OCC Ambassador Magazine Fall 2019

the

ambassador

the magazine of ozark christian college

To the Ends of the Earth

FALL 2019 PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE The Holy Spirit’s favorite word p. 4 AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT Jay Greer and the baffling message of grace p. 10 REMEMBERING JACE SMOTHERS A big joy, a big love, and a big faith p. 15

OCC.EDU

CONTENTS TO INSPIRE President’s Perspective Matt Proctor An “aha” moment in Children’s Church

Featured Theme Chris DeWelt

Training workers with Great Commission hearts

How Well Do We Go and Tell?

The evangelism practices of American churchgoers

Bible Words Jon Kehrer

An in-depth look at the language of Scripture

Ambassador Spotlight: Jay Greer Amy Storms

Planting 12 Gospel-Centered Churches in 12 Cities

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TO INFORM Campus News

Recent happenings at OCC

Remembering Jace Smothers

How one OCC student left a big legacy

The Big Picture

Alumni Hall’s million-dollar renovation

Meet Your OCC Family

Introducing Ozark professor, David Fish

Coming Soon

Upcoming events at OCC

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TO CONNECT Here’s an Idea

Five ways to fulfill the Great Commission

Your Partnership Jim Dalrymple

Invest in Ozark’s mission to build kingdom leaders

Alumni News

Updates from alumni around the world

One More Thing Amy Storms

A final thought from our editor

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

Design: Lauren White Creative

Contributing Editors: Kathy Bowers, Matt Proctor, Amy Storms

Photography: Shiloh Martin, Mark Neuenschwander, Jessica Whelchel

Contact: Ozark Christian College 1111 N. Main Joplin, MO 64801 hello@occ.edu

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The mission of Ozark Christian College is to train men and women for Christian service as a degree-granting institution of biblical higher education.

The vision of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide. 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 Commission (HLC). 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 and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

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

THE HOLY SPIRIT’S FAVORITE WORD Matt Proctor

If the Holy Spirit has a favorite word, I think it might be the word “go.”

Someone said that Jesus’ favorite word might be “come.” Read through the gospels, and you hear Christ issuing invitations: • “Come, follow me” (Matt 4:19).

• “Come to me…and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28).

• “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” ( John 7:37).

But the Holy Spirit’s favorite word might be “go.” Read through Acts, and the Spirit constantly issues forward commands. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would make his disciples witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” and sure enough, the Spirit prods the church across all boundaries—racial, economic, religious, national—with the gospel (Acts 1:8). Like a kid pushing a toy car across the floor, the Spirit moves the church across the map of the known world with the message of Jesus. As John Stott says, “the Holy Spirit is a missionary spirit.”

An “Aha” Moment in Children’s Church

Last summer I was teaching a children’s church lesson on the Great Commission, and I put the verse on the screen for the kids: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19).

I thought I had a good lesson prepared, but one little girl could not sit still. Bless her heart, she could not stay seated. She would get up, and I would say, “Stay in your chair.” She would get up again, and I would tell her again, “Stay in your seat.” She’d start wandering around, and I’d remind her, “Back to your chair.”

Up and down, over and over this happened. Something in her little body demanded constant activity, and she simply couldn’t sit in one place, peaceful, listening.

Ironically, her name was Serenity.

At the end of my lesson, I asked, “How can you as kids do the Great Commission?” I gave them some ideas: pray

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for missionaries, give to missionaries, tell the people from other nations right here in our own town about Jesus. My last suggestion: pray about whether God wants you to be a missionary someday.

Suddenly I had an idea. I turned to Serenity, who was lying on the floor in the middle of the room with her legs in the air, and I said, “Serenity, you’re not very good at sitting still, are you?”

“No.” She said this without looking at me, still focused on the ceiling.

“Well, Serenity, I have good news for you.” Pointing at the screen, I asked, “What is the very first word in the Great Commission?”

With a sigh of resignation, Serenity replied, “Stay in your chair.”

I laughed out loud.

“No,” I practically shouted. “The first word in the Great Commission isn’t ‘stay.’ The first word is ‘go.’ You are really good at going, aren’t you, Serenity?”

She was looking at me now. Serenity nodded her head.

“You like to go, go, go! You’re always off to new places.”

Her eyes were locked on me, and she was listening intently.

“Serenity, maybe God made you not good at sitting still because he wants you to be a missionary someday. Maybe God wants you to go, go, go to another nation someday to tell them about Jesus! What do you think of that?”

It was an “aha” moment. Serenity’s face brightened, and with a great big grin, she replied with one word, “Wooooohooooo!”

Red Light, Green Light

I was grateful the Lord helped me get through to Serenity, but later I reflected on her initial reply, “Stay in your chair.” How many times had that poor girl been told that in her young life?

She had heard it so often—stay, stay in your seat, stay put, stay in

your chair—that the word “stay” now lived inside her.

If the devil has a favorite word, it might be the word “stay.”

Though I was a Christian in high school, I was a fearful one.

When the Spirit prompted me to approach a non-Christian friend, “Go—go talk to him about Jesus,” I heard another voice saying, “Stay. Stay in your chair, stay in your comfort zone, stay quiet, stay safe.”

I don’t think I’m the only Christian to hear that voice.

Colossians 4:2 challenges every believer to evangelistic readiness: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders. Make the most of every opportunity.” Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:2 to “preach the word in season and out of season,” meaning take gospel opportunities and make gospel opportunities. But too often, we don’t do either.

As a kid, we played a game called “Red Light, Green Light.”

We all lined up on one side of the room, and on the other side, a “signal-caller” gave commands as each kid tried to make it across the room first. When the caller said “green light,” we could go.

When he said “red light,” we had to stop.

As we walk through our days, interacting with non-believers, our enemy the devil constantly whispers, “Red light.” He wants to stop every impulse we have to stand up, walk over, reach out, speak up. But if the Holy Spirit has a favorite word, it’s “go,” so the Spirit constantly whispers, “Green light.”

• In John 4, when Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman, he knows the barriers of gender, race, and reputation stand between them. At that moment, I’m sure the enemy whispers “red light.” But the Spirit whispers “green light,” and Jesus strikes up a life-changing conversation.

• In Acts 8, Philip sees a royal Ethiopian official, but the racial and economic differences don’t stop him. The Spirit whispers “green light,” and Philip runs right up to tell the man about Jesus.

• In Acts 10, when Peter meets the Roman centurion Cornelius, he could be tempted to stay on his side of the Jew-Gentile separating wall. But the Spirit whispers “green light,” and Peter preaches the gospel to Cornelius.

• In Acts 17, a Jewish rabbi named Paul stands in a gathering of Athenian philosophers, and is he intimidated by these intellectual elites? No. The Spirit whispers “green light,” and Paul boldly proclaims the message of Christ.

That word is at the very heart of our school. From its beginning, OCC has been a Great Commission college. Our founders erected the Missions Building—our main classroom building—as the first building on campus to make a statement: Christ’s last command would be our first concern. We exist to train men and women to go, because that word is at the heart of the gospel itself.

Yes, the gospel is the good news that God has come in the person of Jesus. It’s the good news that Jesus took our sins upon himself, bore the wrath of God in our place, conquered the power of sin and death, ushered in new life, fills us with the Holy Spirit and keeps us secure until we live with him in the new heavens and new earth for all eternity. That’s the good news for every man, woman, boy and girl on the planet.

