Point Magazine Spring 2014 by Point University

Winter/Spring 2014

M A G A Z I N E

PAGE 18

IN THE SERVICE OF A KING PAGE 10

PAYING TRIBUTE TO SMITH LANIER AND PAUL CARRIER PAGE 14

In the Service of a King

Tim Sutton ’13 tells the story of his relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s mother, Alberta King.

A Lasting Legacy

A tribute to J. Smith Lanier and Paul Carrier — two men who left indelible imprints on Point University.

The Real Story of Noah

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Dr. Steve Hooks ’69 explains the Scripture behind the forthcoming Hollywood film.

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From the President Campus News Class Notes

CONTENTS

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Access program graduate Tim Sutton ’13 grew up in the heart of Atlanta. As a child, he was baptized by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. Recently, Sutton sat down with Jim Street ’74 at the King Center and shared his story – and his take on the King family’s legacy. To read his story, turn to page 10.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT POIN T M AG AZ I NE Volume 52, Number 2 Winter/Spring 2014

EDITOR/DESIGNER Sarah G. Huxford

egacy: something that is received from someone who has died; something that has happened in the past or that comes from someone in the past.

Over the years, I have heard the word legacy used many times. It is an inspiring word often used to motivate us to make our lives count for something bigger and greater than ourselves. The word has often been used in fundraising, as a motivation to give a gift that will leave something for the next generation to enjoy or benefit from. I suspect that you have been asked, as I have been from time to time, “What do you think your legacy will be?”

In the last few months, Point University has experienced the earthly loss of two great men who invested substantially in a college they loved. In very different ways, Paul Carrier and Smith Lanier believed in and invested much of their lives in Atlanta Christian College, now Point University. I hope you will enjoy reading this issue’s tributes to each of these wonderful kingdom servants. It was a great honor for me to have graduated during Paul Carrier’s presidency, and to have led Point University during our move to Smith Lanier’s home town! Both of these men expressed to me personally how proud they were to be associated with the college for so many years, and what great hopes they had for its future. In this edition of Point Magazine, we also pay tribute to Eddie Groover, whose life legacy includes serving his entire career at what is now Point University. Eddie exemplifies one who loved and faithfully served his alma mater. I hope that as you read the pages ahead, you’ll be inspired and encouraged. And as you read, I ask you to consider how you can join people like Eddie Groover, Paul Carrier and Smith Lanier in building a lasting legacy at Point University that will train kingdom leaders for years to come! Gratefully,

Dean C. Collins ’79 President

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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.

On the cover: Illustration from Shutterstock. Point University’s mission is to educate students for Christ-centered service and leadership throughout the world. Point University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, at http://www. sacscoc.org, or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Point University.

billy howard photography

“As you read, I ask you to consider how you can join in building a lasting legacy at Point University that will train kingdom leaders for years to come.”

CONTRIBUTORS Weslynn Biggers Mandy Cook ’01 Adam Pope William Warren ’14

CAMPUS NEWS

Honoring A

fter more than 43 years of service to Point University, Chancellor and former President Dr. R. Edwin Groover ’67 announced his retirement in December 2013. “As the beginning of another phase of my life draws near, I express my deepest thanks to President Dean Collins, my other colleagues, trustees, alumni, current students and other friends who play such a vital part in the life of Point University,” Groover said in a statement. “I am grateful to the entire Point University community for blessing my life in countless ways. I can’t wait for the chapters that are yet to come in our unfinished story. I believe the

adam pope; point university archives

THANK YOU, DR. GROOVER! Send your messages of thanks and best wishes to Dr. Eddie Groover ’67 upon his retirement! Scan this QR code with your smart phone, visit point.edu/ groover or use the hashtag #thanksdrgroover on Facebook and Twitter.

best is yet to come for Point University.” After earning a B.A. from Point University (then Atlanta Christian College) in 1967, Groover went on to earn an M.Div. from Emmanuel School of Religion, and later a Ph.D. in American studies from Emory University. He served as a full-time faculty member from 1970 to 1980 and as associate dean of men and men’s dormitory superTop of page: President Collins and Chancellor Emeritus visor from 1971 to 1975. In Groover at graduation; above: Groover as a student in the 1980, he assumed the role of 1960s and as president in the 1990s. vice president for academic affairs, where he served of chancellor emeritus at the University’s until 1993, when he accepted the role as commencement ceremony on December the University’s sixth president. Upon his 13. The title honors his many years of serretirement as president in 2006, he began vice and devotion to the University. serving as chancellor and continued to “There is no adequate way to deserve as a faculty member. During his scribe Dr. Groover’s contribution to Point time as chancellor, Groover assisted the University,” Collins said. “I, along with Advancement Office with church relations, the board of trustees, want to extend our as well as in the move from the historic prayers and support as Dr. Groover begins East Point location to the new West Point the next chapter of his life. He is an outcampus in fall 2012. standing example of one who is loyal to President Collins and the board of Christ and to the kingdom work of Point trustees honored Groover with the title University.” WIN TER/ SPRING 2 014 | 5

159 Degrees Awarded at Winter Commencement Exercises Point University awarded 159 degrees on Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14 at three separate commencement ceremonies — a first for the University, which has seen record enrollment in recent years. The ceremonies were held at the Valley Sportsplex in Valley, Ala., and at Griffin First Assembly of God in Griffin, Ga. It was a historic day for Point, as 15 degrees were awarded to the first graduates from the University’s Birmingham location, who are pictured above. Another milestone was the awarding of the first degree in criminal justice, a recent addition to the University’s growing list of available degree programs. Dr. Jim Donovan ’74, professor of education and chair of the Wesley Bolden ’06 Department of Education at Point, addressed the traditional program and Birmingham graduates at the Friday evening ceremony. Wesley Bolden ’06, teaching pastor at Tri-Cities Church in Atlanta, and Dr. Darryl Harrison, chief academic officer at Point, addressed the Access program graduates at the Saturday ceremonies. During commencement, two students were presented with the prestigious Hathcock Award, named after Judge T. O. Hathcock, founder of the University. The award is the highest honor Point awards to a student graduating with a bachelor’s degree; recipients are chosen by the faculty, based on academic achievement, character and servant leadership. This year’s recipients were traditional program graduate Tavaris Taylor, of Ellenwood, Ga., and Access program graduate Vivian Robinson, of Atlanta.

F O U N DAT I O N

F O R

T H E

F U T U R E

C AMPA I GN P R O GR E SS

$13,655,430 $0

$5M

$10M

$15M

Contributions received as of January 31, 2014; total does not include unfulfilled campaign pledges. Find out more about Point Forward at point.edu/give.

