2022 A Good Word

A Good Word

A word from the dean

After struggling with all kinds of COVID-related challenges over the last two school years, the 20212022 school year has been a breath of fresh air as in-person classes resumed across our campus once again. While online classes certainly have their place, I’m convinced that nothing beats the environment a live classroom provides for not only the dissemination of knowledge but also for the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with our students. It is the relationships we form with students that are the real joy of being an educator.

In the School of Theology, we are blessed with the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with our own majors and also with the large numbers of students we teach from every discipline on campus through the General Studies Religion Program. Our department is fortunate to have such a richly talented group of dedicated faculty members who are both leading experts in their fields of study and also award-winning teachers who deeply care about our students. While this year’s newsletter focuses on a number of students in the School of Theology, I thought I would share some comments other students have made in course evaluations this year about the spiritual impact our classes and faculty have had on their lives. For confidentiality reasons, the names of students, faculty members, and course names have been removed.

“As a senior, I have taken many classes. This is my favorite religion class I have taken, and the class and teacher is in my top 3 favorites for sure. The professor talks clearly, interestingly, and has structured the class to make learning easy, interesting, and deep. I am very glad I took the class and for the great perspectives I gained from it.”

“I really enjoyed this class and the teacher. The professor is approachable and created a safe environment for the students to ask questions or share thoughts. The

WWU School of Theology faculty

Carl Cosaert, dean Early Christianity/ New Testament

Brant Berglin New Testament/Greek

Susan Bungard New Testament

Paul Dybdahl Mission/New Testament

Mathilde Frey

Old Testament/Hebrew

Pedrito Maynard- Reid Biblical studies/missiology

Jody Washburn

Old Testament/Hebrew

teacher provided new perspectives on religion and taught me how to evaluate the Gospels and reflect on the message of Jesus.”

“I was not particularly excited about taking this religion class, or any for that matter, but as this class comes to an end, I am SO glad I took it this quarter. It had been a long time since I opened my Bible and read it, and honestly, I did not really want to read the Gospels, but I found myself really enjoying the reading assignments and was left wanting to read more.”

“This was one of my favorite classes I have taken at WWU. It was so exceptional, and it really made me feel excited to study the Bible. The course materials that were chosen were so interesting. I have recommended this class to countless other people and feel like it has contributed significantly to my personal growth.”

“I had an amazing quarter in this class. I was given an amazing opportunity of connection with my professor, one that I believe has jump-started my journey in healing from my religious trauma and given me some insight into what could have been and how religion should truly be. I learned a lot of new things that have opened my eyes about true Christians and the true love of Christ.”

It is in reading evaluations like these that I am reminded again of the value of Christian education. Like these students, I am grateful for the religion teachers that shaped my life many years ago when I was also a student at an Adventist college. If I had attended a public university or private, non-Christian university, I would not be the person I am today.

Please join me in praying that God will continue to use the opportunity we have in our classes to touch the lives of all our students for Jesus.

Words from Scripture:

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

3 John 1:4, ESV

Carl P. Cosaert

School of Theology scholarships

Students in the School of Theology are deeply grateful for the scholarships that make their education possible. This year, 34 students received scholarships from the funds listed below totaling $46,300. Thank you to our generous alumni and friends for providing these scholarships.

• Thomas Theology Scholarship Fund ($3,000).

• Alice I. Bowden Memorial Scholarship ($4,900).

• Matiko Theology Award ($2,500).

• Alfred A. Ogden Endowed Theology Scholarship ($700).

• Center for Bible, Faith, and Mission Scholarship ($100).

• J. Paul Grove Memorial Scholarship ($4,800).

• Richard and Dena Hammill Scholarship ($800).

• Paul and Frances Heubach Theology Scholarship ($1,700).

• Oland F. Hubbs Memorial Theology Scholarship ($1,000).

• Mary E. Marker Memorial Theology Scholarship ($3,000).

• Daniel A. Ochs Memorial Scholarship ($350).

• Gayle L. Saxby Memorial Scholarship ($950).

• Theology Dean’s Award ($24,000).

• Eva Stratton Vliet and Jess Vliet Scholarship ($950).

If you would like to contribute to the work of the School of Theology, contact Alumni and Advancement Services at (800) 377-2586.

New student-led church takes practical approach to Christianity

Launched on October 9, The Revival Project is a new student-led church at Walla Walla University that takes a practical approach to Christianity. Through a four-Sabbath rotation of worship styles, students are given a unique blend of church fellowship and community service.

