Point Magazine Spring 2013 by Point University

Spring 2013

M A G A Z I N E

A Life Transformed How faith changed Greg Washington â&#x20AC;&#x2122;12 page 14

how to

talk to your kids about tragedy page 13

sights

to see in portland, maine

page 19

One of the fastest-growing new majors in Point University’s traditional program is exercise science. Students in the program gain knowledge and experience that will help them move toward careers and graduate study in athletic training or physical therapy. To learn more about this new degree, turn to page 7.

Finding Hope in the Midst of Tragedy

A Life Transformed

Paving the Way

Dr. Gregory K. Moffatt ’88 on a Christian response to times of national tragedy and loss.

billy howard photography

Access graduate and current student Greg Washington ’12 has seen the power of God’s transformation in his life.

Alumni and friends of the University can contribute to the Point Forward campaign in a tangible way.

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From the President Campus News Class Notes

Contents

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

Opening

P oin t Mag a z i ne Volume 51, Number 3 Spring 2013

Editor/DE SIGNER Sarah G. Huxford

CAMPUS NEWS

Contributors Greg Moffatt ’88 Kelsey Thomason ’07 William Warren ’14 Jimmy Webb ’10 Joy Ugi

hese days, we can hardly turn on the evening news or open our favorite news websites without some mention of the economy. And almost as frequently, we hear references to the rising cost of higher education. As is the case with most media, there are doomsday reports of the end of higher education as we know it, due to projected cuts in the Pell Grant or the increased amount of student debt facing recent college graduates. You might even read articles that suggest all college education will be online in the future, or even that one day, there won’t be a need for a college degree. Be careful what you believe!

I doubt that higher education will soon cease to exist. However, the industry is facing significant “disrupters” – rising costs, student debt, technological advances, massive open online courses (MOOCs), and more. And of course, these disrupters cause change. In my discussions with fellow college presidents and other higher education administrators, there is agreement that change is coming. The unknown is how much change and how fast will it happen. At Point University, we are committed to preparing for the future. I have initiated a process with our trustees, faculty and staff that will allow us to determine what we believe are the best ways for us to face the coming changes in higher education. Ultimately, this will allow us to continue serving our students with excellence. And most importantly, we will be able to continue to advance the kingdom of God through educating men and women to become prepared and motivated to serve Christ in all they do. We will aggressively pursue paths that help us train leaders for the church and Christians for the workplace in multiple disciplines. Please pray that God will point us toward His perfect path! Gratefully,

Dean C. Collins ’79 President

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On the cover: Greg Washington ’12 at City of Refuge; photo by Whitney Huynh. Point University’s mission is to educate students for Christ-centered service and leadership throughout the world. Point University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate and baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Point.

joy ugi

Point Magazine exists to tell Point University’s stories. It is intended to serve as a vehicle for connecting the University’s alumni and friends. For the first 49 volumes of its existence, Point Magazine was known as The Gold & Blue. The magazine is published by the Communications Office, which retains the right to determine the editorial content and presentation of information contained herein. Articles or opinion pieces contributed by guest writers do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of Point University and its board of trustees. Point Magazine welcomes reader responses to its content.

billy howard photography

“We will aggressively pursue paths that help us train leaders for the church and Christians for the workplace.”

n January 16, the Point University Dining Hall was officially opened to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the facility on Third Street in West Point, Ga. The public enjoyed food and drinks at the new Dining Hall and McKinney’s Coffeehouse. The event, sponsored by Point University and the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, included speeches of gratitude by University President Dean Collins ’79, West Point Mayor Drew Ferguson, Valley Mayor Leonard Riley and others from the community. Of the many attendees present, one individual stood out: Betty Jo McKinney, wife of the late Roy McKinney, namesake of the campus coffeehouse. McKinney was present to admire the hard work put into the new location by the Point University family. Her signature stainedglass panes, brought from the historic East Point location, are now hanging above the McKinney’s service counter as a reminder of how important the past has been, and still remains, to the future growth of Point. The massive undertaking of creating a new retail space, as well as a commercial coffee shop, was spearheaded by Patty

Serhal, retail operations manager for the University. Serhal says she is truly excited about the opportunities and future that this new chapter of Point University’s story holds. “I love that this new facility will provide not only great food and drinks, but also a way for our community to get to know, men- Top of page: President Collins, along with local and University leaders, cuts the ribbon on the University dining hall, tor and encourage our campus store and coffeehouse; above: Betty Jo McKinney outstanding students,” in the coffeehouse named for her late husband, Roy. said Serhal. and experiences long-time local resiThe facility that is dents have had with this property has now the Dining Hall has a colorful past reminded and encouraged her of the that many locals fondly remember when passion, vibrancy and life Point is able to they walk through the doors. Built in bring back to the community. 1948 by Batson-Cook Construction, the The new Point University Dining Hall building has been home to a furniture is the heart of the Point University family, store, West Point-Pepperell textiles, an allowing students, faculty, staff and the indoor flea market and a church. It curpublic to be fed through good food, as well rently includes an occupied residential as good conversation and fellowship. loft space upstairs. Regarding the use of the building, –William Warren ’14 Serhal says that hearing the many stories To shop the campus store online, visit http:// shop.point.edu.

