January 2021 vol.
The
MUSTANG CONNECTION
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no. 1
A PUBLICATION of THE MASTER’S UNIVERSITY
CONTENTS
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Fifty Years of God’s Faithfulness by D R. J O H N S T E A D
WELCOME TO THE FIRST EDITION of THE MUSTANG CONNECTION. THIS MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS THE EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR ALUMNI, FACULTY, AND CURRENT STUDENTS.
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A L U M N I F O C U S:
Mark McElroy
Each edition includes a brand-new article from a member of our faculty. You will read how they apply their unique expertise to some of this world’s most complex and pressing issues.
M I N I S T RY H I G H L I G H T:
We’ll also highlight our alumni. We’ll look at where and how they are ministering for the sake of the gospel, and we’ll see their range of careers and life callings. Beyond that, each edition will update you on the latest news and events on and off the TMU campus.
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Ben Blakey in Boise, Idaho
These are extraordinary days at The Master’s University. Throughout the past decade, we’ve seen major changes, moving from The Master’s College to The Master’s University. Since 2010, the campus has changed dramatically as we’ve remodeled dorms and classrooms, transformed the gymnasium as we renamed it the MacArthur Center, created new walking paths, and installed new lighting and signage across campus. In February of 2020, The Master’s University
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C O R P O R AT E PA RT N E R:
West Coast Fire & Water
installed a new president for the first time in 35 years as John MacArthur became the chancellor of TMU and Dr. Sam Horn was installed as the institution’s 9th president. Through all the changes, The Master’s University has remained committed to Christ and Scripture. On that foundation we stand, without compromise, and it’s from the infinite wisdom of Christ and His Word that we educate the mind, body, and soul for a life of eternal influence. In this newsletter,
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we want to show how the unchanging, timeless Word produces extraordinary results in the
Alumni Job Board
lives of those committed to it. We trust it will encourage you, whether you’re an alumni or friend of The Master’s University.
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Upcoming Events Announcement January
2021
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FEATURE
of G O D ’ S F A I T H F U L N E S S by D R . J O H N S T E A D
I have had the wonderful privilege of being a member of The Master’s University family since August 1970. Over these five wonderful decades of ministry, the school has not wavered in its commitment to Christ and Scripture. If anything, it’s more committed to that foundation today than it was 50 years ago. Along with the university’s commitment to Biblical fidelity and strong academics, it has also prioritized a strong student life community of discipleship that moves students toward Christian maturity. This takes place within a secure, caring environment that encourages both spiritual and intellectual growth. One of the great blessings that TMU has enjoyed during my 50 years is strong theological leadership. During my first 15 years at the college—back when it was still Los Angeles Baptist College—Dr. John Duncan was the president. Under Dr. Dunkin’s leadership, the college moved from downtown Los Angeles to Placerita Canyon in Newhall in 1961. The first class to attend the new campus was comprised of 100 students. During its first 15 years, the college continued to expand its liberal arts curriculum. 4
The M A S T E R ’ S C O N N E C T I O N
In 1975, the college took a major step forward when it received accreditation from Western Accreditation of Schools and Colleges. When Dr. Dunkin retired after 25 years of service, the search for a new president once again highlighted the importance of the college’s doctrinal foundation. The new president must be deeply committed to Christ and the authority of Scripture. The board could not have made a better choice when it selected Dr. John MacArthur in the spring of 1985. Given Dr. MacArthur’s reputation and commitment to the authority of Scripture and exegetical preaching, the board knew that the college’s theological future would remain secure. Soon after John MacArthur assumed the presidency, the school’s name was changed to The Master’s College. Enrollment jumped in the fall of 1986 to a total of 650 students and The Master’s Seminary admitted its first class of 100 men that fall. In the following years, new programs, faculty additions, and new facilities appeared. One of the biggest changes was the transition from the name The Master’s College to The Master’s University in 2016.
January
2021
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FEATURE
The university continues to add professional programs at both the undergraduate and the graduate level. Many of these courses can be delivered in both faceto-face and online formats. Some program examples are business, accounting, pre-med, Biblical Counseling, and kinesiology. Within the next five years, the plan is to add programs in electrical engineering, nursing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Obviously, new programs require not only funding, but most importantly, a Christ centered faculty who are qualified by their love for Christ, education, and expertise. Dr. MacArthur retired from the presidency in the spring of 2019 and has become the chancellor emeritus of TMU. He continues to maintain an office on campus, periodically speaks in chapel, and attends campus events. Thanks to 60 years of Christ centered leadership, The Master’s University and Seminary unapologetically stands for Christ and Scripture and I am confident it will continue to do so under the leadership of its new president, Dr. Sam Horn.
for WRITERS On Writing Well ZINSSER
This book I recommend above all others for improving overall writing style. I re-read this one myself once a year to stay sharp. Read this if you truly intend to become a strong writer – in any field or genre.
Style Toward Clarity and Grace JOSEPH WILLIAMS
This book is a bit technical, but it’s immensely practical. Williams digs into various TANGIBLE reasons a sentence (or passage) can sound elegant and powerful while others are clunky and confusing.