The Revival Project, co-pastored by theology students Matthias Bernard and Lynelle Bathan, is a unique worship opportunity that often replaces their church program with community service. The purpose of this change is to promote active engagement in a spiritual community. Some of their services have been organized in connection with the WWU Center for Humanitarian Engagement.

Bernard said, “Our sister churches offer a more structured production that is put on every Sabbath. The Revival Project is different. We have this rotation that gives people an opportunity to be involved in different areas of ministry, not just a production. We want people to leave The Revival Project knowing that ministry is not just confined to the four walls of the church.”

Each four-week rotation of services focuses on a specific topic. The first Sabbath is an in-depth discussion of the topic. The next Sabbath, the group responds to the previous week’s sermon through active service. The third week, they practice gratitude through sharing personal experiences related to the topic before discussing “so what” and “why” questions during the final service.

The Revival Project is one of many Sabbath morning services organized and supported by students. Whether students prefer the Hispanic worship style of Spanglish Church, or the close-knit Bible study of ReNew Sabbath school, there are many opportunities for students to find spiritual growth and take on roles of leadership at Walla Walla University.

New course explores women in the Bible

During winter quarter 2022, Mathilde Frey, professor of biblical studies, began teaching a new upper-division class about women in the Bible which she proposed and developed. This is the first time WWU has offered such a course.

Frey’s main goal when teaching this course is “to read biblical stories in such a way we gain a better understanding of and are able to see ourselves as part of this great plan of God.” Women in the Bible is a unique course that allows students of all genders

a safe space to discuss hard topics and find their own experiences reflected in biblical stories.

Frey has enjoyed seeing the reactions of students as they consider stories from a different perspective. “A great number of female students on campus relate to Biblical stories about women. This class allows females to hear their voices, to speak up, to tell stories, and then to see what we can take out from those Biblical stories about women,” Frey explained.

Maynard-Reid contributes to SDA Black History Month quarterly

Pedrito Maynard-Reid, assistant to the president for diversity and professor of biblical studies and missiology, provided a lesson for a recent Seventh-day Adventist quarterly and Bible-study packet published by AdventSource. He and three other authors wrote lessons for the issue “Social Justice in the Word of God,” that came out during Black History Month.

The first week’s lesson, by Maynard-Reid, is titled “Social Justice in the Old Testament.” It talks about the connection between the first commandment and social justice, with examples of early Israel and minor prophets. “We look at how God wanted people to treat the marginalized, poor, weak, and vulnerable in early Israel,” Maynard-Reid explained. “Many people wrote me and said they’d never seen this in the Bible before. My students know this in all my classes, they see social justice in the Bible.”

This specific issue consists of seven lessons to read over the course of one month. In addition to the traditional daily lessons, it also includes facts in honor of Black History Month. The issue was sent out to churches in January to have them ready to read for February.

InTents celebrates 30 years of evangelism

For 30 years, Walla Walla University students have gathered in a large, colorful tent on campus to attend a student-run evangelistic series called InTents. This series of seven meetings is conducted by students of the Public Evangelism class taught by Pedrito Maynard-Reid, professor of biblical studies and missiology.

While the location where the tent is pitched has changed from year to year, students remain eager to fill the seats. InTents has even lived in the digital space, sharing student testimonies in podcast form during the spring of 2020.

In planning and organizing the meetings, students develop valuable skills for evangelism and learn how to tailor ministry to the needs of a specific community. Paul Dybdahl, professor of mission and New Testament, spoke at the first InTents meeting as a student. “I remember the freedom Dr. Maynard-Reid gave to us as students to be creative. We were encouraged to think carefully about how we could best reach our fellow university students.”

This year’s InTents theme, What’s Your Exodus, highlighted the modern challenges students face as they step into a relationship with Jesus.

Powers’ passion for people

WWU student exemplifies service in action

Mitchell Powers is a junior religion major in the School of Theology who has a passion for helping people. Through the many service projects and ministries he has been involved with, he puts Jesus’ model of grace into action to benefit others inside and outside the WWU community.

Powers’ path to studying religion started at Columbia Adventist Academy (CAA) where he worked for the Oregon conference to help create a fundraiser for homeless youth. This job, along with preaching opportunities and encouraging mentors at CAA, showed Powers that he had the skills to pursue theology and that helping people through pastoral work was his life calling.

