americans who accept Jesus do so before age 13, and two-thirds do so before age 18. In other words, the greatest evangelistic success most congregations have—by far—is with young people. They are the field most ripe for harvest. Whether it’s slowing down the Klan or building up the Kingdom, kids are key.
If you want to make a change, mold the children.
But how exactly does this faith-molding take place?
Much of the gospel’s influence among kids is due to parents. Ephesians 6:4 tells parents, “Bring [your children] up in the training and instruction of the Lord,” and Barna’s study found that half of those who embraced Christ before their teen years were led to Jesus by their mom or dad. The best ministry a church can have is equipping parents to shape their children’s faith.
But if Barna’s statistics are accurate, that means:
• 50% of kids who decide to follow Jesus do so because of someone who is not a parent—usually a church member.
• The parents who did lead their children to Christ had help along the way. Whether volunteers or ministry staff, church folk likely contributed to the child’s faith.
The church plays a huge part in shaping a child’s faith. While Deuteronomy 6—“impress them on your children”—is likely aimed primarily at parents, the passage doesn’t actually begin, “Hear, O parents.” It begins, “Hear, O Israel.” The training of children is the responsibility of the whole people of God.
That’s why children’s ministry matters. I’ve been a Children’s Church teacher for 30 years for at least two reasons:
• Kids are hilarious, and I get great sermon illustrations. (When I told the 1 Kings 3 story of Solomon’s decision to divide the baby and give each woman half, five-yearold Zachary mentally put himself in their sandals. He raised his hand and said seriously, “Mr. Matt…I would not want the butt half.” After I stopped laughing, I said, “Me neither, Zach.”)
• I believe in its strategic value. Humans are most moldable from ages 0 to 12. Kids are wet cement—in that limited window, the impressions you make are permanent. (Read Proverbs 22:6.)
I am married to a children’s minister. For three decades, my wife Katie (OCC ’92) has poured herself into hundreds of children. One of Katie’s longtime themes has been: “You’re called to be a little Jesus—to act like Jesus would if he were in your Velcro shoes.” Six-year-old Greg heard those words. The only word to describe Greg’s family was “broken,” but his grandma made sure he was in church. Katie’s volunteers loved and taught Greg, who grew up to be a huge football lineman
and a faithful volunteer too. I choked when I heard this hulking man pray, “Lord, help us to be a little Jesus,” and this summer, as I watched Greg and his wife bring their girls to VBS each night, I knew the next chapter in their family story would be different.
“He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation…should set their hope in God” (Psalm 78:5-7). If you want to make a change, mold the children.
It doesn’t take a village to raise a child. It takes a church.
In this Ambassador, you’ll read about Ozark’s children’s ministry major. The church needs more biblically-equipped children’s ministers, and I’m not exaggerating when I say Dr. Teresa Roberts is the best kid min prof in the country.
But let this article be your call to children’s ministry. It’s not just the job of church staff. Every member is a children’s minister. We aren’t all gifted to teach Children’s Church, but we can all invest in a kid. The former president of Compassion International writes:
If God stands a child before you, for even just a minute, it is a divine appointment. You have the chance to launch a life. You never know when you are making a memory. With each child you encounter, you have the power and opportunity to build up…. A life can be greatly influenced with as little as a single word, an uplifting comment, a well-timed hug, a tender prayer, a compliment, the holding of a frightened hand, or the gentle wiping of a tear…
And all of us, with no training, are qualified to do it. No one can say, “Well, children just aren’t my thing—I don’t ‘get’ them.” The truth is, you deserve an honorary doctorate in “childhood.” If you’re an adult, you have done eighteen years of “field research” in this complex subject. Having been a child yourself, you’ve experienced firsthand all you need to know.
So put your Ph.D. in childhood to work. It doesn’t take a village to raise a child. It takes a church.
Matt Proctor has served as president of Ozark Christian College since 2006.
Dr. Teresa Roberts
Every child is in the process of discipleship. The question is: What is discipling them?
Consider a day in the life of a child. Who are the people they are following: peers, teachers, celebrities, coaches? How much time do they spend at athletic practices or watching sports on television? Who is teaching them to dance en pointe, dismount from the balance beam, or play the piano? How much emphasis is placed on homework and academic achievement? What grabbed their attention on YouTube or TV? How much time are they spending playing video games or reading books?
Children are being discipled through academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, relationships, and entertainment. Every child is in the process of discipleship, whether intentionally begun…or not. If their discipleship is focused primarily on these types of activities, consider the natural result. They might be an excellent athlete, academically strong, or socially active—but are they following Jesus?
Christians often associate the term discipleship with the process of becoming more like Jesus, but by its most basic definition, discipleship is the process by which a student becomes more like the person or subject he or she is following.
So, consider the amount of time your children spend in Christ-centered activities in a day. How much time do they spend reading the Bible, singing songs about God, or in prayer? Are they participating in a Christian community to learn about faith, worship God, and be in fellowship with other believers? Does your family gather for meals to share about your day or have Christcentered conversations regularly? Do they walk or hike trails to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation? How often do you take advantage of everyday moments to point them to Jesus?
circumstances, almost every experience can come under the lordship of Christ and be part of the process of discipleship in Christ. And parents certainly shouldn’t place their children inside a Christ-centered bubble and not allow them to interact with anything that isn’t explicitly “of God.” But if we aren’t regularly evaluating a day in the life of our children, then we aren’t considering what we are emphasizing and the choices we are helping them make.
We need to recognize that from infancy, children are being discipled. At the same time children are growing taller, learning vocabulary words, developing social skills, and understanding themselves and others, they are developing their beliefs about God, God’s Word, and God’s work in their lives and the world. In the same way we teach them to read, practice a sport with them, and help them develop good manners, we should actively and intentionally place our children on a discipleship journey toward Christ. We can’t just expect children to arrive at the destination of belief in God; we need to guide them along the path. We need to ask the question on a regular basis: Are they following Jesus and becoming increasingly more like him?
The first 13 years of life are the most important years for discipleship.
It’s important to note that playing Little League, taking piano lessons, or focusing on academics are worthwhile pursuits. Children need a variety of activities and relationships to grow into well-rounded, healthy adults.1 Under the right
1
Proverbs 22:6 encourages us to “start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” This proverb is not a promise that every child will remain in Christ, as the child’s disposition and life events can work contrary to the gospel. But research indicates that adults who follow Jesus most likely made a commitment to him in childhood. 2
In fact, the first 13 years of life are the most important years for discipleship.
No other time between birth and death provides as many opportunities to shape how an individual perceives themselves, others, and the world. This is by God’s design. While we can witness the rapid growth of a child’s physical body, 3 what is happening in their mind is even more miraculous and formational. In fact, it is during these first 13 years of life that humans develop cognitive skills,4 social competencies,5 and moral commitments 6 at a rate that exceeds any other time of life.
By the time a child reaches adolescence, they will have a cognitive framework—a mindset—that organizes their world into clear categories. This framework begins with concrete thinking: understanding the world through senses and direct experiences. By age 13, they will mature beyond concrete thinking to abstract thought through the conceptualizing of ideas, critical reasoning, and hypothetical scenarios. During childhood, a child’s social world shifts from being self-centered toward being others-centered (and to a desire to be valued by others). By age 13, they can identify right from wrong, describe their basic beliefs, and make decisions based on what they value most. Many of the choices we make, passions we pursue, and perspectives we articulate as adults can be traced back to what we learned and believed in childhood.7
Becoming more like Christ—engaging in lifelong discipleship—is the expectation of every follower of Jesus. Christian publishers regularly release books on discipleship topics to help guide adults in their Christian maturity. Middle school and high school ministries include discipleship groups as part of their weekly programs. Some churches designate a ministry staff member to focus on discipleship. When discipleship discussions take place, however, they often focus on adolescents and adults rather than children.
So what can we do?
Though the Bible does not provide us with step-by-step instructions in raising children to be disciples, Scripture does provide commands to parents and examples of discipleship that can be helpful and instructive. Though not all children develop biologically, cognitively, socially, and morally in the same way, we can rely on research that helps us understand the stages of childhood development that God designed. And though each child’s journey with Christ will be unique based on a variety of factors, there is a clear goal for their discipleship journey, and there are some general directions we can guide them along on their journey.
