table|salt Winter 2023

Table /'tābəl/

Gather here. For fellowship — for time to share. With openness and kindness, engage in thoughtful conversation.

Salt /sôlt/

Flavor from a Christ-centered disposition. Include the good news. Matthew 5:13

Inspired by the simplicity of these two ideas, North Central University’s magazine sets out to share more than just news and events from our campus. We aim to have authentic, gathered-at-the-table conversations that will lend insight from a biblical perspective.

With the accessibility of an everyday object like table salt, each article is flavored by the voices of Christians living out real life. There are no airs of presumption here. We believe North Central should operate as the salt of the earth, bringing the good news of Christ in whatever we do (see Matthew 5:13). And we will do so like friends at the dinner table—passing the salt, dialoguing with openness and kindness.

In conjunction with the North Central University blog, table | salt, you may now access extra content as you read the magazine by viewing different photos, videos, and more. By scanning these QR codes, you can connect with these stories on a new level. Here’s how:

We hope that with this, you are able to explore further some of the stories shared in a new way!

The Magazine of North Central University

Winter 2023

Senior Leadership Team

Scott Hagan, Ph.D. President

Tim Hager, D.Min.

VP, Operations, Business & Advancement Bethany (Nelson ’11) Harshbarger, M.A. VP, Enrollment & Student Development

Jason Wenschlag, Ed.D. VP, Academic Affairs

Joshua Edmon, M.A. AVP, Spiritual Life/ Dean, Multicultural Engagement

Desirée (Bontrager ’06) Libengood, Ed.D. AVP, Academic Affairs/ Dean, College of Arts & Sciences

Jeremy Williamson ’09, M.A. AVP, Student Life/Dean of Students

president’s greeting

Since I arrived at North Central University five years ago, I cannot count the number of times I’ve met people who’ve said, “I must have driven by your campus 100 times and didn’t know it was there,” or “North Central is the best-kept secret in Minneapolis.”

On the one hand, these statements indicate that we have great opportunities to tell our story to those outside of our circles of friends. But they also remind me that you can never know a full story of anything—or anyone—when you’re just passing by.

I think about all the people who have walked through Miller Hall and shaped this institution or who have sat in Lindquist Sanctuary in tears when they received and responded to God’s call on their lives. But you can’t see these stories by just driving past campus or stepping into our buildings.

This goes for people, too. We are saturated by inputs on more channels than our ancestors could even fathom, and it can take every ounce of discipline we have to slow down in our interactions and ask, “Do I really know this person? Do I have a grasp of their full story?”

You’re holding in your hands the first edition of table | salt, the magazine of North Central University. You have known this publication for years as NCU Magazine, and will find many familiar features; but you’ll also see that we’re telling our stories in new and powerful ways.

Because we want you to have the opportunity to really know NCU, and not just drive through it, you’ll see opportunities to use QR-code technology to take a deeper dive into the content on these pages.

We thought it would be beneficial, as well, to feature “The stories we don’t see—or hear.” You will be inspired as we lift the curtain on the lives of these ordinary people who have experienced and done exceptional things.

I hope you will pause to explore the imaginative story of North Central University. God is at work, and He is doing great things here.

welcome week starts the year off right

Picture-perfect weather, a fired-up group of student leaders, and an amazing class of new students provided the equation for an unforgettable Welcome Week in late August. Photos tell the story best, and you can scan the QR codes to see photos and video recap.

Alumni from across the years gathered with fellow alumni, families, and the North Central community to celebrate Homecoming Sept. 16–17.

A week of school-spirit events was capped off with the fan-favorite NCU’s Got Talent—with an evening of student acts that included music, comedy, and drama.

Sept. 17 was packed with volleyball and soccer games, The Social, and campus tours that showed off the newly renovated second floor of the T.J. Jones Library.

Give Day 2022 rallies community for T.J. Jones Library

Next up: Miller Hall skyway

With record-levels of student participation, Give Day 2022 last March raised nearly $64,000 to help underwrite the renovation of T.J. Jones Library. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the university showed their enthusiasm for the project through their generous gifts.

Following the fundraiser, the T.J. Jones Library was not exactly quiet during the summer! The Facilities Management team and contractors worked to renovate the second floor of the nearly 110-year-old building. Crews created a vibrant open space for the secondfloor collection, updated and built new meeting spaces, and improved the overall usability of the library for the next generation of students.

Give Day 2023 coming soon

According to David Duxbu ry, Associate Director of Advancement, plans are already underway for another recordbreaking Give Day on March 30–31, 2023. This year, funds will go toward renovating the Miller Hall skyway.

The skyway provides access between NCU’s main buildings and is seen by thousands of people each day as they drive through campus on 14th Street. Give Day will set the stage for the skyway to receive new energy-efficient glass, a new coating on the metal exterior, new flooring, and an updated ceiling.

Vice President for Operations, Business, and Advancement Tim Hager, D.Min., said the skyway renovation represents a vital upgrade for NCU’s infrastructure. “The Miller Hall skyway is a highly visible, highly utilized, and essential part of our campus infrastructure,” Hager said. “We are eager for the opportunity to update and upgrade this iconic part of our campus.”

Find more information or make a gift using the QR code below.

Partners for Progress giving exceeds $500k goal

The 55th Annual Partners for Progress Gala on Oct. 27, 2022 was a great success, raising more than $639,000 to support the student scholarships! This is a tremendous accomplishment and will go a long way to uphold our mission of educating students for lives of service throughout society, the marketplace, and the church.

President Scott Hagan expressed his gratitude for the enthusiastic response of the North Central community. “We are so grateful to all of our donors for their support,” Hagan said. “We thank everyone who joined us for Partners— and even several who could not attend—for making this possible! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for our students!”

The elegant Depot Hotel was the setting for the 55th Annual Partners for Progress gala. The evening included music from students before and during the program. Throughout the evening, students from each of NCU’s colleges shared the impact scholarships have had on their education.

AGWM scholarship program opens doors for ‘MKs’

Many students who want to attend college find themselves held back by the cost of tuition. But thanks to the generosity of a North Central University donor, 12 students this year are attending school without worrying about how they’ll pay for it.

According to Vice President for Business, Operations, and Advancement Tim Hager, D.Min., one of North Central’s donors has committed $480,000 to fully fund 12 student scholarships under The AGWM Pennington Scholarship, allowing students from missionary families to attend college. This latest donation will help even more students achieve their dreams.

“This is a dream come true for many hardworking missionary families who have wanted to send their kids to college,” Hager said. “With this generous gift, we are able to continue the tremendous legacy of raising up missionaries and pastors and taking care of them with an excellent college education.”

The AGWM scholarship program was created in 2018 to alleviate the financial burden of college tuition for children of AGWM missionaries, allowing them to continue the Lord’s work in the field of their calling. Since its inception, more than 64 students have been able to attend North Central tuition-free.

The scholarship was renamed in 2020 to honor the life of one “missionary kid (MK),” Micah Pennington, a North Central student who passed away unexpectedly that year from a medical condition. His family represents all families who have faithfully sacrificed and served in overseas missions, and all who serve to bring the Gospel “so that all may know” the redeeming news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

featured alumnus of the year

Chauncee Hollingsworth ’20

Chauncee Hollingsworth is the first recipient of the new Featured Alumnus honor, recognized annually at Partners for Progress.

Hollingsworth is the Founder and Executive Director of Hoops and Christ. His inspirational story was powerfully impacted by the scholarships he received at North Central. His passion is helping people discover their Godgiven purpose, and his nationally recognized program emphasizes skill development for life on and off the court. Hollingsworth trains kids just starting out all the way to elite NBA players. He is also a successful realtor in the Twin Cities, and excels at finding opportunities to build pathways for clients to better themselves with a secure financial future. He works hand in hand with his wife, Tara (Jefferson ’16) Hollingsworth. Chauncee Hollingsworth shares his inspiring story at Partners for Progress.

congratulations to our 2022 alumni honorees!

