Experience (Spring-Summer 2019)

spring – s ummer 2019

The Urban Church FA I R - W E AT H E R F R I E N D ?

m ar gi n

experience the magazine of Warner Pacific University

LOOKING AHEAD S T R AT E G I C A L LY p. 6

THE KNIGHTS’ 20-YEAR JOURNEY p. 10

C L A S S O F 2 0 19 COMMENCEMENT HIGHLIGHTS p. 20

p. 12

t h e mag azine o f Warner Pacif ic University

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A Warner Pacific Alumni Benefit

Earn your M.S. in Management online in only two years See if you qualify for special alumni pricing.

Most Warner Pacific graduates qualify for special discounts as alumni when enrolling in the Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership program.

Our convenient 2-year, twelve-course program can be completed online.

This organizational management degree is ideal for experienced business professionals who want: • formalized, executive-level skills for managing people, processes and business initiatives; • in-depth knowledge of today’s global business environment, including regulation and laws; • a program that delivers practical application of knowledge; • a program that emphasizes personal integrity within the context of Christian moral principles; • access to faculty and student colleagues who will challenge and encourage you in ways that you expect from WPU.

Enroll now.

For more information visit warnerpacific.edu/ms-management

CONTENTS

spring – s ummer 2019

experience

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Relevant New programs and faculty achievements

6 Experience Magazine is a publication of Warner Pacific University intended to express

Living the Mission A first look at WPU’s strategic plan for the work ahead

the mission of Warner Pacific University by providing authentic information and stories that engage and encourage University constituents­­—especially alumni, donors and friends—to pray, volunteer, promote, attend campus events, give and

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Knights’ Tales

advocate for the University.

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editor-in-chief

Knights Athletics turns 20 We celebrate the anniversary of athletic program rejuvenation

Dale Seipp, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing

with a new look contributors Rick Bailey, Cody Harrod, Rick Johnsen, Jon Sampson photos

The Urban Church as fair-weather friend: from white flight to gentrification

Cody Harrod, Justin Tucker ’14

Associate Professor Lloyd Chia offers counsel to urban churches

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Cover photo by Denisse Leon president of warner pacific university

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Alumni News

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Happenings

Andrea P. Cook, Ph.D. director of alumni relations

168 graduates in Class of 2019

Stephanie Harvey

President’s Luncheon raises more than $100,000

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facebook linkedin-in Twitter @warnerpacific

Partners with Portland New Paraprofessional Degree serves local school systems

Instagram @warnerpacificu youtube @warnerpacificuniversity ©2019 Warner Pacific University

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President’s Perspective

warnerpacific.edu

“What do I do now that I know?”

With each issue of Experience, we intend that you’ll be inspired, entertained and certainly better informed about Warner Pacific University. Whether you read cover to cover (you do, don’t you?) or spot-read throughout the pages, we want you to be empowered to act on what you read. Among our core values is to innovate toward experiential learning and to cultivate curiosity, creativity and purpose. To live our values, we invite you to engage with what you glean from this publication.

Following most articles, we’ve added icons representing actions you may take in response to what you learn: i c o n le g en d represents P R O M O T I N G , by telling others what you’ve learned about WPU

represents G I V I N G , which we encourage you to do through the Annual Fund,

or recent news and achievements worth sharing by social media or word of mouth.

estate planning or other forms of contribution.

represents V O L U N T E E R I N G , which may mean giving your precious time

represents A D V O C AT I N G , which may include representing WPU, alerting

in service as your schedule permits.

civic or government leaders in support of WPU, or engaging others in support of WPU.

represents P R AY I N G , which we trust you are doing anyway, but we’ll note

represents V I S I T I N G , when we’ll encourage your presence at events.

special prayer requests.

R E L E VA N T

New Partnership with School of Innovation and Technology Warner Pacific University announces the launch of sourceU, a school of innovation and technology that will empower students with the right skills, education and support to become leaders in tomorrow’s tech industry.

In partnership with Portland’s top code school, Epicodus, and the innovative team of cybersecurity professionals and educators at Riperia, sourceU combines the industryfocused skills that a code school brings with the supporting resources and expertise of a well-rounded education from Warner Pacific University.

The Future of Tech The next decade will see the creation of more than a million new developer jobs, but only 400,000 will be filled by computer science graduates.

Similarly, the creation of CyberOregon and recent prominent data breaches underscore the need for more qualified workers in different areas of cybersecurity.

The tech industry in the Portland Metro Area is growing dramatically, and demand for tech workers is strong across all industries. Portland tech companies have relied on in-migration, poaching and their professional networks to fill vacancies.

The result is a local workforce that is nearly 90% white. Too many talented people from more diverse backgrounds—including women— are not participating in this growth.

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Today’s Students Ready for Tomorrow’s Workforce As Oregon’s most diverse university and one committed to serving the needs of our city, Warner Pacific is excited to launch this new initiative to meet the higher education needs of twenty-first-century students and the tech industry. “sourceU leverages the experience of Warner Pacific University in supporting students who have been historically excluded from higher education,” said Dr. Andrea P. Cook, president of the University. “We are leaning into a new educational space, the technology industry, that has seen similar exclusion, and we want to help more students break through to become technology leaders of the future.” sourceU will initially offer associate degrees in Cybersecurity/IT and Web and Mobile Development, as well as bachelor’s degrees in Cybersecurity and Digital Product Design.

“We believe partnering with an accredited, degree-granting program will make our education more accessible to underrepresented and lowincome students,” explained CEO of Epicodus, Michael Kaiser-Nyman.

“Until now, students without a college degree had to choose between an employment-focused education like Epicodus offers, or a breadthfocused traditional education like Warner Pacific does. The sourceU partnership between our institutions will let students get the best of both worlds for the first time.”

Kris Rosenberg, Chief Learning Officer at Riperia Inc., believes this partnership is vital to the future of tech. “With the ever-increasing need for cybersecurity talent, bringing a much broader and diverse group of people together is essential. We are very excited to be part of the launch of sourceU and to bring our innovative approach to professional cybersecurity education to the mix. We believe that the sourceU model will help students get the education they need to become the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.” ▪ read more at warnerpacific.edu/news/sourceu-article-round-up

Classes are enrolling now! For information on getting started at sourceU, complete a short online form go.warnerpacific.edu/sourceu/inquiryform or contact the Office of Admission at 503.214.2180.

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New Simulation-based Labs Support Diverse Health Care Professionals Warner Pacific University’s Nursing program received a $350,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to furnish the University’s new simulation-based learning labs.

The Oregon State Board of Nursing approved WPU’s proposal to offer the pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree last fall. Warner Pacific Dean of Nursing, Dr. Linda Campbell, and Associate Dean of Nursing, Dr. Gary Laustsen, received the news at an Oregon State Board of Nursing meeting in Portland. The approval comes after over a year of preparation and close correspondence with the nursing board by Warner Pacific administrators and faculty. The first cohort of nursing students launched in spring 2019.

Labs Lead to Student Success The purpose of the learning labs is to simulate complex and nuanced health care scenarios using state-of-the-art equipment in a way that allows students to practice realistic patient care in a controlled environment. In pre-licensure nursing programs, simulated learning can substitute for up to 50% of traditional clinical experience.

“High-fidelity simulation decreases the fears many new nursing students have of failing with live patients,” said Dr. Campbell, Dean of Nursing at Warner Pacific University. “Recent studies show that removing that fear barrier enhances critical thinking and may actually elevate student selfconfidence and competence, which improves their performance in patient-involved clinical settings.”

Diversity in Nursing Warner Pacific received this grant, in part, due to the University’s success in serving students from diverse backgrounds. Warner Pacific has emerged as an institution uniquely dedicated to providing leadership skills and education to students from historically marginalized or underserved population groups. Currently, 63% of the University’s student body and 30% of faculty identify as people of color.

Diversity among health care providers can lead to higher patient satisfaction and improved communication. The ability of nursing staff to offer culturally responsive care to their patients significantly affects the quality of the health care services they are able to provide.

“Exceptional diverse nurses and nurse leaders are essential to sustaining healthy communities, families, individuals and the systems that support them,” said WPU president, Dr. Andrea P. Cook. “With the support of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Warner Pacific Nursing is positioned to improve health outcomes in Portland and beyond. We are grateful for their confidence in us and our mission.” ▪ about the murdock trust M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, created by the will of the late Melvin J. (Jack) Murdock, provides grants to nonprofit organizations in five states of the Pacific Northwest—Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington—that seek to strengthen the region’s educational, social, spiritual and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways.

New Business Programs in Finance and Human Resources Announced Warner Pacific’s new Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting develops understanding of how to prepare and interpret financial statements, create and manage budgets, measure important metrics and information, leverage assets and maximize investments. By earning this double major, graduates are prepared with the required 150 semester credits to sit for the CPA exam immediately upon graduation. Demand for alumni prepared to enter accounting careers is growing in an increasingly complex global business climate.

Through classroom instruction equipping students as ethical, confident and savvy leaders, and experiential learning through research, professional development and internship experiences, WPU graduates excel in tax and accounting positions.

The Human Resource Management major within WPU’s Business program provides the experience, training and professional connections needed for success in this growing field.

A Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management provides a comprehensive understanding of human resource functions including resource planning; recruitment, selection, placement and orientation of employees; training and career development; labor relations; and development of personnel policies and procedures for both the private and public sectors. As part of this new degree program, students will complete an internship that provides practical experience and a capstone that prepares them for HR certification through SHRM or HCRI, to align with career goals.

For more information about these programs visit warnerpacific.edu or call the admissions office at 866.330.4859. ▪

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Warner Pacific University Welcomes 10th Cadre of Act Six Scholars Warner Pacific welcomed seven emerging leaders to Cadre 10 of the University’s Act Six Leadership & Scholarship Initiative. This new cadre of scholars was selected through a rigorous three-month competition among more than 1,300 applicants.

These diverse student leaders were chosen for their commitment to serving on campus and at home, their passion for learning, their eagerness to foster intercultural relationships, and their willingness to step out of their comfort zones. act six cadre 10 students include: DJ Hernandez, Parkrose High School Loy Msafiri, Lincoln High School Jaquelyn Reyes, Gresham High School Marcos Romero Turner, Mt. Scott Center for Learning Aleathea St. Hilaire, David Douglas High School Juan Carlos Tellez Flores, De La Salle North Catholic High School Thien Tu, Reynolds High School Warner Pacific provides a full-tuition, full-need scholarship for each scholar selected. These scholarship funds are raised entirely by the University through grant awards, private contributions and events like the President’s Scholarship Luncheon. ▪

act s ix cad re 10 s c h o l a r s h i p r e c i pi e n ts 4

New School of Business Dean Named Dr. Latrissa Lee Neiworth, Assistant Professor of Business, was named Dean of Business.

Dr. Neiworth earned the Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles and holds an M.A. in Teaching and Curriculum from Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, CA. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from Oregon State University. She joined the Warner Pacific faculty in 2013 after an extensive career in public service, management, communications and journalism.

As a former first-generation student, she advocates for preparing students to effectively navigate and actively engage in a constantly changing world. With teaching expertise in business, leadership, social science and education, Neiworth is passionate about issues related to leadership, adversity and resilience that have been the focus of her research. Neiworth’s research was a featured part of the

“Barriers to Learning” session at the International Technology, Education and Development (INTED) Conference in Valencia, Spain, in March. Dr. Neiworth presented virtually on “Overcoming Barriers to Learning Through Leadership: A Conceptual Framework” to conference attendees, with her paper selected to be part of the published conference proceedings later this spring: Exploring New Frontiers in Education. Dr. Neiworth’s study sought to investigate how some women who encountered Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) were able to successfully pursue leadership development and overcome barriers to learning.

The study included interviews with 30 diverse women from various parts of the U.S. who experienced adverse childhoods and trauma. The analysis identified the emergence of positive influencers that these women shared—“foundational influencers” including champions, work support, guiders, self-support, belief systems and education—that is, teachers, classes, and reading/ self-development. The combination of these factors throughout the women’s educational development helped to lead those harmed as children to leadership roles in business, industry, government and education.

In its 13th year, INTED has become a reference event where more than 700 experts from 80 countries present their projects and share their knowledge of teaching and learning methodologies and educational innovations. Papers from the conference are included in the Web of Science (CPCI), an index of scientific and technical proceedings that includes papers from conferences in a wide range of disciplines including business, science and technology. ▪

R E L E VA N T

Cassie J.E.H. Trentaz (Associate

Dr. Luke Goble (Chair, Division of Arts

Professor of Theology, Ethics and Church History) recently published a new book, Love in a Time of Fear.

Trentaz examines the current climate of significant divisions and contemptuous public discourse seemingly fueled by fear: For those who follow a call and commitment to love our neighbors, how do we love in the midst of this fear?

Her new book looks that question in the eyes and asks her friends and neighbors in four communities currently facing pressure and often viewed with suspicion— immigrants, Muslim Americans, LGBTQ+ people and young African American men—what feels like love to them and, alternatively, what does not. Trentaz brings their honest, heartfelt responses in their own words, helping us to know people we might not know and bringing us powerful stories of offerings of love that were received as love, as well as stories of good intentions that missed their mark. She then offers us tools to help us act on what we hear. This book is both an invitation and a toolbox for listening. It takes love from a good idea to a concrete force that can speak to our fears, reach across divisions, and just might heal our world.

A parent, partner, neighbor, teacher, minister, activist, Trentaz is also author of Theology in the Age of AIDS & HIV: Complicity and Possibility (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012) and is a self-described “low-key rascal committed to inching, stumbling and leaping toward glimpses of shalom in the world today following the lead of those often excluded.”

David P. Gushee, Professor of Christian Ethics and Director of the Center for Theology and Public Life at Mercer University, and President of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Christian Ethics, in review of Love in a Time of Fear, comments: “This lovely, winsome book emerges out of the Christian college world to ask this question: What does love look like in a time of fear? The author, Professor Cassie Trentaz, is especially addressing white U.S. Christian fears—of immigrants, Muslims, LGBTQ+ persons and people of color…This is a sweet-spirited book, but also quietly devastating because the voices she features of young people on the margins, routinely harmed by Christian Americans, have such sad stories to tell. I highly recommend this book.”

The book and accompanying videos are available through Oregon publisher WIPF and Stock.

and Letters) had the opportunity to visit the San Diego/Tijuana border in December 2018 to participate in an interfaith action in support of those seeking asylum and has continued that advocacy work. He has also been developing all aspects of Warner Pacific’s recently announced tech-focused school, sourceU, including marketing and social media, student recruiting, developing plans for space, curriculum development and a grant proposal.

Robin Gordon (Associate Professor of Speech and Drama, Faculty Chair) graduated from Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute in September and completed her consultation hours to become certified as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). In December, Robin began an 8-month low-residency Executive Program in Arts and Culture Strategy through University of Pennsylvania and National Arts Strategies with an international cohort of arts and culture leaders. Her goal is to expand and integrate resilience-building strategies in arts organizations to support and sustain personal development and successful facilitation of rich and relevant public dialogue. After completing an 8-week Mindful Educator course through Peace in Schools last year, Robin now volunteers for the organization’s Teen Night. She also continues to serve the city through Free Listening, which is also a service learning project for her Public Speaking students this semester. This academic year, Robin has been curating a season of guest artist workshops and performances, bringing the city to Warner Pacific. “Finding Our Rhythm” has included a Taketina workshop with Mary Kogen (PSU Emerita) and Jacob Stein, a workshop and performance from Portland Taiko Ensemble, and a drum-making workshop with Patrick Pinson. All events have included participatory and cultural/ historical components.

on embracing the contemporary call for social work and diverse populations. Dr. Mace taught SS/SW 485: Human Trafficking this spring and engaged key leaders in the anti-trafficking community as guest speakers in this course. Some of the prominent organizations represented included Portland Police Bureau, Department of Human Services, State of Oregon, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, Office of Equity and Human Rights, City of Portland, EPIK Project, Shared Hope International, Youth Ending Slavery (YES) and World Venture. Additionally, survivors of trafficking shared their experiences and advocacy efforts. Effective for the 2018–19 academic year, Dr. Mace served as the Chair of the Faculty Professional Concerns Committee.

Prof. Derek Moyer (Interim Director of Learning Communities; Senior Adjunct Professor of Humanities) began a new role as the Interim Director of Learning Communities this year. Alongside Felita Singleton, Associate Dean of Students, he is working to expand our Transfer Learning Community (XFR) opportunities to more students and to increase collaboration between student affairs and academic affairs in the area of academic support for first-year and transfer students. Last fall, Prof. Moyer worked with Dr. Nichols, Dr. Jass and others to create a partnership with the Portland nonprofit Educate Ya to provide Spanish language training for an initial cohort of eight members of our staff and faculty in order to better serve our Spanish-speaking students and their families, and to better equip Warner Pacific to collaborate with and serve Spanish­-speaking communities.

With a group of our writing faculty alongside key staff and faculty, he worked this spring to revise our first-year reading/writing curriculum to better align with high-impact practices for reading/writing education. Prof.

Moyer has also convened a group of faculty members this spring who are working to facilitate research, best practices, facultylevel funding opportunities, and training that should inform our HSI identity moving forward.

Dr. Stephanie Mace (Assistant

Debra Penkin (Assistant Professor of

Professor of Social Work) participated in the 36th annual Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD) Conference in Jacksonville, FL in March of 2019. This conference focused

Social Work, Director of Field Education) has been engaged in numerous projects this academic year.

Penkin was one of the organizers of the 2019 Northwestern Social Work Field Education Consortium

Annual Conference, “Supporting Students: Centering Equity & Inclusion in Field Education.” Penkin co-presented a workshop called “Inclusive Communities of Care & Free Speech.” Penkin has also been a co-developer and co-presenter of a one-day workshop entitled “Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI): Tools That Work” as part of the Portland State University Child Welfare Partnership, Adoptive and Foster Family Training Program. This is an advanced training for child welfare workers to be held in Clackamas, Pendleton, Beaverton, Eugene, Medford and Salem through June 2019. Debra is a member of the Oregon TBRI Collaborative that is working closely with faculty at Texas Christian University, Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, to strengthen community building of this evidence-based intervention model.