In my book Raising Disciples: Guiding Your Kids into a Faith of Their Own, I introduce a discipleship map to use in guiding children in a life of discipleship from infancy to adolescence. Built on a biblical description of the process of discipleship, this map integrates information from childhood development to provide directions for spiritual growth. The goal of these steps
in their discipleship journey is that a child would never know a life outside of Christ. Instead, their faith would be nurtured from infancy toward a life with God that flourishes and matures throughout their lives.
When we are intentional about discipling children, we can start to put into practice some valuable routines that will lead to a deeper, richer relationship with God. We can teach children to become students of the Bible. We can help them build an age-appropriate vocabulary of faith. We can work with them to develop spiritual practices that lead to an identity in Christ and a relationship with God.
Not every child is born into a Christian family, nor does every child have the ability or opportunity to grow in ideal circumstances. Whether a child has barriers to their growth or experiences trauma that impacts their development, not all children will progress in their discipleship in the same way. I encourage you to disciple every child, wherever they are along this path, in a way unique to their circumstances and experiences. Recognize potential barriers to their growth, but also identify the opportunities.
A good reminder is that though we can lead, train, encourage, and empower kids in their discipleship, God is the one who makes things grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). God knows each child and their location along the discipleship map. May we rest in the knowledge that God is at work in our lives as we become more like Christ and in the lives of the children we are raising to follow him.
Let’s link arms together to guide the children in their lives along this pathway toward faith and commitment to Christ.
Excerpt adapted from Raising Disciples: Guiding Your Kids into a Faith of Their Own by Teresa Roberts. Copyright © 2024. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Dr. Teresa Roberts is a professor of ministry and Christian formation and the program director of children’s ministry at OCC. With more than 30 years’ experience, Dr. Roberts holds a Master of Arts in Family and Youth Ministry, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry. She serves in children’s ministry at College Heights Christian Church in Joplin.
3 Many resources describe the growth of a child from infancy through adolescence, such as John W. Santrock, Life-Span Development, 19th ed. (New York: McGraw Hill, 2024).
4 See Jean Piaget, The Psychology of the Child, trans. Bärbel Inhelder (New York: Basic Books, 1969).
5 See Erik H. Erikson, Childhood and Society (New York: W.W. Norton, 1993).
6 See Lawrence Kohlberg, The Philosophy of Moral Development: Moral Stages and the Idea of Justice, Essays on Moral Development, vol. 1 (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1981).
7 For an overview of childhood development through the lens of a Christian worldview, please see Catherine Stonehouse, Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey: Nurturing a Life of Faith (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998).
1-2 YEARS
0-12 MONTHS
ESTABLISH God’s Foundation
Begin the discipleship journey by helping to establish an infant’s secure attachment through consistent care and love.
9-10 YEARS
REINFORCE God’s Commands
Guide third and fourth graders in forming personal beliefs, recognizing sin, and accepting God’s grace. 11-12 YEARS
CHAMPION God’s Calling
Empower fth and sixth graders to grow in faith, make godly choices, and use their gifts for God’s glory.
DEMONSTRATE God’s Love
Show toddlers God’s love through a ectionate actions and words, helping them understand that God loves them too.
3-4 YEARS
SHARE God’s Story
Engage preschoolers with Bible stories and worship rituals to shape their understanding of God and the world.
7-8 YEARS
TEACH God’s Truth
Help rst and second graders understand and respond to God’s Word by growing in faith and choosing to follow Jesus.
5-6 YEARS
ENGAGE God’s Community
Encourage kindergartners to explore Bible stories, share prayers, and ask questions in a supportive faith environment.
To learn more about The Discipleship Map, including specific ways to integrate it into your parenting or ministry, check out Raising Disciples: Guiding Your Kids into a Faith of Their Own by Teresa Roberts.
Jon Kehrer
One of the most common agricultural words in the Old Testament is the Hebrew word zera' (“seed”). The word occurs in Psalm 126:6, contrasting the pain of planting with the joy of harvesting: “one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed (zera'); one enters with rejoicing, carrying his sheaves.” We spend our days laboring under the sun, but it is not just for our own ends. Our work yields seeds that have the potential power of life within them. We plant those seeds, tend to them, and care for them, hoping and praying that our efforts will result in thriving living organisms that will bear their own fruit, with their own seeds, long after we have done the work of planting.
This reality allows for the use of zera' as a metaphor: zera' is also the Hebrew word for “children” or “offspring” (for example, see Genesis 12:7, Exodus 32:13, Ruth 4:12, 1 Samuel 20:42, Isaiah 44:3, and Jeremiah 46:27). Psalm 128 uses this conceptual metaphor to describe children as
transplanted olive saplings around our table (128:3), valued for who they are and not just for what they can do. This suggests that these small humans among us are not just inconveniences to be pacified or annoyances to be dismissed. The biblical writers viewed children as wonderful gifts from the Lord. In a world where children are often seen as a bother more than a blessing, it may help to remember that our children—whether our physical or spiritual offspring—really are our zera' and our legacy. Though the process of growing that zera' may prove difficult, the rejoicing harvester (Psalm 126:6) reminds us that our efforts are not in vain. Our zera' truly are a blessing.
Jon Kehrer teaches Hebrew, Old Testament, and hermeneutics at OCC.
Lindsey Bell
Pam Siddle didn’t set out to be a children’s minister. In fact, her journey began with a simple “yes” when others had said “no.”
“We didn’t have anyone to help with VBS,” she remembers. “So I volunteered.”
That one “yes” would become the first step in a ministry spanning more than three decades, over a thousand Sundays, and thousands of lives touched. What started as a part-time role soon grew into a full-time calling as Pam helped build a thriving ministry at Church360 in Texas, a ministry that’s known not just for its size, but also for its heart.
Pam grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, in a strong Christian home where faith wasn’t just something talked about on Sundays. It was lived out daily. Her dad was an elder at their local church, and her parents regularly opened their home to Ozark Christian College students who were traveling for weekend ministries.
Looking back, Pam realizes those weekends around the dinner table were more than just moments of hospitality—they were moments of discipleship.
Her parents weren’t preaching sermons to her. Neither were those students who gathered around her table. But they were showing her what it looked like to love the Lord and serve him with your life.
By the time she was a high school senior, Pam still wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life. But those years of quiet
influence steered her toward Ozark. “I thought, I’ll go for one year and figure things out,” she says. “But God had other plans.”
That one year turned into a ministry that would shape the next several decades.
Once on campus, Pam quickly fell in love with the community and the culture. Her professors continued the moments of discipleship that her parents started around the dinner table years before.
“They invited us into their homes, shared meals with us, and knew us personally,” Pam remembers. “That was so impactful.”
Through her years at Ozark, her love for Scripture and passion for ministry grew.
“I didn’t go in thinking I’d do children’s ministry,” she says. “But Ozark gave me a solid foundation in the Bible and a vision for what it looks like to serve God in every season.”
And it was there that she met her husband, Steve. They graduated in 1979, got married the next weekend, honeymooned, and moved to California to begin their ministry journey.
Far from home in Palmdale, California, Pam found herself in a new kind of ministry: supporting her husband as he served as a youth minister. During that time, she also taught preschool and later worked for AAA Travel. After ten years in the workforce, she stepped away to be home with their children.
When the family moved to Texas in 1990, ministry found her again. Church360 (formerly Crossroads Christian Church) needed help, and Pam raised her hand and said, “Yes.”
After volunteering at VBS, the church offered her a job: “You did great. Why don’t you come on part-time?”
In 1992, she joined the children’s ministry staff. That part-time role eventually grew into a full-time calling. Today, she’s still faithfully leading…32 years later.
Over three decades of ministry have given Pam a front-row seat to transformation.
She’s seen children grow up, choose Christ, and return as college interns. She’s seen volunteers serve faithfully for decades. She’s seen parents bringing their kids to the same ministry that shaped them years ago.
One story stands out among them all, though. Three boys from a nearby neighborhood started walking to church every Sunday…not because they were looking for Jesus, but because they were bored. “They just wanted to get out of the house and have fun,” Pam says.
“They were a handful,” Pam admits, “but our volunteers kept pouring into them, week after week.”
Eventually, those boys accepted Christ and were baptized.