But as Carl F. H. Henry said, “The gospel isn’t good news if it doesn’t get there in time.” You can’t spell “gospel” without “go,” so we prepare men and women to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19).

• Every student takes a class on Acts, catching God’s vision to propel the gospel around the globe.

• Every student takes the Foundations for Missions class, learning both a biblical theology and a practical methodology of missions.

• Every student participates in our annual Global Awareness Week, opening their eyes to worldwide kingdom opportunities.

• Every student hears from our faculty, all of whom travel the planet with the gospel, prompting Missions Professor Chris DeWelt to say, “Our whole faculty is the missions faculty.”

• Every student meets our international students, hearing firsthand about God’s work in other nations.

• This semester, every student can attend the International Conference on Missions in Kansas City November 14-17, as we dismiss classes to hear from many of our graduates speaking at ICOM. As you’ll see in this issue of The Ambassador, because of your partnership, every Ozark student hears the challenge: “GO. Go for the glory of God. Go for the good of the world. Go expecting opposition. Go expecting God to work through you. Go with God’s word in your heart and on your tongue. Go with the power of the Spirit coursing through your veins. Go and rescue You Can’t Spell “Gospel” without “Go” souls from Satan. Go and tell the good news of Jesus. Go and tell them of his love. Go and tell Every year at Ozark them of his cross. Go and tell Christian College, we welcome them of his empty tomb. Go students who have heard the across the street, and go across Our founders erected the Missions whisper “red light” too many the world.” times. The enemy, the world, Building as the first building on He who has an ear to hear, and their own flesh all conspire campus to make a statement: let him hear what the Spirit to keep them silent, keep them says: “Go.” Christ’s last command would be still. But—as with my friend Serenity—our job is to help them trade the word “stay” for the word “go.”

our first concern.

TO INSPIRE

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FEATURED THEME

Chris DeWelt has served as professor and director of intercultural studies since 1999.

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: TRAINING WORKERS WITH GREAT COMMISSION HEARTS Chris DeWelt

May I tell you something? I love my job!

It has been such a joy for me to serve here at OCC for more than twenty years as the director of the Intercultural Studies Department.

For years before I came to Ozark as a student (that was in 1969!), missions and a passion for the nations to know our Savior were deeply stamped into this school’s DNA. At OCC, we have always believed that “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached to all the nations,” and that we take part in that very activity by training leaders for Christian service.

We train workers with Great Commission hearts for service in fields that are far away.

The head of the Missions Department at OCC has always been someone that has had significant experience in foreign cultures. In the late ’50s, a fiery young missionary returned from the field to begin teaching at this college. Woodrow Phillips moved to Joplin very near the time that my own father, Don DeWelt, came to Ozark. They were dear friends that shared a deep mutual passion for lost people far and near.

After the Phillips family left Joplin to work on the west coast, another missionary came to serve on the faculty and was invited to stay and lead the Missions Department. Brother Harvey Bacus was my teacher during that period, having worked for many years in the Caribbean. Beautiful evidence of the heart of OCC for missions is seen in the fact that when Harvey retired from teaching, he and his wife Nancy returned to the foreign field—this time to a very troubled part of our planet. There they have served faithfully for many years, only recently returning to Joplin.

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At OCC, we believe that those who teach should also be those who have practiced and continue to practice the very things they teach.

A few days ago, I read some research stating that 51% of American Christians were unfamiliar with the term “Great Commission,” and that only about 17% of those same Christians knew where it was found in Scripture or what it meant. (For more on this shocking news, see barna.com/research.)

While that is a rather sad depiction of the state of Christianity in our own North America, it is certainly not descriptive of what is happening at Ozark Christian College.

OCC is a Jesus school. First, last, and always. We take very seriously the words of our Master. He says move, and we move.

He says go, and we go. Simply put, we do our utmost to take him at his word. As Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 5:9, “So we make it our goal to please him.…”

We know that we please our Lord when we are obedient disciples. “You are my friends if you do what I command you,” is how he framed up our discipleship in John 15:14. Jesus made it clear to all of his disciples for all time what his will is concerning our taking the gospel to the nations. In five iterations of the Great Commission text (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16, Luke 24:46-47, John 20:21; Acts 1:8), he articulates a critical part of his mission for his church.

We take very seriously the words of our Master.

He says move, and we move. He says go, and we go.

Concurrent with our obedience to the Great Commission is our obedience to the Great Commandment. We are to love one another in the same manner that he has loved us. In fact, John 13:34-35 states unequivocally that our obedience to the Great Commandment will identify us as his own and will open the doors for the gospel.

Jesus speaks both to the manner and the method when it comes to his kingdom coming into the hearts of men and the nations of the world. The two commandments, to go and to love, are inextricably linked.

Taking the entire gospel to the ends of the earth is a big part of what we are about at OCC. To that end we train missionary church planters, and to that end we have an entire degree in biblical justice. It means things to us. Important things.

Including going to the ends of the earth.

Did I tell you that I love my job? One of the things that I love the most is the immense privilege of watching our vast network of alumni that serve around the world. On any given day I receive texts and messages from all over the globe, and I have the honor of sharing in their lives.

Many of these communiques come from far away. We have graduates serving in dozens and dozens of countries around the world. They teach in universities in Europe and Asia. They plant churches in major urban centers of some of the most densely populated cities of the world. They labor in obscurity on the edge of the Sahara desert. They utilize social media to reach tens of thousands of unreached people in places I cannot tell you.

They translate the beautiful Word of God for people that have never had his words in their heart language. They work with children that have experienced deep pain. They dance and sing to the glory of God in places that are desperately poor. They love orphans and help place them in homes where Jesus is known.

But it isn’t only those that serve far away that I love to hear from. I often have the joy of interacting with grads that serve in ministries (paid and unpaid) in local churches and locations here in our own country. They tell me of opportunities to bring Jesus to all manner of multi-cultural environments. They pour out their lives with the “sojourners” (foreigners) that are among us. They stand with those very foreigners in the factories and the universities where they can show someone the kindness of the love of Christ. They seize the opportunity to have coffee with someone from a nation where no missionary is permitted to speak openly of the gospel. They meet them in Starbucks here, right here, and share Jesus face-to-face! I have watched them do it! They work with large mission organizations sending workers all over the world. They coordinate the publishing of hundreds of

thousands of books that are full of biblical teaching that are used in places we will never see. They coordinate media projects that penetrate into thousands of phones and computers and minds with things that the viewers have never seen or heard about our loving Lord.

What incredible days we are experiencing! We can go to the nations as never before while at the same time God is bringing the nations right here to our own doors.

Rather than fearing such opportunities, we must embrace them!

Is there risk? Of course there is risk! When was the gospel ever anything but risky?

The fact is, as a Jesus school, we not only train missionaries, but we make it our goal that every graduate, every student whether full or part-time, has a crystal-clear understanding that God’s heart beats for the nations, every nation, of his earth. It is not just ‘the missions people’ that take the gospel to the whole world! It is the entire church that does it.

Yes, these are exciting days, but this is not a new thing for OCC. How well I remember the passion of Seth Wilson in my own classes as he expounded on the need for the gospel throughout the world. Few people know this, but my parents very seriously considered mission service in eastern Asia. World War II closed that door to them, but their heart for the nations never left my home, and it never left my heart.