At Warner Pacific, Penkin facilitated a workshop on “Trauma Informed Teaching” for faculty of the Professional and Graduate Studies Division in January 2019. During this academic year, Penkin has additionally presented on a variety of trauma-related topics to WPU student leaders, student mentors and an FYLC class.

Dr. Aundrea Snitker’s (Director of Assessment and Institutional Research) research was featured in the Washington Post article, “Why men need to embrace their nurturing side, including the title of ‘Mr. Mom.’” Author Billy Doidge Kilgore featured research from her recent publication (Snitker 2018) highlighting tensions between femininities and masculinities for stay-athome fathers. This academic year, Aundrea attended the Association for Assessment in Higher Learning conference in Salt Lake City, UT; represented the University at the Yes We Must Coalition’s 8th Annual Membership meeting titled “Education for the New Student Majority: Collaborations, Innovations and Strategies for Completion”; and participated in NWCCU conferences and workshops including the NWCCU Demonstration Project Summit, the NWCCU Assessment Essentials workshop, and the NWCCU Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability Workshop. In the spring semester, she presented her paper titled “In Isolation: Stay-at-home Fathers and Masculinities” at the 4th Biennial Conference on Masculinities & Gender: Research, Practice, and Community Activism to Promote Social Change at Pacific University.

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LIVING OUR MISSION

Building toward the future: WPU approves new strategic plan since 2010, Warner Pacific’s mission has included the call to prepare students from diverse backgrounds to engage actively in a constantly changing world. In order to serve students well, the University must also continue to adapt, prepare and grow.

In Fall 2018, WPU’s Board of Trustees charged the Institution with developing a new strategic plan that would set clear direction and initiatives for the University. Over the course of the academic year, the Strategic Planning Team, in partnership with Coraggio Group, reviewed more than 60 documents representing the work and projects the University has initiated over the last five years, solicited feedback from students, faculty and staff, and met to brainstorm and discuss what work will be critical for the University to undertake over the next three years.

What resulted was a 3-year rolling strategic plan that outlines Imperatives, Objectives and Initiatives set to move the University forward.

Representing a cross-section of the WPU community, the team included: Ann Chiu, Electronic Services and Instruction Librarian Andrea Cook, President Nancy Drummond, Assistant Director of Financial Aid/Professional and Graduate Studies programs Luke Goble, Chief Innovation Officer, Division Chair of Arts and Letters Eileen Hulme, Chief Acceleration Officer and Associate Vice President for Professional and Graduate Studies Enrollment Michelle Lang, Campus Pastor Mike Moreland, Board Member, Alumnus, VP for Human Resources Strategic Partners at Providence Gustavo Olvera, Instructor for Education, Acting Dean of Education Jon Sampson, Vice President for Student Life Kidesti Tadesse, Director of Admission

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To lay the foundation for effective planning, the team evaluated, affirmed and rearticulated the University vision, mission and value statements and formulated a clear statement of positioning.

vision Mission-driven leaders who change the world.

miss ion Warner Pacific University is a Christ-centered urban liberal arts college dedicated to providing students from diverse backgrounds an education that prepares them to engage actively in a constantly changing world.

values We live in an inclusive community We innovate toward experiential learning and academic relevance We engage our spiritual journey with Christ at the center We serve and care for our city and the world We cultivate curiosity, creativity and purpose

reputat ion Christ-centered Diverse and inclusive Accessible and flexible Experiential learning Career-focused

posit ion Oregon’s most diverse university and the state’s first 4-year Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) offering: Personalized attention, relational support and career-focused liberal arts education; Increased access to higher education through flexible modalities and transparent tuition

1 Enhance Market Position—To serve students well, they must know who we are and what we offer. Our work to build enrollment, engage with donors and connect with partners who support our mission serves as a foundation for everything else.

2 Innovate Models of Education Continuously and Efficiently—Whether online or in person, our delivery models and methods of enabling learning must continuously adapt to the needs of students and the opportunities around us. Our work includes creating a culture of innovation within existing programs and exploring the best new ideas to bring into the University.

3 Improve Strategic Infrastructure for the Future— The university’s technological and physical infrastructure provides the backbone for quality education. We will prioritize and upgrade systems in order to serve students, faculty and staff well.

4 Lead with Excellence in Equitable Education— WPU’s commitment to equitable, inclusive excellence in education remains a core priority. The university looks to partner closely with organizations throughout the region and develop culturally responsive teaching and service methodologies.

livi n g ou r m i s s i on

Building on these mandates and distinctives, the planning team assessed needs and resources as well as micro- and macro-environmental circumstances that influence potential growth and development. Following careful investigation and evaluation, the plan’s four initiatives set the stage for future work: For each of the imperatives and objectives, specific strategies and initiatives were also identified. These were summarized and reported to the Trustees in April of 2019.

Each of the initiatives will be assigned a guiding lead and team to manage implementation including creating processes, teams and timelines for completion. The plan engages the entire WPU community including stakeholders outside the campus.

Jon Sampson, Vice President for Student Life, offers perspective on the scope of the planning process:

As we work to implement the plan and move toward the vision outlined, I’m reminded that we’re doing all of this to empower, equip and develop mission-driven leaders who change the world. That’s true for our undergraduate students as they deeply engage in learning and contribute in areas like athletics, student leadership, and service across our city. It’s also true for our adult students who balance work, family and life to show up and engage in learning with their cohort. And it’s true for our online students who find connection and deep learning through their online discussions and as they implement what they’re learning in their workplaces and communities. We’re a part of an important mission, and it’s worth the work.”

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K N I G H T S ’ TA L E S

More than 40% of Warner Pacific students represent the University as scholar-athletes. We invite you to follow the Knights by attending athletic events to cheer for our teams, visiting wpuknights.com for the latest news and following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Warner Pacific University Signs Washington State XC Champion Amelia Pullen of Washougal High School made Warner Pacific University her college of choice by signing a national letter of intent with Warner Pacific University. Pullen won the Washington State 2A Girls Cross Country State Championships 5000m race in a personal best time of 18:04 in November 2018, beating the nearest competitor by 25 seconds in the process. She has received a number of awards, including being named the Girls All-Region Runner of the Year by the Columbian newspaper in Vancouver and the WIAA Athlete of the Week in week 9 last fall. Pullen has also had great success on the track with a personal best of 11:01 in the 3200m and a third-place finish last track season at the Washington State Championships last spring. Pullen is also a very accomplished student with a GPA of 4.0 and has been taking a challenging college curriculum in the Running Start program at Clark College in Vancouver, WA. “We really couldn’t ask for a better all-around person to sign as one of the cornerstone student-athletes for our revamped cross country and track program than Amelia Pullen,” stated Warner Pacific’s Director of Cross Country and Track & Field, Randy Dalzell. “She has been a pleasure to recruit and get to know, and we are thrilled to add her to our program!

What really stood out to me about Amelia was not just her running and great academic credentials, but also her commitment, focus and hardworking approach to everything she does. She is very goal-oriented, asked a lot of good questions in our process, and really showed that she is going to be a great student as well as a committed team member.”

Pullen is planning to major in pre-veterinary biology and plans to go on to veterinary medical school after finishing her undergraduate preparation. ▪

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CROSS COUNTRY (XC)

MEN’S SOCCER

It was a building year for Knights Cross Country, with a small band of runners competing during the fall season. Both the men’s and the women’s teams placed 8th at the Cascade Conference Championships. Top finishers for WP were Pete Frazee ’22 and Martina Avendano ’20. Prospects for the future are already looking bright under new coach Randy Dalzell, a leader who is experienced in building college programs from the ground up. He’s already made an impact by hosting the Warner Pacific XC Classic, with over 70 high school teams in attendance.

“We are getting some good interest from some very fine student-athletes with our renewed efforts to recruit and build a high-quality track and field program. It is very exciting to see [student-athletes] discover the great opportunities that are here in Portland at Warner Pacific University,” Dalzell commented. ▪

Coach Troy Ready led the Knights to an 8–9–1 record in 2019. Much progress was made in Ready’s second season, as the team scored twice as many goals as the previous year. Octavio Hermosillo ’19, a senior midfielder from Portland, was voted 2nd Team All-CCC after scoring seven goals and passing for two assists in 17 games played.

Three Knights were voted Honorable Mention All-CCC—Omar Alcazar ’20, Oscar Padilla ’20 and Javier Sanchez ’19. Adam Aristo ’19, TJ Burton ’19, Enrique Chavez ’20, Jose Ramirez ’21, Seiya Takahashi ’19 and Yo Tha ’21 were named CCC All-Academic. ▪

VOLLEYBALL The Knights volleyball team put together a competitive season under coach Nels Norquist, finishing the year with a 10–16 overall record and 8–12 mark in CCC play. Melisa Ljuca ’19, a senior from Vancouver, WA, was named 1st Team All-CCC. One of the conference’s top attackers, she finished the season in the CCC top 10 in kills per set (2nd, 3.86), and hitting percentage (8th, .287). Kealia Rosa ’19, a senior from Portland, was voted Honorable Mention All-CCC. The four-year starter for the Knights wrapped up her remarkable career averaging 9.89 assists per set—the top mark in the CCC for 2018.

