Inspire, Fall 2000

siblings, Josalyn, Zachary, Elysia, Gabrielle, Alexandra, and Noah, at home in Brandon, Florida. James Barber ’85 is the executive director of the Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation (CCCF). CCCF serves as a pipeline between Christian donors and Christian ministries. Since 1992, James had been the director of development for Samaritan’s Purse in Boone, North Carolina. He and his wife, Tammy Evans Barber ’87 , have three children, Hamilton (11), Andrew (8), and Katy Beth (5), and reside in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jon Beight ’85 has accepted the position of executive director at Twin Lakes Camp and Conference Center in Hillsboro, Indiana. He and his wife, Donna Birch Beight ’86N , reside in Greenwood, Indiana. Anthony Pepe ’85 and his wife, Kathy, are thankful for a great year in their youth ministries with two clubs that meet weekly. They share their burden to have a meeting place in Bar sur Seine, France. Currently, they are using their home to meet the needs. Christine Weidman Birkholz ’86 and her husband, Todd, announce the birth of Hannah Elizabeth Rae on May 18, 2000. She was welcomed home by her three-year old twin brothers, Abraham and Jeremiah, in Victorville, California. Todd is a public school teacher, and Christine enjoys staying home with the children after 11 years of teaching. Jennifer Raught Brock ’83 and her husband, David, announce the birth of Grace Meadows Joan on April 27, 2000. Her siblings, Olivia (7), Samuel (5), and Eden (3), awaited her arrival in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. Susan Scott Childress ’83 is the product publicity specialist for Porsche Cars. Her primary responsibilities are scheduling and managing the Porsche press fleet in the U.S. and Canada, as well as supervising the production of all press materials. Susan and her husband, Scott, reside in Alpharetta, Georgia. Jim ’83 and Faith Gruber Gruenberg ’83 announce the adoption of Alexandra Karis on November 16, 1999. She was born March 2, 1999 in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Alexandra joins her two big brothers, Stephen (13) and Kurt (7), in Greenville, Ohio. Jim is a captain with the Kettering Fire Department and is also the task force leader for Ohio Task Force One, an elite, federal urban search and rescue team. Faith works at home, keeping up with multiple sports and a new toddler. They are involved in many areas of ministry at Bible Fellowship Church. Faith Kenoyer ’83 has finished her sixth year in Cairo, Egypt, and her first term with ABWE. She is excited about the potential of 20 new students at the school in Cairo, but shares there is a need for three more teachers. Cheryl Miller ’83 and Gary Shupe were married June 10, 2000 at Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville, Ohio. The couple enjoyed a honeymoon in the Smokey Mountains and now reside in Cedarville, Ohio. Both work at Cedarville University: Cheryl is the executive secretary to the vice president for Christian ministries, and Gary is the special functions manager for Pioneer College Caterers. Lois Gelatt Sexton ’83 and her husband, Carl, thank the Lord for the new church plant in Jose Paz, Argentina. Many teenagers are helping Lois make the children’s programs function smoothly. James Conley ’84 recently returned from Oman, where he had been assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Muscat. While there, Jim learned he had been selected for Air Force special operations, flying the AC-130U gunship. He and his wife, Barbara Andrews Conley ’87N , reside in Navarre, Florida. Virginia Fields ’84 works with Children’s Bible Fellowship in Carmel, New York. After camps are over, she makes contact with the campers and their parents. She tries to set up Bible studies and is currently discipling two women. Becki Payton Konuch ’84 and her husband, Tim, are on deputation for their new church planting ministry in Bristol, England. They praise God for His protection as they travel, and also that their son, Jonathan (6 months), is adjusting well to their inconsistent schedule. Robin Campbell Ogden ’84 and her husband, Kevin, announce the birth of Jillian Elizabeth on September 9, 1999. They attend College Park Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. Will Pratz ’84 and his wife, Nancy, announce the birth of Mia Lacey. She was born May 25, 2000 and joins her David ’81 and Carol Sue Cox Merkh ’82 share their thankfulness for the 70 new students at Word of Life Seminary in Brazil. David and Carol Sue serve with their children, David, Shelly, Julie, Daniel, Stephen, and Keila. Adoption Times Two Cory ’88 and Andrea Snyder Neumann ’87 expanded their family by two recently when they adopted brothers Sasha (5) and Alexi (4) from Krasnodar, Russia. “We had two children, Kassie (5) and Landon (3 1/2). We wanted to do something for someone who had no chance in life. We chose to adopt older kids because they have fewer chances,” explained Andrea. “Although some people think we’re crazy to have four kids 21 months apart, it made sense for us to have all of our children share the same interests and needs.” The Neumanns selected Sasha and Alexi through pictures on the Internet. “People had told us that as soon as you see them, you’ll know which ones you want. And it was true,” stated Cory. “We knew immediately that Sasha and Alexi were ‘our kids.’ Bonding was never an issue. We began bonding as soon as we saw their pictures and when we received a video of the boys.” For information about Tree of Life adoption agency, which the Neumanns worked through to adopt Sasha and Alexi, call the alumni relations office at 1-800-837-2566 or 937-766- 7858. The Neumanns can be contacted at corykaslan@aol.com . Womack Named NAIA-SIDA Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award Honoree Mark Womack ’83 , sports information director (SID) at Cedarville University, has been named the 2000 recipient of the NAIA-Sports Information Directors Association’s Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award. NAIA-SIDA is the professional association for sports information directors within the NAIA. The Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award, named for the former statistical crew chief for the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship, is the association’s highest honor and recognizes its honoree for accomplishments and service performed over a career. Criteria for the nomination include at least five years as a member of NAIA-SIDA, as well as outstanding service to the profession and the NAIA at the conference, regional, and national levels. Womack is in his 17th year as Cedarville’s first and only full-time SID. He has also served as the information director/administrative assistant for the American Mideast Conference (previously Mid-Ohio Conference) since 1990. During that time he won nine NAIA-SIDA publications awards and four NAIA-SIDA Web site awards. In addition to his sports information duties for the school and conference, he writes and edits The Sting, Cedarville’s quarterly sports publication, produces and writes the Yellow Jacket Sports Update on CDR Radio, and does play-by-play announcing for Cedarville men’s basketball games on CDR. Womack received Cedarville’s Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1993. At the national level, Womack is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame and Awards Committee. He served as the NAIA District 22 Information Director from 1988-94 and NAIA Great Lakes Region Information Director from 1994-95. He held the offices of secretary, vice president, and chair of the NAIA District Information Directors Committee. In 1997, he was his region’s honoree for the NAIA Male Athletics Administrator of the Year. Womack is also a member of College Sports Information Directors of America. In addition to his professional honors, Womack, his wife Amy, and daughters, Amber (15), Aubrey (12), and Alison (9), were honored as the Ohio Family of the Year by the Ohio Family and Community Educators in October 1999. Among his other activities, he has served as a Sunday school teacher, senior high youth leader, and choir member at Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville. Last summer, he and his wife helped lead 20 teenagers from their church on a two-week missions trip to the Philippines. “In my 35 years of being involved with NAIA athletic administration, I cannot think of a more qualified individual that has been or could be nominated for this prestigious award,” wrote Cedarville Athletic Director Pete Reese. “We here at Cedarville feel very blessed to have Mark as our SID.” Landon, Kassie, Alexi, and Sasha Neumann Inspire 23