Inspire, Winter 2000

Mark Sigmon ’77 is the executive director of Outreach Inc., a mission agency that includes the Institute of Theological Studies. He and his wife, Cindi Porter Sigmon ’77 , have three children, Kristin, Joel, and Kari, and reside in Jenison, Michigan. Marty ’78 and Denise Gawthrop Shaw ’78 have settled in West Concord, Minnesota for their six-month home assignment that began in July 2000. They ask for prayer for their family as they adjust to life away from Japan. Mark ’79 and Debbie Hall Seymour ’83 report that Mark visited Chad, Africa in October 2000 where he taught in the Theological School, met with missionaries, helped in the coordination of the Bible translation works, and held Bible conferences. 80s Calvin ’80 and Susan Dye Swank ’89 announce the birth of Claire Marie on August 12, 2000. She was welcomed home by her brothers, Kyle (4) and Daniel (2), in San Antonio, Texas. Jeff ’80 and Debbie Mullet Warix ’79N are rejoicing about the spiritual decisions made in their church this past summer in Price, Utah. Please remember them in prayer as they minister to the Mormon-dominated West. Ruth Yocom ’80N serves the Lord in Bangladesh with ABWE. She is thankful for how God handled her recent visa situation. Nancy Hall DeValve ’81 and her family are on home assignment from Niger. They request prayer that their children adjust well and that many people will have the opportunity to hear about their ministry. Terry Ankenman ’82 is a psychiatric nurse at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is also on the Warren County Children’s Services Board and is active in community theatre. In June, she won a play-writing contest and had her first one-act play, Activists, produced. Ron Hobar ’82 traveled to Australia this past summer for the Olympic Project. This was an outreach event with 100 project participants, 21 sports clinics, and included the distribution of 5000 special sports edition copies of the Jesus film. Dave ’82 and Sandy Ham Moritz ’82 announce the birth of Michael David on November 27, 1999. Sisters Danielle (5) and Lindsey (3) welcomed him home in Baltimore, Maryland, where Dave is a supervisor for USAirways, and Sandy stays busy at home. James Hartsell ’83 received his doctorate in higher education administration from North Carolina State University in May 2000. His dissertation focused on the academic advising needs of career undecided college students. Since 1990, Jim has been a nationally certified counselor at Nash Community College in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He and his wife, Melissa Beach Hartsell ’86 , have three children, Nathaniel (9), Aaron (7), and Kayla (4). Melissa is an active home-school teacher and homemaker. They attend Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Rocky Mount. Lewis Stone ’76 is the minister of music and Christian education at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Flint, Michigan. Patty Neely Zemmer ’76N and her husband, Dave, report that the airclub runway in Brazil has government approval. This will initiate the aviation ministry in their area. University (Indiana). Linda is assistant professor of nursing at Indiana University Kokomo, and her husband, Dave, is a career Air Force officer. They have two children, Channie and Jeremy. Kirk Martin ’76 is the girls’ basketball coach for Southeastern High School in Springfield, Ohio. He and his wife, Vicki Jordan Martin ’77N , traveled with the team to Springfield’s sister city of Casey, Australia, to participate in the Edwin Flack Games this past summer. There were 105 students and coaches from the Springfield area who participated in this mock Olympics. Donald Myers ’76 is assistant director of the master of business administration degree program at Ashland University. He and his wife, Jean, reside in Hayesville, Ohio. Alumnus Challenges “Born-Gay” Viewpoint Dr. Warren Throckmorton ’79 recently presented sexual orientation research at the 2000 American Psychological Association conference in Washington, D.C. Before a standing-room only crowd, Warren spoke at a symposium titled “Gays, Ex-gays, Ex-ex-gays—Examining Key Religious Ethical and Diversity Issues.” Warren’s research included a review of nine “ex-gay studies,” illustrating that sexual orientation can indeed be changed. Research and presentation on this hot topic are rare. The prevailing professional opinion among mental health organizations is the “born gay,” or essentialist, viewpoint. The minority viewpoint is that people are not obligated by their genetic makeup to be gay, but rather adopt a sexual identity based on their life experiences (constructionism). “The mental health professions have adopted the viewpoint that sexual orientation is unchangeable,” Warren said. “My research suggests that such change is possible and occurs often.” “I applaud the APA for placing this program before its members,” Warren continued. “This may demonstrate a shift in APA’s willingness to explore all sides on this matter.” Warren is director of college counseling and an associate professor of psychology at Grove City College (Pennsylvania). Alumna Spinning the Wheel Look for Sharon Franks Burgess ’76 on television! Sharon is scheduled to appear on the ABC Network’s Wheel of Fortune game show on December 28. A freelance voiceover announcer, Sharon waited for more than a year to be called for taping of the program in Los Angeles. “Each step of this process has been a result of answered prayer,” wrote Sharon. “I have only asked the Lord for the opportunity to have fun and give Him all the credit along the way.” Sharon’s husband, Duane, and three children, Aleithia (14), Christiana (11), and Timothy (9), are excited about spending Sharon’s winnings, but Sharon warns them, “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched!” The Burgesses reside in Tucson, Arizona, but will be relocating to the metro-Denver area after Christmas. Help for Adoptive and Foster Parents Wins Honor To say that challenges exist in adoption and foster care situations would be a gross understatement. Jayne Eberling Schooler ’74 and Betsy Keefer joined forces recently to create a book that assists adoptive and foster parents in communicating truth to their non-biological children. The book, Telling the Truth To Your Adopted or Foster Child - Making Sense of the Past, received the Pro Humanitate Medal and a cash prize of $5000 at the Ohio Statewide Adoption and Foster Care Conference, held in Columbus, Ohio, November 2-4, 2000. The book, published by Bergin & Garvey, offers practical guidelines and tools parents can use in telling children the circumstances of their past. The book also presents the developmental stages of how children understand adoption and what needs to be said to a child age-appropriately. The goal is to provide solid foundations for children’s identities and self-esteem, allowing them to become emotionally and psychologically healthy adults. The Pro Humanitate Medal, given by the North American Resource Center for Child Welfare in affiliation with the Institute for Human Services, celebrates outstanding literary achievement of authors from the United States and Canada in the field of child welfare. The Medal is presented annually to a book which exemplifies the intellectual rigor and moral courage required to transcend political and cultural barriers to champion best practice in the field of child welfare. Dr. Ronald Hughes, executive director for the North American Resource Center for Child Welfare, said, “This year’s recipients have authored an excellent resource that helps adoptive parents be both sensitive and truthful with their children regarding their adoption history. This is an intelligent and courageous book.” Previously the adoption services coordinator for Warren County Children Services in Lebanon, Ohio, Jayne is now an affiliate trainer and consultant with Institute for Human Services in Columbus, Ohio. She has authored two other books: The Whole Life Adoption (1993) and Searching for a Past (1995). Inspire 23