For his first two years at WWU, Powers worked at the Center for Humanitarian Engagement (CHE) as a volunteer coordinator to promote a campus-wide lifestyle of service. Powers planned to do a student mission year in Australia the following fall, but during spring break, as COVID-19 restrictions were limiting future travel, Powers got a call from the head pastor at Meadow Glade SDA Church. He asked if Powers would be willing to work as an interim youth pastor until in-person school resumed.

Powers accepted the position and fulfilled the need to support young people by preaching, teaching, leading Bible studies, and starting the first-ever young adult group at Meadow Glade SDA Church. He said of the experience, “That was chaotic. I felt incredibly ill-equipped, but when God says you gotta do it, you gotta do it.”

When Powers returned to school in the fall of 2020, he answered the call to serve others in a more secular setting. Through his continued work for the CHE, he had an opportunity to help the City of College Place’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board. One of the goals of this board was to end the cycle of shoplifting and criminal charges by implementing a divergence program.

Shoplifting in the Walla Walla area, especially at Walmart, is prevalent. While shoplifting seemingly only affects large companies, it actually has a big impact on the community. When Powers looked at the current shoplifting cycle, he saw that shoplifters are often motivated by a lack of basic necessities. The punishment cycle showed no human contact, no second chances, and most critically, no improvement.

While researching the problem, Powers said, “Grace was not evident in any of this. I think because of these [theology] classes, I had been rewired to think about grace, to think about Jesus, to think about what He would do. Because of that, my research molded around that idea.”

Powers’ research showed that the success of divergence programs hinged on personal engagement. Under the newly implemented divergence program, shoplifters are directed to Blue Mountain Health Cooperative, a local mental healthcare clinic, for an opportunity to have their charges dropped. Offenders who arrive are interviewed by a mental health clinician and can take an online course from the state. This new program helps needy shoplifters by providing food, shelter, job counseling, hygiene products, and other necessities.

Powers said, “The ability for me as an aspiring theologian, pastor, and chaplain to bring the grace concept of Jesus Christ into a city system that is understandably secular was a monumental achievement. I think, I hope, and I pray that people who come out of this program are able to experience Christ because our whole divergence program is based on grace.”

Powers, now almost done with his junior year of college, continues to serve others. He currently works as spiritual vice president for the Associated Students of Walla Walla University where he strives to meet the spiritual needs of students by planning events and engaging with other spiritual leaders at WWU. Powers credits classes exploring world religions, Christian ethics, history of Adventism, and church worship for the tools to think differently and be more open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Powers’ future plans all involve showing grace in action. He plans to spend this summer in Denver, Colorado, as a hospital chaplain intern for Centura Health. He has accepted a position for his senior year as the student lead chaplain for the WWU Chaplain’s Office where he will coordinate spiritual events.

While at WWU, Powers has found many opportunities to put his ministry skills into action. In fact, he was awarded the President’s Student Civic Leadership Award for his outstanding leadership. “My call is to ask in depth questions, pray for a heart that cares, and allow people into your lives that we might be strong in community, fellowship, and in building the Kingdom of God,” said Powers.

Soldier for God

God’s guidence leads to a new path

Jonathan Joseph had just completed high school when 9/11 occurred. The attacks triggered a national initiative to combat terrorism. Passionate about serving his country and committed to its defense, Joseph decided to join the military instead of attending college.

The weeks of individual and combat training passed quickly as Joseph threw himself into this new challenge. His strong commitment to his goals led to him graduating from the training program with honors. In 2003, he was deployed as part of the airborne infantry to serve in Iraq. “I wanted to help,” said Joseph. “I was committed to making a difference.” In Iraq, Joseph served as the lieutenant’s personal assistant and driver. His duties required him to drive convoys and engage in combat patrol missions. His military service was a very positive experience, and, he said, “I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. I honestly thought I’d stay in the army for the rest of my life.”

But all things come to an end, and when his tour of duty was complete, Joseph returned to the U.S. where he attempted to resume school and civilian life. The transition came as a shock, and Joseph struggled to adjust. Uncertain about the direction his life should take, he dealt with the traumas of service which had a detrimental effect on his schooling. He fell into homelessness and grappled with alcoholism for several years.

as he described it.

In the midst of these challenges, he had a spiritual encounter, or a “Damascus road moment,” as he described it. That encounter with God began Joseph’s journey to Walla Walla University. He said, “My homelessness and alcoholism played a huge role in leading me to Christ and our university. I reached my lowest point before my spiritual encounter and new direction.”

