W a r n e r
P a c i f i c
C o l l e g e
THE EXPERIENCE Summer 2006
Shelter from the Storm Combat veteran and Developmental Psychology professor Dr. John Fazio is an expert in delivering crisis mental health services at home and abroad. | Page 8
• WPC wins Ethics Bowl | 6
• Student studies science of blood clots | 7
• Track Team grows by leaps and bounds | 10
from our president... The Experience
Editor / Photographer / Designer: Scott A. Thompson sthompson@warnerpacific.edu
Change is in the Air
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arlier this year, Warner Pacific College asked alumni and church leaders to complete a mail-in survey in order to identify their perceptions of the College. We are grateful to the many alumni who responded. One of the messages we heard loud and clear is that we need to do a better job of engaging our alumni and friends across the western region. For the last sixteen years, our primary fund-raising events have been the Harvest Banquets in Portland and Seattle. They have been wonderful opportunities for alumni, church members, donors and friends to fellowship and to support the College. All told, the banquets have raised One of the $1,684,646 for student messages we scholarships. heard loud and How e v e r, t h e b a n quets have not served our clear is that important friends and we need to do alumni in other cities. As a better job of a result, we are bringing the message of Warner engaging our Pacific College to a city alumni and near you. friends across While we will continue to have gatherings the western President Jay A. Barber Jr. in Portland and Seattle, region. we have also tentatively scheduled dinners in Southern California, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming, and in the southern, central, and eastern regions of Washington and Oregon. We want to hear from you—your questions, your hopes, and your dreams for Warner Pacific College. You will find a calendar of the proposed dates and locations in this edition of “The Experience.” We are also interested in hearing from friends in other areas. Please contact Andrea Cook, Vice President for Institutional Advancement (503-517-1246 / acook@warnerpacific.edu), if you would like to help organize a dinner near you. Warner Pacific College is in the midst of a time of many blessings, and we anticipate exciting days ahead. As we embrace the opportunities before us, we trust that this change will be welcomed and will provide greater opportunity for interaction and renewing of relationships.
Contributors: Jay A. Barber, Jr. ’64 Nina (Hertzog) Horn ‘04 Printing: Good Impressions Printing
College Administration President Jay A. Barber, Jr. ‘64
Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Cole Dawson Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dr. Andrea Cook Vice President, Treasurer, and COO Wayne Pederson
“The Experience” is produced three times a year by the Office of College Communications for alumni and friends of Warner Pacific College. Warner Pacific is an urban Christian liberal arts college dedicated to providing students from diverse backgrounds an education that prepares them for the spiritual, moral, social, vocational, and technological challenges of the 21st Century. WPC is affiliated with the Church of God, Anderson, Ind. Warner Pacific College 2219 SE 68th Ave Portland, OR 97215 503-517-1000 www.warnerpacific.edu
How to contact us:
With appreciation,
Please send comments or story suggestions via e-mail to sthompson@warnerpacific.edu by mail to the above address c/o Editor, “The Experience Magazine”
Jay A. Barber, Jr. President
or by phone at 503-517-1123. You can view current and archived issues of The Experience at www.warnerpacific.edu.
Cover photo by Scott A. Thompson
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The Experience
W a r n e r
P a c i f i c
C o l l e g e
THE EXPERIENCE Summer 2006
Inside 5
Not Right Now?
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WPC team wins inaugural OICF Ethics Bowl Competition
Professor Jerry Hickson’s new book examines ways in which the Church of God differs from its Evangelical neighbors.
Students triumph in a modified debate competition sponsored by the Oregon Independent College Foundation.
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A Little Blood Work
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Shelter from the Storm
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WPC Biology major Cassie Johnson ‘06 delves into the science of blood clots at Oregon Health Sciences University. Combat veteran and Developmental Psychology professor Dr. John Fazio is an expert in delivering crisis mental health services at home and abroad.
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Growing by Leaps and Bounds
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Giving Sir Duke His Due
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The WPC Track and Field Team enjoys a record year. Battle Ground High School jazz director Greg McKelvey ‘77 leads his jazz band to a second place finish in the elite Essential Ellington Band Competition in New York City.
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Courtesy Northwest Medical Teams International
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Departments
WPC psychology professor Dr. John Fazio (left in baseball cap) and fellow volunteers with NW Medical Teams carry an elderly woman across the border from Montenegro into Albania during a 1999 medical mission trip. (Photo courtesy Northwest Medical Teams International).
Summer 2006
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From the President
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Community News
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Student Life
12 Alumni News 14 Class Notes 15 En Memoriam 3
COMMUNITY NEWS
WARM conference fosters camaraderie among West Coast ministers
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he annual Western Area Regional Ministerium welcomed approximately 200 ministers on campus April 25-27 for three days of conferences concerning how to create more effective church ministry. According to WARM planners, the conference went far beyond expectations. “This has been the best experience I’ve had in ministry up to this point,” said conference chairman Dave Dougherty ‘66, senior pastor of Hoodview Church of God, in Woodburn, Ore. “I sense personally a renewed cooperation in the Church. We need each other.” Recording artist and composer Gloria Gaither headlined the conference, which also featured WPC president Jay A. Barber and Anderson University president Jim Edwards. Gaither spoke on how conflicts over worship styles are splitting churches. She said that praise and worship is far more than a discussion over music or instrumen-
Recording artist Gloria Gaither (right) greets senior Joia Cherrington ‘06 during the 2006 Western Area Regional Ministerium (WARM) conference, held on campus April 25-27.
tation, and should be seen in the larger context of God’s work in people’s lives. “We’re fighting over something that isn’t the point,” Gaither said. “When God’s work is accomplishing what He [intended],
the results will be praise. When we experience the life-altering encounter with God, we will praise Him. You can’t stop it.” WARM 2007 will be held in Palo Alto, Calif. April 17-19.
Letters Humanities story strikes chord
I just finished reading “The Experience” [and] I wish I was young again and college-bound. The Humanities Core Curriculum especially struck a note. I think I have always—and more so as I grow older—struggled for answers to these kinds of questions. Finally, Christian colleges are addressing these issues. I attended Anderson College from 1947 to 1949. It was good, but I wanted to dig deeper. Faith (Walker) Davie Pleasant Hill, Ore.
College on the right track
I was particularly stirred by the recent [Spring 2006] issue of “The Experience.” Scott Thompson’s article, “Core Knowledge” and Joel Kelly’s “Guilt, redemption, and mashed potatoes,” brought me up to date with the present approach to learning at Warner Pacific. I feel confident Warner Pacific College is on the right track by inspiring the students to become students of life, not just students of information. God is in the process, not just a seeker’s conclusion. Rachel Spencer ‘58 Oakridge, Ore.
