President's Message
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The News Magazine of Houston Baptist University • FALL/WINTER 2017 Kiza III Becomes HBU’s New Mascot HBU’s Return on Investment Master’s in Apologetics Online The Movie: Lee Strobel’s “Case for Christ” PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE HURRICANE HARVEY AND THE LOVE OF GOD urricane Harvey was a great reminder of many things, not Hthe least of which is the fact that this is a fallen world. The apostle Paul mentions in Romans 8 the “curse of corruption” that is on the entire creation as a result of human moral rebellion. This is the deathly consequence of sin as referred to in the book of Genesis when Adam and Eve rebel against God and are expelled from the Garden. So it’s not just human beings who are fallen— the entire created order is under the sway of sin and death. The promise of Scripture is that one day— just as God’s people are reconciled with Him through Jesus Christ— The years of Dr. Robert Sloan’s tenure at HBU have been full of numerous University accomplishments and noteworthy items to celebrate. Here is just one of the many highlights for each year. The HBU Board of The Morris Trustees approves a Cultural Arts new mission Center, with statement: The McNair Hall, mission of Houston Belin Chapel, Baptist University The Dunham is to provide a Bible Museum, learning experience The Museum of that instills in Southern History, students a passion September 1: the Museum for academic, Dr. Robert B. of American spiritual, and Sloan becomes Architecture and professional the third Decorative Arts, The Ten Pillars excellence as a The HBU HBU Athletics president of and the stately vision is approved result of our central community re-enters NCAA Houston Baptist Dunham Theatre, by the Board of confession, “Jesus celebrates Division I University. are completed. Trustees. Christ is Lord.” 50 years. competition. 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE HURRICANE HARVEY AND THE LOVE OF GOD when all things are put right at the return of Christ, then “the suffering and that “we overwhelmingly conquer through Him creation itself will be set free from its slavery to corruption who loved us” (8:37). into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans When we visit with friends these days, we talk— and 8:21). rightly so— about our houses and our streets, the amount of In the meantime, as Romans 8 also points out, not only are floodwater in our neighborhoods, and the kinds of property we subject to a fallen world of human misdeeds and idolatry, losses that we and/or our family and friends experienced. but— even more than that— in this world of idolatry, we live But there’s another topic that always takes over: the great under the curse of the Fall. The world is filled not simply love and many acts of service and kindness that we’ve seen with minor faults and peccadilloes but with great distresses, and continue to see throughout Houston. The heroic deeds heavenly and earthly disasters, macro troubles that Paul large and small, day in and day out, demonstrate the love of describes as “tribulation, or distress, persecution, famine God. (natural disasters brought on by drought), nakedness (extreme As powerful as Harvey was, the winds and floodwaters it poverty), peril (social instability and danger when society is brought are not more powerful or more pervasive than the lawless), and sword (war and violence)” (8:35). power and love of God we have seen in the resurrected Jesus, And while these disasters sometimes have human causes, living through friends, neighbors, and complete strangers— they also are caused by disruptions in the invisible spheres, individuals from all walks of life. by the principalities and powers, “created things” that are Here at HBU, we join people all over the city, state and massively powerful but, as Paul says, are not strong enough nation in giving God thanks for all we’ve seen. to “separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (8:38-39). All blessings to you and yours, We have seen the moving of God’s Spirit even in the great natural disaster brought on by Hurricane Harvey. In fact, we can say with Paul that we have seen God’s presence and His Dr. Robert B. Sloan love “in all these things” that produce great human misery and The HBU HBU’s first Bradshaw HBU begins doctoral Fitness Center offering a HBU receives its program, the is dedicated, Master of Arts largest single gift, EdD in Executive allowing the in Apologetics $15 million, from Educational HBU marks its University to help taught by The Husky Archie W. and Leadership, is 50th graduating strengthen the some of the Football team Linda Dunham launched, making class and mind, spirit and world’s leading competes in for the Archie W. HBU a national, the 20,000th body of every apologetics its first official Dunham College comprehensive graduating student. scholars. season. of Business. university. student. 