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$20M

It’s no secret that the holidays are a difficult time for some families, but two recent Point University graduates are trying to change that in one Georgia community. Kendrell Ringer ’12 and Sherry Thomas ’13, pictured below, co-founded Humble Beginnings Youth Services in order to provide solutions for socially disadvantaged youth in Troup County. Last year, Thomas, a child and youth development major, was searching for a practicum to complete her studies at Point when she found a connection with a familiar face from her past. “I was desperately looking for a practicum, and my advisor put me in touch with Kendrell, who I had been friends with at Point,” Thomas said. “It was perfect. They needed someone to do art therapy with at-risk youth, and that’s what I wanted to do after I graduated.” Thomas says that by trusting in God and following his vision, Humble Beginnings is exploding faster than she or Ringer could imagine. She credits her biblical studies minor for preparing her to serve the community. “You don’t truly begin to appreciate a course until you let it change your heart,” said Thomas. “I was transformed by the lessons taught about Jesus’ mission.” Ringer, who was also a child and youth development major, credits a service project at City of Refuge during her freshman year as the seed that inspired her to serve those in the community. “To see how a small organization that works with children can grow is truly inspiring to me,” said Ringer. “It’s like a light that draws others who want to serve.” This past Thanksgiving, Humble Beginnings, Point University and other local partners were able to put those lessons into practice by donating more than 1,000 cans and feeding more than 100 people in Troup County as part of the organization’s Feed the 100 event. Humble Beginnings currently provides childhood obesity awareness programs, life skills programs for high school students and financial literacy programs. Ringer and Thomas are also in the process of developing tutoring and mentorship programs. Find out more at humblestarts.com.

adam pope; william warren ’14

Transforming Lives

SCENE ON CAMPUS

Curtis Zehner ’16, Shaun Horne ’14, President Dean Collins ’79 and Garrett Motes ’17 enjoyed the Endowed Scholarship Banquet at the historic West Point Depot in September.

Former Chick-fil-A President and COO Speaks to Point Students Dr. Susan Ryan and some of her students walked to the West Point Post Office this fall to watch the beautiful nearby ginkgo trees drop their leaves in a single day.

adam pope; william warren ’14; susan ryan

Students, alumni and friends of the University gathered in September to honor Drs. Byron and Katie Cartwright on their 20th anniversary of service to Point University.

Residents of the Point Living-Learning Community, led by Brandon ’08 and Dr. Jennifer Allen Craft ’07, carved pumpkins together at a fall gathering.

In October, Jimmy Collins, former president and chief operating officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc., visited Point’s main campus and spoke to business students about how to prepare for success when entering the workforce. Collins, who served in various roles with Chick-fil-A for 32 years, also served on the board of trustees for Point University for 30 years. The presentation was part of an initiative to expose Point students to real-life success stories in the business world. Collins’ new book, Creative Followership: In the Shadow of Greatness, uses personal stories from his years of experience to illustrate the business principles that led to his successful career. Collins talked to Point students first about how to use wisdom when “choosing your boss.” “After you’ve chosen your boss, it is your responsibility to help your boss succeed,” said Collins. Collins pledged his absolute loyalty to Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, which he says resulted in Cathy’s unwavering support of him and earned him the title of Cathy’s “Chief Follower.” Collins also explained how he built his career using principles found in Proverbs 27:18, which he says are practical words of wisdom for any individual looking to be successful and add value to his or her business or organization. He shared stories from his own journey, describing how he is living proof of the effectiveness of these biblical and leadership principles. “It was an honor to have Jimmy Collins at Point to share his principles of creative followership with students,” said Dr. Todd Weaver, professor of business and chair of the Department of Business. “He is truly one of the wisest business people I know, and I can think of no better example for our students of how you can glorify God in a business career. We hope this will be the first event in an ongoing speaker series sponsored by our department.” Later in the day, Point University’s Institutional Advancement Office joined the Department of Business in sponsoring a Learn more “Business by the Book” event, where Collins signed copies of his about creative book and shared business wisdom with the nearly 100 people in followership and how to purchase attendance from the local community. Collins’ book by scanning the code above with your smart phone.

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M E ET A S KY HAWK:

Students, faculty and staff at Point University are called to influence culture for Christ daily — no matter what that entails. For some, it may mean being a leader in business, while for others, it may mean teaching young children with the love of God. For Point University junior Katie Crumbley ’15, of McDonough, Ga., the call to influence the world for Christ is leading her to Chile. While there, Crumbley will work with El Oasis, a college ministry of Globalscope (Christian Missionary Fellowship). Located near the downtown capital of Santiago, El Oasis provides services and spiritual formation opportunities to students through events such as devotional dinners, Bible studies, worship services and service projects. For Crumbley, a child “Jesus loved the and youth development major who is also a star people he lived runner on the Skyhawks among, and in many women’s cross country team, the passion ways, I feel like that is for missions started what I am able to do with a desire and love of traveling. When the in Chile — just living opportunity arose for with people who her to travel and spend a semester abroad while need Jesus.” serving Christ, she instinctively started praying to discern if this was the opportunity for her. This chance to travel is more than just a door being opened for her to experience a new culture; the experience is allowing her to be a part of the global body of Christ, first-hand. Crumbley’s passport shows that she is not new to the world of missions. She has been blessed with opportunities to go on mission trips to Panama, Kenya, Jamaica and Nicaragua. Ever since a young age, to go along with her desire to travel, Crumbley says the Lord planted a desire in her heart for intercultural missions. She says that God is the way that she was able to go and spread the Gospel so often; his providence gave her 8 | POIN T M AG A ZI N E

by William Warren ’14

the necessary means to go. When asked why she chose Chile, Crumbley responded that her love of the Chilean culture’s liveliness and the warmth of the environment attracted her to this particular ministry opportunity. This student-athlete is anticipating more than just a vacation and education from her time abroad, however. “I am praying I will come back understanding more about how Jesus loves all people,” she says, when asked about her expectations and hopes for her semester abroad. Point was able to help her prepare through her coursework; Crumbley especially appreciated a course she took from Dr. Holly Ritchie Carey ’01, The Story of Jesus’ Followers. “It gave great insight into how Jesus loved the people he lived among, and in many ways, I feel like that is what I am able to do in Chile — just living with people who need Jesus,” Crumbley explains. However, there is still work to be completed before Crumbley can achieve her goal of ministering to those in Santiago, and she invites the Point community to assist her. First and foremost, even short-term missionaries require financial assistance. If you’re interested in finding out more about supporting Crumbley and the work of El Oasis, visit cmfi.org/kcrumbley or scan the QR code below with your smart phone. But more important, says Crumbley, is prayer support. “This is an adventure that I never thought God could use me for, but I am trusting that Christ’s presence in me is far greater than my inadequacies,” she says. “Pray that I would keep in step with him and truly love the people that I will be with. Also, please pray for the people of Santiago. I will only be there for a short amount of time, but God has been using the ministry of El Oasis for years, and he will continue to do so for years to come. Pray that the people would be open to acceptFind out more ing the freedom and true life that we have about El Oasis and how you can in Christ. Pray that truth would reign in support Katie Santiago.” Crumbley ’15 by scanning this QR code with your smart phone.

billy howard photography; william warren ’14

Katie Crumbley ’15

Point Honored by NAIA

adam pope; dc communications

Skyhawks Teach Golf Lessons to Students with Special Needs Local students with special needs are learning about the game of golf, thanks to some lessons and quality time with the Point University men’s and women’s golf teams. Since mid-October, Callye McNeal’s special education class at Valley High School, in Valley, Ala., has been spending an hour each Thursday afternoon learning the basics of the game and practicing their new skills with Point University Golf Coach Steve Patton and his student-athletes. “It’s their favorite day of the week,” McNeal said of her students. “They love these kids. They love the relationships that they’ve built with them, and they are on top of the world when they are hanging out with cool college kids.” Diane Sherriff, special education director for Chambers County Schools, says that the partnership gives their students the opportunity to interact with others while also helping them hone a multitude of skills that will serve them throughout the rest of their lives. “These students are working on life skills and functional skills, including recreation skills,” Sherriff said. “We want them, when they exit school, to be as independent as possible and to have a good quality of life.” Patton and his students say that the experience is rewarding for them as well. “There’s something about working with Lena Lemieux ’17 coaches a VHS student. someone who doesn’t know anything about golf,” Patton said. “To see the joy on their faces when they hit a ball is priceless.” Point golfers spend their time with the high schoolers working on proper golf techniques, but the part they most enjoy is giving their young friends a chance to hit some balls of their own. The student-athletes appreciate this opportunity to give back to their community. “The first week, we just got to know them,” said Abby Vinson ’17, a business administration major. “We just wanted to build a relationship with them, because we know that we can’t teach them unless they know us.” Patton says that serving the local community is vital for his student-athletes. The teams also began teaching students with special needs at LaFayette High School in November, and Patton says that they are looking forward to sharing their love of golf with more students in the local community. “I enjoy watching the heart of my kids when they’re working with the other students,” Patton said. “They need to serve to see that there are so many opportunities out there. It teaches them how to give back, which is something that I want to instill in them for the rest of their lives.”

