APPALACHIANVOICE
A NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS
FALL 2020
THROUGH FLOOD & PANDEMIC, MAKING A DIFFERENCE PROFILES IN SERVICE - MOUNTAIN OUTREACH
The flooding in southeastern Kentucky this year broke records. Water covered school buses, closed roads, filled valleys, ruined houses, damaged facilities, and swept away entire buildings. The damages cost millions of dollars in repairs across the Commonwealth. Some families watched their source of income wash away in a single storm.
“When you watch your dreams float down the river, it’s hard to watch,” said Rich Meadors, the father of the family. “A lot of kids made memories here. To see it gone… It just crushes me.”
Micah Linton, a senior at Cumberlands, and Rocky Brown, Director of “We wanted to help the family and recover Mountain Outreach whatever could be salvaged.” (MO), joined community members on February 15th to help clean up the Micah Linton damage on the farm. Exercise & Sport Science Major
Sally Gap Farms boasts beautiful farmland and seasonal activities, and they sell fresh vegetable bushel baskets and flowers year-round. But this February, it was more flood than farm. The Meadors family, who owns Sally Gap, posted a heartfelt video on Facebook. The typically happy farm was underwater and severely damaged. Dark storm clouds promised even more rain.
“I’d never seen flood damage like that before,” Linton said. “A lot of their buildings were just gone. Their fence lines were torn up. The water came through, and it just destroyed things. We wanted to help the family and recover whatever could be salvaged.” Continued on page 2
The family was taken aback by the help they received. By the end of the day, Rich Meadors considered the volunteers “more like family than friends.” Thanks in part to the community’s help, and thanks more so to the Lord’s provision and grace, Sally Gap Farms is up and running again, even better than before. That’s not all. Even though students couldn’t volunteer this summer, which left MO without much manpower, Brown found ways to continue helping local families; it just took extra creativity and networking. Brown contacted local churches and government programs to pinpoint the families with most need and figure out how best to help them. Thankfully, God has blessed MO over the years with generous donations that can change peoples’ lives, no matter the situation. Funding from those donors helped MO make many important projects possible that would have otherwise been left undone. Brown completed many projects himself in addition to those carried out by experienced contractors from the community. This spring and summer, MO provided much-needed water heaters for two families, built a ramp for a single father who had surgery, built a new roof and did electrical work for an elderly gentleman, and delivered 55 disaster-relief buckets to local families after flooding and severe storm winds, among other projects. Rain or shine, flood or dry, pandemic or not, Mountain Outreach never slows down. The mission of Christ continues, as does MO’s ministry.
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YEAR IN REVIEW MOUNTAIN OUTREACH
14 158 $17K
PROJECTS THIS SPRING & SUMMER
HOUSEHOLDS SERVED AT KIDS' GIFT DAYS
TO GIVE CHRISTMAS GIFTS & FOOD TO 200+ FAMILIES
70 600 100
STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
CHILDREN SERVED
MINISTRY EVENTS
APPALACHIAN MINISTRIES 3
PROFILES IN SERVICE - APPALACHIAN MINISTRIES
Spring and summer looked different this year, so Appalachian Ministries (AM) got creative. Typically, AM would have a summer team who spent eight consecutive weeks hosting Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) at multiple locations. This year, AM brainstormed three separate projects to minister to local children. AM in a Bag The AM team prepared what they called “AM in a Bag,” which they delivered to local children every week. Bags were stuffed with a weeks’ worth of crafts, snacks, and a typed Bible lesson plan for the kids to follow.
My gift, in the amount of $
YES!
Loving Letters The AM volunteers all wrote individual letters to the 70+ kids in the program. AM staff was able to deliver the letters, along with high-protein snacks and crafts, to the children the week before Easter. Virtual Children’s Church AM always tries to get the children they serve plugged in with local churches. To assist these churches during the unprecedented challenges this summer, the AM team put together virtual “children’s church” content for the churches to use in their own ministries.