The Larry C. Bach Award

For demonstrating Spirit-filled leadership and excelling in service through Fine Arts

Ben Gowell ’02

Ben Gowell is t he Executive Pastor at Christ’s Church of the Valley in Arizona, and has served for 20 years as a worship leader and pastor, and has been the Executive Producer for several NCU Worship Live recordings. Gowell believes the Church should lead in shaping today’s culture, and his experience in the professional music industry emphasizes creative expression that points people to Jesus. Ben and his wife, Jen, have two children and live in North Phoenix.

The F.J. Lindquist Award

For demonstrating Spirit-filled leadership and excellence in service through Church or Church-related ministry, Mission, and Service Rev. Jerry Strandquist ’85

Jerry Strandqu ist invested his legendary career pastoring churches in Wisconsin and Minnesota. As a leader of leaders, he set the standard in missions giving and church planting locally and nationally, and served on the NCU Board of Regents for 17 years. Beyond his accomplishments, Strandquist is known for connecting and investing in people and has mentored countless emerging ministry leaders. He is enjoying his retirement to Arizona and spending time with his grandchildren.

The Ivan O. Miller Award

For demonstrating Spirit-filled leadership and excelling in service through Career and Community Ben Peters ’14

Ben Peters is the founder of Mission Real Estate Group, which gives 20% of its profits to missions organizations. This unique business model has generated a client-referral rate higher than the industry standard, and Peters’ team consistently ranks in the top 1% of real estate producers nationwide. He is active in his local church and freely shares his expertise with NCU students. He and his wife, Angie, have one son.

The Dr. Roger Sorbo Award

For demonstrating Spirit-filled leadership and excelling in service through Arts and Sciences Jennifer Meyerson ’07

Jennifer Meyerson is committed to modeling a Kingdom lifestyle among the most vulnerable and marginalized. She has worked with the United Nations and some of the best-known humanitarian organizations in the world and has served thousands of refugees through multiple organizations. She is currently the VP of International Programs for Preemptive Love, focusing on efforts in Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Mexico, Colombia, Iraq, and Venezuela to stop the violence that leads to war.

campus ‘Tetris’ moves people, spaces to enhance student experience

By Jordan Robertson, Executive Director of Operations

The North Central University Facilities Management and Operations teams executed a real-life Tetris of sorts this summer as they oversaw 64 office moves throughout campus. North Central University’s Senior Leadership Team, working in collaboration with Operations, orchestrated the moves to maximize the use of campus space and improve the student experience.

from the edge to the center

One of the oldest buildings on campus, Kingsriter Center, has been used for classrooms and faculty offices for several years, yet the space in the building had been modified over time and was less than ideal. Finding new areas for users of Kingsriter became a priority, and plans were set in motion to redistribute office space on Miller Hall’s 2nd floor to provide a more integrated

experience for students and faculty.

College of Arts and Sciences faculty and staff previously housed in the Kingsriter building were relocated to spaces along the Miller Hall 2nd-floor corridor. School of Education faculty offered to move out of spaces the school had used for 30+ years, a vital piece of the puzzle that allowed many other office moves to fall into place.

shifting spaces for student success

To accommodate the new influx of faculty to Miller Hall, Student Development and Academics collaborated to create an updated Student Success Center, housing Mental Health Services near the Student Development offices on Miller Hall 1st floor and partnering with T.J. Jones Library to activate the academic arm of the Student Success Center there, close to the rich resources and study spaces the library offers.

As office assignments were shifted to create space for Mental Health Services on Miller Hall’s 1st floor, the southeast wing was entirely dedicated to student-facing offices, including the Executive Director of Admissions, Online Education, PSEO, and Online Admissions.

Liechty Hall welcomes accounting team

The Office of Accounting and Finance, a longtime Miller Hall “resident,” was relocated to Liechty Hall; the current era of nearly 100% online financial processing allowed the team to shift to the space away from the campus core without hindering their ongoing work.

On the north end of the 1st floor Miller Hall main hallway, the newly created One Stop Student Services, which supports students through financial aid and student accounts, registration, and records, shifted and combined spaces to create a more inviting environment for the campus community.

athletics and academic integration

As a final step to the slated 64 office moves, NCU Rams Athletics staff consolidated their office footprint to the former School of Education wing on Miller Hall’s 2nd floor. The Senior Leadership Team desired a more connected and streamlined reality for the student athlete between academic and athletic departments. The move provides student athletes with more accessible assistance, better service, and greater accountability.

1program updates

One of the ongoing endeavors led by recently retired Larry Bach was the Fine Arts Endowment, which is now more than $600,000. Dean of the College of Fine Arts Vinnie Zarletti, D.W.S., noted that in Bach’s last year as a faculty member, he focused on leaving things better than he found them. Bach started the College of Fine Arts Endowment in 2008 so he could ensure its flourishing long after his departure, and North Central University and the College of Fine Arts will forever be indebted to him for his unmatched investment over the years.

college of fine arts highlights

2student success

Worship Live Online: North Central’s studentfaculty collaboration for Worship Live recordings has met with great success: On Spotify, Worship Live has over 34,000 monthly listeners, with the top single, “Breath of Heaven [It Is Well],” at over 500,000 streams. In just a few months, the 2022 releases have generated over 14,000 views on YouTube!

The total Worship Live views on YouTube now stand at over 350,000 for music videos and another 500,000+ for promotional videos!

faculty notes

New faculty: Alessio Tranchell, M.M., Visiting Professor of Music and Conducting. Tranchell has served as Women’s Chorale Director at University of Northwestern –St. Paul and adjunct faculty at St. Cloud State University and Crown College. At NCU, he directs the Concert Chorale, Women’s Chorus, and Festival Chorus, and teaches conducting, music history, and vocal pedagogy courses.

Accomplishments: Jeff Deyo (Worship Arts) released his second book, “Spark: Igniting the Culture of Pure Worship in Your Congregation” (Worship City Ministries 2022).

Promotions: Wayne Matthews, M.A. (Theatre) promoted to Assistant Professor; Vinnie Zarletti, D.W.S. (Dean) promoted to Full Professor.

Retirements: Rebecca Norberg retired in spring 2022 after serving NCU for 17 years (see page 18).

college businessof& technology

1program updates

New majors: Healthcare Administration and Global Entrepreneurship (in partnership with the College of Church Leadership). Sports Management and Marketing will be added as online degrees starting in fall 2023.

2student success

Graduation data highlights: Job Placement: 97%. The national average is 65.7% in Business and 72% Computer Science (College Raptor, 2021).

highlights 3

Average graduate salary range: $52,999–$56,999.

faculty notes

Accomplishments: Dean Bill Tibbetts, MBA, is serving on the board of Aquila, a partner to Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) that promotes and supports business as missions all around the world.

Promotions: Neely Tamminga, MBA, was promoted from Visiting Professor to Assistant Professor.

The College of Business and Technology (COBAT) conducted a curriculum review for each of its 11 majors, resulting in 19 courses being added or revised. Highlights included splitting Accounting & Finance into two different degrees, adding or recalibrating seven Marketing courses, and adding four courses to Sports Management Under the direction of Dean Bill Tibbetts, MBA, the NCU Digital Education team is at work reshaping operations and structure, defining realistic growth goals, and increasing the quality of digital education to worldclass levels. The team has developed three phases to meet these objectives over the next four years, taking the best from 20 years of online education and introducing the NCU ecology of Godcentered relationship and holistic development, a rarity in U.S. online education.

Students mentored through COBAT: 100%. On average, only 64% of U.S. college graduates receive career mentoring (Gallup, 2021).

Number of internships by graduation: 3.1. On average in the U.S., 50% of undergraduate students complete one internship prior to graduation (National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2022).

collaborations

The Applied Studies degree, a partnership with Minneapolis College, allows students to take courses in concentrated disciplines at the partner site while taking general electives and Bible Core at NCU. Examples include Graphic Design, Art, and Early Childhood Education. COBAT recently absorbed this degree program and has provided new oversight with full-time faculty.

