Point Magazine Winter-Spring 2016

Winter 2016

CAN’T STOP THE MUSIC HOW TO START A MARCHING BAND FROM SCRATCH IN ONE YEAR OR LESS p. 14

WESTSIDE STORY A NEW CHAPTER FOR A HISTORIC BUILDING p. 10

2 | P OI NT MAGAZIN E

CONTENTS

POINT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2016

10Westside Story 14Can’t Stop the Music 22Turnaround 24This Is My Body

How one familiar building has been used for God’s work throughout its history.

When the University announced the formation of the Marching Skyhawks, no one could have imagined what would happen next.

The Skyhawk football team’s winning season made University history.

The University’s weekly communion service provides a space for quiet reflection in the midst of the chaos of daily life.

2 From the President 5 Campus News 28 Alumni News

WIN TER 2 016 | 3

FROM THE PRESIDENT POIN T M AG AZI NE Volume 54, Number 1 Winter 2016

EDITOR/DESIGNER Sarah G. Huxford CONTRIBUTORS Katherine Hamilton Dallas Prince ’18 Elizabeth Reid ’13 Madison Warfel

As a private college, we are actively involved in both the recruitment of students and the recruitment of friends to invest in our students’ lives. Through tracking leads and inquiries, we can sometimes know exactly why a particular student chooses to enroll at Point. Some students enroll because of our Christ-centered programs. Others enroll because we are a small college in a location that works for them. Sometimes it is a particular major or professor that attracts a student, and sometimes it is an opportunity to play on a sports team at the college level. Well, apparently, sometimes it is the beat of a distant drum — literally! In this issue, you will read the amazing story of a growing number of students who have enrolled at Point University to become members of the Marching Skyhawks.

Contact Point Magazine: Attn: Point Magazine 507 West 10th Street West Point, GA 31833 706-385-1000 editor@point.edu ©2016 Point University

Just as students enroll for many different reasons, there are varied aspects of Point that prompt friends, alumni and donors to invest in our mission to educate students for Christ-centered service to our communities and throughout the world. Our Vision 2020 capital campaign, featured on the back cover, provides another opportunity for you to support God’s work at this university. As this issue of Point Magazine reminds us, whether it is with music, a winning athletic program, or a quiet time of worship and prayer, God is working through Point University to transform our community and change lives.

After you read this issue, I hope you will do three things: Say a prayer for Point students. Consider a gift to help us achieve our mission. And, if you have never made a visit to our main campus or to one of our other sites, please contact us so we can let you see for yourself all that is happening at Point University!

Gratefully,

Dean C. Collins ’79 President

4 | POI N T MAGAZIN E

ON THE COVER: A member of the Marching Skyhawks band. Photo by Katherine Hamilton.

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, GA 300334097, at http://www.sacscoc.org, or call 404-6794500 for questions about the accreditation of Point University.

billy howard photography; sowing clover photography/chris jones ’05

“I

f a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” —Henry David Thoreau

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.

CAMPUS NEWS

University Announces Record Enrollment

sowing clover photography/chris jones ’05

P

oint University entered the 201516 academic year with a record enrollment of 1,582 students, a four percent increase from the previous academic year, and the largest overall enrollment in its 78-year history. This marks the third consecutive year of growth for the University.

The fall 2015 total includes students at the West Point campus, online students, and five additional off-site locations across Georgia and Alabama. Three programs are up in enrollment, including traditional students (up 12 percent), online (up 92 percent), and dual-credit enrollment (up 100 percent), according to the Enrollment Management Office.

The Access program for adult learners reported a total of 578 enrolled students.

The increase in dual-credit enrollment students is due to two factors, said Stacy Angel Bartlett ’05, vice president of enrollment management. One is an increase in the number of partnerships Point has with high schools, and the other is Georgia’s Move On When Ready (MOWR) program. MOWR is a grant that

Point’s Peachtree City location is one of several that experienced growth in the dual-credit enrollment program for high school students this year.

pays for eligible high-school students to take courses at approved colleges and universities. The students benefit from earning both college and high school credit at once, while also getting a head start on their degrees. “MOWR requires us to provide books, so dual-credit students generally have little to no overall cost,” Bartlett said.

Bartlett also said the University is be-

ing approached about additional church partnerships, which — along with new academic programs and the marching band — should continue to fuel growth.

“We are so pleased with this enrollment growth,” said Bartlett. “This means that Point University can influence even more students for Christ-centered service and leadership throughout the world.”

W IN TER 2 016 | 5

CAMPUS NEWS

Point Unveils Updated Visual Brand for Athletics and Band Point University announced late this summer the debut of an updated look for Skyhawks athletics and for the university’s new marching band.

The new visual brand, which was designed by SME, a New York City-based strategic branding agency, will be used in association with each of the university’s 19 sports teams, as well as with the Marching Skyhawks. The new primary logo utilizes the athletic program’s Skyhawk head, which has been updated with a clean look and paired with an angular wordmark.

“Our student-athletes asked for a new visual brand that better reflects their perception of what a Skyhawk personifies, and one that differentiates them from their competitors,” said University president Dean Collins The revamped athletic logo includes a primary icon and wordmark, Skyhawk shield, and “winged P.” ’79. “We feel this new identity represents our Skyhawks mascot and is in keeping with the overall athletic brand developed several years ago.”

According to athletic director Alan Wilson, the purpose of the project was to build a visual identity that reflects the values of Point athletics and the Skyhawk spirit.

“One of our main objectives was to build on our tradition while designing a visual brand that is exciting for recruits and current student-athletes,” said Wilson. “We also hope this new design will help us gain consistency across all of our sports uniforms.”

For the new identity, SME explored many creative options, but ultimately built the brand around the uniqueness of the Skyhawk head icon.

“From SME’s perspective, we always look towards finding the authentic voice of each brand we work with,” said Ed O’Hara, senior partner at SME. “In the case of the Skyhawks, this is represented by the Skyhawk head. It is viewed by the Point University community as a differentiator amongst other collegiate athletics programs and reflects the Skyhawks’ nature as fierce and formidable opponents.”

IN THE CLASSROOM COURSE NAME ENG/HUM 495 The Inklings

SCENE ON CAMPUS

The Department of Fine Arts presented its Christmas concerts in early December, with vocal and instrumental selections from a variety of campus groups. Daniel Harbin ’15, pictured above, shared his violin talents.

The University’s annual scholarship banquet allows endowed scholarship donors and representatives to meet their scholarship recipients. Cecil ’70, ’75 and Janet Buffalow ’68 shared dinner with Shaniqua Weston ’16.

Juan Domingo ’18 and Kati Williams ’17 were among the Point students who participated in the Homeless for a Night event, a fundraiser for the Fuller Center for Housing.

INSTRUCTOR Dr. DJ Dycus, Professor of English and Humanities

SUGGESTED READING Tolkien’s Sacramental Vision: Discerning the Holy in Middle Earth,

by Craig Bernthal; The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien and Their Friends, by Humphrey Carpenter; The Oxford Inklings: Their Lives, Writings, Ideas, and Influence, by Colin Duriez; The Inklings Handbook, by Colin Duriez and David Porter; The Biography of J. R. R. Tolkien: Architect of Middle Earth, by Daniel Grotta; Christian Mythmakers, by Rolland Hein; The Gospel According to Tolkien, by Ralph C. Wood; Literature and Theology, by Ralph C. Wood.

6 | POI N T MAGAZIN E

Jonathan ’99 and Nina Dye Faix ’97 recently brought their son, Jon-Paul, to tour the University. They are pictured with Pam Hopson Ross ’78.

katherine hamilton

COURSE SUMMARY A seminar course that examines the writings of a group of friends, who called themselves the Inklings, and who advised one another on their various projects. Authors studied in the course include Dorothy Sayers, Charles Williams, J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.