“They had never experienced that kind of love before,” she says. “But our team never gave up on them. They showed them Jesus in real, tangible ways.”
That’s what discipleship looks like in children’s ministry: showing up, saying yes, and then letting God do the transforming work.
Pam is quick to give credit where it’s due. “In spite of me, thank you, God,” she says. “He continues to work.”
One of her favorite verses is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Children’s ministry can be chaotic, but Pam knows it’s about more than just entertaining kids. It’s about more than just teaching Bible stories. It’s about helping kids know Jesus.
That is what has kept Pam going through more than 1,000 weekends of ministry.
Whether she’s planning the next high-energy VBS at Church360, welcoming new moms on a Sunday morning, or hanging out with a child who lives down the street and is “just looking for something fun to do,” Pam’s mission is clear: say yes to the next opportunity God brings—and trust him with the results.
Pam’s mission is clear: say yes to the next opportunity God brings—and trust him with the results.
Lindsey
Bell serves as the managing editor of The Ambassador magazine.
Matt Proctor
In his own time, a popular cartoon portrayed him as “the German Hercules.” A New York Times bestselling biography labeled him “the man who rediscovered God.” The Wall Street Journal called him “the monk that shook the world,” and the Encyclopedia Britannica named him “one of the most influential figures in Western civilization.” Everyone agrees: the sixteenthcentury German monk Martin Luther transformed the Christian church and Western culture itself.
Personally, Martin Luther is the man I thank for Children’s Church. Why? Read on.
Luther’s own childhood was rather ordinary, but he grew to be an extraordinary man. Some folks tiptoe their way into a pool, while others cannonball in, and if you know Luther’s story, he always went for the big splash—all in.
Academically, Luther went all in, starting university at 17 years old. Martin’s father, a blue-collar miner, pushed his son toward a lucrative career in law, and young Martin studied hard. He excelled in school, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees
in the shortest time allowed by the university. But when a frightened 21-year-old Martin—caught in a lightning storm—vowed to become a monk if he survived, he kept his word, and against his father’s wishes, Luther entered a monastery.
Religiously, then, Luther went all in. He threw himself into the monastic rituals, later remarking, “If ever a monk could’ve got to heaven by his monkery, it was I.” He plunged into “prayer, fasting, and ascetic practices—going without sleep, enduring bone-chilling cold without a blanket, and flagellating himself.” He spent so many hours each day in the confessional that the other monks asked what exactly he was doing. (“After all,” quipped one author, “he lived in a monastery. What did he have to confess: short-sheeting the other monks? Chanting off-key?”)
Theologically, Luther went all in as well. His monastic superiors, seeing Luther’s academic brilliance, ordered him to pursue a doctorate in theology. As an all-or-nothing guy, Luther did not tiptoe into Scripture. He dove into Hebrew and Greek and immersed himself in the biblical text, soaking in every word of books like Psalms, Hebrews, Romans, and Galatians. Soon recognized as a theological wunderkind, the 28-year-old Luther was named a theology professor at the University of Wittenberg.
Still wondering why Luther is the “patron saint of Children’s Church”? Keep reading.
Eventually, Martin Luther’s theological study led him to a disturbing conclusion: some of the teachings of the Catholic Church were not biblical. That’s when he made a fateful decision—to go all in vocationally. At the risk of his own job security, Luther confronted his “employer,” the Catholic Church. He made a list of 95 propositions for theological debate, and on October 31, 1517, he nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg church.
To be clear: this wasn’t defiant vandalism. The church door was a community bulletin board for notices of all kinds. Nor was this religious revolution. Luther’s intent was to reform the Church, not rebel against it. He had no desire to quit Catholicism, and he was not attempting to “take over the company.” He was simply putting some recommended improvements in the employee suggestion box.
His Catholic bosses, however, didn’t like being challenged, and long story short: the Protestant Reformation began, the thousand-year-old Roman Catholic church’s monolithic hold on Western culture was loosened, Christendom split in two, and the world was changed forever.
Some scholars claim that Luther’s actions laid the foundation stones of modern culture. “The quintessentially modern idea of the individual,” writes one author, “was as unthinkable before Luther as is color in a world of black and white…and the more recent ideas of pluralism, religious liberty, and self-government all entered history through the door that Luther opened.”
Perhaps that’s overstatement. But no one doubts: the “German Hercules” left the world different than he found it.
So why is Martin Luther the man I thank for Children’s Church? After all, you’re probably thinking of the multi-talented Luther’s contributions in other areas:
• Luther contributed to theology. The Catholic Church taught a works-based salvation, earning heaven through good works. Luther resoundingly corrected this—preaching salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Importantly, he based this conviction on Scripture alone as the Church’s final authority, not the pope. For his teachings, Luther was excommunicated and sentenced to death. Fortunately, German princes protected him, and the Protestant Church was born. So if you’ve ever heard the gospel of grace preached in church, thank Martin Luther.
But since Bibles were still not readily available to peasants, Martin Luther needed a way to teach the basics of the faith to the average churchgoer. “The common people have no knowledge whatever of Christian doctrine,” he wrote, after visiting many congregations. “They cannot even recite the Lord’s Prayer or the Ten Commandments.” People simply didn’t know the elementary truths of Scripture.
People simply didn’t know the elementary truths of Scripture.
In 1529, he had a simple but brilliant idea. Though Luther was 45 years old, the “German Hercules” had just become a new dad. So he wrote The Small Catechism, also known as Luther’s Little Instruction Book. This slim volume was a simple guide for fathers to teach the main points of the gospel to their children. It even included pictures! It was, in essence, the first illustrated children’s Bible storybook.
Luther then championed two themes: first, he began urging German parents to provide general education to their children, keeping them in school rather than sending them to work. (One secular college course listed Martin Luther as a key historical advocate for early childhood education, alongside John Locke and JeanJacques Rousseau.) If kids couldn’t read, how could they read the Bible?
• Luther contributed to Bible translation. The Catholic Church forbade ordinary folk from owning a Bible, even outlawing Scripture translation into other languages. Only the Latin version—which virtually no one understood—was allowed. But true to his blue-collar, peasant roots, Luther translated the Greek New Testament into the rough-and-tumble everyday German of his people (in only eleven weeks) so everyone could read it. His German Bible spread across Europe like wildfire and, despite the Church’s opposition, inspired translations in many languages, including English. So if you’ve ever read the Bible in your own language, thank Martin Luther.
• Luther contributed to church music. “From the 4th century until Luther in the early years of the 16th century, virtually no one sang in church except for ordained clergy,” writes one scholar. But Martin Luther believed that “music drives away the devil and makes people happy. Next after theology, I give to music the highest place.” So he put Christian lyrics to singable melodies and introduced them in corporate worship, writing hymns like “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Luther “was largely responsible for introducing into the life of the evangelical church the practice of congregational singing.” So if you’ve ever sung with other believers in church, thank Martin Luther.
Second, Luther began urging families and churches to teach their children scriptural basics, using helps like The Small Catechism. It swept across Europe and, though Luther wrote many important volumes, his Little Instruction Book became “the chief book from Luther’s pen.” Churches began holding a “catechetical hour” on Sunday afternoon—in other words, Children’s Church—and scholars claim The Small Catechism might be “Luther’s most influential work because, while it does not have the theological depth of his other writings, it was learned by generations of German children.” It is still used by some churches today, and one church historian called Luther’s little illustrated children’s Bible book “one of the noblest monuments of the Reformation.”
So if you (or your kids) ever learned the Bible in Children’s Church, thank Martin Luther.
I do.
Every child is in the process of discipleship. The question is: What’s discipling them?
Dr. Teresa Roberts offers strategies and tactics to help kids discover how to learn and study the Bible, practice spiritual disciplines, find their identity—in Christ—and embrace a faith of their own. Raising Disciples is a practical guide for parents, volunteers, and ministry leaders that includes a birth-to-adolescence discipleship map, quick-reference visual aids, and discussion questions for further reflection.
This year, over 800 men and women are training for Christian service at Ozark Christian College and Lincoln Seminary—our highest enrollment in 20 years. We thank God for all our Ambassadors for Christ.