Minneapolis College has dropped their Law Enforcement offerings, which were the most popular Applied Studies degrees pursued by NCU students. Plans are being finalized to create a new consortium agreement with Hennepin Technical College, which recently received HLC accreditation.

1student success

Students in SKW 330: Generalist Practice with Communities and Organizations completed a needs and strengths assessment of Elliot Park in collaboration with the Elliot Park Neighborhood Board.

ASL graduates from 2021 and 2022 classes are successfully working in the field. Professors are getting compliments from community members about their work.

The Institute for Digital Humanity (IDH) garnered national academic recognition through participation in the following initiatives and programs:

• Student presentations at South by Southwest EDU (Austin, TX)

• IDH participation in NPR’s Next Team Challenge

• Attendence at the inaugural Transatlantic Dialogue on AI Ethics (Paris, France)

• Media recognition in The Omaha World Herald, KARE-11 News (Minneapolis), Nebraska Lawyer, The Human Lawyer (podcast), and Forbes.

college of arts & sciences highlights 2

program updates

During the upcoming year, the School of Science and Math will continue to launch more than 14 new lab and lecture courses, collaborating with several teams on campus to grow the admitted number of students while retaining all current students in the Biology program.

The School of Education had a successful PELSB (Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board) site visit and received approval to continue the program for additional five years with no interim reporting—the highest level of approval possible.

faculty notes

Accomplishments: Assistant Professor Beth Brown, MSW, was appointed as NCU liaison to Catholic Charities’ Endeavor Program, which is a new supportive housing location next to NCU.

Sydney Groven ’12, ’19 M.A., an instructor in the Carlstrom ASL-Interpreting Department, participated on a committee taking a census of the ASL interpreters in the State of Minnesota. The 100+ page report was completed over the summer, and Groven and the committee presented their findings in October.

Education faculty presented at local and regional conferences in South Dakota and Nebraska.

New faculty: Pamela Beaudry, MSW, Assistant Professor and Program Director for Social Work. Beaudry is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and as a Licensed Graduate Social Worker has served as a school social worker in area K–12 schools. She has also served witih AGWM in Central Eurasia.

Promotions:

Scott Mulder, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, transitioned from visiting professor to full-time faculty.

college graduateof& professional studies highlights faculty notes

New faculty: Alaine Buchanan, Ph.D., Director of Graduate and Professional Studies and Associate Professor, College of Church Leadership. Buchanan is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. She has taught at Northwest University, SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary, Pacific Rim Christian University, Evangel University, and Methodist University. She is married to a full-time military chaplain, living where he serves and working remotely. Her first book, “Dear Student,” was published in 2021.

1program updates

The M.A. in Biblical Theology (MABT) program has added biblical languages, a biblical lands class that takes place in Israel, and a thesis class.

The M.A. in Strategic Leadership (MASL) is being enhanced to create a strong, cohesive experience for students from the time they matriculate until they finish their capstone class.

Enrollment continues to increase and retention remains strong for Graduate and Professional Studies.

2student success

A community gathering for all graduate students is offered via Microsoft Teams once a month, providing opportunities for networking and collaboration.

The Graduate and Professional Studies team now includes: Dean Jason Wenschlag, Ed.D., who also serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs; Director Alaine Buchanan, Ph.D.; and Program Manager/Coach Meg Breithaupt.

1

program updates

Three new degrees: BA in Global Entrepreneurship (in partnership with the College of Business and Technology), AA in Global Studies, and AA in Pastoral Studies.

Degrees now available fully online: Biblical and Theological Studies, Church Leadership, Humanitarian Leadership, Youth, Children, and Family Ministries.

Internship and study opportunities: Team-based internship program for students in the School of Pastoral Studies. All CCL students have the opportunity to study overseas in a global internship or a study trip to Israel and the Middle East.

3collaborations

Partnered in ministry and missionary conferences: Next Gen Innovation Conference, WorldGate Conference, Undergraduate Bible and Theology Conference, and William J. Seymour celebration.

Developed the “Institute for Next Gen” (ING), a new initiative connecting NCU students and global youth leaders to develop new youth leaders and resources for youth workers.

college of church leadership highlights

2student success

Nearly 100% placement rate for Pastoral Studies graduates in fulltime ministry positions in churches around the country; 60+ CCL students graduated in the past year.

Expanding connections to support vocational ministry: Partnering with Illinois Ministry Network to create Called College, a twoyear junior college for vocational ministry aimed at students in Illinois; collaborating with Minnesota Ministry Network to create an on-ramp for MNSOM students into NCU.

faculty notes

New faculty: Nikki Murray, Ph.D., Missionary in Residence. Murray will serve for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 academic years, teaching in Global Studies. She has served in the U.S. and globally for 17 years, including seven years with Chi Alpha.

Darnell Williams, D.Min., Associate Professor (pictured). Williams has served as lead pastor for churches in Ohio for nearly 30

years. He serves as the VP of the Black Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a nonresident Executive Presbyter for the AG, and has authored two books.

Alaine Buchanan, Ph.D., Associate Professor. (See bio information, p. 16.)

Accomplishments: All CCL faculty have earned doctorates in their field and have served in pastoral ministry, enabling them to effectively apply learning to community leadership.

NCU farewellsaysto

recent retirees

Bob Brenneman Rebecca Norberg

Bob Brenneman, Ph.D. College of Church Leadership

Q. when did you start teaching?

A. I was Missiona ry in Residence from 1996–1998 and began teaching full time in 1999.

Q. job title and roles?

A. Assistant Professor and Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies (ICS); Professor of Global Studies; Chair of ICS, 1999–2005.

Q. publications or accomplishments?

A. Books: “As Strong as the Mountains: A Kurdish Cultural Journey” and “Rekindling the Fire of Pentecost: How the Peoples of the Bible Became Muslims and Why Many Now are Coming to Jesus.”

Completed my Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota in 2005. Took students on about 18 trips, mostly to the Middle East, but also to India, China, Bulgaria, and Germany.

Q. favorite class to teach?

A. I enjoyed them all! I love history, so teaching the History of Global Christianity over the last few years was a delight.

I taught Global Perspectives many times, as well as CrossCultural Communication, and several classes related to Islam.

Q. what do you like best about teaching?

A. When I felt the students grasped the importance of what I was teaching and got enthusiastic about it. Because I taught so many classes that were about history or other parts of the world, I had to convince students that it was relevant even if it did not seem to affect them directly. That was a challenge!

Q. most memorable NCU moments?

A. My most memorable moments were on mission trips with the students when they would really intercede for the people around them. It was a great joy to visit former students serving in some very challenging circumstances in the Middle East.

Q. what will you miss about NCU?

A. I won’t miss grading papers or writing objective exams!

Q. what will retirement look like?

A. I hope to travel abroad at least once a year, visiting former students and keeping afresh of events in the Muslim world. I have started doing research on another book about history, the Middle East, and the tribulations of the Church in a very difficult environment. I hope to do a lot of volunteer work with refugees, international students, and immigrants. I hope to continue to challenge Christians to pray, give and go to the unreached, in particular, the Muslim world. I have been building bridges with Catholic Charismatics, Orthodox Christians, and even the long-suffering Church of the East (often called Nestorian). I love reaching out beyond denominational boundaries.

Q. any words of wisdom for students?

A. Go after God with all of your heart. Everything else will pass away. Make your life motto to “know Him and make Him known.”

Rebecca Norberg

College of Fine Arts

Q. when did you start teaching?

A. Part-time Fall 2001, Fulltime Fall 2002, retired January 2022.

Q. job title and roles?

A. Assistant Professor; hired to be responsible for vocal care.

Q. publications or accomplishments?

A. Fulbright Scholar to Germany, Regional winner Metropolitan Opera, directed and acted/sang in mega musical productions across the USA, recorded several albums (London Philharmonic, Deutsche Grammophon, Gaither Recording Studios). Guest artist for General Council of the AG.

Q. favorite class to teach?

A. Teacher of voice and vocal care. In addition to private voice lessons, I especially liked teaching vocal health/care and anything history-related.

