Hillcrest Connection Winter 2018

WINTER 2018

CONNECTION FEATURE

GOING FULL-CIRCLE FOCUS

A ROOMMATE STORY ALUMNI PROFILE

LOVE CONNECTION

Then + Now WAYNE TAKING PHOTOS

RE OF U T A N S ENCE MELES I I R T E E P H X T E CREST L L I H THE 17_046_Hillcrest_Connection_Winter_2017-18_FINAL.indd 1

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Dear friends, Some things are simply timeless. A handwritten letter or thank you card and a firm handshake never go out of style.

One of my favorites is the smell of old books.

Other things, well, let's just say that some things are less timeless. My senior picture, for example. In the fall of my senior year I spent some significant resources on that brown tweed sportcoat. The brown knit tie and the matching brown sweater were accessorized by my brown glasses and carefully selected brown background. There was a lot of brown in my senior picture. I carefully coiffed my hair in the cool style of 1984, hair parted in the middle and feathered back. I was looking good.

Now, I just shake my head and laugh at my senior picture.

Fashion and hairstyles change with every generation. When my father was eighteen years old, the top pop artists were in vinyl, and names like Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, and George Clooney’s aunt, Rosemary Clooney, were printed in big bold fonts across the album covers. The musicians of my youth were played in eight tracks. Artists like Prince, Cyndi Lauper, and Phil Collins had their music on plastic cassettes that filled boxes in my car. I should clarify that Frank Sinatra is timeless. I still listen to him on my satellite radio when I’m visiting alumni around the states.

In this issue of the Hillcrest Connection I think you will enjoy the thread of the timeless nature of the Hillcrest experience.

The students dress in a style that is different from generations past, and the music they enjoy is accessed by the swipe of their fingers rather than boomboxes on their shoulders. And

yet, the things that are timeless are still in place at Hillcrest.

We still see God at work in the Castle on the hill.

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In this edition you will read about the heart of global mission that is reflected in our school. The thread that ties our African students to a heartbeat that started pounding at Hillcrest in the 1920s is strong. The timeless call to prayer that started in the winter of 1907 was still heard and heeded by the student body in the traditional Prayer Day that continues to have significant influence in students’ lives. And then there are of testimonies. You’ll hear from our current students who are growing in the Lord like many of us did during our time in the Castle. And we’ll reflect on the memories of dear friends who have been welcomed home by the Savior whom many of us began to know in our school.

I trust that as you read this Connection, you will be reminded of the timeless nature of your experience at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. I invite you to reflect on your own stories with me by simply calling our school and asking for the President’s office. I would love to connect with you, hear your story, and share how God’s timeless character is being reflected in your school, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy.

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Grace and Peace,

BRAD HOGANSON | President (SENIOR PICTURE FROM HLA)

LIVE. LEARN. GO. EQUIPPING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR A LIFE OF ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE

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GREETING

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HILLCRESTC O N N E C T I O N |

WINTER 2018

IN THIS ISSUE 4

Feature

GOING FULL-CIRCLE I L L C R E S T > A F R I C A > H I L L C R E S T] [H The Call o f t he C LB to

Africa

16

8

Focus

J e f f Ri chards and G a y lan M at hi e se n: A ROOMMATE STORY

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Alumni Profile LO V E CO NNE CTIO N

Academics

Shelly Choi and

SCIENC E + IN NOVATION AT HI L LC R E S T

Kjetil Nilsen

18

Campus Update

25

Significant Stories

HURRICANE REFLECTIONS WAYNE STENDER '02 | Dir. of Mktg.

Editor-in-Chief wstender@ffhillcrest.org AMANDA PORRITT '05 | Creative Dir. Managing Editor/Graphic Design aporritt@ffhillcrest.org BRAD HOGANSON '84 | President Contributing Editor bhoganson@ffhillcrest.org Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 610 Hillcrest Drive Fergus Falls, MN 56537 www.ffhillcrest.org

DAWN SYNSTELIEN | Exec. Assistant Contributing Editor dsynstelien@ffhillcrest.org

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HILLCREST ACADEMY BOARD OF DIRECTORS JAHN DYVIK '79 | Secretary Long Lake, MN

VAUGHN KAVLIE '82 | Vice Chair Eden Prairie, MN

JOSIAH LARSON, '02 Minneapolis, MN

ERIC EWAN '92 Fergus Falls, MN

HEIDI KONYNENBELT Fergus Falls, MN

SUE LEACH Naperville, IL

KATHERINE HEGGLAND '00 Brooklyn, NY

JEFFREY LANGNESS '92 Fargo, ND

MARK SOHOLT '67 | Chair Cape Coral, FL PAUL QUAM '93 Fergus Falls, MN

MISSION The mission of Hillcrest Lutheran Academy is to equip students in a STATEMENT Christ-centered, Bible-based environment for a life of eternal significance.

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GOING FULL-CIRCLE I L LC R E ST > A F R I C A > H I L LC R E ST ] [ H

T h e Ca l

Berge Revne

Lutheran Bible School Class of 1914: (Second Row) Martin Valderhaug, Gilbert Stenoien, Marie Skovholt, Berge Revne, E.M. Strom; (Front Row) Finn Larsen, C.A. Ask, Lornts Aasheim

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al l o f t h e C L B to

A f ric a

BY WAYNE STENDER '02

A GREAT GRANDFATHER'S LEGACY //

In 1914 BERGE REVNE sat in a stuffy classroom in Grand Forks, North Dakota listening to a tearful teacher. As E.M. Broen paused his teaching to wipe tears he shed for the lost in the world, students scribbled notes in Norwegian, pulling life-changing lessons from the words that echoed in the dimly lit classroom filled with Bible School students. The simple Christian education Revne received led to an inspiring story that has shaped Hillcrest as we welcome students from the African continent.

Revne’s classes helped mold a blond-haired boy into a Norwegian evangelist with viking-like resolve. Statistics from his Church History class weighed heavily in Revne’s notebook, as he frequently paused in astonishment to consider the number of people who had never heard the Gospel. The barrage of numbers translated to souls in Africa as Revne sat in the dusty classrooms where he looked over the expanse of North Dakota.

HIS MASSIVE HANDS, WEATHERED FROM SEASONS OF FARMING, GRIPPED THE COLLARED SHIRT THAT DRAPED OVER HIS CHEST WHERE HIS SOUL STARTED TO ACHE FOR THE HEART OF AFRICA.

The Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLB) had a decadesold ministry to China when Revne graduated from the Bible School. The Bible School, and subsequent High School, were training grounds for lay people to engage in larger mission fields. As Revne realized his future in missions, he

began seeking a call from the Lutheran Brethren’s mission organization. When a return letter from the CLB mission group directed him to China, he politely declined. He felt called to another people, and his decision would be used to build an expanding mission heart in the CLB, directing their vision across the Atlantic Ocean.

REVNE WAITED. After completing his work at Bible School, declining the mission invitation to China, he called the CLB to a mission outreach in Africa. The mission culture worldwide was beginning to embrace a passion for Africa after the world answered the call to China at the turn of the century.

A 1910 mission conference in Edinburg, Scotland caught the attention of many larger mission organizations, and the eyes of missionaries started scanning Africa. Revne hoped to convince the CLB to embrace the new continent. It wasn’t easy.

Articles in the CLB periodical raised a call to Africa, and homes were stirred. The Lord pricked the hearts of individual church members to consider the unreached people in what mission groups were calling the dark continent. At the CLB annual convention in 1915 a motion to consider mission outreach in Africa was presented on the floor for discussion. Conversation was enlightening, and a deep concern was shared by the convention, but Revne walked gingerly out the church doors without a call. So, his bags remained unpacked.

F E AT U R E

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CLB President E.H. Gunhus took a bold step following Revne’s disappointment, pointedly writing in a synod periodical that, “AMONG THE NORWEGIANS WE OFTEN HEAR THE CRY, ‘CHINA FOR CHRIST.’ WHY NOT ‘AFRICA FOR CHRIST?’” The response was negative. A fear arose in the

synod that the added cost in sending missionaries to Africa would jeopardize the work of the CLB in China. The vision for the CLB in Africa was threatened by a fear of finances.

The CLB nevertheless commissioned the Board of Missions to explore in great detail a mission venture in Africa. They presented a report to the CLB Convention of 1917 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Two full sessions were committed to the report, drawing out questions of whether the CLB should open a new mission outreach, thereby joining a massive movement of mission forces to the heart of Africa. The arduous discussion eventually led to a vote to open CLB missions in Africa. It passed unanimously.

REVNE WAITED TWO FULL YEARS FOR HIS CALL TO AFRICA. After the vote at the convention, Revne and

his wife floated on excitement as they prepared to leave the United States for the Sudan. Passport delays kept the young missionary couple from boarding the boat in their timeframe, a small exercise that would build muscles necessary for future challenges. Finally, in the winter of 1918, Berge and Herborg Revne stepped foot on the African coastline, a proverbial landing on the moon that was a strong statement that the CLB is open to the people of the world.

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The Revnes celebrated Christmas with a band of missionaries in Nigeria. The Sudan United Mission welcomed the couple that January as co-laborers, equipping the Revnes for their work with Nigeria’s largest people group. However, the Sudan United Mission desired all missionaries to break denominational ties and meld into an ecumenical effort. The Revnes didn’t want to leave their CLB roots, and started a nearly two year exploration of unreached places in Africa, giving the CLB a heart for the entire continent, rather than a simple region or people group focus as other mission sites had developed.

Revne’s viking-like instincts took over. He traveled over untraversed land, writing to supporters to communicate his heart. “The Norwegian people, whether in Norway or America have never refused to travel...We who work for the Kingdom of God should be willing to overcome even the dangers of the north pole or south pole in order to get the Gospel out!”

Overlooking serene settings in the heart of Africa, Revne desired that the CLB develop a passion for this part of the world, knowing that technology would soon open opportunities of greater contact. In a letter written to the CLB convention of 1920, Revne noted, “I believe that airplanes will be no small factor in the spreading of the Gospel, especially in Africa.”

Revne’s expansive vision planted a mission group in Cameroon that morphed to fund its own church body, growing independently from CLB support in the 1960s, fully selffunctioning with no CLB missionary support in 1997. Mission outposts throughout Chad, Africa also resulted in Revne’s

F E AT U R E

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// A GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER'S STORY

passion to reach across land and sea to minister to unreached groups. This expansive vision drew out expressions in the DNA of the CLB that is represented today at Hillcrest. Revne could not have foreseen that in a few generations his great granddaughter, KARISSA WEIBE, would sit in Hillcrest classrooms realizing his prophetic words about technology enhancing mission outreach fulfilled at Hillcrest Academy.

Karissa sat at the lunch table at the CLB Youth Convention with the August air turning slightly dry. She gazed at the Rocky Mountains from the lunchroom window as her six friends pondered Hillcrest. Questions about Hillcrest’s athletics programs, financial aid, and how the dormitories work seemed like menial questions for a handful of hearts who were feeling pulled to Hillcrest. Karissa spoke of the things she would miss, of spending time with family and her love for cheerleading, but a short sentence revealed an aspect of her ancestry that is becoming more real at Hillcrest: “I want to build my own faith.”