In November, Point University was honored by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as a 2012-13 Champions of Character Five-Star Institution. The vision of the Champions of Character program is to change the culture of sport, according to the NAIA. Its mission is to provide training and to help instill the values that build character, so that students, coaches and parents know, do and value the right thing, both on and off the field. The five core values of the program are integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. “In today’s society that usually measures success in wins and losses, receiving the NAIA Champions of Character award is an amazing honor for our athletic program, our university, and our community,” said Alan Wilson, athletic director. “As our coaches strive to daily incorporate the five core values that the NAIA stands for, it is gratifying to be rewarded in this way. It speaks directly to the type of coaches and studentathletes we have here at Point, and that they are capable of being excellent on the playing surface, in the classroom and in life.” For more information about the NAIA and the Champions of Character program, please visit www.championsofcharacter.org.

FIND SPORTS SCHEDULES, NEWS AND MORE AT POINTSKYHAWKS.COM

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by Jim Street ’74, Ph.D. Point’s students, both traditional and adult, have unique stories to tell. Among graduates of the Access program, Tim Sutton ’13 holds a fascinating distinction: he was baptized by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sutton, who grew up in Sweet Auburn – that section of downtown Atlanta bisected by Auburn Avenue and that includes Ebenezer Baptist Church, the birthplace of Dr. King, and, today, The King Center – has a unique perspective on the King family and legacy. Sutton and I met at the King Center on a bitterly cold Saturday morning in January. We sat for a while and talked in the lobby, and then walked down past Dr. and Mrs. King’s graves and into the famed Ebenezer Baptist Church. Here, in his own words, is Sutton’s story.

Holy Ghost!” I remember going under the water and him bringing me back up. I didn’t hear the “Hallelujah” chorus or anything. It was a moment that I didn’t realize would be as significant to me as it has become. After I had changed into dry clothes, he met with us (there were six or seven of us) and gave us our baptismal certificates. I still have mine. Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis eight months later, on April 4, 1968. That was so touching to me. It was then that I realized that this man was a busy man, but one who had time to baptize me, a 12-year-old boy. It really meant a lot to me. In our previous conversations about your experience with Dr. King, I have noticed that you often turn to talking about Dr. King’s mother, Mrs. Alberta Williams King. She meant a lot to you. Oh, yes! Yes, I had that moment with Dr. King, but, boy, his mother! His mother is someone that people need to know!

Tell me about the day you were baptized by Dr. King. Dr. King baptized me on August 6, 1967, when I was 12 years old. I got up that morning and my mother told me to get dressed, because I was getting baptized that day. I was surprised, because I didn’t remember asking to join the church. She How did his mother come to mean so told me that I must have, because they had called much to you? and said that I was getting baptized that day. Well, after Dr. King was murdered, his brother, I remember I changed my clothes in the educaA.D., moved to Atlanta to become assistant pastor tion wing there [pointing toward Ebenezer Baptist of the church. A lot of people forget that Dr. King Church]. I was afraid, because I couldn’t swim, but was assistant pastor to his father while he was so I thought, “The Lord has brought me this far. I deeply involved in the civil rights movement. guess he will be with me in this!” When A.D. and his family moved to Atlanta, I When I got to the baptistry, I looked in, and noticed his 13-year-old daughter, Darlene. And I there was Dr. King. Of course, I was 12 years old thought, “I want her to be my girlfriend!” I was 13 and didn’t know much about the civil rights moveand infatuated with her. So, I prayed to God and ment. I had seen him on TV and had heard people asked him to make Darlene my girlfriend. talking around the church, but, as a 12-year-old, I One Sunday, Yolanda King, Dr. King’s oldest didn’t know much about it. daughter, came up behind me, locked elbows Anyway, I stepped into the baptistry with Dr. with me and said, “I know somebody who likes King. He gave me some instruction on what I you. Want to guess?” I said, “Your cousin, Darshould do and what he would do. Then, I rememlene?” She replied, “How did you know?” I said, ber his big, baritone voice. It bounced off the “Because I prayed and asked God to make her back of the baptistry: “Timothy, I baptize you in my girlfriend!” the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

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“Come over here and give me a hug! And watch as you cross the street!” I was about finished for the day and she asked me where I was going. Now, Rich’s, the department store, used to sell these little chocolate cakes that I loved. So, I told her I was going to go buy me a chocolate cake. After that, whenever she would see me downtown selling papers, she’d say, “Tim, let’s go to Rich’s and buy a cake. I’ll buy you one and buy one for me too!”

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One day, Dr. King’s mother came up to me and said, “Tim, I hear you like my granddaughter, Darlene.” I was a little shy guy, but admitted to her that I did. Mrs. King said, “Well, that’s fine. I know your mother and father and I wanted to know if you can come over and help me around my house.” I agreed to that. Later, she called and I went over. She showed me what she wanted me to do. It was really nothing, mostly something she made up to get me over there so she could have an influence on me! I learned so much from her. She was so graA few years later, Mrs. King was murdered cious, and just the fact that she would take so much by Marcus Wayne Chenault, a deranged time with me, this kid, was really something. man who shot her while she sat at the My main chore was to keep her patio clean. organ in Ebenezer Baptist Church. She had a red patio, and she didn’t like that it Oh, that was a heartbreaker. June 30, 1974. She looked dull. I offered to wash it for her and put was killed during the church service. I was in the some Mop & Glo on it. She said, “You don’t think Marine Corps, but was home that Sunday. For I will walk out there and slip on it, do you?” I said, some reason, I didn’t go to church that day. I saw “Well, ain’t but one way to find out. Let’s do it!” So it on the news. That really hurt me. I kept thinkwe did that, and it worked out fine. ing, “I wish I had been there. I could have stopped She would write me a check for $25, and that that. I could have done something.” But I had was a lot of money back then, especially for a kid. to accept the fact that even if I had been there, I I remember the first time I took that check to the couldn’t have done anything to stop it. bank to cash it. The tellers were suspicious of me. “Who are you? Where did you get this? Who gave What stands out most as you think about her? you this?” They called Mrs. King and she said, Oh, she was an awesome lady. Her warmth. Her “That’s Tim! You go on and cash that check!” “down-to-earthness.” She was a woman of such great She had a wonderful smile, always smiling. faith, and, from my account, a woman focused on Later, I would think, “Here is this woman, the caring. She would always try to push you, but gently, mother of an icon, and she took such an interest toward the direction she thought you should go. in me and trusted me to come over and help her.” My father ran a store that sold work clothes, Later, I sold newspapers on the streets of and he was also a preacher. She asked me one downtown Atlanta. I remember one day I heard day if I thought I’d be a preacher, too. I told her I this voice call my name, “Tim! Tim!” I looked over didn’t know, but that I might. She was guiding me and I saw this short, little lady holding a shopping in that gentle way. She thought I’d be a preacher. bag in each hand. It was Mama King. She yelled, Mother King saw hope in everybody.

flipflopfoto; photo courtesy of tim sutton ’13

Above left, Tim Sutton today; above right, Tim Sutton as a teenager with Darlene King, MLK’s niece.

