Inspire, Summer 2004

Inspire 29 Robert King ’69 has turned many years of community theatre experience into a professional career. He is now performing in The Wizard of Oz at Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre and has also signed a contract for Fiddler on the Roof . His wife, Shirley (French) ’69 , is a training specialist for defense programs at the Westinghouse Savannah River Site. They reside in Aiken, South Carolina. 70s Connie Endicott ’70 and John Hendershot were married June 5, 2004 at Valley Baptist Church in Winslow, Arizona. Linda Betts Duffield ’72 and her husband, Ken, continue to ask for prayer concerning their health issues. Ken is currently second on the kidney transplant list for his blood group in San Antonio. Pray that they will wait upon the Lord for His awesome timing. They were thrilled to get approval to travel to Mexico for a few days at the beginning of the year for film and preaching services. It was a blessing to be with Mexican friends again. Paul Beck ’76 and his wife, Becky, are very busy with all the activities at Faith Academy in the Philippines. With the Academy short on staff, Paul has had to teach all the physical education classes and also take on many more classes. Patty Neely Zemmer ’76 and her husband, David, are currently on furlough from Brazil. They have had many blessings this past year at their church, including the calling of a new pastor. He has developed a soccer ministry that has opened up relationships with Catholic families. Marty ’78 and Denise Gawthrop Shaw ’78 will be ending their furlough this summer and returning to Japan. They were thankful to share special time with their children, Alison and Aaron, over Christmas. 80s Ruth Yocom ’80 enjoyed the spiritual life conference that was held in Bangladesh in January 2004. This was a spiritually enriching time for the field workers as they heard sermons from the book of Joshua. Debbie Meyer Burget ’81 and her husband, Craig, covet the prayers of friends and family as her two daughters are serving in the Army National Guard in Iraq. Kristina serves as a combat medic specialist, while daughter Kira serves as a dental technician. Nancy Hall DeValve ’81 and her husband, John, are excited to report that a site has been found for the church building in Tera, West Africa. They look forward to starting construction, and they pray that the necessary funds come so that they can complete the project in a timely manner. David ’81 and Carol Sue Cox Merkh ’82 started their furlough this summer from Brazil. They look forward to renewing ties with family, friends, and churches. They are thankful for how the ministries at the Word of Life Seminary in Brazil are flourishing. John Foreman ’83 received his doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Trinity Theological Seminary in May 2003. He and his wife, Kathy (Ormsbee) ’83 , serve the Lord at Mesilla Valley Christian Schools in Las Cruces, New Mexico. John also teaches education classes part-time on the university level. Carolyn Bitner ’84 and her husband, Peter, experienced the death of a close friend who had left the Muslim culture in order to follow Christ. This death motivates them to keep sharing the Good News and to keep training others to do the same, so that more Muslims may discover the way to Christ. Becki Payton Konuch ’84 and her husband, Tim, have been called to help a church near London, England. They are excited that a church building already exists, located on the main street in the city center. They desire to make the church a vibrant testimony in the community once again. Aaron ’85 and Annegret Gross Bowes ’87 have seen evangelistic efforts bring forth fruit in East Berlin. They are thankful for God’s work in their lives, as well as in the lives of others. Ben ’86 and Jane Adams Smith ’84 request your prayers. In May, Jane was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, which has spread throughout her body. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy. The family is praying that God would miraculously remove this cancer from her body. Jane praises God for His goodness and is overwhelmed with love and support from friends! Ben and Jane have two sons, Nick (9) and Shane (8). Sandy Pratt Hayward ’86 and her husband, Brad, announce the birth of Natalie Abigail on December 12, 2003. This is their first child through adoption, and it was a joyous occasion when they brought her home on December 14, 2003. They reside in Dayton, Ohio. Pete Wright ’86 and his wife, Sonya, have settled in Knoxville, Tennessee, to finish out their furlough from Chile. In January, Pete had the privilege to return to Cedarville University for the Missions Conference. He had the opportunity to share with electronic media majors how they can use their skills on the mission field. Janet Wittekind Partlow ’87 and her husband, Scott, announce the birth of Connor on November 12, 2000. He was welcomed home by his siblings, Ryan (10), Megan (7), and Nicole (5). They reside in Las Vegas, Nevada. Scott is the comptroller for D.R. Horton, and Janet enjoys home- schooling the children. Dave ’87 and Valerie Hite Smallman ’85 celebrated the second anniversary of their church in Brazil. They rejoice over the blessings God has given them in the past two years. Just recently, a young man and a woman gave their lives to Christ. Jill Slayton Puett ’88 and her husband, Stephen, are thankful for the opportunity they had to present an Easter program in a primary school in Guyana, South America. They pray that the program will spark questions in some of the attendees. Jill and Stephen have been blessed with many discipleship opportunities lately. They are thankful for how God has brought these people into their lives. Alumnotes 40s Marge Bodwell ’42 is the owner of the McDonald Stone Quarry Homestead in Xenia, Ohio. The homestead was recently honored by the First Families of Ohio and AgriCountry in part for its historical significance. Stone from the homestead’s quarry was used in the construction of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. 50s Martha Hall Rose ’53 would like to thank her classmates for their prayers and support after the homegoing of her husband, Harry, on May 16, 2003. Roy Shelpman ’57 and Ruth Yost ’59 were married on December 6, 2003 in Haiti. The couple plans to return to Haiti after they raise additional support. Bob ’59 and Esther Stutesman Howder ’62 enjoyed their furlough and were thankful for God’s presence with them. They are thankful for their many faithful supporters that make it possible for them to serve in Singapore. During their furlough, Bob developed a health condition that requires medication. Please pray that while in Singapore they will find the right doctors to correctly treat his condition. 60s Irene Benson ’63 enjoyed her furlough and is glad to be back in Brazil among the Waiwai Indians. Irene is excited to be working with two Brazilian young ladies who will be helping the Waiwai teachers complete training so that one day they can manage their own school. John ’64 and Judy Marcellus Bigelow ’67 send their greetings from southeast Alaska and praise God for the way he has blessed their church with new teen converts. They are seeking God’s timing on the sale of four acres of land. This sale would allow them to pay off the debt on their new property. Robert Reynolds ’64 is a bass II singer with the Houston Symphony Chorus in Texas and is also a member of the director’s round table. Participation in the 180- member chorus is by audition only, and the group sings great choral masterworks led by the world’s leading conductors. The chorus performs regularly with the Houston Symphony, Exxon Pops Orchestra, and the Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria of Mexico City. They have also toured Europe twice. Since his time at Cedarville, Bob has served 11 years in Christian radio and has been director of music and Christian education in several churches. Bob owns a swimming pool construction company and lives in Houston, Texas with his family. Grace Trimble Kintner ’67 and her husband, David, express their joy in how the Lord has been working in their Brazilian church. Many of their ministries are flourishing, and the people involved are allowing their hearts to be touched by God.