THE MAGAZINE OF WESTERN SEMINARY | Spring 2021 WITH AND FOR THE CHURCH INTRODUCING PRESIDENT CHUCK CONNIRY ONE STUDENT’S JOURNEY FROM CONGO TO PORTLAND DMIN PROGRAM SEES GROWTH REMEMBERING THOSE WE’VE LOST | LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT | | CONTENTS | A Story of God’s Faithfulness FEATURE ARTICLES In this issue of Transform, we introduce you to by well-educated counseling graduates as it is 8 A STUDENT’S JOURNEY FROM an amazing sister in Christ: Esther Lubemba, a by well-prepared ministry graduates. CONGO TO PORTLAND Western Seminary counseling student whose Esther herself expresses this point with crystal INTRODUCING PRESIDENT CHUCK story poignantly demonstrates God’s unfail- 14 clarity: “My professors challenge me to have CONNIRY ing love and faithfulness. Esther shows that critical thinking so that we can integrate coun- pursuing God’s will does not insulate us from seling theories with theology. Techniques are 8 confronting challenges and seeming setbacks. helpful, but they aren’t the ultimate answer.” In fact, such difficulties sensitize us to God’s Esther said she wants to use counseling “to serve the people [of the Democratic Republic WESTERN WORD Chuck Conniry, President presence and enable us to see God’s leading in of the Congo] in the most strategic ways.” 4 COACHING PROGRAM ways that we otherwise could not have seen. CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP Put simply, Esther’s mission is our mission! “The purpose of Esther’s story also highlights the reason why DEVELOPMENT 14 Western Seminary Western prioritizes a nationally accredited WOMEN’S CENTER FOR MINISTRY is to promote counseling program. The purpose of Western 4 CAMPUS NEWS ALUMNI Seminary is to promote gospel-centered gospel-centered 5 DMIN PROGRAM ALUMNI UPDATES transformation by helping the church be the 18 transformation by UPDATE church. Our mission is to serve as a catalyst helping the church and resource for spiritual transformation by ISRAEL TRIP 6 RETIREMENTS 21 be the church.” providing, with and for the church, advanced 5 FREE ALUMNI GIFT education for strategic ministry roles. The 7 FACULTY UPDATES mission of the school is fulfilled as effectively IN MEMORIAM STUDENTS 22 REMEMBERING THOSE WE LOST 12 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT | READER FEEDBACK | TRANSFORM Magazine We care about what you think. If interested in sharing what Email [email protected] thoughts, ideas, comments, or questions came to mind when President – Chuck Conniry, PhD | Editor – Ben Hoffman | Assistant Editor – Justin Laskowski | Designer – Renee Fabiano Online magazine.westernseminary.edu reading this issue of the magazine, please reach out to us! Contributors – Adam Christian, Ben Hoffman, Bonnie Ekholm, Chuck Conniry, Jerry Essary, Justin Laskowski, Phyllis Bennett, Robert Jones Mail Reader Mail, Western Magazine Transform Magazine is published semi-annually by Western Seminary and is sent to alumni and supporters of the seminary. 5511 SE Hawthorne Blvd. All articles, photographs, and illustrations are copyright 2019–2021 by Western Seminary. Portland, OR 97215 Western Seminary serves as a catalyst and resource for spiritual transformation by providing, with and for the church, advanced education for strategic ministry roles. Western Seminary is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). westernseminary.edu Western Seminary | 5511 SE Hawthorne Blvd. | Portland, OR 97215 | 503.517.1800 | westernseminary.edu 2 | TRANSFORM SPRING 2021 | 3 | WESTERN WORD | | CAMPUS NEWS | Curious what’s been going on lately at Western Seminary? These exciting snippets provide just a few snapshots of how the seminary is making a difference in our communities and around the world. LIVING ROOM LUNCH OFFERS NEW ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN IN MINISTRY In 2021, the Women’s Center for Ministry them foster family togetherness with (WCM) launched a new ministry called a new-found desire to realign family Living Room Lunch, a one-hour virtual values. April offered Bible exposition discussion on topics aimed to touch on with IGNITE speakers Ashley Bell and real-heart issues for women. The event Joy Roberts gleaning insight from Luke takes place on the fourth Friday of every 1:26-38, and May features IGNITE month via Zoom. keynote Kari Patterson expounding on So far, the meetings have covered a wide Christ’s call to go the second mile. CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT range of topics. In January, Julie Tadema WCM continues to find new ways to and Jody Mayhew spoke about how to minister to women amid the pandemic, NOW OFFERS CONTINUING EDUCATION discover one’s calling. February featured while looking forward to a time when CREDIT FOR ACSI speakers Sandy Snavely and Connie REVIVE conferences can once again be The Center for Leadership Development (CLD) McClellan encouraging women towards held in person. Mark your calendars for real, age-defying, culture-crushing attrac- REVIVE 2021, coming Nov. 5 (Portland) at Western Seminary is now an approved DMin Program Adding New Cohort tiveness that goes more than skin deep. and