Inspire, Winter 1998-99

A lumnotes CLASS NEWS 50s Esther Chesebro Smith '58 has taught two generations of families at West Newton Elementary School in Decatur, Indiana. Announcing her retirement after 31 years in the Decatur system, a local newspaper applauded her for her compassion with teaching cohorts, students, and staff. Esther will continue her education career as an adjunct professor for education at Indiana-Purdue University. She also hopes to take her two grandchildren to Australia during 1999. Esther shared her philosophy: "If you teach a child responsibility and respect for themselves and others, you have won the war and the child does not get into trouble." 70s Jan Maynard Curtis'71N is a piano teacher in Lowellville, Ohio. Tom '72 and Norma Schwarm Strong '71 have completed 20 years of ministry at First Baptist Church in Beech Grove, Indiana. The church recognized them with a weekend celebration including family guests, special speaker Randy Patten '71, a memory book of letters, and a hand-embroidered memory quilt. The Strongs have four children: Lynette '96, Randy '98, Brian (19), and Sarah (15). Shepherds Welcomes New President Reverend William J. Amstutz'71 began his new position as president of Shepherds Home on August 24, 1998. Shepherds is a Christian residential care facility for nearly 180 mentally disabled adults in Union Grove, Wisconsin. An open house was held at Shepherds on September 1, 199810 welcome Bill and his wife, Nancy (Ross'73N). "It is a privilege to be called to this great ministry, and I believe that God has wonderful things in store for Shepherds," Bill said."I am dedicated to maintaining Shepherds' high standards for compassionate Christian care for the mentally disabled, and even expanding our capacity to serve more residents as God allows." Bill received his master's degree from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary and is currently working on his doctorate from Biblical Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. Before accepting the Shepherds position, he served in education and counseling ministries at Bethel Baptist Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and as associate pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Fruitport, Michigan. Judy Hepworth Fiest'73 is an independent Longaberger sales consultant. She and her husband, John '73, reside in LaGrange, Ohio. Bernie Horn '73 is director of pastoral services at North Park Community Church in Lima, Ohio. Esther Greenwood Lanham '75 works for the City of Mason Parks and Recreation Department in Mason, Ohio. Alumna's Children's Book Published Holly Jenkin Davis'74 has authored a book to help young children understand the meaning of Christmas."I was trying to teach my two-year-old daughter about the miracle of Jesus' birth, and I could tell that she just wasn't getting it," said Holly. "But there were two elements of the story that she was attentive to—birthdays and babies." The story Holly wrote begins with a child's birth. "I was born in a hospital with doctors and nurses and baby-sized beds. A nurse wrapped me in a blanket.. Jesus was born in a stable, without doctors or any beds at all. Mary wrapped Jesus in a long cloth," the book says. My Birthday, Jesus'Birthday was released by Zandervan Publishing in October 1998. Holly is a manager, editor, and writer for Gibson Greetings in Cincinnati, Ohio. She lives with her husband and daughter near Cincinnati and has also published several action rhymes in children's publications. Len Mohler'75 and his wife, Judy, celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary on August 12, 1998.They have three sons: Leon, a freshman at Columbus State University; Rollin, a high school sophomore; and Neil, a seventh grader. Len is in his twelfth year of teaching at Maranatha Christian School in Columbus, Ohio. The Mohlers are preparing for missionary service with Baptist Mid-Missions in Ecuador, South America. 