Karissa Weibe, Revne's great granddaughter now at HLA

Over the next few weeks Karissa vacillated between attending Hillcrest and staying home. Students had started climbing the four flights of Hillcrest’s steeple to move belongings into the dorm when Karissa’s mother left a voicemail at Hillcrest asking if it was too late for Karissa to join. The flurry of paperwork, trips to Walmart to stock her room, and meeting a host of new students kept Karissa busy until the second week of school, when she was finally able to settle in to Hillcrest and focus on the reason she is attending.

Now sitting atop her third floor perch overlooking Fergus Falls it is hard not to draw connection between Karissa’s story and her great grandfather’s. Revne ventured in unknown territory to expand the hearts of the CLB in Africa. Karissa can look down the hall of her dorm room and see four African countries represented. In many ways, Revne's work opened doors to welcome students from Africa into the school tradition that called him to give the Gospel to their country. As Karissa lives her time at Hillcrest it is exciting to think that this story has come full-circle, opening hearts and minds to consider the expanse of God’s providence and supply, as he completes His mission with a small school dedicated to training young people for a life of Gospel-oriented significance.

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Jeff Ric hards a n d G ayla n M at hies e n : A ROOMMATE STORY

BY WAYNE STENDER '02

Hillcrest Chapel with a Map of the World, 1968

Jeff Richards sprinted from the shallow shore of Pebble Beach outside of Fergus Falls, his sun-bleached hair plastered to his forehead. The sound of the lifeguard’s whistle echoed in the trees on the hillside, signaling all within earshot to quickly leave the beach as a snapping turtle passed in front of the shore.

Squinting into the sun, Jeff had little foreknowledge that his parent’s move in a few months would lead him to venture back to Fergus Falls to attend Hillcrest as a dorm student. THE ROOMMATE HE

WOULD CONNECT WITH IN THE FIRST SEMESTER OF HIS SENIOR YEAR WOULD SHARE A SIMILAR PATH AS HE, DEVOTING HIS LIFE TO AN ACADEMIC PURSUIT OF EVANGELISM.

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FOCUS

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Jeff Richards, Senior Year, 1968

J e f f R i c ha r d s grew-up in the shadow of Hillcrest’s

steeple. His home on the corner of Arthur Street and Alcott Avenue gave him line-of-sight to the classrooms that sat atop the gymnasium he would visit with his grade school tennis shoes and beatup leather basketball. When Jeff’s family moved to North Carolina, interrupting his high school plans in Fergus Falls, Jeff was jarred. The distinctly Christian environment in Fergus Falls was a distant memory in the aggressively secular environment he found in the Tar-Heel state. His senior year he longed for more than the serene countryside of Fergus Falls, he packed his bags for Hillcrest to step back into an environment that would foster his faith.

In the fall of 1967, Jeff boarded a plane that touched down in Fargo, North Dakota. The 52-mile drive with dorm director Warren Olson formed a bond, something Jeff would need as he spread his wings at Hillcrest. Jeff hiked up four flights of stairs to find his room next to the steel door where scents of perfume would waft between the cracks as girls would laugh and talk about their Hillcrest crushes. In Jeff’s room, on the

bed adjacent from him, sat a young sophomore student, Gaylan Mathiesen. A scene would play out nightly over the next three-months with the two roommates. Jeff would start simple conversations, Gaylan would shyly sit at his desk with his Bible open, trying to stay out of trouble. The two built a unique friendship on their perch in the Castle, a possible fostering of careers where both would eventually find themselves in academia and missions, propelled by their unique Hillcrest experience, to make disciples in foreign lands.

Gaylan Mathiesen, Sophomore Year, 1968

G a y l a n Ma th i e s en trekked up four flights of stairs hours before Jeff moved into their shared room in August. A sense of awe and wonder gripped Gaylan as he lay his suitcase on his new bed. His brother had subscribed the family to National Geographic, and after Gaylan was finished learning about remote villages in Africa he would thumb through the list of boarding schools in the back, curious what a life in a military school would be like. A need to improve his outlook on school led him to Hillcrest, and living in the dorms was the soft-exposure to an ordered life that would direct Gaylan to the nations.

In the first months in the Castle, Gaylan learned valuable lessons. He understood what it looked like to manage homework loads, and how to decipher the sound of Warren Olson’s slippers from other students’. The lesson that would stick with him for the rest of his life was the morning reading of Scripture before school. “The dorm was very structured, which was exactly what I needed.”

Over the coming months Gaylan and Jeff shared a dorm experience that both say was warm, welcoming, and exactly what they needed. Both at different stages of life, their experience together was a foreshadowing of career paths they would choose, specifically directed by their Hillcrest experience.

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Omar Gjerness

Joel Lunde

The two heard Richard Wurmbrand at the annual missions conference, a Romanian minister who declared Communism and Christianity incompatible and spent three years in solitary confinement in communist Russia. This experience added to their daily interactions with men like Omar Gjerness, whose Church History class drove Jeff deeper into the study, and Joel Lunde, whose stories from the mission field propelled Gaylan to consider a future life as a missionary.

Through a period of questioning, G ayla n felt called into the pastorate after some time in Bible School and Seminary with the Lutheran Brethren. It was while serving in Park Rapids that Gaylan felt a burden to bring the Gospel to Japan, after seeing a map of Japan painted black with a handful of pinpricks of light showing where churches were in the country. After planting two churches and passing them off to local Japanese Christians, Gaylan was called to teach at Northwestern College in St. Paul before joining the Lutheran Brethren Seminary as professor of Mission and Evangelism.

He is now equipping seminary students with a missional view of Scripture as they venture into the pastorate, propelled from his foundational experience in Hillcrest’s halls.

Mathiesen Family Photo with Coworker Ms. Sasaki in Japan

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FOCUS

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J e f f followed his love of academics after Hillcrest in attending Pfeiffer University before receiving his Masters in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and his Masters in Philosophy from Drew University. He went on for postdoctoral study at Oxford University and the Universitat in Tubingen, Germany. He later earned his Doctor in Theology from Marbug University in Germany. Through his academic pursuits, Jeff has seen a hunger for theological studies in foreign lands, devoting most of his time to teaching in places like Russia and throughout Africa. Sensing an ongoing hunger for Christian education in parts of the world that aren’t as concerned with earning a degree and obtaining credits, Jeff makes frequent trips throughout Africa and Europe to bring Christian teaching that conserves the time-tested realities of Scripture. Jeff is now equipping church leaders around the world to hold tightly to a Christ-centric view of Scripture as they engage in their local ministries. His love for expanding

Jeff granting a certificate of seminary study to a pastor from the Congo who is part of 300 ministers reaching 90 thousand people with the Gospel there

the church was first realized in Hillcrest’s classrooms, and in the small dormitory room he shared for three months with Gaylan Mathiesen, who likewise has devoted his life to sharing Christ in foreign lands following higher learning.

Jeff and Deb Richards connecting with local representatives at the Governor's office in Merida, Yucatan, 2010

Jeff standing with Sweden in the background after teaching at the Baltic Reformed Theological Seminary in the post-communist region of Latvia

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LOVE CONNECTION

Shelly Choi and Kjetil Nilsen

BY WAYNE STENDER '02

Shelly Choi and Kjetil Nilsen started dating three weeks before graduation. Their last minute romance turned into a marriage proposal nearly two years later—another captivating love story found under the Hillcrest steeple. But, in a recent visit to Hillcrest, the couple found a renewed focus for the obstacles facing their marriage as they were reminded of the simple love commitment they found at Hillcrest in 2015.

Shelly attended Hillcrest her sophomore and junior year, but left the first semester of her senior year. She attended a junior college in Seattle, hoping to get a jump on her future. But after a few weeks she realized she made a mistake. She missed more than the rolling hills surrounding Fergus Falls; she longed for the close-knit, intentional community of Hillcrest.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

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Kjetil journeyed to Hillcrest on recommendation of spiritual mentors in Danielsen School in Bergen, Norway. His elder friends shared that Hillcrest was a great place to build one's faith. Kjetil grew in maturity and leadership during his time at Hillcrest, taking every opportunity to build friendships while growing in confidence in his faith as he plugged in to the worship team.

The two met when Shelly surprised friends by returning to Hillcrest mid-way through her senior year. Unable to sleep due to excitement, Shelly woke early for breakfast and stood as the first person in line for the doors to open to the cafeteria on a chilly January morning following Hillcrest's Christmas vacation. Kjetil was an early riser, and noticed that Shelly was new and, taking every advantage of his American experience, easily introduced himself and started to build a friendship. Little did he know this friendship would later lead to a set of rings that communicate a life-changing promise.

Shelly first realized her feelings for Kjetil at the Junior-Senior banquet, where the two agreed to accompany each other because of their ongoing friendship formed over a bowl of cereal in Hillcrest's cafeteria. After the banquet, the two went on a handful of dates, resolving to work on their relationship as they faced the looming graduation weekend, when Shelly would travel back to South Korea and Kjetil would join his friends on a plane bound for Bergen, Norway.

Graduation weekend felt like a slap in the face, but the two turned the other cheek, determined to Skype over the next year.

Their tear-filled goodbye in the Perkins parking lot lingered before Shelly folded into the back seat of a van bound for the airport while Kjetil hugged friends with tears in his eyes.

After unpacking wedding gifts, and placing their wedding album on the shelf of their new home, Kjetil and Shelly were met with difficult news. Kjetil would need to work nearly full-time to reach the income level Norway requires for an immigrant spouse visa. Kjetil is in the middle of a program to become a dentist, and doesn't have time nor energy to work full-time. The stress was nearly unbearable, causing significant questions of God's goodness. It was in the middle of this challenge that the two decided they needed to take a trip to the seedbed of their love, Hillcrest Academy.

When the two arrived at Hillcrest, their plan was to simply visit friends and connect with Kjetil's cousin who is currently attending Hillcrest. However, what the two discovered is that the trip bolstered their hope for their future in Norway.

Lunch dates with Hillcrest faculty and late night conversations in the home of former teachers have encouraged the couple.

Shelly confessed, "I really needed this trip. I was questioning God a lot...now, I have hope in what He is doing."

Shelly and Kjetil both confessed that seeing former teachers and mentors who are desperately concerned with the couple's relationship with God, church attendance, and how they're integrating their faith into their marriage has been a balm on a wound of early marriage struggles. They have seen the strength in marriage of former teachers, some of whom have dealt with their own difficulties in obtaining a visa for their spouse. In these poignant moments of reconnecting, the two have found a new resolve to face the obstacles that are waiting for them in Norway, a renewed focus after a hearty reprieve at Hillcrest Academy.

Skype was not ideal to communicate, but the two committed to work through the distance to continue their relationship. Shelly eventually joined Kjetil in Norway, serving at a missionary training center which gave her a visa to stay in Norway for longer than a few weeks. Kjetil proposed in August 2016, and the two planned weddings in South Korea and Norway. The melding of cultures seemed natural for Kjetil and Shelly, who exercised cross-cultural communication skills through their time at Hillcrest, honing their abilities to relate to foreign cultures in the fledgling days of their marriage. However, the greatest challenge lay around the corner, and was more serious than deciding on kimchi or lefse for their dinner sides.

enga

ged!

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“

”

Not by might nor by power, saith the Lord, but by my spirit.

WOU L D YOU JOI N US ?