Each of these authors had the same primary goal: to reach an increasingly secular culture with the gospel through fiction, poetry, essays and drama. Another common element for all of them was the use of creativity, and even fantasy, to capture the essential nature of Christian faith.

CAMPUS NEWS

katherine hamilton; romoff photo courtesy of the lifetime network

Point Student Competes on Child Genius

Impact Day Changes Lives On November 4, Point University held its semiannual Impact Day, in partnership with The Chattahoochee Valley Fuller Center. More than 400 students, faculty and staff served at 25 different homes. Volunteers from other local businesses, including Batson-Cook, also participated in the event.

Volunteers painted houses, repaired porches, and cleaned up yards along 1st Avenue for homeowners.

“Point students are determined to make an impact on the world in which we live,” said Wye Huxford ’73, vice president of spiritual formation and dean of the chapel.

“That impact often gets reflected back into their own lives. The old saying about getting more out of ministry than you give rings true in the lives of many students.”

Impact Day has been a Point University program since spring 2008. Over that period of time, students, faculty and staff have given thousands of hours in volunteer service — from picking up litter to tutoring students, from working on houses to fixing up playgrounds. The University’s mission is demonstrated no better than in the willingness of our students to serve the communities in which they live.

WHAT’S TRENDING

PointUTennis #pointuniversity #adventuregroups #TacosAndBibles

JakeMoore1 I am really thankful for this community. #PointThx

Point University student Adrian Romoff, age 10, has been selected to compete on Lifetime Network’s Child Genius television show. Child Genius is a ten-week competition show testing individuals’ logic and reasoning skills for a grand prize of a $100,000 scholarship. The show currently airs on Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. EST. An aspiring scientist and accomplished pianist who began playing at age four, Romoff is no stranger to television appearances. He has already been featured on several shows, including America’s Got Talent and The Doctors. He has also played Carnegie Hall three times.

Romoff, who has skipped six grades and advanced to become a senior in high school, has attended Point University at the Peachtree City location in the dual-credit enrollment (DCE) program.

He has already been accepted to study music at The Juilliard School.

To see a promotional video featuring Romoff, use your smart phone to scan the code at left.

Share your tweets, Facebook posts and Instagram photos with the Point community! Tag your posts with #pointuniversity.

Linder_Express Your boy’s on the mic tonight!!! Come support your #ladyskyhawks! #PointUniversity #Skyhawks

n_pace12 Endowed Scholarship Banquet  #PointUniversity

W IN TER 2 016 | 7

CAMPUS NEWS

DECEMBER

GRADUATION Celebrating new beginnings

Graduation stories are all the same. That’s what most of us think, anyway. People put on funny-looking caps and gowns, then process into an auditorium; speakers give inspirational messages about achieving goals and living up to one’s potential; tassels are moved from right to left.

But underneath that surface version of the story, each graduation is unique. For the students walking across that stage, this is a once-in-a-lifetime moment — the chance to finally see years of hard work recognized and rewarded.

For the friends and loved ones in the audience, that ceremony becomes a milestone in the story of a family or relationship. Even for faculty and staff members, some of whom have been to 40-plus graduations, there’s always the special student or two who make the day memorable.

So while graduation ceremonies may all have a lot in common, Point’s December graduations were uniquely memorable for the students who received diplomas in December. From University locations scattered across Georgia and Alabama, these graduates came together to receive the diplomas that will allow them to move forward with the careers and ministries to which they’ve been called by God. 8 | POI N T MAGAZIN E

The ceremony for West Point and Birmingham students was held on December 11 at Church of the Highlands in Auburn, Alabama. Mark Anthony, pastor of Trinity Church in Sharpsburg, Georgia, delivered a powerful message as commencement speaker.

The next morning, Peachtree City, Atlanta, Savannah and online graduates celebrated with a ceremony at Crossroads Church, also in Sharpsburg. Lee Torrence, director the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, delivered a memorable commencement address, as well.

At each ceremony, the University recognized recipients of the Hathcock Award. Named for University founder Judge T.O. Hathcock, the award is voted on by the faculty and given to the students who best demonstrate servant leadership, character and academic achievement. This year’s recipients were Jeremy Sloderbeck, of Palmetto, Georgia, and Margarett Sims, of McDonough, Georgia. —Sarah Huxford

CAMPUS NEWS

katherine hamilton

WIN TER 2 016 | 9

WEST SIDE STORY 2619 BEN HILL ROAD billy howard photography

BY ELIZ ABETH REID ’ 1 3

10 | P OI NT MAGAZIN E

point university archives

To quote Pam Hopson Ross ’78, “We all have a Westside has a special place in my heart. As an history at Westside.” But what that history looks like imaginative college student, I spent many quiet afdepends mostly on when you attended Point Uniternoons in Westside Chapel feeling the weight of versity. As a recent graduate, I’m most familiar with the past: stories of love, hope, promise, dedication it as Westside Chapel. Over my three years attendand enthusiasm for the work of the kingdom of God. ing school at the historic East Point campus, I sat Many alumni mourned the lost history of the East in its pews listening to words of wisdom from chaPoint campus when Point moved its undergradupel speakers, as well as many of Point’s faculty and ate programs to West Point, and I did, too. Atlanta staff. Older alumni might remember many of those Christian College was built in part around the work same speakers preachdone at Westside. I reing from the pulpit member thinking about of Westside Christian the empty church durChurch: Jim Donovan ing that first year in ’74, Jim Evans, Denver West Point and mournSizemore, and Ralph ing the lost potential.

Swearngin are just a But the story of God’s few of the men who work is one of change led the church in that and renewal. Point Unirole. The connection versity continues God’s between Point and work in West Point, and Westside wasn’t just for two Point alumni in the pulpit, either: in particular, Westside Dean Collins ’79 once is not a symbol of what served as youth miniswas, but of what will ter; Vicki Kindt Huxbe. I recently sat down ford ’73 and Ross each with Wesley Bolden ’06 served as secretary at and Jamie Vernon ’90 Westside for a time. to discuss the future In Westside, I worof Tri-Cities Church, shipped with my classan ethnically diverse mates and developed church plant reachan appreciation for the ing the Tri-Cities area body of Christ in early of East Point, College morning communion Park, and Hapeville. services. Some older Tri-Cities Church has alumni might remembeen meeting in Westber Westside as their side Chapel since 2013. church home, the place For Vernon, working they worshipped and in the Tri-Cities was served, participating in as natural as breathcommunity outreach ing. The Vernon famand evangelism to ily legacy of working in Cambodian refugees.

Atlanta is well known.

A less reverent mem- Westside Chapel, then Westside Christian Church, in 1970.

Although Vernon was ory for many students on staff at Christian Church Buckhead, he and his might be the infamous “Westside walk through,” on the wife, Stacey Rose Vernon ’89, lived in Hapeville way to fried chicken Wednesdays in the dining hall. and had always felt committed to the south side of Before Westside became the official property of Atlanta. In August 2011, Vernon left his position Point University (then Atlanta Christian College), Westside Christian Church met weekly in the heart at CCB and began to raise support for Tri-Cities of East Point. Many ACC students and alumni worked Church. Originally, TCC met in the Vernons’ living at the church as preaching, youth or children’s minroom in Hapeville, but soon outgrew the venue and isters. Others married their spouses in Westside. Still began holding monthly worship services in Hapeothers were ordained there. ville Elementary School.

WIN TER 2016 | 11

Jamie Vernon ’06 and Wesley Bolden ’06 on the steps of Westside.

Although Vernon was the visionary behind TCC, he always knew that he needed a partner. “Jamie started the church by the power of his will,” Bolden says, laughing, “but he was looking for a black copastor.” It was a difficult order of business.

“One of the truths of the Christian Church is that it’s not very racially or ethnically diverse,” Bolden adds.