I want to make a
DIFFERENCE.
, is to make a difference for people in need and to change lives one good deed at a time. I Services provided by Mountain Outreach would specifically like my gift to benefit one or more of the following: Ministry outreach with Appalachian Ministries A student working to obtain a degree I would like to make this a recurring monthly gift
To pay by credit card, please complete the section below: Visa
Master Card
American Express
Discover
Diner’s Club International
Name on Card Card Number Billing Address
Expiration Date Street Address
City
State
Zip
Please return this coupon, along with your gift, to: The President’s Office • 6191 College Station Drive • Williamsburg, KY 40769
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PROFILES IN SERVICE - MOUNTAIN OUTREACH
INTRODUCING ROCKY BROWN NEW DIRECTOR OF MOUNTAIN OUTREACH
W H AT E V E R
YOU DO,
WORK AT IT WITH
A L L YOUR HEART, Rocky Brown stepped in as Director of Mountain Outreach this spring, bringing with him more than 20 years’ worth of construction experience. Brown remarked, “It was kind of funny when I got the job because they said, ‘We want you to do service projects, help the community, and share the gospel.’ I smiled and said, ‘And you’re going to pay me to do this?’ Because those are things I absolutely love to do. There’s nothing better.” Brown’s résumé includes heavy experience in HVAC, electrical, trim and finish carpentry, roofing, and doors and windows, along with some experience with sheetrock, painting, framing, and concrete work. He led projects as an electrician in the Department of Operations at University of the Cumberlands for three years. He has worked for a handful of other companies who specialize in hardware and construction, as well as completed freelance projects independently for friends and family. Besides his work for Mountain Outreach, Brown is the father of three girls and one little boy whom Brown calls “the four best kids on the planet, whom I love with all my heart.”
AS THOUGH
YOU WERE
WORKING
FOR THE
LORD
AND NOT FOR
PEOPLE.
COLOSSIANS 3:23
“I dedicate my life to teaching people to believe and understand God’s Word for themselves,” Brown said. “It is a great honor to teach God’s Word. The Lord Jesus Christ died for me, and I assure you He died for all because I possess no unique skill or ability that would cause me to stand out in His sight. I am beyond thankful that He laid His life down for me as the payment for my sin and for the sin of the world.” Brown credits the Lord with giving him the skills and abilities he possesses, and he does his best to use those “to work in the Kingdom” helping fellow believers and “reaching out to the lost” as opportunities present themselves.
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PROFILES IN SERVICE - MOUNTAIN OUTREACH - MICAH LINTON Micah Linton is strong enough to heave trusses onto a new house’s framework, smart enough to look life’s issues square in the eye, and brave enough to admit he made a mess of his first semester at Cumberlands. “I partied, got super bad grades, and was just living for myself and being selfish and stupid,” Micah said. No need to sugarcoat. “We were at this party once and the cops showed up. We got in trouble with our coach. After that, I really evaluated my life, like, ‘Man. Am I going to keep doing this?’ I was living two lives. I could feel the tension and knew I needed to commit to one or the other.” Micah re-dedicated his life to Christ and got involved in Mountain Outreach (MO), where he has served ever since. In blazing-hot sunshine and heavy humidity, the MO summer team saws, lifts, and hammers building materials into place from morning until evening, five days a week, all summer long to build a home for a family in need. The process humbles even the hardest hearts. It is life-changing. “Every year, we realize how blessed we are,” said Micah. “Working with MO has really opened my eyes to being a true servant and putting my faith into action. It’s by the grace of God. It’s rewarding.” College was “a crucial time” for Micah, as it is for many students – a point when they are forced to begin deciding for themselves what their lives will look like. Micah now hopes to help students who may be struggling like he was, praying that Christ will influence their lives through him. PROFILES IN SERVICE - APPALACHIAN MINISTRIES - TORI MALONE Tori Malone isn’t allowed to discuss the specifics of what happens to some local children who live at the locations Appalachian Ministries visits. What some of them have shared with her about their home lives has simultaneously broken Tori’s heart and enlarged it, deepening her love for children. “Some stories are so awful,” says Tori. “You just have to push through listening and then go cry in a corner. There were several times I called my mom like, ‘We need to take these kids. We need to adopt them; I’m bringing them home.’” The children all “crave love so badly.” One little boy would repeatedly approach Tori, kiss her cheek, then run away like it was a game. Once, a little girl asked Tori to pick her up because nobody holds her at home. Tori had to do a lice treatment on herself after, but she couldn’t say no. The AM team leads Bible studies, games, crafts, snack time, dance, and play time for local children weekly throughout the school year. Tori never liked kids before, but now, she’ll sometimes secretly sneak an extra cookie to a child, just for fun, and watch their faces light up “like you just gave them the world.” “I never used to remember people’s names, but now when I go to Walmart, I’m looking for these kids and can call them by name,” she says. “I love these kids. They’re just great. I just love these kids so much.”