Her son, A.D., died a little over a year after the assassination of Dr. King. What do you remember about that? Yes, I heard him preach at Ebenezer the day before he died. I got a phone call the day after and Mrs. King asked me to come over to the house. The custodian of the church, Mr. Horton, gave me a ride to her house. He warned me, “Now, Tim, when you get over there, there will be a lot of police there. You just go on in.” When I got there Mrs. King was like she always was. Very peaceful, calm, smiling. I didn’t see a hopeless woman. I saw a mother full of faith. Here she had lost her second son, but she was not mournful. I know she had her moments, but that day, I didn’t see anything but a woman of great faith. She trusted God. She trusted that God was guiding the fate of her family. Here I was, shocked. But the way she dealt with that helped me deal with it.

HEAR THIS STORY IN PERSON

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What did you learn from Mrs. King? Being a mother is a great responsibility. Being a mother is about nurturing children. Family is that first level of teaching for children. A lot of mothers are out there doing this and that. Some have to be out there. Some want to be. I get that, and that’s great. I’m glad they can be. But, if you have children, you should be spending as much time as you can with them, teaching them to be respectful, responsible, to be caring, to take care of other people. You know, she started out as a teacher, but later devoted herself to her husband, her children and her church, even the children in the church. I wonder sometimes whether parents today take their roles as parents as seriously. We may not all get to be that drum major as far as social change is concerned; we may not all get to share the limelight, but we can nurture someone else to carry the banner. She helped me understand that you don’t have to be a leader yourself – you don’t have to be out front – but you can always nurture someone else who may be. That’s what she was to her children, and that is a big reason, I believe, that Dr. King came to be the man that he was. His mother. I used to see Dr. King around the church. We used to play ball out there in the field beside the church, out there where his grave, his memorial and the pool around it is now. He would come out there and talk to us, ask which one of us was the best athlete. He’d stand and watch us play. But I knew him as the assistant pastor of the church. He was a humble guy, just a preacher in the church. Dr. King was a figure in my life, but his mother was a presence in my life.

I want to get involved in Christian education and discipleship. We aren’t going to do much for the world until Christ changes the heart.

Tim Sutton ’13 is available for speaking engagements at churches and other organizations. Contact him at otis1967@comcast.net or 770-675-7068.

After our conversation, Tim drove me through the neighborhood around the King Center. He showed where his house once stood. He showed me the stump of the old oak tree where he played as a child. He showed me where his father’s store was. I could see him, as a boy, walk out of his front door, take a right and stroll down Auburn Avenue. I could see him pass the house where Dr. King was born and grew up. I could see him pass the firehouse, the open field where the assistant pastor would watch them play ball. Tim drove me to the parking lot where I had left my car. We sat in the car a few minutes tying up some loose ends from our interview. I noticed a stranger approach the driver’s-side window. A homeless man, wrapped in a ratty blanket, his face like the leather of an old, black boot, tapped on the window. Tim lowered it. “Could you give me a dollar?” the old man asked. “Yeah,” said Tim. He dug around for a dollar and some change and gave it to him. “What’s your name?” Tim asked the old man. “Oris,” said the old man. “Where are you from, Oris?” asked Tim. “Chicago,” said the old man. They talked a bit. “Well, you take care of yourself,” said Tim. The old man hobbled away, and we said our goodbyes. As I drove home, I thought about the stories Tim had told How was it that you came to Point? me. I relived the baptism by that “busy man.” I heard I kept hearing about this school – then it was the baritone voice echo off the baptistry wall, “TimoAtlanta Christian College – and I checked into it. At thy... in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and first, all they had was the traditional program, and of the Holy Ghost.” I heard the phone ring as Mama I couldn’t do that because of work. But, then, they King called again. I saw her standing on the street developed the Access program, and that opened corner with her hands filled with shopping bags. the door for me. I learned so much at Point. The “Tim! Tim!” I saw her ask him, “Are you going to be a professors and the classes were all great. preacher?” I thought about the many, tiny kindnesses Tim received from Mrs. Alberta King. And then What’s next for you, Tim? I remembered Tim asking just another, anonymous, Sometimes, in the church, I think we talk a bit old homeless man, “What’s your name?” too much about the social, political thing. That’s And I thought, “Amazing, the things that are understandable given the needs that are out there. learned in the service of a King.” Sometimes we get too caught up in the program. But I think the important thing is that transforJim Street ’74 is the minister of the mation of the heart that only comes through the North River Church in Lawrenceville, gospel of Jesus Christ. I think that a lot of what Ga. He also teaches in the Access we think about, talk about and do would be better program, and loves helping his stuserved if we focused on that heart conversion first. dents share their stories. Since graduating from Point, I started in the master of divinity program in pastoral care at McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University. WIN TER/ SPRING 2 014 | 13

A Lasting Legacy TRIBUTE BY DEAN COLLINS ’79

I have one who had such an

never encountered any-

effect on people as James Smith Lanier. Whether you knew him for a day or a lifetime — as an acquaintance, a confidant or even as a family member — there was something about Smith that drew you closer. Something that made you wish your conversation could last a little longer, that you had written down what was said, that always made you feel better for the time you spent with him. What was it? Why were we all drawn in? Why didn’t you want to leave? I actually think we all know. We knew that there was something more to our time with Smith. Smith — and it took me years to call him that, though he insisted from day one — always drew you in and made you feel important. He made you feel that what you did mattered, that what you said or asked was worth listening to. It didn’t matter if you had a title or a dollar, you were important and worthy of his time. The power of Smith’s presence was simple: there were always two. You see, for Smith Lanier, it was never about him. It was always about the one he served, the one who had saved him, and the one who was the source of all wisdom and blessing in his life. So when we were with Smith, of course we loved and enjoyed him. But he was so surrendered to God that we always were experiencing the Other — the Christ he loved. God couldn’t help but shine through! For decades, Smith used his Bible to guide him, and the book he most often quoted, and turned to over and over, was Proverbs. His wife, Betty, told me that the one passage he quoted all the time was 14 | P OINT M AG A ZI NE

Proverbs 3:5-10: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” This life verse guided Smith in all areas of his life. He loved his family dearly; he talked about them often and prayed for them constantly. He loved the company that was his life’s work; it thrilled him to see his employees working hard, and living out the principles of honor, respect and integrity he so cherished. He loved his community, which included his friends, neighbors and acquaintances, especially in the Greater Valley Area. He loved Point University and steadfastly supported it with his time and resources. He loved his country, which he served during the Korean War as a part of the Merchant Marine, and he loved the political process, always participating in it. Finally, Smith loved his church. It was Jesus, the head of the church, to whom he gave his life. And he saw no greater work than the work of the church. For Smith, it wasn’t just going to church, it was doing

church. He wanted everyone to hear the Gospel, and to fall in love with Jesus and experience his saving power. I was looking at Smith’s Bible after his death, and in it I found three documents: one was a devotion he gave at Point University, one was a church bulletin, and one was a list of the members of his Sunday School class with their birthdays, phone numbers and addresses. He loved his brothers and sisters in Christ — both those here in his community, and those he prayed for and gave to all over the world. Smith impacted so many of our lives. Now, it’s up to us to remember that when we were with him, there were always two: Smith and the Christ who lived in him. One remains to comfort us, guide us, fill us, and use us until that day we see our friend Smith again in heaven. Dean Collins ’79 is president of Point University.

photo courtesy of j. smith lanier & co.