When Vernon contacted Bolden about signing on to Tri-Cities, he was hesitant.

“We didn’t necessarily want to move back to the south side,” he says. But Bolden and his wife, Kimberly Stewart Bolden ’08, moved back to East Point after Wesley finished his M.Th. at Princeton Theological Seminary.

“One thing people think is that you have to love an area to work there, but that’s not true,” Bolden says. “There’s got to be something you hate, because you have to believe that transformation is necessary.” Both the Vernons and the Boldens were aware of the problems facing them — the stereotypes about the Tri-Cities — but also hopeful about the future.

“There is a visible need for restoration and resurrection in the Tri-Cities,” says Vernon, “but we also have a great deal of hope.”

From an outside perspective, this hope is well-placed.

Since beginning to meet in 2011, TCC has grown, attracting many local residents and others who travel from south of the perimeter to attend church in East Point. From a “small group” of around 20, the church has grown to approximately 150-200 on any given Sunday. Growth has been slower than many church planters would like, but Vernon and Bolden are both san12 | POI N T MAGAZIN E

“Anyone who walks into Westside on a Sunday will see vibrant signs of resurrection and new life.”

Point alumni who are part of Tri-Cities Church.

guine about their progress.

“We realize that cultivating a multi-ethnic church is challenging. The model we’re following doesn’t produce fast growth, but it does produce solid growth. We also feel confident that multi-ethnic churches aren’t just trendy, but biblical. So we’re willing to be patient with growth,” Vernon says.

Patience and graciousness are necessary attitudes for success in this situation. Bolden and Vernon point toward theologian Leslie Newbigin’s view of the church as a sign that points to the coming kingdom.

Heaven will be filled with “every tongue, tribe, and nation,” worshipping God together (Revelation 7:9), and so should our churches. However, there is no place where Christians are more greatly segregated than on Sunday morning.

Perhaps Vernon and Bolden are more aware than most of the racial divides in America today, and they respond to it by refusing to take themselves too seriously. Watching them interact, it’s obvious that there is a great deal of mutual respect and admiration: two things that make them effective partners. There is also a willingness to laugh at themselves and each other. The two men teach grace from the pulpit in sermons on Sunday morning, but also by practice.

For them, racial and ethnic diversity is a slow process and trickles down from the leadership. “We’re very intentional about staff, volunteers, and the visible leadership of the church,” says Bolden. TCC is currently in the process of recruiting and training elders as they transition away from oversight by the church planting board to internal oversight.

Vernon and Bolden are working to build a board of elders that reflects the makeup of the church and of the community.

Westside is not empty anymore. Anyone who walks into Westside on a Sunday will see vibrant signs of resurrection and new life. Members crowd the back around a coffee table, talking excitedly about their weeks. Children run around the sanctuary, watched by indulgent adults. Seniors stand beside 20-somethings to worship together, singing songs by Hillsong or Hezekiah Walker.

At the end of a service, a visitor might be invited to attend a City Group, come to the next Big Breakfast Sunday, or volunteer with City Serve. “TriCities Church isn’t a ‘come and see’ church; it’s a doing church.

It’s a church for people who are coming back to church,” Vernon says. Members of TCC are encouraged to live out the gospel they hear on Sunday morning, and to bring others with them as they do.

Tri-Cities Church continues to grow in the Tri-Cities: uniquely situated in their area of influence. Late this summer, after the sale of the East Point campus, TCC and Point University announced plans for TCC to purchase the Westside Chapel property. This offers opportunities for growth and outreach, but also challenges as TCC begins to raise funds to purchase the building and make needed updates to the structure. “Point University has been extremely generous and accommodating with us,” Vernon says. “They made it easy for us to be here. It’s been like coming home.”

More information on the work going on at Tri-Cities Church and the building campaign can be found at tri-citieschurch.com.

WIN TER 2 016 | 13

katherine hamilton

katherine hamilton

14 | P OI NT MAGAZIN E

CAN’T STOP THE MUSIC THE MARCHING SKYHAWKS MAKE HISTORY by sarah huxford

KILJ

The Million Dollar Band. The Redcoat Marching Band. The Golden Band from Tigerland. The Band of the Fighting Irish.

Chances are, if you’re a fan of one of these college football teams, you also recognize the nicknames of their marching bands. Especially in the South, college football and the sound of a great marching band go hand in hand.

But the bands mentioned above, along with scores of others across the country, are building on decades — in some cases, more than a century — of tradition. For a small University like Point, with a football team less than five years old, a marching band might have seemed an impossibility.

And yet, if the Point University community has proven anything in the last five years, it’s that we’re up for a challenge.

On August 29, the Marching Skyhawks took the field for the first time, at halftime of the Skyhawks’ home opener versus Reinhardt University. To thunderous cheers and applause, the band performed its 2015 show, We Are Number One. And history was made.

WIN TER 2016 | 15

Enhancing the atmosphere at football games wasn’t the only reason for the development of the marching band program at Point. The story of the Marching Skyhawks begins with the Department of Fine Arts and a desire to provide additional music opportunities for talented students.

“The marching band was created for the purpose of providing students with an additional outlet for their talents and creativity,” says Dr. Darryl Harrison, chief academic officer.

“There are students who have musical talents, but are pursuing academic majors other than music. The band provides an opportunity to express those talents in a way that benefits the institution and the greater community.”

“The band also provides a creative outlet for non-musicians to express themselves, such as those who participate in the flag corps,” Harrison explains.

The first step in the process was hiring a director of athletic bands — someone who would be up to the task of starting, and recruiting, a band from scratch. Providentially, the right man for the job was already part of the Point community.

Dr. Joshua Boyd had been teaching a Music Appreciation course in the University’s Access program for some time when he learned of the marching band job opening. Boyd has a long history with marching band, having participated throughout high school and then in college, as a member of the Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners.

“During my senior year, I was asked to serve on the visual staff of this organization,” Boyd says. “It was during this time that I became really inspired to become a music educator and drill writer.”

Boyd built a career writing drill and consulting for multiple 16 | P OI NT MAGAZIN E

bands in the Southeast. After earning a degree in music education from Jacksonville State, he became band director at Ranburne High School in Ranburne, Alabama, and then at Smokey Road Middle School in Newnan, Georgia. While at Smokey Road, he also served as a director in charge of the visual marching program at nearby Newnan High School. Bands he worked with have won multiple championships.

Boyd’s close friend Mike Daniell, who teaches in the Department of Fine Arts at Point, first introduced him to the University and the Access program. As the marching band idea started moving toward reality, Daniell mentioned to Boyd that the University was considering expanding the music program. Boyd agreed to pray for Point’s leadership as they made that decision.

“As I started praying, I started dreaming of what it would be like if I were to be chosen as the very first marching band director at Point University,” Boyd says. “This dream turned into a series of dreams, both during the day and night. A few months later, the job posted, and I knew deep inside my heart that God was about to do something big.”

“While I didn’t feel that I was worthy to be chosen, I knew that I needed to request an interview,” Boyd continues. “I believed it was God’s plan for my life. God reminded me that he is able to take the unworthy and make something beautiful happen. I take joy in knowing that even in my weaknesses, God can make the impossible possible.”

Boyd, whose doctorate is in curriculum and instruction, never saw himself leading a collegiate band. In fact, his plan was to go into public school administration. But, he says, when he saw the posting for a band director at Point, he knew God

katherine hamilton

N

katherine hamilton

had prepared him for just that moment.

After Boyd was hired as band director, the difficult process of recruitment began. Everyone involved knew to expect a challenging first couple of years; the idea of just having a drum line during the first season was floated around. But Boyd had a feeling something big was going to happen.

“Statistically, I knew that we would only have a handful of students,” he says. “I was reminded through case studies that we most likely would not see a lot of success for the first few years. However, when I went to sleep at night, I saw large numbers of students on the field.”