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Distinguished alumni praise visit
We appreciate the honor of receiving the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award for Service. Our years at WPC were ones of emotional maturing and spiritual growth. Professors such as Joe Gilmore, Dr. Wilma Perry, and Charles Nielsen affirmed us as we pushed beyond our closely set boundaries. Classmates turned into life-long friends whose encouragement and support has never ended. Warner Pacific College was a place that helped us know God better, increased our skill in listening to God’s voice, and nurtured our desire to follow His leading. We look forward to what the future holds for WPC. Amelia (Schmidt) ‘75 Chuck Patrie ‘74 Henderson, Nebraska
A fun read
“The Experience” looks great and is fun to read. Joel Kelly’s thoughts made us laugh and we were very blessed to read about Brent Goulet. Bethany (Bakken) ‘89 and Allen Larson ’90 Vancouver, Wash.
The Experience
Magazine content impressive
I got my copy of “The Experience” a few days ago and I have to tell you, it is just terrific. I don’t often write compliments or criticisms of products, but [the Spring 2006] issue was truly superlative. I recall from my time at Warner how deeply I’d wished we could put out a document as attractive and substantial as this. The writing is excellent and the photographs first-rate. Your cover story on the Humanities core curriculum was the anchor of an issue that presented the strengths and benefits of a liberal arts education in a compelling way—not just any liberal arts education, but a Warner Pacific education. Way to go! It cannot help but elevate the College in the minds and hearts of its readers. Bill Stenberg (Director of Admissions, 1994-1996) Tigard, Ore. We welcome your feedback. Please send comments by e-mail to sthompson@warnerpacific.edu or by mail to Editor, “The Experience,” Warner Pacific College, 2219 SE 69th Ave, Portland, OR 97215. Letters may be edited for publication.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Globe-trekking missionary lands in professor’s chair
Photos by Scott A. Thompson
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fter spending 24 years as a Church of God missionary in the Middle East and Asia, incoming Religion and Christian Ministries professor Dr. John Johnson sees his upcoming role at Warner Pacific as an extension of his missionary work. He will be teaching missions, spiritual formation, and Biblical studies at the College. “We might be able to raise up a new generation of missionaries and pastors who have a ‘missions heart,’ but who also might really service the church in the Asia / Pacific region,” Johnson said. The son of former Church of God missionaries Don ’51 and Betty Jo (Hyman) Johnson ’50, Jo h n s o n c o m p l e t e d field assignments in South Korea and Egypt before serving first as Dean and then as President of Medit e r ranean B i b l e College (MBC), in Beirut, Lebanon, from 1996 to 2002. Along with his wife of 27 years, G w e n , Jo h n s o n most recently worked as regional coordinator for Church of God Missions throughout Asia and the PacifDr. John ic. Now with Johnson their daughter Jonni in college and son James almost out of high school, the Johnsons felt the timing was right to make the move to Warner Pacific, where, Johnson says, his view of discipleship training will translate well to the college classroom. “The church is crying out for leadership,” Johnson said.
Not Right Now?
Professor’s new book examines ways in which the Church of God differs from its Evangelical neighbors.
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r. Jerry Hickson believes the Church of God has become too much like its neighbors. In his new book “Are you Sure You’re Right: Evangelicals and the Church of God” (Anderson, Ind., Warner Press, 2006), the WPC Religion and Christian Ministries professor argues that while the Church of God Movement shares much in common with American Evangelical Christianity, the two differ on key theological issues. And as Evangelicalism has become a major cultural and political influence, Hickson fears the Church of God is forgetting its own heritage. “We [both] believe that Jesus is the Christ and we believe salvation is only through Him, but in the most narrow way, Evangelicals are very reformed, very Calvinist,” said Hickson. “The Church of God is really different from all of that.” Referencing early Church of God writers like Frederick G. Smith, R.R. Byrum, and A.F. Gray, Hickson argues that the Church of God has never preached the inerrancy of scripture, nor the “end times” eschatology fictionalized in the widely
NEWS Steding, Valentine named 2006 Cascade Conference Coaches of the Year
WPC women’s and men’s basketball coaches Katy Steding and Bart Valentine ‘75 were named 2006 Cascade Conference Steding Coaches of the Year. Each led their teams to their first Cascade Conference regular season championships, which brought automatic births into the 2006 NAIA Div. II NaValentine tional Tournaments. Steding is a former Olympian and professional basketball player in her fifth year at Warner Pacific. Valentine, in his seventh year as the men’s coach, also serves as the College’s Athletic Director. It was the first such honor for either coach. Summer 2006
Dr. Jerry Hickson
popular “Left Behind” books. He adds that the Church of God historically supports women in ministry and has a clear pacifistic heritage that stands in contrast to conservative politics often associated with
Evangelicals. Additionally, Hickson weighs in on the debate surrounding the use of medical technology to prolong life, a topic about which he has personal experience. Hickson believes Evangelicals put too great an emphasis on prolonging life at all cost. Hickson’s first daughter, Melissa, died in 1999 at the age of 14 due to an infection following surgery. Hickson remembers well the pain of watching Melissa die, but says there is a promise for a better life beyond. “Death is a part of life,” Hickson said. “Shouldn’t we allow death to come and celebrate life and the passing, with all of the pain and the grief?” Hickson expects some readers to take issue with his book, but he says he set out to speak prophetically to the Church of God. “I’m concerned [that] the Church of God is losing its focus.”
notes Dawson accepts permanent role as Vice President of Academic Affairs Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Cole Dawson has accepted the position on a permanent basis. Dawson’s predecessor, Dr. John Hawthorne, who served in the role from 1995 to 2005, has become the new provost of Point Loma Nazarene University, in San Diego, Calif.
Hofer resigns as Alumni Director
Citing a desire to spend more time with her family, Director of Alumni Relations Sherry Hofer ‘81 has resigned. She held the Hofer position for six years. “I will be forever grateful to the Lord for allowing me to be a part of this community,” Hofer said.
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STUDENT LIFE
WPC team wins inaugural OICF Ethics Bowl Competition
Warner Pacific triumphs in a modified debate competition that features teams from private Oregon colleges and universities.