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Q&A

in BRIEF In December, students from Dr. Jeff Haverly’s Production and Operations course at Point University toured the Kia plant in West Point, Ga. The tour provided students with a hands-on opportunity to see the concepts they are learning about applied in the real world.

Charter Foundation Awards Grant

F O U N DAT I O N

F O R

T H E

F U T U R E

The Point Forward capital campaign is a $20 million campaign to raise funds for real estate renovation and acquisition in West Point, Ga. It will also raise money for a building endowment and transition year investments, which helps the University with overall relocation costs now and with maintaining its first-class facilities in the future. “The Charter Foundation’s gift is a tremendous expression of the generosity “At Point, we work very hard to protoward and support for Point University,” vide students with opportunities to said Dean Collins ’79, president of the integrate real world experiences into University. “This generosity and support their academic careers,” said Kemper. “We believe that it is this kind of is representative of a partnership that experiential learning that both comserves our students, who in turn will plements and crystallizes the cogniserve our community.” tive learning that takes place in the The Point Forward capital campaign classroom.” has raised $12,960,017 toward its goal, Not only did students gain tangible with all contributions planned to be received by December 31, 2014. For more and meaningful feedback about their presentations from the judging panel information about the capital campaign and to see how you might be able to help, made up of CharterBank employees, they also received cash prizes comvisit point.edu/campaign. pliments of the corporation. The first –Joy Ugi place winner, Daniel Harbin ’14, re-

C A MPAIG N PROGRESS

$12,960,017 $0

$5M

$10M

$15M

Contributions received as of March 6, 2013; total does not include unfulfilled campaign pledges. Find out more about Point Forward at point.edu/campaign.

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On December 6, 20 Point University business communication students, pictured above, made presentations to a panel of judges at the CharterBank headquarters in West Point, Ga. The purpose of the presentations was to give the business students the real world experience of explaining a business topic in front of a panel of professionals in a business environment. Alan Kemper, assistant professor of business at Point University, organized this project with CharterBank.

$20M

roger cannon photography; billy howard photography

159 Graduates Earn Diplomas at December Commencement

ceived $300; the second place winner, David Harbin ’15, received $200; and the third place winner, Charity Snavely Marshall ’16, received $100.

“I believe that CharterBank’s participation really helped the Point students to grasp the importance of the experience, and raised the bar for the professional expectations of the presentations over and above a normal academic assignment,” said Kemper.

On Saturday, December 15, a record number of December graduates earned diplomas in Point’s mid-year commencement exercises. The crowd of friends and family present to watch the ceremony overflowed the 2,500-plus capacity of Mt. Carmel Christian Church in Stone Mountain, Ga., where commencement was held. “Point is growing faster than we can find facilities to hold one graduation,” said Betsy Clifton, registrar. “Thus, in May we will hold graduation on May 11; however, we will hold two ceremonies – one for the associate degree graduates and one for the bachelor’s degree graduates. We had to separate, or we would have had to limit the number of guests each graduate could invite, and we did not want to do that.” The commencement speaker for December’s graduation was Richard Bumpers, who at the time was executive director for Young Life Atlanta. On March 4, Bumpers joined the Point University team as dean of academic and student services for the Access program and site director for the East Point campus. Bumpers holds a bachelor of science degree in urban youth studies and a master of science degree in counseling; he is also currently a doctoral candidate at United Theological Seminary. Two graduates were recognized with the Hathcock Award, the highest honor Point University awards to a graduating senior. This recognition is based on academic achievement, character, and servant leadership. December’s Hathcock Award recipients were Tyler Blount, of Peachtree City, Ga., and Christopher Kerr, of Jonesboro, Ga. –Sarah Huxford

In the Classroom Course Name HREL 437: Conflict Management instructor Shirley Thompson-Lewis, Assistant Professor of Human Relations Course summary This course discusses the inevitability of conflict in one’s daily life. It examines skills needed for effective management of conflict and it seeks to assist students in resolving conflict based on biblical principles.

