Inspire, Fall 2006

Jonathan ’90 and Lori Rogers Haskell ’90 have relocated to Charleston, West Virginia. Jonathan is the pastor of outreach ministries at Bible Center Church. They are thankful for the nine years they ministered in Hungary. Lara McGovern Allen ’92 and her husband, Brad, announce the birth of Rachel Grace on April 22, 2006. Big brother Zach (2) is thrilled with the new arrival. Lara and Brad are involved with inner-city ministries in Denver, Colorado with Providence Network and Open Door Ministries. They work alongside David ’93 and Michelle Ferrigno Warren ’93 , Laura Shank ’05 , and Melissa Hunt ’05 , as well as numerous students and other alumni who intern with Open Door Ministries each year. Becky Reich Hannon ’92 and her husband, David, have resigned from ministering with Children’s Bible Fellowship in New York. They are thankful for the six years God used them at the camp and look forward to where He will lead them next. Paul ’92 and Jackie Rohm Wetzel ’92 announce the adoption of Ava Marie XiaoE on February 6, 2006. She was born March 5, 2002. Her siblings, Derek (11), Daniel (6), and Aslynn (3), welcomed her home in Cedarville, Ohio. They are thankful that Ava is adjusting well and learning English quickly. Lorynda Bender ’93 has been appointed as the information integration manager at Hillside Children’s Center in Rochester, New York. Nicki Silvera Freeman ’94 and her husband, Guy, enjoy ministering to kids and their families in the Bridletowne community of Canada. They have seen several of their youth programs grow in size and are so thankful for the excitement of the kids involved. Kristi VanDyke ’94 received a master of divinity degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in May 2006. She resides in Louisville, Kentucky. Jennifer Kierstead ’95 teaches second grade at Pan American Christian Academy in Brazil. She also enjoys helping out with the girls junior varsity and varsity softball teams. She was really proud of their attitudes and accomplishments this past season. Camille Holloway Schuette ’95 and her husband, Jon, announce the birth of Ethan Jon. He was born June 23, 2006 and joins his brother, Adam, at home in Gig Harbor, Washington. Jon is a portfolio strategy analyst at Russell Investment Group. Camille works from home as a compliance manager for J&M Management Company and enjoys taking care of the boys. The Schuettes are members and youth leaders at Discovery Baptist Church. Jeff ’96 and Lori Olson Gaglio ’95 announce the birth of Emaleigh Nicole on March 29, 2005. She was welcomed home by Anthony (5) and Alyssa (3) in Webster, New York. Jeff is an account manager for Verizon Wireless, and Lori enjoys being home with the children. They attend Webster Bible Church. Tom ’99 and Amanda Bruckner Mullins ’98 couldn’t wait to adopt. Following is their story, printed in The Times of Northwest Indiana on February 12, 2006. Four years of trying to have a baby, fertility specialists and one miscarriage left Tom and Amanda Mullins frustrated, sad and sometimes angry. Facing even more invasive fertility treatments, they decided in early 2004 to instead adopt, putting their name on the list at the Baptist Children’s Home in Valparaiso and three other adoption agencies and hoping for the best. More than a year passed. Still no baby. Then in late September, the Baptist Children’s Home called. A mother wanted to meet them. On Oct. 6, they found themselves witnessing the birth of the son they’d name Clayton. It was love at first sight for the Mullins, of Hobart. With legal battles still brewing between the birth parents, Clayton landed in a foster home, where Amanda, 29, and Tom Mullins, 31, visited him often, falling more in love with the skinny boy and making plans for a Christmas homecoming with their son. But instead of a baby, the couple was left again with empty arms. The birth mother took Clayton back just before Christmas. “It was horrible. It was like losing a child. We had started seeing him as our own,” said Amanda Mullins, a piano teacher. They put their name back on the lists with the other adoption agencies. And waited. “We were trying to put Clayton behind