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to this event,” said Ethics and Religion professor Bryan Williams, the team’s coach. “They worked incredibly hard as a team to represent the ethic of Warner Pacific College.” Judging the teams were top executives from some of the most influential companies in Oregon, including Weyerhaeuser, Intel, Schnitzer Steel Industries, and Portland General Electric. Teams received the case studies in advance, but could bring no notes. Judges were also free to ask impromptu questions. “In each case, we tried to put in the relevant Christian ethic,” said Hall. “To the judges, it seemed very important that we identified the key ethical issue.” In the tournament final, Warner Pacific and Marylhurst
Photo submitted
team of five WPC students captured the inaugural 2006 Oregon Independent Foundation Ethics Bowl, on Saturday, March 11, at the University of Portland. Teams from independent Oregon colleges and universities competed head-to-head as they responded to case studies involving business ethics. The WPC team of captain Heather Phillips ‘06, Heather McClendon ‘08, Aaron Walton ‘06, Mary Hall ‘06, and Justin Ammons ‘09 won seven of eight cases against teams from Willamette, University of Portland, Concordia, and Reed, earning a place in the final round against an undefeated Marylhurst University team. “Each college attempted to send its highest caliber students
ETHICS EXPERTS The WPC Ethics Bowl team formally receives its championship trophy. Pictured left to right are faculty advisor Dr. Bryan Williams, Aaron Walton ‘06, Justin Ammons ‘09, Mary Hall ‘06, team captain Heather Phillips ‘06, OICF Chair Robert Maloney, Jr., Heather McClendon ‘08, and Andrea Cook, WPC’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
addressed case studies involving an employee backdating important documents and a chain store squeezing out small businesses. In a tight match, Warner Pacific won 103 to 91.
“For us, it was being able to walk away and say this is what our school has prepared us for,” said Phillips, a Social Work major. “That was very exciting.”
Students see face of poverty on San Francisco trip
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enior Alina Croall thought she was merely escaping a rainstorm when she stepped inside St. Boniface Catholic Church, in San Francisco, Calif., during a missions trip last March. Instead, she found approximately 70 homeless people lying on pews, escaping the same wet weather she was. “I thought, ‘This is what church is,’” said Croall. “The people of St. Boniface didn’t have an agenda. They just wanted INNER-CITY VIEW A team of WPC students to be an extension of God’s grace and give these people a safe place to stay dur- spent spring break serving the poor in inner city San Francisco. ing the day.” Croall was one of 13 WPC students who spent spring break in San Francisco hanging out with youth at an inner city ministry, serving food at a soup kitchen, stacking boxes at a food bank, and, otherwise, getting a closer look at the poverty that exists mere blocks from trendy sections of town. The students spent most of their time at City Crossroads Ministry (CCM), an inner-city ministry affiliated with the Church of God. CCM is equipped with basketball hoops, Ping-Pong and Foosball tables, and areas for kids to socialize in a safe environment. “They come in and they can be kids,” said junior Brynn Otness. “When they’re out in the city, they have to watch their backs. They have to make sure their siblings get home safely. They have to make sure that their siblings can eat. They have hard lives. But when they come to City Crossroads, we could give the gift of having fun.” Junior Matt Hawthorne saw the city in a totally new light by the end of the week. “You can walk down the street and see 40,000 tourists in Union Square and buy something in a shop, but if you walk two or three blocks, you can walk into one of the poorest neighborhoods in all of America,” Hawthorne said. “The fact that there are 2000 people living in one block in some of these residences is staggering to me.”
Oboist handles spotlight with Oregon Symphony Music Education major Rebecca Nederhiser ’08 played principal oboe during a joint performance of Mahler’s 1st Symphony by the Portland Youth Philharmonic and the Oregon Symphony, May 26, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Nederhiser, who plays first oboe with PYP, studies with Oregon Symphony oboist Karen Wagner. For the special concert, Wagner handed the demanding first oboe part to her student, and Nederhiser more than held her own. “It was a combination of being ready for the opportunity and the Lord [helping] bring it all together.”
STUDENT LIFE
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“I think Microbiology was the biggest help,” Johnson said. “Genetics was also helpful because we learned about proteins and their structure and how they worked.”
Student Profile
amily history played a major role in senior Cassie Johnson’s decision to research blood clotting at Oregon Minute details Health Sciences University (OHSU) over Johnson put 17 blood samples through a the past year as part of the Murdock Scholar series of chemical treatments and centrifuge Undergraduate Research Program. The pro- spins in order to isolate the fibrinogen in gram allows undergraduate students from eight Portlandarea colleges and universities to compete for internships in labs affiliated with OHSU. A member of Johnson’s immediate family has survived two blood clots, so when the Biology major from Grand Forks, B.C. learned about OHSU researcher Dr. David Farrell’s work in the area of blood coagulation, the decision seemed obvious. WPC Biology major Cassie Johnson ‘06 delves “I had heard a little bit into the science of blood clots as a Murdock about blood clots and blood Scholar at Oregon Health Sciences University. disorders,” said Johnson, who was the recipient of the 2006 Marshall K. Christensen Award for each. Once she had derived pure samples of Scholarship, WPC’s top academic award. “I fibrinogen, Johnson used chemicals to create wanted to learn a bit more about blood and and then break down blood clots, measuring the time involved with each step. She had to the clotting process.” be precise, as she had to work with as little as 500 microliters of fibrinogen at a time. The role of fibrinogen “I was probably pretty annoying to everyJohnson’s project involved using blood samples taken from patients with sclerosis one in the lab because I was asking a lot of of the liver to look for defects in the main questions to make sure I was doing it right,” protein that causes blood clotting, fibrino- Johnson said. Johnson’s research suggested there were gen. Patients with sclerosis of the liver often experience bleeding disorders, and Johnson genetic defects in the fibrinogen she sampled, wanted to see if a defect in fibrinogen may but exactly what they are and what caused be involved. Johnson said her science studies them are not yet known. “Cassie has been a jewel,” Dr. Farrell said. at Warner Pacific proved an asset as she set “Cassie is exactly the kind of student we are about her research.
Doing a little
Blood
STUDENT RESEARCHER Cassie Johnson ‘06 looked for defects in the blood-clotting protein fibrinogen as a Murdock Scholar at Oregon Health Sciences University.
Scott A. Thompson
Work
trying to recruit into the Murdock Scholar Program.” Future nurse Despite her notable lab skills, Johnson has her sights set on a career as a nurse practitioner. She will attend nursing school at the University of Portland this fall and hopes to someday do medical mission work overseas. She says that even though she doesn’t plan to pursue a career in medical research, the Murdock internship was invaluable. “I think the experience will help me in my future career in the medical field because it taught me to have attention to detail,” Johnson said. “It taught me to be very focused.”
National tournament play, conference honors cap record hoop seasons
©2006 Creative Images Photography
hey may not have come home with trophies, but the Warner Pacific women’s and men’s basketball teams were the pride of the College community when they competed at their respective national NAIA Division II basketball tournaments in March. The women lost in the first round, March 8, to a taller and well-seasoned Indiana Wesleyan team, 81-53, in Sioux City, Iowa. The men, playing in Point Lookout, Mo., beat Holy Names University (Calif.) in the opening round, 83-73, March 9. However, the team stumbled the next night versus Morningside College (Iowa), losing 71-68. Just prior to the tournament, the Cascade Conference recognized six WPC hoopsters for their landmark seasons, in which both teams claimed regular season conference championships. All-Conference honors went to seniors Becky VanTine (pictured left) and Angie Sun for the women, and senior Donny Woods (pictured right) and freshman Nate Menefee for the men. (Menefee was also named Freshman of the Year). Freshman Jacque Barton made the women’s All-Freshman Team, and junior guard Nicole Brown received All-Conference Honorable Mention.