Boyd was right: this year’s band boasted 40 members, and those numbers may double by the 2016-17 season. Current students with marching band experience were drawn to the idea of playing at the collegiate level: an opportunity they thought they’d missed when they originally enrolled at Point, before the marching band was offered. New students were excited about the possibility of being the trailblazers — the very first Marching Skyhawks to take the field.

Dylan Moore ’17, a music major from Rincon, Georgia, assumed his marching band days were behind him when he enrolled at Point in fall 2014. But as soon as he heard about the Marching Skyhawks, he says, he realized his band career was far from over.

“Of course, I doubted the usual,” he says. “The band will be too small, we won’t have enough money, we’ll be lucky if we get people who truly care about this program, et cetera. But God delivered.”

Kristen Brinson ’19 had already chosen to attend Point, even without a marching band — though it made her a little sad to

think of leaving that behind in high school. A biblical studies major from Guyton, Georgia, Brinson contacted the University as soon as she heard about the band to find out how she could join.

Nashanthea Roland ’18, a biology major from LaGrange, Georgia, met Boyd while he was judging a solo and ensemble competition at her high school. Prior to that, she says, Point was not even on her radar during her college search. But when Boyd heard her play, he contacted her director and began to talk to Roland about attending Point. “Being a charter member of the firstever marching band at Point was a huge incentive,” Roland says.

“I really wanted to make a difference. Instead of going to a large school, I chose to follow God.” Boyd, a tireless recruiter, says he couldn’t have had such success on his own. “The outpouring of interest in the band was a direct result of the prayerful leadership of our University, combined with the individualized approach to admissions that our team provides, and based on the vision that our band team casts with each student,” he explains. “While many colleges focus only on musical notes and movements, we are committed to teaching a lifestyle . . . an understanding that our lives are created to serve and love our creator, Jesus Christ. When a student knows and understands this, his or her life not only has music, it has meaning. That is the vision we are sharing at Point University; we want students to come to a place where life has meaning.”

K

At the first rehearsal, in summer 2015, Boyd read Matthew 25 to the newly assembled band. “I told them that as Christians, God has given each of us a ‘bag of opportunity,’” he says. “Some bands have years of tradition, history, and alumni funding. These bands have five bags of opportunity. Some are given three bags of opportunity, others are given two, and a few are starting from scratch with only one. I knew that this season was about starting from scratch, with only one bag of opportunity; after all, we started with only a dream and each other.

WIN TER 2016 | 17

I challenged the students to remember VISION 2020 that God doesn’t judge us by what we start with, but how we use it.”

The Universithe specific dinary and accommodate In August, Andrew Lightner ty’s new capital space and storrequires Point our band for campaign, Viage needs of a to accelerate years to come joined the team as assistant director sion 2020, was marching band. our in-serivce and accentuate of bands. “Dr. Boyd and I started out launched last “The pheschedule for our music offerin an unusual place for this type of fall and has as nomenal growth a new facilings. “ organization,” Lightner says. “Usually, one of its fundand related exity,” says Lance A rendering there is some tradition and expectaing initiatives citement around Francis, chief of the proposed tion already in place within a band the renovation the Skyhawk operating offifacility is shown program. This was not the case comof an existing marching band cer. “This facility above. To learn facility in West program has is specifcally more, visit point. ing here. We were starting from the Point to meet been extraordesigned to edu/vision2020. ground up. Luckily, the Point students far exceeded our expectations in work ethic and demand.”

The Marching Skyhawks started the the rest of my life,” Boyd says. “Without being asked, told or year off with a one-week band camp on coerced, the group assembled on the stage of the fine arts buildthe Point campus. Boyd explains that the show had been chosen ing.

Many had tears in their eyes, while many others laughed in March, but Lightner took the music and “made it better,” cuswith joy. They started handing me cameras so that I could take tomizing it to the strengths of the band’s musicians. a group photo.”

“Every member had to learn the way a Marching Skyhawk “Whereas others may just see a group of students wantwas expected to play their instrument, move on the field, and ing a photo opportunity, I saw a group of students that in five hold themselves in and out of rehearsal,” Lightner says. “It took days went beyond becoming a team; they had become a family,” many hours of work and preparation to learn each of the songs Boyd explains. “Our band has members from different backand movements for the first show.” grounds, states, ethnicities, economic backgrounds and musical At the end of this long week, Boyd witnessed a moment that tastes. However, at that moment, they had put all that behind set the tone for what the Marching Skyhawks would become. them and learned the greater aspect of music production: that The band had a talent show, meant to be a bit of stress relief is, the world itself is just a symphony, and each one of us is after a long, hard, hot week of outdoor rehearsals. “What happened after the talent show is a moment I will never forget for charged with the task of writing it. What makes beautiful music 18 | P OI NT MAGAZIN E

sowing clover photography/chris jones ’05 ; katherine hamilton

Joshua Boyd, Director of Athletic Bands

M

is not the musical notes on the page; it is first and foremost the simple emotion of feeling beautiful. How much beauty would there be in the world if we simply took the time to make our neighbor feel valued?”

katherine hamilton

“THE WORLD ITSELF IS JUST A SYMPHONY, AND EACH ONE OF US IS CHARGED WITH THE TASK OF WRITING IT. WHAT MAKES BEAUTIFUL MUSIC IS NOT THE MUSICAL NOTES ON THE PAGE; IT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST THE SIMPLE EMOTION OF FEELING BEAUTIFUL. HOW MUCH BEAUTY WOULD THERE BE IN THE WORLD IF WE SIMPLY TOOK THE TIME TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBOR FEEL VALUED?”

N

J

Although the band bonded quickly and strongly, the first year was not without its challenges. Space was a constant problem. The Scott Fine Arts Center wasn’t built to handle the rehearsal space and storage space needed for a marching band, an issue that will be addressed by a new facility planned as part of the University’s Vision 2020 campaign. The University uses a community football field that is a shared facility, limiting on-field practices. Instead, the Marching Skyhawks filled the empty parking lot next to the Scott Fine Arts Center, the notes of their music drifting up to reach professors’ offices and classrooms on the upper floors of the adjacent Lanier Academic Center.

“Practicing on asphalt in the middle of town was a whole new experience for me,” says Brinson. “Although it was different, it was always encouraging when the people in town would stop and watch.”

Moore, who was chosen to be the University’s first drum major, says he struggled most with the doubt expressed by those who weren’t part of the band. “When you tell them a small school like Point University is starting a marching band with only 40 people, they look at you like you’re crazy,” he explains.

“It’s hard to believe in something when most of your friends don’t.

But it sure does look like we proved them wrong!”

On a personal level, Moore found himself rising to the occasion of a new leadership position. “I had never conducted a WIN TER 2 016 | 19

Kristen Brinson ’19

Nashanthea Roland ’18

POINT LEGACY

20 | P OI NT MAGAZIN E

Dylan Moore ’17

band before, so that was a drastic change in band position,” he says. “I immediately fell in love with it. I love being in a leadership position like that, not because it’s ‘cool’ or ‘prestigious,’ but because it gave me a chance to directly affect and help the lives of my fellow band mates.”

Roland also says it was challenging to find herself in a prominent position, unlike any she’d had before, as the band’s only saxophonist. “I was given all of the solos for my instrument by default,” she says. “Considering I never really had a real solo in high school, I was ecstatic about the idea. With having these solos and also no one else to fall back on, I quickly realized that this was going to be a lot of work.”

“The biggest challenges are also the things that make our campus special,” Boyd adds. “We have Marching Skyhawks that sing in the choir, lead worship at their churches, and serve in other roles such as mentors, tutors and counselors. Scheduling our rehearsals in such a way that we enhance their calling and do not limit their potential is important.”