joy ugi

On December 13, the Charter Foundation, Inc. awarded Point University a $250,000 grant for its Point Forward capital campaign. The grant will be awarded in annual installments of $50,000 over five years. The Charter Foundation, a nonprofit charitable foundation, was established in 1994 by the members of CharterBank. It provides funds to eligible nonprofit organizations in its original markets to help them carry out unique, innovative projects in specific fields of interest. “We are thrilled at the influx of wonderful people into the Greater Valley Area who have come here with Point University,” said Bob Johnson, president and chief executive officer of CharterBank. “Our financial contribution to Point’s capital campaign shows our confidence that Point will have a positive, lasting impact on our local economy and our quality of life. We also believe that our community will be good for Point and its people. ”

with Allison Kemper, instructor of exercise science

suggested reading Bruce and Toni Hebel, Forgiving Forward (ReGenerating Life Press, 2011); Ken Sande, The Peacemaker (Baker, 2008); and S. McCorkle and M. Reese, Personal Conflict Management (Allyn & Bacon, 2010).

Q. What career and graduate school options are available for a student with a degree in exercise science? A. Career options with a degree in exercise science are quite varied and may require further graduate study in various areas. A degree in exercise science may lead to careers in athletic training, sports psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, medicine, chiropractic, personal training, health/fitness/wellness instruction, coaching, nursing and biomedical sales. Q. What courses does a student in exercise science take? A. Major coursework includes Foundations of Health and Wellness, Human Nutrition, Kinesiology and Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, and Exercise in Health and Disease. Q. What makes Point’s exercise science program unique? A. Point has placed an emphasis on hiring instructors in exercise science with an active involvement in the healthcare community, which provides the students with real-world application of classroom concepts. Q. In your opinion, how do issues of faith integrate with the exercise science curriculum, or with a career in the field? I would imagine that the majority of exercise science majors at Point have aspirations of using their degrees to enter the field of healthcare. As healthcare workers, these students will encounter individuals and families that are in the midst of a medical trauma or disease process. I believe it is important to have a solid faith foundation prior to entering these sometimes difficult situations in order to provide the patient and family members with a blend of loving encouragement and scientific expertise. For more information about Point’s new exercise science major, visit point.edu.

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Softball Team Improving in Second Season As its second season begins, the Point Lady Skyhawks softball team is well on its way to a successful season. With a win during the Martin Methodist Tournament, as well as a heartbreaking loss to Cumberland University by a score of 5-4, the Skyhawks softball team shows great promise with Haleigh Peterson ’14 (Smiths Station, Ala.) and Meghan Hull the season starting to ’14 (LaGrange, Ga.) fielding the ball for the Skyhawks. ramp up. The Skyhawks finished their inaugural season with a record of 19-36; roughly halfway through the 2013 season, they seemed on track to finish even better. At press time, the team had a record of 11-11, including a recent 14-1 blowout win over conference opponent Union College. After a series of away games, the team returns home in mid-April for games against St. Andrews University and Thomas University. –Jimmy Webb ’10 and William Warren ’14

Lacrosse team’s inaugural season begins

Q&A WITH A POINT STUDENT-ATHLETE Ebonee “EB” Cook ’13, Women’s Basketball Counseling and Human Services Major

In their first season playing intercollegiate lacrosse, the Skyhawks have had a rocky start, with losses to Young Harris College, Oglethorpe University and St. Andrews University. However, the future for the young team is bright, with a full season ahead to pick up steam and gain experience. As a fresh team, growth is crucial during this first year to truly become a solid program. The lacrosse team’s schedule began with a long series of away games playing colleges across the Southeast, followed by an extended break during the month of March. The team returned for its home opener on March 20, hosting Auburn University in Point’s new home for lacrosse, River Bowl Stadium in West Point. The final home lacrosse game of the season will be on April 20 versus Morehouse College.

Basketball Teams Wrap Up Seasons

–J. W. and W. W.

POINT UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

INAUGURAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Friday, May 10 • Scramble format • Mulligans (can be purchased up to start of play): 4

Hole sponsorships $200 $400 per team; single player $100 To register, visit point.edu/golftourney or contact Pam Powers-Smith at Pam.Powers-Smith@point.edu

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faded paths photography

mulligans for $50

jimmy webb ’10; faded paths photography

Riverside Country Club, Lanett, Ala. Breakfast sponsored by Chick-fil-A® 9 a.m. shotgun start – lunch to follow

• Prize Contests: Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive • Prizes also awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners • Two hole-in-one car giveaways!