Summer 2006
©2006 Creative Images Photography
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COVER STORY
Shelter from the Storm Combat veteran and Developmental Psychology professor Dr. John Fazio is an expert in delivering crisis mental health services at home and abroad. | By Scott A. Thompson
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njured Army specialist John Fazio could only lie still in his hospital bed – a captive audience, as it were – as a chaplain confronted him with the last question he wanted to hear. “Now that you have survived this ordeal, what are you going to do with the rest of the life that you have been granted?” the chaplain asked. The year was 1968, and Fazio was a 20-year-old Vietnam combat veteran recuperating in a military hospital in Tokyo, Japan from severe bullet and shrapnel wounds. Even though he had all the time in the world to ponder his future, Fazio didn’t have an answer for the chaplain. He would eventually find his answer in a most unexpected way. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” Fazio recalled. “I didn’t know what I could do.” Now, as a psychology professor at Warner Pacific College, Dr. John Fazio can look back on his 34-year teaching career, knowing that his ultimate answer to the chaplain’s question was to give away to others the new life granted to him. “When we try to determine God’s will, I wish we knew then what we know now,” Fazio said. “It would make it easier.” The Lessons of War Fazio grew up in the small Minnesota town of St. Paul Park, and attended the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis. He worked part-time as an operating room tech at a local hospital, and dove into college life – all except the studying part, that is. 8
Fazio’s grades bottomed out and he lost his college deferment. Drafted in November 1966, Fazio was first sent to Fort Polk, La, for basic training, followed by advanced training in special long range reconnaissance at Fort Carson, Colo. He arrived in Vietnam in January of 1968, just as the Tet Offensive was erupting across the country. Fazio’s unit, the Co. C, 2nd Battalion/12th Cavalry, was in the northern part of the country, making its way to the former French colonial city of Hue (pronounced-WAY). When Fazio finally reached command headquarters at Camp Evans, he learned his battalion was in deep trouble. A sergeant promptly volunteered himself and Fazio to fly in on the next supply helicopter. Fazio knew that meant a one-way ticket. “They had a helicopter which was loaded with ammunition and medical supplies and an all-volunteer crew,” Fazio said. “I thought, ‘This is not good.’ They couldn’t legitimately order people to fly into this situation because of the danger. We flew [to the war zone] and literally got dropped in the middle of this battle.” The Lost Battalion Fazio’s battalion was in a hornet’s nest of enemy troops guarding the command center for the North Vietnamese Army’s attack on Hue. The combination of poor weather and ineptitude within U.S. command left the battalion without air support or artillery backup. After two days of intense fighting, the Americans were completely surrounded and outnumbered three to one. They had no packs, food, or water, and were nearly out of ammunition. Daring helicopter pilots evacuated some wounded, but the surviving soldiers were on their own. Disobeying orders to stay put, the battalion’s leader decided to make a break for it. Fazio and 190 other soldiers escaped at night, trudging through mud, mere feet from enemy guns.
The Experience
Photo courtesy John Fazio
WPC professor Dr. John Fazio (center) traveled twice to Albania in 1999 with Northwest Medical Teams International to conduct mental health assessments of Kosovar refugees.
COVER STORY Early in this, I realized that what I had been through [in Vietnam] actually gave me an ability to hear the truth of the pain a person is feeling. Whether it s the quiver in their voice or the way their eyes react or their breathing or the words they choose to use, I know when the person is really hurting. It just doesn t scare me. “It was the scariest thing in the world,” Fazio said. The soldiers made their way to higher ground where they were able to fend off enemy attacks until reinforcements arrived. All told, during the first two months of 1968, the 2nd Battalion/12th Cavalry experienced 60 killed and 251 wounded, a 60 percent casualty rate. This fact was such an embarrassment to the Army that the many missteps of higher command were covered up until the 1993 book “Lost Battalion,” an eyewitness account by Battalion Intelligence Officer Charles A. Krohn, set the record straight. “I don’t remember replacements getting there for a long time,” Fazio said. “Then the artillery caught up with us. After that, Vietnam was a cakewalk” A New Life to Live Compared to the intensity of that first month in Vietnam, the wounds that put Fazio out of the war came almost as a fluke. Later that May, Fazio was on a hilltop radioing some incoming Chinook helicopters. Rather than wait for the real prizes to land, the enemy decided to fire at Fazio, instead. A bullet splintered his right pelvis, and artillery rounds sent shrapnel into much of his body. Weeks later, lying in his hospital bed in Tokyo, Fazio wrestled with the chaplain’s question. Then an unexpected visitor came to the ward looking for volunteers to help Japanese college students practice their English. Fazio would soon find the direction he was looking for. Talking with the students proved remarkable therapy for the soldiers. It also was Fazio’s first experience teaching others. “The students were bright people, energetic, inquisitive,” said Fazio. “We talked about all sorts of things. I had never thought of myself as a teacher before, [but] that’s when the point turned. I thought, ‘This is something I can do, something I could be good at.’” Back to School After recovering well enough from his injuries, Fazio received his discharge papers in late 1968 and returned to the University of Minnesota with renewed focus. He landed one of 32 coveted spots in the university’s teacher education program. Less than a year out of his combat experience, Fazio wasn’t sure how he would get along with the other students in the program. As it turned out, he was not only the youngest one in the cohort, but there were plenty of other personal battle scars to go around. “We were all older,” Fazio said. “Life had not been kind to anybody in that room. There were cancer survivors [for example]. I thought, ‘Okay, this cohort I can get along with.’” Fazio graduated in 1971 with a degree in Sociology with a concentration in secondary and special education. He taught special education and AP courses at Apollo High School, in St. Cloud, Minn. for six years, while working on his master’s degree in counseling psychology at St. Cloud State University. Imminent job layoffs in 1978 prompted Fazio to look for teaching jobs out of state. He drove to Portland, Ore. to interview with two area colleges. While there, an acquaintance suggested he apply at Warner Pacific College. Fazio wasn’t familiar with the school. However, during the interview process, Fazio learned that a former high school buddy, Merle Strege, taught at the College. “That was pretty bizarre,” said Fazio. “That made me feel connected. Plus, the teaching load was definitely more exciting.”