She finished her career with 3630 assists, by far the most by a Knights volleyball player. Mercedes Massey ’21, Kealia Rosa ’19 and Lauren Tennyson ’19 were named CCC All-Academic. ▪

WOMEN’S SOCCER The team finished with a 3–15 record under sixth-year coach Holly Baird. The team competed well, but goals were hard to come by. Alyssa Guthrie ’22 and Mecca Krutsinger ’19 were voted Honorable Mention All-Conference by the CCC coaches.

As usual, the women players excelled in the classroom, with Briana Correa ’20, Zoey Dahme ’19, Emalee Fisher ’21, Mecca Krutsinger ’19, Joie Lopez ’20 and Alexis Smith ’19 named CCC All-Academic.

Veteran coach Josh Westermann has been selected as the new coach for 2019. Westermann has a history of success as an NAIA coach, and WP athletics is excited to see what he will accomplish. ▪

The Warner Pacific men’s wrestling team finished the 2018–19 season placing 9th at the Cascade Conference Championships. The tournament was an assemblage of powerful NAIA programs, with six of the teams in attendance ranked in the top 20. The Knights scored 20 points as a team, with six wrestlers winning at least one match. Cortez Rodelo ’22 was the top finisher for WP, winning two bouts by fall and placing 4th in the heavyweight division. Alex Ursua ’20, Zachery Sias ’21, Lucas Higginbotham ’21, Vincent Washington ’22 and Alvaro Venegas ’20 all scored points with one victory each. ▪

WOMEN’S WRESTLING The Knights continued their tradition of performing well at the WCWA National Tournament for women’s wrestling, placing 14th among the 36 teams in attendance.

Senior Kiera Gabaldon ’19 racked up team points for the Knights by placing 2nd overall. Her quest to become the first WP woman to win a national title came up short, as she lost by tech fall to Dymond Guilford from Missouri Baptist in the final. Gabaldon is now a 3-time WCWA All-American. Kaitlyn Funai ’19 also showed well at the tourney, posting three wins in the 123-lb weight class. The ladies also won the first-ever Oregon Women’s State Championship; Kiera Gabaldon ’19 (170 lbs) and Kaitlyn Funai ’19 (123 lbs) won individual titles, while Trynadii Rocha ’22 (123 lbs) and Zion-Grace Vierra ’22 (155 lbs) finished in 2nd place. ▪

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Eleven-year head coach Matt Gregg led the Knights to a CCC playoff berth with a 15–13 overall record and 11–9 mark in CCC play. WP fell in the quarterfinals at Oregon Tech.

Seniors Bailey Allen and Deepika Kapil were named Honorable

Mention All-CCC. Allen wrapped up her 4-year career at WP as the alltime leader in steals and #5 in points with 1017—the 5th player to reach 1000 points in program history.

The history of academic success continued for women’s basketball, with Kendyl Cone ’19, Deepika Kapil ’19, Mya Kirzy ’21, Darbi Pink ’20, Grace Prom ’21 and Maryah Tipping ’19 all named CCC All-Academic. ▪

MEN’S BASKETBALL The 2018–19 season for men’s basketball finished with a winning record (16-14) and a playoff berth in the CCC Tournament. The year ended with a quarterfinal loss at The College of Idaho. Collin Malcolm ’19 concluded a remarkable 4-year career at Warner Pacific with 1st Team All-CCC and 3rd Team NAIA All-American honors. His name is all over the Knight record book as he moved into the top 10 in several categories including points (6th), rebounds (2nd), 3-pointers (6th) and blocks (2nd). ▪

TRACK & FIELD In just a few short months of rebuilding under new head coach Randy Dalzell, Brittany Coleman ’20 qualified for the NAIA National meet, and numerous performances have qualified others for the CCC Championships. Coleman is among the national leaders in the triple jump. The team hoped for a good showing at the CCC Championship meet taking place on May 10–11.

See article online wpuknights.com/ news/2019/5/25/womens-track-andfield-coleman-garners-all-americanaward-in-triple-jump-for-wpu ▪

k n i ghts tales

MEN’S WRESTLING

Women’s Softball Added Warner Pacific University is adding a women’s softball program to its athletics roster this fall, with plans to begin competition in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 2019–20.

“I’m thrilled to see our athletics program continue to grow and serve the needs of a wide variety of students,” said Warner Pacific President Andrea Cook. “I believe women’s softball will provide many students new avenues in which to pursue their higher education goals while strengthening their character through the principles inherent in Knights Athletics.”

The Knights softball team will start this fall as a club sport and lay the foundation for the varsity team to begin play the following year.

Robert Cashell, Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) commissioner said, “The CCC boasts some of the best softball in the NAIA, and I am excited for more student-athletes to have the opportunity to thrive academically and athletically at WPU.” Warner Pacific University named Nathan Ohta as head coach of the softball program. Ohta began recruiting immediately to fill the roster for fall 2019, with plans to begin competition in the NAIA in spring 2020.

With over a decade of experience at the NAIA and NCAA Division III levels, Ohta’s most recent post was at George Fox University in Newberg as an assistant coach for the Bruins under Jessica Hollen for two seasons.

He helped the squad to a 55–28 record, a Northwest Conference Championship and two post-season appearances.

Ohta was the head coach at Cascade Collegiate Conference member Corban University for nine seasons and was named CCC Coach of the Year.

“We were blessed to have a good pool of quality coaches show interest in leading our new Knights softball program,” said Mike Wilson, director of athletics at Warner Pacific University. “Nathan stood out thanks to his experience in the Cascade Conference, his record of success on the field, and his Christ-centered approach. He has a genuine care for student-athletes and will help them grow in all areas of their college experience. Nathan Ohta is well-suited to grow our softball team from its infancy.”

“I want to thank Mike Wilson and the rest of the staff at Warner Pacific University for giving me the opportunity to work with them to build this softball program,” said Ohta. “I love the game of softball and am blessed to be able to continue my coaching career where I am surrounded by people whose goal is to help each athlete be the best they can be in all aspects of life. There are exciting days ahead for Warner Pacific softball, and I am excited to be a part of them.” ▪

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9

years of

KNIGHTS ATHLETICS

1999

2006

After an eight-year hiatus, Warner Pacific relaunches intercollegiate athletics under the leadership of alumnus Bart Valentine. Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Men’s Soccer and Volleyball begin competition.

The Knights logo and identity is updated. Coach Valentine guides the men’s basketball team to their first-ever CCC Championship and NAIA National Tournament appearance. The Knights finish the season with a 24–9 record.

2001 WP alum Glenn Rogers is tapped to lead a new Knights Women’s Soccer team. Olympian Katy Steding is named head women’s basketball coach, leading the Lady Knights to two NAIA Championship Tourneys (2004, 2006) and a CCC Championship (2006).

2000 Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field are added under coach Dave Lee, who leads the programs for 10 years.

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2009 Longtime coach Bernie Fagan leads the WP Men’s Soccer team to their first (and only) CCC Title, defeating archrival Concordia in the championship game in a penalty shootout.

2011

2013

2019

Bart Valentine retires as head coach after 12 seasons. The Knights qualified for the NAIA National Tournament 6 times under his leadership. Warner Pacific names the floor at CC Perry Gym “Bart Valentine Court.” His son, Jared, takes over as head coach.

The athletic logo is modified with a secondary logo elevated to the primary mark, and the sword-wielding Knight is phased out. The college begins informal discussions about appropriate imagery and branding as WPC moves into the future.

Knights are rebranded as WP athletics reaches 20 years since being reestablished on campus.

2012

2014

2018

Knights volleyball qualifies for the CCC Tournament for the first time.

Nels Norquist leads the team to a 15–12 record.

Bernie Fagan retires after 26 seasons at Warner Pacific. His career record is 264–195–38.

Women’s Softball added to sport offerings, with intercollegiate play to begin in spring of 2020. Nathan Ohta is selected as head coach.

WP Men’s Basketball wins their 2nd CCC Championship and 3rd CCC Tournament title. Knights Hall of Honor is established.

Brent Goulet (soccer) and Glenna (LaFont) Collier are inducted.

Men’s and Women’s Wrestling are added to the sports offerings at WP. Coach Frank Johnson is selected as head coach. The Knights experience immediate success with Blake Cooper winning the NAIA National Championship in 2016 (165 lbs).

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F E AT U R E

Following is an article adapted from The International Journal of Urban Transformation (IJUT), a bi-annual academic journal dedicated to scholarly investigation and research, and analysis of urban issues and trends affecting best practices in urban missiology and applicable in the areas of the world, not least among the urban poor. As such, this journal is a forum for the exchange of ideas and research between urban missiologists and practitioners who are interested in advancing the Kingdom of God.

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The Urban Church as fair-weather friend? f r o m w h i t e f l i g h t t o g e n t r i f i c at i o n

Lloyd Chia Associate Professor Warner Pacific University

D

uring the era of suburbanization and white flight, many urban churches followed their affluent white constituents out to the suburbs in the name of needing “more space” afforded by the pristine suburbs. This flight to the suburbs propelled the megachurch movement of the ’70s and ’80s. The impact of urban churches’ withdrawal from urban communities that needed them most during this time of demographic and geographic transition created a socioeconomic and missiological disinvestment in urban centers.