Smith Lanier and Paul Carrier: two great men of God who will be remembered for their generosity, their wisdom, and their love for Christ and his kingdom. Lanier and Carrier impacted Point University in different ways, but each left an imprint that changed the course of this institution’s history. In this issue, we asked some of the people who knew them best to pay tribute on these pages. If you’d like to pay tribute with a donation, both families have asked that contributions be made to their respective endowed scholarship funds at Point University.

R E MEM BER I NG J. S MI TH L AN IE R 1 92 8-2 01 3

Smith and Betty Lanier receiving the Founders Award in the 1990s.

TRIBUTE BY RON LEWIS ’82

photos courtesy of eddie groover ’67

N.T.

Wright says this about the Lord’s Prayer: “‘Thy kingdom come, on earth as in heaven.’ That remains one of the most powerful and revolutionary sentences we can ever speak (or sing). It acknowledges the strange world in which we live… a world that is both achingly ugly and awesomely beautiful.” After Smith Lanier’s death, many of us were standing at that intersection — in that strange, narrow spot where we celebrate life and cringe at death. I wish I had the right words to stop some of the pain and the chaos that living in that tension brings. But I don’t. I don’t know all the answers to the many questions we are asking out loud, and I definitely don’t know the answers to the ones we are asking within our hearts. What I have as an answer, maybe, is another question. What I know — what I do firmly believe — is that the healing, hope-giving power of God’s voice can be heard. What I believe is that God’s voice can be heard even within the storms and the chaos of life. As a matter of fact, it seems to be the place when and where his voice is most heard. Job 38:1 says, “Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm.” I love that. You see, for some time Job had been wanting God to show up. The only condition Job placed on it was “no storms.” He was afraid of storms. So... God showed up in a storm. God’s voice, God’s presence

was in that intersection between kingdom here and kingdom come. This was the driving force in Smith’s life. As Dean wrote, when you talked with Smith, there were always at least three in the conversation: you, Smith and God. Smith’s life was a life focused upon the presence of God, in any circumstance. Luke 2 describes a man with this same focus in verses 25-29: “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.’” Few people in the Gospels are described that way, with the combination of “righteous and devout.” These were folks who spent their lives ushering in the kingdom come on earth. They spent their lives being devout — “careful in religious duties.” But the description is of those who don’t announce what they are doing — they just do it. Their lives speak for themselves. Smith understood that when our faith — our belief in who God says he is

Smith Lanier cutting the ribbon at the dedication of the library in 1990.

and our belief that he will never break a promise — when our faith intersects with God’s faithfulness, life is amazing! Proverbs 3:3-4 says, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” And not just in life, but in death. Listen to Simeon once more: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.” You can be dismissed peacefully. You can die a peaceful death knowing his “kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.” So I don’t necessarily have an answer as much as a question. I believe Smith would want me to ask this question: Who or what have you placed your faith in? I received a text the night before Smith’s memorial service from a friend of mine in Texas who only met him once. He texted and said he was sorry to hear of Smith’s death. I texted back, “Yeah, there is a big hole in the kingdom.” His reply? “He’s not missing from the Kingdom, just this world.” Lamentations 3:22 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Ron Lewis ’82 is senior pastor of Spring Road Christian Church in Lanett, Ala.

WIN TER/ SPRING 2 014 | 15

A Lasting Legacy

Who ment speaker and what he remembers a commence-

said? My first experience with Paul Carrier was May 11, 1975, when he traveled from Houston to Manhattan, Kansas, to deliver the address for my graduating class at Manhattan Christian College. I cannot recite the exact points of that message — though it undoubtedly had three or four points that all started with the same letter — but I remember his charge to us. Stay faithful to the Word, stay humble, and be persistent to the end. At least that’s what I remember. He made his mark on me in a 15-minute sermon. I was impressed by his winsome combination of biblical thinking, humor, intensity and genuineness. I was not surprised when I heard that Paul Carrier had become President 16 | POIN T M AG A ZI NE

Paul was open to wild and crazy ideas — we actually hosted a rodeo on the church property — and never lost his focus on reaching the lost and growing the kingdom to the glory of God. When some people grumbled about the “improper attire” of people who attended a church service after the rodeo ( jeans, boots and cowboy hats indoors), Paul reprimanded them in a sermon the following week. He did it in such a way that they knew this was not an issue of disagreeing with Paul, but with God’s great desire that all people be saved. He pointed them to openness and love. That was classic Paul Carrier. Paul and Donna Carrier were in ministry together, complementing one another well. My wife and daughter absolutely loved being in Donna’s choir and musicals. Their example as a couple helped Diane and me to parent our children and to keep a focus on our relationship. Several years after Paul retired as senior minister, the church (now called Christ’s Church at Whitewater) decided to build a multi-purpose facility with a large fellowship hall and classrooms. The question of what to name the building was quickly answered: the Carrier Center. When we met with Paul to get his permission, he resisted giving it. We persuaded him by explaining that the Carrier Center symbolized our desire to grow, minister to families and reach the community for Christ. That’s how I remember Paul Carrier — sitting in the local McDonald’s that day, laughing, and saying “yes” to keep the main thing the main thing. Dr. Dennis Glenn is vice president for institutional effectiveness and dean of accreditation at Point University.

photo courtesy of eddie groover ’67

TRIBUTE BY DENNIS GLENN

Carrier of what was then Atlanta Christian College. I made a special point of being there when he preached at the North American Christian Convention. The years went by, I received a call to come to ACC, and was elated to find out that Paul was still in the area as minister of Kenwood Christian Church. Our family decided to move to Fayette County in large part because of Paul Carrier. We planned to visit Kenwood and then other churches in the area before choosing a congregation, but my children kept asking why we did not “just join that first one with that preacher.” So we did, and Paul Carrier became my pastor, which I viewed — and still do — as a dream come true. Ministering to Christian college faculty and staff is far from easy. Paul had more than a dozen of us, plus numerous former ministers. He set the rules clearly for us and for the entire church: the message will never change, but the methods must. Do not become adamant about anything but the gospel of Jesus Christ. Love people, and especially those who are different from you. Exalt the Lord. Keep the main thing the main thing. Paul delivered sermon after sermon that was theologically rock-solid and personally challenging at the same time. He was a preacher’s preacher, yet he connected with everyone. He was quick to make fun of those of us with Ph.D.s (“fudds”) and to correct those who preferred tradition over effective outreach and ministry.

R EMEM BER I NG PAU L K . CARRIE R 1 935 -2 014

Paul and Donna Carrier being welcomed to the college in 1978. Carrier served as president from 1978-84.

