Bethel Southwest Fall 2011

Alums Making a Global Difference Page 2

Students Serving around the World Page 2

BethelSouthwest www.bethel.edu Fall 2011

Opening the Resources of Bethel Seminary San Diego to All Friends of Bethel University in the Southwest U.S.

Susan Power Bratton to Open Distinguished Lecturer Series

Susan Power Bratton

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hristian environmental ethicist Susan Power Bratton, Ph.D., will kick off the Bethel Seminary San Diego 2011-2012 Distinguished Lecturer Series

with her presentation “God and the Waters: Theology and Stewardship” at 7 p.m.

Thursday, November 3, in the seminary chapel. Chair of the Department of Environmental Science at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Bratton is passionate about environmental ethics, Christian environmental theology, environmental and landscape history, forest ecology, and the management of parks and natural areas. Among her published works are Environ-

Making a Global Impact

dean’s corner

“T

he passion of Bethel Seminary is to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ among all people in culturally sensitive ways,” begins the vision statement of Bethel Seminary. Thus, all of our educational programs focus on equipping women and men, gifted of God, “to serve and lead so that churches and John R. Lillis ministry agencies can become all they are called to be and do all they are called to do in the world for the glory of God.” We want nothing less than to make a global impact in the name of the living Lord Jesus Christ.

In this issue of Bethel Southwest, you’ll read about Bethel Seminary San Diego students and alumni who are doing just that – for the kingdom’s sake. And you’ll read about the many ways our faculty members model such servant leadership with their regular involvement in ministry all over the world. Bethel Seminary San Diego truly is a “world-class seminary.” •

mental Values in Christian Art; Six Billion and More: Human Population Regulation and Christian Ethics; and Christianity, Wilderness, and Wildlife: The Original Desert Solitaire, as well as numerous articles and book chapters.

Bratton’s presentations continue Friday, November 4, with a luncheon lecture “Walking (and Hiking) with God: A Spirituality of Outdoor Recreation” from noon to 1:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for Bethel Seminary San

Diego students and alumni, and $15 for pastors, lay leaders, and other attendees. Bratton will close her series with “Christian Environmentalism 101: Toward a Sustainable World(view),” a free public lecture at 7 p.m.

All sessions will take place in the Bethel Seminary San Diego Chapel. To RSVP for any or all of the lectures, please contact Mitchell Campbell by October 28 at 619.325.5227 or mitchellcampbell@bethel.edu. •

Faculty: Worldwide Kingdom Influence

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hallmark of Bethel Seminary is our emphasis on global Christianity and the partnerships we develop around the world. Our faculty not only call students to embrace a global perspective in their ministries and faith, but they also set the standard by teaching and ministering overseas. For example:

of the Chinese government.

In February 2011 he taught an intensive seminar course on spiritual theology under the auspices of the Asia Graduate School of Theology consortium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and in June 2011 taught at the Biblical Seminary of the Philippines in Manila.

Glen Scorgie, Ph.D., professor of theology, served in spring 2010 as a visiting scholar and lecturer at the Institute of World Religions of the Chinese Academy of Social Science. He also taught at Renmin (the People’s) University of China, the primary university for future leaders

James D. Smith III, Th.D., professor of church history, has spent recent summers teaching “Early African Christianity” at Daystar University in Kenya; speaking at retreats in Dubai for faithbased, non-governmental organization workers in Arabia; — Faculty continued on page 2

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Alums Make a Difference in Uganda

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od is always in the business of rewriting stories and making all things new,” says Marital and Family Therapy alum Alair Conner ’10. Conner’s reflections came after she accompanied two other Bethel Seminary San Diego alums and one current student to Uganda for two weeks with San Diego’s Flood Church. Serving with Children of the Nations, an international organization that partners with nationals to provide holistic, Christ-centered care for orphaned and destitute children, the four traveled with others from Flood to a northern district of Uganda which, until about five

Three alums and one current seminarian from Bethel Seminary San Diego joined a team from San Diego’s Flood Church to serve with Children of the Nations in Uganda.

years ago, was torn apart by rebel war and child abduction.

“Since the war has died down in various areas, the country is now in the process of rebuilding, and the family unit is a key to that new life,” says Scott Wildey ’07, an associate pastor at Flood.

One highlight of the group’s ministry was facilitating a marriage and family conference focusing on the theological principle that, because we are made in the image of God, every human being has great worth. Through the conference, God used the group to bring hope and healing to children, marriages, and families.

Marriage and family therapist Wanda Brothers ’03 trained Ugandan therapists in play therapy and worked with children in the village who had been severely traumatized during the war. She also participated on a sex and intimacy panel teaching 150 Ugandan women about healthy sexuality in a culture where marital rape occurs regularly. “God is about the work

Students Serving around the World

by Arnell Motz, D.Min. Director of Missional Education

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ive me one example of commitment and passion from this new generation,” my friend challenged me, reflecting some of his despair for the future leadership of the church. I replied, “More tattoos that say ‘I love Jesus’?” My friend was not amused. He was deeply concerned and wanted a serious answer. “My encouragement comes in seeing how our Bethel students are passionate about impacting our world,” I offered. “Impact our world? Isn’t that over-reaching a bit?” he asked.