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PROFILES IN SERVICE - INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MINISTRIES - REJOICE OLAOLORUN Controlled chaos – via cooking international cuisine – in the name of Christ. That’s one way to summarize International Food Night, the monthly gathering of Cumberlands students and staff in which international students showcase their culinary skills, sharing traditional dishes from their home county with their classmates. Rejoice OlaOlorun is in charge of International Food Night. She contacts students, coordinates grocery trips, and assists students and helpers the night of the event. She admits it can be a “commotion,” but she enjoys it. “Food and community really help people feel at home. It’s important for international students to have something that makes them feel at home here,” Rejoice said. “It’s a thing of joy to see them light up and be part of something.” Rejoice moved from Lagos, Nigeria, to Louisville, Kentucky, in high school. Her family joined a local church, which helped her adjust to American culture. Through International Food Night, Rejoice and the other students attempt to show Christ’s love to students who aren’t Christians. Many international students don’t hear the Gospel before coming to Cumberlands. “We don’t want just the food to show Christ, we want to tell them about Christ,” said Rejoice. “We don’t have to travel the world to reach all nations; we have all the nations represented right here on campus.” PROFILES IN SERVICE - FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES - DEVON McMILLIN In middle school, Devon McMillin heard a speaker say, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” The quote still rings in Devon’s ears. He’s seeing it played out in real time every day at college. In life’s game of influence, everyone is a player. That’s why Devon takes an active role as a positive force in his social circles. As a leader in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Devon has been challenged to let God infiltrate every aspect of his life. “I recognize that I’m a broken person who got saved. That’s a big deal,” said Devon. “The Gospel saved me, and I want to show that not just with my words but with how I’m living. It’s not just behavior modification. As believers, our very nature is truly being changed by the Holy Spirit. That’s how far the Gospel goes.” Devon’s primary ministries are his football and lacrosse teams. Some teammates came from church backgrounds but had no real relationship with Christ. Breaking out of that rhythm is hard, even for Devon. “It’s definitely challenging to maintain focus,” he said. “But at the end of the day, regardless of how I feel, I’m called to love on people and be present in the moment. Every day is a blessing.” Gradually, the teams are “bearing good fruit.” Guys who used to sit and stare during Bible studies are reading Scripture on their own. They’re supporting Devon during his own struggles, being an encouragement to him when he needs it. For Devon, it is awesome to watch.
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CORTAVIUS FORD
Cortavius, known to most as “Petey,” has a contagious smile and calm personality that puts others at ease. He is from Twin City, a small historic railroad strip town in Georgia, and has a passion for serving the community and making an impact by showing kindness and God’s love. “I’m from a very small hometown similar to Williamsburg,” he said. “That’s why I wanted to come to Cumberlands. It’s not so big that I wouldn’t be able to fit in.” As a child, Cortavius helped his aunt around the classroom and saw the mark she made on the lives of her students. He now plans to be a teacher and football coach so he can be a positive influence like she was. Worried about the financial strain that college would put on him and his family, Cortavius was relieved to earn scholarships in addition to a workstudy position to avoid going into extreme debt. This has allowed him to focus on doing his best in the classroom, on the football field, and in the lives of children. Thanks to the financial support of Cumberlands’ donors, Cortavius is able to reach higher in life and see his dreams become reality. “Thank you for providing for the students who are coming from nothing,” Cortavius said. “Workstudy is what helps pay for school, so I just want to thank you for providing for all of us.”