Churches seem to be “following the money” back into urban areas through hip new urban church plants. While many of these churches are motivated by a desire to love the city, they are ironically perceived as being part of the gentrifying process that is displacing minorities and transforming neighborhoods, marked by a reverse white flight back to the city centers.

The current era of gentrification mirrors the earlier era of white flight.

In both eras, the urban church acted like a fair-weather friend: leaving the city when the going got tough and coming back when conditions became favorable. These patterns shed light on why minority communities are skeptical and even resistant toward these new urban church plants.

Ultimately, both movements (suburbanization and gentrification) reinforced socioeconomic and racial divides in cities today. Whether intentionally or not, the urban church exacerbated those divides instead of bridging them.

While this essay stems from Associate Professor Lloyd Chia’s research regarding the urban church, its themes resonate with the history of Warner Pacific University. Only a dozen years ago, the University’s board considered a move of the campus to a suburban environment. Properties in Vancouver, Boring and Newberg were investigated as part of the concept to reimagine the campus. However, after careful and prayerful study, the decision to remain at 68th and Division Street in Portland monumentally transformed Warner Pacific into the University we are today.

Living into our commitment and placement in urban Portland continues to shape our programs, community, outreach and values.

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F E AT U R E

Leaving when the going gets tough: the megachurch movement in the era of white flight

Megachurches as a suburban reality The era of white flight happened in conjunction with the momentum of the megachurch movement that started in the 1950s and ’60s and accelerated in the ’70s and ’80s. It was not just white people who were leaving city centers; churches were too. Moreover, these movements reinforced each other.

The post–World War II years provided a golden opportunity for racial integration that America missed.

As African Americans moved into cities in search of the American dream, white residents moved out in response.

From the 1940s to the 1970s, the pattern of wealthy white people leaving the city centers was replicated in major urban centers across the U.S. It was not just about race. Economic shifts rendered many traditional urban cores stripped of their import as corporations and factories shifted outward toward the suburbs. Downtown Detroit was a thriving city center until the auto industry spread out its operations to the suburbs, depleting a once multicultural metropolis of jobs and affluent whites who followed those jobs out to the suburbs. At its peak in the 1950s, Detroit had a population of 1.8 million; by 2010, that number had dwindled to 700,000. African Americans made up most of Detroit’s population. As whites left, so did churches.

Megachurches are emphatically a suburban reality.

As Hartford Seminary sociologist Scott Thumma notes: Nearly all megachurches are to be found in the suburbs of large cities located prominently on highly visible tracts of land. They are generally near the expanding edges of the city, within easy access from major highways, and quite often in the immediate proximity of other megachurches…these suburban areas offer expansive, less expensive plots of land suitable for acres of parking lots and the multiple buildings that are needed to support a congregation of several thousand. (Thumma, 2007) The white middle-class appeal of megachurches The megachurch movement birthed multimilliondollar construction projects that produced sprawling church complexes housing sanctuaries, spaces for coffee shops, gymnasiums, childcare centers, indoor basketball courts and a host of facilities that effectively turned megachurches into their own self-sustaining ecosystems.

The proof was in the pudding that these churches catered to a narrow demographic of people: white suburban middle-class. Evangelical suburbanization was a cultural, not just demographic phenomenon, providing a perfect belief system for suburbia. Megachurches became “guardians of family values” and provided a “de facto community center” with child-friendly amenities [and] extensive programming. (Luhr, 2009)

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“That suburban churches mirrored their demographic base affirms how white-flight churches served as refuges for the middle class.” (Bradley, 2010) The homogenous unit principle (HUP) espoused by church-growth gurus in the 1970s, like C. Peter Wagner and Donald A. McGavran, fueled the church growth movement, “which caught fire and gave way to the megachurch landscape, single-ethnic congregations and churches catering to a specific economic class—and it established the massive evangelical base we know today.” (Lee, 2015) The impact of the evangelical urban exile Soberingly enough, flight was not the initial response to a diversifying urban core when minorities started moving in, it was to fight. In Shades of White Flight, sociologist Mark Mulder accounts for how white residents in the Chicago area initially resisted minority migration by a variety of tactics, including informal mechanisms of hostility and intimidation, as well as formal mechanisms of exclusion like zoning and redlining. When that did not work, white residents began to leave their homes, churches and even their children’s schools, transplanting them to the suburbs.

(Mulder, 2015) It looked very much like urban churches were following their wealthy white congregants out into the suburbs even as urban centers were bled of their population and sustaining tax base. Whatever the intent, this shift contributed to the socioeconomic and racial divisions in the American church, as the suburban megachurch became an established institution in America’s congregational life. “Congregations were conspirators in the racial transition that left a legacy of deeply entrenched segregation.” (Mulder, 2015: 73) American Christians were racially and spatially divided by faith. (Emerson and Smith, 2001) Megachurches successfully forged their own ethno-exclusive space, but perhaps by design, they were disconnected from the urban core where the socioeconomic hurt was being felt in the aftermath of their departure. Megachurches were effectively “the religious version of the gated community.” (New York Times, 2002) In an alternate reality, urban churches could have embraced minorities and opted to stay and reaffirm their commitment to the city. Instead they abstained and simply moved to greener pastures. Perhaps they did not have the sociological hindsight to see the deeper significance of moving en masse to the suburbs, but this does not lessen the impact of this move. Mark Mulder provides a striking example of how Caucasian Christian Reformed Churches (CRC) that ran local schools through their parishes resisted the attempt of black residents to integrate into their schools. When one school was faced with a lawsuit and eventually court injunction to desegregate, the response of the school was to sell its

The fair-weather friend returns: urban churches in the era of gentrification The gospel of gentrification Gentrification is a vehemently debated process of neighborhood transformation that typically happens in conjunction with urban renewal. Not only does the city center make a comeback, but so do white people. As traditional urban cores become hip and economically viable, both businesses and affluent white and whitecollar people return.

During my six-year tenure as a professor in Michigan, I brought students on multiple study trips to Chicago’s gentrifying neighborhoods. Pilsen is a predominantly Latino neighborhood we visited every year. Affluent professionals and young families are moving into the neighborhood, making it hard for the working-class Latino population to afford rent. During my last field trip to Pilsen in 2017, I observed a marked increase in the number of coffee shops, young urban professionals, and luxury cars parked on the streets—a stark contrast with my first field trip there in 2011. I also attended a church plant in another heavily gentrified neighborhood of Chicago called Bridgeport. This was a relatively new plant that came from a multi-site, multi-congregation church consisting mostly of middle- to upper-middleclass people. As gentrification brings new people, it also brings new churches.

In a 2017 Sojourners article, Portland native D.L. Mayfield authored a self-reflective critique of how churches were making a comeback into city centers. She reflects on the “benevolent fatalism” and inadequate missiology around gentrification: It will happen regardless of what we do. Therefore, love God, and love people, and try not to feel too bad. (Mayfield, 2017: 18)

As gentrification unfolds in America’s urban centers, it’s important for church “planters” to consider the earlier era of white flight. Are there similarities between suburbanization that brought forth the ubiquitous megachurch, and the present era of gentrification birthing a swath of new urban church plants? Are they in fact related movements?

Urban churches appeal to new residents While many urban church plants are motivated to do justice, Mayfield points out how they often come only after an area has already been heavily gentrified.

Essentially, they are following the same clientele that brought them out to the suburbs in the era of white flight. (Mayfield, 2017) Hofstra sociologist Richard Cimino makes a similar observation. He distinguishes between different niches that urban church plants carve in a gentrified environment. What he terms “lifestyle enclaves” are founded expressly to minister to new residents. Just like the example of the Detroit church, these urban ministries are intentionally planted from and often funded by outside networks and larger organizations. “These congregations intentionally draw from a particular demographic and lifestyle strata comprised mainly of young (18–34), educated, white middle-class or upper-class students and professionals often working in the arts and creative services.” (Cimino, 2011: 167) The problem is that most of these are new residents, and not the residents who have been in place since the earlier era of white flight. Cimino notes that “lifestyle enclave” urban churches have the most apparent success in a gentrified neighborhood because their function and form often bear a close affinity with the mindsets and social patterns of new residents. (Cimino, 2011: 175) One of the effects of gentrification is the intense feeling of alienation and exclusion from one’s own neighborhood when new neighbors treat long-term residents as outsiders. In Portland, long-term African American residents in the predominantly black Albina neighborhood felt alienated from their own neighborhood as new cultural institutions in the neighborhood prioritized day care centers for dogs, bicycle repair shops for Portland’s “critical mass” of environmental commuters, and had a bevy of wine bars, coffee shops and vegan restaurants to cater to the newcomers. (Drew, 2011: 3) Moreover, heavily gentrified neighborhoods in many communities of color are seeing historically black churches shutter due to low attendance.

(The Atlantic, 2012) Urban church plants are thus part of the same wave of new cultural institutions supplanting what was there before. In the case of Portland, African American residents perceived urban renewal to be a priority only when white people started moving in. Perhaps church

In an alternate reality, urban churches could have embraced minorities and opted to stay and reaffirm their commitment to the city. Instead they abstained and simply moved to greener pastures.

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t he u r b an chu r ch as fai r -weat her f r i en d

facilities and instead move to a white neighborhood.