BY PRESIDENT BRAD HOGANSON '84

One of my first spiritual encounters with students this fall was See You At The Pole. We did this in Marysville, WA, and Succasunna, NJ, when I was a pastor. Students gather around the school flag pole, often times holding hands, praying that God would be present in their school. Something was different when we prayed at the Hillcrest flagpole in September. Facing the Hillcrest building, with the flagpole in the foreground, is a headstone that is growing more meaningful to me as I progress in my role as President. I don’t think I paid much attention to it when I was a student but the marker has taken on a new meaning for me because of the man it honors.

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The headstone is a marker commemorating the life of E.M. Broen. Broen was a strong voice for Hillcrest, founding it out of the Lutheran Brethren Schools (LBS) in 1916. He tragically died in Norway on an evangelistic tour in 1938. The school and his family could not afford to transport his earthly remains back to U.S. soil, so he is buried in Norway. The school erected a headstone that sits in front of a patio facing the Castle to celebrate the life of its founder. In studying this man I have grown to see the steady hand of God on Hillcrest Academy.

VA L U E + V I S I O N

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”

r, t.

In 1903, then LBS President E.M. Broen led a service dedicating the schools to the Lord’s service. He preached from Zechariah 4:1-10, finding striking similarities between a remnant that desired to serve the Lord in Israel and what he called the “courageous pioneers” launching LBS. Broen noted that both groups faced a mountain of obstacles, drawing out fears that their work would be in vain. But in all this, Broen’s voice must’ve sounded like a confident warrior when he spoke of the work in founding the schools, saying the words from Zechariah, “Not by might nor by power, saith the Lord, but by my spirit.”

I’ve read that Broen was completely convinced that the God who worked miracles in the past, like those in Zechariah, would also perform miracles of grace in the founding of the school. He noted a few small miracles: the forming of teachers and students into a school body, and the impressive show of support from the Church of the Lutheran Brethren in founding the schools. He especially noted the prayers of praying friends who were desperately concerned with training youth to know Jesus Christ. In all this, there is one simple phrase that is captivating me. Broen said, quoting Zechariah, “Despise not the day of small beginnings.” Those small beginnings are continuing to have an everlasting impact one hundred and fourteen years later.

Sometimes my ears ring on my walk home from work. I hear so many stories of students whose lives have been changed at

Hillcrest. I look at this current time at Hillcrest, like Broen looked at the Old Testament stories, and I know that God is at work in this place. I am convinced this work resembles that of the founding of LBS, and reflects the resolve Broen noted in Zechariah.

However, there are some obstacles that are staring me down that I cannot overcome by simple hope. We are facing some difficult decisions with our program that the Lord has called us to address. Most of these obstacles are financial. I am writing this simple note in this publication of the Connection as a call to you to consider joining us in keeping this ministry, started over 100 years ago, able to reach broadly to train students in building faith, developing intellect, and strengthening character. Please join me in praying for this ministry that is founded on Jesus Christ, and if you feel called to give financially, please contact me personally. I would love to hear your Hillcrest story, share a few more stories from our halls, and talk through how you’d like to partner with your school in broadening our reach and continuing our faithful presentation of the Gospel.

BRAD HOGANSON President

218.737.6402 office bhoganson@ffhillcrest.org

2017 FALL SEMESTER SNAPSHOT

115+

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8

3

PRAYER DAYS TO DATE

DIFFERENT BIBLE CLASSES OFFERED

SENIOR TESTIMONIES SHARED FOR CHAPEL FIRST SEMESTER

STUDENTS BAPTIZED IN 2017

19

4

4

40+

PRAYER GROUPS MET DURING PRAYER DAY IN OCTOBER

MOVEMENTS IN HLA'S SQUARE ONE THEME: CREATION, FALL, REDEMPTION, RESTORATION

BACKYARD WORSHIP NIGHTS BY HILLCREST STUDENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY

STUDENTS IN HILLCREST’S WORSHIP TEAMS THIS FALL

VA L U E + V I S I O N

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S C I E NCE + I N NOVAT ION AT H I L LC RE ST

1950s Industrial Arts at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy

“The faculty has decided to campus you for four weeks,” the letter read. The signature at the bottom added weight to the flimsy paper held in the scrapbook. “Instead of sending you home...this gives you another chance.” E.M. Broen’s name was scrawled across the bottom of the letter.

Tellef Senum was campused from March 1 to 29 in the spring of 1920. In two years he would walk into his dorm room in Grand Forks, ND, to pack his belongings in a trunk,

The four weeks Senum spent confined to the Hillcrest campus strengthened a character that he would use, along with his creative, mischievous ways, to become a world renowned scientist.

delicately placing his diploma on top.

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Senum established the Fibertone Company in Los Angeles in 1960, after serving in a series of teaching posts in the midwest following his college experience. His company manufactured pharmaceuticals, and his innovative research and development listed him in the American Men of Science, the Chemical Who’s Who, Who’s Who in the West, World’s Who’s Who in Commerce and Industry, Dictionary of International Biography, and the Royal Blue Book of Leaders of the English Speaking World. Senum was one of the first graduates of the Lutheran Brethren High School department, later named Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. He is a proverbial forefather of Hillcrest’s award winning science department, which has recently become known for their innovative research and development.

ACADEMICS

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Robotics Competition 2015

Hillcrest’s robotics team has had students move on to do significant things in engineering.

They are the reigning champions of the Bison BEST robotics competition in the Northern Plains region which includes schools from the midwest and northeast United States. It is a premier robotics showcase.

Over 36 schools made it to the Northern Plains championship this year, and 32 competed. Hillcrest stepped in to continue their seven-year dominance in the competition, behind a unique relationship the robotics club has with Hillcrest’s engineering class.

This year over forty students enrolled in engineering. Many from the class boarded a bus in their first month at Hillcrest to travel to North Dakota State University to research the field of play for the robot competition in November and December. The group studied obstacles and tasks the robot would need to overcome.

They took measurements of tight corners the robot would need to speed around, plotting trajectories the robot would need to shoot projectiles to gain points. With their notebooks full, the class ventured back into Hillcrest’s maker-space, the former cafeteria in the basement of the Castle that has become the home of the engineering program at Hillcrest Academy.

The class sat in small groups, plotting robot designs before venturing into the computer-aided drafting component of the course. In choosing the best design, the class passed plans on to the robotics team, which began fabricating an actual robot using the engineering class’s build models from Hillcrest’s 3D printer.

Eldad Eymifie leads Hillcrest's robot marketing presentation.

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In building the robot, the club inevitably pushes back on the design from the engineering class, and the two groups work to navigate the world of theory and practical design. Their work together is a test kitchen that many will live the rest of their careers in, challenging good ideas with practical building to find the best design.

Hillcrest has been in the top two places the past five years for the overall competition, usually holding the trophy for the Founders award. The Founders award celebrates the best and most innovative design of the robot in the competition field. Hillcrest is most often the team with the target on their back, consistently coming up with the most creative and innovative designs.

Hillcrest continues to challenge students in the areas of philosophy, rhetoric, and logic, strong subjects that easily relate to a wellthought out Christian life. There is also a strong history of applied science training at Hillcrest that continues a century-old tradition of directing attention to a designed and organized universe. It should be noted that

Hillcrest is a top school in the country in applied sciences, and the robotics team is proof that students at Hillcrest are creating things that may someday change and challenge the world. Many current students are likely to join their legacy to that of Tellef Senum, with fond Hillcrest memories and sometimes embarrassing stories of how they strengthened character while developing intellect in a strong faith-forming community at Hillcrest Academy.

The 2017 robot named after local fire chief Sparky Anderson

Hillcrest won top honors with their smallest robotics club to date

17 1/5/18 News 4:59 PM Robotics and

MERIT SCHOLAR

Hillcrest Senior Eric Konynenbelt is one of nearly 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation being recognized for their exceptional academic promise as part of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation's National Merit Scholar Program. Although Eric will not continue in the 2018 competition for the National Merit Scholarship awards, as a Commended Student he is recognized as having placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.6 million students who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)

ACT SCORES + NEW PROGRAM

The national average for the ACT is 21. The test is a benchmark for students across the nation looking to attend college. Hillcrest boasted an average score for the 55 student graduating class of 25.1. This accomplishment was prior to Hillcrest’s new program to equip students for the SAT and ACT tests.

Studies show 40 hours of study in test preparation is essential in boosting student scores in the tests.

Hillcrest is now offering free test preparation as part of their academic school day, allowing one of the eight classes Juniors or Seniors take to be an SAT and/or ACT test preparation class. The course will be monitored in Hillcrest’s online learning lab with daily and weekly assignments to chart student progress, unveiling another step in Hillcrest’s ongoing success in preparing students for college.

EAGLE SCOUT

Trevor Antuñya completed his application process for Hillcrest Academy while the family was on vacation, a few days before he would board a plane to venture to Hillcrest for his Junior year. In hearing God’s call to Hillcrest, Trevor wrapped up his Eagle Scout project. The capstone endeavor in Boy Scouts had Trevor design, fund, and build a granite bench in an East Hartland, Connecticut cemetery. The seating area faces the American flag, and is dedicated to all who have served in the armed forces.

HORSE-SHOWING

Wyatt Gilbertson is a Freshman at Hillcrest, and in his three years at the Castle he has implemented lessons from the ring to his classroom experience. Gilbertson is an expert horse-hand, earning a trip to the Minnesota State Fair with two horses. He had to choose one horse to compete in the three-minute competition, opting for his young horse Ace who is blind in one eye.

Wyatt commanded leadership for his horse, who only had half the field of vision of the competition due to his blindness. Wyatt earned an 8th place finish with Ace, looking forward to many more years of competition.

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VOLLEYBALL

The Lady Comets gathered this year for a special exhibition game that marked the end of a career and a highlight for the Lady Comets this season. Diamond Twedt discovered a rare heart defect halfway through her eighth grade volleyball season. Surgery was imminent. The Lady Comets rallied around Diamond, working with the Fergus Falls Public School to schedule one last game for Diamond, whose surgery would prohibit her from ever playing the sport again.

The Varsity Comets formed a loud cheering section, building a sense of pride in the underclassmen, forming a solid foundation of love for a growing program at Hillcrest.

C A M P U S U P D AT E

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1/5/18 5:00 PM

ART + PRAYER DAY

Hillcrest’s Fall Prayer Day saw an incredible display of artistic talent that is blooming at the Castle. Junior Sylvia Venberg live painted a scene of creation during day one of prayer day. As the praise team and speakers introduced times and teachings in prayer, Venberg labored on the canvas, revealing a masterpiece as day one closed. As day two of prayer day opened, Norwegian student Leonora Tuvin painted black over Venberg’s masterpiece, depicting the offense of the fall for the entire school. Tuvin then set out to paint a clouded scene that drew relevance from the power of sin to cloud the design of God. The paintings were done in conjunction with Hillcrest’s theme, Square One. The school has embarked on exploring the metanarrative of Scripture, spending a quarter each in the creation, fall, redemption, and restoration movements in the Biblical narrative as part of Hillcrest’s chapel and spiritual formation program.

WORSHIP TEAMS

Hillcrest’s praise teams traditionally play for chapels on Friday during the student testimony segment of the Chapel program. When over 40 students completed applications and showed up for the opening rehearsals for Hillcrest’s praise teams, Chapel coordinator Ryan Garvin got creative. Garvin has formed four different opportunities for the various praise teams.