Staying Engaged During the past 28 years at WPC, Fazio has remained committed to the classroom, even while he has become a highly sought after expert in the area of crisis mental health. The courses he teaches range from general psychology and counseling theory to neuroscience and abnormal psychology. In 1994, he completed his doctorate in Human Development from the Fielding Graduate Institute, in Pasadena, Calif. He then became instrumental in designing a new Developmental Psychology major at Warner Pacific that was a hybrid of psychology, human development, and biological science. He has twice been elected faculty person of the year, and in 1999 received the Kendall Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Scholarship. “Clinical psychology assumes something is wrong [that] we must fix,” said Fazio. “A developmental approach says given normative development, how do we handle it when something bad happens? That seemed more consistent with how I felt and how I taught the subject matter.” The World Beckons Fazio’s interest in crisis mental health services was piqued in April of 1999, when Oregon-based Northwest Medical Teams International (NWMTI) asked him to join a medical team dispatched for a month to a Kosovar refugee camp in Albania. Fazio provided mental health assessment of children and adults that had been displaced due to war in neighboring Kosovo. He returned that summer to Albania and spent the month of June coordinating medical services for NATO and the United Nations at a repatriation camp, a role that made the best of his military, medical, and psychological training. “Early in this, I realized that what I had been through [in Vietnam] actually gave me an ability to hear the truth of the pain a person is feeling,” Fazio said. “Whether it’s the quiver in their voice, the way their eyes react, their breathing, or the words they choose to use, I know when the person is really hurting. It just doesn’t scare me.” In February 2001 Fazio led a team of mental health specialists with NWMTI to Ahmedabad, India in response to a massive earthquake. Later that year, Oregon-based Mercy Corps International asked Fazio to contribute to a booklet that provided guidance in helping children process their fear and grief over the events of 9/11. The booklet was distributed in the greater New York and Washington, D.C. areas following the terrorist attacks. Helping at Home Given family and college commitments, Fazio knew he wasn’t free to become a full-time international mental health consultant. Instead, he wanted to find similar opportunities locally. That’s when a colleague introduced him to the Trauma Intervention Program, a national organization that dispatches trained volunteers to scenes of trauma – such as fatal car accidents, suicides, and fires – to provide immediate emotional support to those most affected. In November 2001, Fazio and a group of WPC students completed the training. In addition to taking his monthly shifts as a TIP volunteer, Fazio has also become a certified traumatologist and a national TIP trainer.
Summer 2006
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(Clockwise from top) Breanna Hargrave ‘06; Anton Stupnitskiy ‘07 and Curt Lockard ‘09; AnnErica Whitemarsh ‘07; and Coach Dave Lee and Erin Kinney ‘07.
GROWING BY
LEAPS AND
BOUNDS Photos by Scott A. Thompson
Warner Pacific’s Track and Field team enjoys a breakout year.
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he WPC Track and Field program had its strongest season in its short history, sending a record six of its 21 athletes to the 2006 NAIA National Track and Field Championships, in Fresno, Calif., and setting 21 new school records by season’s end. Top team finishers in Fresno included Nicole Brown ‘07 racing to 7th in the w o m e n’s 100 meters, and Anton Stupnitskiy ‘07 finishing 9th in the men’s 800 meter race. “Our team [looked] the best ever this year,” said Stupnitskiy, a middle-distance runner from Omsk, Russian. Track coach Dave Lee came to WPC from Oregon City High School six years ago to start the College’s cross country program. He added selective track events as athletes showed interest. Lee says he can offer athletes legitimate opportunities to advance their 10
skills, even without the bells and whistles of a major program. The team practices at nearby high schools and competes at major invitational meets around the Pacific Northwest. Since 2000, three WPC track athletes have won individual national championships in the National Christian College Athletic Association, Chris Clancy ‘03 (Mile/ 3000m), Gavin Shearer ‘04 (Javelin), and Corey Swim ‘05 (Javelin). Clancy also captured the College’s only NAIA championship by winning the men’s 3000-meter race at the 2003 NAIA National Indoor Track and Field Championships. Additionally, Swim placed second in the javelin at the NAIA national outdoor meet in 2003 and 2004, and Erin Kinney ‘07 took third place in the women’s high jump at the NAIA outdoor
championships in 2004 and 2005. Lee says WPC is an especially good fit for students who take academics and leadership as seriously as their track and field events. “There are a lot of young people with fragmented academic pasts,” Lee said. “They need a place to pull it together. This is a good, healthy, spiritual environment for kids.” Long distance runner Kalen Abbott ‘06 transferred to WPC in early 2002 from a college in Colorado. In his career at WPC, Abbott competed at six NAIA national Track and Field championships and was a two-time Academic All-American majoring in Biology. “I didn’t know this at the time, but Warner Pacific would present me [with] opportunities that I would not have been able to get anywhere else.”
The Experience
Another example of a top student looking for a new home was heptathlete Breanna Hargrave ‘06, who transferred last year from a large Midwestern university. An Australian on a short-term visa, Hargrave wanted to graduate in year, as well as compete in track. Warner Pacific accommodated her on both counts. Hargrave tied Kinney for fifth place in the women’s high jump at the 2006 NAIA National Indoor Meet last March.Two months later, she graduated with a degree in Health and Human Kinetics. “Coach Lee’s concerned you’re doing well academically,” said Hargrave. “He’s constantly telling his athletes it’s a priority.”
THE MYSTERY WILL BE REVEALED . . . Warner Pacific College Special Event Friday, August 25, 2006 6:00 P.M.
2219 SE 68th (at Division) Portland, OR 97215 • Live Music • Food • Prizes • Carnival for the kids Join us for an evening of fun, music, entertainment and exciting news about Warner Pacific College. Call 503-517-1369 for more information More info at 503-517-1369
www.warnerpacific.edu
College announces schedule for regional events Warner Pacific College is coming to a town near you. The College is planning gatherings with alumni, parents, and friends throughout the West. Further details will soon be released. Contact Andrea Cook at 503-5171246 or acook@warnerpacific.edu to assist with a dinner or to receive more information.
