Copyright Š 2012 Urshan Graduate School of Theology All Rights Reserved.
Book Layout & Design: Bruce Elbeblawy - (B) The Bookmaker www.bthebookmaker.com
Living History
Embarking upon this project, the committee knew about the rich heritage of the school from personal testimonies that have been shared throughout the years. We saw how graduates demonstrated such tremendous appreciation for their encounter with the only Oneness Pentecostal graduate school in North America. We, too, felt overwhelmed with a sense of privilege and responsibility for having been exposed to such anointed tutelage and a compelling Christlike community. From our inquisitive interviews with faculty and intimate testimonies from students, one thing has been consistent – Urshan Graduate School of Theology is a thriving community of authentic Apostolic believers, from its inception, over a decade ago, to our present day. What we have tried to capture in this publication is the reality that history is unfolding literally before our eyes. We are witnessing a history, a legacy, a precedent being set by a community of pioneers for the Oneness Pentecostal movement. Each person that is a part of the UGST family has contributed, in some fashion, to the institution’s success and, in a greater extent, to the advancement of Oneness Pentecostalism. To this we can only say, “Glory be to God.” We extend our gratitude to those who have gone before us and to those who will follow us. Thank you for your faithfulness, and thank you for all that you are doing for the Kingdom of God. Personally, I would like to commend the members of the yearbook committee for this completed book. I would also be negligent if I failed to thank each contributor for this yearbook, which really is a compilation of personal reflections and testimonies. Thank you to Barry Davis and Michael McCarty for capturing memorable and priceless moments artfully with your photography. Thank you to Bruce Elbeblawy for delivering such a brilliant and clever design. Thank you to Daniel Segraves and Garry Truman for your complementary oversight and thorough review of the final work. Without each of your contributions, this yearbook would be nonexistent. Larry Mazyck Student Body Historian
Yearbook Committee:
Front Row from Left to Right: Richie Johnson Chelsea Kiani Second Row from Left to Right: Rebecca Newton Margaret Ronia Third Row from Left to Right: Crystal Micko Larry Mazyck Back Row Luke Schmalz
Board of Directors Administration, Faculty, and Staff The inspiring group of people who are living legends, making UGST what it is today and what it will be in years to come.
Board of Directors:
Front Row from Left to Right: Clifford Readout James Beardsley David K. Bernard Garth Hatheway Janet Trout Back Row from Left to Right: Bill Coltharp Clark Lott Rodney Pamer J. Mark Jordan Ron Mullings Evelyn Drury Paul Evans John Putnam Matthew Martin Jay Carney Daniel Flemming Members who are missing from the photo: Arnulfo Cedillo Stanley Gleason Ted Graves Darrell Johns Jerry Jones Robert Martin Albert Skaggs Ted Wagner Steve Willeford
DAVID K. Bernard President B.A., Rice University, 1978 J.D., University of Texas, 1981 M.Th., University of South Africa, 2006 Th.D. Candidate, University of South Africa
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UGST has provided a unique opportunity to train men and women for Apostolic ministry and leadership. It has also spurred my own pursuit of advanced theological education. Through opportunities to teach and to interact with Apostolic scholars, it has helped refine my theological views as well as the oral and written expression of them. As a pastor I benefited from members of our church receiving training from UGST and by having three UGST alumni come to our area to start two daughter works. As a district superintendent, I saw our district benefit from UGST certificate and chaplain classes. The experience of leading UGST and working with the UGST board has given me resources for leading the UPCI as general superintendent. UGST professors, alumni, and students have become a great resource for our headquarters operations and divisions, and they are enhancing and expanding our ministry around the world.
Daniel L. Segraves Dean of Administration and Academic Dean Professor of Biblical Theology Diploma, Western Apostolic Bible College, 1967 B.A., Theological Studies, Gateway College of Evangelism, 1981 M.A., Exegetical Theology, Western Seminary, 1993 Th.M., Western Seminary, 2003 Ed.D., California Coast University, 1992 Ph.D., Regent University, 2011
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To interact with the learners at UGST is a richly rewarding experience. Whether studying on campus or online, these students – including pastors, missionaries, and those fresh from finishing their undergraduate degrees – are committed to spiritual growth and academic excellence. This challenges professors to daily spiritual renewal and academic integrity. There is no room for slothfulness in spiritual disciplines or to grow stale in our academic specializations. The interaction between professors as well as between staff and faculty is also a constant source of spiritual enrichment. All of us recognize the awesome opportunities and responsibilities placed before us and understand that we are called to faithfulness to God and submission to one another. The word “seminary” originates from a Latin word that means “seedbed.” We understand the significance of this ministry, and we are committed to being sure that the seed planted here produces healthy fruit for the kingdom of God.