Only yesterday I received a message from an alum that spoke of how he had been ‘ganged up on’ by three people that strongly challenged his presence in a place where the gospel cannot be preached openly. He spoke of the tears in his eyes as he walked home. He also spoke of how the Father comforted him, as if he heard God saying, “My servant Paul used to talk like that, too, but he changed.” This young man sat in Acts class here at OCC and studied the story of Saul of Tarsus. Now he is meeting him, and he is praying, along with us, that the eyes his heart will be opened, even as Paul’s eyes were opened.

A heart for the nations has always permeated the very fabric of the Ozark towel of service.

May it ever be so!

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How well do we GO and TELL? A national survey of 2,500 Protestant churchgoers reveals that we pray more than we practice.

23%

21%

12%

11%

6%

27%

Every day

A few times a week

Once a week

A few times a month

Once a month

Rarely/Never

About how often, if at all, do you personally pray for opportunities to tell others about Jesus Christ?

1-2 times

In the past six months, how many times did you share with someone how to become a Christian?

3-5 times

24%

5-10 times 12%

55%

5%

11-15 times (1%) 16+ times (3%)

0 times

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lifewayresearch.com/2019/04/23/evangelism-more-prayed-for-than-practiced-by-churchgoers/

Find out more at Lifeway Research.

BIBLE WORDS

BIBLE WORDS

THE ENDS OF THE EARTH Jon Kehrer

In biblical times, distant travel was a pretty rare phenomenon. For most people, the farthest land in their imagination was simply called, “the ends of the earth.”

One way this phrase appears in Hebrew is as qitsot haaretz, or “the edges,” “the corners” of the earth. God is very interested in this region.

For instance, the people of Israel must guard against worshiping the gods of other nations, even unto the ends of the earth (Deuteronomy 13:8).

If they fall into idolatry, they’ll find that a nation swoops down like an eagle from the ends of the earth (Deuteronomy 28:49), and the Lord will scatter them to that very place (Deuteronomy 28:64).

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens. When the people are neck deep in idolatry, the Lord sends for an army from the ends of the earth, and they come (Isaiah 5:26) and scatter them.

Yet God is “the one creating the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 40:28). When the proper time comes, he sends and rescues his people from the very ends of the earth (Isaiah 43:6).

God doesn’t stop there, because his heart is for these foreign nations. In fact, when he raises up his servant for redemption, he says, “I will give you as a light to the nations, in order that my salvation might be known to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6).

That salvation has a name in the New Testament: Jesus. He commissions his followers to fulfill this task, to be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Despite the immensity of the task, Jesus himself seems assured of their success.

When he returns, where will he gather up his chosen ones? From the very ends of the earth (Mark 13:27).

Jon Kehrer teaches Hebrew, Old Testament, and hermeneutics at OCC. Find more word studies at occ.edu/biblewords.

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AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT: JAY GREER

JAY GREER:

PLANTING GOSPEL-CENTERED CHURCHES IN URBAN JAPAN

Amy Storms

Yuuki is an evangelist—and, according to his pastor, a “fierce” evangelist, at that. A professional drummer from Japan, Yuuki organizes concerts to share the gospel at his Osaka restaurant gigs. To date, Yuuki has played a part in leading seven other Japanese men to Christ. He has preached a few times at his church, and he leads apologetics classes where he vigorously defends the faith.

But it wasn’t always this way.

When Yuuki first came to the church in Osaka, he was an atheist with several hard questions. But “the cross finally gripped his heart,” his pastor says, and in December, Yuuki was baptized.

The thing that pushed him over the edge in following Jesus?

Yuuki says it was the gospel message of grace—God’s unmerited gift of salvation to sinners. Grace, Yuuki says, most baffled his logical mind and made him believe that this message must have come from God and not men.

The baffling message of grace turns atheists into evangelists. The baffling message of grace changes professional drummers into faith defenders. And Yuuki is baptized in Osaka the baffling message of grace…the good news of Christ’s work on our behalf…is what led Yuuki’s pastor, Ozark grad Jay Greer, all the way from Joplin to Japan.

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Jay, Caitlin, Makoto (4), Isla (6), Frankie (8), and Rowen (10)

A World Away

Born in Oklahoma and raised in Colorado and Missouri, Jay Greer grew up in the church, a world away from Yuuki and Osaka. Jay’s parents, OCC’s Kevin and Debbie Greer, brought up their sons in the truth of the gospel. Jay was baptized at just eight years old, and in 2003, he headed to Ozark for college.

“My freshman year, I was learning to be an adult rather than a teenage doofus,” Jay recalls. “I remember at the beginning of my first semester barely passing a few classes, playing video games, and saving money for punk rock t-shirts and concerts.

But by the end of my first year, I was done with video games, and I was spending all my time learning. In May, my mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I said, ‘Money to buy commentaries.’ The transformation of my values was enormous.

The gospel made me repent. The rigor of OCC forced me to grow up. The whole environment at Ozark made me a serious learner of the Bible.”

“I came to college rather aimless, but that changed when I experienced the power of preaching. During an internship, I preached my first sermon to the youth group at the First Christian Church in Champaign, Illinois, and after seeing it lead some to repentance, I realized that this—preaching—is how God wants to change people” (1 Corinthians 1:17-2:5).

As a student, Jay served part-time as a minister with the First Christian Church in Cassville, Missouri. “The practice of learning the Bible in class and then teaching on Sundays and Wednesdays made me a better student, hungry for more truth so that I could continue to feed the church.”

Jay met and married Caitlin Vallely during their time at OCC. After graduating in 2007, the couple attended Japanese school for 18 months in Okazaki, Japan. From there, they served on the church planting team with Mustard Seed Christian Church Nagoya—the first Mustard Seed church, planted by OCC’s Mike Ackerman and currently led by grad Andy Rodriguez. From Nagoya, the Greers served at Mustard Seed Christian Church Osaka for nearly eight years. Today, Jay is preparing to serve as the lead pastor of Mustard Seed Christian Church Tokyo, which will officially launch in March. Jay also serves in leadership with Mustard Seed Network, an organization that seeks to glorify God by making disciples through planting gospel-centered churches in urban Japan.

Yuuki playing drums in worship

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12 Churches in 12 Cities

“Gospel proclamation to the unreached is the heartbeat of Mustard Seed Network,” Jay says. “Romans 1:16—the truth that the gospel is the power unto salvation—is so important.

Our character or kind deeds are not the power unto salvation.

Our acts of service, morality, winsomeness, or cleverness are not the power unto salvation. Faith comes by hearing the message of what Jesus has done (Rom 10:17). Therefore, our ministry is filled with sharing the gospel with as many people as we possibly can.”

“The biggest need in Japan,” Jay continues, “is the good news of what Jesus did to reconcile us to God forever.” To meet that need, Mustard Seed began a campaign to plant 12 churches in 12 major cities in Japan.

“Planting in these 12 cities will put 78.6 million people— or 62% of the second largest unreached people group in the world—within reach of Mustard Seed Network churches. Each of these 12 churches will become ministry hubs to catalyze further church planting in their regions. Less than 1% of the 126 million people in Japan claim to have faith in Jesus. Japan needs more gospel proclamation, more churches, and more disciples shining the light of Jesus in Japan’s massive cities. By God’s grace and through the prayers and financial support of gospel partners, we endeavor to complete this task by 2025.”