Q. what do you like best about teaching?

A. Showing students what they were capable of achieving. Introducing students to the complete picture of music history and how art, history, architecture, and more

Left to Right: Vinnie Zarletti, Rebecca Norberg, Bob Brenneman, Allen Tennison, President Scott Hagan

were interconnected with Christianity. Teaching students to truly communicate and minister to large groups—not just make music—from a Christian perspective.

Q. most memorable NCU moments?

A. In the classroom, watching totally disinterested students move from sulking silence in the back row to total participation and interest in the front row. Guiding several students from the perception of mediocre, unusable talent to excellence and watching them lead in major churches, schools, and venues across the Twin Cities and literally around the world.

Q. what will you miss about NCU?

A. Being able to help and influence the next generation of musicians, pastors, and church leaders.

Q. what will retirement look like?

A. I am coordinating ministry teams to go to senior citizen groups to bring joy and smiles using musical activities. I’ve become an intercessor, supporter of ministries, and prayer warrior—something I haven’t taken the time to do before. Due to COVID-19, I lost my husband of 47 years and my singing voice. Kevin and I missed our retirement years together, but God has gently led me through what should have totally crushed me to beautiful, fulfilling joy!

Q. any words of wisdom for students?

A. Use the richness of your tool of music more! Diversify! You are only using a tiny percentage of what God has placed in your hands. Don’t limit God to one little niche. He’s a big God! Give the arts (that the world has stolen) back to God. Lead the world of music to new dynamics and excellence.

athleticswelcomesdepartment new staff

NCU welcomed severa l new head coaches and staff members this year as the department continues its push toward Cultivating Christ-Centered Champions. New names on the Rams coaching and staff rosters (front to back) include Assistant Baseball Coach Matthew Farland ’13, M.S., eSports Codirector Tyler Collins ’18, Head Women’s Basketball Coach Leah Szabla, M.A., Head

Baseball Coach Devin Lehnhoff ’14, Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jeremy Becker, ’20 M.A., Sports Information Director Cory Warner, Director of Golf/Athletic Chaplain Greg Sweeney. Not pictured: Assistant Men’s and Women’s Soccer Coach Rodrigo De Mendoza ’20, ’22 M.A., and eSports Co-director Konrad Bueckers, who is currently an NCU graduate student.

NCU launcheseSportswith great momentum

The Rams of North Central University added a new varsity athletic team this fall and have seen immediate results follow. NCU Director of Athletics Michael Knipe ’19 said, “When we added this team, we knew that the demand existed among current and prospective students to compete in the sport they love, and this launch has proven that. We have 16 newly recruited studentathletes joining more than 20 returning students, all competing together on a weekly basis. It’s incredibly exciting!”

The Rams house four varsity eSports teams currently, with plans to add additional game titles in the future. North Central’s eSports program operates under varsity athletics and undergoes the same rigorous demands that traditional student-athletes have, including weekly study tables, fitness sessions, practice, and film reviews. Competition and training take place in the new state-of-the-art eSports arena, custombuilt by NCU’s Facilities Management team over the summer months.

NCU’s new eSports teams have a strong record out of the gate, claiming wins over Missouri, Kansas State, Oral Roberts, Wayne State, and Ole Miss, to name a few. For more information on the eSports schedule and roster, visit ncurams.com

THE STORIES WE DON’T SEE

Journeys

of victory, hope, healing, acceptance, and faith

. FROM ALMOST DEAD TO NINJA WARRIOR

WE’RE NOT BROKEN

A MATTER OF THE HEART

FORGIVING GOD

How many people do you truly see when you meet them? When you’re engaged in conversation, do you truly hear them?

Each day we encounter people we know in the moment—it might be a transactional encounter at a store or restaurant or perhaps a collaborative moment with a colleague. We might observe an enthusiastic smile or sense something beneath the surface, but the pace of our lives rarely affords us the opportunity to pause and ask, “What’s your story?” And then listen.

In this issue of table | salt, we introduce you to four members of our community who have powerful stories you may not be able to see or know through a surface encounter. We are honored to share these stories you may not otherwise see—or hear.

What does it mean to be an American Ninja Warrior— a contestant on NBC’s popular reality show? For most people, the answer likely comes down to defeating obstacles and achieving success.

But what if being a Ninja Warrior means something different? What if it means never giving up, no matter how challenging things get? Or changing every single thing about how you manage your health? Or stepping away from death’s door so you could live to see your kids grow up?

The story of Robbins’ Ninja journey goes back about 10 years, when he and his

wife, Cherie (Bartel ’95) Robbins, started watching American Ninja Warrior with their two older daughters. “We’ve watched it all the way from the beginning,” Robbins said. “And for years, my daughters used to say, ‘Dad, you should apply for American Ninja Warrior.’ Well, I would laugh it off, and kind of give a wink, like, ‘Sure, girls. Okay.’”

What his adoring daughters didn’t know was that their dad was not quite Ninja material. “I was so unhealthy all those years,” Robbins said, “and my health kept getting worse.”

Competing on America Ninja Warrior. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Morris/NBC. Story written by Nancy Zugschwert, ’19 M.A.

Eric Robbins ’95, MBA is 50 years old, and last year he competed and earned a slot on American Ninja Warrior. The odds were stacked against him being chosen to compete—he is among the top 10 oldest men to compete since the show’s inception—but even more unlikely because four years ago, he could barely walk up a flight of stairs without collapsing from exhaustion.

“I think my health took its initial turn when I was in youth ministry,” Robbins reflected. “You’re at fast food restaurants all the time with teenagers— they can eat all that because they’re young.” But well past the McDonald’s youth-pastor stage, Robbins would consume too much of the wrong things through business travel or entertaining clients.

By his mid-40s, Robbins rarely felt healthy, but he attributed it to aging. He had attempted to lose weight, poking a stick at various fad diets without success. He had let himself go to the point where he had gained a hundred pounds since his highschool weight, and, unbeknownst to him, his life was at risk.

turning point

When Robbins was 46, Cherie noticed a suspicious spot on his back and wanted him to get it checked. “While you’re there,” she said, “why don’t you get a physical?” Robbins was resistant but knew her request made sense.

At the doctor’s office, Robbins noticed that the nurses attending to him seemed nervous, and the activity level around him was abnormal for a routine physical. When the doctor came in, he asked Robbins to surrender his car keys. “What are you talking about?” Robbins asked the doctor.

The doctor explained that under Montana State law, he couldn’t allow Robbins to drive home because his blood pressure was over 205, and was surprised that Robbins hadn’t already suffered a stroke or a heart attack.

The physician also delivered a strong message to Robbins: if he didn’t change his ways, he wasn’t going to see his two younger children grow up.

Looking back, Robbins realized he had missed all the signs. “The color of my skin had started to change, started to almost become translucent,” he recounted. “Like you could almost see the color was leaving. And my eyes were watering all the time. My heart was racing. At night I would wake up thinking I heard somebody knocking on the front door, but it was actually my own heart beating so loudly it woke me up.”

Robbins heard the message loud and clear; he left the doctor’s office that day determined to change.

Having tried and failed at diets before, Robbins knew he needed something different. Cherie suggested he call a friend who had recently lost some weight, and the friend led Robbins to a health program that he credits with saving his life.

“I found this amazing partnership,” Robbins said. “I focused on nutrition, got involved in a [health-

focused] community, and had a one-on-one relationship with a coach who helped me focus on a mindset shift towards food, which changed everything.”

When Robbins returned to the doctor 30 days later, he asked Robbins to verify his social security number because he couldn’t believe it was the same person who had been in his office one month ago.

MONTH AGO.

Robbins was grateful to God that his wake-up call had come and that he was led to something that worked.

A week after Robbins started his health transformation, he took on a one-year assignment as a hospital chaplain. Seeing people dying from conditions similar to his—before his wake-up call—fueled his drive to persist. He dropped 100 pounds in seven months and was once again at his high-school weight.