For a moment, I would love to indulge in a little personal reminiscing. My immediate and extended family has always been heavily involved at The Master’s University. My wife Ellen and I were married in 1966 after Ellen graduated from LABC in 1965 with a degree in English. We had four children beginning with Jonathan in 1970 and ending with Stephen in 1980. Betsy and Nathaniel came in between. As a family, we were emersed in college activities. In the late 1970s to the mid-’80s, we witnessed monumental changes at the school, including Dr. MacArthur becoming president in ’85, followed by the name change to The Master’s College. In 1995 I became a full-time faculty member, then returned to administration in 2013, where I continue serving today.
Plot & Structure
Throughout my time at TMU, I have always been in the classroom teaching. To this day, that is still my passion. Teaching and building relationships with students and then alumni has blessed my family and me immensely. Even after 50 years, I come to work each day and marvel at the fact that I get paid for what I love to do. I am so thankful to the Lord for allowing me to be part of The Master’s University for the past 50 years.
The Elements of Style
DR. JOHN STEAD Senior Vice President Professor, History & Political Studies
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SHORT READING LIST
The M A S T E R ’ S C O N N E C T I O N
JAMES SCOTT BELL, WRITER’S DIGEST BOOKS
Helpful in challenging writers to think about how to develop a plot that moves. Bell covers important story elements such as antagonists and protagonists, points of no return, doorways/ plot accelerants, and character adhesion. This is especially useful for writers of genre fiction.
The Bottom of the Harbor
ALUMNI FOCUS: MARK McELROY
As Mark McElroy tells it, he didn’t exactly ace the most important interview of his life. In 2006, the soon-to-be Master’s graduate was auditioning for a medical sales job, which meant shadowing one of the company’s owners in a Palm Desert operating room. The owner was coaching a surgeon on how to use one of the company’s products. And McElroy watched with a growing sense of unease. He cringed every time the patient’s shoulder “popped” and “cracked.” He felt flushed as blood oozed from an incision. “Do you need to step outside?” the owner asked. Once McElroy reached the hallway, he put his head between his knees and tried to breathe. This was all far more raw than what he’d seen on TV.
JOSEPH MITCHELL
This is a collection of features focused on characters and places in the New York harbor in the 1930s. Mitchell was an extraordinary stylist and framer of narrative non-fiction. Reading his work will improve your eye for pace, style, and sense of place/ sensory appeal. Note: His almost-complete works is available in an anthology titled Up In the Old Hotel.
STRUNK AND WHITE
The quintessential manual of writing style for the English language. It has stood the test of time for a reason. All writers and editors need to own this.
composed by DR. ROBERT DICKSON chairman of The Master’s University Communications Department
Ultimately, he collected himself, re-entered the room and never looked back. Now in his 15th year in the industry, McElroy works for Empire Medical as a capital sales manager, a job he never would have held had he backed away from an eye-opening introduction to the business. “It’s not for the faint of heart,” he says. Neither, of course, is the dual role of successful salesman and God-honoring husband and father of four. But by all accounts, McElroy has met that challenge, too, skillfully balancing both worlds by prioritizing prayer and the Word, working as a team with his wife Kari, and holding loosely to me time. “If you’re prayerful toward this thing, I think the Lord is faithful to broaden your shoulders and allow you to handle more and more,” he says.
It’s a prayer God has answered ever since McElroy left Fresno, Calif., to attend Master’s in 2002. In addition to four years as a pitcher on the Mustang baseball team, McElroy excelled as a business administration major (under the guidance of “incredible” professors, he says) and made time to date his now-wife. The couple married before his senior year. After surviving the aforementioned interview and securing his first job in medical sales, McElroy faced a considerable learning curve. His initial assignment was selling knee surgery devices in San Diego. So, he set about learning everything he could about ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair. He visited numerous doctors, hospitals and surgery centers, immersing himself in the procedures, studying the anatomy, better understanding the products and building relationships. He needed to know each procedure inside and out so he could guide nurses and doctors as they tested his company’s products on live patients. “In the beginning, it’s like finals week every week,” says Empire Medical owner Jonas Tracy, who has worked with McElroy for more than a decade. “You’re studying constantly and putting in a good long day in surgery and stressful situations, then you go home and hit the books for another hour or two.” January
2021
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FEATURE
I F YO U’R E P R AY E R F U L... I THINK THE LORD IS
In many ways, McElroy has followed the examples modeled by his father, Kevin; his baseball coach at Master’s, Monte Brooks; and his boss at Empire Medical, Tracy. MASTER’S IN MINISTRY
FA I T H F U L T O B R O A D E N
McElroy says each of those men loves his family while striving for excellence at work.
YOUR SHOULDERS AND
Tracy says the same about McElroy.
ALLOW YOU TO HANDLE MORE AND MORE.
McElroy’s efforts paid off. At 37, he now manages three sales teams in the Inland Empire, the Coachella Valley and Orange County. He says there’s something especially rewarding about earning the trust of medical professionals so he can play a small role in a surgery’s success.