(Mulder, 2015) White flight and the movement to the suburbs should be understood as a resource disinvestment by urban churches that exacerbated the effects on urban communities. (Gibson, 2007) Whereas economic disinvestment is the systemic withdrawal of investment from the built environment leading to neighborhood decline (Gibson, 2007: 4), the urban churches’ withdrawal from the city was a missiological disinvestment in the built-up environment and the people therein.

Without saying as much, evangelicals were in effect communicating, “The city isn’t worth our time and effort anymore; we have greener pastures in suburbia, and God seems to be calling us there.”

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F E AT U R E

planters need to critically reflect on what their presence in the area means, and what it looks like for them to be making a comeback to the city along with the new cadre of wealthy whites. Church plants also need to consider the “negative disruptions that these moves can make in the existing community.” (Mayfield, 2017) and how “well-meaning, missionary-minded activity can create resentment among residents and churches who have lived and carried out ministry in these neighborhoods for decades.” (Ministry Matters, 2016)

Churches are often eager to enter into new urban markets to effect positive social change: Terms such as “redeem” or “love” the city are Christian-speak for such noble aspirations.

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Urban church as fair-weather friend AND white-savior Not only do urban churches act like fair-weather friends who return when good times come back around, they also behave like white-saviors swooping in to save the day. Churches are often eager to enter into new urban markets to effect positive social change: Terms such as “redeem” or “love” the city are Christian-speak for such noble aspirations. This conveniently puts them in the benefactor position with something important to offer the downtrodden “other” in the city. Bielo notes how “the otherness of the city…fuels its attractiveness.

Cities were, in effect, the steepest hill to climb for Christ, redemptive for Christian believers as much as for their missionized targets.” (Bielo, 2011: 14) As opposed to suburban white-flight Christians who felt God calling them to the suburbs, white inflight Christians who feel called back into cities “often have paternalistic visions of bringing redemption to the poor little brown natives who currently inhabit neighborhoods with houses needing renovation. And their inflated hipster egos portray the city as a place that needs them desperately.” (Bradley, 2010) This has the effect of reinforcing racist notions about the helplessness of minorities “ill-equipped to respond to the problems affecting their community.” This leads in-flight Christians to conclude that they know best how to solve the problems faced by the city, especially since they have God on their side. The problem is, these newcomers “know less about the communities, especially from a historical perspective, than long-term residents.” (Scott, 2015) Their best intentions are undermined by who they are and the perceived threat that they represent to communities vulnerable to gentrification.

Existing residents may feel that these new church plants care more about their own Christian agenda than they do about justice for existing residents and people who are living through pressures of rising rents and less-friendly neighbors. They may be treated with the same suspicion as companies who have made deliberate attempts to put gentrification into overdrive by “cleaning up the neighborhood.” (Wall Street Journal, 2013) Just as these companies were self-serving in their intentions, urban church plants are judged through the same lens of being driven by an ulterior white-savior agenda that

does not consider the well-being of existing residents, especially people of color.

Conclusion: White flight and in flight as two sides of the same coin In-flight Christians in the age of gentrification are judged through the lens of the earlier era of suburbanization and white flight. Those pieces are intricately connected even though they are often discussed separately. The earlier era of white flight that birthed the suburban megachurch was a precursor for the current era of gentrification. When whites left for suburbia and their churches disinvested in the city, remaining residents “used their resilience, ingenuity and resourcefulness to create new businesses, raise families and make art in places that wealth had fled.”

(Ministry Matters, 2015) Now that cities are making a comeback, both urban developers and churches are making a strategic reinvestment in the urban areas, leading to some well-publicized resistance to new urban church plants.

Another way to tie suburbanization and gentrification together is to see both as the white monopolization of space. While whites can exit and enter areas according to conditions that suit them, non-whites are either “left behind” or “pushed out.” Both suburbanization and gentrification have the impact of concentrating minorities and the lower classes in undesirable regions or pushing them out from desirable ones.

These undesirable regions shift and change with time, forcing non-whites in and out of certain areas, hence maintaining geographic racialization. (Curtin, 2016) Churches are complicit in this process: During suburbanization, white-flight churches served as a refuge for the racially homogeneous middle class. During this current era of gentrification, white in-flight churches are destinations for formerly suburban young evangelicals fleeing Walmart and Target country only to bring Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, organic coffee shops and organic grocery stores to “da hood.” (Bradley, 2010) In reaction to a megachurch announcing plans to set up a plant in the inner city, a pastor of a Birmingham, Alabama, church put up a sign declaring, “Black folks need to stay out of white churches”; the flip side said, “White folks refused to be our neighbors.” When interviewed, the Rev. Michael R. Jordan explained: “Because of white flight and societal change where whites left the city, they did not want to be our neighbors, did not want their kids to go to school with our children… they left the churches too. They

DR. LLOYD CHIA is associate professor of social work at Warner Pacific University. He earned a Ph.D. in Sociology at University of Missouri in 2010. Dr. Chia earned a Master in Sociology degree and bachelor’s degrees in history and sociology at National University of Singapore. This year, Warner Pacific students voted Dr. Chia as

This gets to the heart of how the urban church is perceived as a fair-weather friend: leaving during difficult times and coming back around during this new era of urban revitalization. Perhaps it is time for urban churches to consider how to “slow, stop or even turn back the negative effects of demographic change” and to be a stabilization factor in communities by being intentionally multicultural without reverting “back to the homogeneity of people who can afford to live there.” (Solomon, 2017) ▪

recipient of the Faculty Commitment to Diversity Award, presented to a faculty member who demonstrates great commitment to diversity on and off campus by participating in multicultural education and programs, equitable campus culture, community collaborations, and social justice and action.

Further discussion Dr. Chia writes: Perhaps church planters need to critically reflect on what their presence in the area means, and what it looks like for them to be making a comeback to the city along with the new cadre of wealthy whites.

Why would a megachurch choose to move back to the city? How do motivations play out when it comes to advancing the Kingdom of God?

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sold the churches to us. White folks don’t want to be our neighbors. If you don’t want to be our neighbor, why do you feel comfortable putting a white church in the inner city?” (Alabama Living, 2018)

Sometimes we hear of a person or group having “the best of intentions.”

Do good intentions justify outcomes? Why or why not?

How might a church located in an urban setting demonstrate love and presence in its community?

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ALUMNI NEWS

Barri Horner ’03

2001

in tribute to our classmates

Portland Christian Elementary School has selected Robert Bouslaugh ’01 to be their new principal. He will begin this assignment in July. Robert earned a degree in Christian Ministries from Warner Pacific, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Concordia University, and his Administrative License from Portland State University. He has been an educator for the last 13 years—teacher, student support specialist, instructional coach, administrator and principal. Robert has experience and enthusiasm implementing innovative curricula, creating community partnerships and relationships, furthering teacher competence, inspiring others to lead passionate Christ-filled lives, and establishing twenty-first-century learning environments. Robert is married to Megan Christensen ’99 Bouslaugh; they have two children.

Waldean (Porterfield) Hemenway ’47, April 13, 2019. She was born in Ontario, CA on December 7, 1924. In 1945, she married Robert L. Hemenway ’47, who predeceased her in 2009. She was the beloved mother of Craig Hemenway ’81, Candace Didier ’86 and Claudia Hemenway ’71; motherin-law of Penny Hemenway, who provided loving care; grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, pastor’s wife and friend. Waldean lit up a room with her smile, good will to all, faith in God, beautiful voice and friendship with all who met her.

2003 Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW) announced the promotion of Barri Horner ’03 to Fiscal Director. In her new role, Barri will provide fiscal oversight for the organization and will manage account, reporting and budgetary operations. She joined WSW in 2009 and ensures the organization meets the fiscal deadlines and processes of grantors and regulatory agencies.

Barri holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Warner Pacific and is completing coursework for a Master of Science in Accounting from Grand Canyon University.

2011

Thomas Higgins ’11 and Maria Picone

Thomas Higgins ’11 and Maria Picone were joined in marriage on August 10, 2018 at the Sandelie Golf Course in Wilsonville, OR. Maria is employed as a nutritionist by VC Nutrition and as a manager at Black Rock Coffee. Thomas is owner of VC Crossfit in Portland.

2 0 17 Adam Westfall ’17 has earned his certification to be a sports agent. He will be recruiting basketball athletes to play for international professional leagues.

Adam Westfall ’17

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Elizabeth “Bettie” (Rowden) Baker ’49, April 29, 2019. Bettie lived to the age of 92. Her husband, Rev. Howard Baker ’52, predeceased her in 2005.

Bettie was a devoted pastor’s wife and the loving mother of three children: John Baker ’68, Janet (Baker ’71) Van Donge, and Joanne (Baker ’71), who is married to Richard MacLean ’73. Bettie earned a B.A. degree and had a career as an elementary school teacher.