Joseph began reading and studying the Bible, learning for himself the truths held in its pages. Those truths and the personal God he encountered transformed

In the midst of these challenges, he had a spiritual encounter, or a “Damascus road moment,”

his life. Joseph began searching for a church that held the values he had discovered. Providentially, he was led to Emerald City Community Seventh-day Adventist Church in Seattle, Washington, and came under the guidance of Eugene Lewis, the church pastor. Joseph told Lewis about his Damascus road moment, his experiences, and his growing desire to support God’s church. Lewis encouraged him to pursue a college degree so that he could follow this newfound passion God had placed in his heart.

Lewis not only encouraged Joseph, but gave him practical help as well. The mixture of God’s direction and Lewis’ guidance brought Joseph and his family to the WWU campus in 2021, where he enrolled in the School of Theology. His goal in studying theology was to make a difference and be useful for the Lord.

Joseph, now a sophomore theology major, said the decision to move his family to Walla Walla and begin school was not an easy one. “I was very brave when I was younger, like with joining the military and all of that, but it was terrifying coming here, just making the decision to get the family together and move.”

The journey hasn’t been easy, but Joseph explained that he finds peace through surrender to God’s guidance. “If I could go back to before I started school at WWU and tell myself one thing, I would say, ‘believe, just get through the doubt.’” Choosing this new, challenging path that God has led him to has given him purpose. “I’m a lot older and I wish I would have done this a lot sooner in my life. But it feels good to actually do something with my life again. Breaking free from the cycles of homelessness and alcoholism I was trapped in feels incredible.”

Joseph is excited to further his education and be part of the WWU campus life and ministries. He finds a sense of belonging in his classes and in conversations with his professors. “After being out of school for so long, it is a little surprising how well I’m doing classes, but that is because of God’s grace,” said Joseph. He finds delight in watching the younger generation of students, his classmates at WWU, learning on a positive, godly foundation alongside him.

“I loved being a soldier and it’s that same passion and commitment that drives me now, but I’m a soldier for God now,” he said.

The Global Reach of the ‘Good Word’ Broadcast

Good Word is a weekly radio program that serves as a supplement to the Seventh-day Adventist adult Sabbath school quarterly with content provided by professors in the WWU School of Theology. The program can be accessed online at wallawalla.edu/goodword and on Spotify.

Bethani King

SOT alumna discovers God’s call to go

Bethani King, who graduated with a biblical languages degree in 2011, returned to Walla Walla University in February to share her journey from student to founder of On the Ground International (OGI), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Venezuelan refugees fleeing to Columbia.

King grew up understanding the missionary lifestyle. Her mother was the daughter of missionaries. Many of King’s cousins and extended family were missionaries. As a child, King wanted to follow in their footsteps. She put that dream aside for a while, but God had plans to fulfill the dream of her heart.

In 2016, King was working in an Adventist school in California teaching music and Spanish, and coaching basketball. She started hearing about the ongoing crisis in Syria that forced many to flee the country as refugees. The stories on the news were so horrific, King wondered if they could possibly be true.

King became obsessed with wanting to know what was really happening in Syria. One night, she spent hours on the internet trying to piece together a story that made sense to her. “If things are really that bad,” she reasoned, “why aren’t more people doing anything about it?”

A passion ignited in her heart to help these Syrian refugees. King wanted to become a volunteer and aid these vulnerable souls. The problem was finding an organization who would take her. She wrote to numerous agencies and either didn’t get a reply or was directed to make a donation.

Finally, in an act of faith, King decided to buy a plane ticket to Lebanon, hoping God would make everything fall into place. At the very last minute, she was able to find an organization through friends of friends that was happy to have her as a volunteer. She vividly recalls sitting in the Portland airport messaging a Syrian refugee family in Lebanon asking if she could stay with them that very night. God worked things out with perfect timing.

“The desperation and bleakness of a refugee camp is hard to prepare for,” said King. Seeing the poverty and hopelessness of the people who thought they’d stay at the camp for a few weeks that quickly turned into years was difficult to witness. This was their new reality and many did not know what their futures held.

“If things are really that bad,” she reasoned, “why aren’t more people doing anything about it?”