Southern Calif. - Sept. 11-16, 2006
South Sound, Wash. - Nov. 10, 2006
Southern Oregon - Sept. 22, 2006
Portland / Vanc. - Nov. 16, 2006
Central Oregon - Oct. 5, 2006
Salem / Albany - Dec. 5, 2006
Casper, Wyo. - Oct. 12, 2006
Tri-Cities, Wash. - Dec. 9, 2006
Bellingham, Wash. - Nov. 7, 2006
Phoenix, Ariz. - Jan. 9, 2007
North Seattle, Wash. - Nov. 9, 2006
Boise, Idaho - Feb. 3, 2007
Summer 2006
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ALUMNI NEWS
Oregon librarian brings books to the Louisiana bayou hen Cherrie Carlson-Conklin ‘72 heard a news report about someone donating a book mobile to a hurricane-ravaged community along the Gulf Coast, she got an idea. Carlson-Conklin is a county librarian and substitute school teacher in rural Baker City, Ore. She knew the Baker County Public Library had an old 1968 Gerstenslager book mobile that was out of commision and used only for storage. She spearheaded a project last March to fill the bookmobile with 20,000 pounds of donated books, CDs, and DVDs destined for Cameron Parish, a rural section of Louisiana Baker City, Ore. librarian and teacher Cherrie Carlson-Conklin ‘72 spearheaded a project that took a direct hit from Hurricane Rita this spring to fill an unused bookmobile with donated library materials and transport it 2,500 last September. Three of the parish’s five small miles to Cameron, La. in rural Cameron Parish (pictured below). Hurricane Rita destroyed libraries were completely destroyed by the three of five libraries in the parish, which borders Texas and the Gulf of Mexico. storm. After Baker City’s local newsdamage left in Rita’s wake. Rusty appliances, paper reported on other donations vehicles, and other debris lay strewn across Carlson-Conklin’s covered fuel costs. the landscape, or piled up in a mound nickvision, the Baker Library officials in named “Mt. Rita,” just outside town. County commuCameron Parish “There was a house in the middle of a nity responded in were elated when rice field…that had blown for five miles,” swift order. the bookmobile Carlson-Conklin. “Everything was a funny “I asked only was finally ready brown shade of decay.” for good stuff,” for transport. By late May, library officials were still proCarlson-Conklin “A t f i r s t w e Photo courtesy of Cherrie Carlson-Conklin. cessing the Baker City materials. They plan said. “In a month’s couldn’t believe it to place the bookmobile in the small town time [the bookwas actually true,” of Johnson Bayou, located 28 miles east of mobile] was full. People would just stop me said Cameron Parish Library Director Port Arthur, Texas. on the street and ask me what I needed.” Charlotte Trosclair, “but as things started In addition to Baker City’s bookmobile, Collecting the library materials was only to materialize, I realized it was really going Cameron Parish recently acquired two other the first step, however. Carlson-Conklin to happen.” bookmobiles, one donated from Ohio and needed a way to transport the book mobile On April 15, Carlson-Conklin and volunthe other purchased by the parish. The 2,500 miles south, since it wouldn’t make the teer driver Vic Endicott set out on the 2,500 three will temporarily replace the destroyed trip on its own, and she had no budget for mile journey. They arrived without incident libraries. the approximately $10,000 project. Fortuthree and half days later in Cameron, La., “Everybody will have some type of library nately, local businesses donated the use of a in Cameron Parish. Driving into the area, service again,” said Trosclair. long haul truck and a flat bed trailer, while Carlson-Conklin saw for herself the lingering
From insurance desk to firing range
Photo courtesy Karen Frenette
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Army Sergeant Jeff Frenette ‘92
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ast November, insurance investigator and Army reservist Jeff Frenette ’92 learned he was being deployed to active duty at Fr. Jackson, South Carolina for at least a year. That meant saying goodbye to his wife of fourteen years, Karen (Christensen) ’03, his two daughters, Natalie (13) and Jane (11), and his comfortable Sherwood, Ore. home. “Our charmed life of ‘8 to5’ jobs and dinner together took a dramatic turn,” wrote Karen, a substitute teacher in the Sherwood School District. For the previous eleven years, Frenette worked in the special investigations unit for Country Insurance. At Ft. Jackson, he fires machine guns and other weapons to simulate actual combat while recruits crawl low to the ground. It’s a far cry from working at the office. “Proud does not begin to describe how I feel about him and the duty he (and our family) is fulfilling,” Karen wrote. “I have the best of the worst situation. I am thankful that he is stateside where we can keep in constant contact. After several years of a very happy marriage, this has made us even stronger and closer.”
The Experience
Photo courtesy the Baker City Herald / S. John Collins
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ALUMNI NEWS
Jazz teacher gives Sir Duke his due
Battle Ground High School jazz director Greg McKelvey ‘77 leads his jazz band to a second place finish in the elite “Essential Ellington” band competition in New York City. Scott A. Thompson
Serving in Mexico, for the children
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SHELTER / from page 9 “The TIP model is beginning to be recognized around the country as probably the most significant intervention that can be done,” Fazio said. “[Offering] a very quick intensive presence seems to allow for less post traumatic stress. You just get in there and deal with whatever you need to deal with. You reach in and grasp them and let them know they are not alone.”
Looking Ahead Fazio isn’t talking about retiring from the classroom anytime soon, but whenever a major disaster occurs – such as the 2005 Tsunami in Asia or Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Gulf Coast – he feels the yearning to go and help. In fact, six different relief organizations approached him about heading up their mental health operations in the Gulf Coast following Katrina, but he was just starting a new school year.
Summer 2006
Scott A. Thompson
teve ‘86 and Jackie (Mouser) Scott ’70 have embarked on a new adventure to serve children on the Baja peninsula of Mexico. In June, the Scotts became the fulltime American directors of Welcome Home Outreach Ministries (WHOM), located 100 miles south of Ensenada in the small town of Vicente Guerrero, Mexico. WHOM operates a daycare facility for children of migrant farm workers, who typically live in ramshackled work camps without running water, plumbing or electricity. “WHOM provides transportation, a full day of care and teaching, spiritual guidance, meals and hygiene for the children,” said Jackie. Steve has worked as Warner Pacific’s Director of Facilities Services for more than eighteen years. Jackie most recently worked as an executive associate for the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter. They sold their home in Fairview, Ore. this spring and moved to Vicente Guerro in June. They will focus on cultivating donor support among churches and individuals in the states, and hosting work teams throughout the year. To stay up to date on the Scotts’ ministry, visit www.welcomehomeoutreach.org or contact them at info@welcomehomeoutreach.org
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attle Ground (Wash.) High School band director Greg McKelvey ‘77 found out just how good his jazz band was when the group placed second in the 11th annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz and Band Festival at New York City’s Lincoln Center, May 20. It was the highest finish ever for a first-time band in the Ellington competition. “It was the best festival I’ve ever been to” said McKelvey, who has spent ten years of his 28-year teaching career at Battle Ground. “All of the bands were outstanding.” Of the 96 bands that applied for the competition nationwide, only 15 were selected as finalists. Bands had to submit CD recordings of themselves performing three compositions by legendary jazz composer Duke Ellington. The festival releases six new transcriptions each year, of which each band must play two. The third can be chosen from previous competitions. To get the judges attention, McKelvey selected one of Ellington’s most challenging pieces, “Braggin’ in Brass,” which at points requires musicians to play at different speeds simultaneously. Once Battle Ground was selected to compete, the band started practicing overtime. McKelvey and the students practiced every school day from 6 to 7:30 a.m., as well as two evenings a week, plus Saturday afternoons. McKelvey also brought in local jazz professionals to serve as guest clinicians who would put the band through its paces. “When you get to a certain level, everybody has talent,” said McKelvey. “What distinguishes those bands from the great bands is the amount of work you put in.” In addition to choosing a challenging set, McKelvey remained a purist when interpreting each composition. He had the band study old recordings to hear the subtleties that gave Ellington’s bands of the 1930s their distinct sound. “We stuck strictly to how Ellington would have interpreted it,” said McKelvey.