It was the gospel that transformed Yuuki. It was the gospel that made Jay repent in his student days. Only the gospel is the power unto salvation, and only the gospel—that baffling message

Mustard Seed Network management team ordaining elders

Yuuki baptizing a friend

of grace proclaimed from gospel-centered churches—can change unreached, urban Japan.

“Japan needs more gospel proclamation,” and Mustard Seed Network is making an eternal impact, thanks to the transforming gospel proclaimed by Jay Greer—and Yuuki, the fierce evangelist.

To partner with Mustard Seed Network as they plant 12 churches in 12 cities, visit mustardseed.network.

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CAMPUS NEWS

+11.5%

Increased Fall 2019 Enrollment

In August, OCC was excited to welcome 677 students—625 on campus and 52 online. This number represents an 11.5% enrollment increase over last year.

We thank God for each one of our students, and we take seriously the privilege and responsibility of preparing them for Christian service. The college is also grateful to remain debt-free for the tenth year in a row.

Welcome, New Staff

This fall, OCC welcomed several new staff members in our Admissions, Online Learning, Student Affairs, Physical Plant, Worship and Creative Arts, and Advancement areas.

Trevor Sill joined OCC’s Admissions Department as an admissions counselor specializing in youth ministry relations. A 2017 OCC graduate, Trevor has most recently served as student minister at Journey Christian Church in Greeley, Colorado. He and his wife Courtney moved to Joplin in August.

Jason Donato is serving as our assistant director of Online Learning. Jason, his wife Catlin, and their two children recently relocated to Joplin from Colorado. Jason graduated from OCC in 2010 and from Lincoln Christian University in 2013.

Jared Baker (OCC '17) serves part-time as our student success coordinator, overseeing the Mabee Student Center as well as student success efforts in the Student Affairs Department. Jared also works at Zinc Coffee in Joplin, and his wife, Maddie, teaches at Webb City High School.

Sullivan Smith (OCC ’17) now serves as our men’s soccer coach. Sully played soccer and was a team captain during his years at OCC. He also works in real estate, and his wife, Ellen, works as a graphic designer at Christ In Youth in Joplin.

The OCC Dining Hall recently welcomed four new members to the team. Jessica Broner serves full-time as the grill manager, overseeing all aspects of the grill area in the Upstairs Dining Hall. Jessica has 15 years of experience in food service and recently relocated with her two daughters to be closer to family. Misty Phillips serves part-time as dessert chef. A 2006 OCC grad, Misty also runs her own business, “Something Sweet.” Misty and her husband Jeff have three children. Jimmy McMasters serves as a line cook and dinner supervisor. Jimmy brings 20 years of experience working

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as a culinary specialist in the United States Navy. Jimmy is married to 2018 OCC online graduate Barbara McMasters, who recently began at OCC as administrative assistant with the Physical Plant Department. In that role, Barbara replaces longtime OCC employee Jerri Bierbaum. For over 50 years, Jerri kept the Physical Plant Department running smoothly and efficiently. Thank you, Jerri, for your faithful service!

Jeremiah Jones (OCC ’17) was hired as part-time guitar instructor in the Worship and Creative Arts Department. Jeremiah is married to Megan, who teaches at Carthage High School. Jeremiah recently received a Master of Arts in Ministry Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Tabor College.

Mark Proctor now serves as OCC’s technical director and production manager in our Worship and Creative Arts Department, providing leadership, direction, oversight, and training on all aspects of production for OCC events and contracted events. Since graduating from Ozark in 1996, he has served on staff in churches in Maryland, Missouri, and most recently with the Plainfield Christian Church in Plainfield, Indiana, as the worship minister and worship department director. Mark and his wife Julie (Wohlenhaus, attended) have four children.

Cliff House will serve as part-time donor engagement manager for the Advancement Department. A 1973 OCC grad, Cliff served as minister of the Lakewood Christian Church in McAlester, Oklahoma for 38 years.

CAMPUS NEWS Thank You, David Bycroft

Alumni Hall and Missions Building Reopen

After several months of renovation, this fall we are excited to reopen OCC’s Alumni Hall and the Missions Building. Every room in Alumni is occupied this semester, and the residents have custom-built, movable furniture, new windows and flooring, an elevator, a kitchenette, and more. The newly expanded Missions Building lobby includes an elevator, fireplace, and new flooring. THANK YOU TO JOPLIN’S SCHUBER MITCHELL HOMES for generously funding the furniture and landscaping for the Missions Building. We’re grateful for Schuber Mitchell’s partnership in the community, and for the many individuals and churches who made these projects possible through our recent Alumni Project, the Finish Campaign.

Boatman Hall First Floor Closed for Renovation

During the summer, Joplin experienced several heavy rains, resulting in flooding on the first floor of Boatman Hall. The dorm sustained enough damage to the carpeting, furniture, doors, and more that Boatman First is closed for the 2019-2020 school year while undergoing repairs. THANK YOU TO SOUTHEAST CHRISTIAN CHURCH in Louisville, Kentucky, for a generous donation toward the renovation project. We’re grateful for the continued partnership of Southeast and many churches like them. Help us renovate Boatman and other dorms at occ.edu/donate.

After thirty-one years, David Bycroft has concluded his service on the OCC Board of Trustees, saying, “I have been blessed to serve these many years and will always have a special place in my heart for the school and her future.” One of David’s life passions has been raising up kingdom workers for the harvest field. During his 47 years at Tyro Christian Church in Tyro, Kansas, he sent 40 men and women into full-time Christian service. In guiding Ozark’s mission, David helped train thousands more.

President Matt Proctor writes, “When I was a kid in Keokuk, Iowa, Dave came to preach a revival, and he has been one of my kingdom heroes ever since—a man with a commitment to God’s Word, a passion for evangelism, a love of the church, and good ol’ fashioned horse sense.

He brought all of those to his work as a trustee, and we are deeply grateful for his investment in future kingdom leaders here at Ozark.” David will continue to serve as the evangelist at the East Bartlesville Christian Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Chris DeWelt and Rick Cherok Begin New Roles at College Press Publishing In July, OCC Intercultural Studies Department Director Chris DeWelt returned to the role of president and publisher of the College Press Publishing Company in Joplin.

Chris will continue his longtime teaching role at Ozark, but will also have an active part in leading and directing the company’s publishing efforts. Rick Cherok also joined the leadership team of College Press. In addition to his role as professor of history at OCC, Dr. Cherok will join the College Press editorial team as lead editor. College Press Publishing celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, having been founded in 1959

by Chris’s father and longtime OCC professor, Don DeWelt.

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TUESDAY TOUR YOUTH GROUP TOURS AVAILABLE

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Jace had a big love.

REMEMBERING JACE SMOTHERS President Matt Proctor

In June, the OCC family was deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our classmate and friend, Jace Smothers. A youth ministry major from Norton, Kansas, Jace had just completed his freshman year. He was working as an intern at Christ In Youth when he lost his life in a highway accident.

When I think of Jace, I think of the word big. Jace was physically big—a tall, beefy football lineman, in size 17 shoes he had to special order. Jace lived life big—go big or go home.

Whatever he was doing, Jace jumped in with both size 17 feet.

Here are three ways Jace lived big.

Jace had a big joy.

Jace enjoyed life. He always had a big smile on his face. He loved to joke around and make people laugh, and he had a great sense of humor. Jace’s laugh was legendary. It was loud, it was long, and it didn’t take much to set him off. Jace had a big, contagious joy that infected other people.