BEN & HOLLY BLAKEY
“This job will own you if you let it,” Tracy says, “so he knows how to shut it off and when to shut it off, and he protects his personal family time. I go to church with him, as well as work with him, and he’s extremely engaged in both areas.”
IN 2018, MY FAMILY WAS SENT OUT TO THE TREASURE VALLEY IN IDAHO TO START A NEW CHURCH. This valley (which
On both fronts, McElroy has come a long way since a less-than-stellar interview in 2006.
includes Boise and several surrounding cities) is one of the fastest growing areas in the United
“Certain attributes of God’s character have proven to be most prevalent in our story,” he says. “God is sovereign, wise, good, gracious, and kind. But it’s hard to land on a more appropriate word than ‘faithful.’
States. As people flock to this community from all over the country, we want to reach them with the good news and help them get connected to a solid, Bible-teaching church. God has blessed
He loves his job and the people he works with. But his schedule remains unpredictable, the hours long and the situations stressful. For example, at any time, McElroy might receive a phone call that necessitates an extra trip to the office or a storage unit to secure equipment for evaluation at a hospital the following day. Kari and the kids have learned to hold schedules with an open hand and to remember that when McElroy leaves for work, it isn’t because he doesn’t love them — it’s because he wants to excel at what God has called him to. The McElroys are also firmly committed at Faith Bible Church in Murrieta, Calif., where McElroy and Kari have served in high school and adult ministries. They currently host a community group.
the ministry here, but please be praying for churches to effectively make disciples as this community continues to grow!
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Heritage Bible Church
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Faith Community Bible Church
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Columbia Bible Church
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Ambassador Bible Fellowship
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The M A S T E R ’ S C O N N E C T I O N
7071 W Emerald St., Boise, ID 83704 Jim Harris, Pastor-Teacher
9950 W Ustick, Boise, ID 83704 Jason Wolin, Pastor-Teacher
2870 East Rome Dr., Meridian, ID 83642 John R. Prigge, Teaching Elder
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Downtime, as you might imagine, is in short supply. But McElroy doesn’t mind. “Me time for him doesn’t really happen. There isn’t time for that,” Kari says. “But he’s also not the type who wants to come home and sit on the couch and do nothing. He works hard at work and then works hard with whatever needs to be done here.”
B E N & H O L LY B L A K E Y HANNAH - 7 MAC - 4 JONES - 2
Compass Bible Church and other like-minded
1824 W 3rd St., Meridian, ID 83646 Thomas Herringshaw, Lead Pastor
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Meridian First Baptist Church
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Montana Avenue Baptist Church
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Compass Bible Church Treasure Valley
428 W. Pine Ave., Meridian, ID 84642 Randy Cook, Senior Pastor
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3120 S Montana Ave., Caldwell, ID 83605 Bobby Truax, Youth Ministries Pastor
1870 E Heritage Park St., Meridian, ID 83646 Ben Blakey, Pastor
January
2021
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FEATURE
JOB BOARD
TMU ALUMNI
JOB BOARD
Customer Support Specialist A P P LY N O W
Account/Project Manager West Coast Fire & Water is a restoration and mitigation company in Kelseyville, California, with heavy ties to The Master’s University. Co-owners Doug and Krishelle Bridges have sent each of their four children to TMU, and the family continues to generously support the institution’s commitment to Christ and Scripture. West Coast offers fire- and water damage restoration services, mold remediation, biohazard cleanup and storm damage repair. In 2020, the company added COVID-19 decontamination to its repertoire, with a 24-hour hotline.
A P P LY N O W
Director of Interdisciplinary Studies A P P LY N O W
West Coast’s primary focus is commercial projects — mostly schools and municipalities. It has cleaned more than 150 schools in the last three years alone. Ultimately, West Coast hopes to develop a geographic footprint equal to its name. It currently has locations in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake and Marin counties and it also rendered services in the aftermath of the Woolsey Fire in the greater-Los Angeles area, where it hopes to one day open a branch. A portion of the profits from the Bridges’ three businesses — West Coast, Bridges Construction, and Overflow Coffee — are used to support missionaries, pro-life organizations and a local Christian school. The Bridges have also provided funding for an organization in Africa that works to stop child slavery and a Haitian orphanage run by Krishelle’s father.
Staff Accountant A P P LY N O W
Administrative Assistant A P P LY N O W
The family also sponsors The Master’s University, where Doug and Krishelle have sent their four children: Jonathan, Kristyn, Kimberlyn and, most recently, Joshua, who currently attends TMU with his wife, Kimberly. TO LEARN MORE, VISIT WESTCOASTFIREANDWATER.COM.
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The M A S T E R ’ S C O N N E C T I O N
January
2021
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UPCOMING
EVENTS Typically at this point in the newsletter, we will highlight upcoming alumni events, and on-campus events that would be of interest to alumni and friends of the university. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the university to postpone all alumni events and virtually all on-campus events. As soon as we can host events, we will announce that in this newsletter. A S S O O N A S W E C A N H O S T E V E N T S, W E W I L L A N N O U N C E T H AT I N T H I S N E W S L E T T E R.
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The M A S T E R ’ S C O N N E C T I O N