While King was in Lebanon, she would get messages from friends and family asking if she was safe and urging her to come home. While she understood that her friends and family were concerned for her, she was frustrated that no one was giving her encouragement. King said, “You can search the scriptures cover to cover, and you will never find Jesus telling his people to stay safe.” King believes that if God is calling us into something, we can rest assured that He will provide for all our needs.

After King came back to the U.S., she resumed teaching, but it was not long until she returned to serve. In 2018, she felt called again to care for refugees, this time in Greece. She stayed on the island of Lesvos, where she worked with refugees to improve their lifestyle.

It was in 2019 that she established On the Ground International. King is fond of saying that “It happened by accident.” She spent two months traveling along the route of the Venezuelan refugees heading to Colombia and helping them. She shared her experience on Instagram and people wanted to help. When they sent her money, it felt weird to King to put the money in her personal account, so she started OGI as a way to separate the money more ethically. Then people started to ask her if they could volunteer with her. On the Ground International was born.

King feels that God has blessed her in many ways. People have expressed awe in her accomplishments, but she said, “God has built this and opened doors I wouldn’t have even prayed for.” She is very grateful to God for the opportunities given to her.

Her preparation to take on those opportunities grew in the School of Theology. King said WWU shaped her and helped prepare her for a life as a missionary. Her professors mentored her in her journey with God and their open door policy went above and beyond what King thought they were required to do as teachers. She said that Christian life and integrity were modeled by her professors. Even to this day, the bonds she formed at WWU hold strong, and she often comes to visit with her former teachers whenever she’s in the area.

King recalls her mentor Paul Dybdahl, professor of mission and New Testament, saying in his Intro to Missions class, “We are called to go unless we are called to stay.” To King, this means that sometimes we think that we need to feel a specific calling to leave the country and go serve, or we won’t do it. But, she wants us to consider that unless we feel God wants us to stay put, we have a duty to go out and be the hands and feet of God.

“We are called to go unless we are called to stay.”

Festschrift honoring Thompson to be published in 2022

A new book will be published celebrating Alden Thompson, former SOT theology professor. Titled “‘The Philistines are Upon Us’: A Festschrift in Honor of Alden Thompson,” the book is a compilation of articles that celebrate and highlight Thompson’s 50 years of Seventh-day Adventist scholarship and academic ministry. It will be published in late summer or early fall 2022.

Made up of 15 tributes and articles written by various prominent Seventh-day Adventist scholars, the book covers a diverse range of intellectual and religious topics related to Thompson’s work and influential ideas. Authors who currently or previously worked at Walla Walla University include John McVay, Terrie Aamodt, Ernie Bursey, and John Brunt.

Carl Cosaert, dean of the School of Theology, said, “Alden has always cared deeply for his students and has had a real burden for the Adventist Church. So it is exciting that we have this opportunity to celebrate his career and influence.”

Professors speak to support pastors, teachers

The School of Theology aims to be active in the Seventh-day Adventist community. Professors Carl Cosaert, Jody Washburn, and Paul Dybdahl all recently presented at different Seventh-day Adventist Conference meetings to support their pastors and teachers.

Washburn spoke for the January 2022 Washington Conference pastors’ meetings on whole-person engagement with scripture, the mosaic of metaphors in the Bible as an invitation to theological humility, compassion in Christian life and practice, and trauma-informed theology.

Dybdahl spoke for the virtual Washington Conference pastors’ meetings in August of 2021. He shared a biblical study on Acts and how a local church can overcome obstacles and fulfill its mission.

In February of 2022, Cosaert was invited to Anchorage, Alaska, for the 2022 Alaska Conference workers’ meetings that support pastors and teachers in that conference.

Cosaert said that when he pastored for 10 years, he really looked forward to these conferences because they connected him with people who were going through similar struggles. Now, Cosaert and other SOT professors use the meetings as an opportunity to minister to spiritual leaders and to recognize challenges that students will face as they join the ministry.

School of Theology 2022 graduates

We are pleased to introduce the 2022 graduates of the WWU School of Theology.

Matthias Bernard, major in theology and biblical languages

What will you miss about WWU: The WWU community. Wherever you are on campus, as long as you are willing to engage, you can always find people to talk to and create relationships with. I also had the opportunity to start The Revival Project on campus as one of the co-pastors, which was awesome!

Plans after graduation: I will be at the Hawaii Conference working as a youth pastor.

What is a favorite, meaningful portion of Scripture for you, personally: Romans 8:1, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Aaron Dasher, major in religion

What will you miss about WWU: I will miss the feeling of familiarity of living in an Adventist community.