“My blood pressure dropped like a rock,” Robbins shared. “My skin color started coming back, full circle, all of my skin tags and rashes and things that come out when your body’s going through detox, all went away on their own. And people started coming up to me asking, ‘What are you doing?’ I had so many people ask me for help that Cherie and I ended up starting our own health coaching company on the side.”

path to ninja

Now in the best shape of his life, Robbins started to think about what was next. “It’s like, I’ve restored this old rusty car,” he said. “You gotta take it out for a spin. What do I want to do?”

Then he remembered his girls’ encouragement to apply for American Ninja Warrior. Seeing it as a “full-circle” opportunity, Robbins decided to go for it.

He told no one but his wife, who was loving but skeptical.

“I told her, I’m not trying to get on and win,” Robbins explained. “I just want to be able to tell my girls that, yes, I applied.”

With 75,000 applicants, Robbins knew the chance he’d get on the show was “almost lottery level,” but he decided to work out for 10 months as if

HE COULDN’T BELIEVE IT WAS THE SAME PERSON

WHO HAD BEEN IN HIS OFFICE ONE

he would get the call. “I didn’t want to be that guy that, if he happened to miraculously get the call, only has eight weeks to prepare,” Robbins said.

He started training in earnest in February 2021. By the time he applied in late November, he had just reached one of his major fitness goals: 1,000 pushups in 90 minutes, and was able to include this feat in his application.

Still knowing it was unlikely he’d get selected, Robbins hit “send” on his application. He called his girls to tell them, and they thought it was awesome.

Then the seemingly impossible happened. Robbins learned he’d been selected for the show. “It was surreal,” he said. Grateful he had already been training, he took it to beast mode. He hired a next-level trainer and visited Ninja gyms throughout the country to work on actual obstacles similar to the show.

In March 2022, Robbins flew to San Antonio for a week for the quarter-final round of the competition, and the event was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. “It was so overwhelming when you walk into that arena,” Robbins said. “You only get 30 minutes to see the course, and you don’t get to test it. You see all the cameras, crews, the big booms, the drones, and you watch one guy walk through each obstacle. It was massively overwhelming.”

Managing his mindset for the event was a challenge. “My only goal,” Robbins said, “was to make sure I didn’t botch it on the first step or two—because most rookies do.”

Mission accomplished. Robbins made it successfully to the second obstacle, referred to as “the roller coaster,” before falling into the water below.

His dunk in the water was anything but a loss to Robbins. He came out of the water alive with energy and has since declared it was just the beginning. He has continued training—even building a private Ninja training course at his Montana ranch— and was recently invited to compete again in the upcoming season.

Robbins knows his biggest victory has nothing to do with a television show and everything to do with the restoration of his health and finding his calling to help people take care of their bodies.

Thinking about what God wants to do with his story excites Robbins. He believes God doesn’t just want His people to be healthy spiritually, emotionally, and relationally, but also physically. “There is great fulfillment in being able to dream past what you thought was possible,” Robbins said. “I think many people get to a certain age and switch to cruise control and wind down; so many people settle. I’m going to write about this experience and call it ‘Second-Half Warriors.’ We need to talk about what the second half of our lives could be when we put on our warrior self and say, ‘We’re not done yet—we’re actually going to have the best yet!’”

On weekdays during the academic year, the North Central University community gathers in Lindquist Sanctuary for daily chapel. The sounds of lively conversation permeate the room before the worship service. Toward the front of the sanctuary, a small group is communicating in sign language—animated but quiet. Laughter and camaraderie mark the interactions

among the American Sign Language (ASL) students and several faculty members.

Some in the group can hear, some are hard of hearing, and some have profound hearing loss. All of them belong at North Central.

As the worship team takes the stage and the music begins, an ASL interpreter stands toward the center of the stage, ready to

interpret the worship songs and the sermon so everyone in the room can experience worship together.

For Regina Daniels, M.A., Assistant Professor and Director of the Carlstrom ASL-Interpreting Department, the time in daily chapel is sacred and beautiful, and it represents the cornerstone of her transformative experience at NCU.

Story written by Nancy Zugschwert, ’19 M.A.

a family trait

Daniels has been hard of hearing since birth. She grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her mother and sister, who are deaf. “We’re actually the fifth generation deaf in our family,” Daniels said in a live interview interpreted by Leah Russ ’20. “Our great-great-greatgreat grandmother on our mother’s side was an enslaved person from Congo, Africa, and she was deaf.”

The Center for Disease Control says familial deafness is at play in 50 to 60 percent of babies who are born with hearing loss.

Daniels is comfortable with being hard of hearing, yet acknowledges that in society as a whole, there is confusion about Deaf culture and what words to use when referring to individuals with hearing loss. Even within the Deaf community, the level of hearing loss can shape how an individual fits in.

“I grew up thinking, “I’m hard of hearing, but I’m proud of that; that’s my identity,” she said. “My sister is profoundly deaf and would refer to herself as a ‘big-D’ Deaf individual, and that’s her identity. Being big-D Deaf means you’re fully immersed in the Deaf community and Deaf culture, so if you’re hard of hearing [like me], you may be involved but still separate.”

There may not be agreement about the differences between “big D” and “little d” when referencing deaf individuals or Deaf culture, but Daniels is adamant about which words NOT to use: “I prefer the words ‘hard of hearing’ or ‘deaf’ instead of ‘hearing impaired,’” she said. “Hearing impaired just means that, in a sense, we’re broken; we’re not broken! We don’t need to be fixed. We’re fine. We can drive, we can walk, we can run, we can do anything! Except we can’t hear. The word ‘impaired’ implies that we’re broken. People assume ‘hearing impaired’ is right, but ‘hard of hearing’ is not offensive to us; that’s who we are.”

things in her life, when Daniels came to North Central in 2017, she experienced doubt and uncertainty.

Daniels admits that with her undergraduate degree in Dance and her master’s in Performance Arts Management, she was an unlikely candidate to teach ASL at a university.

Additionally, she admits that while she was raised in a Christian home and attended church growing up, her faith at that time felt like it was on shaky ground. Looking back, she believes God was involved in her placement at North Central and how her story has played out since she came. The daily chapel experience was just one aspect of a metamorphosis she has experienced since coming to Minnesota.

“Talking about Jesus just brings tears to my eyes,” Daniels said. “Five years ago, before I came to NCU, I was in a pretty dark place.” Even though her mother had strong faith, Daniels recalled, “I was struggling.”

“My first year at NCU, I met Bill Ross [a former faculty member], and I worked so hard to understand what this was all about. I knew about Jesus and God, but it was at a surface level because when I grew up, I didn’t really know the people in the Bible.” This deficit was partly because ASL was her first language, and she had never been exposed to Bible stories delivered via ASL.

“Honestly, North Central actually opened the door for me and led me to be willing to learn,” Daniels said. “Everyone here has been so patient with me, “to just teach and educate—whether in chapel, in meetings, or at my church.”

Through Ross, Daniels was exposed to an ASL version of the Bible available on video. “When I watch that on a video screen and watch the Bible in sign language,” she said, “it becomes more clear than when I’m reading it on the page.”

new freedom

From an early age, Daniels found herself straddling two worlds. She learned ASL and signed with many people in her life, but she could also lip-read and speak orally, so she was high-functioning in the hearing world, too.

a different kind of broken

Although she was at peace with her identity as a hard-ofhearing person and had already accomplished amazing

As a woman who is hard of hearing, speaks ASL, is Black, and is a Christian, Daniels has felt uncertain about how she fits in. Christians are a minority in the Deaf community, and deaf people are a minority in the Black community. “I’m in the middle,” Daniels said. “There’s a very small percentage of other people like me. So, where do I have that safe space to be myself, to not have to accommodate and try to change who I am to fit what these other groups need? For me to find a balance or a way to allow myself to still be myself as a Black/deaf/part hearing woman/Christian—I can’t please everyone. I can only be who I am.”