Battle Ground High School Band director Greg McKelvey ‘77 impressed festival judges by having his band perform one of Duke Ellington’s most difficult works.
The band’s performance was all the more remarkable given the adventure it had just getting to New York. The band’s May 17 flight out of Portland had to return when an emergency exit chute deployed just after takeoff. After taking a later flight, the group didn’t arrive in New York until midnight. Then they learned their instruments and suitcases were in Denver. But McKelvey worked with airlines officials to get everything to New York in time for a morning rehearsal with a Lincoln Center clinician. The Essential Ellington competition isn’t McKelvey’s first taste at national competition. He previously taught at Jackson, Wilson, and Marshall High Schools, in Portland. His 1990 Wilson band won a national championship at Music Fest USA. “I’m not a slave driver,” McKelvey said. “You have the most success when you have the kids work with you, not against you. I’m very intense, but music is supposed to be fun.”
“I was upset I couldn’t go to the Gulf Coast and help coordinate that aspect of the recovery,” Fazio said. “That was a distraction.” However, Fazio remains passionate about teaching, particularly knowing that he has helped students who now serve in demanding fields like social work, medicine, and counseling. “I hope I have had an influence on my students,” Fazio concluded.
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ALUMNI NEWS
70’s David L. Whelchel ’71 edited the book “Ozette Archaeological Project Research Reports Volume III: Ethnobotany and Wood Technology,” for the Washington State University Department of Anthropology. The book concerns findings of an archeological dig in Neah Bay, Wash. that uncovered wellpreserved wood products used by the Makah Nation. Whelchel is the security coordinator for Information Technology at WSU and a former anthropology student.
80’s
Michael Kelly ’83 and his wife Joan Whitman welcomed the birth of their second daughter, Paige Whitman Kelly, on January 15, 2006, at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. Paige weighed 8 lbs., 3 oz., and was 21 inches long. She joins big sister Harper Rose Kelly, 3. Michael and Joan are both professional editors. Carrie (Stritenberg) Danchok ‘88 is the new volleyball coach at Eagle Point High School, in Eagle Point, Ore. Danchok was formerly the head girls and boys volleyball coach at Los Angeles’ Garfield High School for 12 years.
90’s Colleen (Spohn) Wilde ‘95 gave birth to daughter Grace on August 10, 2005. Grace joins big brother Dylan (21), who is stationed in Germany with the Air Force. Chris Greenhalgh ’96 is the new principal at Woodland Elementary School, in Fairview, Ore. Chris previously served as assistant principal at H.B. Lee and Walt Morey Middle Schools, and as a fourth and fifth grade teacher at Hartley Elementary School, all in the Reynolds School District. Marlene (Morris) ‘96 and Shawn Fletcher ‘03 gave birth to their first child, Charles “Charlie” Michael, on October 30, 2005, in Portland. Charlie was 10 lbs., 8 oz., and 22.5 inches long. Shawn teaches in a special education behavioral class at Edgefield Children’s Center in Troutdale, Ore. Marlene works part-time as a secretary at Wilkes Elementary School in SE Portland.
Lindsay (Wesche) ‘99 and Craig Button ‘99 welcomed their third child, Anna Elisabeth, on November 29, 2005. Anna weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz. and was 20 inches long. She joins older brothers Will (5) and Wyatt (3). Craig is an elementary P.E. 14
Retired chaplain Rev. James Coleman ‘61 honored for hospital, church ministry
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n recognition of his career as a chaplain and as a minister of the Church of God, Warner Pacific College presented Rev. James A. Coleman ’61 with an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree during Commencement, May 6, at New Hope Community Church, in Portland. Rev. Coleman spent 22 years as chaplain at Portland’s Emanuel Hospital. “That was my calling,” Rev. Coleman said. “I dealt with a lot of emergency room situations.” Rev. Coleman served in the U.S. Army from 1947 to 1956, and received training as a clinical specialist. He worked in hospitals in three states, and in the District of Columbia. He studied Theology at Pacific Bible College (Warner Pacific College) from 1956 to 1961. He also worked full-time as a licensed practical nurse at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, in Portland until 1969. Rev. Coleman then earned a Master of Education and Counseling degree from Oregon State University. In 1973, he joined the chaplaincy staff at Emanuel. The combination of his medteacher in Dallas, Ore., where the Button family resides.
Scott A. Thompson
Rev. James Coleman ‘61 (right) receives his honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from WPC President Jay A. Barber during Spring Commencement, May 6, 2006.
Trudi (Cleveland) Sang ’81 will travel to Romania in July as a member of a team from Tigard Christian Church, in Tigard, Ore. Trudi will use her skills as a storyteller, puppeteer, and clown as the team conducts children’s ministry in cooperation with Greater Europe Missions. She and her husband, James, have four children.
ical, theological, and educational training made him a natural for the role. “Of yourself, you have nothing to offer,” said Rev. Coleman, “but you have a relationship with the Lord and He cares about them. If there is any comfort to be given, He has to give it.” In addition to his chaplaincy work, Rev. Coleman founded Fellowship Church of God in his home in 1976. In 1978, the church moved into a building in N.E. Portland and Rev. Coleman served there until 1995. His daughter, Aundria (Coleman) Holt ‘96 and son-in-law, Steven Holt ’91, now lead the church, which has become the International Fellowship Family, in Parkrose, Ore. Rev. Coleman also taught Bible at North Portland Bible College for 22 years. Rev. Coleman and his wife, Minnie, have been married for 44 years, and have four children, eleven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Concerning his honorary doctorate, Rev. Coleman said, “I hadn’t anticipated such an honor. It’s a new thing for me to try to work it into my mind.” the U.S. Navy.
00’s
Michael Pollard ‘02 became an official trainee with the Portland Fire Department during ceremonies on April 6, 2006.
Erik Brink ’01 has graduated from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Kirksville, Mo. and will soon begin a fiveyear surgical residency in Pennsylvania with
Nicole Ramsey ‘02 has earned the degree of Master of Public Health in Global Health from Loma Linda University.
The Experience
ALUMNI NEWS
En Memoriam Calvin Brown ‘53 Calvin Brown ‘53 passed away December 15, 2005. Calvin served pastorates in Alaska and Washington. He is survived by his wife, Mary, three sons, one daughter, four step-children, eleven grandchildren, and four siblings. Rev Kerry Flohr ‘71 Rev Kerry Flohr ‘71 died March 11, 2006 at the age of 59. He was born May 7, 1946, in Rochester, Ind. He moved to Portland, Ore. in 1966 and attended Warner Pacific, where he met and later married Raynell (Glessner) Flohr ‘68. During his ministerial career, Kerry served as a pastor at Fruit Valley Church of God, in Vancouver, Wash.; Renton Church of God, in Renton, Wash.; Good News Foursquare Church, in Portland, Ore.; and Eagle Creek Foursquare Church, in Eagle Creek, Ore. Kerry also spent time as a chaplain and assistant director for Union Rescue Missions in Los Angeles and San Diego Calif. Survivors include his wife, son, mother, brother, and one grandchild. Eileen (Keiser) Gottier ’59 Leo Gottier ‘59 Eileen (Keiser) Gottier ’59 died on March 3, 2006, and her husband of 40 years, Leo Gottier ’59, died six days later on March 9, both in Colorado Springs, Colo. Eileen was born May 6, 1931 in Michigan. Leo was born December 6, 1922. The couple attended Pacific Bible College. Survivors include two sons; two granddaughters; and three great grandchildren. Rodney Harry ‘68 Rodney Harry died May 13, 2006, at the age of 69. Rodney was born March 3, 1937, in Trinidad, West Indies. He immigrated to Portland, Ore. in 1964, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Warner Pacific, minoring in psychology.