MEE T A SKYH AWK :

Bernard Parks ’14

The 2012-13 Skyhawk men’s basketball season was one for the books, with many gut-wrenching, last-minute wins and double-overtime tie-breakers. The Skyhawks went 20-10, making their way to the number two spot in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) rankings, second only to Tennessee Wesleyan. Head Coach Alan Wilson stated that through the adversities they faced with a few heartbreaking losses, the team stuck together. The Skyhawks made it to the semifinals of the AAC Tournament before being defeated by Bryan College. The Point team had five players honored by the AAC this season. Receiving awards were Tim Mitchell ’15 (Orlando, Fla.), First Team All-Conference; Brannon Hopkins ’14 (Sharpsburg, Ga.), Third Team All-Conference/All-Tournament; Bernard Parks ’14 (Douglasville, Ga.), Third Team All-Conference; Seth Houston ’16 (Bowdon, Ga.), All-Freshman Team; and Stephen Shelley ’13 (Baker, Fla.), All-Academic Team. The Lady Skyhawks basketball team experienced a great year of growth since joining the ranks of the NAIA last season. This year, the team welcomed Point alumni Tory Wooley ’11 and Chauntel Herrod ’12 as assistant coaches. The team won four conference games, securing a spot in the top ten. The Lady Skyhawks also had three players honored by the AAC. Jasmyne Miller ’16 (Merrillville, Ind.) was voted to the All-Freshman Team, while Bri Davis ’16 (Augusta, Ga.) and Kristen Walker ’13 (Douglasville, Ga.) were both Academic All-Conference selections.

–J. W. and W. W.

What is your favorite moment as a Point student-athlete? I’d have to say team dinners with my wonderful teammates. It was always a laughing matter, and sometimes the jokes were on me! Who is your favorite professor? Dr. Greg Moffatt. He always tries to see the good in students, even when we don’t see it in ourselves. He pushed us to think outside the box. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a veterinarian, because I grew up on a farm and had a lot of animals! What is your biggest accomplishment at Point University? Learning to deal with many different obstacles.

If you could have dinner with any person, living or dead, who would it be, and why? I’d pick one of my grandfathers. They both passed away before I was born and I didn’t get a chance to meet them. What would be your ultimate achievement? Getting my master’s degree and finding a wonderful job I would grow to love! What was the best advice you were ever given? “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” –Isaiah 43:18 (NIV)

Baseball’s Second NAIA Season Starts Strong After a very Jon Render ’13 successful first season last year in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC), the Point University men’s baseball program looks to do even better in 2013. Point finished its inaugural season in the NAIA with a 26-29 overall record, and 8-16 in conference play. This is the Skyhawks’ first season playing at the brand-new City Park Baseball Field in West Point. The Point baseball program was also honored for the first time as a Phil Niekro College Scholarship recipient. The Phil Niekro Scholarship is awarded to Georgia colleges that have exemplified excellence in their respective baseball programs. At press time, the Skyhawks had a record of 12-11, having already won crucial games against in-state rivals Southern Polytechnic State University and Toccoa Falls College. Final home games of the season will be April 26-27 against conference opponent Bryan College. –J. W. and W. W. s p ring 2 0 1 3 | 9

finding in the midst of

TRAGEDY

one Christian’s response to Sandy Hook – Gregory K. Moffatt, Ph.D.

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I won’t forget where I was when I heard about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Some events, like the Challenger explosion and the attacks on 9/11, are so big that they etch details of the moment onto our minds. Otherwise minute details about time and place are forever branded on our memories. While those details will vary, certainly Sandy Hook affected all of us deeply.

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’ve spent over 20 years studying and investigating homicides – many of them in schools around the world. While death is always tragic, this is a part of the work I do, and normally, these events don’t create a visceral reaction in me. But when I heard what happened at Sandy Hook, I just wanted to close my eyes and pretend it didn’t happen. I had been on a camping trip, and the first thing to greet me when I started my truck and turned the radio on was news of this shooting. I couldn’t bear to hear about any more children whose lives were taken by a gunman whose selfish, demented logic made his behavior seem reasonable to him. I turned the radio off and drove home in silence. Even though the radio was off and I was alone for the next two hours, I could hear predictable conversations in my head. I’ve heard them hundreds of times. News commentators and pundits would be droning on about how video games, violent movies, or music must have caused it. Others predictably would be screaming for gun control, despite the obvious fact that this person already broke a whole host of ineffective laws. I felt certain that religious leaders, pastors, and Sunday school teachers would use the occasion in coming days to describe how this was a clear indication of sin in the world and how perhaps this was a sign of the end times. We all would struggle to find an answer to the question, “How could this have happened again?”

s I was preparing this article, I just happened to come across a newspaper article I wrote following the attacks on our country on September 11, 2001. As I read that article, I found my words to be a sobering reminder that

tragedies have come before, none of our current reactions are novel, and I suspect many other tragedies lie ahead. At times like these, I sometimes try to imagine what it was like to be a Christian in the first few centuries after the resurrection of Jesus – a time when horrifying persecutions were routine. Christians were flayed, hanged, beheaded, crucified and used for sport in the Coliseum. Imagine if Twitter had been around in those days: Brother Dominic taken to Coliseum. Destined to be eaten by animals. Others to follow. Where is Jesus? He said he would return for us. Surely these are the end times. God save us. #persecutions What was it like for men and women during the Black Death, a plague that no one really understood? The disease claimed one third of the population of Europe. Headaches, nausea and fever were followed by the rapid onset of buboes and eventually by gruesome bleeding and painful death. Nearly every home on the continent was touched in some way by this unforgiving disease that haunted Europe like a specter. Many must have thought that the wrath of God had surely come upon them.