Boyd also says the spirit of cooperation at the University helps the band overcome its challenges: “Fortunately, I am blessed to work with world-class educators, such as Drs. Byron and Katie Cartwright and Lanier Motes in our fine arts department, that are always helping us find ways to reach and motivate students through as many avenues as possible.”

katherine hamilton

When the Marching Skyhawks color guard took the field for the first time this fall, one member was already pretty familiar with the University: fifth-generation student Miriam Hall ’18, of McDonough, Georgia.

Hall is the daughter of Wade ’99 and Cammie Miller Hall (’90), granddaughter of Byron ’69 and Faye Bohannon Miller ’69, great-granddaughter of Roy ’43 and Viola Miller ’43, and great-great-granddaughter of Ernest Miller (’28-’30).

Yet even with this family legacy, it wasn’t until her junior year of high school that Hall began to consider attending Point. “When the addition of the Marching Skyhawks was announced, I knew this was the only school for me!” she says.

“Knowing that my family has been here for generations means a great deal to me,” she says. “The history and traditions that were my parents’, grandparents’, and theirs before them have made this whole experience easier. My parents know the values I’m being surrounded by, and my grandparents were once a part of the biblical community that I am now proud to be in.”

Hall appreciates having the opportunity to be part of the history and the future of the University. “Despite a long family history at Point, I was able to be a part of something brand new,” she says. “The Marching Skyhawks gave me a way to make awesome new friends, continue a love for color guard that started in high school, and provided a way for amazing leadership opportunities.”

Hall is confident she made the right college choice, saying, “I’m so glad I have continued a family tradition, but I’m mostly proud of the fact that I chose to be a student at Point University.”

He adds that the coaches and athletic administrators have also been helpful, stating, “What I admire most about our coaches, such as Alan Wilson, Charlie Flowers, Mike McCarty, and the entire team, is that they see beyond the skills of their game and see to the lives of their players. Typically, discussions related to scheduling always start with a discussion about what is in the best interest of the future success of the player or band member.”

L

letic events has increased dramatically. We now have our own fight song and crowd call-outs that are built into the band performance.”

“To this day, when I sleep at night, or when I look across the expanse of the field and I see our band, I still do not see what is; instead, I see what will be,” Boyd says. “I see over a hundred students on the field. I hear the sounds of a powerful band, in full uniform, and a crowd so big that the current facility can’t hold them. I see the band marching into the stands, and the crowd clapping with each step. I see our band members standing on the field after a wonderful halftime show, and I see the looks on their faces . . . some may call me a dreamer, but I truly believe that this moment will happen.”

At a small college or university, many students will say they enjoy feeling like they’re part of a family. That’s certainly true of a lot of Point University students. But the sentiment seems to run even stronger with members of the Marching Skyhawks.

“Not only have I made friends who like me for who I am, but I also have gained a family who are there for me always,” Roland says.

“The most exciting part [of this year] was knowing that each When asked what they’re most looking forward to in the band’s practice, we were building a foundation for a program that second season, everyone involved mentions expected growth. through the coming years would touch the lives of thousands “The Marching Skyhawks are going to double, and maybe of students,” adds Brinson. “It was odd becoming a part of a even more, in numbers next year,” Brinson says. “I’m looking group who were all strangers, but it was incredible to see these forward to building more relationships with more students, and strangers build friendships that will last a lifetime.” continuing to grow the traditions of our program.”

“There are a lot of great institutions where a person can be a Lightner agrees, saying he looks forward to the continued member of an established historical band program,” Boyd says. expansion of the band program. “The potential for growth is “We are looking for the students who are dreamers. At Point huge, and we are already seeing big promise as we grow closer University, you have the opportunity to be a part of a story that to our second season,” he says. “Growth of our program will will still be told and talked about 50 years from now. As such, provide a more exciting atmosphere at football games and other membership in the Point University Marching Skyhawks is a sports as we continue to add to our personality.” In fact, the chance to become legendary.” band has already expanded to another sport, adding a pep band To find out more about the Marching Skyhawks, including how to for home basketball games at West Point Gym. join, visit marchingskyhawks.org.

Harrison points out that the band has had an impact on the campus experience for all students, even nonmusicians and nonathletes: “The energy level and crowd participation at ath-

katherine hamilton

I

WIN TER 2016 | 21

TURN

ARO UND THE CINDERELLA STORY OF THE 2015 POINT FOOTBALL TEAM

BY MADISON WARFEL

T

he Point University football team played its first official season in 2012. Not surprisingly, the Skyhawks didn’t find much success on the field in terms of wins and losses in that first season, earning just two victories while taking seven losses. This was to be expected, as it takes time to build a winning program, especially in a highly competitive collegiate environment. The next season the Blue and Gold won three games and suffered seven losses. In 2014, however, Point took a step back, dropping nine games while coming out victorious in just one.

In March 2015, Point announced the hiring of Mike McCarty as the Skyhawks’ new head football coach. McCarty joined the Skyhawks with a decade of college football coaching experience under his belt, including spending the previous six seasons as an assistant at NCAA Division II West Alabama. McCarty found success at West Alabama, helping lead the Tigers to back-to-back Gulf Coast Conference 22 | P OI NT MAGAZIN E

Championships in 2012 and 2013. The Tigers’ conference championship in 2012 was the first in school history.

McCarty was hoping to infect the Skyhawks with that same winning mentality he had discovered at West Alabama. And despite the fact that Point had won just a total of six games in their first three seasons combined, he had high hopes for the Skyhawks entering the 2015 season.

“My expectations are always high,” said McCarty a week before the team’s season opener. “I’m not saying we’re going to win every game, but from a competitive standpoint, I think we’re going to be much more competitive than Point has ever been. And that’s what’s exciting.

You know, we may not win every game but we’re going to play extremely hard.

I’ve been around these guys long enough now to know that they are going to get after it and they are not going to give up, no matter what happens.”

But even McCarty couldn’t have imag-

ined how the 2015 season would turn out.

The Skyhawks didn’t win every game, but they certainly came close, finishing the season with a program-record nine wins while suffering just three losses. They racked up an undefeated 5-0 Sun Conference record and earned the first conference championship in program history.

And to top it off, the team earned a bid to the 2015 NAIA Football Championship Series for the first time in school history.

Yet the season had gotten off to a bit of a rough start, as Point fell to the Reinhardt University Eagles 73-21 in the team’s season and home opener. Despite the score, the Skyhawks showed flashes of a great team; they just needed to put together a full four quarters of good football. Reinhardt was also one of the top teams in the NAIA, so if the Skyhawks wanted to be of that caliber, they knew they needed to be better.

The Skyhawks put together a much better performance the next week, cruis-

randall hamer

ing to a 50-27 win at Bluefield. They followed that up with a 36-33 win at Pikeville to move to 2-1 on the season.

Sophomore Brandon Robertson scored the winning touchdown for Point versus the Bears, returning a punt 46 yards for the score in the fourth quarter.

Now brimming with confidence after two straight road wins, Point returned home to handily defeat the University of God’s Chosen Disciples, 58-12, in front of a frenzied crowd at River Bowl Stadium in West Point.

Next up was conference play. Coming into the 2015 season, the Skyhawks had never won a conference game. That didn’t deter the Blue and Gold, however, as the Skyhawks scored 56 points in a 42-point win over Edward Waters. A 48-21 victory over Warner the next week gave Point their second conference win for the year and moved the Skyhawks to 5-1 on the season.

After a tough loss to NCAA Division

I Kennesaw State dropped them to 5-2, Point traveled to Lake Wales, Florida, to face the 23rd-ranked team in the NAIA, Webber International. The Skyhawks had never beaten a ranked opponent. But once again, that fact didn’t faze them, as junior kicker Nick Powell nailed a 25yard game-winning field goal to give the Skyhawks a 24-21 victory.