They play in Friday chapels, for dorm worship events each month, coordinate the music sets for the Hillcrest Prayer Days, participate in the Christmas Concert, and organize outdoor worship events. This fall the group has held an outdoor worship event each month, with one of the more memorable times being a sunrise worship service at a local wildlife refuge. Students are being stretched to take their praise and worship singing outside of the church into backyards, coffee shops and into nature, forming a confidence and boldness in praising Jesus.

SOCCER

Hillcrest’s Boys Soccer team scored 126 goals this season, letting a paltry 29 shots slip past their defender into their net. This was the foundation for the Comets’ 16-3 record that saw the Comets end their season against rival St. Cloud Cathedral in a bid for the State tournament. The Comets saw head coach Rod Jensen move beyond 230 wins this year as they completed another dominant season.

The Lady Comets started their soccer season with a 7-2 win. In the coming weeks the Comets would fight for a .500 record on their way to earning a bid as one of Hillcrest’s best female soccer teams.

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1/5/18 5:00 PM

CROSSING CULTURES BILL BUI'S STORY

BY HANNE YNDESTAD '18

“What’s holding you back? Why don’t you believe in God?” Adrian Eide’s crucial questions revealed Bill Bui’s lack of faith.

They proved to be life-changing probes.

Bill Bui filled out Hillcrest’s online application in his search for a place to grow more confident in speaking English. His sights were set on an American university, and Hillcrest offered a great education at an affordable price that would allow him to catapult into college. He didn’t foresee that growing in English in Hillcrest’s Christ-centered classrooms would blossom into a faith in Jesus Christ.

Bill was born in Vietnam, and started attending Hillcrest in 2014 as a freshman. From the moment his bags hit the tile floor in the Sletta-Strom dormitory, Bill has been growing.

He started Hillcrest as a shy and nervous freshman. He turned inward for most of his first year at Hillcrest, never stepping outside his comfort zone to make friends. However, midway through his second semester in Hillcrest’s halls, Bill connected, specifically with three people in his grade who made him feel comfortable and accepted. In his sophomore year, Bill grew close with a huddle of boys from the Danielsen

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School in Bergen, Norway. Their late night connections in the dorm pulled out Bill’s personality, and he gradually grew more confident. His Norwegian friends led him to have security with who he was. Some dug deeper, encouraging him to think through deeply faith-based questions. That’s when Adrian Eide asked his question, after he and Sara Helen, a friend of Bill's, inspired Bill with their personal faith. When the lights would go out in the dorms, the gentle whisper of Adrian's and Sara’s faith-based frienships led Bill to wrestle with his own relationship with Christ.

Bill said Adrian often confronted him with questions like “What’s holding you back?” and “Why don’t you believe in God?” Eventually, Bill processed his relationship, or lack thereof, with God. Sitting under Adrian’s wing for most the year, Bill heard who God really is through Adrian’s spoken and unspoken teaching. Bill saw pictures of what following Christ really looked like, and the love Adrian possessed captivated Bill. In these simple moments Bill started trusting the Word and promises of the Lord, until one day he called himself a follower of Jesus. The transformation was gradual, but now Bill has full confidence in calling himself a Christian and hopes to honor God all throughout his life.

ST U D E N T STO R I E S

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1/5/18 5:00 PM

KAY LA HUCHKO

BY KAYLA HUCHKO '19

Life is captured in sequences. Birth, graduation, first job, marriage, kids, retirement, and death. Then there are the highs and lows. The moments in between.

Meeting your best friend, getting into your first fight with your parents, discovering your passion in life, losing your job. The events we don’t anticipate. The in between moments are where I found transformation.

I did not grow up in the ideal Christian household. My parents said we were Christians, but we didn’t go to church, youth group, or read the Bible. There were moments when we questioned if there even was a God and why we called ourselves Christians.

Unfortunately, as I grew older, these thoughts grew more frequent, with looming questions that squelched my faith.

My religious beliefs were a lie. I didn’t know what the Ten commandments were, or that they even existed. The only books of the Bible I knew were Genesis and Revelation. Even praying before dinner or bed was a foreign concept to me; it seemed childish and ridiculous. My life was training me to focus on sequences and consequences. Get good grades, go to college, get a decent job, and maybe get married someday. To me, God existed in the moments in between. If I was worried about a math test, I’d pray, even if I thought it was ridiculous.

I would say, “If there really is a God out there, please help me with this test today. You owe me that much.”

We lived in an apartment attached to my grandparents' house for 14 years. It had one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room. When I was born I was brought home to my parents’ room, and every night I slept there for nearly two years. I moved into a small bedroom sometime after my second birthday. When my little sister was born I noticed my time with my parents was cut dramatically. She went into the same routine I moved out from, connecting with my mom and dad in their room for nearly two years, and I was left alone.

I started hanging out in my room alone and that time grew more frequent as I entered grade school. I would sit there and think about anything and everything. It was in those in between moments that I became curious about God. I rarely acted on my thoughts, but if something was going on in life, I’d pray. I wanted to figure out what praying was all about. It was a little awkward and uncomfortable at first, but after a while I started to get the hang of it. I’m not proud of the way I prayed, exactly. I guess I thought that since I was praying in the first place, God could pardon my brashness. That he could read into what I really meant.

It was in these moments that I grew to cherish my relationship with God. My time in prayer started to transform me. In these in between times I was slowly changing. My passions shifted in high school. I turned from getting good grades towards being someone who reflected Jesus. I started to read the Bible, and craved more training in it. It was in this setting that I pressed my mom to allow me to attend Hillcrest.

God was working in my family at the same time He was transforming me. I live in an amazing home. Both my parents work extremely hard to enable me to attend Hillcrest. I have a new sister on the way, and as our family grows I see more and more that God is working in ways I don’t understand. I was able to attend Hillcrest this year through a special scholarship. My extended family is rallying around my desire to be at Hillcrest, and I am working to help make ends meet so I can continue to grow here. My entire outlook on life has changed, and Hillcrest is helping me see my life and my relationship with God in a restored way. I love what God is doing at Hillcrest, and I’m looking forward my senior year and the ways God will continue to make me more like Him.

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1/5/18 5:00 PM

NIGERIAN PERSECUTION

CO NFL I C T Sarah Folorunso (Top) + Eldee Eyimife (Right)

H ITS CLOSE TO HOM E

BY JACK NORDICK '20

It was an average summer day, on the second of June in 2014, in the province of Borno State, Gwoza in Africa. Seemingly from nowhere, soldiers appeared in trucks, armed with rifles and knives. They descended on the town and slaughtered civilians, shooting, cutting throats and flinging primitive bombs and grenades. The story of the massacre is written in spilled blood in the African community. Christians and churches were apparently the primary target. Hundreds of people were killed in what grew to be a series of village attacks that is known as the Gwoza Massacre. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the bloodbath.

Nigeria is not on the average person’s radar. When people think of Christian persecution, if they do at all, they most likely think of big Middle-Eastern countries like Iran or Iraq, or persecution hotspots with ruler cults like North Korea. But on the World Watch List compiled by Open Doors ministry, Nigeria is twelfth in the world, and rising.

FOR HILLCREST STUDENTS, AFRICAN PERSECUTION HITS A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME. TWO OF OUR CLASSMATES, ELDEE EYIMIFE AND SARAH FOLORUNSO HAIL FROM NIGERIA.

“It’s confined to a certain area,” Eldee said, referring to the persecution in northern Nigeria. “Basically Boko Haram is a group that’s against Western Civilization.” She said the group is targeting Christianity because it is tied to the West, and Boko Haram hates the West. Our conversation in Hillcrest’s chapel grew more meaningful when we talked about people she knows who have been directly impacted by the attacks in her home country. “My uncle died.” she said, very matter-of-factly, “through a Boko Haram attack on a mall. They target places they know people would be...with bombs and machetes.”

One of Eldee’s reasons for coming to Hillcrest was to get away from the troubles in Nigeria. When she and her family were considering her future education they struggled to picture her in Africa due to the unrest and bold persecution happening in their country. The school Eldee would’ve attended in Africa is called Hillcrest as well. In their prayers for Eldee’s future, seeking a safe place for Eldee to continue building her faith and developing her intellect, it seemed providential to find

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Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. The familiarity with the name Hillcrest called to her family right away, and after visiting in the summer they found the spiritual and academic settings to be exactly what they were looking for.

For many in Eldee’s classes the thought of persecution seemed like a classroom topic where they would analyze, discuss, and pray for the faith of those affected. Now it is hitting more close to home. This country, Nigeria, is Eldee’s home, and students at Hillcrest are beginning to realize that it is one in which random people on the street can never be truly sure of their safety.

Sarah shared how the attacks have impacted her family, as well. “My grandfather’s brother moved to the North, and they burned his shop down.” Sarah started, simply explaining the situation like it was an everyday occurance. “He was meant to be in it.” Sarah, describing the violence against Christians in the mostly Muslim north, has had personal experience with religious tension. She told the story of the death of a relative and how Christians are treated in social contexts.

“We went to a funeral, and no one would talk to us because we were Christians.”

Both Eldee and Sarah’s parents sought out Hillcrest for the rigorous academic setting with a solid foundation that rests on the Bible. The preparation they are seeking for their family goes beyond college, and is a faith training they want to build to last a lifetime, and that could face death if presented with it.

With Sarah and Eldee a part of our campus, it is driving students to ask how we should respond to persecution. Some note that as Christians we are called to ease the suffering of the persecuted, noting that if we are persecuted ourselves we are to respond with love and count it all joy. Others feel called to hear the stories, noting that as they meet people from these regions it is important to hear their experiences and understand the character of their faith. Most know that the one active thing we can do is to pray. There is a call for prayer for strength in Christ for the Christians in Nigeria, and they are praying that in the midst of such terrors, our brothers and sisters in Christ can still be filled with the joy of the Lord.

ST U D E N T STO R I E S

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1/5/18 5:00 PM

HURRICANE REFLECTIONS S A R A H H AW K I N S O N ' 2 0 HURRICANE IRMA HIT HOME IN FL S T U D E N T AT H L A

Someone knocked on my door. I wiped my tears away, working to sound happy as I said “come in.” It was Tina Hellum, and I didn’t realize how much I needed a hug until I was given one. I started bawling. Tina asked what was wrong.

Somehow, through the tears, I told her.

She hugged me and told me it was going to be ok. We prayed. Our time together lasted about an hour and I started to see that God is my refuge, and he’s using my friends to show me.

HURRICANE IRMA HIT MY HOUSE. A tree crushed part of my

home and our dock washed away. My parents sound stressed and tired, and I feel terrible because I’m not home to help with cleanup and take some of the stress away.

I FEEL HELPLESS AND NOT IN CONTROL. God knows I struggle

with control, and I believe He is teaching me a lesson. After I spoke to my parents about the Hurricane, I went up to my room crying, feeling like God was giving me too much in teaching me this lesson.

I hoped and prayed that no one would notice I went to my room crying.

After Tina knocked on my door, gave me a hug, and started talking to me, I was able to speak through my sniffles. She asked if we could pray, and that prayer was one of the most beautiful prayers I have been a part of. In our prayer time I realized that God sees my pain, and He hates it. He sees the hurt, and He feels it. I believe He will use the hurt and pain and make good and beauty come from it.