aybe “these are the end times” was uttered by the early Puritans who came to the New World for freedom of religion, only to starve to death, die of exposure and disease, or be killed by warring factions in the strange new lands they inhabited. Maybe women burying their fathers, husbands and sons who were killed on the battlefields of Gettysburg, Antietam or Bull Run held their hands up to God, sure that times could not be any worse. We’ve lived through two major world wars, numerous conflicts, massacres, assassinations, threats of annihilation, storms, earthquakes, and other acts of God that have always been a part of our history – and, sadly, they will be a very real part of our future. Seeing the bodies of children, their lives torn from them in their most vulnerable and innocent years, almost seems like more than we can bear. But the truth is, we have been there before. The tragedy of Sandy Hook was not something new. Instead, it was a reminder of what has always been. We live in an imperfect world. When things are going well, it is easy to pretend tragedy hap-

hen I’m faced with a painful tragedy – when I find myself thinking, “Why me?” – I have to remind myself, “Why not me?” Being a Christian does not guarantee that my life will be free from pain or loss. Think of the fate of the apostles. According to church tradition, at least five of them were stoned, beheaded, crucified or impaled. What about Paul? He was determined and committed to Christ. Yet he was thrice beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked and eventually executed. Rather than being freed from pain, it almost seems as though being a Christian increases the odds that we will experience pain. Instead of believing we should avoid tragedy, something we could never do, I suggest that managing tragedy is our challenge. Disasters have an uncanny ability to fog the clarity of the truth that God is with us, despite our pain and loss. Our painful experiences can, instead, serve to strengthen us by reminding us that this world is not our home.

ould it be that it is for this reason that Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:13-14, “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”? The Psalmist reminds us that we are never alone, no matter what we feel like; “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle,” he says (56:8). The imagery of God collecting my tears in a bottle reminds me that I can face events like Sandy Hook without losing hope. My God is bigger than man, stronger than loss and more enduring than pain. With these truths in my heart, I can face a new day. Gregory K. Moffatt is professor of psychology and chair of the Department of Counseling and Human Services at Point University. He is also a published author, licensed counselor, newspaper columnist and public speaker.

HOW TO talk to your kids about tragedy Whenever a tragic event consumes our national conversation, it’s natural for children to be concerned and curious. For many parents, it’s difficult to know what to say when children ask those tough questions. Here are Moffatt’s recommendations for talking to young children about tragedy.

1. Don’t assume your children are “traumatized.”

Children have very different understandings of events and for them, an event

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pens to other people in other places, and yet when death comes knocking on our own doors, it seems so unfair, unexpected and shocking.

like Sandy Hook could be so distant and foreign that it doesn’t affect them.

2. But don’t avoid tough subjects IF your children bring it up.

By diverting the subject, you are teaching them that they shouldn’t have asked.

3. Respond to questions in simple, short answers.

4. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.” There are many things in the world we don’t know about. That’s OK.

5. Reassure them.

“We will be OK. Bad things happen sometimes, but I’ll always take care of you.”

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– Elizabeth Reid ’13

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come.” Paul wrote these words in 2 Corinthians 5:17 to describe the complete and total transformation which takes place when an individual becomes a Christian. For young and old Christians alike, sharing testimonies and telling stories about God’s grace encourages us to persevere in our faith. Greg Washington ’12 has a testimony of transformation that serves as confirmation of how completely God’s grace can change sinners.

whitney huynh photography

graduated from high school, told his In 1990, Washington mother he was moving to Atlanta to go to college,

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and began selling drugs in earnest. Although he had already been dealing, his move to Atlanta put him nearer the markets – college campuses – and his dealers. “I began partying and made some really bad choices,” he recalls. “But at the same time, I was making money.” Looking back, Washington can pinpoint God’s hand working in his life. The first wake-up call was in 1993. “I hit a pole going 130 miles an hour on my motorcycle,” he says. “It was God showing me that I needed to stop doing what I was doing and get back on track.” In the hospital, Washington’s doctors thought he would never walk again. “By God’s grace, they decided there was another path,” he explains. Doctors inserted a metal rod from his hip to his ankle. Washington was able to walk again, but still has a noticeable limp today. This event shifted Washington’s entire world. After being released from the hospital, he began to change directions – all part of God’s plan for his life. s p ring 2 0 1 3 | 15