TRIBUTE BY PAUL LESLIE ’87

Point richly blessed through

photos courtesy of eddie groover ’67

University has been

the years by incredible individuals of faith. Paul Carrier stands out as a marvelous example of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Paul served our institution, as well as many churches, throughout his ministerial career. He was an encouragement to everyone he encountered. Bob Russell, the former minister of Southeast Christian Church, described Paul as brilliant, funny, profound, fun-loving, real and spontaneous. This description of one respected pastor by another, albeit powerful, falls short of truly communicating the man, the friend, the father, and the pastor that Paul Carrier had become. However, to talk to Paul, he could never imagine why people thought of him with such high regard. Paul Carrier stood apart as a preacher who had incredible passion for people and ministering to them. He not only ministered to people within his congregation, but often pastored to people who had formerly been a part of the congregation he led. Mr. Carrier not only loved to sing “I Exalt Thee,” but lived his life daily exalting the Lord. He loved the Lord, and it was evident not only in his preaching, but in his pastoring even more. Chris Rollins ’89 stated, “Paul Carrier instilled in me a love for the church and a love for preaching. I love to listen to him preach.”

In his preaching, there was profound impact. Following his death, one minister stated that he had been in ministry 34 years because of Paul’s recommendation. Paul touched countless lives as he left his legacy. A great strength of Mr. Carrier was his ability to arrive at a positive solution. In ministry, he learned to work together for the good of the whole, and how valuable it is to serve a purpose greater than yourself. Paul’s sermons taught lessons that changed lives. It was not uncommon for his parishioners to spend the week quoting the three Ps of last week’s sermon. Paul was the master of alliteration. There are not many who could say, in the course of their ministry, that the devil had visited their church. However, while Paul was serving at Christ’s Church at Whitewater, formerly Kenwood Christian Church, the church hosted a rodeo to raise money. They actually had someone dress up in a devil’s costume in protest in front of their church. Paul Carrier was never afraid to face the devil. However, he anxiously anticipated being greeted by his Lord. Paul was a pastor who was used as a vessel in God’s hand to navigate many prodigals back home. He lived a life of grace and mercy, and often gave individuals a second chance. For nearly seven years, I served under Paul Carrier at Christ’s Church at Whitewater. It was during those formative years of ministry that he taught me the importance of great theology, coupled with practical ministry. It was not uncommon

Paul Carrier with his fellow presidents at the University’s ribbon-cutting in 2012.

for Paul Carrier to arrive at a hospital long before the individual receiving surgery. The love and care that he demonstrated was evident to all he ministered to, but even more so for those who had the privilege of ministering with him. Mr. Carrier retired multiple times, but God always found a way to get him back to the pulpit. Not long ago, Mr. Carrier communicated to one of his “Timothys” how grateful he was to have been part of his life and ministry. His tenure as the president of what is now Point University may have been some of the hardest times, but also some of the most rewarding times of his life. Paul was a visionary who loved to see things as God wanted them to be. One of the great gifts we can draw from his life is a lesson he shared with his youngest son, Jon. He reminded Jon that whether at the helm of a college, leading a church, or being a devoted husband and father, it was okay to dream! The victories that we have experienced at Point University can be credited to God, as well as to men and women of great faith such as Paul K. Carrier. It’s not in the buildings that we build, but in the lives that we touch, that we leave a legacy of faith. For all those who’ve been impacted by Paul Carrier, we will miss him. And we all look forward to heaven, when once again we shall corporately worship the Lord whom he loved and served. Paul Leslie ’87 is senior minister of McDonough Christian Church in McDonough, Ga. WIN TER/ S PRING 2 014 | 17

the real story of

noah

the film version hits theaters in March... but will hollywood get the story right?

by Stephen Hooks '69, Ph.D.

18 | P OINT M AG A ZI NE

It’s the stuff of Hollywood box office — a spellbinding plot for the ultimate disaster movie! The earth is about to be inundated with water, killing everything that doesn’t swim. The human race is doomed. But wait — there is hope! One man and his family are building a massive barge designed to ride out the storm and to keep alive at least a pair of each major species that lives on the land. The rains fall, the subterranean waters break loose, and a catastrophic flood covers the land for nearly a year. But the people and animals on the sturdy ship amazingly survive the great flood. They emerge to repopulate the earth in what amounts to nothing less than a second act of creation — a cosmic “do over” for a doomed planet. Of course, this story does not come from Hollywood. It comes straight out of the Bible. The disaster is real. It represents God’s punishment of a human race so deeply corrupted by sin that he pronounces it unredeemable. Total corruption will be met by total destruction. Into this dark scenario breaks a ray of hope in the form of a single good man. Noah is his name, and his story is told in the book of Genesis, chapters six through nine. The account of the great flood is one of five stories that make up the first 11 chapters of the Bible’s first book. All of the stories share one thing in common: they are all “crime and punishment” stories in which God (or, in one case, a man — Noah, in Genesis 9:19-29) ironically matches the punishment to the crime, in what amounts to five acts of perfect justice. And that is the common theological point of the stories. The Creator God, who is completely sovereign over the world he has made (Genesis 1), exercises that sovereignty justly (Genesis 2-11). If you think the biblical author is up to something by repeating the same theme in five successive stories, you’re right! The God of the Bible is revealing himself to be quite different from the gods worshipped in the ancient world. Those man-made gods were not just, but capricious and vindictive

see the movie — capable of great malevolence with no observable or predictable rationale. But when this God authors some destruction (the great flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, the invasion of Canaan), he does it for the same predictable reason — to punish sin and moral corruption. What emerges is a clear picture of how to live securely before this true and living God. Shun evil and practice goodness, and you shall have no fear of his judgment. Just who was this special man that God chose to secure the survival of the human race? The name Noah means “comfort” in the original Hebrew. It predicts his deliverance of humanity from the “labor and painful toil” of the Lord’s curse upon the ground that God had pronounced against Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden (Genesis 5:29, 3:17-19). Noah stood out in the corrupt world that surrounded him as “a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God” (Genesis 6:9 (NIV); see also Ezekiel 14:14, 20). Because of his noble character, “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8 (NIV)). That favor resulted in Noah being God’s choice as the ultimate survivor. Through him and his family, at least a small part of a corrupt human race would be spared. But what had the people of the earth done to merit the destruction of the entire race? The Genesis account repeatedly uses two terms to characterize their depravity. They are described as “corrupt” and “filled with violence” (Genesis 6:5, 11-13). The totality of this corruption is emphasized by the next phrase in the text: “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all of the time” (Genesis 6:5, 8:21). In response to this depravity, God was “grieved,” “and his heart was full of pain” (Genesis 6:6, 7). The term “grieved” can also be used to express the idea of “regret,” which it does in verse eight, where the Creator says of the fallen race, “I regret that I have made them.” Within ten generations, rebellious humanity had taken the creation which God once