us, thinking it was all over, so that was hard,” said Tom Mullins, the youth and worship minister at Central Baptist Church in Hobart. Then late last month, on a Thursday, their caseworker from the Baptist Children’s Home called. The father dropped his legal interests and the birth mother wanted them to adopt Clayton, now 4 months old. Knowing the pain losing Clayton caused, Tom Mullins kept the call “a little secret” from his wife, losing sleep for days. That next Tuesday, with the papers officially signed, he was out the church door in seconds to share the news with his wife of nearly eight years. “We were stunned, very excited,” Amanda Mullins said. In the flurry of calls to family and friends, they also called the other adoption agencies to again remove their name from the lists. The next morning, one of the agencies called back with congratulations. “But you need to sit down because I have some news for you,” Amanda Mullins remembered them telling her. The Mullins had been selected by another couple to adopt their baby. “We have a girl for you,” the agency told them. They had only an afternoon to decide. They called their parents. They talked to their pastor. “I was immediately excited,” Amanda Mullins said. “I was scared,” Tom Mullins said. “We decided that God had brought her to us ... so he would provide for us,” Amanda Mullins said. They returned to Hobart late Monday night with 8-month-old Kathryn, a squirmy Guatemalan-born baby with thick locks of black hair. Her birth name, Xiomara, remains her middle name. ... “We waited for a year for one, then to get a call for two almost the same day,” said Tom Mullins, still marveling at their amazing story as he hoisted Kathryn up. “Whatever trials or problems God brings in your life, he can take you through them,” he said. “The blessings are better, too.” Baby Blessings Inspire 27 Bowe ’96 and Kimberly Bandy Hoy ’97 announce the birth of Ella Jane on June 28, 2006. She was welcomed home by her big brother, Caleb (3), and big sister, Olivia (1), in Richmond, Kentucky. Amy De Witt Mahaffey ’96 and her husband, Joseph, announce the birth of Grace Elizabeth. She was born March 8, 2006 and was welcomed home by her brother, Will Addison (2). Amy had been a second grade teacher for nine years but is now taking some time off to be home with the children. Joseph works in the telecommunications industry. They reside in Lynchburg, Virginia and are members of Hyland Heights Baptist Church. Gwenyth Stambaugh Eyler ’97 and her husband, Jeff, announce the birth of Caleb Jeffrey on November 11, 2005. Big sister Hannah Grace (2) welcomed him home in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Jamin ’97 and Angela Wenzel Ferner ’98 announce the birth of Lily Patience on May 17, 2006. They reside in Moorestown, New Jersey. Stephen ’97 and Rebecca Cave Hodson ’96 announce the birth of Ellen Bernice on August 11, 2005. She joins her siblings, Kara Joy (4) and Nathaniel Stephen (2), in Mount Morris, Illinois. Stephen is a guidance counselor at Dixon High School and a youth leader at their church. Rebecca is a stay-at-home mom. Brooke Frazier Kropf ’97 and her husband, Chris, announce the birth of Grant Frazier on August 31, 2005. They reside in Santa Clarita, California, where Brooke enjoys staying at home and is very involved with her local church through counseling women. Penni Fulkerson Litwiller ’97 and her husband, Rob, announce the birth of Benjamin Joel. He was born March 7, 2006 and was welcomed home by his brother, Matthew (20 months). They have recently moved to Wisconsin so Rob can finish his degree at Maranatha Baptist Bible College. They plan to go into full-time missions in the future. Megan McMacken Rock ’97 and her husband, John, announce the birth of Evan James on April 22, 2006. He was welcomed home by his sister, Sela Joy (2). They reside in Armada, Michigan, where Megan stays home with the children and helps John with their nursing home and adult foster care ministry, The Sharing Organization. Renee Tuinstra Trexler ’97 and her husband, Michael, announce the birth of Lydia Anna on March 30, 2006. She joins her siblings, Nathaniel (4) and Hannah (2), in