Daniels’ naturally friendly personality and outgoing nature have also caused her to feel different, but she has found freedom in Christ and is more dedicated than ever to being fully herself on all fronts.

“

“People have told me I’m too much for them,” Daniels said, “I heard that phrase over and over when I was growing up. My friendliness, my personality would shine; I would have this big smile on my face.

“And now, people expect me to act a certain way at age 45! People my age say, ‘You’re so different from us,’ and I’m saying, don’t let age stop you from doing everything you want to do. I have the heart of a kid! I just feel like every day is a new day; every day is fresh. I want to show what I was born to do and who I was made to be in His image.

“I hid that for 15 years, and I’m saying, ‘No more. Let it out!’”

feeling seen and heard

Thomas Merton said, “The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.”

For Regina Daniels, there are two places where she feels ultimately seen, heard, and free to be perfectly herself: with her mom and sister and at North Central University.

“My mom and sister are like home to me,” Daniels said. “And North Central has become like a home to me. This department doesn’t see me as different but the same. We treat each other the same, even the hearing students. I feel that and value that; the care is there. This is like my home.” READ MORE

Just meeting Adah Tibbetts, a vivacious 18-year-old high school senior, one would never guess the story she literally carries in her heart. A story that began at birth but came to a crisis just weeks after her father, Bill Tibbetts, MBA, ABD, now Dean of the College of Business and Technology and Online Education, started working at NCU.

When Adah arrived nine weeks early and weighed just over three pounds, Bill and his wife, Natalie, knew their parenting journey would be different from most. “We could hold her, essentially, in the cup of one of our hands,” Bill recalled.

As a preemie, Adah had typical physical challenges, but her breathing issues worsened as a toddler. Despite countless trips to doctors, Adah’s breathing didn’t improve. After the family moved from Indiana to Minneapolis in 2008 for Bill’s job as a new instructor, Adah went from a lively, energetic, happy child to a lethargic child. Bill said. “I have memories of looking at her and thinking, ‘Something’s not right.’”

Natalie and Bill attributed Adah’s change to the move, but without any visible bounceback, they resumed their search for answers. The specialists in their new city had no new

suggestions, and Bill and Natalie realized they needed to lean into the Holy Spirit’s prompting to push harder on behalf of their child.

divine timing

At their next visit, the physician ordered chest and lung x-rays. But this time, they turned Adah on her side for a different view, and the medical staff saw something more severe happening inside the little girl’s body. The doctor said she needed to get to the hospital right away.

Photos courtesy of the Tibbetts family. Story written by Nancy Zugschwert, ’19 M.A.

During the short drive to Minneapolis Children’s Hospital, the couple saw their daughter’s condition deteriorating before their eyes. At the hospital, Bill and Natalie found themselves watching a team of doctors trying to save their daughter’s life.

Thirteen years later, Bill can still recall that moment vividly—the sight, the sounds, the smells. “It still gets me every time,” he recalled. “As you stand in the room and they’re trying to save your child; I don’t think there are many experiences of life that could connect to a moment like that.”

The atmosphere in the ER was tense as the team struggled to figure out what was going on. Then a young resident physician walked in. After looking at Adah’s chart, he realized he’d seen this condition on his cardiovascular rotation: restrictive cardiomyopathy.

“Once they knew what it was,” Bill said, “they knew how to stabilize her.” But that only bought a little time. shattered

After Adah was stabilized and moved to another room, a doctor sat down with Bill and Natalie and said there was nothing more they could do for her; she had an incurable disease.

“For me at that moment,” Bill recalled, “it was like holding a sheet of glass that represented my life, and it was dropped; it just simply shattered into a thousand pieces.”

Bill wishes he could say that he just knew right then that God was going to come through, but he couldn’t. “I was at the very beginning of that journey,” he said. “And there was just a complete collapse in me almost immediately—emotionally, spiritually, physically.”

They soon learned Adah’s only hope was a heart transplant. She remained in the hospital while they determined if she was transplant-eligible (she was), then they brought her home with medicine to sustain her. Shortly after that, another moment changed their trajectory.

Bill said he and Natalie rarely watched TV or news programs, but one day, they “randomly” turned on the television and caught a news story about a local family whose child had received a heart transplant in Missouri at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

After speaking with the reporter who did the news story, Bill and Natalie decided to take Adah to St. Louis to wait for a new heart. “The primary reason,” Bill said, “was because St. Louis is in the middle of the country, so a new heart could come from almost anywhere in the U.S.”

After just two months at his new job, Bill and his family set up residence in St. Louis. “Every Friday night, I flew down, and then I would fly back on a red-eye flight Monday to teach classes.”

Meanwhile, Natalie, who is the Childhood Director at Eden Prairie Assembly of God, was a solo parent of a sick little girl. Adah was surviving with the help of a machine she wore like a backpack to keep fluid out of her lungs, but she wanted to play like a “normal” four-year-old.

While Bill’s emotional state was still deep and dark, Natalie went into “highfunctioning mode.” She remembered, “I focused on absorbing as much information as I could and giving Adah as much fun and normalcy as possible.”

Adah still holds memories of the experiences. “I remember living in the Ronald McDonald House,” Adah said. “Mom would take me to the park and go to museums. We would have sleepovers and watch movies in the living room.”

In February 2009, Adah was blessed with a new heart.

The journey before and after Adah’s successful transplant surgery has been different for each member of the Tibbetts family.

Adah

Adah recalls some details after the transplant, but they’re fuzzy. “I remember after waking up, they had a dog there who could visit kids,” she said. She remembers interactions with the doctors who cared for her.

As a transplant recipient, Adah’s life is forever different from that of her peers. She will take anti-rejection medication to suppress white blood cells for the rest of her life to keep her body from attacking the heart that saved her. And because of her lower white-blood-cell count, she is at high risk for a communicable illness. Even so, the emotional burden of her surgery and illness has been less severe for Adah than for her parents.

Natalie

Natalie’s maternal response to step up stayed in high gear for at least two years. She simply didn’t have time for emotional processing during the apex of Adah’s health crisis. “I think my adrenaline stayed high for quite a long time,” Natalie said. “I just went into go-mode.”

The emotions Natalie powered through during the crisis caught up with her several years down the road. Although her faith

never wavered, she has experienced bouts of grief and depression she attributes to that season of her life.

Bill

With the same clarity that he remembers the night they learned that Adah’s condition was incurable, Bill remembers his own dark night of the soul that came during the time his family was in St. Louis. It’s a story that shapes him to this day, and he recalled when things came to a pivotal moment.

“I truly did collapse in every way a human could collapse,” Bill said. “I would teach and just break down, not knowing how to function. I deeply questioned the existence of God, or at least a good God. I had more questions than answers or relief. I’ll never forget one Monday when I had flown back at five o’clock in the morning, taught all day, and came home to an empty apartment.

“I had gone to bed … looking outside at a streetlight with the snow coming down, and said, ‘God, one of two things is going to happen tonight: I’m either going to recklessly give you everything and just believe, or I’m going to take my life because I cannot take another breath with this elephant sitting on my chest.’

“I rolled off the bed and landed on the floor face first, and said, ‘The only reason I’m doing this is that if she makes it through this, I don’t want her to be without a daddy.’

“I said to God, ‘I give it all to you; whatever my emotions, my experience, my thoughts are, I am going to believe that you are God, you exist, and you are in control. And if things … don’t go as I want them to, I’m still going to believe that you’re God.’

“It was the exact moment in my life that I learned that faith was a choice. I had to choose to believe. And that’s when things started to turn for me. I did not get the emotional relief I was anticipating or hoping for, but I started choosing to believe. And that has set the course of my faith journey ever since.”

community support

Bill and Natalie Tibbetts remain grateful to this day for the way the North Central University community walked with them through Adah’s health crisis. “North Central infiltrated our lives,” Bill said. Even though they were new to campus, he said, “People quickly engaged in our lives on a deep and meaningful level.” The NCU community around the world caught wind of the story and became prayer warriors, too. “Our worst times bring a soullike healing to our bodies, to our minds,” Bill said. “Despite the challenges we were facing emotionally, physically, and spiritually, North Central was there for us.”

next year, NCU

Adah is now a senior at Southwest Christian High School. She displays a spirit of positivity and accepts being a transplant recipient as part of her story. “It’s something that I can’t deny. It is a big part of my life and always will be … but it also doesn’t define who I am. I don’t define myself as somebody who is sick. I define myself as a regular human being who just went through something that was really hard when I was younger.”