Point would face another tough test versus another ranked opponent in Southeastern University the next week in the annual Homecoming game. The Skyhawks did not disappoint the Homecoming crowd and alumni, scoring a program-record 66 points en route to a 32-point win.

With the Skyhawks now sitting at 7-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play, the team began to garner national recognition. For the first time in school history, the Skyhawks were ranked in the NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, coming in at No. 22.

The Skyhawks took a week off before returning to the field versus Ave Maria in their final conference game of the season.

Making sure to defend their national ranking, the Blue and Gold breezed past the Gyrenes for a 49-14 win, completing their conference schedule unbeaten and earning the conference championship crown. Point then finished out the regular season with a 49-7 blowout of Concordia College of Alabama, which secured the Skyhawks’ bid to the NAIA National Tournament.

The Skyhawks gathered inside the weight room at the Field House on Selection Sunday, anxiously waiting to hear who they would be playing in the NAIA Football Championship Series. They didn’t have to wait long. Less than five minutes into the show, the NAIA announced that Point would head to Baldwin City, Kansas, to face

the No. 2-ranked team in the country, the Baker University Wildcats.

The Wildcats were no stranger to the national tournament, having qualified 13 previous times. Baker ended the regular season with only one loss and entered the first round matchup with the Skyhawks riding a seven-game winning streak. It would be a tough matchup for Point, but the Skyhawks welcomed the challenge.

Point hung tough with the Wildcats in the early going, as Baker held just a 6-0 advantage at the end of the first period.

But the ’Cats began to exert their offensive prowess, scoring 20 points in the second quarter to take a 33-7 lead into the halftime break. The Skyhawks got on the board first in the second half, as junior Charles Ducksworth returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown, trimming the Wildcats’ lead down to 19. In the end, though, Baker was simply too much for Point to handle, as the Skyhawks ultimately fell by a score of 68-21.

Even though their season ended in a loss, the team orchestrated a complete turnaround from the previous season: one of epic proportions, and one that is rarely seen in football at the collegiate level.

After the season was finished, the accolades began rolling in. McCarty was named Sun Conference Coach of the Year. Senior quarterback Charles Fortis was named Sun Conference Player of the Year. Senior punter David Strickland was named to the NAIA All-American First Team. Fifteen players made the AAC AllConference Teams and seven Skyhawks earned All-NCCAA honors. The Skyhawks earned a No. 17 ranking in the final NAIA Top 25 Poll of the year.

It truly was a season to remember for the Skyhawk football team — one that will go down in the record books.

WIN TER 2 016 | 23

24 | POI N T MAGAZIN E

THIS IS

MY BODY THE STORY BEHIND POINT UNIVERSITY’S COMMUNION SERVICE

BY DALLAS PRINCE ’18

I

nside West Point Presbyterian Church on a Monday morning, silence hangs in the air — but a peaceful silence. The stained glass windows cast a multitude of colors over the mostly empty pews and a few worshipers praying quietly. I am among them. Though we worship individually, I cannot help but feel connected to these people. Here, in these few silent moments, we can breathe. We can leave all of the outside world at the doors of this church, and take a moment to pray in this sanctuary.

Then I hear the leader saying, “The Lord be with you.”

We reply in unison, “And also with you.”

F

••

ifteen years ago, Dr. Barry Blackburn and Professor Wye Huxford ’73 started this communion service at what was then Atlanta Christian College. Blackburn says that part of his inspiration to do so happened when he was 30 years old and experienced a liturgical service for the first time. He, like most of Point’s students and alumni, was raised in a style of church without a liturgy of prepared prayers and worship. However, he found that wished he’d had that experience earlier in his life. He and Huxford began leading the communion service to expose students to this different style of church.

“Quite a number of students at Point came from churches where the Lord’s Supper was not celebrated very often,” Blackburn explains. “We thought that it would be a good opportunity for those students to participate in it more often.”

A student-led service that began previously had followed a similar liturgical style, but it was unsuccessful. This Communion service was met with more success, but still few attendees.

It took place on Wednesdays, before the first classes of the day, at what Blackburn jokingly calls “this ungodly hour of 7:30.”

It was difficult to find a time that everyone could attend, but they made it work.

Blackburn found the communion ritual very significant compared to many other traditions in the church, and so he and Huxford continued to hold the service.

Dr. DJ Dycus heard about the service from an announcement, and he thought it sounded interesting. He began to attend, as well, and a few years later, was asked

by Huxford and Blackburn to help with the meditations and messages. Soon, he too was on board.

The liturgy was selected from The Book of Common Prayer. This choice was made to expose students to a highly influential text in Christianity, one with which many of the students at Point would be unfamiliar.

WIN TER 2016 | 25

“The Lord be with you. nion goes deeper than any of us realize,” BlackAnd also with you. burn says. “In some sense, Jesus is present when Lift up your hearts. we take communion.”

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise.”

“Take it; this is my body… This is my blood of the –from The Book of Common Prayer Covenant, which is poured out for many.”

–Mark 14:22-24 (NIV)

••

“

••

T

he Book of Common Prayer is the primary source of liturgy for the Anglican Church, and has also influenced the liturgies of several other Protestant denominations. It includes prayers and liturgy for events ranging from marriage, to baptism, to funerals. Communion is among these liturgies.

The service is, put plainly, different from what people expect in most evangelical churches in the United States.

Liturgical services are often perceived as being less moving, or even less spiritual, by those who are unfamiliar with these traditions. But the liturgy is an invitation to participate. Communion is an act of participation. It involves coming together and partaking of something that is, whether symbolically or literally, much greater than we are. This gives the experience a spirituality that is, in many ways, more powerful than many nonliturgical services.

“I found it to be a rich form of worship, and I wanted our students to be exposed to it,” Blackburn says.

Communion is considered a sacrament in almost all Christian denominations. Throughout the New Testament, there are examples of the disciples of Christ celebrating the ritual. In the book of Acts, it is called the breaking of bread.

The significance of the ritual was even placed above preaching and teaching. In Acts 20, Luke describes one example of how Christians met on the first day of the week to break bread. Listening to Paul preach was secondary to that.

It is not known exactly what happens during communion. In Roman Catholic tradition, for example, the substance of the bread and wine are transformed. They become the body and blood of Christ. In other Protestant churches, the elements are left unchanged themselves, but their significance is transformed.

“I really believe that what happens in Commu-

What happens in Communion goes deeper than any of us realize.

”

26 | P OI NT MAGAZIN E

R

••

egardless of what one believes happens to the elements themselves, what is more important is what happens when a believer participates in communion. It is not only the elements that somehow change, but we, too, are changed.

“I believe what the Holy Spirit is doing through communion is transforming us and bringing us closer and closer in likeness to the humanity of Christ,” Blackburn continues. “Eucharist is a powerful means of doing that.”

When Atlanta Christian College became Point University and moved to its new location in West Point, Georgia, it was a unique opportunity for the school to grow. With that, however, came many challenges, such as finding places students could gather for worship in the University’s new home town.

Before the University’s move, Huxford spent a great deal of time meeting with pastors and ministers in the area. While doing so, he met Jerry Ledbetter, minister of West Point Presbyterian Church — which is located directly across the street from the Lanier Academic Center. It came up in their conversation that students and staff would need a place to have services and meetings. Huxford recalls, “It was during that lunch that he said he would give me a key. During that time, as long as we didn’t see a funeral going on, we were free to use the building.” Its proximity to the school and Ledbetter’s willingness made the church’s sanctuary the perfect meeting place for communion.

The sanctuary of the church is, as Huxford puts it, “such a beautiful and worshipful setting.”

Built in 1923, the church reflects a style of architecture many evangelical Christians may not have experienced. The stained glass, arches, and high vaulted ceiling come together to create a peaceful place for meditation and prayer.