Nov. 12 (Vancouver), and IGNITE in provider of continuing education units for the March 2022 (exact date TBD). Association of Christian Schools International A panel discussion in March featured a number of young moms sharing how For more information, visit for Biblical Languages (ACSI), an accreditor of K-12 Christian schools. the COVID-19 pandemic has helped wcm.westernseminary.edu. With this new partnership in place, CLD The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at Western Seminary this year. Kwak has served in several ministry roles, including can offers its courses in Bible, theology, and is expanding its options for advanced pastoral training with the the associate pastor of adult education, life groups and Asian- apologetics to Christian educators looking COACHING PROGRAM DOUBLES ENROLLMENT AS TRAINING MOVES ONLINE addition of a new cohort—Biblical Languages in Ministry. The American ministry at Village Church in Beaverton, Ore. to strengthen their biblical worldview while Western Seminary’s Coaching Program fessionals, the convenience of online cohort launches in spring 2022 with an emphasis on exegeting “Praise God for his faithfulness in bringing the perfect person for this has experienced significant growth learning provides a significant advan- earning continuing education credit. specific portions of Scripture in Greek and Hebrew. This adds unique position,” said President Chuck Conniry, PhD. “John emerged over the past year. For the Spring 2021 tage. Essary also believes that moving to the regularly offered cohorts in Christ-Centered Preaching, as the search committee’s first choice after a rigorous national search Currently, the CLD has 23 courses approved as semester, Western has 139 coaching online actually better simulates the Pastoral and Ministry Leadership, and Theology in Ministry. and will help us both with teaching and administration.” continuing education units for ACSI, includ- students, more than twice the enroll- type of coaching most professional “This new cohort will engage ministry leaders in both Hebrew ing core courses like The Bible, Connecting the ment from the previous year. Director coaches will offer in their business. Kwak’s arrival to Western comes at a time when enrollment in and Greek at whatever level they may find themselves,” says Steve Pieces, How to Study Your Bible, Foundations in Jerry Essary, DMin, PCC, credits the the DMin program has increased 30 percent over the past year, “In our program, we do all of our Mathewson, DMin program director. program moving online in response to despite COVID-19 challenges. Current courses this spring feature Biblical Worldview, and What Is the Gospel?, as training synchronously. It’s not just the COVID-19 pandemic as a key factor. The cohort is one of several recent updates to Western’s DMin faculty Kevin Vanhoozer, Daniel Doriani, and Steve Mathewson. well as special interest courses like Orphan Care, watching videos; it’s live training where program. Eligibility for the program was recently changed so that a Theology of Work, and The Mere Christian Life: “Students no longer have to travel to students interact with each other and To learn more about Western’s DMin program, visit Master of Divinity (MDiv) is no longer required for admission. Moving The Resilience of C.S. Lewis in Today’s World. Portland and take three or four days practice their coaching skills. Coaching westernseminary.edu/dmin. off work to do a class,” says Essary. “We works very well through Zoom.” forward, any ministry-oriented MA degree, together with requisite The CLD is passionate about equipping God’s now have students from Israel, Greece, ministry experience, will allow an applicant to be considered. Western’s coaching program is people for growth and service. ACSI teachers Canada, The Bahamas, and all over the approved and credentialed by the In August, John Kwak joined the program as the assistant director. and administrators can find out more about U.S., so going online has opened up International Coaching Federation, He holds several master’s degrees, including an MA in New Left: Steve partnering with the CLD by contacting Greg things completely for us.” Testament from Biola University and an MA in Philosophy from Mathewson, a leading authority in the coaching Director Moon at [email protected] or the University of Southern California. He is also a candidate for Since many of the students in Western’s industry. For more information, visit Right: John Kwak, visiting us online at cldwestern.com/acsi. coaching program are working pro- westernseminary.edu/coaching. a PhD at the University of Rochester and is on track to graduate Assistant Director 4 | TRANSFORM SPRING 2021 | 5 | RETIREMENTS | | FACULTY UPDATES | Over the past year, several longtime faculty and staff have JOSH MATHEWS, PhD JULIA MAYO, ThM retired after many years of faithful service to the Western New Title: Dean of Faculty, New Title: Associate Dean Seminary community: Vice President of Academic for Academic Affairs and Affairs, and Associate Professor Accreditation Liaison Officer of Biblical Studies Hometown: Boring, Ore.