At school I had a hard time focusing.

The lessons through prayer the night before didn’t completely solve my stress.

I began thinking how the stress of fixing and rebuilding our home must weigh on my father, who already works so hard to enable me to attend Hillcrest. My mother and brother are bearing additional stress without me home to help. I somehow felt responsible for the stress on my family. This bothered me

throughout the day. Finally, I broke down in tears. I was sent to talk with someone. I ended up talking with the nurse.

Mrs. Venberg, the school nurse, helped me realize that the stress wasn’t my fault.

She reminded me that God has me here for a reason. I realized that if my parents needed me at home they would tell me.

God needs me here for some reason, and I believe this is only a small part of what he wants from me.

Mrs. Venberg and Mrs. Heikes prayed with me after I talked with Mrs. Venberg in her office. During the prayer I felt a calming sensation. I felt at peace, like a weight was lifted off. I believe that was Jesus giving me a hug because I finally gave him all of my pain and all of my worry. I feel content and grateful.

I AM REALIZING HOW GREAT GOD IS AT HILLCREST. He is

loving and kind. He teaches us lessons through the biggest and smallest things.

I have sensed God close to me, wanting to hold me and through sorrow and pain.

God is my refuge in the storm.

S I G N I F I C A N T STO R I E S

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23 1/5/18 5:00 PM

ASHLEY (CHRISMAN) McLAURIN '06 HURRICANE HARVEY HIT HOME IN HOUSTON, TX ALUMNI OF HLA

When rainy days come you might hope your Hillcrest friends would be close by for support. For Ashley (Chrisman) McLaurin, her friends were thousands of miles away, mobilizing support as she sat in a kayak with her twins strapped to her back following Hurricane Harvey.

Ashley graduated from Hillcrest in 2006. She met and married her husband, Chris, in Minneapolis. The two moved outside of Houston, Texas, near Ashley’s parents. Chris is a firefighter, and when Hurricane Harvey was set to make landfall Ashley knew her husband would be busy tending to the needs of others. Her rainy day was coming, and her Hillcrest friends were close by, thousands of miles away.

Ashley and Chris recently adopted twins. Styles and Stella are 17 months old, and were sleeping the night Chris packed an overnight bag and headed to the firehouse while Hurricane Harvey made landfall. Ashley’s phone buzzed with weather updates as Chris’ car faded from from view, while Ashley prepared to ride out a historic storm.

Their home was outside the normal floodplain, and Ashley was connected through social media and weather updates, so there was little to fear. Near ten o’clock, Ashley learned she and her sleeping babies might be in danger. A dam nearly an hour and a half drive from her home was set to burst. Rather than deal with the catastrophe of a broken dam, the city was preparing to release the dam, which would put Ashley’s home within the potential flood pattern. Ashley dozed under the white noise of weather updates from her phone and the occasional crack of lightning.

With the sun cresting over the flooded Texas plains, Ashley was startled from her dozing by a banging in her apartment.

A resident of their apartment building was running door-todoor to wake-up the complex. Water was starting to come into people’s homes.

Time seemed to move in slow motion as Ashley grabbed a garbage bag and stuffed it full of diapers and a change of clothes

for her twins. Shuffling through their storage closet, Ashley found the baby carriers and strapped one twin on her front and secured the other to her back. She started to text friends for help.

The water was too high for her to drive to safety.

During the series of SOS texts Ashley broadcasted she passed along her plight to Hillcrest classmate Leanne (Fawcett) Hagedorn. Leanne took to social media, posting Ashley’s story on Facebook. Hillcrest friends, deans, and teachers read updates from Leanne. Leanne later started a GoFundMe campaign on Ashley’s behalf.

Three local friends with boats responded to Ashley’s pleas. The first arrived in a pontoon. The rushing water in the street pulled the pontoon back and forth. The driver didn’t feel he could safely evacuate Ashley and the twins nearly a mile to drier ground.

With water continuing to rise in the apartment complex, Ashley saw she couldn’t wait for other boats. A friend from the apartment complex pulled down a kayak. Ashley gingerly stepped into the single-seat boat, water lapping around her as she settled in, working to keep her babies’ toes from touching the water. A hero from the apartment building walked Ashley through the chest deep water to higher ground where Ashley was brought to safety.

Ashley found refuge and dry clothes at her sister-in-law's home.

Chris would continue rescuing families for the next three days almost non-stop. He tells stories of abandoning fire trucks in flooded streets to continue heroic work by boat and front-end loader. Later, the firehall gave Chris a 48-hour reprieve to tend to his family.

The family of four is resettling now. They are hoping to settle in their first house this month after the water crested at 5’9” in their apartment. Leanne raised over $7000, which helped fund a new vehicle for the McLaurin’s. “It was really cool to see that (Hillcrest) community come together. A lot of people I went to Hillcrest with contributed. It’s been really incredible, just the outpouring of support.”

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1/5/18 5:00 PM

J U L I A O L M O S ' 1 8 + H E L E N E R O D, DA N I E L S E N ' 1 8 HURRICANE HARVEY V O L U N T E E R E D I N D A L L A S ,T X S T U D E N T S AT H L A

The lamp in Julia Olmos’ dorm room cast shadows on the walls as she shared in secrecy her desire to help the people in Texas. Helene, Julia’s roommate, listened patiently as Julia shared her desire to venture from Hillcrest to help people affected by historic flooding in Dallas, Texas.

Those simple heart felt mutterings called the two roommates to action.

Helene was the voice of reason, saying there was no way the two would be able to miss two weeks of school. But, each week Julia felt a pull to help flood victims during youth group at Bethel Church, and each week she would pull her roommate from groups of students to track down youth leader Allan Aase to inquire about the church’s mission trip to Dallas, Texas. Each week the two would venture back to their dorm rooms, a small glimmer of hope still flickering for Julia that the two would be in Texas to aid in flood recovery.

Julia finally built up the courage to talk to Bethel Pastor Rich Iverson, the leader of a trip going to Texas organized by Bethel Church. With Helene in tow, the two filled out forms and arranged calls from their parents to Bethel and Hillcrest, hoping their grades were strong enough to allow a two-week trip away from school. “What we found in Texas shocked us,” Julia started, describing the scenes the two encountered. At Hillcrest there is a saying that mission trips sometimes give students an entire year of education in two weeks.

The two joined three members of Bethel church, landing in the home of Marvin, a Libyan-American whose home smelled like mildew and looked like a four-foot lumberjack had his

way with the walls. “The carpet, and the entire wall, drywall and insulation, up to the four foot watermark, had to be torn out,” Julia said, describing the scene the two encountered in Marvin’s home. “He said his wife had the idea of putting the couches onto their bar stools to save them.”

For the next week the team of five from Bethel walked in and out of Marvin’s home. Julia and Helene are not the children of carpenters, and have never carried a putty knife. Their presence was simple as they carried sheetrock and joint compound across a threshold that held standing water months earlier.

The two were in Texas in a simple act of taking a deliberate step forward with a family impacted by historic flooding.

Julia and Helene were stunned as they started to hear more of Marvin’s story in sitting on five-gallon pails in Marvin’s home, sheetrock dust plastered to their faces as they sipped coffee. “‘I have five kids,’ Marvin told us. He said he’d been laid off work for a week before the hurricane.” Julia found it hard to grasp the weight Marvin felt. “He said it was such a blessing having us there to help.”

The two aided in tying up the home with the team from Bethel church, covering the first floor in sheetrock before saying their final goodbyes. They loaded the van to travel back to Minnesota, what they call “home” this year as they attend Hillcrest. Their time in the Castle is forging lessons they never foresaw when they completed their applications last spring. These lessons are not always part of a curriculum, but instead part of what many call the “Hillcrest experience” that thousands have had in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

TIM LARSON '02 HURRICANE HARVEY VOLLUNTEERED IN D I C K E N S O N ,T X ALUMNI OF HLA When I first heard about the hurricane, I knew I wanted to help, but didn’t know what that would look like.

I work at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, AZ, near Phoenix and the head of our missions team had actually planned on flying to Houston for a wedding, but when the wedding was postponed due to the storm, plans changed.

Within a day of posting a message to our congregation asking for donations, I was helping load a twenty-four foot U-Haul and it was obvious that wasn’t going to be enough.

We ended up filling two U-Haul trucks and a 15 passenger van with relief supplies.

When we pulled into Dickenson we saw many homes destroyed, but heard many more stories of God’s provision.

It was a blessing to be able to be a part of the relief, but a bigger blessing to be encouraged by those who had lost everything, yet were unshakable in their trust in Jesus.

S I G N I F I C A N T STO R I E S

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25 1/5/18 5:00 PM

Sam Ihrke leads the Prayer Day praise team

Pray er D ay: The n and N ow

BY WAYNE STENDER '02

Revival often begins in dim light, where the spiritually hungry are on their knees in stillness.

In this stillness prayers for others shift, and an outward call for revival turns inward. In the quiet murmurs of passionate hearts the power of prayer trumpets. Prayers like these have 110-year-old roots at Hillcrest, eventually turning into an event monikered "Prayer Day". What began in the winter of 1907 is continuing today.

R.S. Gjerde was a confident student. His jet black hair was slicked back against his scalp, his comb and the balm that aided this hairstyle sat on his dresser in his dorm room. Light danced on the balm tin, causing reflections to fight shadows on the dorm walls in the candle-lit prayer meeting. Gjerde met with four young men, some kneeling beside a trunk that brought clothes and favorite trinkets to Lutheran Brethren School, others huddled over chairs and the dorm bed. This was the winter of 1907, and students were praying for revival.

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The sporadic clanking of the radiator heating the boys' room served as a metronome for the prayer routine of the young men. Nightly they would pray for a young man named Setterlund. Known as “the Swede” to many students, he was one of a handful of students who hadn't submitted to a Biblical perspective of the world. The Bible School students were aggressively bringing their friend to the throne of Christ.

Gjerde wrote of the incident some sixty years after the day in a Lutheran Brethren periodical. “‘Fire’ fell! All of us started to pray again, not for the unsaved one, but for ourselves - and all at one time! The room filled with the presence of God. And in His presence we saw ourselves unclean.” Tears filled their eyes as the group of young men began a string of repentance prayers that evening. Waking the next morning, the young men saw revival fire spread through the entire student body.

Students were going to bed sure of physical illness, only to find in prayer that they suffered instead from spiritual ailments.

1/5/18 5:00 PM

The revival spread into the classroom, where instructor E.T. Aasheim was called to deeper conviction in his Bible class, showing that revival fire knows no barriers of age or life experience. Classes were canceled as staff and students met in classrooms for prayer, confession, and times of praise. Some staff found themselves bedridden. Pastor K.O. Lundeberg, a founder of the school, was visited by Principal E.M. Broen at Lundeberg’s bedside as he was physically weak from his spiritual conviction. Broen read promises from God’s word to his spiritually ailing cohort. Lundeberg is noted to have replied in one instance, “This I know by heart, in Norwegian, in English, and in Greek. But it is not for me.” The revival fire refined Lundeberg, who reportedly saw the redemption in Christ become real to him once again before returning to his post in leading the schools.

It’s in this shadow that students have continued to meet at Lutheran Brethren Schools in an annual prayer day. Hillcrest has humbly carried on this tradition, meeting nearly twice every year for a time of refocus through prayer and confession.