On June 1, 2024, OCC’s Graduate Studies program officially became Lincoln Seminary at Ozark Christian College. Named for our sister school in Lincoln, Illinois, the leadership of Lincoln Christian University graciously gave Ozark the seminary’s name, LCU’s $3.8 million endowment, and several other physical assets, including The Divine Servant, a statue depicting Jesus washing Peter’s feet. Today, Lincoln Seminary is led by Dr. Michael DeFazio, Dean of Lincoln Seminary, and Dr. Jeff Snell, Associate Dean. The seminary programs are accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), in addition to Ozark’s already-existing accreditations with the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and the Higher Learning Commission. Lincoln Seminary degrees (Master of Divinity and several Master of Arts) and certificates are offered in a hybrid modality—in person and online. In May, our first class of Lincoln Seminary graduates contributed to the largest graduating class in Ozark’s history. This fall, the seminary has nearly 150 students enrolled.
While our sister school, Lincoln Christian University, ceased academic operations in May of 2024, it continues to exist as an Illinois not-for-profit organization. Today, Lincoln Christian Institute (LCI) exists to educate, equip, and encourage churches and those who lead them. Led by Executive Director and former LCU President Dr. Silas McCormick, LCI courses, pulpit supply, retreats, and other events serve as a trusted resource for healthy churches and mature church leaders who are spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Find out more at lincolnchristianinstitute.org
In short, we’re grateful to continue the legacy of Lincoln, to help serve a strategic role in the Restoration Movement, and especially to have a new opportunity to fulfill our mission of training men and women for Christian service. Will you join us in praying for Lincoln Seminary at OCC? Learn more at occ.edu/lincoln
Surveys show that most people have not made a will. OCC Attorney Doug Miller gives step-by-step instructions on using a free online service to create your will, healthcare power of attorney, and financial power of attorney at occ.edu/willvideo Create your will for free at occ.edu/onlinewill. It’s quick, easy, and confidential. Make your will today! For details, contact Doug Miller at miller.doug@occ.edu or 417.626.1215.
Coming to a church near you! Under the leadership of Chief Advancement Officer Jim Dalrymple, OCC’s advancement team travels most weekends of the year. Rusty Hedger, Dru Ashwell, and David Upchurch would love to visit your church and share an update on the college. To find out more, email Bethany Chastain at chastain.bethany@occ.edu.
This summer, thanks to the generous gifts of our partners, we completed the renovation of Williamson Hall. To date, four residence halls have been fully renovated, with new furniture, upgraded electricity and HVAC, and more. Plans are underway to renovate the remaining two dorms, Goodman Hall and Strong Hall. We thank God for his faithful provision as we continue to carry out our mission of training men and women for Christian service.
OCC Press is an imprint of Ozark Christian College, publishing works by current and former OCC faculty under the direction of a publishing committee. At OCC Press, you’ll find trustworthy, biblical resources in everyday language. Titles include Holy Grit and The Disciple’s Mind by Dr. Chad Ragsdale and Dr. Daniel McCoy. The Everyday Exposition series by OCC Press guides readers through the Bible book by book and is designed for personal or small group study. While not traditional commentaries, these concise books are faithful to the text of the Bible, highly readable, and applicable to every believer. The Everyday Exposition series includes Victorious Forever and Finish Line Faith by President Matt Proctor. OCC Press books are available for purchase at the OCC Bookstore and at occpress.com.
Earlier this year, Ozark launched a new initiative, OCC Academy. These affordable ministry training resources for churches include hours of video content, as well as guided, practical learning exercises adaptable to your ministry and pace. OCC Academy courses are perfect for church volunteers and residency programs, internal church staff hires, and personal growth opportunities. OCC Academy bridges the gap for those who want Bible training beyond Ozark’s free NextLevel series but aren’t yet pursuing a Bible college degree. Currently, there are two OCC Academy courses available. “How to Interpret the Bible” with Dr. Michael DeFazio is a 12-lesson course with over 12 hours of video content and guided readings. “Sent: Called by God into a Life of Vocational Ministry” is a sixsession series especially for high school students, with sessions taught by Jim Dalrymple, Beth DeFazio, Jaron Scott, Michael DeFazio, Lane Moss, and Dr. Chad Ragsdale. Find out more at occ.edu/academy.
In August, the Joplin City Council honored the vital role six area colleges and universities play in strengthening the region’s economy, workforce, and community. Ozark Christian College, Pittsburg State University, Missouri Southern State University, Kansas City University, Crowder College, and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College were all recognized. Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez said, “It’s a great thing to have these kinds of institutions in a community our size. We celebrate and recognize these incredible educational experiences offered through these universities and colleges. Thank you for being part of our area and giving our students some wonderful opportunities.”
Pictured from left to right are Dr. Linda Niessen, dean of the College of Dental Medicine at KCU–Joplin; Matt Proctor, president of Ozark Christian College; Dr. Chett Daniel, president of Crowder College; Dr. Dean Van Galen, president of MSSU; Mayor Keenan Cortez; Dr. Richard Schooler, vice president of Kansas City University’s Farber-McIntire Campus, Joplin; Doug Ball, interim president of PSU; and Dustin Grover, vice president for academic affairs, Northeastern Oklahoma (NEO) A&M College. Photo by David Weaver.
Dr. Chad Ragsdale is a professor, author, husband, and dad who serves as chief academic officer at Ozark Christian College and Lincoln Seminary. A preacher’s kid from northwest Indiana, Chad was raised in Crown Point, near Chicago—where he came to love Notre Dame, the Chicago Bears, and the Chicago Cubs.
Chad graduated from Lincoln Christian College in 2000 and from Lincoln Christian Seminary in 2004 with degrees in preaching and contemporary theology. In 2020, he earned his Doctor of Ministry from Talbot School of Theology.
“Twenty years ago,” Chad recalls, “while visiting family in Joplin, I had breakfast at IHOP with Mark Scott. Little did I know this was a job interview. By the next fall, I was teaching at Ozark.”
In 2005, Chad joined the faculty at OCC, teaching philosophy, apologetics, and biblical interpretation. His servant leadership and love for God’s Word make Chad a respected dean, and
his creativity and humor in the classroom make him a muchloved professor. One morning a few years ago, some of Chad’s students got up extra early, drove across state lines to Arkansas, and brought back Chad’s favorite—Dunkin’ Donuts coffee—for Chad and their whole class.
Chad became Ozark’s assistant academic dean in 2013. Today, he serves as chief academic officer and dean of undergraduate studies at OCC. Chad has authored two books: Holy Grit: Reflections on Hebrews for Cultivating a Faith that Lasts (OCC Press) and The Disciple’s Mind: Thinking Like a Disciple of Jesus (Renew.org and OCC Press, coauthored with Dr. Daniel McCoy). Chad also writes at chadragsdale.com.
Chad and his wife, Tara, met at Lincoln Christian College, where she was a missions and nursing major. Married since 2001, the Ragsdales have three kids, Logan, Adeline, and Ryane.
“Our family loves hiking and camping any chance we get,” Chad says. “I also enjoy playing and listening to music, going on long walks with my dog, and suffering through Chicago sports games.”
“One of my greatest memories,” says Chad, “was sitting with my son and my dad at Waffle House at 2:30 in the morning, celebrating the Cubs finally winning the World Series in 2016.”
Tuesday Tours offer high school juniors, seniors, and transfers a glimpse of what it’s like to attend Ozark Christian College. You’ll attend class and chapel, eat lunch with President Matt Proctor, meet professors, and take a campus tour. And, you’ll receive a $1,400 scholarship when you submit your application to Ozark. Tuesday Tours are held throughout the school year. Find tour dates and details at occ.edu/tuesdaytour.
NOVEMBER 7-8
Help your high school students discover more about YHWH: The God Who Has Made Himself Known at this weekend event for students in grades 9-12. Speaker: Jon Kehrer
Register your student or youth group at occ.edu/theevent.
4-7
Join us on campus this Christmas for Charles Dickens’ holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. Follow the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser who discovers the true meaning of compassion and generosity. Choose from five performances from Thursday, December 4, through Sunday, December 7, and come celebrate Christmas at Ozark! Tickets go on sale October 15 at occ.edu/christmas
Cheer on your Ambassadors in person and online. Follow Ozark cross country, men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and basketball at occ.edu/athletics and occ.edu/athleticslive.