Next year, Adah plans to attend North Central University to major in Business and Marketing. She is a talented artist and wants to put her skills to work in the business world.

The stories we don’t see are often the stories that hold the deepest meaning and have had the greatest impact on the people who hold them. The Tibbetts family remains grateful that Adah’s story turned out as it did, and the lessons they learned will remain forever in their hearts.

“IT WAS THE EXACT MOMENT IN MY LIFE THAT I LEARNED THAT faith WAS A choice.”

I woke at exactly 4:06 a.m. I knew this as I snuck a peek at my cell phone. Mobile devices were not allowed on my silent retreat, but the glance felt like what a priest had earlier identified as a “venial” or lesser sin. Fully awake, I opted for an early morning walk along the darkness of Lake DeMontreville, where the Jesuit retreat house is located.

Now, I’d been wordless for two days, heading into a third with some distance to go. Empty verbal space quickens a man’s thoughts, and I tell you that though decaffeinated, I felt alert, almost hyperaware. I pushed out of my residence and into morning. Were not those crickets especially loud? Something about extended silence and solitude heightens the senses. The

water gentled against shore … beautiful. But those fool crickets unnerved me, millions of fingernails on old chalkboards. I suddenly felt like escaping, a FOMO, late-for-ameeting, need-to-be-somewhere-else type of feeling, and I hurried past the still-sleeping yard lights spread across the hundred-acre property.

Photo by Joe Pohle. Story written by Jonathan Friesen, M.A.

Quickening feet double-timed past the chapel, the four sleeping quarters; they took a sharp right by marble Mary, and walked to the retreat’s entrance gate, locked of course.

Which is where I committed my second venial of the morning by climbing over the fence. There I exhaled deeply. It was no louder there, but at least I was free of “A Quiet Place.” I walked along a bend of DeMontreville Trail and squeezed through a second locked gate and onto a paved road that led up to the nearby Carmelite Monastery (A Quiet Place, part 2 … I wasn’t thinking.) It’s still early, I reckoned; should have this road to myself. Other than eleven deer and three wild turkeys, I did. I reached the high pasture and started a slow stroll through wet grass toward a break in the surrounding tree line to watch the sunrise.

I go to these retreats yearly, and usually, I have serious business to do with God. My family is falling apart, I’m falling apart, you know, juicy stuff. I always enter the “big hush” thinking, “God, we gotta talk, you and me.”

much else. Shoot, you might not even know that. And your heart sure doesn’t feel very alive.

But after a few “just there” days, as I said, this morning I was activated … “in the room,” as they say. I knew the who, the where, and the when: Alert and oriented times 3. I just didn’t know the reason, the purpose for any of it. Sometimes, we need to wait for that.

I did know sunrise was coming. I couldn’t see it yet. It wasn’t so much “light,” as it was “less dark.” You know that time? The weather was like the lake … beautiful. The cool breeze, peaceful. But not me. I was agitated, and here there were no crickets to blame. I started pacing. And speaking during a silent retreat … Venial sin #3, committed within twenty minutes.

“God, where have you been? I haven’t said a word for going on three days, but neither have you. Where were you?”

I kept whispering that last question, a man stuck on repeat. “Where were you?” Each time, it gained momentum, hurt a little more, and I had no idea why. I only knew that the silence of God suddenly felt less acceptable and more like betrayal. Like abandonment. “Where were you?” I was crying now.

Crying and yelling my question and remembering a conversation … Did I mention that day before, I had gone to a priest for a little spiritual direction? I had. During our meeting, he told me a true story. It was the only thing I took away from the time, and it went like this:

But not this year. This year held no emergencies. On day 1, I arrived solid—bored and feeling empty— but solid. Honestly, if I’d have headed home with a little clarity on the book I’m writing, maybe a few nice Christian-like insights, I would’ve called my retreat a success. Face it, I was just … there.

You’ve felt that too. You’ve been “just there” with God, I bet. Oh, you might’ve been doing some “God” thing like reading your Bible or singing a song—maybe sitting in chapel or in God and the Gospel— whatever. But you were just … there. As a triage nurse might say, “Alert and oriented” times 1, when you know who you are but not

I was ministering the sacrament of reconciliation (confession) and this girl, maybe 13 years old, stopped by. Was she alone? I didn’t know. I didn’t see anyone with her. She stood outside the confessional, hesitant, angry even. So, I opened with an easy one.

Nothing.

“How’s

Nothing.

She just stood outside that door, face fixed, staring at the empty chair. I was thinking, geez, I thought I was good at this.

“How are you doing?”

your family?”

“

GOD, we gotta talk, you and me.”

Then she said it.

“My dad died six weeks ago.”

What do you say to that? And she cried, and I cried, and I guess every so often the Spirit gives a man words.

“Are you ready to forgive God for not stepping in?”

Slowly, very slowly, she nodded, whispered, “Yes.” Then she stepped in, and we cried some more.

I didn’t recall the rest, but right then, in the pasture, I thought on his story and our question, both the girl’s and mine: “Where were you?”

My dad did not die when I was 13; I did. Hope did. My heart did. Tourette Syndrome overwhelmed my mind and held captive my body; seizures stole clear thought, threw me unconscious on the ground. Panic attacks sent me running from school. Chronic pneumonia robbed me of breath. At some point, I looked at whatever I had become and said, “I am one pathetic, sickly kid.” Right there, my despairing heart agreed and broke, and a tiny heart-fragment locked itself up, young and alone. Godbetrayed, God-abandoned.

Agreements are powerful things. Make them with the truth, you have a chance at becoming fully alive. Alert and oriented times 4, knowing your identity, location, your unique place in the Story, and your purpose. Ah, but make agreements with a lie, and your heart shatters, I shattered. A fifty-five-yearold man stumbling forward with a splintered heart, many parts mature, but guarding a tiny shard in the middle: the young, betrayed, and abandoned part, stuck at 13.

My folks named me Jonathan. I named that broken part: Pathetic and Sickly, though we’d not been introduced before. That morning, Pathetic and Sickly was hesitant, angry even (You know how 13-year-olds act when woken up.) Angry at God. “Where were you?”

This part of me did not seem to care about keeping silence. “I mean whatever, you didn’t heal me, but where were you? Why did you abandon me?”

Was I ranting in that pasture for an hour? I don’t know.

The sun came up. I think it was pretty. Didn’t really notice; I wasn’t myself. Or maybe I finally was.

Then I said it.

“My heart died 42 years ago.”

What do you say after that?

And I cried, and He cried, and I guess every so often the Spirit gives a man words.

“Are you ready to forgive God for not stepping in?”

Slowly, very slowly, I nodded, whispered, “Yes.”

And a thirteen-year-old girl leapt from the story of a nameless priest, took the hand of a thirteen-year-old boy, and led him towards Home.

about the author

Assistant Professor Jonathan Friesen (School of Education) is an educator, author, and speaker. On his website, jonathanfriesen.com, he says, “The heart cry of every human and the theme of my work is MAKE ME VISIBLE. My goal is to help people understand how crucial it is for us to reinforce the two messages every person longs to hear: “I SEE YOU. I LIKE WHAT I SEE.” He is the author of six books. His first young adult novel, Jerk, California, received the ALA Schneider Award.

tourette syndrome

Tourette (too-RET) syndrome is a disorder that involves repetitive movements or unwanted sounds (tics) that can’t be easily controlled. For instance, you might repeatedly blink your eyes, shrug your shoulders or blurt out unusual sounds or offensive words.

Tics typically show up between ages 2 and 15, with the average being around 6 years of age. Males are about three to four times more likely than females to develop Tourette syndrome.