8 WINTER 1998/99 Marc Bresson '76 is president of the Milwaukee branch of ServiceMASTER, which provides residential and commercial cleaning services. His franchise recently received a quality restoration vendor award. He and his wife, Laura, reside in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Bradley Burrell '76 is pastor of Oak Knoll Baptist Chapel in Marion, Ohio. He and his wife, Sally (Brueser '76), have two sons. Bryan Waggoner'77 is youth pastor at Bethesda Baptist Church in Brownsburg, Indiana. In October 1998, a group of 125 young people and adult sponsors from the church delivered free nine-volt smoke detector batteries to approximately 4,200 homes in Brownsburg and the surrounding area. The distribution was timed to coincide with the beginning of Fire Safety Week. Bryan and his wife, Sheri (Levin '80), coordinated the project, which has been an annual event for three years. Dennis'78 and Jana Hoffer Burns'77 reside in Kenton, Ohio, where Dennis is pastor of Faith Baptist Church. David Carroll '78 has been called as pastor of Lakeview Baptist Church in Dundee, Ohio. He and his wife, Nancy, have three sons. Kimerly Gall'78 is women's tennis coach and associate professor in the physical education and recreation department at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Alan Terwilleger '78 is senior vice president for Ministry Advancement with Prison Fellowship Ministries in Reston, Virginia. Dennis Gillenwater'79 is the high school principal for Calvary Christian School in Forrest City, Arkansas. Dee Sands Kenworthy '79 is a counselor at Mill Creek West Elementary School in Amo, Indiana. 80s Andrew Simpson '80 works in the admissions office of Northwestern College in Minnesota. He and his wife, Joyce (Mishler '81N), have four children, Jonathan (17), Nikole (14), Jared (11), and Ethan (8). David Hattenfield '81 is assistant pastor of Christian education at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Cumberland, Maryland. He and his wife, Loanna (Hamilton '81), live in Loyale, Maryland. Carl Prokop '81 is associate pastor at Bethesda Baptist Church in Brownsburg, Indiana. He is married to Michele Manuel'83N. Jill Cranick Studebaker '81 has earned a master's degree in counseling. She is a home school teacher for Elizabeth (sixth grade), Nathaniel (fifth grade), and Timothy (third grade). Her husband, Rich, is pastor of First Missionary Church in Clyde, Ohio. In August, he completed his Ph.D. in theological studies from Trinity International University. As a family, they have had the privilege of being children's speakers for camps and Bible schools. Dave'83 and Lenna Barrand Black '82 traveled to Lapa, Brazil with twelve teenagers from their church. The group presented their musical and dramatic program in a nursing home, an orphanage, a state school, and in local churches. They also enjoyed lunch with the city mayor and secretary of education. For one week, the teens served on the kitchen staff and cleaning crew at a Word of Life camp.The Blacks praise God for His protection, writing,"We found ourselves in a boycott situation that led to the arrival of the riot police with tear gas and weapons...We also stepped right into a bank robbery in progress—Oh, how God is good!" John Foreman'83 is chairman of the Rocky Mountain Regional Accreditation Commission for the Association of Christian Schools, International (ACSI). This region serves a six-state area and over 185 Christian schools in accreditation issues. The Foremans have a son, Caleb (3), and are foster parents to a baby girl abandoned in their hometown of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Jeff Subra'83 has taken a position as operations/business manager at the Word of Life Inn in New York. He and his wife, Cheryl (Schuler '83), have three children: Zachary (12), Ashley (5), and Alexis (2). Dan Girton '84 is a senior telecommunications analyst for Perdue Farms, Inc., of Salisbury, Maryland. He and his wife, Lynne, home educate their three oldest children: Mandy (8), Brian (7), and Jenny (5). They also have two younger children, Karen (3)and Grant (1). Paul Hayes'84 is a firefighter and emergency technician with the Gig Harbor Fire Department in Washington. Paul's wife, Tammy (Heinrich '83)home educates their four children, Heather (12), Jordan (9), Christian (7), and Brittany (5). Together they work with Patch the Pirate program at Enumclaw Baptist Church. Paul sings in a male quartet,"Men of the Cross," and plans to record soon. Jeff Holt'84 is a technical manager for Modis (formerly Technology Services Corporation) in West Des Moines, Iowa. He and his wife, Julie(Merck '84), reside in Urbandale, Iowa. John Jackson '84 is communications director for The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM)in Wheaton, Illinois. He and his wife, Deanna (Palmer '82), have three children: Katherine (7), Alex (5), and Benjamin (1). Bryan Austring '85N is a chaplain in the United States Navy. After two months of chaplain school in Rhode Island, he will report to the Marine battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in December 1998. He is married to Carin Wilcox '85. Teena Coronato Bryson '86 is a crisis evaluation therapist at Prestera Center for Mental Health Services in Huntington, West Virginia. Stephen Cremean '86 is a systems analyst with Computer & Engineering Services, Inc. of Auburn Hills, Michigan. Alums Launch Family Video EBI Video & Film, owned by Jeff Lyle '85, has released its first full-length feature film, Lil'Sprockets. The story is about Cooper Norman and his eight friends who gather for secret meetings in a family garage. With a boring summer before them, this spirited group finds a collection of old instruments and decides to start a band— "The Sprockets." An engaging family film, Lil'Sprockets is a hilarious comedy with lovable characters and a story line filled with one moral lesson after another. Jeff said,"We thought the marketplace needed a good, clean, family video." Mike Davis'90,one of the producers of the film, explains that "our dream would be to do a series." Mark Zuiderveen '95 also works for the company in Davenport, Iowa. The video is available at Christian bookstores nationwide, as well as general merchandise stores. It can also be ordered directly from EBI at 319-391-0619. Bob Ward '86N is an agent for State Farm Insurance Companies in Scottsburg, Indiana. David Williams'86 is a controller in the Impressions Division of Standard Register. He and his wife, Marlene (Seifert '86), reside in Dayton, Ohio. Finny Rajchel '87 is the head baseball coach at Wheaton College in Illinois. He is also an agent with State Farm Insurance Companies. David Zehrung '87 earned a doctorate in psychology from George Mason University in May 1998. Tim Royer'89 is a psychiatrist at DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was recently quoted in Pine Rest Connections, a newsletter for professionals from Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. In response to grants for additional staff psychiatrists and psychologists at the hospital, Tim commented that "the ready access of menial health services at a health care facility is a model of integrated health care." Penny Watkins'89 is a technical assistant with Aluminum Company of America(ALCOA)in Massena, New York. 90s Shaun '90 and Stephanie Wilkinson Spangler '91 have been added to the staff at First Baptist Church in Medina, Ohio as part-time worship leaders. Their responsibilities include leading Sunday morning worship services and directing adult and children's choir and the praise band. Shaun continues his job as a marketing representative for Marathon Oil Company. They have two children: Riley(2)and Olivia (1). Sandra Terkelsen '90 is retail operations manager for Superfridge in Guilford, Connecticut. Greg Perelka '91 is a mortgage lending supervisor at Metropolitan Bank & Trust in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. He and his wife, Susan (Williams '90), reside in Sagamore Hills, Ohio. Suzy Barnhart'92N is a sales representative for Gayda Insurance Agency of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies in Valparaiso, Indiana. She is also an independent contractor and accessory specialist with Home Interiors and Gifts. Matthew White'92 received a master's degree in educational leadership from Wright State University (Ohio)in December 1997. In June 1998, he completed course work for certification as an elementary principal and as an educational supervisor. Matt currently teaches sixth grade for the Clark-Shawnee Local Schools in Springfield, Ohio. He and his wife, Elizabeth (Lane '93), have a daughter, Katie (2). Dennis Farro'93 has earned a master's degree in clinical counseling from Eastern College. He resides in Valley Stream, New York. Paul McGrady '93 has joined The Eliza Jennings Group as director of legal services and human resources. He and his wife, Lisa (Davidson '89), reside in Lakewood, Ohio. Steve'93 and Katrina Parlin Padgett'93 reside in Durham, North Carolina. Steve is an athletic trainer for Duke Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy. Katrina is in her second year of physician assistant school. Karla Richardson '93 is a nurse at University of Michigan Hospital and attends law school at Wayne State University. She resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Heather Rifenberick '93 participates in a band that plays to youth groups, coffee houses, and churches throughout the United States. The band, Daniel's Window, recently placed second in a national artist competition in Estes Park, Colorado. For more information about Daniel's Window, contact Heather at(815)725-9834 or hrifenberi©aol.com.