FEBRUARY 16-18, 2026
Make plans now to join us at the Preaching-Teaching Convention on February 16-18, 2026. “Faithful Where You Are: A Study in James” includes speakers Tyler McKenzie, Julie Gariss, Dr. Jerry Taylor, Matt Merold, Michael Hinnen, Cam Huxford, and Jason Price (morning Bible study teacher).
Read what 2025 convention attendees had to say:
The conference is great and a good time to refresh.
It’s nice to see familiar faces again!
As a Lincoln Christian University grad, I was happy to see Ozark welcoming us as their own.
Comedian Michael Jr. will be our special guest at the President’s Banquet on Monday evening, February 16, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. He will also perform his stand-up comedy at a ticketed concert in the OCC Chapel following the banquet.
Read more and register at occ.edu/pt
Save the date for the 2026 Women’s Event, April 24-25 at OCC. We’ll look at Amazing Faith encounters with Jesus in the book of John.
Speaker: Amy Storms
Watch for more information at occ.edu/we
Don’t miss these children’s ministry resource recommendations from Dr. Teresa Roberts.
Curiously Kaitlyn hosted by Kaitlyn Schiess (part of Holy Post Media)
A delightful podcast where kids’ big questions about God and the Bible are answered with wisdom and clarity by thoughtful scholars—helpful for parents and every children’s ministry leader and volunteer.
FreeBibleImages.org
An excellent website for finding beautiful, free images and visual resources for teaching kids, especially the photobased illustrations from the Lumo Project.
Sustainable Children’s Ministry by Mark DeVries and Annette Safstrom
A go-to resource for anyone in children’s ministry! Packed with practical advice—from recruiting volunteers to creating healthy boundaries— this is a book to recommend to all ministry leaders.
Children’s Ministry in the Way of Jesus by David M. Csinos and Ivy Beckwith
This book challenges leaders to think beyond the fads and refocus on the deeper purpose of children’s ministry. It always sparks rich conversations about what really matters in discipling kids.
The Bible Story Handbook: A Resource for Teaching 175 Stories from the Bible by John H. Walton and Kim E. Walton
An indispensable tool for teaching kids Bible stories well—offering helpful background, common teaching pitfalls, and ways to highlight God’s character in every lesson.
Elaine Abbott
Jack and Mareese Robbins
Don Albert
Carolyn Albert
Adam Allman
Daniel and Karen Stassin
Harvey and Nancy Bacus
Michael and Carolyn Derflinger
Randy and Beth Erwin
Greg and Deb Hafer
Richard and Rebecca Hargrave
Nancy Jett
Don Lucietta
Doug and Dee Ann Miller
Paula Richardson
Al Riddle
Patricia Roane
Stanley and Teresa Roberts
David and Carla Ruark
Greg and Darla Smith
Virginia Taylor
Richard Webster
Woody and Rose Wilkinson
Fracia Workman
Beverly Bauer
David and Judy Parry
Steve Bearden
David and Libby Duncan
Doug and Dee Ann Miller
Kendra Berry
Kevin and Rachel Berry
Gary Birney
Lindie Andreas
Walt Birney
Lindie Andreas
Karen Blackmore
Phil and Nona Blackmore
Gail Boatman
Dona Boatman
Sharon Butler Caille
Norma Reed
Mitch Boyes
David and Libby Duncan
Ron Briggs
Lenora Briggs
Allen Brintnall
Blueridge College of Evangelism
Sam and Betsy Braker
Sara and Chad Dixon
Delmar and Doris Henady
Chuck Humphreys
Steve and Jane Jennings
Donna Brockus
David Brockus
Gerrit and Esther Brouwer
Paul and Julie Brouwer
Freida Brown
Crystal Mittelhauser
Ruth Bunton
Beth and Tyler Branstetter
Lewis Burton
Johnny and Cordelia
Atteberry
Dorothy Folsom
Hadwell Hardware, LLC
Betty Lindstedt
Michael and Meredith Proctor
Bill and Phyllis Bushnell
Chris and Diane Bushnell
Gerhard Bussmann
Tommy and Sally Berberich
Paul Boatman
Michael and Theresa Finley
Ruthetta Getchel
Sheron Henrichsmeyer
Harold and Judy Horn
Jason and Paula Ingram
Alan and Barbara Kline
Floyd and Carol Morefield
Ritter Plumbing
Edwin and Linda Seggelke
James and Edna Stevens
Mark and Ellen Weber
Paul Butler
Joyce Benschoter
Clarence and Etta Cain
Allen and Mary Cain
Jimmy Carter
Glenn Boyes
Ronald Carter
Pam Carter
Herbert and Jeanne Casteel
Jordan and Joan Casteel
Norm Clatterbuck
Kasey McCall
Marion Conover
Ken and Kaylene Idleman
Harley and Carol Petri
Joy Crockett
Anonymous Gift
College Heights Christian Church
Chelsea Bromley Davis
Michael and Jessica Pastirik
Don DeWelt
Richard and Dee Halaas
Isabel Dittemore
Alan and Janet Bemo
Shirley Duncan
Lorrie Boulware
Clark and Sherry Dickerson
David and Libby Duncan
Kelly and Genevieve Dye
Max and Jackie Dye
James and Mary England
Jonathan and Laura England
Gary Erhart
Elaine Erhart
Larry and Natalie Johnson
Joe and Kathy Snyder
James Essert
Perry Schulze
Willard and Lisa Young
Larry Farthing
Doug and Donna Arfsten
First Christian Church
Village Christian Church
Brice and Barbara Ferguson
Al and Mary Riddle
Chris Ferguson
Richard Ferguson
Harold and Lorraine Fielder
David and Faye Nissen
Robert and Karen Perry
Fred and Martha Fish
Larry and Karen Catron
Martha Fish
Elaine Francis
Doug and Dee Ann Miller
Larry Ford
Homebuilders Class
Harold Fowler
James and Charlea Cormode
Lynn Gardner
Fred and Frances Daniel
Bob Gariss
Phil and Nona Blackmore
Fontella Gariss
Milford Christian Church
Joe Garman
Marcy Ray
Dixie Garrison
Mike and Mary Nauman
Christina Gerkhardt
Randy and Beth Erwin
James Gilchrist
Doug and Patti Gross
Wanda Golembiecki
Scott Golembiecki
Phyllis Greer
Myrna Beasley
Gordon and Joyce Butler
Ann Dillard
Terry Gump
Carol King
Robert and Mary Jo
Pemberton
Dale and Jennifer Richards
Calvin and Christine Stearns
AnnMeredith Waring
Kenneth Gregor
Mark and Brenda Gregor
Donna Greve
Christie Hutchens
Robert Gurwell-Robles
Randy and Beth Erwin
Dennis Hall
James and Rebecca Bilbro
Deana Bond
Erna Deloof
Joe and Becky Edelen
John and Lucille Green
Jeffrey and Melanie Hall
Steve and Jane Jennings
Clark Jensen
Marie Keller
Darrell and Nancy Klein
Mark and Patty Lang
Terry and Linda Lowry
Carol Roudabush
Phyllis Smith
Janna Stoker
James and Joan Thorne
Donald and Joyce Hall
James and Rebecca Bilbro
Vonda Hamilton
Woody and Rose Wilkinson
William Hauser
Anonymous Gift
Randall Banks
Jane Bryant
Steven Burdette
William and Paula Coston
Charles and Melissa
Ferguson
James and LeAnn Hauser
David and Deborah Johnson
Kevin and Cindy Moyers
Gene and Kathy Proctor
Luke and Rebekah Proctor
Michael and Meredith
Proctor
Linda Wilcox
Delmar Henady
Brent and Judith Anderson
Anonymous Gift
Cathy and Don Eichelberger
Roger and Bonnie Henady
Patricia Noe
Scott and Tasha Swank
Harlan Ziebart
Steve Hoekstra