Each year the prayer day looks different, but they all hold a tying root back to that first prayer day in 1907.

At Hillcrest’s most recent Prayer Day, held November 1, a staff member huddled close with her group of students in prayer. From a distance, the group looked like many that day, students simply crowding together, murmuring prayers for the nation, the community, the church, and their school. However, when this group closed their prayer time before a five minute break, the leader wiped tears from her eyes. Passersby likely thought little of it until the entire group began wiping tears in a uniform fashion. The group of students with tear-filled eyes sniffled as they formed a huddle in the middle of their circle of chairs, creating a group hug that closed their time in prayer.

The staff member quietly walked to a group of colleagues and shared how the heart of her group was pricked for a handful of Norwegian students who are rejecting Christ. The prayers caused the group to cry, their hearts bleeding as their eyes poured tears and their mouths besought the Lord to intervene in the lives of their friends.

This simple story from our recent prayer day pulls a veil for us to see that the original work the Lord started with Lutheran Brethren Schools is continuing in a powerful way at Hillcrest Academy.

CAMPUS MINISTRY

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27 1/5/18 5:00 PM

PRESIDENT BRAD HOGANSON'S INSTALLATION SPEECH

BY PRESIDENT BRAD HOGANSON '84

And

For me, growing up in the church, I’d heard the Gospel but it hadn’t been the truth that I really believed. In my junior year in high school, that faith became my own and my heart was enlarged. God set my heart free and I was yearning for more.

Hillcrest was what God laid on my heart. Some of my friends attended and they said, “I think Hillcrest is the place for you.”

It was in our Chapel sessions, at Prayer Days, at our Mission Conference that I heard the call of God to ministry. It was from Isaiah chapter six where Isaiah’s sin has been revealed to him and it weighs heavily on him. He knows there is no hope for him. It is God himself Who comes and says, “Be clean.” And then, the question is, “Whom shall I send? Who will go?” And I knew, in that moment, that it had to be me.

Now, my invitation to our Board of Directors, to our administration, our faculty, our staff, to our students, can I make a new rule? I’m the President, so I get to, right? I want to see some running in our halls. I want to see running in our classrooms. Running in the dorms, on the courts, in Chapel. I want to see us running in the ways of righteousness, because God has set us free.

I am saying also, if you don’t know what it means to be free, freedom is found in Christ Jesus. Running with excellence, with faithfulness, with love, running to the cross to hear again of forgiveness and freedom. Running to those who need to be served by God’s people, who are running with the Gospel. So, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, let's run. Let's run, and pursue Christ, because He has pursued us.

Sam th

I love this passage that was chosen to be our theme for this evening of the installation. “I have chosen the way of faithfulness. I have set your rules before me. I cling to your testimonies, O Lord. Let me not be put to shame. I will run in the way of your commandments, for you set my heart free.

I remember being in elementary school where the cafeteria had rules. I have those rules memorized still today, because one of those rules was you needed to walk at all times. There was a student at that time whose name rhymes with Vlad Vloganson who didn’t like that rule. He wanted to run, and he did. When I did run I had to stand up in front of the whole cafeteria and be shamed; I had to recite the rules of the cafeteria: Walk at all times, one trip to the garbage can, lights out means quiet, after you have eaten remain seated and talk quietly. It was so constricting. I just wanted to run. I wanted to take multiple trips to the garbage can. I just wanted to be free.

But, here’s the reality. I have not always chosen faithfulness. I haven’t always set the rules of God before me. My testimonies were sometimes superseding the testimonies of God. And yet, God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, set me free. And so the Psalmist says, I will run because you have set me free.

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C A M P U S U P D AT E

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F RO M THE Y EA R Andrew Foss H'97 speaks on Creation in Hillcrest's themed chapel series Square One

Students build life-long friendships at the annual Valleyfair amusement park trip

Hillcrest participates in the national See You at the Pole with President Hoganson and Principal Isaac

Sam Ihkre trades places with Paige Schultz during the Powder Puff football game at Homecoming

One of the 4 praise teams gathers in prayer before a Friday testimony chapel

Seniors huddle during the traditional boys volleyball match at Homecoming 2017

Sylvia Venberg live paints a scene of Creation at Prayer Day

Chapel coordinator Ryan Garvin leads students to pray over boxes for Operation Christmas Child

Mayor Ben Schierer invites students to participate in the community Christmas tree lighting

Students huddle for Prayer Day

CLBA President Paul Larson shares with students at Prayer Day

Hillcrest's praise team plays one of 4 outdoor worship events this fall

GREETING

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!

S W NE gr ei d H ’0 5 an d A rv e L ae ’0 H es n is R K ar en long time!

2:

s earlier, Arve s been a 05. Three year Hillcrest! It ha 4/ 0 ow, ar ye e crest th on the Hill. N I went to Hill ol - the Castle we ho tle sc lit ul w tif ho au be Its funny d! went to this rie in ar d m rie e r - we ar e got mar 12 years late e a family! W Its ar . e ch w ur w ch no s d . Mary’ knew then, an ch in town, St erent e oldest chur houses in diff d ol e th , Bergen, in th en gg g in ry in B ad nd tr hi be Hanseatic situated right es to e center for is th om as pr w r ou ch colors, whi as filled with s ceremony w performance Norway. The also musical d year is an s Th . m al go ps Ky er each other, gen-hit-mak parents! a song by Ber by becoming ft gi t among them ea gr e th ed iv ce re we have also princess Our little r life with Marie fills ou der over on w joy - and d de : 2 ad e ’0 H We both st years. W a new life!

Z ac k ar y T ys d al ing sed these pa br es t bl bu y good ry an sy ve m bu have so We have been April. Our kids keep us our d Ezekiel om an fr ) in (2 s ie ild ey or ch Tr mem our 4th t rianna (4), ea A gr has ), a It (6 is t! lle d es an rie cr B time at Hill with them, so much joy.

We sed the me full-time e. ha lif ho rc r is pu ou I na d an er he enric (7mo). Jo ed es, this summ d ov go ha m er e d re w an , ca as rgus Falls are grateful mom. As far to building in Fe a busy ity ry as le w un al rt It G po ie n. the op former Mov to that locatio est in our tic practice th it. or stay at Hillcr w l el my chiroprac w as w t wishes bu e t ov es m B l youth! and stressfu 9 s) H ’9 from Bergen! h an (M at th ew

M eg ge H ’9 9 : an d D an ie l B er an d th at ew s)

30

es to l H ’1 2 : ’1 2 an d E ri k dV Erik and myself H ) n ie el st yn R ac h el (S lf my husban We

(M . ar and a ha M eg ha n k to e experiences In the past ye m oved b ac hirlwind of lif t of w en a m h te ci ug ex ro of I re ce nt ly th e en d nced the ve gone th rie ha at , pe 16, lls ex 20 Fa il Fe rg us d Apr rv in g tting engage d ha d b ee n se ge rie ar m g in l be Ju ly 20 16 . I wness of of Im m an ue ne r e e to ch th as ta p ar e as th en e, 16, the he ptember 20 17, hu rc h in E ug Se C 20 an ch er ar th M d Lu lle rriage now b ee n ca of a misca uction O R , an d have t at doing constr en of am st ls ia Te tr e ew th N mmer, h su ac st te to use this pa Se m in ar y ho n r re ou th re on d at B nt Lu th eran lming joy, an t as A ss is ta d the overwhe ou ng an di g in fin lp of , he d e nerves tb al l te am I al so st ar te the same tim ain. A m en ’s b as ke ag ns in Fe rg us . ta nt ar n, na re Sp eg pr l ch ild e M -S ta te out we are n won d er fu exciting, C oa ch fo r th oo ls al l nce can be e have seve W ch rie . es pe us m ex rg ho w Fe n ne ha be filled eg n M he re in ! ca ay so it w al h on th e es hm an ) venture, or fr ht ad g (a ei an t an es estions. d d qu ol an ou r n fu n nty and ht now, b ut is fa ll! It ’s b ee with uncertai th planner LA a H th e ki d s ri g at ls I’m l in vo lleyb al n say that if fe re nt leve d te ed w of at I fe p and I a ci ik ti on p ar it y en ts . , but as Er H LA co m m un io n of st ud r everything at fo have er e w en , g ay to re jo in th e xt yd owing ever ow th is ne gr kn is to at r is th fo et e g lif an an d is new n truly pl prepare for th ly thing we ca on e th at th ize e way. come to real ery step of th ’1 2 : is with us ev od G at th ) T ay lo r Is aa c H tz ra wife Jessi (G I married my et her m I tt il e H ’1 2 : !

17 20 o rk il d se n ) So h on June 2, g (T in ie nd at te K at th e bo 17th, 2017, while we wer September University.

Canyon be one r ve Grand will fore our business ed et pl m t favorite We co April of my mos the end of at s the day ee as gr w de days. I️t ortly after! sh d rie ar m e e love of and wer adia I️ married th e in the Arc liv w e Sottile, no ni in e W my life, V oenix, AZ, ajored in m Ph i of ss Je od . ts ho ently the neighbor r many plan who is curr own business Jack, and ou r g, he d do r te ctor at ar ou re st with d has rrently worship di ial Studies an and I am cu theran ) Lu tle us -h Entrepreneur l de Hillside Educationa een of the si an qu of h in so t rc al en is hu m (she depart this Brethren C e marketing We t are enjoying J. bu N , , sy na bu working in th e un Succas ny. We ar pa m co gy lo Techno of life! new season

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: S E T A D P U A LU M N I E R O M + , S B O J , S H B I RT ti o n @ ai l to : co n n ec em r o l ai m a u p d at es vi S en d u s yo u r in the church ore involved m g in e so m co unna and ar have loved be re in Succas ses he ur N ity d un re m te and com e both Regis ar e W joy e. en m ho rsey and glad to call it and New Je rk re Yo he w ew a, N or at Tuscar working in ding camp nurses en as sp g ng rin vi ee lo volunt We are e years ago. eating new we met thre nds, and cr ie fr d an ily m fa excited to ith so w time way. We’re e rd th g on al where the Lo friendships ther and see ge to es liv r start ou . leads us next

A b b y (D aw k in

s)

G er o ld H ’0 1:

ff h il lc re st .o rg

happening! exciting stuff involved in en We’ve be try, student youth minis now adult/ d an ministry try. Håvard family minis leader and ip is a worsh overseeing songwriter, ams, while te e our creativ ching and I do more prea g adult un yo oversee our . ps ou small gr