I can’t remember Jace’s joy without mentioning music. He loved music, he loved singing, and when he sang, it was at full volume. Jace didn’t just sing songs. He belted them. At Ozark chapel every Tuesday, Jace was at the front, in the center. In his dorm, Strong Hall, at devotions every Thursday night, Jace was at the front, in the center, singing “Because He Lives” at the top of his lungs. Jace had a big joy.

Jace loved people. He was always glad to see you, and a great listener. Jace loved people in the Young Life ministry where he served in Joplin, and he loved people in his youth group back in Norton. He sent lots of notes and texts: “Love you.”

“Proud of you.” “Praying for you.” Most of all, Jace loved his family—his brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, his mom, and his dad. Nearly every morning, Jace would text or call, and his first words were, “Good morning, Mama.” He loved his family. Jace had a big love.

Jace had a big faith.

Jace trusted in Jesus. Last year, he got a tattoo on his arm: one word, the Greek word euangellion. Gospel, good news. Jace often brought up Scripture, and asked his friends daily, “Have you prayed today?” Jace was sold out to Jesus, and he wanted others to be sold out, too.

Jace’s faith grew bigger in his time at Ozark. Jace had a tight grip on Jesus, and he had the firm and certain hope of heaven.

We grieve his absence, but we do not grieve as those who have no hope. Please pray for Jace’s family, for his friends, and for our ministry partners at CIY, that God would be their refuge and strength in times of trouble. We are so grateful that God allowed us to know Jace and to have him at OCC.

Jace’s family has established a scholarship in his honor. No one will ever fill his size 17s, but your gift to the Jace Smothers Scholarship will honor Jace’s big life and continue his big legacy.

occ.edu/jacesmothersscholarship TO INFORM

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ALUMNI HALL REOPENS! After a 14-month, million-dollar renovation, Alumni Hall opened for residents in August.

Every room is occupied, and the women are enjoying new windows, flooring, lighting, air conditioning, custom furniture, an elevator, a kitchenette, and more.

FROM THE CLASSROOM

A FIFTEENMINUTE DAILY GUIDE TO BUILD YOUR BIBLE IQ IN A YEAR. YOU WANT TO KNOW THE BIBLE BETTER BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE BIBLE WILL MAKE YOU BETTER. BUT WHERE SHOULD YOU START? AND HOW CAN YOU PROGRESS PAST THE CONFUSING PARTS? CORE52 IS YOUR GUIDE THROUGH THE MAZE OF A VERY BIG BOOK. FROM OCC’S ONLINE PROFESSOR, MARK E. MOORE.

CORE52.ORG

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

EARN YOUR MINISTRY DEGREE 100% ONLINE

OCC.EDU/ONLINE • 8-week modules • flat-rate tuition

• scholarship available • transfer-friendly degree

"This is the degree I will use every day of my life, until I take my last breath."

- Monica B., OCC Online Graduate

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NOW ON ABLE L I A V A NOW RIGHT !

MEDIA

Free videos for you and your church!

How to Read the Bible (Michael DeFazio) Romans (Michael DeFazio) Ephesians (Michael DeFazio) Philippians (Michael DeFazio) Between Two Trees (Shane J. Wood) Revelation (Shane J. Wood) John (Kenny Boles) Miracles (Mark Scott) 20

TO INFORM

Parables of Jesus (Mark Scott) Apologetics (Chad Ragsdale) Hebrews (Chad Ragsdale) Messianic Prophecy (Jon Kehrer) The Pentateuch (Jon Kehrer) The Way of the Cross (Doug Welch) Sermon on the Mount (Jim Dalrymple) Healthy Elders & Deacons (Jim Dalrymple)

OCC.EDU/NEXTLEVEL

DAVID FISH:

LINGUIST, MISSIONARY, AND PROFESSOR Professor David Fish has been an integral part of the OCC faculty for 25 years, and of the Ozark family for close to 50 years. Born in Missouri and raised in Illinois, David was the middle child—the only son between two sisters.

David’s mother passed away when David was young, and his father—a minister— married longtime friend of OCC Martha Fish. In 1971, David graduated high school one year early as class valedictorian. The next fall, he enrolled at Ozark Bible College.

David’s years at Ozark were busy ones, in the classroom and out. He excelled in the study of the Greek language, learning from Knofel Staton and Ozark’s newest professor at the time, Kenny Boles.

David worked to pay his way through

When the Fish family returned to the States in 1994, a Chilean family presented them with this picture, which depicts Chile’s open-pit copper mine, Chuquicamata

David married Rosemary (Rose) McGill on June 21, 1975. They have three adult children— all born in Chile—and 12 grandchildren, ages newborn to 17.

MEET YOUR OCC FAMILY college, serving at Joplin’s Revival Fires, as youth minister at First Christian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma, and as preaching minister at Clayton Christian Church in Deerfield, Missouri. David also sang bass in a men’s quartet.

After graduation, David planned to preach in a church and attend seminary part-time. But in January of 1976, as David was beginning his last semester at Ozark, missionary Ed Mills was killed tragically in an accident in Santiago, Chile. David and his wife, Rose, decided to fill the gap, and move to Chile for two years. That two-year commitment stretched into 18 years. The Fishes served on the mission field until 1994, when their family moved back to the States, and David began to teach at OCC. Since then, David has taught Greek, Spanish, English Grammar, Missions in Latin America, World Religions, and much more. He pioneered the earliest days of Ozark’s

academic computing lab and the acquisition of Bible software. He implemented and administrated the college’s learning management systems, and he worked in library acquisitions.

David’s younger sister, Jacque Gage (OCC ’78), also works in OCC’s Seth Wilson Library.

Outside the classroom, David helps lead a ministry among Latino immigrants at College Heights Christian Church. Since 1998, he has worked as a Spanish language interpreter for the Ozark Center, which offers comprehensive behavioral health services in the Joplin area. David has published many articles and devotions in both English and Spanish, and he translated the Interlineal Inverso del Nuevo Testamento Español-Griego, Nueva Versión Internacional, published by Lexham Press. He has also performed in several local theatrical presentations at OCC and Joplin’s Stained Glass Theatre.

David is a lifelong Cubs fan. Growing up in Illinois, a church elder often took David to White Sox and Cubs games.

David chose the Cubs!

David is interested in all things related to the study of Greek as an aid in Bible interpretation. In his sophomore year at Ozark, David actually took Greek 2 and Greek 3 at the same time.

TO INFORM

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COMING SOON NOVEMBER 5-7:

NOVEMBER 6:

MOSAIX CONFERENCE

RENEW GATHERING

OCC is excited to help sponsor the 2019 Mosaix Conference, a multi-ethnic church conference with over 1,500 church planters, pastors, authors, and educators. Join OCC’s Director of Diversity Matthew McBirth in Dallas, Texas, this year.