2012 2013 20143 2015 2016 2017 FALL/WINTER 2017 • THE PILLARS 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME 54/NO.1 The Houston Baptist University news FEATURES magazine, The Pillars, is published quarterly by the Department of Innovation and Strategic Marketing. 5 THE HBU FAMILY RESPONDS TO HURRICANE HARVEY EDITORIAL OFFICE The Pillars, Houston Baptist University, 7502 Fondren Road, Houston, Texas 77074 [email protected] 281.649.3000 HBU’S “A HIGHER EDUCATION” HBU.edu Dr. Jerry Johnston, Editor AND THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT [email protected] 8 Nan E. Donahoe, Deputy Editor [email protected] Elizabeth York, Media Writer and Digital Editor [email protected] 18 THE MASTER OF ARTS IN APOLOGETICS ONLINE PROGRAM Michael Tims, Photographer [email protected] Chris Lyons, Design [email protected] Clay Porter, Video Editor HBU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING [email protected] TAKES SHAPE Michael Taylor, Video Editor 24 [email protected] Alan W. Presley, Web Editor [email protected] Toure Jones, Web Designer [email protected] 25 ONLINE STUDENT REACHES LONGTIME GOAL THROUGH HBU CONTRIBUTORS Alumni Association 26 GOING BACK TO SCHOOL Department of Athletics Dr. Joshua R. Farris Dr. Jeffrey Green 30 SPOTLIGHT ON JOHN GIBSON Mr. Jesse GrothOlson Dr. Christopher Hammons 33 HBU SUBMISSIONS Dr. Marie A. Mater Dr. Steve Peterson Mr. Lee Strobel 40 SPECIAL EVENTS Dr. Doni M. Wilson Mr. Jeff Sutton 44 SPORTS SPECIAL THANKS HBU Board of Trustees EXECUTIVE COUNCIL President Dr. Robert B. Sloan KIZA III TO TAKE OVER VP for Innovation and Strategic Marketing AS NEW HUSKY MASCOT Dr. Jerry Johnston 50 [email protected] Director for Athletics Steve Moniaci [email protected] 52 ALUMNI PROFILE: DALTON AND JOLIE SCHAFER Chief Financial Officer/ Chief Operating Officer Sandy Mooney 54 ALUM-A-GRAMS [email protected] VP for Online/Digital Learning 59 “THINK ABOUT IT” PODCAST SCHEDULE Steve Peterson [email protected] VP for Advancement Without students, parents, alumni, supporters, faculty and staff, we couldn’t do what we do. and University Relations Sharon Saunders [email protected] THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Provost, VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Cynthia Simpson POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Pillars, Houston Baptist, University, 7502 Fondren Road, Houston, TX 77074 [email protected] THE MISSION OF HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY is to provide a learning experience that instills in students a passion for academic, VP for Enrollment Management spiritual, and professional excellence as a result of our central confession, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” James Steen – Unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees, February 24, 2009. [email protected] 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME 54/NO.1 The HBU Family Responds to Hurricane Harvey y the time the rains from Hurricane Harvey had fallen heavily for almost two days, Aubrey Aldave, Badministrative assistant for HBU Spiritual Life and Discipleship, knew there would be a big day ahead. She and her husband, Daniel, woke up the morning of Sunday, August 27, and began the day with prayer and worship. Their prayer time was soon interrupted by a phone call. The Aldaves function as the CARES Team, or community-builders, for an apartment complex along Brays Bayou. In the absence of the apartment manager, they were asked to be the point of contact for residents. “The rain came so fast. We were getting calls all day,” Aldave said. “When we walked around and checked on people, it was stressful, but I also had the feeling, ‘This is why we’re here. The Lord’s going to equip us to do what we need to do.’ I became energized.” Throughout the week, the Aldaves hosted and housed several people in their second-floor apartment, including a friend who had put a few items in a plastic bag and waded over from a neighboring complex in water nearly to her neck. “It was one of those times where the reason for building relationships with people for months made sense and it paid off,” Aldave said. “We were networking with people on the second and third floors and asking for them to make room in their homes.” At the end of the week, Aldave was exhausted. Yet, she marveled at the faithfulness of God. “The Lord provided resources FALL/WINTER 2017 • THE PILLARS 5 so we could feed people. One man even brought us pizzas through the water,” she said. “It was a chance to see neighbors taking care of neighbors.” During the deluge, Head Track and Field Coach Theresa Fuqua kept up with her players, several of whom were hit by the flooding, and contacted friends to make sure everyone was okay. “It really hit close to home,” she said.