W

••

hen the communion service started, it served as an addition to the chapel services, which tend to consist of 15-20 minutes of music followed by a fairly long sermon.

katherine hamilton

Communion was something different. The service was made to be short, meditative and quiet.

“Communion is a sacrament. In communion, we open ourselves up to spiritual influence,” Dycus says. He went on to say that there is something spiritual and even mystical about Communion. It is a break from the usual rush of Monday mornings. It is a retreat, and a time for people to catch their breath.

Dycus explains that communion is a time of meditation. “It gives me a perspective,” he says.

Dycus holds that it is good to maintain a consistent spiritual practice, and this service helps him do that. One of the basic beliefs of a Christian is that we are forgiven by Christ; communion is a reminder of this.

“It’s a time for confession and recognition,” Dycus says. “It’s an opportunity for thanksgiving.”

Communion is open to all people in the community. Students and staff both attend, and all are welcome. Huxford explains that a major theme of the ritual is the equality of all believers.

“I think awareness that we are all invited to that table can be a healthy reminder that God really values us as children,” he says.

Communion is a time that, regardless of one’s position in the school or the church, all are coming to the same table. All members of the community, from the first-year student to the president of the University, are on equal ground.

“This is the one place in our Christian experience, whether we are at Point or somewhere else, where everyone comes to the table as one body,” Huxford says. “And in that oneness, we find the faith that makes the loaf and cup real.”

The current service takes place on Monday mornings, and only lasts about 15 minutes. A small number of people come to the service; however, as small as the service is, its size has its advantages, as well.

In years past, when the communion service was part of a required chapel attendance program, attendance was much higher, but the logistics became exceedingly difficult. It was hard to find a time that as many people could attend as possible, and the abundance of people took away from the meditative setting.

Now that attendance at communion is voluntary, many continue to participate in the ritual.

“We never have really worried about numbers,” says Blackburn, whose goal was to make communion accessible. Even though not everyone can come on Monday mornings, it is something that will continue on for whoever can be there.

H

uxford, Blackburn and Dycus all agree that the communion service will always be a part of spiritual formation at Point.

“It will continue, no matter what it looks like,” Dycus says.

Though it is a small service, it thrives in its purpose to bring people together to the same table.

For those who attend, communion is a rich escape from the burdens of day-to-day life. It is an opportunity to slow down and not only experience, but participate in, one of the most honored traditions in Christianity.

“It’s a very welcoming, encouraging, quiet fifteen minutes that could start your week off very differently,” says Huxford. “You can hear something worth hearing, but it’s not going to take 45 minutes.”

Communion is a small part of Point’s plan for spiritual formation, but an important one. The table is open, and all are welcome.

West Point Presbyterian Church, just across the street from the Lanier Academic Center, provides the home for Point’s weekly communion service.

••

Dallas Prince ’18, an English major from Moreland, Georgia, wrote this article as an assignment for the Writing for Publication course at Point.

••

W IN TER 2 016 | 27

HOMECOMING 2015 This year’s Homecoming celebration was bigger than ever, with current students, prospective students, alumni, faculty, staff and the community joining together to celebrate the University’s 78-year history. Pictured below, left to right, top to bottom: Student ambassadors welcome Fifty-Year Club member Marilyn Buchanan Doyal ’64 to the luncheon; Faith and Melanie — a.k.a. Faith Mims Simpson ’76 and Melanie Rae Terrell ’85 — performed at a concert in the Scott Fine Arts Center; members of the basketball team from 1969-89 took part in the annual alumni game on Friday afternoon; alumni cheerleaders were honored by Point’s current cheerleaders at halftime of the alumni basketball game; the theme for Homecoming reflected Point’s spiritual formation theme for the year: Many Parts, One Body; alumni lined up to enjoy a tailgate meal before the football game; students Nehemiah Pace ’15 and Steven Tracy ’18 cheered on the Skyhawks; Rob ’78 and Jo Ann Farris Raynor (’74-’75), Madison Raynor Hayes ’15, and Madison’s daughter Finleigh posed for a photo at the tailgate lunch; the stands were filled to capacity as the Skyhawks won 66-34 over Southeastern University.

ALUMNI NEWS

SPOTLIGHT On October 12, Point dedicated the distance learning classrooms at both the West Point and Atlanta locations in honor of someone familiar to many alumni: Professor Bob Shannon. The naming of these classrooms was made possible by an anonymous alumni donor.

Dr. Shannon and his family were honored at a ceremony and reception at Point’s West Point campus. They are pictured here at the ceremony, joined by Wye Huxford ’73, Eddie Groover ’67 and President Dean Collins ’79.

“This room in West Point and its corresponding room at our Lindbergh location are appropriate to name in honor of Bob Shannon,” Huxford said at the ceremony. “They are distance education classrooms, reflecting what is no doubt one of the more significant initiatives in higher education today. There could not be a more appropriate past professor in the history of this university to honor by naming these classrooms than Bob Shannon.”

“He has never quit learning,” Huxford continued. “I’m grateful that my path and that of Bob Shannon crossed. And I look forward to telling current Point students who Bob Shannon is!”

1940s Happy belated birthday to Don Roth ’44, who turned 98 last summer! Don and his wife, Jo Dougherty Roth ’47, live in Florida with their daughter, Connie Roth Nichols (’67-’69). (Our previous issue stated that the Roths were living in Hawaii. We apologize for the error.)

1950s Congratulations to Bob Wright ’55 and Betty Yarbrough Turner ’52, who were recently united in marriage.

1970s Dale Hartsfield (’76-’77) has published a new book, titled What’s In A Name? In 2003, Dale was the family spokesperson for the Hartsfields when the Atlanta airport was renamed Hartsfield-Jackson International. To learn more, visit www.hartsfieldspeakers.com.

katherine hamilton

Joseph Shields ’76 serves as chaplain at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia.

1980s Mary Crowe Reid ’80 has started a new job as an instructor at the University of West

Georgia in the College of Education. She is teaching children’s literature and a reading/ writing course for pre-service teachers. Congratulations, Mary!

1990s Greg ’97 and Monica Terrell Miller ’95 are transitioning their ministry at Cornelia Christian Church in Cornelia, Georgia, where Greg became the senior minister in January.

2000s Heather Lamb Didier ’02 and her husband, Jake, welcomed their son, Benjamin Kellan Didier, on August 29.

2010s Noah ’07 and Jenny Boylen McCarty ’10 welcomed their son, Roman, into the world on September 17.

Damien Ellison ’10 released his single, “Desperate,” this fall, from his forthcoming debut gospel album. The song was written while Damien was sitting in Westside Chapel.

Congratulations to Chris Nasser ’10, who participated in the 2015 Ironman World

Championship in Hawaii. This race includes top triathletes in the world. He finished the race in 9:56:48, which placed him 35th in the world in his 25-29 age group and 285th overall!

Morgan Harper Nichols ’10 has a new selftitled album out, with the lead single “Storyteller” (featuring her sister, Jamie-Grace Harper ’12). Check it out at www.storytellersunday.com.

Hannah Bell Walker ’10 recently completed her master’s degree at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Hannah and her husband, Will, welcomed their second son, Thomas Blake Walker, on November 18.

Thomas’s proud big brother is Owen.

Jimmy Webb ’10 recently completed Basic Military Training (BMT) at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. Jimmy will continue on to tech school, where he will receive specialized training within his selected field.

Following tech school, Jimmy and his family will be stationed at an Air Force base within the U.S. or overseas. Jimmy is married to Alex Pennington Webb ’11, and the couple has a son, Liam.

Tyler Winn ’10 married Jennifer Glenn on September 25. The Winns live in Thayer, Kansas, where Tyler is senior minister at Thayer Christian Church.