Frustol H’11: ’11 and Heather H h et us went on a ur F er us Heath ther Fr tol) th and I (Hea d family

se r friends an Heather Furu a. sband with six othe hu th 12 y er m ob age in Ugand ct Me, trip O r to an orphan ou ed el d av tr an e Denny, members. W Gabriella ustol) just daughters I (Heather Fr e ar Liberty ta re om G and graduated fr living , and ay M in tly ity curren Univers ns test tio ea ca gr vo y out our one of m Japan. owing kn o, is ky To es near challeng ing kept re holds. It Alongside be what my futu in ith w mmitting es co to , y sy on m wasn’t ea s ao ch y trip to the beautiful to a ten-da ” I y, m om cially after “m pe g of bein Uganda, es n tio sa er an income ish conv not having teaching Engl in in ng k si ea months. ’s sn et l to “L severa am able students, for se ne pa as w Ja I w d fe to the trip, unity, an classes to a Leading up e local comm l th na in io s at se rn as te had been cl in English!” at a local however, I d to perform re the Lord no w ho ho ly d nt rece reminde it . lling us al ca iv m. I believe music fest is constantly for His kingdo ygs da in r th r ou te g in ea to do gr H ’0 4: fortable liv become com allenged rsity er ag e) W ra te is so easy to I have felt ch ly T au re n (D eat,thI attended Pepperdine Unilevevision nt ce re d try new an to es to-day liv zone and Theatre/Te Since Hillcres my comfort ovided d studied ar of pr an ye t d or A ou an ni C se ep or u, to st in Malib rnship my ed this do te en in op an ld and d at h or ha n w ug e Thro productio t into th things. God Production. career in film have for us to go ou a d to ity g he ul un tin itc kf rt ar an sw po st th er this op I ended up tly thereaft . We are so or ss sh hat ne t w od bu g d , in go an es is ctur who He is currently do proclaim H Paramount Pi show others ce which I'm to an en ce fin be n an e tio ch I’v e uc ty. had th es. to film prod lance capaci like er to their liv nt in a free He has to off ms in places fil r for Paramou ou ith w ntly location ns H’06 and most rece able to live on istenson) Dawki hr go, Pittsburg, hed ca (C is hi fin C ha s, et st ‘06) live an ab fir of T rle I New O LA Class . When Andy and a Dawkins (H the last year a church th er with r g be ne fo in Ta gi nd d on en te t an nd at Lo Andy y is a projec d ia, I started an nd rn A sb . ifo N hu ildren al M y C ch n, m o in college here I met ith their tw in Hutchinso Hollywood w stays home w home n a r ei th ow th be nt of w Ta t d do in 3M an o studio ou an have pi l tly al is 2 en a, sm rr a yn cu la and we st child, A and also runs ing, e. Their olde three year ad tim le re ” ab re ys or jo pa ad “s an in her eart. She en We th ee sw ! ndy A e er in s. ht al old daug uffed anim and is a genu g with her st ian, hville, TN in El as , ay N pl ild to d ch an ed mov singing, their second re he ed w m o ing co ag be el s w d a few year eeping, an and Tabetha d touring ys eating, sl a jo ne is ai en d rt e an H te sb t. en my hu in Augus th bo e by w d ve and lo guitarist, so ! a bit for his big sister travel quite t os m d re an e' w Andy our jobs but we get to Tabetha both happy when often e together m ho still be st ju isce n i ! ily m re as a fam their : 9 t ’0 ou H ab e o åv ar d M H d an LA, 0 H ’1 er at H ht e) time our daug A n n a (K le p par ur years and they fo t d os re rie m he al w m w no We’ve been ’s Eve and is as a first met in rn New Year ate practice iv pr Laura was bo a in ng al ki ic or in w cl 2003. is masters in one. Håvard e I’m doing a av t. le is l ap na er er th at physical at home on m t have been . We still live nutrition, bu study in 2018 to ck ba g in ee church, go , all of 2017 in Bergen Fr ed lv vo of in e d ar alumni. A lot in Bergen an of other HLA h A L U M N I U P D AT E S nc bu a ith together w

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31 1/5/18 5:01 PM

(M je ls ta d) A n n K ri st in K ri st of fe r H ’0 9 an d N il ss en H ’0 9

d t we finishe After Hillcres at ol ho sc high senior en we went on Th . en ls ie an D in Tromsø, in a bible school , a city well ay w northern Nor s. northern light known for its g in m or sf an tr eThis was a lif year for us.

C h ri s C h ri st enI

have been d Stephanie an ars t os two ye married alm rth no st living ju now. We are is It . ta so ne in M of Saint Paul, d ite Un ea of the a beautiful ar s he ac te e ni ha States. Step e dl id a local m Spanish at I g, tin ua ad gr school. After thel Be at k or w stayed on to re d a half befo bruary of this for a year an ll Center in Fe Hi J. es m Ja d being e e to family an moving to th yed being clos jo begun en ve ve ha I ha . e year. W ch community ur ch l fu felt ng ite ni haven't qu a part of a mea a way that I in ain. re ag he ng ed lo ot be to feel ro . It is good to book ce China in 2010 Fa g in on av os le ot ce sin old ph through some with many of After perusing of time spent s ie or em m nd fo u are doing of yo ll of fu y I am hear how man to ve u have lo ld ou ese days. If yo you all. I w d yourselves th fin u yo re he . w h up and I'd love to catc a message -time, send me

ate ourselves.

Bergen to educ to ck ba ed 12. It was ov Then we m December 20 ried on 28th of ar m t ge to And ding. tic winter wed SUCH a roman is a primary . Ann Kristin rs he ac ielsen te th aches at Dan We are bo d Kristoffer te an hool’s r, sc he e ac th te in school currently so al is the e H g . in lead , High School d leadership ith w an d n se io es at bl tr e adminis ts. We ar en ud st e w liv e ne W d Mathias. recruitment of in , Benjamin an m ns so 20 y ul el tif at au two be an approxim tside Bergen, cal church in a house ou bers of the lo em m g in be y jo en e drive. W here at Sotra. ith great at Hillcrest w at the time for us ck ar ba ye g ok in lo We a transform so al as ing to w el at av istoffer is tr gratitude. Th the uch. In fact, Kr ng m di so an d st ne er ar we le ach about Und te tto r es be cr ill em H Spain in Dec e learned at at curriculum w th e ay th pr g d in an us Times lot. We hope a m hi ith w ge , ga hs topics that en eak God’s trut continue to sp in a time Hillcrest may g students un yo to in , m do grace and wis confusion. relativism and dominated by

en so n H ’0 7 D av id C h ri stua from ting

oe rs H ol ly (S ch oe p h

grad Since ed 07, I attend HLA in 20 of e id ts ou y sit Eastern Univer tic tis ar y PA. M Philadelphia, e during my tim rn bo s tie ili ab ng hi ac der the te in Fergus, un d on, develope rs te Pe r.

M of g in ur pt stern, ca quickly at Ea In s. ar ye 4 r s fo 15 sports team d with a degree 2011, I graduate ies neurial Stud in Entrepre travel to ity al go a pturing human and made e I was 30, ca 4 tim s, e ie tr th un by co ld the wor ography. 30 ot ph h dy la ug n ro ia en and nature th later, an Arm r 0,000 photos Sunday at ou e on e, continents, 50 m of nt fro d in ke t as sa é pastor named Armin a. When the in Philadelphi or,” the rest hb ig ne ur local church yo and “Greet nd ou our life and ar rn ed tu ov us to summer we m st pa a Care is Th y. é re Armin is was histor California whe led to ril to t th e ou ar s e es W busin logy center. co on an at r Coordinato in May 2018. our first child be expecting

32

so n H ’1 1:

’0 4 te r) L ea fb la d siHster, Rachel,

This fall my with Jesus. went to be 31-year r ou During shared r ve e ne sisterhood, w anged ch e lif r he words; yet ay the w I view my faith and sabilities. She di others with y nt testimon lived a sile s, es en iv rg fo y, filled with jo Rachel loved and dignity. spired others Jesus and in despite their im H to trust in Through s. circumstance found ve ha rs he her life, ot e is Sh t. ris Ch faith in Jesus body, w ne r he at brate th d, but we cele of Christ. greatly misse in the presence e iv al w no is t iri sp d an mind, nza, Korey in Vice my husband the ith w to e n liv eo rg tly I curren a Battalion Su as es rv se Italy where he rs. y Paratroope 173rd US Arm

n P ar ’1 5 an d Je eH oo K el ly D zi al o H or ni r ju

k H ’1 5

I met ou Jeehoon and an est. He was cr ill H year at om fr t en ud st international who came to South Korea e states with th study in the d an g stayin intentions of my ft le I . ge going to colle ol public scho home and r a fo ey rs Je behind in New experience ng more fulfilli or or and seni ni ju y for m We . ol ho the sc gh both lived in years of hi ’s ainted as we hr qu Ja ac r. e M m in co had be blossomed ip sh nd to ie e fr m r d n he aske dorms, but ou overjoyed whe our ics class. I was ting March of ys da ph d te ar st e 2: W d ’0 t. an H ue dy ik nq udent bo L iv R on n ev announce Christmas Ba ar, we were st g ye tin or da ni to of Se . y ar ar pp I’m ha junior ye ated one-ye br rs le ge ce s e Ro as W . cl rs Shawn r senior that key club office Republic on ou me ca an n ic be oo in eh ly om nt Je D , ce e 15 and I re in May 20 while in th looking er graduating strial sions trip. Aft is training in Indu engaged. I’m m ue rs pu ife w to e g in in at m St ee co gr nn be de Pe forward to headed to associate’s nn ep-mom mpleted my Pe st co d at I s an g. ie n in ud er aw st ne to Sh Engi ng my Leif at the d am continui urnalism. to Maeve and New Jersey an degree in Jo ’s or e el W ch . ba ne y Ju m ter early, of ds es ar g m w in se to nn begi State graduate a us to rg k Fe ac ted tr in le on tt g, we are exci plan to se We are both fore graduatin Be will . ad to be e 18 gl W e 20 . r ar er be d m m an Falls in Decem t early this su r es fo cr ill H ng ion di at e br th ed ve a cele involved in to plan our w but plan to ha e and , rd bl ey Lo Bi rs e Je ng th hi ul ew ac N kf en te wed in e are than here I have be a as well. W us Falls, re rg Ko Fe h of ut community, w n So w to in st six years. ths in the little ESL for the pa crossed our pa ur years ago. fo st ju t es cr Hill Minnesota at

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OBI TUA R I ES Astrid (Erickson) Matson (H‘57) died Saturday, October 28, 2017 in Pelican Rapids at her husband’s side in Pelican Valley Senior Living. Astrid was born February 7, 1939 to C.F. and Leona Erickson. She graduated from Hillcrest in 1957 and attended Concordia College in Moorhead, graduating Sum Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music degree.

Astrid studied piano virtuoso at Leonard Shure in Zurich, Switzerland. She later served as an elmentary music teacher in Morris, MN, Mt. Clemens, MI, West Allis and Milwaukee, WI. She married David Matson in 1967 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN. David and Astrid had two sons, Carl and John, in 1969 and 1971 respectively. During this time Astrid pursued what she considered her true profession, playing organ in churches around the Milwaukee area. She studied under Hugo Gehkre at Concorida College, later studying master classes with Sr. Thophane Hytrek. She studied piano performance with Adeliade Banazinski at the Wisconsin Music Conservatory and was an active member of the American Guild of Organists, the MacDowell club of Milwaukee, and the Waukesha Music Study Club. God bless the memory of Astrid (Erickson) Matson.

Gospel, passionate about the love of Jesus. God bless the memory of Edy Stensrud.

Clara (Sather) Olsoe (H’42) died June 4, 2017. She was born June 22, 1924 to Andrew and Christine (Vedevig) Sather. She was the third of eight children who faced difficult times during their childhood.

Drought in the ‘30s forced the family to move from Fortuna, North Dakota to Big Fork, MN. Clara endured World War II in serving to sew underwear for the war effort in Staten Island, NY. She later served as a nurses aid in her hometown of Big Fork, before moving to Seattle, WA following the death of her father. In Seattle Clara met and married Edwin Olsoe in 1950.