Hear President Matt Proctor at the Renew Gathering, November 6 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Other speakers include Mark E. Moore, Jim Putnam, and Bobby Harrington. Register at renew.org.

mosaix2019.com

NOVEMBER 14-17

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MISSIONS Join us in Kansas City, November 14-17, 2019, for the International Conference on Missions. “Mind the Gap: Embracing the City” will be led by conference president Jeff Fife. Join us for our OCC Alumni & Friends Reception on Friday, November 15, from 8:30-10:30 PM in Room 2501B (part of the Grand Ballroom on the second level of the convention center). theicom.org

DECEMBER 5-8

OCC PRESENTS ELF THE MUSICAL Showtimes:

Prices:

Friday 12/6: 7 PM

Kids 12 and under: $5

Thursday 12/5: 7 PM Saturday 12/7: 2 and 7 PM Sunday 12/8: 2 PM

Adults: $10

Groups of 10 or more: $8

Under balcony seating: $5

Tickets go on sale November 4 at occ.edu/christmas.

Why ELF?

That’s a good question, since it’s a different kind of musical than we’ve done before. In recent years, many churches have used December sermon series with titles like “Christmas at the Movies,” using themes from popular Christmas films to point to biblical truth, and these have been effective at reaching new people. So why is Ozark doing Elf? •

•

We hope to welcome young families—some who’ve never been on campus and some who may not know much about Jesus. Elf is a fun and familiar story to the younger generation, and as the first local production of this musical, we think it will draw some folks we’ve never met before.

As Jesus’ parables remind us, sometimes you can find gospel truth in the most surprising stories…even a funny story about an elf looking for his dad. By evening’s end, we’ll talk about the deep longing for a loving father that haunts the whole human race and that points us to God—the Father we’ve all been looking for.

Christmas is a wonderful time to point people to Jesus, and with a little reflection, even a story like Elf can lead us to the manger. We hope you’ll invite the young families you know to join us for one of our performances December 5-8.

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TO INFORM

COMING SOON

JANUARY 17-18, 2020

AMBASSADORS WEEKEND “God’s Mission” – Grades 9-12 at OCC

Speakers: Damien Spikereit, Beth DeFazio, and Bob Witte Worship: Frontline

occ.edu/ambassadorsweekend

FEBRUARY 17-19, 2020

PREACHING-TEACHING CONVENTION “NEXT: A Study on the Book of Acts”

Speakers: Ed Stetzer, Dave Stone, Rick Rusaw, Dr. Jerry Taylor, Dan Hamel, Amani Mustafa, and Eric Epperson occ.edu/pt

APRIL 3-4, 2020

MAY 26-29, 2020

“RISE UP: Lessons from Ezra”

Save the date, and join us at Chateau on the Lake in Branson, Missouri.

WOMEN’S EVENT Speaker: Lori Wilhite occ.edu/we

BRANSON CONFERENCE occ.edu/branson

TO INFORM

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TICKETS AND DETAILS AT OCC.EDU/CHRISTMAS

TO INFORM

HERE’S AN IDEA

FIVE WAYS TO LEAD A CHURCH TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION Make Christ’s last words lasting words in your church.

1. TEACH ABOUT GOD’S LOVE FOR THE NATIONS. God’s love for the nations is repeated throughout Scripture. Point out those instances as you call your church to obey the Great Commission.

2. PRAY FOR GOD TO RAISE UP MISSIONARIES IN YOUR CONGREGATION. As in Acts 13, the Holy Spirit may be leading your church to raise up members as missionaries, even if they haven’t discerned the call yet themselves.

3. PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY THOSE YOU MIGHT SEND. As the Lord reveals potential “sent-out” members, challenge them to consider becoming missionaries.

4. EMPOWER MEMBERS AND DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITIES. Develop leaders within your church to be advocates for missions and missionaries or to lead short-term mission trips.

5. TAKE CARE OF YOUR CURRENT MISSIONARIES. Select church members to communicate with missionaries and pass on prayer and other needs to the church.

Cook, Meredith. “5 Ways to Lead a Church to Fulfill the Great Commission.” factsandtrends.net/2019/08/12/5-ways-to-lead-a-church-to-fulfill-the-great-commission/

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YOUR PARTNERSHIP

YOUR CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT

Jim Dalrymple serves as OCC’s executive vice president of advancement and a professor of New Testament.

Jim Dalrymple In 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Paul asks, “What is my hope or joy or crown of boasting?” These are prodding questions, and our answers reveal our hearts.

What is my hope? One of my colleagues defines hope as a vision of a better tomorrow. Unfortunately, often the hopes that captivate our imaginations are short-lived. A few weeks ago, my nine-year-old son spotted a robot dog on the clearance shelf at a local store. His “vision of a better tomorrow” became the day when he would own that robot dog.

I assured him that his vision was far too small. That robot dog would leave him longing for more. I, too, often hope in foolish and fleeting futures. Perhaps we’re plagued with hopelessness because we hope in earthly scenarios that can’t fulfill.

What is my joy? Joy is perhaps best understood as deep and lasting happiness. We long for joy and go from place to place, searching for something to satisfy our longing. Often, we have a mental script that reads, “If

, then perhaps joy.” We fill in the blank in many ways: If I can just get to the weekend. If I can get this under control.

If I can get the new job. If I can get someone to love me. If I can retire. If , then

TRIBUTE GIFTS MARCH 15, 2019-AUGUST 15, 2019 MEMORIAL GIFTS: Les Bowling M/M Paul Weymouth Ron Briggs Lenora Briggs David Carnes M/M Paul Weymouth

Lynn Gardner M/M Mike Nauman Willis Harrison M/M Michael D. Lee Kenneth & Lois Idleman M/M Larry Catron

Lois Idleman Sandra Abernathy College Heights Christian Church (Joplin) M/M Richard Collins Lois J. Evans M/M Michael L. Barbara Ferguson Hilgendorf M/M Orville Brill M/M Ken D. Idleman Paul Ferguson M/M Steve F. Jennings M/M Scott A. Ferguson M/M Victor Knowles M/M James H. Mabie Wilbur Fields Sonya M. Marcum M/M Wayne Bigelow M/M G. Richard John T. Nickel TO CONNECTWamsley Carthage, MO, Fire Department members who died in the line of duty Glenn E. Boyes

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perhaps joy. We seek lasting joy from the temporary, and it leaves us disillusioned and unfulfilled.

What is my crown of boasting? In this text, the crown is a victory crown.

We want to win! But, how do we define a win worthy of boasting, in a world obsessed with comparisons? We work to build our platform, and we excel at self-promotion. We are addicted to achievements, applause, and approval.

We love to boast in our wins. Our word “cocky” comes from this Greek word for boasting. But this boasting is not before people, but “before our Lord Jesus at his coming.” That changes the game! What will you boast about before Jesus, when he returns?

Our honest answers to these three questions reveal the anticipations and aspirations of our hearts. But Paul shows us a better way. He says, “What is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thess 2:19-20, ESV).

People are our hope, our joy, and our crown of boasting! When our hopes and hearts are aligned with Jesus, we are

M/M Clifford E. Wert Georgia White M/M Randy L. Wilson

Cathy McTeer Joyce Benschoter

George & Tasci King M/M Mike Nauman

David Parsley Dr. and Mrs. C. Robert Wetzel

Judy Lanham David M. Lanham

George Roane Patricia Roane

Rose Lassiter M/M James Byrd

Tom Ross Connie Ross

Mitch Lundguard Glenn E. Boyes

John Seitz M/M Michael Gadberry

John Manning Bonnie Manning

Jace Smothers M/M Rick Bronson Peggy S. Campbell Jessica Johnson M/M Robert Maxwell Norton High School (Norton, KS) M/M Willard J. Walls

Lester & Mary McIntosh M/M Richard Hargrave Mary McIntosh Leah M. McIntosh Pauline McIntosh M/M Richard Hargrave M/M Marvin Schiavone Ruth McIntosh M/M Richard Hargrave

Monte Spry M/M Bill Acheson M/M Charles W. Adamson

focused on others. Our hope is in the vision of a day when others find the same hope we have in Jesus. Our greatest joys echo the joy of heaven when one more person returns to the Father. Our only crown of boasting is in leading others to boast in the cross of Christ. Jesus died for people, and we will live for them.