Mary Jeannine (Martin ’55) Phillips, January 4, 2019. Mary was born in Oxford, AR on February 17, 1934; her family later moved to Wenatchee, WA. Jeannine moved to Portland to attend Pacific Bible College, now Warner Pacific University, where she met her husband, Jerry Phillips ’57 (deceased November 2018). Jeannine and Jerry were married in 1954 and celebrated 64 years of marriage. They were blessed with four children: Sherri (Phillips) Bratton ’81 (deceased 2012), Teresa (Phillips) Hornback ’79, David and Mark (deceased shortly after birth in 1962); seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Jeannine and Jerry’s ministry began in 1957 and took them to California, Washington, Kansas, and Alabama. Jeannine worked with children and youth, led music worship and sang in the choir and as a soloist.

She later became a dental assistant and worked for an oral surgeon. Jeannine and Jerry retired in Montesano, WA. Lola (Willard) Bixler ’57, April 22, 2019. Lola married Robert C. Bixler ’57 on July 5, 1956 in West Plains, MO. Their Honeymoon was a trip to Portland, OR to attend Pacific Bible College (now Warner Pacific University). Their next move was to Southern California and being active in the Churches of God, including planting a church in Hesperia, CA. Throughout her life, Lola made

Jerry Paul Phillips ’57, November 12, 2018. He was born on July 23, 1935 in Sand Springs, OK and grew up in Los Angeles, CA. Jerry graduated from Pacific Bible College, now Warner Pacific University, in 1957 with a degree in Theology. Jerry became an ordained minister in 1957 and, as well as pastoring churches in several states, he also served on the Board of Trustees for Warner Pacific College (now University) and was the District Pastor for Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.

Jerry had the blessing of performing the marriages of three of his children as well as two of his grandchildren.

Lee Bratcher ’59, March 1, 2019. Lee was born in Fort Riley, KS on February 6, 1930. He married Jenny McCollum on September 23, 1950; she passed away in August 1988. They had two children, Michael and Shawn. Lee served in the Korean War aboard the USS Southerland as a seaman first class and on the USS Dixie, where he learned a trade as lithographic pressman. After his discharge from the Navy, Lee and Jenny moved to Portland, where he attended Pacific Bible College, now Warner Pacific University. He was a member of Church of God and United Presbyterian churches. Lee worked as a graphic arts printer for 40 years in the Portland area. He enjoyed collecting old books, book binding, perfecting the art of gold gilding, chess, theological discussions and singing. Lee was preceded in death by two other wives, Loralyn Thomas and Mary Ann Nehls. He is survived by sister, Kathleen Bratcher; son, Michael (Candace Fritzler ’81 Bratcher); daughter Shawn Nevin (Dan); grandchildren Travis Nevin (Michelle), David Nevin, Jay Nevin, Cole Bratcher (Luz), Jameson Bratcher (Blaze), Jocelyn Bratcher ’15; two greatgrandsons and many nieces and nephews.

Dale F. Monroe ’70, April 9, 2019. After a four-year cancer battle, Dale passed away at his residence in Portland, OR in the presence of his sons and wife.

Dale was born to Warner and Mildred Monroe in Portland, OR on January 27, 1948. Warner Monroe served the University as a professor for many years. Dale graduated from Warner Pacific in 1970 with a major in Bible. He married alumna, Monica Palmer ’69 on September 14, 1968. He is survived by his wife of 50 years and two sons, Matthew and Bart Monroe (wife Kristin), and three grandchildren: Maverick, Quentin and Alex.

As a student at Warner Pacific, Dale loved music, playing in band and singing in choir. As a retiree, he returned to campus and played with the wind ensemble, and studied music theory and history of religion. He attempted playing with the jazz ensemble and added that to his newfound skill.

He was passionately supportive of the Act Six Scholars program and enjoyed attending college sports events. He was employed for over 20 years with Tri Met in Portland, OR, driving buses and MAX Light Rail. He was friendly to passengers, and showed compassion to underprivileged and physically challenged passengers. Dale was creative with his hands and mind. He would attempt to repair anything and helped others with similar tasks. He carried that skill into the rental property that he and Monica chose to own and manage. Some describe him as inventive. He also loved the beauty of nature and spent many days camping, hiking and exploring the wonders of God’s creation. A service to honor him will be held on Friday, July 12th at 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Scott Church in Portland, OR. Memorial gifts should be directed to the Nursing Simulation Lab at Warner Pacific University.

Stephanie A. (Martin ’83) Fernow, November 6, 2018. Stephanie was born on July 25, 1960. While she was a student at Warner Pacific College (now University), she was an RA, on the Homecoming Court and also awarded as an Outstanding Business Student. Stephanie worked at U.S. Bank, Nike Preschool, and Title IA Kindergarten. She was also a missionary in the Cayman Islands, where she taught preschool and high school business classes. Stephanie served as youth pastor as well as a children’s pastor at several churches.

Stephanie is survived by her husband, Jonathan Fernow ’82, and two sons, Jonathan and David.

alu m n i n ews

Children’s Ministry and Women’s Ministry a priority. She took great delight in guiding the Bible studies for the women of her local church. At the same time, she and Bob were faithful supporters of missionaries in Asia, Africa and South America.

Bob and Lola are the parents of David Bixler, John Bixler, Patricia Whetsel, Linda Agnola, Janet Weeks and Mary O’Brien, and grandparents of 14 grandchildren. Lola is remembered with thanksgiving for her gentle voice and love for family and friends.

Dale F. Monroe ’70

What’s going on with you?

WPU alumna and Director of Alumni Relations Stephanie Harvey wants to hear the scoop about you: marriages, new jobs, professional recognition, service awards, accomplishments, updates. send your latest news to warnerpacific.edu/about/alumni

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HAPPENINGS

Spring 2019

COMMENCEMENT

More than 1700 guests including families and friends, in addition to WPU faculty and staff, gathered at New Hope Church on Sunday, May 12 for the 80th commencement exercises of Warner Pacific University. Associate degrees were awarded to nine students; bachelor’s degrees were conferred on 145 graduates; and master’s degrees were awarded to 14 graduates across all disciplines and academic programs.

The Class of 2019 reflected the broad diversity of Warner Pacific’s student population. Sharyce Matayoshi from Honolulu, HI, in celebration with Kimberly Love, Retention and Student Success Manager at WPU, donned not only her cap and gown but also leis, bouquets and a red rose-laden headpiece. Approximately 10% of Warner Pacific University students represent PacRim nations and cultures.

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Luis A. Rivas Vasquez ’19, a Biological Science major from Beaverton, OR, spoke at this year’s commencement representing undergraduate students. “From my very first experience, I felt welcomed, wanted and cared for by the Warner Pacific community,” Luis related. “This community instilled in me a true sense of hope for my future, and I knew that by attending Warner, I would become a part of something remarkable.” Vasquez spoke of his journey at Warner Pacific.

As the first in his family to attend college, he spoke to the occasional discomfort while adjusting to new surroundings and experiences: “The community I found at Warner Pacific gave me the space to ask for help when I needed it and share the true realities of my life without ever having to fear being ridiculed or made out to be ‘less than.’ Although I very much appreciated being able to celebrate the good moments in my life with those around me, it was knowing and having a community that would walk with me through my darkest and ugliest of days that made me feel the most loved and cared about.” To his classmates, he offered this challenge: “Although we are now graduates and alumni of Warner Pacific University, we will forever be [Knights]. And through our time at Warner Pacific, we have been armed with a shield of faith, a sword of knowledge, and clothed in an armor of love.

To this end, let us charge into the world as we remember to utilize the knowledge we have learned, the strengths we have sharpened, and engage in a pursuit that is greater than something we could ever imagine possible. Take the time to reflect on the power of love that has transformed your life throughout your college career and allow it to serve as a foundation for the rest of our lives.” ▪

hap p en i n gs

Annual President’s Luncheon Supports Student Scholarships

Guests attending the 2019 President’s Luncheon had the opportunity to interact with WPU students who provided firsthand examples of what their giving investments accomplish each year.

Sebe Kan Youth African Dancers, coached by WPU alumna Dana Shephard ’14 provided lively entertainment.

Jacques Montgomery ’14, an Act Six alumnus, spoke about his Warner Pacific experience to a full crowd in McGuire Auditorium.

At this year’s President’s Luncheon, more than $100,000 was raised by auction to support student scholarships. ▪

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PARTNERS WITH PORTLAND

In the City, for the City Award Presented

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in the fall of 2008, Reverend Doctor T. Allen Bethel, then a member of the WPU Board of Trustees and pastor of Maranatha Church in Northeast Portland, spoke at our opening convocation and challenged Warner Pacific to accept the dare to be a college that loved and engaged our city. “He called us to lead in Portland for the sake of providing education to those often underserved by higher education. We accepted that challenge and for more than 10 years have been leaning into this work by being ‘In the City, for the City,’” President Cook reminded the annual President’s Luncheon audience.

In honor of that challenge and our commitment, WPU began giving the “In the City, for the City” award at the annual event to individuals or organizations that are also doing the work of overcoming disparities in our city for the sake of making this a better place for all people.

The 2019 recipient is Portland Leadership Foundation.

Ten years ago, Ben Sand and Anthony Jordan conceived of establishing an organization that would focus on addressing systemic issues in the city of Portland. Prior to this, they had started the Act Six Leadership and Scholarship Initiative program through Portland Central Young Life. Still, they saw the possibilities of something bigger and more comprehensive when thinking about issues related to existing disparities and the need for spiritual and social renewal of this city.