THE SECOND

wake-up call was in 2002. “There was a narcotics bust on one of the houses I sold, and the police found drugs in the wall,” Washington explains. “I was tried, convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.” This, by far, was Washington’s lowest point. Feeling confused and abandoned, he says, he cried out to God: “I said, ‘God? This is not what you had planned for me.’” But it was. Through Angel

“I used to sell drugs to these boys. One of them said to me, ‘Man, if you can change, anyone can change.’ That was the moment I knew I had found my calling.” Tree Ministries, a project of the Salvation Army, Washington met Scott Auger, the man who would disciple him to a place where he was able to minister to others. Washington did not serve his full term, but was paroled in March 2006 to live with his mother, who had moved to the west side of Atlanta. Auger was also the man who put Washington in touch with City of Refuge, a non-profit ministry working with homeless women and their families as well as the community around their shelter on the west side. “When I got out of jail, I knew I would need to surround myself with a support system. City of Refuge provided that for me,” Washington says. began attending soon after, he the Mission Church at

City of Refuge – and in typical City of Refuge style, before long, Washington found himself volunteering with the Mission. This was another defining moment in his faith. “Not long after I started going to the Mission Church, I went with Steve [Grimes, an employee of City of Refuge] on a Wednesday Street Feed. I was scared. I didn’t want to be back in this com-

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Paving

munity,” Washington says. “But God placed me in this community, and he put me here for a reason.” As he began handing out food, Washington was confronted with his past. “Lots of them knew me from my prior life. I used to sell drugs to these boys. One of them said to me – I’ll never forget it – he said to me, ‘Man, if you can change, anyone can change.’ That was the moment I knew I had found my calling.”

Brick program gives donors opportunity to contribute to Point Forward campaign – Sarah Huxford

today, youth minister at City of Refuge, Washington is employed as the

helping shape young men and women into followers of Christ. He and his wife, Malika, met and were married at City of Refuge by Bruce Deel, pastor of the Mission Church and chief executive officer of City of Refuge. As the Washington family has grown, they continue to be deeply involved at City of Refuge, not just because of their commitment to the kingdom work being done on the west side, but because of their gratitude for the role it has played in their own lives. Washington’s ministry is much more than a vocation. He and his wife have found a way to incorporate their youth group kids (many of whom see the Washingtons as second parents) into their lives. In 2008, Washington was working with Point graduate Seth Lingenfelter ’09 when Lingenfelter encouraged Washington to finish his degree in the Point Access program. Washington began work on his associate degree in 2009, and is still working on his bachelor of science degree in Christian ministry. He says that his time at Point has increased his effectiveness in ministry. “Once I’d gotten my life back together, I knew I needed to go back to school,” he explains. “I’d been telling my kids in the youth group, ‘School is important, school is important, go to college,’ but I wanted to show them that I believed that.” Washington’s continued education has set a great example for the high school students at City of Refuge, two of whom began classes at Point this spring. Washington says he sees his job in the same light as the apostle Paul: “I’m just hoping that the kids I minister to are following me as I follow Christ.”

megan cobb hall ’08

“In 2001, I was selling real estate and doing contracting repairs,” he says. “A preacher approached me about fixing their church’s roof, and during our conversation, he invited me to attend his church, which I did.” As he sat in church, Washington describes his conviction to become a Christian. “I realized, ‘I’m a terrible guy. I need to change this.’”

For many friends of the University, the phrase “capital campaign” conjures up images of smiling donors presenting oversized checks for thousands or millions of dollars, or of ribbon-cuttings for facilities named in honor of financial supporters. But alumni and friends who can’t write milliondollar checks aren’t excluded from participating in Point Forward, the campaign for Point University’s future. No gift is too small, and the combined gifts of many donors have the power to make a major impact. A simple method for contributing to Point Forward is to participate in the University’s new brick program. Thanks to a partnership with Polar Engraving, alumni and friends can purchase bricks with personalized, engraved messages. Once engraved, the bricks will be installed in the courtyard of the Academic Center in West Point, which is pictured above. Tiffany Wood, director of admission for the traditional program, was one of the first individuals to participate in the brick program. “This past fall, I lost my only remaining grandparent, and I wanted to do something in her honor,” Wood explains. “This was a perfect opportunity to do something that highlighted her legacy of learning, loving people, and support of my and my family’s goals and dreams.” Wood sees her contribution through the brick program as a means of investing in Point’s future. “When I hear about the thousands of alumni who are in ministries all over the world, and when I