So I told him about a few of our students taking small steps toward a big vision of global impact. I began with Matt Herbst and Nathan Bruce. For nine weeks this past summer they worked in rural areas of Kenya and Tanzania conducting pastors conferences, distributing Bibles, and ministering in villages (preaching and helping church members do door-to-door ministry and one-on-one discipleship).

“When I was ordering Bibles back in the U.S. I went heavy on children’s Bibles,” Herbst reports. “What a blessing.

Many pastors asked for help specifically for reaching children. One town we visited had the highest HIV rate in Kenya, and therefore the most orphans. The pastors we worked with had no resources or training for reaching children. When we left, one pastor commented, ‘I had no idea how easy it is to share the gospel with children.’ Many of the children gave of restoration!” Brothers exclaims. “I saw that so clearly in this area so torn by war and evil – nothing could stop God’s power or plans!”

All four team members cited their training at Bethel as integral to their preparation for serving God in Uganda.

“The problems of poverty, abuse, neglect, and prejudice have always been a part of life,” observed Marital and Family Therapy student Curt Eklund, “but my education has given me more empathy and hope for those in hurting situations – empathy and hope inspired by the ultimate counselor, Jesus Christ.” • –2–

Bethel Seminary San Diego student Nathan Bruce helped conduct pastors conferences in Kenya and Tanzania.

their lives to Jesus.”

Herbst and Bruce ministered in an area that was 90% Muslim, lived in a slum in Kenya, and even encountered witchcraft among some pastors who saw it as a way to gain followers and increase offerings. The students’ approach was always to bring people back to the centrality of the Word of God.

Then there is Anne Marino, who spent two years teaching history at an evangelical school in the Middle East where 60% of the students come from Muslim families desiring quality education. She reports that many of these students are choosing to follow Christ.

Another student, Brian Perry, is devoting a year in Haiti to help rebuild communities after its disastrous earthquake.

“These students are my encouragement,” I told my friend, “a new generation committed to living as servants, making a global impact for Christ.” • — Faculty continued from page 1

and sharing in church renewal dialogue in the United Kingdom. He also taught “Pioneers of the World Christian Movement” in the United States and Mexico during the past year.

Pamela Powell, D.Min., faculty associate for pastoral care, attended the Lausanne Congress III, Cape Town, South Africa, in October 2010 and a follow-up conference, Lausanne: Mission America Coalition, in Orlando, Fla. in April 2011. More recently she served as lecturer for the Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches in Beirut, Lebanon.

The Annual Fund: Filling the Gap

Faculty Footnotes

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Glen Scorgie, Ph.D., professor of theology, served as general editor of Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, a major reference work published by Zondervan in July 2011. More than 200 writers from around the world contributed to the work, including 34 Bethel University faculty members. James D. Smith III, professor of church history, served as one of three consulting editors.

ethel Seminary San Diego needs your support now more than ever.

The weak economy has affected individuals and organizations alike, and Bethel Seminary San Diego (BSSD) is no exception. BSSD has reached its Annual Fund goal of $200,000 just once in the last three years, while expenditures continue to increase each year, and the cost of a quality BSSD education exceeds tuition revenue.

That’s where you – and the BSSD Annual Fund – come in: your donations help fill the gap between tuition revenue and the actual cost of the seminary’s Christ-centered education. “We are so blessed and thankful for our many committed alumni, parents, and friends for your support of our work on behalf of the kingdom. Our mission to prepare ministry leaders wouldn’t be fulfilled without your help!” says Mark Pearsey, senior development officer for BSSD. “Please prayerfully consider including BSSD in your giving plan for the coming year – including joining the Dean’s Circle with a gift of $1,000.”

Says Bruce Anderson, vice president for development, “We are grateful to our ministry partners – churches, organizations, and individuals – who affirm the work of faculty and Dean John Lillis by investing in BSSD to help fill this gap so that more students who are responding to God’s call to serve the body of Christ will be able to do so.”

Donations are one way to show your support, and partnerships of all kinds that advance our mission are always welcomed. Your prayers for the building project and for students, faculty, and staff of Bethel Seminary, as well as the record number of recent graduates (46), are most appreciated as we look forward to another school year.

Another opportunity for partnership is attending special events for churches and lay leaders. All of these activities make for an exciting hub of ministry and expansion of Christ’s kingdom. You are invited to be a part of it! Learn more at seminary.bethel.edu/ admissions/san-diego/events. •

Capital Project Receives Major Gifts

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ethel University recently received gifts totaling $500,000 toward an expansion project at Bethel Seminary San Diego that includes a two-story, 14,500-squarefoot addition and a 6,800-square-foot renovation. The Solheim Foundation of Phoenix awarded $300,000 to the campaign, and Converge Worldwide donated $200,000.