Thank you for your partnership in reaching more people with the Gospel.

For over 75 years, OCC has had one mission: training students to reach people with the good news of Jesus.

People are our hope, our joy, and our crown. When you give to OCC, you multiply your kingdom efforts through the hundreds of kingdom workers we train each year. Thank you! You are our glory and our joy.

Carol Vernon M/M James Armstrong M/M Kenneth E. Bryant Jayna De Angelis Joann Deming M/M Rick Deming Linda Gehrig GHS Class of ‘82 Varsity Cheerleaders M/M Daniel R. Harlow M/M Timothy Harlow Shelly Juskiewicz Janice Latko Marilyn Maberry M/M Doug Miller Debbie Ophoven Parkview Christian Church (Orland Park, IL) M/M James D. Ringer Terri Romo M/M Randall C. Smith M/M B.J. Vernon M/M Dallas Vernon, Jr. M/M Willard J. Walls M/M Meredith Williams

Reba Wheeler M/M Rick Jett Seth & Anna Wilson M/M Mike Nauman Charles & Dorothy Wittenborn M/M David Wittenborn HONOR GIFTS: Jill English M/M Steve Jennings Jack Frederick M/M Paul R. Weymouth Hank Lamb M/M Paul R. Weymouth Leonard Navarre M/M Paul R. Weymouth Matt Proctor M/M Mark Pettit David Vandever M/M Paul R. Weymouth Meredith Williams M/M David Duncan

ALUMNI NEWS

THE CHURCH SCATTERED After church one Sunday, a mother and her son headed for the parking lot. Soon after, she looked back in her rearview mirror and realized her mistake: she had set their Bibles, Sunday school papers, and bulletins on top of the car as she got in, and left them there as she drove away.

Now, everything was scattered along the highway behind her.

The woman pulled over and walked back along the road, gathering the papers and disheveled Bibles as best she could.

“Well, Mom,” said her son when she returned, “the Bible does say to spread the Gospel.”

A cheesy story, yes, but with a nugget of truth worth remembering: When God’s people worship together through song, prayer, Scripture, preaching, and the Lord’s Supper, the work of God is accomplished. But as the Body gathers for worship, it also prepares to be scattered for mission—to go from that place to bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus.

This rhythm of gathering and scattering is at the heart of the OCC student experience. In classrooms, chapel, and dorm rooms, students gather to be ministered to by God and his Body.

But then, they’re scattered for Christian service to nursing homes, food pantries, and area ministries to share Christ with the world. Alumni experienced this rhythm of “gathered and scattered” in their student experience, too, and it no doubt continues to impact their lives.

Our 15,000 alumni gathered in the Ozark classrooms for ministry training, and now they’re scattered to the ends of the earth as harvest workers. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni, OCC continues to train another generation to gather and scatter. Thank you for your continued partnership with Ozark Christian College!

Troy Nelson serves as alumni relations director at OCC.

Shop OCC’s Online Store! OCC apparel and more at OCC.EDU/STORE TO CONNECT

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ALUMNI NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS Andrew (08) and Megan (Phillips) (08) Estes on the birth of their third child, Elijah David, in Loveland, CO. Andrew serves as associate pastor with Revive Christian Church.

Trevor (13) and Jordan (Sather) (14) Farris on the birth of Crosby Joseph in February. The Farrises live in Spokane, WA.

Robert (12) and Emma (Blackwelder) (14) Halbach on the birth of Zoey Elizabeth in April. The Halbachs live in Eminence, MO, where Robert serves as office manager of Discovery Ministries, and Emma is the student director of Summersville Christian Church.

Makenzie (Holmes) (15) and Josh Harp on the birth of Wyatt Douglas in July. Josh currently serves in the US Navy, Makenzie enjoys staying home with Wyatt.

David (14) and Charity (Groom) (15) Harshman on the birth of Selah. The Harshmans live in Carterville, IN.

David (07) and Amanda Hayward on the birth of their fourth child, Ezekiel John, in Mustang, OK. David works as a programmer and project manager for Audio Dimensions. He also leads worship for a five-year-old church plant.

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TO CONNECT

Adam and Jenna (Reynolds) (15) Lang on the birth of Adaline in December. The Langs live in Jackson, TN. Phil (17) and Cassandra (DeFazio) (14) Lowe on the birth of Adelaide Cassandra in July. Cassandra serves as the elementary minister with the Glendale Christian Church in Springfield, MO. In December 2019, Philip will graduate from Denver Seminary with a master’s degree.

Ben (16) and Sarah (Patullo) (16) Menge on the birth of Maeva Rose on August 15 in Denver, CO. The Menges serve with Emmaus Church.

Branden (12) and Stacey (12) Portillo on the adoption of Archer Micah Anthony in April. The Portillos live in Independence, MO.

Luke (17) and Rebekah (Moyers) (14) Proctor on the birth of Calvin James in June. The Proctors serve at the Plainfield Christian Church in Plainfield, IN.

Joe (17) and Hope Szklarski on the birth of Maximus Aaron in September. Joe serves as pastor of Harrison Christian Church in Johnson City, TN. James (07) and Katie Runner (04) Waddell on the birth of Zara Grace in January. The Waddells serve in community development and discipleship in West Africa.

Patrick (09) and Lauren (10) (Balu) Wheeler on the birth of Sadie Watson in February. The Wheelers minister in Shiloh, IL.

ALUMNI NEWS

WITH SYMPATHY Please lift up in prayer the families of the following alumni who have passed away in recent weeks.

Harold Fowler (61), longtime missionary to Italy and former OCC professor, passed away in August. Harold and his wife, Enid, received OCC’s Seth Wilson Outstanding Alumni Award in 1993.

Troy Guffey (attended) passed away on August 10 in a two-vehicle accident in his hometown of Butler, MO.

Jerl Joslin (M78) passed away on September 4 in Oklahoma City.

Jerl ministered with Dani, his wife of 44 years, in churches across Oklahoma and most recently with Refresh, a ministry the Joslins founded and directed to encourage pastors.

Catherine McTeer (67) passed away in April in Mexico, MO. Catherine served at Ace Ministries in Dallas, Texas, until her retirement. She was a member of Valley View Christian, was fluent in Spanish, and did missionary work in Mexico and El Paso, TX. Reba Wheeler (75) passed away in June following a battle with cancer.

CLASS NOTES: 1960s

1990s

Congratulations to David Haynes (64) who received an honorary doctorate from Hope International University/ Nebraska Christian College. David is in his 16th year as a professor at Nebraska Christian College.

Lana (Townsend) Ansley (93) is serving as a certified occupational therapist assistant in Nixa, MO.

Congratulations to Larry (69) and Gloria (attended) Conaway who celebrated 50 years with the Central Christian Church in Claremore, OK, in April. Larry founded the church, beginning with a membership of five people.