Darwin and Kay Rader
Winston and Gayle
Hollingsworth
Wick and Molly
Hollingsworth
Murray and Diane Hollis
Daniel and Karen Stassin
Marcia Howard
Jill and Murry Syfert
Evelyn Jackson
Danny and Linda Jackson
Mel and Dawnette Jaylon
Daniel and Karen Stassin
Rick Jett
Nancy Jett
Britiney Johanson
Greg and Sherry Alt
Aldena Jordan
Jeffrey and Ann Jordan
Alan Keesling
Joel Hawkins
Wanda Means
Gordon and Jeanette
Mehaffey
Anne Mikesell
David Smith
White House Leasing, LLC
Donald Kelly
Ruth Kelly
Scott Kelly
Ruth Kelly
Susan Kendall
Kay Kendall
George and Tasci King
Paul and Katherine Gray
Fritz Koopmann
Alt Family, LLC
Ferry Funeral Home
David and Rose Fish
J.E. and B.J. Hamersley
J.D. and Cindy Lathrop
Glenda Mays
Julie and Kevin McKinley
Roger and Anita Medlin
Peggy and Steve Pyle
Gary and Connee Reimers
Schmutz Farms, LLC
Sharon Koopmann
Kathryn Sivils
Jolene Koopmann
Fritz and Sharon Koopmann
Connie Prettyman
Steve and Peggy Pyle
Byron and Melissa West
William Lange
Curtis Lange
Tiny Lange
Richard Meyer
Marilyn Phillips
Thomas and Glenda Stoppel
Judy Lanham
David Lanham
Lynn Laughlin
Jeff and Melinda Mayfield
Tower Hill Christian Church
Marilyn Lewis
Don Lewis
William and Mardell Lidgard
Steven and Carla Ingram
Russell Lieb
Jeff and Barbara Lieb
Carolyn Litz
Bruce Ammerman
Robert Litz
Phillip and Jan Hofschulte
David Logan
Carl Junction School District
Bob Lyttle
Larry and Marcia Cooper
Mr. and Mrs. Buell Mayes
Rick and Cherry Sallee
Carolyn McElroy
Julia Greer
Judy McElwee
Karen Adamson
Robert Bessey
Jennifer Billeci
Barbara Daniels
Maureen Gilardi
Kathleen Gilbride
Sue Greenleaf
James and Nita Hoffman
Diane Klotz
Irene Koenig
John Komorowski
John and Rita Kurtz
Paul Lindblad
Margaret Loughlin
Melvin Miller
Greta Neff
Kim O'Neill
Michael Pilo
Charles Prall
Kathleen Ruth
Patrick and Lynn Stahowick
Margaret Swickard
Janice Tirinzonie
TOPS IA #698 Altoona
Lester and Mary McIntosh
Richard and Rebecca Hargrave
Ginny Mettetal
Jody Edwards
Amy Mintz
Rose Mintz
Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Miskovsky
George and Patti Williams
Carl Mittelhauser
Crystal Mittelhauser
Elsie Moore
Allgeier, Martin and Associates, Inc.
Orville and Elizabeth Brill
Nuclear Fuel Services
Randall and Tammy Reed
Kay and Roger Seacat
Leon Weece
Darrel Morlan
Daniel and Karen Stassin
David Morton
Karen Malloy
Louis Moss
Julia Greer
Betty Myers
Ken and Marsha Ansley
Ron Myers
Janice Griebel-Edwards
Bernice Nauman
Mike and Mary Nauman
John Newman
Clair Newman
Robert and Myrtle Owings
Mike and Mary Nauman
William C. Peeples
William Peeples
William Percy
Phil and Nona Blackmore
Kathleen Peterson
Anonymous Gift
Lois Davis
First Christian Church
Nathan Harris
Delmar Milligan
Kenneth Peterson
Paul Stambaugh
Robert Peterson
Jackie Barnes
Lawrence and Sandra Ernst
Margaret Fite
Anna Phillips
Tamara Sheffield
Arno Petri
Harley and Carol Petri
Woodrow Phillips
Richard and Dee Halaas
Rodger Powell
Smoky Mountain Christian Church
Adam Ransom
James and Sandra Ransom
Donald Reed
Norma Reed
Mary Reed
Kenneth Reed
Iluminada Reyes
Randy and Beth Erwin
Terry and Gloria Reyes
Randy and Beth Erwin
Thelka Ridgeway
Sidney and Marjory
Boudreaux
George Roane
Patricia Roane
Gordon Robards
Central Christian Church
Roy Roberts
Mark Roberts
Melanie Rosenkilde
Margie Berry
Tom Ross
Connie Ross
Bryan and Amber Rowoth
Paul Rowoth
Harvey Rutherford
Thomas and Deborah Trotter
Delbert Scheffler
Joyce Scheffler
Ben and Estelle Schiller
Kay Kendall
Pamelia Schlaf
Thomas Schlaf
Cecil Scott
Robert Scott
Robert Scott
Anonymous Gift
Larry and Karen Catron
Pat Crain
John Day
Thomas Deems
Terri Denney
Gene and Jonice Egbert
Rose Gaither
Timothy and Suellen Grice
Donald and Judith Hampton
Sonya Marcum
Mark Merritt
Doug and Dee Ann Miller
Tim Perry
Pineville Christian Church
Philip Scott
Anne Sharp
RL Spaulding
Clyde and Virginia Stalling
Patty Vavra
Woody and Rose Wilkinson
April Semrad
Rick Jett
David and Jewell Shelton
Joyce Stock
Joe Shryock
Susan Shryock
Dianne Siemens
Connie and Richard Samples
Brian Smith
Kenneth and Claire Smith
Francene Snell
Kristen Beach
Benton City Christian Church
Paul Boatman
Marshal Conklin
Jack and Joyce Davis
Stephen and Ruth DeOrnellas
Ryan and Courtney Derr
Janice Douglas
First Christian Church
William and Norma Hayden
Hickory Grove Christian
Church
Thomas and Valentina
Hilgediek
Sterling and Karen Holbrook
Steve and Jane Jennings
Helen LeCount
James and Mila Lowry
Dwayne and Mary Mackey
Maryanna Mackey
McCredie Community
Church
Steven and Brenda Nice
Donald and Marilyn Palmer
Rebekah Rodenbaugh
Sharon and Harry Schirding
Sandra Schofield
Marlene Sipes
Michael Snell
Sherry Spotts
Matthew and Joy Stafford
Walker Christian Church
Mary and Mike Wood
Shane and Gayla Wood
Gordon Souder
Richard and Carolyn Alspaw
Anonymous Gift
Orville and Elizabeth Brill
Mr. & Mrs. Class
Gary and Kim Cless
Nancy Dague
Carol Elliott
Virgil and Linda Eubanks
Brad and Pam Fogo
Mark and Dixie Goodman
Kathryn Kientz
David Knapp
Earl and Cathy Lipscomb
Gerald and Leslie Luttrell
James and Betty McCoy
P.J. Nelson
Lida Oney
Paula Richardson
Frank and Shauna Rooks
Seekers Sunday School Class
Rebecca Souder
Bonnie Stukey
Richard Webster
Wilma Stallman
Alvin and Arlyce Schroeder
Nadine Stark
Dana McGuire
Jon Stedman
Daniel and Karen Stassin
Linda Steele
Randy Steele
Murray and Donna Stewart
Kirk and Jeannette Adams
David and Sharon Stitt
Shawna and Patrick
Anderson
Rick and Della Deighton
Clifford and Deborah Stock
Joyce Stock
Virginia Taylor
Orville and Elizabeth Brill
Pat Thomas
Homebuilders Class
Reginald and Esther Thomas
Provision Bridge
Charles and Wanda
Thomas, Sr.
Jane and David Brown
Donna Todd
Homebuilders Class
Grady Todd
Wanda Todd
Grady Todd
Lee Todd
Jerry Toogood
Robert and Joan Bond
Jacquelin Trainer
David and Lana Aspinwall
Ruth and James Baldwin
Phillip and Christine Garner
Kirby and Becky Landes
Danny and Dianne Neathery
Sue Whitacre-Arnold
Aurelio Valderrama, Sr.
Julie Tecson
Bill Vernon
Patricia Vernon
Bob Vernon
Patricia Vernon
Gene Waite
Stanley Waite
Kale Walters
Carter and Jill Pugh
Lana Watson
John and Betty Watson
Finis Watt
Brian and Natalie Flood
Helen Weece
Lloy Reed
Randall and Tammy Reed
Kay and Roger Seacat
Gayle West
Ronald and Joanne West
Kenneth Wheat
Ivan and Naydene
Cunningham
Virgil and Linda Eubanks
Doug and Dee Ann Miller
Sheila Packard
Todd and Jacqueline Palmer
Larry and Jan Peters
Monte and Shawn Shoemake
Stanley White
Steve and Lydia Copenhaver
Mark Williams
David and Libby Duncan
Rick Jett
Michael and Laurie Lee
Mr. and Mrs. George
Williams, Sr.
