MONDAY MENTION
Dan and Michelle East, Class of 1993 Dan East started at Southeastern in 1990, graduating with a degree in Church Ministries and a concentration on Missions. Michelle started in 1989 and graduated with a degree in Missions and a minor in Christian Education. Dan and Michelle got married in December of 1992 between semesters. Fun fact: They had to meet with the Student Life Director and committee for approval of their wedding to take place during the school year! After graduating, the Easts served in several church and home ministry positions across the East Coast until they landed in Danville, Virginia where they currently live. Their prayer to the Lord has always been, “We’ll go where you want us to go, be who you want us to be, and serve where you want us to serve.” Dan and Michelle both work at Westover Christian Academy Michelle as a lead First Grade teacher and Dan as an administrator and baseball coach. Dan and Michelle have two daughters who both attend SEU - Sarah (22) graduated in 2019 with a degree in Elementary Education and is currently earing her Masters in Literacy Education at SEU while working as a graduate assistant in the Wellness Department. Emma East (20) is a junior in SEU’s School of Honors studying English. She serves as a lead writer for the We Are SEU publication.
Some of Dan and Michelle’s favorite memories at Southeastern were Dr. Rodney White’s African worship songs in his Missions classes. Dan and Michelle still break out in MWhari Wakanaka every now and then. Dr. White served as an inspiration to the Easts throughout their years of ministry. They would think back to his lessons of faith, endurance, and “preach the Word” still resounds in their hearts to this day. Michelle was taught more about the Scriptures than she thought possible in every class with Dr. Charles Estridge. He gave her guidance on selecting a good set of expository commentaries that she still refers to regularly. Michelle worked at the campus bookstore for three years under the leadership of Mr. Orton Queen. He and his “bride” were like adopted parents to Michelle throughout her years at Southeastern. The Easts’ experience at Southeastern has prepared them for their full-time ministry in Christian education. They learned valuable lessons on the importance of proper Biblical understanding and integrating that understanding in all they do. “Every day, the truths of relationships, love, gifts of the Holy Spirit, kindness, wisdom, knowledge, and our place in God’s Kingdom that were cultivated during our time at SEU are used liberally.”
A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N