Save the Date! WPC Alumni & Friends Luncheon Oregon State Camp Meeting Tuesday, August 8, 2006 12:00 p.m. (on the lawn) Homecoming 2007 January 26-27
He later earned a master’s degree in Social Work from Portland State University in 1973. Rodney worked as an investigator for Multnomah County Mental Health Division for more than 20 years, and also attended Portland First Presbyterian Church. Survivors include a son, two siblings one grandchild. Rev. Marshall E. Holden Jr. The Rev. Marshall E. Holden Jr., 75, passed away October 16, 2005 in Columbus, Ind. He was born August 22, 1930 in Olean, N.Y. Rev. Holden married Hazel R. Piper on November 30, 1950. He attended Pacific Bible College, before serving in the Korean War from 1950-1951 with the U.S. Army. During his ministerial career, he worked in Colorado, Ohio, Oregon, Michigan and Alabama. He is survived by his wife, Hazel Ruth (Piper) Holden; two adult children; a sister; and one granddaughter. Harold B. Jensen ’01 Harold B. Jensen ’01 died March 3, 2006 of illness. He was 53 years old. Mr. Jensen was born July 22, 1952, in Greeley, Colo. He moved to Portland in 1973. He taught graphics at Sabin Skills Center in Clackamas, Ore. for 19 years. Survivors include a son, his parents, five siblings, and one grandchild. Rev. Charles Kerr ‘54 Retired minister Rev. Charles Kerr ’54 died on February 22, 2006, at the age of 85. Rev. Kerr was born in Spangler, Pa. on Jan. 22, 1921. He served in WW II in the Medical Corp. He later entered the ministry after graduating from Pacific Bible College. During his ministerial career, he served as Church of God pastor in Kelso, Wash.; and Stockton and Haywood, Calif. Rev. Kerr was also an employee of Georgia
Power Company and retired in 1986. Family members in addition to his wife, Rebecca Kerr ’51, a daughter, one grandson, and a great-grandson. Rev. Kerr had a large extended family across the United States. Christel E. (Strekies) Naumann ‘53 Christel E. (Strekies) Naumann ’53 died on January 7, 2006, in Yakima, Wash. She was 82. Christel was born in Heidekrug, Germany (now part of Lithuania) on February 20, 1923. She worked as a governess, preschool/kindergarten teacher, and as a pediatric nurse in Germany before marrying Dr. Theodor Naumann ’52 in 1949. The couple attended Pacific Bible College, where Christel studied music and Christian education. The family settled in Ellensburg, Wash., where Christel raised her family and also taught German at Central Washington State University and Yakima Valley Community College. She also continued nursing at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. She is survived by a brother and a sister; three adult children, and five grandchildren. Brent Alden Stubblefield ‘00 Brent Alden Stubblefield ‘00 died March 12, 2006, surrounded by his family in Vancouver, Wash., after a short battle with cancer. He was 47. Brent was born on Nov. 11, 1958, in Baker, Ore. He lived in Salem, Ore., Juneau and Washington, D.C. during his childhood. He worked for Safeway stores for many years while he attended college in Salem and Portland. He graduated from Warner Pacific College in 2000. Working as a counselor and social worker, Brent was in the process of completing his master’s degree in psychology when he died. He is survived by his parents of Salem; three siblings, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
31st Annual Torchbearers’ Scholarship Golf Tournament Friday, August 4 - 1:30 p.m. Mountain View Golf Course Boring, Oregon Details at 503-517-1028 Summer 2006
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first person
The Disguise of Loss and Gain Human interaction with a bittersweet paradox by Nina (Hertzog) Horn ‘04
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hen I was eight years old, my family decided to become a foster family for medically fragile children with handicaps. Caring for these children brought about significant changes in my parents and three siblings. On one hand, it bonded my family together in a powerful way. We learned together what it meant to care for orphans, the sick, and the terminally ill. We laughed together when they laughed, we rejoiced when they made progress, and we cried together through struggle and death. But at the same time, we were experiencing a loss of cohesiveness. Our foster children were rarely mobile and required much attention. We could not always go places as an entire family. Sometimes I found myself missing the days when it was just the six of us. But at the same time, I knew I would not want life any other way. When I was nine years old, my foster brother Sean died. Having been born with encephalitis, Sean never learned to walk or talk, and needed attention for all his basic needs. I could not help but question the contrast of our lives. We were the same age, but why had I been given so much while he had been forfeited the fundamental aspects of life that make it worth living? This has always been an unanswerable question, but I gained a new appreciation for simple things, like the ability to express myself, to eat, to run, and to laugh. When Sean died, I felt he had been cheated of life a second time. I was forced to face the transience of life – of the people I loved, as well as that of my own. Human nature is prone to shy away from sorrow, death, and loss, and instead reach for happiness, life, and gain. However, the two extremes are not so extreme at all. They are integrated so closely in the fabric of life that they seem to birth each other.
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In Luke 9:23-25, Jesus says to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul?” I received foster brothers and sisters who were vastly different from my imagination, but who gave me gifts of far more worth. I felt – and will always feel – the tension that exists when I consider how I have been blessed through loss, and how, paradoxically, I have lost through being blessed. I do not know if it all began with losing or receiving; they have simply co-existed. Of course, the ultimate example of this paradox is the death and resurrection of Christ, and the eternal life offered to all people, as a result. The underlying thread that makes this paradox so significant is that humans act in accordance to what they perceive will produce the most gain, whether it be an act of selfishness or an act of altruism. Yet, we can never account for, nor even foresee, the loss that is waiting at the door of the gain. And, yet, what can mankind do? We cannot avoid this bittersweet problem, nor can we solve it. We must, in all its complexity, simply live it. But who shall dare To measure loss and gain in this wise? Defeat may be victory in disguise; The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.
– Longfellow
Nina (Hertzog) Horn ‘04 is a children’s treatment specialist at Trillium Family Services, in Portland, Ore. This essay was adapted from her 2004 Humanities 410 senior thesis and used with permission.
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