George and Patti Williams
Seth Wilson
Richard and Dee Halaas
Henry and Mildred Wood
Edith Geurin
Sterling Wood
Edith Geurin
Shirley Woolsey
Richard and Dee Halaas
Craig Woolsey
Jim Woolsey, Jr.
Janet Woolsey
Stella Wyatt
Priscilla Rives
Forrest Young
Homebuilders Class
Bernard Zylstra
Bryce and Lynette Bollom
Barbara Boschen
Sheryl Hanley
Roger and Mardi Lebeis
William Volker
David and Lisa Zylstra
Jean Zylstra
Mary Zylstra
John and Glenda DeLaMater
HONOR GIFTS:
Teresa Baker
David and Libby Duncan
Kevin and Rachel Berry
Renee Gross
David Nolan
Mark and Carla Scott
John and Ruth Stude
Ronald and Joanne West
Dwight Edwards
Natalie Edwards
Monte French
Michael and Vicki French
Deb Hafer
Greg and Deb Hafer
Shirley Ann Hankins
Anonymous Gift
Fred Hansen
Harley and Carol Petri
Rusty Hedger
Harley and Carol Petri
Donald and Melinda Holt
Connie Ross
Steven Ingram
Connie Ross
David and Jennifer McMillin
Robert and Bonnie Wetzel
Doug Miller
Robert Marsh
Kenton Moore
Jerelene Richards
Clair Newman
Harvey and Kathleen Newman
Jimmie Piercy
Julie Piercy
Chad Ragsdale
Brad and Carolyn Neal
Chris and Donna Richardson
Crestline Christian Church
Roger and Nancy Storms Ministry
CDF Capital
Diana Rojas
Robert Marsh
Jeff Snell
Harley and Carol Petri
Jolynn Thamert
David and Libby Duncan
Andrew and Emily Trotter
Michael and Vicki French
Wallace Wartick
Mark and Cathy Comeaux
Mark and Ellen Weber
Harley and Carol Petri
White Fields Overseas Evangelism
Provision Bridge
Woody and Rose Wilkinson
Mike and Mary Nauman
Robert and Lisa Witte
Mike and Mary Nauman
Share updates on your life and ministry with OCC. We’ll print your news in an upcoming issue of The Ambassador. Send us your update at alumni@occ.edu or occ.edu/alumni
Please lift in prayer the families of the following alumni who have passed away this year.
James “Jim” Agler passed away on January 7, 2025. His wife was Deana (Humphrey) Agler (attended 67-70).
Brooklyn Aikins, the 18-year-old daughter of Ryan (attended 96-01) and Heidi (Van Schyndel) Aikins, passed away on February 14, 2025. Brooklyn planned on attending OCC this year.
Stephen “Steve” Asbell (75) passed away on April 9, 2025. He and his wife, Laurie, had been married 33 years and served in many capacities over the years. Most recently, Steve served as the senior adults pastor at Valley View Christian Church in Littleton, Colorado.
Vickie (Allison) Black (attended 65-68) passed away on March 17, 2025. Vickie was married to Tom Black (82), who preceded her in death.
Allen Brintnall (76/former staff) passed away on September 12, 2024, two days before his 68th wedding anniversary to his wife, Joy. Allen served at OCC for 30 years—15 years as the superintendent of buildings and grounds and 15 years as a resident director in Dennis Hall (now Mabee Hall).
Allen served as the chaplain and assistant administrator at Spring River Christian Village in Joplin for 26 years, retiring in 2014.
Randy Brown (attended 74-76), husband of Susan (Hildreth) Brown (attended 77-78), passed away on May 11, 2025.
Dr. Gerhard H. “Gary” Bussmann (Lincoln 59), a professor emeritus from Lincoln Christian University, retired in 2008, passed away on January 11, 2025.
Mary (Lyle) Call (attended 67-69) passed away on January 4, 2025. She lived with her husband, Miles, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Mary (Morain) Clymer (88, attended 54-58) passed away on May 12, 2025. Mary and her husband, Gordon Clymer (59/ former staff), ministered together for many years.
Rebecca “Becky” (Hohman) Cochran (attended 74-76) passed away on May 22, 2025, leaving behind her husband, Gordon, and many loving family members. Becky was a longtime children’s Sunday School teacher and an active member of Connect Christian Church in Carl Junction, Missouri.
Eunice “Joy” (Rees) Crockett (attended 72-75, 78-80/former staff) passed away on May 27, 2025. Joy lived in Lamar, Missouri. Her husband, Dwight, preceded her in death.
Matt Crosser (attended 94-98) passed away in his sleep on October 9, 2024, after dealing with chronic kidney issues for many years. Matt served as the engagement minister at Highland Park Christian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Carol (King) Cunningham (85) passed away on May 26, 2025, surrounded by her family and husband of almost 53 years, Carl Cunningham.
Ronnie Epps (attended 55-58), the founder and longtime minister of the Johnson County Christian Church in Overland Park, Kansas, passed away on April 14, 2025.
Phil Gardner (62) passed away on July 21, 2025. Phil ran the Phil Gardner School of Real Estate for many years. Phil was a brother to former Ozark Christian College Academic Dean Dr. Lynn Gardner, Keith Gardner, Greg Gardner, and Gwen (Gardner) Stone
Joe Garman (66) passed away on February 24, 2025. Joe founded American Rehabilitation Ministries, later renamed ARM Prison Outreach.
Steven Goughnour (69) passed away on February 13, 2025. Steve, alongside his wife Sharon (Dietderich), served in several churches over his 57 years of preaching.
Boyd Hamlin (91) passed away on June 28, 2025. He and his wife, Melanie (Harp) Hamlin (attended 90-92), ministered in churches in Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. Melanie preceded Boyd in death on January 18, 2024.
Delmar Henady (75) passed away on April 23, 2025. He and his wife, Doris (Beckner) (attended 77), were married for 65 years. Delmar served in the US Navy, was a youth minister at Hornet Christian Church while attending Ozark, and has served there as a deacon and elder for 45 years.
Jeanne Henckel (88) passed away on March 24, 2025, after a lifetime of serving in various ministries. She was preceded in death by her first husband, James “Jim” Henckel (88), and her second husband, Norman Losiniecki.
Tom Jones (62) passed away on March 23, 2025. Tom was the minister of the Talala Christian Church in Talala, Oklahoma, for 32 years.
Peggy Lynn (Andrews) LaVelle (ASL 81, BCE 87) passed away on August 18, 2021. Peggy used her life and talents in music, singing, and playing to serve God and reach people for the kingdom. She is survived by her husband, E.J. (78)
Ramona (Earnest) Leake (attended 53) passed away on January 3, 2025. Ramona served alongside her husband, Leonard, in churches in Missouri, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Texas.
Lanny Maddux (68) passed away on April 3, 2025, shortly after losing his beloved wife, Patricia “Pat” (Cable) Maddux (68), who passed away on February 7, 2025.
Claudia (Johnson) Masser (94) passed away on June 6, 2025, after a long battle with cancer. Her husband, Marshall Masser (96), and other loved ones were by her side.
Paul “Ralph” Mehrens (65/former staff) passed away on June 21, 2025. Ralph served in various churches throughout his lifetime and ministered at Calvary Christian Church in Bellevue, Nebraska, for 25 years. In 2005, he received OCC’s Seth Wilson Outstanding Alumni Award.
Elsie (Weece) Moore (55) passed away on January 2, 2025. Elsie supported her husband, Donald Moore (55), in his ministry for 55 years.
Howard Mountcastle (55) passed away on February 9, 2025. He ministered at churches in Missouri, Indiana, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma with his wife, Lovell (attended 54-57).
Marilyn (Gleeson) Music passed away on May 26, 2025. Her husband of 53 years, Larry (68), was by her side.
Charles “Chuck” Myers (former staff) passed away on June 28, 2025, in Keizer, Oregon. While on staff at OCC, Chuck served in the Development Department.