Plans after graduation: In the short-term, I will be working for Everts, a private airplane company in Alaska, to get my airframe license. My long term-plan is for a mission-oriented job in Alaska with the General Conference, or wherever God leads me.

What is a favorite, meaningful portion of Scripture for you, personally: Isaiah 50:7. This encouraging text reminds me that I’m called to be a great solder in God’s service.

Matthew Kontra, major in religion

What will you miss about WWU: What I will miss most is Taqeria Yungapeti’s California chicken burrito.

Plans after graduation: Short term, pastor the Gemstate and Caldwell churches in Idaho. Long term, be a banana farming missionary in Madagascar. What is a favorite, meaningful portion of Scripture for you, personally: Luke 12:48 “..from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.”

Levanny Laureano, major in theology

What will you miss about WWU: Campus squirrels and Dave Thomas’ mustache.

Plans after graduation: A youth pastor for the Oregon conference in Hispanic Ministries. What is a favorite, meaningful portion of Scripture for you, personally: 1 Corinthians 10:13 “…But God is faithful.”

School of Theology

2022 graduates

We are pleased to introduce the 2022 graduates of the WWU School of Theology.

Raven Leonardi, majors in theology and biblical languages

What will you miss about WWU: The amazing mentors that I have grown close to in the theology department and in local churches.

Plans after graduation: An assistant pastor position at the Green Lake Church in Seattle. What is a favorite, meaningful portion of Scripture for you, personally: 1 Corinthians 13:12, which reminds me that I can trust in God in the unknowns of life and continue to grow in my walk even when it’s not comfortable.

Ryan McMurphy, major in theology

What will you miss about WWU: The beautiful WWU campus and the sense of community. Also, going to local businesses like Andy’s Market and Roger’s Bakery, which will always hold a special place in my heart.

Plans after graduation: A position at the South Hill Church in Spokane, Washington.

What is a favorite, meaningful portion of Scripture for you, personally: Psalm 22 gives a window into the experience of Christ during His final hours. The human expression of grief leading into praise reminds me that God is not a stranger to pain and that we are never without hope, regardless of the trials before us.

Rachelle Santee, major in theology

What will you miss about WWU: The community and support from the staff, especially from the theology department. They have helped me as I’ve navigated being a mom as I finished my undergraduate degree.

Plans after graduation: Associate pastor for the Springfield Church in the Oregon Conference.

What is a favorite, meaningful portion of Scripture for you, personally: Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Dustin Schaber, major in religion

What will you miss about WWU: I’ll miss the faculty and staff. I felt as though each teacher I came in contact with truly did care about my success in each of their respective classes.

Plans after graduation: My plans are to follow God’s lead. I have been job searching and am looking forward to the prospect of entering full-time ministry at an Adventist instuition.

What is a favorite, meaningful portion of Scripture for you, personally: A meaningful passage for me is the calling of Moses in Exodus 2 to 3, and the call of Gideon in Judges 6.

Angelo Simorangkir, major in theology

What will you miss about WWU: I will miss the people. They affected my life and how I view the world so much.

Plans after graduation: To live my best life with my beautiful wife, and live the way God intends for me.

What is a favorite, meaningful portion of Scripture for you, personally: Micah 6:8 has been a cornerstone of my life for a while now. It has affected me and dramatically changed the landscape of how I choose to interact with people.

Lydia Tupper, major in theology and biblical languages

What will you miss about WWU: Friends at WWU and the wonderful worship atmosphere.

Plans after graduation: Pastoral position for the Oregon Conference at Crosswalk Portland.

What is a favorite, meaningful portion of Scripture for you, personally: Isaiah 54:10, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”

Madison Turner, major in theology

What will you miss about WWU: I am going to miss the drama department and all the wonderful cast families that we have created together.

Plans after graduation: Studying at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary for an M.Div., and at University of Texas to gain an M.S.W..

What is a favorite, meaningful portion of Scripture for you, personally: I have appreciated studying the Book of Lamentations and the beautiful poetry it holds.

Daniel Wright, major in theology and psychology

What will you miss about WWU: The WWU student body, the immersive spiritual life, and the relationships with staff and professors.

Plans after graduation: A psychological assessment/ referral coordinator, and attending Fuller Theological Seminary’s doctorate of psychology program.

What is a favorite, meaningful portion of Scripture for you, personally: 1 Timothy 4:12.