MEET OUR STUDENTS VICTORIA SALAZAR
Originally from New Mexico, Victoria’s parents moved closer to family in London, Kentucky, her senior year of high school. Victoria has been playing soccer since she was four years old and now plays on the JV team at Cumberlands. Her athletic ability is what sparked her interest in Cumberlands, but it was the friendly atmosphere, the beautiful rolling hills of campus, and the academic programs that solidified her decision. Scholarship and workstudy awards made it possible for Victoria to afford to attend Cumberlands. When Victoria was younger, she had a serious head injury that changed her life. This traumatic incident inspired her desire to help other patients get back to their normal lives. As a doublemajor in biology and criminal justice, she is excited to pursue a future career as a neurologist. Victoria’s workstudy position as a sports and events photographer in the Office of Communications is the best of both worlds, accommodating her practice and class schedules while allowing her to flex her creative muscles. “I’ve learned so much; it’s really brought out the creativity in me,” says Victoria. “They give me new projects to work on all the time, and we get to work behind the scenes at big campus events. It gives me great experience to put on my résumé too.”
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Together - We MOVE MOUNTAINS “I want to help provide hope through educational opportunities that moves mountains for deserving students with great financial need to achieve their dreams of bright and promising futures.” GIVE AN UNRESTRICTED GIFT ― Gifts given to our unrestricted fund enable us to meet a variety of needs for our students. Your gift will help provide first-class educational opportunities that promote student success. GIVE A SCHOLARSHIP GIFT ― Over 99 percent of our students receive some type of financial aid to assist with educational expenses. Your contribution to our scholarship program will help remove an obstacle from their lives, so they can follow their dreams. GIVE A WORKSHIP GIFT ― The most wholesome type of financial assistance involves helping students help themselves. Gifts for our workship program will benefit those students who are working diligently in the classroom, as well as outside it, to achieve their aspirations and earn their diplomas. You can make an everlasting impact by giving to educate servant-leaders with the tools of a quality education and with the knowledge that comes from their service experiences. Help share the most important lesson: that the greatest use of one’s life is to serve others. Thirty-nine percent of our undergraduate student body is first-generation college students. Our mission is clear. We believe in the power of education to change not just a single life, but the lives of generations to follow. Together - We MOVE MOUNTAINS.
My gift, in the amount of $ , is to provide hope and educational opportunities to students with great financial needs so they may achieve their dreams of a bright and promising future. I would like my gift to benefit: Unrestricted Scholarship Workship I would like to make this a Please select a method of payment: Check Credit Cash recurring monthly gift To pay by credit card, please complete the section below: Visa
Master Card
American Express
Discover
Diner’s Club International
Name on Card Card Number Billing Address
Expiration Date Street Address
City
State
Zip
Please return this coupon, along with your gift, to: The President’s Office • 6191 College Station Drive • Williamsburg, KY 40769
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Honor or Memorialize a Friend or Loved One
Tribute Program at University of the Cumberlands How are Tribute Gifts acknowledged? For an Honor Gift, the person being honored is sent an appropriate card listing the honor giver, as well as the occasion for the honor. The name of the giver and the honoree will be listed in the next issue of the University’s newsletter.
What is a Tribute Gift? A Tribute Gift shows love and respect for the person being honored or memorialized. It says that the world is a better place because of this individual. Through a Tribute Gift to University of the Cumberlands, a memory of the past or an honor of the present is tied to the future as it is made to live on in the lives of students in need. The size of the gift is up to you. Many send the amount they would spend on floral arrangements, candy, or other appropriate gestures. Gifts generally range from $15 to $1,000, but the right amount for you is the amount your heart tells you to send.
