Inspire, Spring 2007

Debbie Dower ’84 is excited about the Discovery Program at Black Forest Academy in Germany, and she counts it a privilege to help students who are struggling academically. She is thankful she can partner with missionaries in the education of their children. Tony Pepe ’85 and his family have been serving the Lord for nine years in the area of Aube, France. They have been so blessed over the years by their faithful supporters. The need for church-planting is great since their church is the only Baptist church in all of Aube. Matt ’87 and Tracy Grimes Dickinson ’87 announce the birth of Elijah Calvin on October 3, 2006. He joins Grady (15), Sophie (11), Emma (7), Aimee (4), and Aaron (2). They reside in Ankeny, Iowa and are members of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. Brad ’89 and Cindy Hoover Hood ’89 announce the birth and adoption of Anna Maleah on September 2, 2006. They reside in Knoxville, Tennessee. Dennis McMichael ’89 and his wife, Barb, announce the adoption of Leah Kefu on February 14, 2006. She was born July 14, 2003. Her siblings, Paul (14) and Kevin (10), welcomed her home in Streetsboro, Ohio. Dennis is co- owner and vice president of McMichael Insurance and has been ministering to teens in their church since 1989. Penney Stackhouse Miller ’89 and her husband, Dave, announce the birth of Opal Caroline on December 13, 2006. Penney and Dave are both professors at Rose- Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. Penney teaches in the department of chemistry and has traveled to Antarctica three times, while Dave teaches in the department of chemical engineering. Inspire 29 90s Jeff Czyzyk ’90 and his wife, Lori, announce the birth of Kelly Lynn on October 18, 2006. Kelly joins three foster children: Michael, Dillon, and Megan. Jeff works full-time as a math teacher with Grand Rapids Public Schools and part-time with Westwood Community Church and Urban Transformation Ministries. Bobby ’90 and Sara Sweetland Hile ’92 celebrated the one-year anniversary of their new church plant, The Community Connection, in November 2006 in South Africa. It was a great time of thanksgiving and celebration. Kari Clark Teachout ’91 and her husband, Randy, announce the birth of Kaleb Richard on March 1, 2006. He joins his sister and parents in Kokomo, Indiana. Jason Bishop ’92 and his wife, Heidi, announce the birth of Evan James. He was born on October 19, 2006 and was welcomed home by big sister Elise (2) in Rochester, New York. Jason continues his work at Penfield Country Club and also works as athletic director at Webster Christian School. Heidi is the director of children’s ministries at Webster Bible Church. Dave ’92 and Andrea Katz Burkley ’93 have a home-based video production business, DB Productions, which has been in existence for eight years. The majority of their work consists of National Ministry Broadcasts for television and involves editing, building graphics, and preparing closed captioning. Two of their current weekly projects are Winning with Wisdom with Dr. Nasir Saddiki on TBN and Sisters with Darlene Bishop on Word and Daystar. They reside in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Lori Lindner French ’92 and her husband, Dave, were a part of the first-ever New Tribes home-school camp this past summer. It was a privilege to work with the children, and many parents have expressed how much their kids grew as a result of camp. Rebekah Scott Patten ’92 and her husband, Rob, have been blessed over the years with five daughters, Madeleine Rowe (7), Emily Virginia (5), Josephine Scott (4), Victoria Rose (2), and Isabelle Irene (1). They reside in Norcross, Georgia, where Rob is a computer programmer for Benchmark Brands, and Rebekah home- schools the girls. They attend Peachtree Corners Baptist Church and teach the kindergarten Sunday school class. Brian ’92 and Dana Guy Phipps ’90 are spending all of 2007 in America. Pray for the church in Turkey that they have left behind. Thankfully, the church has a pastor, has learned how to do ministry, and has the commitment of a supporting role from other missionaries. Pray that the church will be encouraged. Erik Benson ’93 published a book with Texas A&M University Press titled Aviator of Fortune: Lowell Yerex and the Anglo-American Commercial Rivalry, 1931-1946. Erik and his wife, Dawn, live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where they both work at Cornerstone University. Erik is in his second year as a history professor. Carleton Birch ’81 is helping to make a difference in Afghanistan in unexpected ways, as the Dayton Daily News recently reported. As an army major and chaplain currently serving in Afghanistan, Carleton provides spiritual support to the troops through counseling and a weekly contemporary Protestant service. But what you may not expect is the opportunity Carleton has had to help Dayton-area mothers connect with their sons and daughters who serve in the military. In addition to his chaplain duties, he serves as a point of contact for the Blue Star Mothers’ Miami Valley Chapter 3, which sends care packages to servicemen and servicewomen. When chaplains, including Carleton, told the Blue Star Moms about the lack of school supplies for Afghan children, they collected 1,355 pounds of school supplies, which Carleton helped to distribute. Above and Beyond Jeremy ’94 and Rachelle Anderson Barton ’95 announce the birth of Carver Allen on March 16, 2006. He was welcomed home by his big sister, Callahan Faith, in Des Moines, Iowa. Gabriella Rajna Skains ’94 and her husband, Rick, announce the birth of their twin boys on March 17, 2006. Rickie and Robbie join their sister, Victoria (8), in Cleveland, Ohio. Tina Mulanax Wessel ’94 and her husband, Keith, announce the birth of Katelyn Rae on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006. She was welcomed home by her big brother, Jake Hunter (2). They reside in Canton, Ohio, where Keith is a construction job superintendent, and Tina is a stay-at-home mom. Jason ’95 and Dacia Davis Borton ’95 announce the birth of Makenzi Hope on September 28, 2006. She was welcomed home by siblings Nathan, Gabriel, Joshua, and Mikayla in Sterling, Illinois. Heather Christie Hale ’95 and her husband, Jeremy, announce the birth of Alexander William on August 29, 2006. They reside in Caribou, Maine. Scott ’95 and Christine Fischbacher Hayden ’93 realize that communicating across religious barriers is very tough in Thailand but know that God’s Spirit can transcend all barriers. Please pray that they would communicate clearly and continually show God’s love to their neighbors. Thile Holloway Kreider ’95 and her husband, David, announce the birth of Gretchen Marie on November 7, 2006. She was welcomed home by her brother, Eric (3), in Manheim, Pennsylvania. Thile serves on the Cedarville University Alumni Leadership Team for the South Central Pennsylvania Chapter. Rachel Searcy ’95 serves the Lord among the Punan people of Indonesia. She continues to focus on formal language study and prays she will make steady progress on writing grammar analyses. She was thankful for the well-attended Christmas conference that was taught by Punan believers. Jim ’96 and Karen Ware Blumenstock ’96 share their excitement about the growth and expansion of the Asia Baptist Theological Seminary, with test classes now being held in Sydney, Australia and South Korea. With these two new sites, there are around 250 students attending seminars in eight different countries. Matt Breneman ’96 and his wife, Laurie, announce the birth of Hope Elizabeth on July 17, 2006. She joins her brother, Andrew (3), in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. Matt is a manufacturing engineer for Lockheed Martin Space Systems,