with the point community point.edu/noah | April 12

called “very good” and brought it to total ruin. As a result, they will forfeit their privilege to live upon it. The weight Join alumni and friends of Point University for of divine condemnation a private screening of director Darren Aronoffalls mightily upon the sky’s Noah, starring Russell Crowe, Jennifer human race with the Connelly and Anthony Hopkins. fatal sentence: “I will when wipe” (literally “wash”) Saturday, April 12 at 9:30 a.m. “mankind, whom I have created, from the face where of the earth.” But, as NCG Fischer Crossings, 55 Fischer Crossings God does with the other Blvd., Sharpsburg, GA 30277. The screening crime-and-punishment will be followed by a panel discussion and light accounts of Genesis, lunch at Point’s nearby Peachtree City location. he goes on to soften his how devastating judgment Tickets are $12 each, which includes your with a wonderful act of movie ticket, concessions and lunch. In order grace. The evil race will to reserve this special rate, tickets must be puryet survive through Noah chased in advance. Tickets will be distributed and his family. at the screening. Tickets purchased at the door God sealed this promon April 12 will be first come, first served and ise with a covenant that will only include the movie ticket. Purchase he made with Noah and your ticket online at point.edu/noah or call the his family (Genesis 6:18). Alumni Relations Office at 706-385-1000 for This is the first time the more information. word “covenant” appears in Scripture. This term, berit, is used often in the scriptures to characterize God’s chosen way to relate to humankind. It means “treaty, contract,” and the legal agreement it represented was widely used in the world of the Bible to bind nation to nation, buyer to seller, and husband to wife. It is used twice in the flood story; first to reassure Noah that his family will survive the flood (Genesis 6:18), and a second time to reassure generations to come that God will never again destroy the earth with a flood (Genesis 9:11-17). To this second covenant, God attaches a reassuring sign — a “rainbow in the clouds” (Genesis 9:13).

WIN TER/ SPRING 2 014 | 19

films to watch Finally, as Noah emerges from the ark, he receives a divine blessing and a commission reminiscent of what God had earlier said to Adam and Eve: “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1). God is starting over with a new creation, led by a second Adam. As with Adam, so now with Noah, all humans will descend from him through his three sons Shem, Ham and Japheth (Genesis 9:18). Two new sanctions will govern this rebirth of the human race. Man’s diet will now include animal flesh, carefully drained of its blood; and the shedding of human blood will be a crime punishable by death at the hands of man (Genesis 9:3-6). God is starting over with a new world, governed by new rules and led by a new Adam. The story of Noah and the flood represents nothing less than a second act of creation. The human race can no longer assume its perpetual existence. The same God who created the earth can destroy it. As created beings, we are accountable to our Creator. We enjoy life as his gift, governed by his justice, and sustained by his amazing grace. Thanks to Noah, the human race has been given a second chance. Dr. Stephen Hooks ’69 is professor of biblical studies at Point. He can be reached at Steve.Hooks@point.edu.

coenraad brand ’10

It is noteworthy that Noah demonstrates his righteousness in the flood story by immediate and absolute obedience to God’s commands (Genesis 6:22; 7:5, 9, 16; 8:18). Just how long it took him to build the ark is not made clear in the text, but he constructed the massive barge-like boat, provisioned it and The Gospel of John (2003) gathered its occupants Narrated by Christopher Plummer and starexactly as God said. The ring Henry Ian Cusick as Jesus, this film tells text gives us much more the story of Jesus’ life as recounted in the Gosinformation on the actual pel of John. Available on DVD for rental from length of the flood. While Netflix or for purchase ($9.96, Amazon.com). the rain fell for 40 days, the flood, also fed by subThe Passion of the Christ (2004) terranean waters, lasted Mel Gibson’s controversial blockbuster tells a whole year (Genesis the story of the final hours of Jesus’ life, with 7:6, 8:13). Upon emergdialogue spoken in Latin and Aramaic. The ing from the ark, Noah film stars Jim Caviezel as Jesus. Available on erected an altar to God. DVD for rental from Netflix or Amazon Instant In response to Noah’s Viewing, or for purchase ($9.99, Amazon.com). offering, God promised never again to curse the ground because of human evil, nor to interfere with the regular succession of the seasons (Genesis 8:20-22). We’ve all seen —and debated the accuracy of —Hollywood films that draw their plots from Scripture, such as Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 epic The Ten Commandments. And Hollywood can’t seem to stay away from biblical stories: director Ridley Scott’s Exodus is due out in December, starring Christian Bale as Moses. Projects retelling the stories of Mary, Cain and Abel, and Pontius Pilate are also rumored to be in the works. Before those projects hit the big screen, check out these two films, recommended by Dr. Hooks for honoring the biblical text:

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CLASS NOTES

R EUNIONS 1

Beverly Key Ball ’66 recently released a new book, titled Season of Hope. Find out more on her website, www. beverlykball.com.

1 The Class of 1973 enjoyed a 40-year reunion dinner with University friends at Homecoming. Pictured are Nina Argo Gibson ’71, Bobby Gibson ’73, Jerral Howard ’74, Pam Hopson Ross ’78 (director of alumni relations), Jim Donovan ’74, Becky Scaffe Hazeltine ’73, Lane Loman ’71, Vicki Kindt Huxford ’73, Wye Huxford ’73, Belinda Lee Groover ’75, Lynn Eynon ’73, Judy Sample Eynon (’71-’74), Eddie Groover ’67, Mark Pierce ’73, and special guests Ellen and Jim Evans (class sponsor). 2 Melissa Cochran Stinson ’86 and Becky Reid Clark ’83 recently enjoyed catching up with retired Professor Ralph Warren over dinner.

3 Pam Hopson Ross ’78 and Carolyn Ritchie Moore ’80 recently traveled to Ireland together. They are pictured here at Adare Manor, where they stayed while traveling. 4 Suzanne Darracot Gatlin ’82, David Workman ’86, Melanie Terrell ’85, Cindy Carter Lamb (’83-’84), and Melissa Cochran Stinson ’86 enjoyed reconnecting last spring at the wedding of Aubrey Wynne, daughter of Phillip ’84 and Daphine White Wynne ’85.

photos courtesy of point university alumni

5 Basketball alumni from the 1970s enjoyed a reunion game at the West Point Gym during Homecoming 2013 festivities. Pictured are Steve Clotfelter ’71, Ron Powell ’75, Jim Donovan ’74, Buddy Farris ’72, Lane Loman ’71, Bobby Gibson ’73, Scott Bray and Dudley Bray ’91. Send us your reunion pics at classnotes@point.edu!

Congratulations to Lane Loman ’71, who has released his 15th song album, celebrating 50 years of pastoral and itinerant ministry.

Congratulations to Frank Hogue ’80, who was recently inducted as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Scott ’93 and Tracy Fleming Moore ’95 opened their hearts and homes to Samuel Kage Moore through adoption. Kage officially became a part of the Moore family on December 28.

Congratulations to Jason Kouns ’95, who was named superintendent of Gilmer County Schools in north Georgia!

Warren ’99 and Dr. Holly Ritchie Carey ’01 welcomed their third son, Landon Robert, on September 26. The proud big brothers are Aidan, 7, and Cameron, 5.

Lani Jakway Crump ’01 and her husband, Jody, welcomed their daughter, Lettie, on September 25. Also welcoming the new baby was her big sister, Cherry.

Phil ’02 and Tiffanie Thompson Fincher ’02 welcomed their daughter, Eliza Joy. Eliza’s big brother is Jarrett.

Natalie Collins Braden ’04 and her husband, Robert, welcomed their third son, Charlie, on February 2. He is the little brother of Benjamin and Everett.

Lori and Chad Caldwell ’04 welcomed their second daughter, Elise Grace, on January 23. The Caldwells report that Elise looks just like her big sister!

Johnny Holloway ’05 is a chorus teacher at Evans Middle School in Newnan, Ga., and was named as a quarterfinalist for the inaugural national Grammy Music Educator Award. He is also a graduate student at the University of West Georgia, studying to receive a master’s degree in music education.