see current students’ lives being changed through this institution, I know that this small gift will produce dividends I could not gain from any other investment,” she says. Commemorative bricks can also be given as gifts, as in the case of James Harris ’12, who received his brick as a Christmas present. “I believe in my school and its mission to train future leaders for Christ, no matter what field a student chooses,” says Harris, now an M.Div. student at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. “As a student, I was able to watch the growth over my time at Point, and as an alumnus, through this campaign, I pray that growth continues.” Harris hopes his family’s donation to the campaign will help Point educate Christian leaders for generations to come. “My time at Point was incredible; the friendships I made, from fellow students to professors, will be ones that I pray last a lifetime. But even beyond my friendships, Point prepared me in my journey toward my acceptance into Candler,” he explains. “God truly blessed me in my time at Point, and this campaign, I pray, will allow Point to continue to help others on their journey toward bringing the great Gospel of Christ to the world.” If you are interested in supporting the Point Forward campaign through the purchase of a commemorative brick, please contact Julie Tilson in the Advancement Office at 706-385-1476 or Julie.Tilson@point.edu.

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CLASS NOTES

Bill Moody ’74 recently concluded his ministry at Lamar Christian Church and has returned to Tennille Christian Church in Tennille, Ga.

John Latimer ’87 leads Next Generation Ministries International, a mission organization devoted to assisting national pastors in planting churches in unreached villages. John also pastors Hope Fellowship Church in Carrollton, Ga. He and his wife, Judy, have two children, Sarah and Mary.

Tom Edmondson ’92 is serving as senior minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Marietta, Ga. He continues to teach at Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy. His wife, Ann Edmondson ’95, is a music teacher at Woodward Academy and serves as director of music at FCC.

Francis and Bethany Romans Raymond ’00 welcomed their first daughter, Ashley Elizabeth, on November 13.

Congratulations to James Shelton ’02, who has been accepted into the doctor of ministry program at the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University’s Atlanta campus. Grant ’06 and Lacey Hunsicker Dampier ’05 welcomed a daughter, Nora Grace, on October 26. The family lives in Rawlins, Wyo., where Grant is a school psychologist with the Rawlins Public School System.

Wesley ’06 and Kimberly Stewart Bolden ’06 have returned to Georgia after living in Princeton, N.J. Wesley is the teaching pastor at Tri-Cities Church, a new church serving the Atlanta airport community. The Boldens join Jamie ’90 and Stacey Rose Vernon ’89, who were already serving at Tri-Cities (Jamie is connections pastor).

Kristena and Coenraad Brand ’10 welcomed a daughter, Khloe Annabella Grace, on November 16. The family lives in Tyrone, Ga. Damien Ellison ’10 recently graduated from Liberty University with a master’s degree in arts and worship studies leadership. Tyler Winn ’10 recently graduated from Abilene Christian University with a master’s degree in Christian ministry.

W e wa n t t o h e a r f r o m yo u ! Let us know when you get married, have a baby, take a new job, move to another state... you get the picture. Speaking of pictures, send us those, too – we’ll include them when possible (JPEG format, please). If you’re engaged or expecting, we share your excitement! However, Point Magazine’s policy is to wait until these anticipated events have become reality to print them in Class Notes. Send us a message when the event occurs, and we’ll gladly share your news with your fellow alumni. If you know of alumni who are not receiving Point Magazine, but would like to, please send us their correct contact information; we’ll make sure they’re added to the mailing list. ALUMNI ADDRESS CHANGES AND CLASS NOTES ITEMS MAY BE SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL TO ALUMNI@POINT.EDU.

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Congratulations to Natasha Kemp ’11, who recently joined the staff at Anchor Hospital as a mental health associate. She has also been accepted to Mercer University’s graduate program in school counseling and clinical mental health counseling.

THINGS TO DO IN

in MEMORIAM The Point family grieves with and prays for the families of those members of our community who have recently passed away.

Portland, Maine is a historic seacoast town located on a peninsula in Casco Bay. It is a beautiful collision of vintage and modern, where small-town roots intertwine with big-city trends. As you walk from sidewalks to cobblestone streets, you will find yourself passing your favorite brand-name stores located next to locally-owned shops filled with unique treasures. Pay even closer attention and you will find that mixed among the modern architecture are buildings that date back to the 1700s. Whether you want to relax in an oceanfront park or indulge in the finest foods cities have to offer, Portland is the place for you.