Clara is remembered as a doer, homemaker to her six children, Margit, Mark, Maylene, Myron, Manley, and Melinda. In 1965 Ed and Clara traveled the world to visit the Lutheran Brethren Missionaries, and it was on this trip that Clara developed a passion for the mission field, with many recognizing this passion as a life mission. God bless the memory of Clara Olsoe.

Carol (Gudim) Erickson (H'42) died Monday, August 7 at Manor Care in Lynwood, WA.

Gunhild Edith “Edy” (Sandnes) Stensrud (H’58)

She was born February 20, 1925 in Wahpeton, ND to Hans

died Sunday, October 1, 2017 in her home in Somers, NY.

her uncle, E.M. Strom, was president of the schools. In 1943

She graduated from Hillcrest in 1958, remembered by

she married Bennett Erickson, and later graduated from

classmates as friendly, witty, and highly artistic.

Lutheran Brethren Bible School in 1944.

Edy ventured to Hillcrest from Bronxville, NY. She met

Carol and Bennett felt called to serve as missionaries

her husband while attending Hillcrest Lutheran Academy,

in Chad and Cameroon, Africa under the Church of

a place known by friends to be very close to Edy’s heart.

the Lutheran Brethren World Missions from 1950-66.

The two were married in Bergenfield, New Jersey in

Carol and Bennett raised four sons during their mission

1959. They carried out their first three years of marriage

work, Norman, Cam, Forrest, and Lanel. They moved to

in Lake Mills, IA, before moving to New York. The two

Lynnwood, Washington in retirement, and Carol worked

helped start Faith Lutheran Brethren church in Briarcliff

at King’s Press in the camera department from 1968-88.

Manor, NY, where Edy also attended Kings College. Edy

Carol’s strong love for the Lord and His word will be a trait

is remembered as a mentor to many, known as the life of

remembered by all who knew her. God bless the memory of

the party to all who were blessed to know her whether at

Carol Erickson.

and Helga Gudim. She graduated from Hillcrest in 1942 as

Hillcrest or in her church service. She loved to share the

A L U M N I U P D AT E S

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33 1/5/18 5:01 PM

Morris Werdal S’61

Cordelia “Corky” (Kilde) Trones H’44

died Sunday, July 2, 2017 at his home in Fergus Falls, MN.

passed away May 15, 2016 surrounded by loved ones. She

Morris was born November 6, 1921 to Marius and Marie

was raised by John and Clara Kilde in Fergus Falls, MN

Werdal in Chosan, China. When Morris was six the family

where she found song birds frequently following her to

furloughed in Ferndale, WA, where he remained through-

school. She graduated from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy

out his high school years.

in 1944 and the Deaconess Hospital for nurses training in 1947, before she married Duane Trones in 1948.

After graduating from Lutheran Brethren Seminary in 1961, Morris served in Staten Island, NY where he and

Corky and Duane had four children, Mary Beth Carlson,

Marion started studying Chinese in preparation for

Debra Trones Becker, Julie Trones Riley, and John

missionary work in China. In 1948 Communist China

Trones. She was a devoted and loving wife and mother

closed to Christian Missionaries, so in 1949 the Werdals

who cherished family time. Many remember the adoration

sailed to Japan and opened missionary efforts for the

Duane paid to Corky who was known for consistently

Church of the Lutheran Brethren in Japan. Morris served

placing others above herself.

for 13 years in the Japanese mission field before venturing to the United States where he served churches in Fullerton,

Corky and Duane were charter members of Oak HIll

CA, Eau Claire, WI, and Seattle, WA. He retired at age 73,

Lutheran Brethren Church in Bloomington, MN,

continuing to serve as interim Pastor in seven different

both taking on active leadership roles in addition to

congregations. Many will remember his Bible classes

their consistent presence in Bible Study Fellowship

and his preaching, which he did into his ninety-second

International meetings. Corky’s favorite Bible passage was

year of life. Morris and Marion had six children, Ron, Jon,

known to many, Philippians 4:6-7, which she quoted often.

Melodee, Mary Ann, Jewel, and Delight. He was blessed to see his 17 grandchildren bear 45 great-grandchildren.

Corky loved music, passing down her appreciation to her

Blessed be the memory of Morris Werdal.

children and grandchildren. An annual music scholarship for Hillcrest Lutheran Academy is being setup in memory

Elmer Kaardal H’44

of Corky’s love for music and to continue her legacy. Blessed

passed away Sunday, September 10, 2017 at the Good Sa-

be the memory of Cordelia “Corky” Trones.

maritan Center in Redwood Falls, MN. Elmer was born January 20, 1927 to Jetmund and Sofie (Risa) Kaardal in a grass hut in Kosi, Cameroon, Africa where his parents were missionaries with the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.

Elmer graduated from HIllcrest in 1944 and was drafted into the military, serving in Tokyo, Japan. After being discharged in 1948, Elmer was called to serve in the Korean Conflict in 1950 where he was stationed in Germany until 1952. Elmer married Julia Christenson in Doran, MN June 3, 1950. They were blessed with nine children, Ivar, Loran, Thor, Jean, Bruce, Erick, Carol, and Paul. Their son Alvin passed away at birth. Elmer had a passion for his faith, his country, his family, his community, traveling, scouting, and education. He graduated with a degree in

Lisa (Newman) Olinger (H'81) passed away September 23, 2017. She was born to Donald and Ardyce (Enger) Newman on December 12, 1962. After attending elementary and junior high school in Mayville, ND, Lisa ventured to Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, graduating in 1981. She later married Gary Olinger in 1987, and the two raised three children, William, Dina, and Marshall.

Lisa invested her time and energy into her family, remembered best as a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend. She worked as a social worker for people with developmental disabilities. Residents note her kind and compassionate demeanor, treating residents as if they were family. Blessed be the memory of Lisa Olinger.

history from the University of Minnesota following his military service. He received the Silver Beaver Award, the highest Boy Scout Council volunteer award, and his six sons achieved the Eagle Scout Award. Blessed be the memory of Elmer Kaardal.

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A L U M N I U P D AT E S

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Minnie (Feland) Nelson (H'27)

Orpha (Klukken) Raun

died October 22, 2017 in Mohall, ND. Minnie was known

died October 31, 2017. She was born to Oswald and Gun-

as the oldest Hillcrest student, living to be 107 years, six

da (Pederson) Klukken on February 5, 1932. She was bap-

months, and twenty-four days. She was born March 28,

tized and confirmed at Elim Lutheran Church in Osakis,

1910 to Gabriel and Minnie (Gunderson) Feland in rural

MN. She received her R.N. in 1950 and began taking

Antler, ND. She loved flowers at a young age, helping around

classes at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis,

the family farm with milking and harvesting. At 16, Minnie

MN shortly after her schooling.

attended Hillcrest for one year when the schools were located in Grand Forks, ND. Due to a set of health setbacks,

In 1954, Orpha met Donald (Don) Raun H'50 in Seattle, WA

Minnie never graduated from Hillcrest, but had many

as she attended Lutheran Bible Institute classes at a branch

cherished memories from her time in what she called “the

of the school located in Washington State. They discovered

ice-box,” referring to the chilling winters in the classrooms

they had common goals of someday going to Africa as

and dormitories. She spoke fondly of “daddy Broen,” giving

missionaries. The two would start dating when Don was

special history to Hillcrest as they celebrated their Cen-

attending Seminary at the Lutheran Brethren Seminary

tennial last year. Minnie played the auto harp at Hillcrest,

as Orpha continued her nursing career in Minneapolis.

a member of Hillcrest’s traveling string band that gave her

On September 24, 1955 the two were wed in Orpha’s home

many fond memories and encouraged her in her faith.

church in Osakis, MN.

Minnie met Albert Nelson as he was in the Antler area

After seminary they served on an Indian reservation in

building roads, and the two were married November 10,

North Dakota, before sailing to France for an 11 month

1931. They made their home on the Feland farm as Albert

language study in Paris. This trip started a 40 year

earned money to buy land and build a home for their family.

ministry in Chad, Africa. They worked with two different

Minnie’s mother came to live with Albert and Minnie,

people groups during their tenure, managing a bookstore,

sharing many memories cooking, gardening, and picking

keeping financial records for missionaries, and traveling

raspberries together. Though Minnie and Albert never

into remote parts of Africa together. In the midst of their

had children of their own, the many nieces and nephews

missionary experiences the two had three children, Carolee

in their family tree were cared for as her own, continuing

(Raun) Gerstmann, Jonathan, and David, who were

to visit Aunt Minnie as she was a resident at the Good

homeschooled as the Raun’s served in Africa. They faced

Samaritan Center in Mohall, ND.

many hardships, but Orpha rarely complained, exhibiting a relentless spirit and determination on the mission field.

Minnie loved her church, and was a charter member of

She had an enviable ability to make people laugh, often

Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church in rural Antler. She

lifting the loads of burdens and hardships of those around

was active in teaching Sunday school, something her

her with her willing hand and optimistic outlook. God bless

father Gabriel passed along to her as he was influential in

the memory of Orpha Raun

starting the church in 1903. Through her years, Minnie hosted countless guests, finding special connection with missionaries, pastors, and professors from the Church of the Lutheran Brethren who would stay in her home.

Blessed be the memory of Minnie Nelson.

CONNE C T I O N CO R R E CTIO N S : In the Spring 2017 issue of the Hillcrest Connection we missed putting Edie Gahre’s name on the list. Thanks, Edie, for your graciousness as we acknowledge this Connection Correction.

Picture names: Front Row :: Edie Gahre, Carol (Underdal) Folden, Susan (Hodnefield) Patterson, Glennis (Egge) Enrud, Marilyn (Foss) Martinson, Janelle (Rangen) Swenson, Liz (Haga) Mercer Second Row :: David Egge, Merlin Larsen, Walter Olson, Dave Swenson Third Row :: Ron Powell, David Pedersen, Ed Monson, Dave Malvig, Glenn Troness, Steve Hexom

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1/5/18 5:02 PM

REUNIONS M AY 2 5 - 2 7 , 2 0 1 8

For 98 years Hillcrest grads have been gathering to celebrate graduation and recount ways the Lord worked in their lives while they attended Hillcrest. We invite you to the graduation and alumni weekend in 2018, MAY 25-27.

PAID

FERGUS FALLS, MN PERMIT #14

NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE

Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 610 Hillcrest Drive Fergus Falls, MN 56537

For more info visit www.ffhillcrest.org/hit

CONNECTION

The HIT tournament is FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, APRIL 6 & 7.

HILLCRESTCONNECTION

2018 INVITATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

LEVANG GALLERY UPDATE Alfred Bridston joined Hillcrest’s staff 100 years ago, in 1918. He would start Hillcrest’s tour tradition in 1920, training William Windahl and C.F. Erickson, who would later carry the tradition to new heights. In May Hillcrest is presenting a special display honoring the music tour traditions from Hillcrest in the J.H. Levang

17_046_Hillcrest_Connection_Winter_2017-18_FINAL.indd 36

Gallery. We invite all to see never before seen photos of the first tours from Hillcrest while listening to records of the Harmonettes, Hillcrest’s tour that performed at the Nation’s Captiol, and video documentaries from past tours. The display will run from May 2018 through May 2019.

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