The answer to that need was the launching of the Portland Leadership Foundation.

Portland Leadership Foundation’s Mission is to strengthen and develop leadership for the spiritual and social renewal of Portland, Oregon.

PLF envisions strengthening a just

community through the development of multicultural leaders and the transformation of government and service organizations. They serve marginalized individuals and families who live in the Portland metro area.

They work with diverse leaders, faith communities, and other Oregonians working toward the common good.

PLF’s work across the city and around the state has grown from that first offering of Act Six to now include eight major initiatives that run the gamut from Champions Academy, which works with children to address summer learning loss, to Embrace Oregon and Every Child, focusing on our most vulnerable children in the state and foster care, to the Young Fellowship and Emerging Leaders Internship program, with energy placed on leadership development and career pathways to leadership for underrepresented students, to the Center for Communities to build capacity in nonprofits, to scholarship initiatives like Ready to Rise, Act Six and City Builders.

President Cook commented at the President’s Luncheon: “At the time that PLF was forming, Warner Pacific University was beginning to shape its role and purpose in a similar stream.

How would we as a Christ-centered urban liberal arts university embrace our purpose of preparing students from diverse backgrounds to engage actively in a constantly changing world? The synergy between Portland Leadership Foundation and Warner Pacific has been powerful; we have partnered and worked together on many initiatives. As Warner Pacific was beginning to own our urban identity in significant ways, PLF embedded with us to facilitate our process of understanding how we could become who we are and do what we’re doing today.”

The first “In the City, for the City” award was presented in 2018 to KairosPDX, a nonprofit organization focused on delivering excellent equitable education to underserved children, their families and their communities. ▪

to address the growing field of classroom paraprofessionals, Warner Pacific University has teamed with the Centennial, David Douglas, Gresham-Barlow, Parkrose and Reynolds School Districts to provide a new pathway for paraprofessional educators to obtain a degree in education.

Paraprofessionals are generally nonteaching assistants who support teachers and students by tutoring, giving additional personal attention, providing instruction in labs and media centers, and enhancing library use proficiencies. They may organize student and parent events and assist with language translation for non–Englishspeaking families. Often, these aides provide additional support for students with special needs or physical challenges.

A bachelor’s degree elevates the knowledge and employability of those interested in pursuing classroom teaching positions, offering professional advancement and commensurate income enhancement while at the same time addressing the need for a diversified teaching and culturally responsive workforce.

The B.S. in Education program will be offered at the David Douglas School District Office in Portland and at Springwater Trail High School in Gresham. Other degree programs, such as the MAT, will be offered at other WPU campus locations.

Students who have completed an associate’s degree may enter the B.S.

part n e r s wi t h p ort lan d

Warner Pacific serves local school districts with Paraprofessional Educator Degree

in Education program and begin their bachelor’s degree course work. Students without the prerequisite may complete their associate’s degree online or in the classroom through the University’s Professional and Graduate Studies program. Federal and state aid opportunities apply to this program. ▪ To explore your interest in this program, visit warnerpacific.edu or call 503.517.1323

WPU announces partnership with Latino Network president andrea cook announced that Warner Pacific University (WPU) and Latino Network have agreed to partner in providing mutual and collaborative opportunities to students, families and employees of both organizations. The goal of this partnership is to expand services and support for Latinx WPU students and their families and to provide access to educational opportunities for employees and students of Latino Network.

Latino Network was founded in 1996 by community leaders who grew concerned about the lack of adequate resources to meet the needs of the growing Latino community.

A Latino-led education organization, grounded in culturally specific practices and services, Latino Network lifts up youth and families to reach their full potential. Their work springs from the core belief in Latino community self-determination; that is, the ability of community members to participate meaningfully in the decisions that affect

their lives and the lives of their families.

Since their founding, Latino Network has evolved to become an organization that also encompasses transformational programs aimed at educating and empowering Multnomah County Latinos.

Low achievement scores, youth violence and high dropout rates undermine the Latino community’s potential. The organization addresses these issues by promoting early literacy, encouraging parent involvement, working with ganginvolved and adjudicated youth and families, providing academic support and activities to high school–aged youth, and building leadership capacity for youth and adults.

WPU desires to provide enhanced culturally specific and culturally responsive education, support and services to Latinx students and their families. Currently, the WPU traditional undergraduate student population

identifies as 35% Hispanic/Latinx and 63% students of color overall. The University desires to explore with intentions to assess, collaborate and implement programming offered by Latino Network, such as Colegio de Padres and Civic Engagement & Leadership opportunities. WPU will provide services related to college preparation, admission, financial aid, enrollment, student life, and payment for Latino Network employees and/or students wishing to pursue academic credit through the programs offered through this agreement, and will provide students services related to academic advising, academic support and student success normally available to students enrolled in programs at WPU. Of particular note is WPU’s program for paraprofessional educators designed to increase the pool of diverse teachers by training new teachers or equipping inservice teachers through cooperative academic programs. ▪

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PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

Looking ahead

T

he spirit of momentum at Warner Pacific University this year is palpable. I’m blessed each day to see how WPU faculty, students and thousands of alumni engage to strengthen our community, create new occasions for outreach and offer hope to hundreds of new students on our campuses and throughout our community. Our faculty members are creating and re-creating programs to offer students of all ages new opportunities for learning. Our long-range planning team is actively creating strategies for the coming years based on our time-honored mission and values. We’re expanding online programs to make a WPU education more accessible to more people, particularly working professionals. You can see evidence of change and growth all around—from our new nursing labs to our new Knights logo. Even the fresh look of this magazine is a signal of progress.

Still, this work comes with significant challenges. And, as I look to the possibilities for Warner Pacific University and our road ahead, I am both humbled and energized.

Eugene Peterson, a remarkable teacher, advocate for justice and Bible scholar who passed away last year, paraphrased the letter of Paul to the Church at Phillipi in The Message. I relate to this passage in verses 12 to 14 of chapter three:

Looking back, it is encouraging to see how God has led us, but I’d like also to use this occasion to look forward. This year, we’ve launched new programs in finance, human resources, criminal justice, nursing and education and opened a new school of technology in central Portland. sourceU is a cooperative effort with Portland’s top code school, Epicodus, and the innovative team of cybersecurity professionals and educators at Riperia to offer programs in cybersecurity, mobile and web development, and digital product design. Our aim is to offer an exceptional education to students whose opportunities in these growing fields have been limited at best. We’re thrilled to open windows and doors to students online and on-ground, helping them achieve goals and bright futures. These investments undergird our commitment as a Christ-centered university to transform lives not only by strengthening the minds of women and men through rigorous study, but also through everyday encounters expressing the immense love of Jesus to each student.

Thank you for boldly running with us toward the future through your prayer and financial support. You make possible our work of educating mission-driven leaders who change the world.

In Christ,

“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”

This issue of Experience comes at a time of celebrating our history on several fronts. 2019 marks the 80th anniversary of our first graduates; it’s the 60th anniversary of our name changing to Warner Pacific. This is the 20th year of a revitalized athletic program on campus. It’s been 10 years since my inauguration as the 7th president of Warner Pacific, and it’s the conclusion of our first year as a university. We have much to celebrate and many reasons to rejoice! God’s provision for Warner Pacific University is immense.

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Andrea Cook, Ph.D. President Warner Pacific University

Based on our annual operating budget and the number of students we enrolled this year, we educate each student for less than four cents per minute. Think how many students—and minutes—your gift influences. And every minute matters to Warner Pacific students. You may be tempted to think your gift doesn’t make a difference. But here’s some perspective you may not have considered: •

•

for just $28.54 you can help shape the lives of all our students for one minute. for $57.60 you can help one student for a full day move closer to a WPU degree.

• or for $1,712.00 you can make a difference for a full hour for each and every student.

Every minute counts.

• and you can support a student for an hour at a time for about the cost of a latte .

The investment you make in students lasts a lifetime. Will you fund life-changing minutes, hours or days today?

Thanks for your interest and care that makes a difference for the next generation of leaders.

Make your gift to the WPU Fund now. warnerpacific.edu/minutescount

Join us for these upcoming events! mark your calendar s now for these experiences...

7/14/ 19 — 6 :3 0 P M — A . F . G R AY L AW N

MOVIE IN THE PARK–AQUAMAN 8/26/19 — 10 :0 0 A M — M c G U I R E A U D I T O R I U M

C O N V O C AT I O N 9/30/19–10 /4 /19 — TA B O R C A M P U S

FOUNDERS WEEK 1 1/11/19 — TA B O R C A M P U S

F A L L P R E V I E W D AY 1 2/ 7/19 — 10 :0 0 A M –12 :0 0 P M — M c G U I R E A U D I T O R I U M

ADVENT BRUNCH 1 2/ 14/ 19 — 10 :0 0 A M — N E W H O P E C H U R C H

WINTER COMMENCEMENT 2/14/ 20–2/15 /2 0

HOMECOMING

Traditional Student Events: 8/24/19–8 /2 5 /19 — TA B O R C A M P U S

WELCOME WEEKEND FOR NEW STUDENTS 8/26/19

F I R S T D AY O F C L A S S E S 9/7/19

CITY SEARCH (FIRST YEAR AND TRANSFER LEARNING COMMUNITIES)