Inspire, Fall 2003

28 Fall 2003 liver/kidney transplant. Many decisions need to be made concerning his health. They appreciate the support they are receiving from family and friends. Bonnie McNeill McKinney ’73 has received a doctorate of philosophy in religious education from the board of directors of the North American School of Theology. She is a high school language arts instructor at Christian Heritage School (CHS), where she has taught for 12 years. CHS received accreditation with the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) last year, and Bonnie was a key player in this process by writing the entire high school English curriculum guides. This past spring, she was chosen Star Teacher through a program sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators Foundation, Inc. In 1999, Bonnie was selected Outstanding Educator and inducted into Who’s Who Among High School Teachers in America. This fall she released her first published work titled Creatively Speaking. She has lived in Dalton, Georgia, for 13 years with her husband, Ron. Ron is the pastor of Kinsey Drive Baptist Church. They have four children, Heather (24), Haddon (22), Heidi (20), and Hope (14). Heather and her husband, Scott, had Bonnie’s first grandchild in July. Holly Jenkin Davis ’74 has had her second picture book published. Thankful Together reveals the celebration between mother and child in the blessings of an ordinary day. The contents were largely inspired by her own motherhood experiences. Holly works for the North Light division of F&W Publications as an editor of decorative painting and home décor books. William Potter ’74 has recently had a book published in conjunction with the release of the film Gods and Generals, a movie about the Civil War. The title of the book is Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife. William and his wife, Leslie Leapline Potter ’75 , reside in Charles City, Virginia. 80s David ’81 and Carol Sue Cox Merkh ’82 serve at the Word of Life Seminary in Brazil. It is another record year with 37 resident couples in the Aquila and Priscilla Project. The Merkhs are thankful that God has expanded their outreach through literature. The five books in their 101 Creative Ideas series continue to be reprinted. George Stephens ’82 is putting together a Caribbean cruise Bible conference set for January 2004. He is inviting Cedarville alumni to join him and his Forked River Baptist Church family. Worship services are scheduled every evening and will focus on the topic “God and Our Fears.” For more information, visit the church’s Web site at www.frbc-nj.org , e-mail George at gstephens@frbc-nj.org , or call him at 609-693-2726. Faith Kenoyer ’83 spent the summer visiting family in the United States and planning and preparing for the new school year in Cairo, Egypt. There were four open teaching positions she had to fill in order to start the school year this fall. Lois Gelatt Sexton ’83 and her husband, Carl, are no longer serving in Argentina, but have begun a new endeavor with ABWE in Lake Worth, Florida. Their understanding of the Hispanic culture and their fluency in the Spanish language will give them a huge advantage to reaching Hispanics in Florida. The Sextons plan to remain involved in the Lord’s work in Argentina by sending work teams to help build church buildings. Carolyn Winsor Bitner ’84 and her husband, Pete, are in the middle of their home assignment, with plans to go back to Togo, West Africa in February 2004. John Blackburn ’84 founded and has organized a school’s anti-drug program for the past four years. The SPUDD (Students and Parents Understanding the Dangers of Drugs) club is a parent-led, after-school program in which third through sixth graders meet once a month to talk about drugs and alcohol. The kids play games, have a snack, and listen to special speakers. John and the other parents have seen many relationships built between parents and children through the program. John is a pastor of administration at First Baptist Church in Shawnee, Kansas. He and his wife, Beth, have three children, Brandon, Heidi, and Alyssa. Alumnotes 50s Ward Weaver ’51 is a member of The CenturyMen, an auditioned men’s chorus of professional musicians. The men are Baptist church music directors from across America. They tour extensively in the United States and in many foreign countries. Ray ’59 and Janice Van Horn Reiner ’66 express their joy for the way their work is going in Brazil. They are also excited that their son, Jeffrey, is now involved in the work. Paul ’59 and Judy Cousineau Van Kleek ’62 serve with Resource Exchange International (REI) in Vietnam. Paul is the agriculture programs director and recently completed a five-month term in Hanoi, teaching university students while continuing in the leadership role for two veterinary and agronomy projects. Judy taught medical English to doctors who were preparing for fellowships in the U.S. A recent highlight was the grand opening of a veterinary clinic that was the joint project of REI-Vietnam, the National Institute of Veterinary Research of Vietnam, and the Agriculture Development Foundation of Mississippi. 60s Irene Benson ’63 has been working on small storybooks that the Waiwai children in Brazil can read. She and her co-workers are excited that the village leaders have asked them to teach some fifth graders who want to continue their studies. John ’64 and Judith Marcellus Bigelow ’67 rejoice that the liver transplant went well for John and that the new liver is working properly. At the Alaska Baptist Mid- Missions field conference, they were excited to meet three couples who are preparing to have a future ministry in Alaska. They are thankful that Dan and Deb Weimer will be joining them in ministry for the coming year. This will be a tremendous encouragement as John continues to recover from his surgeries. Dennis Bellew ’65 and his wife, Frances, rejoice that International Bible College had one graduate in May, after only one and a half semesters in operation. They are anticipating that four will graduate in May 2004. Dennis is involved with a men’s soul-winning group in New York City at International Baptist Church. The day before Easter they planned a special family- oriented service. They targeted an apartment complex of approximately 10,000 residents, and 261 came to the service with 123 making public professions of faith. They are discipling these people and praying that their faith increases. Nancy Towle Jones ’69 and her husband, Roy, continue to seek God’s direction about a ministry outreach center in Campo Real, Madrid. The need is great, especially since they have had about 200 new neighbors this year. 70s Philip Rohler ’70 is the pastor of The Evangelical Covenant Church in Aberdeen, Washington. Linda Betts Duffield ’72 and her husband, Ken, express their concern about Ken’s health. Due to his kidney failure and cirrhosis of the liver, he is facing a From Dollars to Divinity A familiar face is leaving the Cedarville University Financial Aid Office after 21 years of service. Steve Thompson ’81 has resigned his job as associate director of financial aid to pursue a master of divinity degree at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. “It’s been a dream of mine to go to seminary,” he explained. “I feel called to enter the pastorate and to get proper training so that I’m able to do that.” Since 1982, Steve has been a jack-of-all-trades for the financial aid office, managing the Pell Grant and quality assurance programs among many other tasks. Steve built many relationships with families over the years as he worked with them to make sure their children could come to or stay at Cedarville. “It’s been my blessing to work with the families,” he shared. “What I’ll probably miss most are the students and helping people figure out difficult financial matters.” “Steve Thompson possessed many qualities that made him an excellent financial aid office employee,” said Fred Merritt, director of financial aid. “Steve had a heart as big as the state of Ohio, and he was always willing to assist with the hard problems. He was compassionate, friendly, dedicated, and loyal. But Steve’s greatest asset was his willingness to work hard. I have never had a more dedicated employee and friend. Steve will be greatly missed by the entire staff in the financial aid office.” Steve said that it will be hard to leave his University and office colleagues as well as his nieces (CU students Julie Thompson ’05 and Crystal Thompson ’07 ). He noted, “I will miss all the good things that are happening at Cedarville.”