Although there’s no cure for Tourette syndrome, treatments are available. Many people with Tourette syndrome don’t need treatment when symptoms aren’t troublesome. Tics often lessen or become controlled after the teen years.

The exact cause of Tourette syndrome isn’t known. It’s a complex disorder likely caused by a combination of inherited (genetic) and environmental factors. Chemicals in the brain that transmit nerve impulses (neurotransmitters), including dopamine and serotonin, might play a role.

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/tourette-syndrome/symptomscauses/syc-20350465

ncu days approachesattendancepre-covid levels

On Nov. 10–11, 62 high school students visited North Central for NCU Days and experienced college life for two days. NCU Days, hosted by the Office of Admissions, is the largest visit event of the year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NCU Days was held virtually in 2020 and in a hybrid model (virtual and in-person) in 2021. The Admissions team was thrilled with the highest attendance since the fall of 2019.

NCU Days provides a realistic sense of a day (or two) in the life of a college student at North Central, so prospective students have a clear sense of what to expect when they choose to attend NCU. Visiting high school students engage in college life by attending classes and chapel, staying in the residence halls, eating in the Dining Center, and taking part in social activities.

NCU Days welcomes students from all grades and transfer students. Devin Lehnhoff ’14, Executive Director of Admissions and Head Baseball Coach, noted that the majority who attended the November event were juniors, seniors, or prospective transfer students; there were also five sophomores in attendance, getting a head-start on their college search.

A major benefit was offered for high school seniors who came to the event: Those who attended NCU Days and will start classes in fall 2023 will receive a $1,000 visit scholarship!

One student summarized the event well in the postevent survey, saying, “I think the most beneficial part of the visit was just getting to be on the campus and get a feel for what it’d be like to truly be a student there. I made so many friends (college students), and they were really real and open about the college (they all loved it), so just the whole experience was amazing.”

Overall survey results indicated that students felt very welcomed on campus and could see themselves as NCU students.

Alumni and others who know college-bound students are welcome to invite students to future visit events. Find details outlining the ways to visit NCU at northcentral.edu/visit.

wizard of oz, songs of the season

NCU Theatre welcomed audiences to Kansas, Oz, and an evening of adventure during their production of “The Wizard of Oz” in November. The yellow brick road led to an unforgettable theatre experience in Anderson Chapel. Alumni who attended the Nov. 11 performance were reminded that there’s no place like their NCU home for a great evening of theatre and fellowship as they enjoyed a reception after the show.

North Central’s annual Christmas concert, Songs of the Season, continued in December under the direction of Alessio Tranchell, Visiting Professor of Music and Conducting. On Dec. 2 and 4 audiences of all ages were blessed with an array of traditional, classical, and international sounds of Christmas. The program included an original work by Tranchell, as well. Alumni gathered after the Dec. 2 performance for a special reception hosted by Alumni Relations.

in memory

North Cent ral University extends condolences to the families of these NCU community members who have passed away.

Florence Johnson, on March 8, 2022

Georgene (Sims ’45) Ullestad, of Hutchinson Island, FL, on Feb. 5, 2022

Monzelle (Brothers ’46) Hanson, of San Antonio, FL, on Nov. 29, 2022

Wilma (Junker ’47) Larsen, of Bluefield, WV, on Jan. 3, 2022

faithfully forward: a reflection on the life of James Allen

By Reverend Jac D. Perrin ’86, Ph.D.

At the heart of the North Central University campus, adjacent to the Trask Word and Worship Center, stands a bell tower named for Dr. James (Jim) Allen. Although a bronze placard identifies the structure as the Allen Bell Tower, few who pass by the structure today may know who Dr. Allen was or how well he served the school for nearly 30 years as Department Chair of the Pastoral Studies Department.

Dr. Allen and his wife, Fran, came to North Central (then Bible College) in 1981 at a time of significant transition. The previous Pastoral Studies Department Chair, John Phillipps, would retire in 1982, and the school needed a godly leader to replace him. In the early 1980s, North Central was growing and beginning the regional accreditation process. With Phillipps’ imminent departure, the college’s largest department needed a new leader who could provide superior guidance.

Joan (Walker ’53) Fredrickson, of Rice Lake, WI, on Nov. 14, 2022

Robert (Bob) Hanson ’56, of Chetek, WI, on Nov. 13, 2022

Clarke Gage ’59, of Brandon, SD, on June 23, 2022

Dale B. Peterson, ’61, of Richfield, MN, on March 11, 2022

Roger Lane, ’89, former VP of Development, of Apple Valley, MN, on Jan. 5, 2023

alumni now: find alumni updates online

We are pleased to announce that you can see alumni updates on an ongoing and more current basis through the new Alumni Now page on the North Central University website. No more waiting up to six months for the next magazine to share what God’s been doing in your life!

Use the QR code here or visit northcentral.edu/ alumninow to catch up with the latest news from your classmates. You can also submit your latest news through the Alumni Update form located on the same page.

Update Your Profile Alumni Now

Dr. Allen, who had been serving as a pastor in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was just the person for the job. He was well-connected with pastors from all over the country and missionaries posted throughout the globe. He had a reputation as a strong pastoral leader, an official of the South Dakota District of the Assemblies of God, and a beloved community leader.

He also held an essential academic credential: a doctorate from a theological institution. Before North Central became fully accredited, many faculty taught full-time while earning their terminal degrees, making Dr. Allen an anomaly and an important asset to the growing college.

Dr. Allen was a natural builder. He knew instinctively how to manage a department full of young academics with diverse views on life, ministry, and theology. He was an expert at handling the everyday conflicts among young and ambitious leaders.

Temperamentally, Dr. Allen was more introverted than people realized, even shy at times— especially when receiving praise and accolades. He was modest

and slightly uncomfortable whenever the spotlight was upon him.

Dr. Allen was most comfortable being the bestower of encouragement rather than the recipient. Encouraging others was one of his strongest spiritual gifts. Students would leave his office feeling optimistic and hopeful because he had just managed to vanquish their worries and fears.

Physically, Dr. Allen was a large man with a great and loud laugh. Most students loved to hang out near his office door, which was open almost constantly. He had an exceptional memory for names, which helped him relate well with students. Because of his extensive connections in the Assemblies of God and the communities he had served, he often knew someone’s parents or other people from students’ hometowns—another reason students enjoyed being around him.

Dr. Allen was popular as a teacher because of his penchant for illustrating biblical truths with personal stories and anecdotes. His stories were gems to be valued and applied

throughout a life of ministry. He was wise but self-effacing and was only comfortable with glory being given to God.

He was calm about most things that got others worked up. I recall him dismissing a slightly morose lamentation and proclamation of imminent disaster with a casual reminder that God still has everything under control. Dr. Allen knew how to provide an antidote to the anxieties and worries of young students. He knew the sky was not falling, and he was kind in how he declared it thus.

Students who knew Dr. Allen may remember most of all that he was funny. He had a dry and sardonic wit and could leave a crowd bellowing with laughter, delighting in the humor he so easily dispensed as a brief aside or a well-timed irony.

Dr. Allen’s success in life spread to wherever he put his hand. Under his leadership, the Pastoral and Youth Ministry majors grew substantially.

On Nov. 5, 2022, Dr. James Allen moved from his home in Texas to his new place in Heaven. According to his obituary, “Jim loved teaching and mentoring students, and he and Fran were always hosting students, faculty, and staff at their home. Jim also loved to travel and meet people, and during the summers, he and Fran would travel abroad, where he taught and trained students for ministry in over 20 different countries. Jim impacted the lives of thousands of people over the years as a pastor and a professor, and his pastoral spirit of love, kindness, generosity, and hospitality was evident in all he did.”

I am one of the thousands impacted by the life of Dr. James Allen. When I’m on the North Central campus, I’m grateful to look up and see the Allen Tower, and anticipate the day when our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, returns to take us to live in His presence forever. It will be good to see Dr. Allen again, too!