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Marjorie Truman Director of Distance Learning Academic Assistant M.Div., Urshan Graduate School of Theology, 2006 M.S., Education, Lehman College, 2004 B.A., Liberal Arts, St. John’s College, 1998
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I derive my personal mission statement for distance learners from Paul’s words to those who were far from him in terms of geography, “I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself” (Col. 2:2, NLT). However, this is not a mission I can accomplish on my own. Thus, I am grateful for UGST’s commitment to 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 in both theory and practice: “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.” This encourages and challenges each of us to remember that our distinctions are derived from that which we hold common and therefore do not distance us.
Jeffrey E. Brickle Associate Professor of Biblical Studies A.L.B., Harvard University, 1994 M.A., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 1999 Ph.D., Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 2010
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UGST has truly been a gift from God in my life! There were no apostolic graduate institutions during the 1980’s and 90’s when I sensed a calling to pursue a profession in academia. UGST’s formation was indeed a miracle and perfectly timed. During my tenure as a professor I have greatly appreciated my interactions with colleagues, students, and staff. The UGST community is a close-knit family and a wonderful communication partner with which to engage in rich and sometimes challenging theological discussion. UGST has provided a safe haven and encouraging atmosphere in which each member can explore and further develop his or her ministerial calling and giftings. I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this God-ordained institution and to play a role in the formation and training of ministers of the gospel who are impacting our world for Jesus Christ. Thank God for UGST!
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James A. Littles, Jr. Professor of Practical Theology B.S.Ed., State University of New York at Fredonia, 1982 M.S.Ed., State University of New York at Fredonia, 1989 M.Div., Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1993 Ph.D., University of Delaware, 2003
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Since the genesis of UGST, I have felt privileged to witness the first Apostolic seminary pioneered into formation. The concept was only a dream prior to the year of 1999; however, the actions executed at the UPCI general conference that year propelled this dream into a surreal experience. I cherish dearly and find deeply rewarding many chapters to the institution’s history: aiding passionate pupils to fulfill their calling, cheering for the first graduating class, serving alongside spiritually gifted colleagues, and celebrating the inspirational journey. Thanks to an upbringing by home missionaries, I easily resonate with the emotional peaks and pits that come with launching a seminary. I find exhilaration and humility while reminiscing over my tenure at UGST. It often feels comforting to know that I am making a difference, leaving a mark, and seeing new possibilities realized. I can recall a number of times when I literally walked out of the building, basking in the sunlight, and pondering, “I can’t believe that I get to do this.”
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Cynthia A. Miller Lecturer in Practical Theology B.A.S.Sc., Thomas Edison State College, 1998 M.S., Philadelphia College of the Bible, 2000 Ph.D. Candidate, Liberty University
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David Norris first introduced me to Urshan Graduate School of Theology in 2001. Becoming part of the UGST family has enriched my life. Through the years, class after class, the students have challenged me to grow and develop as an instructor, minister, and counselor. Each class brings an equal amount of tears, laughter, and illumination as we journey together, into the secret places of the heart, for life changing experiences. To share that journey with such amazing men and women is a privilege.
David S. Norris Professor of Biblical Theology Diploma, Apostolic Bible Institute, 1975 B.A., Neumann College, 1989 M.A.T.S., Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1992 Ph.D., Temple University, 2000
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Call me “Doubting Thomas,” but no one was actually more surprised than me when Urshan Graduate School of Theology came into existence. I am very grateful for those who have sacrificed to make the school a reality. The seminary has gifted me with the opportunity to invest into the lives of those who are making a difference. It has allowed me space to research and write. It has offered times of personal reflection, opportunities for “aha” moments as I study, and special times in the classroom where God has particularly made His presence known. I’m thankful for deep friendships with teaching colleagues, students, and alumni. We at UGST are blessed by the leadership of the school, those who stand on the past while creatively dreaming about the future; believing for God’s best, not just for ourselves, but for the larger movement to which we belong.