John Cushman “J.C.” Brown, Jr. ’63, died at his home in Central, La., on December 30. He served as a minister at churches around the Southeast, including 27 years as minister of Central Church of Christ in Baton Rouge. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter and their families, and a host of other friends and family members. Randy Lamb ’84 passed away on February 20 in Villa Rica, Ga. In 30 years of ministry, he served numerous churches around the state of Georgia. At the time of his death, he was serving at County Line Christian Church in Brooks, Ga., a satellite campus of Peachtree City Christian Church. He is survived by his wife, Cindy Carter Lamb (’83-’84), their son Gavin, and many other family members and friends. Tom Swift ’81 passed away on January 24 in Hendersonville, N.C., after a six year struggle against ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Despite being almost completely paralyzed by ALS, Tom used special technology to write columns for The Asheville Citizen-Times up until his death. His story, as told by Jim Street ’74, was featured in Point Magazine in summer 2011. You can find the article online at point.edu/magazine. Cheryl King White ’75 passed away on January 5 in Canton, Ga., after a battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband, son, three stepsons, two brothers and two sisters, Michelle King O’Dell ’75 and Jeanine King Duke (’74-’75), and many other family and friends.

PORTLAND, MAINE

by Jacob ’07 and Kelsey Stevenson Thomason ’07

1. Immerse yourself in history. The peninsula has been permanently settled since 1633 and an established city since 1786. Many homes have plaques featuring the year the home was built and for which family. The oldest remaining home is the Tate House, which was built by Captain George Tate in 1755. For more elaborate architecture, you can explore the many churches throughout Portland, dating back to the 1820s.

photos courtesy of kelsey stevenson thomason ’07

Danny Shoemake ’70 has retired from the preaching ministry and now attends Lifebridge Christian Church in Monroe, Ga. He is open for God’s call to an interim position or to fill in for other ministers as needed.

2. Indulge in the food. Bon Appetit awarded Portland with America’s Foodiest Small Town in 2009, and The New York Times also featured Portland as a food destination. Whether you want a dish you thought only a big city could offer or you’re craving a classic New England meal, you can find it here. Of course, you must try what Portland

is known for: lobster. You can take it steamed in the shell, as a buttery pile, or in a flavorful roll; no matter how you like it, you can eat it knowing it’s as fresh as it comes, as you watch the lobstermen working the docks. 3. Explore the Arts District. Located near the Maine College of Art, it covers a large portion of Congress Street and contains many galleries, a theatre company and museums. The best way to experience this area is the first Friday of every month, when galleries and museums open their doors to the public free of charge. In one moment you may be enjoying snacks as you look over a local’s artwork, then the next, taking in centuries-old works as you walk the halls of the Portland Museum of Art (which in itself is art, as some of its buildings date back to 1801). 4. Visit the Portland Head Light. This isn’t just any lighthouse; it is the oldest one in Maine and the most photographed one in the United States. So, you have to get a picture, right? George Washington commanded the construction of this lighthouse, and it was first lit in 1791. It survived many raids during the Civil War, and also shares land with a military fort built in 1899 that was active during WWII. 5. Bask in the wilderness. You can play on the many mainland beaches or take a ferry out to one of the islands off the coast. Though sun tanning, paddle

boarding, surfing and sand-castle building are all big pastimes, my favorite is looking for sea glass. I always enjoy finding a beautifully worn piece of colorful glass from decades past. Or, instead of the beach, you can drive inland and explore the wooded mountains. The Maine woods offer a wildness that reminds you this is what the first settlers saw. Hike long enough, and you may even be lucky enough to spot a moose. Come in the winter, and you can also enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, or even dog sledding. 6. Get out of the Portland area. If you have the time, explore all that the rest of Maine has to offer. If you really want an outdoor experience, drive up and explore Acadia National Park. If you desire some ocean time, go on a whalewatching tour that will also make sure you see some puffins. For more history, visit Kittery Point and see the oldest house in Maine, the Bray House, built in 1662, or visit the dozens of fort ruins around the state. You may be a foodie, an artist, a history buff, a sea dog, a beach bum, or a hiker, but no matter what, you will find Portland a place that fits just right. Or as the state motto goes, “worth a visit, worth a lifetime.”

HOMECOMING 2013 SAVE THE DATE FOR THE SKYHAWK FAMILY FRENZY TAILGATE ON NOVEMBER 9! s p ring 2 0 1 3 | 19

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Atlanta, GA Permit No. 3620

507 WEST 10TH STREET | WEST POINT, GA 31833

Tuesday, April 2 at 4:00 p.m. Junior Recitals presented by Chris Allen (guitar), Phillip Pike (saxophone) and Rachel White (flute) Monday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m. Community Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choir Concert Friday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. Senior Piano Recital presented by Jeff Edwards Tuesday, April 16 at 4:00 p.m. Junior Percussion Recitals presented by Aaron Lewis and Matthew Summers

Tuesday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m. Community Concert Band Program Friday, May 3, 2013 at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. Home: Spring Concert presented by Concert Choir First United Methodist Church 508 South 6th Street, Lanett, AL 36863 Unless otherwise noted, concerts and recitals will be held in the Fine Arts Center Performance Hall. For further information, contact Point University at 706-385-1000 or visit us at point.edu/finearts.