Elizabeth Ann Newland (attended 70-72) passed away on July 8, 2025, in Mena, Arkansas.
Harold Nusser (75/Midwest) passed away on June 18, 2025. Harold and his wife, Mildred (Wedel), served on the staff of Cookson Hills Christian Ministry for 37 years.
Stanley Parkison (attended 66-67) passed away on May 29, 2025, following a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Stan was a longtime member of First Christian Church in Webb City, Missouri, where he served as pastor for over a decade.
Amy (Hazard) Rice (attended 95-96) passed away on May 5, 2025, surrounded by her husband, Scott, and her loving family.
David Rutherford (86) passed away on June 28, 2025. David, with his wife Suanne (Siemens) Rutherford (84), served in ministry for over 40 years, including 30 years with the CrossCity Christian Church in Fresno, California. David and Suanne received OCC’s Seth Wilson Outstanding Alumni award in 2024.
Gary Swick (82) passed away on March 14, 2025. Over the years, Gary faithfully served as a pastor in nine different churches across the Midwest.
Donna (Carriker) Todd (attended 61-64) passed away on March 21, 2025, after a long battle with cancer. She served with her husband, Grady Todd (62), at churches in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas.
Joshua Caleb Udell (04) passed away on March 9, 2025, in Clinton, Missouri.
Wallace Wartick (65/former staff) passed away on March 24, 2025. Wallace served as OCC’s assistant academic dean (72-79) and academic dean (79-81). He also ministered in various churches for 38 years and published six books. His wife, Wanda (Wilson) Wartick, preceded him in death.
Deborah “Debbie” (Armstrong) Ziebart (attended 87) passed away on April 10, 2025. She and her husband, Dan Ziebart (attended), ministered at various churches over the years, where Debbie played an active role in Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, youth groups, summer camps, and children’s church.
Glen Graham (68) recently retired from a ministry with SONshine Christian Church in Smith Center, Kansas. Glen preached for 48 years, serving churches in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri. He now lives in Prairie View, Kansas.
Tom Lawson (75/former faculty) retired from his ministry at Bridges Christian Church in Russell, Kentucky, where he has been ministering since 2018.
Michael R. Williams (OCC 79, LCS 96) served churches in Missouri, Kentucky, and Illinois for 26 years before being called to full-time prison ministry with the Illinois Department of Corrections. From 2001 to 2017, Michael served as a chaplain, baptizing over 400 inmates. Now retired, he continues to preach and teach, ministering for over 50 years.
Larry Lyles (81) retired after serving at four churches throughout his many years of ministry—two church plants in Louisiana and two churches in Kansas.
Debbie (Johnston) Scrowther (84) retired in 2024 after working for 15 years in the field of early childhood education and then as a fiscal and policy analyst for the Iowa Governor’s Budget Office. Debbie volunteers with her church, the local food bank, and the Polk County Jail’s chaplain’s office.
With the closure of the Johnson University Florida Campus, Rob (97) and Shawnee (McCarty) Fleenor (94) have relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, where Rob continues to teach Old Testament at Johnson University and Shawnee continues her art career.
Mark (92) and Leisa (Guffey) (90) Landis have been working with the Capital West Christian Church in Jefferson City, Missouri, for the past 25 years.
Dr. Timothy “Tim” Casey (06) has been named the Head of School for New Covenant Academy in Springfield, Missouri. Tim’s wife, Shauna (Thomure) Casey, graduated from OCC in 2004.
Rachel Edgington (05) serves as the Community Engagement Specialist at The Salvation Army of Evansville, Indiana.
David Martinez (06) serves as the youth/associate pastor of Newcastle Christian Church in Newcastle, Oklahoma, with his wife, MaLinda (Aspegren) Martinez (attended 0304).
Tim Stoner (08) serves as a licensed counselor in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He and his colleague, Austin Brown, have released a podcast called “Mental Health and Ministry,” offering a framework to understand and navigate mental health issues for ministers and the people they serve. Season 1 is available to stream on all major podcast platforms.
Erik (04) and Melissa (Streeter) Winston (03) live in the Kansas City area and both own businesses. Melissa owns 510 Counseling Group, a group mental health practice with 13 therapists and two psychiatric nurse practitioners. Melissa was also appointed to the Missouri State Board of Marital and Family Therapists. Erik owns The 14/ Four Group, a business services practice that offers comprehensive services in HR, accounting, taxes, payroll, benefits, and support for both business and non-profit organizations. Erik serves 65 small businesses and non-profits around the country. Rusk and Sutter Wurdeman, sons of Brice (04/ current faculty) and Amanda (Muter) Wurdeman (03), are the faces of the Children’s Miracle Network for 2025.
Kami BeDunnah (19/current Lincoln Seminary student) is the building manager for City Union Mission.
Halley Lewis (attended 15-16) serves as the elementary minister at First Church of Owasso, Oklahoma.
Alex Pietsch (18) serves as the youth minister at Calvary Baptist Church in Iowa.
Gabe Carter (24) serves as a pastor in the Next Steps/Youth Outreach ministries at CU Church in Illinois.
Ethan Croyle (25) is serving as the worship minister at Lamar Christian Church in Missouri.
Grant Nelson (24) serves as the student and associate minister at Legacy Christian Church in Raymore, Missouri.
Mellenie (Redick) Porter (23) is pursuing her graduate degree in clinical mental health and serving as a partner to her husband, Jack (24), who is pastoring a church in Iowa. She plans to work with families and youth who have experienced trauma.
Jacob Umphreys (22) serves as the campus minister for Christian Student Fellowship in Iowa.
Melissa (Mitchell) Chaplin’s (03) book, Returning Well: Your Guide to Thriving Back Home After Serving CrossCulturally, has been translated into Spanish and is available at UnBuenRetorno.com.
Kyle Idleman (98) authored Every Thought Captive: Calm the Mental Chaos That Keeps You Stuck, Drains Your Hope and Holds You Back with Zondervan.
Dr. Teresa (Welch) Roberts (94/current faculty) authored Raising Disciples: Guiding Your Kids into a Faith of Their Own with NavPress.
Linda (Carlson) Wicks (attended) authored Walking on the Edge of Eternity with Covenant Books.
Dr. Shane J. Wood (04/ current faculty) published Thinning the Veil: Encountering Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation with IVP Academic.
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A final thought from our editor
Amy Storms
My husband Andy was a children’s minister for 14 years, and I was the stay-at-home children’s minister to our three kids. At our church one summer, Andy led a Vacation Bible School called “Camp Moses.” That week, we faced the ten plagues, crossed the Red Sea, camped in the wilderness, ate the daily “manna” (bread is always my favorite part!), and encountered the Lord on Mount Sinai.1 And since Moses’ face shone with God’s glory when he returned to camp, on the final day of VBS, we covered each child’s face with—you guessed it—body glitter.
Gold and silver, pink and purple…We glittered a couple hundred kids and sent them home to their parents. What were we thinking? Glitter gets everywhere! “Bye, kids! Shake your head in your car on the way home, and be sure to give your mom a big hug!”
(Andy’s not in children’s ministry anymore.)
Body glitter aside, Moses’ bold request to see God’s glory is astounding. He had asked God for his presence—which God was pleased to promise—but God wouldn’t agree to show his face, for Moses’ sake. Instead, with Moses covered by God’s hand in the cleft of the rock, God “passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Yet he
Amy Storms serves as Strong Hall dorm mom, English professor, and vice president of marketing and communications at OCC.
does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’”
At this, “Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped.” Literally, he made haste to bow low toward the earth. Like Moses, when we encounter the Lord—when we experience his presence and hear his name—worship is the only response. We will make haste to bow low—hurry up to worship!—and, like Moses, we’ll shine with his glory.
But, “we are not like Moses,” the apostle Paul says, “who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away.… We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory”—“from glory to glory,” the King James Version says—“which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”2 Moses couldn’t look at God’s face, but in Christ, we see the Lord! The glory on Moses’ face faded, but as we bow low and make haste to worship, we reflect Jesus, and our lives shine all the more.
What lesson could be more important to learn—and to teach our children—than to hurry up to worship? From glory to glory! From glitter to glitter.
And glitter gets everywhere.