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Joey Peyton Director of Field Education A.S., University of Alaska, 1993 B.S., B.A. Wayland Baptist University 1998 M.T.S., Urshan Graduate School of Theology, 2005 M.Div., Urshan Graduate School of Theology, 2006 D.Min. Candidate, Eden Theological Seminary
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UGST and I have been walking together since the year 2000. I matriculated before the first UGST class started and took my first J-Term class in January 2001. I served as the Student Body President for the 2005-2006 school year. I continued my education after leaving UGST, first at Barnes Jewish St. Peters Hospital in the Clinical Pastoral Education program for two years and second, I went to Eden Theological Seminary in 2008 to begin my doctorate. During this time I was active as a UGST Alumnus and attended most of the UGST highlight events each year. Finally, I returned to UGST as the Director of Field Education in January of 2010. For eleven ‘long’ years now UGST and I have walked together, and it is hard to imagine life without the UGST family. They have been years of growth, blessing, and learning together with the greatest minds in Oneness Pentecostalism. I am truly grateful for the opportunities that have been provided for me, first by God, and second (as the hand of God) by UGST.
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Gerald L. Truman Dean of Students
| Director of Library Services
Diploma, Apostolic Bible Institute, 1965 B.S.Ed., Indiana University, 1975 M.S.B.A., Boston University, 1987 M.L.S., Indiana University, 2001
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When UGST began operations I was still in library school. That first year I completed my degree doing an internship at Eden Webster Library and commuting to Indianapolis every Friday for classes. We reclassified the collection from Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) to Library of Congress Classification (LOC) – a major undertaking since every item needed relabeling. (Thanks to the entire student body this was accomplished in one week with long hours.) We needed to upgrade and change the integrated library system (ILS) to one that would accommodate an online public access catalog (OPAC) and also allow us to import and export machine readable cataloging (MARC) records. This required two migrations of the data with some difficult and detailed editing. During this time we were growing by 3 to 4 thousand holdings each year. As school was starting in 2005 a computer burped somewhere and we lost all of our records. The worst day of my UGST experience! Everything was rebuilt in one year with a lot of hard work from family, students, and volunteers! The happiest day came when the accreditation team gave us a good report and shared compliments for an impossible task that has turned out well.
Daniel Butler
Nicolas Cohen
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
B.S., Purdue University, 1978 M.A., Vanguard University, 2000 D.Min. Candidate, Fuller Theological Seminary
B.A., University of Delaware, 2001 M.T.S., Harvard Divinity School, 2003\ Ph.D., Boston College, 2011
Raymond L. Crownover
Roy A. Fisher
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
B.A., University of Missouri, 1978 B.A., Gateway College of Evangelism, 1982 M.Ed., University of Missouri, 1988 Ph.D., University of Missouri, 1993
B.S., California State University at Chico, 2001 M.A., Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley, 2003 Ph.D. Candidate, University of California at Berkeley
Jack C. Garrison
Robin Johnston
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
B.S., Phillips University, 1971 M.Ed., Phillips University, 1974 M.L.S., Oklahoma University, 1985 M.Div., Phillips Graduate Seminary, 1993 D.Min., Phillips Theological Seminary, 1999
B.A., Gateway College of Evangelism, 1979 M.A.T.S., Covenant Theological Seminary, 2001 Ph.D., Regent University, 2010
Tom O’Daniel
Chris Paris
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
Diploma, Conquerors Bible College, 1973 B.A., Global University, 1987 M.A., Azusa Pacific University, 1991 Ed.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005
B.A., Western Kentucky University, 1994 M.A., Western Kentucky University, 1997 M.T.S., Vanderbilt Divinity School, 2005 Ph.D., Vanderbilt University, 2012
John Larson
Cheryl Marks
Director of Development
Custodian
Rhonda Morley
Karen Peyton
Director of Admissions Business Manager
Ashley Reever Finance & Admissions Assistant
Library Cataloger Financial Aid Assistant
C. Gayle Yoder Registrar | Administrative Assistant