Kevin Magness ’07 and his wife, Georgette, welcomed their second daughter, Gentry Grace, on September 15. Also welcoming the new baby was her big sister, Kylin.   WIN TER/ SPRING 2 014 | 21

Kyle ’08 and Alicia Howland Marshall ’13 were married September 21 in Woodstock, Ga. The couple lives in Atlanta. Kyle serves as youth and family pastor at Christian Church Buckhead, and Alicia serves with Bread, the Christian campus ministry at Emory University. Alicia is pictured above, celebrating with Emma Stimax ’15, Katie Crumbley ’15 and Laura Manis ’14. Congratulations to Clint Nolder ’08 and his wife, Brooke, upon the birth of their daughter, Hadley, who was also welcomed by her older brother, Emerson.

09 10

Garrett Huxford ’09 married Megan Philbeck in Savannah, Ga., on July 21.

John Drumgooole ’10 is attending Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School.

Sadie McCray ’10 and Luke McLendon ’12 were married June 16 in Atlanta. Chris Nasser ’10 and Joseph Piette ’10 are working together to influence culture for Christ in their community through the CARES Program in apartments in Midtown Atlanta. CARES “fosters an environment within the apartment community where residents can connect with each other and develop friendships,” according to the organization’s website. Congratulations to Ashley White ’10, who was married to Jeremy Bayne on December 31 in Miami, Fla.

Kyle ’12 and Nikki Guthrie Malmberg ’11 welcomed a son, Jasper Ian, on July 8.

Carol Erica Pitts ’11 married Stan Parker ’13 on August 17. They live in Valley, Ala., where Stan is serving as student minister at Friendship Christian Church.

Bryan Amick ’12 is enrolled at Emmanuel Christian Seminary, where he is taking online courses. Bryan and his wife, Robin ’12, live in Centerville, Ind., with their two sons, Tristan and Gavin. Bryan is student and discipleship pastor at Centerville Christian Church. Justin ’12 and Mandy Musick Cardell (’07’10) welcomed their first son, Landon Anthony, on December 23. James Harris ’12 is serving as president of the student body at Candler School of Theol-

IN MEMORIAM The Point family grieves with and prays for the families of those members of our community who have recently passed away. Paul Carrier, former president of the University, died January 20. See page 16 for a more detailed tribute. Kristen Coski (’08-’10) died July 7 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is survived by her husband, parents, sister and brother-in-law, brother and sister-in-law, and many friends in the Point Community. Carl Hoffman (’76-’80), longtime friend of – and pilot for – the University, died October 1 at his home in Johnson City, Tenn. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Eva Goen Hoffman, and a host of other family and friends. Clifford William “Bill” Lamb (’68-’69), of Danville, Mo., died July 1. He is survived by his wife, Maxine Lamb; a daughter, Jennifer Talbert; two grandchildren; and his brother, Bob Lamb ’71. J. Smith Lanier II, former trustee and longtime friend of the University, died December 20. See page 14 for a more detailed tribute. Mae Romans, of Valley, Ala., died October 15. She was a friend of the University and the wife of the late Charles Romans, leader of the “super crew” on the East Point campus. She is survived by many family members, including daughter Tonya Romans Harris (’75-’78) and son-in-law Buddy Harris ’79; daughter-in-law Nancy Romans Schneider (’66-’69); and granddaughter Bethany Romans Raymond ’00. Carol House Skinner ’71, of Woodstock, Ga., died October 6. She is survived by her husband, Fred ’71, and her son Jeff (’93-’97). Charlene Buffalow Smith ’79, of Tazewell, Va., died January 22. She is survived by her husband, Charlie; her mother; two daughters; two stepdaughters; one grandchild; and many other family members, including brother Cecil Buffalow ’70, ’75 and sister-in-law Janet Bartley Buffalow ’68. Connie Lorayne Spencer (’69-’71), of O’Fallon, Mo., died August 6. She is survived by her mother. James Earl Ward, Jr., ’71, of Romney, W.V., died September 16. He is survived by his wife, Elsie Jarvis Ward ’71, and many other family members. He spent his life in ministry, most recently having spent 11 years as senior minister at Augusta Church of Christ in Augusta, W.V.   Mae Wright (’54), of Fayetteville, Ga., died September 1. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Bob Wright ’55; four children, including Vicki Wright McIntosh ’82; and many other family members. ogy at Emory University. He recently had the honor of delivering the opening prayer at a dinner and town hall meeting with President Jimmy Carter.

Shasta Scott ’13 is currently working as a sports agent at MSI International Sports Agency in Tampa, Fla. James “Midnight” Womack ’13 will begin his studies in urban ministry at McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University in the fall.

S E N D U S YO U R N E W S ! Tell us about your new job, baby, spouse... you get the picture. And send us pictures, too – we’ll include them when possible. Point Magazine’s policy is to wait until anticipated events have become reality to print them in Class Notes. facebook.com/pointuniversity #pointclassnotes @PointUniv #pointclassnotes Point University Alumni Group classnotes@point.edu point.edu/classnotes

22 | POIN T M AG A ZI NE

photos courtesy of point university alumni

Stephen Waers ‘07 and his wife, Katie, welcomed their daughter, Vivian Renee, on July 4.

THINGS TO DO IN

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

BY DERRIK ’09 AND ABBY MARTIN SANDERS ’10

photos courtesy of derrik ’09 and abby martin sanders ’10

1. Visit Cadbury World. Ever in need of a bit of chocolate? If you are visiting Birmingham, Cadbury World is a must-see. Experience the museum and see how all this fresh chocolate is made! We try to make a monthly trip to Cadbury just to restock on all the delicious options, from Oreo chocolate bars to Cadbury eggs. Before moving to Birmingham, we didn’t realize that Cadbury makes a lot more than just the sought-after cream-filled eggs we Americans get at Easter! We have to admit that Cadbury has won us over, and it is hard to ever feel the same about a Hershey bar. Below, you can see fellow alumni Angela Mulkey ’06 and Rachel Lingerfelt Delacruz (’01) enjoying Cadbury World on a visit to Birmingham!

2. Get Out of the City. When you need a break from the city, which we often do, we love to head to Cannon Hill Park. From cycling to the walking paths, the park provides a little bit of nature in the midst of a very industrial city. There are also tea shops and the Midland Centre for Arts if you need a break from the cold – such a charming place, where you can most often find us on a lazy Saturday.

3. Experience a Bit of Culture. In Victoria Square, you can find old English buildings mixed with sculptural pieces. The Council House and Town Hall, both built in the 1800s, are located here. You can also find the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. 4. Explore the Bullring. Some of the most common images of Birmingham – the Bull Sculpture and the Selfridges building – come from the Bullring. This is a major commercial site in the city, and a hub for shopping and eating. In fact, it’s one of the largest shopping areas in all of the U.K. 5. Take a Canal Ride. One of the most surprising things about living in Birmingham is the system of canals, which you can find all over the city. There are over 100 miles of canal, which rivals the length of the more famous canals of

Venice. You can take a canal boat ride day or night, which we recommend to those visiting. But If you are lucky and it’s a rare sunny day, a walk alongside the canals into the City Centre is the best way to explore. Derrik ’09 and Abby ’10 are serving with Canvas, the Globalscope campus ministry in Birmingham. Find out more about their ministry at www. cmfi.org/dasanders.

Want to tell us about your hometown? Email the editor at Sarah.Huxford@point.edu or using the QR code at left.

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