An extension of the soon-to-expire construction permit has been filed and accepted.

The Bethel University Board of Trustees is closely monitoring the progress of this campaign and prayerfully anticipates its successful completion. •

Ben Lim, Ph.D., professor of marital and family therapy, paid multiple visits to Asia over the past academic year to teach at seminaries and universities in Singapore, Malaysia, and China. Together with his wife Soh-Leong, he conducted classes on marriage and family therapy, parenting, domestic violence, and contextually respectful counseling.

John Lillis, Ph.D., dean and executive officer, in his capacity as a senior associate with the Global Associates for Transformational Education (GATE), spent a week in Bangalore, India, facilitating a faculty development workshop

for 42 faculty members and administrators from four Indian seminaries.

As a founding member of GATE, Lillis has participated in similar workshops throughout Asia and Central and Eastern Europe.

Mark Strauss, Ph.D., professor of New Testament, lectured on Bible translation at the annual meeting of the Australia and New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (ANZATS) in Sydney, Australia, in July. He also lectured at Moore College, Sydney, during a conference celebrating the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible. • –3–

Mark Strauss, Ph.D., professor of New Testament, published How to Read the Bible in Changing Times (Baker, 2011), which deals with the interpretation and application of Scripture in our constantly changing world.

James D. Smith III, Th.D., professor of church history, served as one of three consulting editors for Dictionary of Christian Spirituality (ed. Scorgie), and contributed longer essays on “Pathways to Reform and Renewal,” “Henri Nouwen,” and six others. He also led a breakout session during the Ralph Winter Lectures by Andrew Walls on “Turning Points in World Church History” at the U.S. Center for World Mission in Pasadena, Calif., in April.

Norah Caudill, Ph.D., professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, taught a fourweek series this summer titled “The God Who Lives with Us: Insights from the Tabernacle” at Grace Point Church in San Diego.

Ben Lim, Ph.D., professor of marital and family therapy, together with his wife Soh-Leong, is conducting online research in China on “Changing Attitudes of Chinese Young Adults towards Intimate Relationships: Implications for Marriage and Family Therapy in Mainland China.”

The couple also is writing a book chapter on “Counseling in China.”

David Montzingo, D.Min., faculty associate for Anglican Theology Studies, received a Doctor of Ministry in Sacramental Theology this year from Trinity School of Ministry. Montzingo is rector of Holy Spirit Anglican Church in San Diego. •

calendar of events November

3 Distinguished Lecture Series with Susan Power Bratton,

Ph.D., on “God and the Waters: Theology and

Stewardship.” 7-9 p.m., Bethel Seminary Chapel. Free

public lecture and discussion. RSVP by October 28 to

Mitchell Campbell at mitchell-campbell@bethel.edu or 619.325.5227.

4

Distinguished Lecture Series continues with Susan Power Bratton, Ph.D., on “Walking (and Hiking) with God: A Spirituality of Outdoor Recreation.” Noon-2 p.m., Bethel Seminary Chapel. Luncheon and lecture: $10 Bethel students and alumni; $15 for all other attendees.

RSVP by October 28 to Mitchell Campbell at mitchell-campbell@bethel.edu or 619.325.5227.

4

Distinguished Lecture Series continues with Susan Power Bratton, Ph.D., on “Christian Environmentalism 101: Toward a Sustainable World(view).” 7-9 p.m., Bethel Seminary Chapel. Free public lecture and discussion.

RSVP by October 28 to Mitchell Campbell at mitchell-campbell@bethel.edu or 619.325.5227.

18

Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) gathering. Topic TBA. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Bethel Seminary Chapel. $5 for therapists; $3 for graduate students, interns, and alumni. For details or to register, contact Laura Simpson at lcs53974@bethel.edu or 619.325.5226.

28 Bethel Seminary San Diego Annual Christmas Chapel.

6:45-7:30 p.m. in the Bethel Seminary Chapel. All

friends, students, alumni, and family members are

invited. Come and sing carols, hear from a special

speaker, and join us for refreshments following the service.

December

23 Closed for Christmas until January 2, 2012 January

20

Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) gathering. Topic TBA. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Bethel Seminary Chapel. $5 for therapists; $3 for graduate students, interns, and alumni. For details or to register, contact Laura Simpson at lcs53974@bethel.edu or 619.325.5226.

Memorial Gifts

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ethel Seminary San Diego is grateful for generous gifts offered in memory of those who have passed away. We are blessed to have received gifts from Helga McFarland in honor of her husband B.J. McFarland; and from Eric Smith, Donna Hall, Robyn Thompson, and Daniel and Lois Hale in honor of Bob Mast. •

seminary.bethel.edu/sandiego Bethel Seminary San Diego 6116 Arosa Street San Diego, CA 92115

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