1970s In April, Steven Taylor (78) was invited to participate in an Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Steven and his wife Carolyn (Foust) (73) were missionaries in Taiwan for ten years and lived in Alaska for 23 years.

Congratulations to Bob Heath (79) who was awarded the highest level of credentials given by the International Conference of Police Chaplains. Bob will serve a two-year term as ICPC treasurer and CFO. He continues to serve as manager of the OCC campus bookstore.

1980s Cathy (Temple) Eichelberger (81) recently retired after teaching special education for 30 years.

Fred Snelson (87) serves as an addictions counselor and has spent his career working with addicts and alcoholics, directing the chemical dependency center at his local hospital in Cody, WY. Fred wrote and received a grant to start therapy programs for opiate and heroin addicts.

Rob Fleenor (97) serves as assistant professor of Old Testament at Johnson University-Florida. Rob graduated with a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary in May. Rob and his wife Shawnee (94) live in Saint Cloud, FL, with their four children.

Cookson Hills Christian School named Ron Riley (97) as associate executive director in Kansas, OK. He will transition to the executive director role later this year. Ron has been the senior minister of the First Christian Church in Grove, OK, since 2013. His wife Donna (94) will continue to teach special education for Grove Public Schools.

In June, Bryan Morrow (99) married Susan DuBuc in St. Joseph, MI. Bryan also officiated his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary.

2000s Since 2013, Tonya Robinson (01) has worked for Grand Lake Mental Health Center, in Grove, OK. Tonya attends New Life Foursquare Church in Vinita, OK, where she serves on the worship team and teaches children.

Allen Tyger (06) serves as college life minister with the Northside Christian Church in Springfield, MO. Kyle Gregorio (09) serves as senior minister at Town and Country Christian Church in Okmulgee, OK. He also works at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in Okmulgee as the assistant registrar.

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ALUMNI NEWS

2010s Daniel Harter (12) serves as a marriage and family therapist. He recently opened Current Intervention Family Therapy Services in Miami, OK, and will begin Ph.D. studies soon. The Harter family attends First Christian Church in Miami.

Garrett Holle (17) is serving as the middle school minister with the Northside Christian Church in Springfield, MO. Caleb House (17) works as a manufacturing engineer with Reyco Granning Suspensions in Mt. Vernon, MO.

This summer, Barbara King (12) was recognized by the Missouri Mental Health Foundation as a mental health champion.

Tyler (18) and Sarah (Gillispie) (current student) Coffey live in Bentonville, AR, where Tyler serves as pastor of preteens and young adults with Grace Point Church.

Jeffery Poor (12) is serving as the connections pastor with Real Life Christian Church in Virginia Beach, VA.

Craig Donnelly (18) serves as youth pastor with Southeast Christian Church Southwest Campus in Louisville, KY.

Austin Scott (12) serves as associate minister of Community Christian Church in Metropolis, IL, where he plans to transition into the preaching minister role.

Gabrielle (Brotzman) Green (18) serves as worship arts director with Highland Park Christian Church in Tulsa, OK, and attends Denver Seminary online, with the goal of teaching and preaching. Her husband Nathan (18) also serves at the church while attending TCC Physical Therapy School, with the goal of working in missions.

In June, Natasha Ohmart (13) married Aaron Frerking of Concordia, MO. Natasha serves as a special education teacher in Concordia.

Blake (15) and Grace (Kimpel) Cowen live in Valencia, CA, where Grace serves as children’s director at Real Life Church.

Devin Robertson (15) is serving as the lead minister of Cornerstone Christian Church in Jackson, MI, having completed a Master of Arts degree from Lincoln Christian University in May. Justin Dewell (16) is serving as a preaching resident at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY, after graduating with a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary.

Juan Carlos Fallas (16) is serving as student pastor at Valley View Christian Church in Littleton, CO. His wife Elke (Hupp) (16) also serves at the church as adult ministry coordinator.

Felicia Severson (16) serves as associate pastor of junior high girls’ small groups at Eastview Christian Church in Normal, IL.

Ashley (Crisler) King (18) is serving as the adult connections ministry coordinator with College Heights Christian Church in Joplin.

Greg Morse (18) works in social marketing with the Ozark Center in Joplin.

Grace Smith (18) serves as a mental health specialist at a psychiatric hospital in Franklin, TN.

ATTENDED Rick Bronson (attended) recently announced his retirement as owner and CEO of N & D Investments, LLC in Grove, Oklahoma.

In July 2019, Paul Bushman (attended) celebrated 45 years of ministry with the Hoover Christian Church in Platte City, MO.

Meredith Demaree (17) accepted a position as a certified occupational therapy assistant with Post Acute Medical Rehab hospital in Tulsa, OK. She also serves as worship leader and vocal director with Anthem Church in Broken Arrow.

PUBLICATIONS Dr. Teresa Welch (94, currently faculty/ administration) and Jace Martin (17, children’s minister with Pikes Peak Christian Church in Colorado Springs, CO) each contributed a chapter to the compilation book, Stronger: Increase Your Personal Depth and Wisdom, published by KidMin Nation Library.

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TO CONNECT

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ONE MORE THING

A final thought from our editor

WHEREVER HE LEADS, I’LL GO

Amy Storms is a wife, mother, Strong Hall dorm mom, and director of marketing and communications at OCC.

Amy Storms Of all our Ozark distinctives… the sayings, traditions, and moments that identify and unify us as the OCC family…one of my very favorites is singing, “Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go.” For as long as any of us can remember, that song has closed the final session of our annual Preaching-Teaching Convention in February.

“Take up thy cross and follow Me,” I heard my Master say.

“I gave my life to ransom thee; Surrender your all today.”

Wherever he leads, I’ll go, Wherever he leads, I’ll go, I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever he leads, I’ll go.

As a student, I sang those words as a promise. They meant a lot to the 18-yearold who was excited to “go” but had no clue what “wherever he leads” would entail. Now, 25 years later, the song means so much more. I sing with the same pledge of obedience, but also as a vow renewal—a prayer of recommitment.

“Wherever he leads, I’ll go,” I sing each

year, often through tears, as I recall the places God has led—through highs and lows, joys and hurts of ministry, through seasons of growth and fruitfulness as well as the barren spiritual winters—and all of it, always, held in the strong and tender faithfulness of “my Christ who loves me so.”

My son is a senior at Ozark, so he’ll sing this song only once more as a student. My daughter, a freshman, will sing it for the first time. As their faith becomes their own and they look toward the future, excited to follow to the ends of the earth, God will lead them, too: It may be through the shadows dim Or o’er the stormy sea: I take my cross and follow him Wherever he leadeth me.

Wherever he leads, I’ll go, Wherever he leads, I’ll go, I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever he leads, I’ll go.

At Ozark, it’s both a private prayer and corporate commitment. It’s a reminder that “we are “Christ’s Ambassadors,”

“trained for Christian service” and sent out as “workers into his harvest field.”

It’s a pledge of our obedience, even as we recognize that our own efforts—our hard work and service and “all we bring”—are nothing apart from the goodness and grace of Christ, our “Master, Lord, and King.”

My heart, my life, my all I bring To Christ who loves me so.

He is my Master, Lord, and King, Wherever he leads I’ll go.

Wherever he leads I’ll go, Wherever he leads I’ll go, I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever he leads I’ll go.