Andrew Henson ’11 works at Dogwood Church in Tyrone, Georgia, and teaches a discipleship class part-time at Crossroads Christian School, also in Tyrone. He is currently working on an M.Div. at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Clint Mally ’12 recently graduated from Liberty University with a master’s degree in secondary English education. He has partnered

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 @PointUMag #pointclassnotes Point University Alumni Group classnotes@point.edu point.edu/classnotes

WIN TER 2 016 | 29

ALUMNI NEWS

with Teach for America to serve low-income areas in metro Atlanta. He is teaching at Morrow High School in Clayton County, Georgia, and living in East Atlanta.

Bryan ’13 and Robin Amick ’13 have returned to the Atlanta area, where Bryan is studying at Columbia Theological Seminary and Robin is teaching elementary school. The Amicks have two sons, Tristan and Gavin.

Adam Peeler ’13 was recently accepted into the master of divinity program at McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University.

Adam is the minister of Unity Christian Church in Maysville, Georgia, and is the husband of Georgia Parker Peeler ’13.

Heather Petero ’13 has a new album out, titled Grace from Chaos. To hear a sample of the album and to make your purchase, go to www.cdbaby.com/cd/heatherpetero.

Misty Slappey ’13 is earning a master’s degree in addiction and recovery counseling from Liberty University.

Tavaris Taylor ’13 is now in Puebla, Mexico, working with El Pozo, a Globalscope/CMFI campus ministry. Tavaris will also be doing some work in Business as Missions through a partner in Puebla.

Amanda Cyprian Yancey ’13 is serving Point as institutional research manager.

Casey Hall ’14 is serving as student pastor at Refuge Point Church in West Point.

Shaun Horne ’14 married Ashley Hornsby on September 12 in Long Beach, California.

Shaun is currently working at Grand Canyon University.

Alycia Middlebrooks ’14 was married to Daniel Irmiter on October 17 at Indian Springs Park in Flovilla, Georgia.

Matt Summers ’14 is now serving as musical director at Rock Springs Church in Milner, Georgia. He directs the band, arranges and

writes music, and provides program tracks for each service.

Will Warren ’14, who serves as youth and family ministry director at St. James Episcopal Church in Conroe, Texas, recently received his Godly Play certification. This is a global Montessori curriculum that started at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston.

Ajani Brown ’15 is studying toward a master of science in higher education at Kaplan University, with a specialization in college administration and leadership.

Clifford J. Clark ’15 is enrolled in the University of Michigan’s master of social work program.

Tim Mitchell ’15 is serving as director of children’s ministries at the First United Methodist Church in his hometown of Conyers, Georgia.

Emma Stimax Remley ’15 was married the day she graduated from college, May 15. Her husband, Mike, is a ranger senior medic in the Army. The family has two sons.

Jeremy ’15 and Claire Stinson Sloderbeck ’16 were married December 28 at Spring Road Christian Church in Lanett, Alabama.

Tracey Tenney ’15 recently began clinical mental health studies at LaGrange College.

Karrien Williams ’15 writes that she served this summer as the site director for Niagara Falls YouthWorks. In September, she returned to Niagara on a Mission Extended Grant from YouthWorks to serve an additional three months at the Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission in their transformation program.

FRIENDS Trustee David Deeter was named one of the five most admired accounting professionals in the United States, based on a survey of his peers for 2015 by Inside Public Accounting.

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

Former professor Bill Bravard died July 7. He spent decades serving in ministry, including ten years as our academic dean (1970-80) and many years at Cincinnati Christian University.

Maxie Gavin ’56, of Washington, North Carolina, died November 13, after many years spent in ministry and serving others, such as volunteering at The Blind Center of North Carolina. He was predeceased by his wife, Kitty Lyerly Gavin.

Earl Hagar ’69, of Eustis, Florida, died November 3. He spent many fruitful years in ministry before retiring in 2014.

Bruce McColl (’75-’78), of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, died October 27.

Joey Mullins ’74, of Carrollton, Georgia, died September 19 after an extended battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Diane Howard Mullins (’73-’74); sons Brandon, John and Jason; and four grandchildren. Not long before his death, Mullins found out his book, Hezekiah’s Maple: One Man’s Journey with Cancer and Hope, was being published. It is now available for purchase via Amazon.com.

Neal Puckett ’49, of Union City, Georgia, died August 3. He was retired after a 50-plus-year ministry. He was predeceased by his wife, Egypt Presley Puckett (’47). A service was held at Lester Road Christian Church, where he had faithfully served.

Live too far away? Shop with us online!

www.pointuniversityshop.com 30 | P OI NT MAGAZIN E

dc communications

Point’s campus store, in downtown West Point, features Starbucks® coffee and a wide selection of Point apparel and merchandise. Stop by for coffee or to pick up a new Skyhawks T-shirt!

ALUMNI NEWS

photos courtesy of joshua faulkner ’11

5

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN NICARAGUA

BY JOSHUA FAULKNER ’11

1. Trek through the rainforest. Bosawas Biosphere Reserve is located in northern Nicaragua. With over 1.8 million jealously protected acres, it is one of the largest rainforests in the world. Those who choose to hike through the reserve with the government-required tour guide will have the chance to see wildlife such as jaguars, monkeys, macaws and thousands of other animal species. Not for the faint of heart, you’ll have to jump through a few hoops to get in. Government officials require you to write them a letter promising not to disturb the biosphere, and they require proof of certain immunizations.

experience if you visit during the dry season (December-April). Surf schools are available for beginners.

2. Try volcano boarding! Nicaragua is home to seven active volcanoes. The most recent eruption award goes to volcano Momotombo, which erupted in December 2015. Active volcano Cerro Negro has a tourist attraction called volcano boarding.

Brave souls can hike up the 2,000-plus-foot-high steaming mountain, carrying their own equipment, and then sled down the western face of it. A guaranteed unforgettable experience!

Faulkner is a graduate of the Access program at the Peachtree City site. He lives and serves in Nicaragua with his family, which includes his wife, Rachel, and their four children: Elizabeth, Emma, Jackson and Adeline. The Faulkners are cofounders of Relentless Pursuit Ministries International.

3. Care for your Nicaraguan neighbors. Besides our ministry, Relentless Pursuit Ministries International (www.relentlessinternational.org), there are at least a dozen good quality ministries in Nicaragua that offer short-term mission trips. It’s a short, three-hour flight from Atlanta, and with the warm and open culture, it’s a great place to get your feet wet in missions. Opportunities to serve range from construction projects, medical brigades, discipleship intensives, poverty relief and job skills workshops. Give it a try and see where it might lead!

4. Surf some waves. There are many great surfing destinations in Nicaragua, but San Juan del Sur is the most popular. Located on the Pacific side of the country, this fishing town retains its charming, small-town atmosphere, while comfortably, though rusticly, accommodating its surfing tourists. You’ll probably have the best

5. Experience coffee farming. There are many ecotourist stops in Nicaragua that will allow you to volunteer on a working coffee farm. You pay your own expenses while you live on the farm, helping in day-to-day operations and learning all there is to know about coffee. Coffee grows in the mountains, so farms like Selva Negra also offer hiking trails, and a waterfall. Their hospitality is quite warm, but the shower will likely be cold. Matagalpa Tours is a great contact for local farm experiences, and for Spanish lessons.

Want to tell us about your hometown?

Email us at editor@point.edu.

WIN TER 2 016 | 31

507 WEST 10TH STREET | WEST POINT, GA 31833

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

The Vision 2020 capital campaign will enable Point University to achieve its vision for the future: to be the college of choice for students seeking a Christian learning community that is academically challenging, spiritually vibrant and globally engaged.

Accomplishing this vision requires the support of our entire community, including Point’s alumni, churches, corporations, foundations, families, faculty, staff and friends. Your partnership is vital to the success of our mission and provides funds not supported by tuition or other funding sources.

Find out more or give online:

point.edu/vision2020