For a Memorial Gift, the family of the individual you wish to memorialize is sent an appropriate card the same day that the gift is received. The name of the giver and their loved one will then be listed in the next issue of the University's newsletter.
An Honor Gift is a gift that shows admiration and respect for a loved one or a friend on a significant day in his or her life, such as birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day, or Father's Day.
The amount of all Tribute Gifts, including Memorial Gifts and Honor Gifts, is kept confidential. Also, all gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law.
TRIBUTE PROGRAM
How will a Tribute Gift make a difference? Your gift will provide a lasting legacy for students in need as it is used to provide scholarship and workship assistance, books and supplies, food and housing, and many other supportive services. Listings reflect Tribute Gifts received Feb. 1, 2019 through Aug. 31, 2020. In preparing this list, every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness. If a mistake was made in the way you were identified or if your name was omitted, we sincerely apologize. You can help us set the record straight. Please notify the President's Office regarding any changes in the way your gifts should be recorded in future reports.
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A Memorial Gift is a gift made in memory of a departed loved one or friend. It is a wonderful way to express sympathy and high regard, as well as a means to commemorate birthdays, anniversaries or other special days.
AT UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS
I would like to give a gift in the amount of $ at University of the Cumberlands. This gift takes the shape of:
to the Tribute Program
An Honor Gift in the name of for the occasion of
.
A Memorial Gift in the name of
.
Please send notification of my gift to: Name Address City
State
Zip
State
Zip
This gift was given by: Name Address City
Please return this coupon, along with your gift, to: President’s Office • 6191 College Station Drive • Williamsburg, KY 40769
TRIBUTE GIFTS
February 1, 2020, THROUGH August 31, 2020
CREATE A LASTING IMPACT AT UCUMBERLANDS.EDU/GIVE IN MEMORY OF: MAVIS F. BROOME
CAROLYN SILER BROWNING
JUDITH E. SLONE
JAMES L. COX
JIMMIE MULLIS PEACE WISSING
PATRICK & LEAH M. NORVELL
KELLE FALTERMAN
LARRY & DIXIE COCKRUM
DEBBIE M. HARP
GERALDINE AMEDEO MR. MITCHELL
Given by:
Mrs. Kimberly White Mrs. Erica Harris
JOHN ELLIS
MARY DOYLE JOHNSON Given by:
Dr. Edwin Conover
Given by:
Ms. Kathleen Bowling Ms. Elizabeth Brown Ms. Mary Beale Mr. William Kirkland Mrs. Marcia Ridings Mrs. Louise Tipton Ms. Adele Tooms Dr. Jess White Mr. Daniel Yates Mr. Lewis Foster
Given by:
Mr. Gardner Slone, Jr.
Given by: Mrs. Jacquelin Brown Given by: Mrs. Janet Schehr Given by: Ms. Dorothy Backstrom Dr. & Mrs. Colegrove LISA K. JONES Anonymous Dr. & Mrs. Ben Edmonds Given by: Mrs. Rhonda Schell Ms. Lorraine Brown Mr. Edward Gohmann JAMES LEWIS HARBUCK III Mrs. Marlene Ellis Mr. Craig Mortell Given by: The Seedtime Fund, Inc. Mr. Charles Gauck Dr. Anita Bowman Ms. Martha Highsmith NORMA PATRICK MRS. DAVID’S PARENTS Ms. Mary Jacobson Given by: Mr. Alan Bruce Given by: Mrs. Beverly Davis Mr. Earl Johnson MARIAN KLEEMANN Mr. Charles Click HER DEAR FRIEND Ms. Ella Loon Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Charles Mr. & Mrs. Wesley Cornett Given by: Ms. Marsha Griffith Ms. Lynn Maaske Kleemann Mr. Alan Hampton Mrs. Shirly Nilsen CAROLYN SKEEN DAMRON Mrs. Debbie Harp BARBARA ANN LATHAM Mr. R.K. Simmons Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Harp Mrs. Erica Harris Given by: Mr. Jim Latham Ms. Cheryl Steen Mrs. Kimberly White MAVIS BROOME Mrs. Abbie Willits DORIS ALLISON TRIPLETT Ms. Cecilia Prater Given by: Mrs. Erica Harris Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Roof Given by: Mrs. Shelleigh Moses Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Sanders Mrs. Kimberly White Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Stone MORRIS & ESTHER GINSBURG JOE LEWIS DORMAN BROYLES Ms. Diana Warmoth Given by: Mrs. & Dr. Barbara Aronson Given by: Mr. Thomas Osborne Given by: Ms. Carol Hawkins Mrs. Shannon Warmoth HAROLD & LOIS WORTMAN ANN AUSTIN ARNSPIGER Mr. & Mrs. Kelly Raglin DR. BOSWELL Given by: Mrs. Sharon Cates Given by: Walter G. Canipe Ms. Ann Wohlfarth Given by: Mrs. Deania Hurst Foundation, Inc.
IN HONOR OF: Given by:
Given by:
Mrs. Courtney Bidwell
Given by:
Debby Falterman
Mr. Alan Bruce Given by: Mrs. Kelle Falterman Mr. & Mrs. Wesley Cornett JO FLORENCE CORDELL Mr. & Mrs. Kelly Raglin Given by: Mrs. Erica Harris Mrs. Lou Steely ANONYMOUS Mr. Shannon Warmouth Given by: Mr. & Mrs. John Hopper Mrs. Tracey Wessel
Given by: Given by:
Ms. Brittany Nantz Mrs. Leah Norvell
KEVIN SANDERS Given by:
Mr. & Mrs. Kelly Raglin
Given by:
Dr. Susan Wesley
ELIZABETH & NORMAN SIEGER
JOHN D. BROOME
BARBARA ARONSON’S 80TH ANN JEWELL BIRTHDAY Given by: Mrs. Courtney Bidwell
Given by:
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Coppock Ms. Amanda Walton
TOM & KATHY FISH Given by:
Ms. Brittany Nantz
Given by:
Given by:
Mrs. Mary Leef
Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin & Judith Marks
Given by:
Mrs. Courtney Bidwell
ERICA HARRIS Given by:
Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Bloomer
VERNON & ANNETTE CALHOUN Given by:
Ms. Nerissa Calhoun
ROBERT HOFFELDER MARK E. HENSLEY
MELODY L. COPPOCK Given by:
ALICE WILDER
WINTON BEATY
Given by:
Mr. & Mrs. Earnie Williamson
Given by: Anonymous
PAM BISHOP Given by:
Mrs. Courtney Bidwell
Anyone interested in making a Gift-in-Kind donation is encouraged to contact the Office of the President or visit www.ucumberlands.edu/give. Please make support payable to University of the Cumberlands.
Office of the President 6191 College Station Drive Williamsburg, KY 40769
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University of the Cumberlands Office of the President 6191 College Station Drive Williamsburg, KY 40769
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LOUISVILLE, KY PERMIT #879
THE SPIRIT OF GIVING For Mountain Outreach, ushering in the holidays means getting into the spirit of giving. The annual Gift Day does just that. Volunteers load approximately 20,000 pounds of food, plus Christmas toys and infant care items, into the vehicles of more than 100 local families in need every December. Families walk through the warehouse with eyes glowing, hearts thankful. The families served by Mountain Outreach may not have had a real Christmas otherwise. But with their cupboards stocked and presents under the tree, they can relax and enjoy the holidays. Mountain Outreach can enjoy them too, knowing that their spirit of giving made a real difference this holiday season.
HELP MAKE CHRISTMAS POSSIBLE
u cu m b e r l a n d s . e d u /G I V E