Brown Bulletin Alumni and Awana Clubs: Dedicated to Children’s Ministry Cole Breaks National Basketball Records Summer 2006 a publication for alumni & friends of JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY Brown Bulletin letter from the Summer 2006 Editor Andrea Phillips Contributing Writers Lindsay Larsen JBU enjoys award season 5 Alumni and Awana minister to children 9 Record-breaker Brandon Cole 18 president Andrea Phillips Lead Designer Andrea Phillips Dear Alumni and Friends of JBU, Design Assistance Allen Dempsey Amanda Babcock Greetings. We have just finished graduating a record number of students here features at JBU, and it is deeply satisfying to watch faculty, staff, students, and families come Production Assistance Christine Mescher 9 More Than Just Child’s Play together to celebrate during graduation ceremonies. We have added a baccalaureate Alumnus Larry Fowler is leading Awana Clubs International efforts to reach worship service on Friday evening for the traditional undergraduates and their families, Proofreaders Cheryl Kester children around the world. Sharon Smith by Melody Miller and at this service, I spoke to them from Isaiah 40:28-31. I wanted to use this final time of worship in the Cathedral to remind them of some of God’s attributes. Photographers Mark Jackson 18 Sharp Shooter We have a God of the long view. He accomplishes His purposes over the long Cade Truitt JBU senior Brandon Cole is not only a model student and athlete, but has also haul. He measures results over a lifetime, not over a semester or even over four years. broken several national college basketball records. He sees the trajectory of our lives, and He understands how hardship, success, and Printer Magna IV Printing by Dustin Tracy challenge fit into that trajectory. We have a God who does not grow tired or weary. We grow tired and weary from the strain of life. However, we serve a God that is with us in our weariness because The Brown Bulletin is the official publication of John He neither slumbers nor sleeps. He restores, sustains, and renews us through even the Brown University. It is published at 2000 West Uni- most difficult of circumstances. versity Street, Siloam Springs, Arkansas 72761. We have a God whose understanding we can never fully fathom. God’s mind departments is not our mind, and that truth is difficult to accept when confronted with life’s suffering. To submit story ideas, photos, feedback: 5 JBU in Focus We want to understand God’s mind about the stillborn child, the AIDS victims in Africa, Andrea Phillips the tsunami in Asia, the divorce of our parents, or the rejection of our friends. But the Director of University Communications 8 Chaplain’s Corner by Tracy Balzer prophet rightly reminds us that we will never fully probe the mind of God, that we will [email protected] never fully have His perspective. We must trust now and understand later. 15 Perspectives On ... I ended my baccalaureate message by reading a note that I had received from “Nurturing Spirituality in our Children and Grandchildren” Alumni information: a student the week before. He writes: “When I came to JBU I was a person that had by Holly Catterton Allen Jerry Rollene my life compartmentalized; in one box I had my Christian ideals, and in another box Director of Alumni and Parent Relations I had the way I actually lived my life. Over the years here I started to meet students, 16 $10 Million Challenge Update [email protected] professors, speakers, and others who were unlike most of the Christians that I had 17 Student Journal “A Girl Named Norma” known before; their Christian walk was personal, and their faith was actually tangible. Admissions information: ... Eventually, it made me turn back to the Bible. I turned to God, and He started to 888-JBU-INFO 21 JBU Advancement redefine my faith. ... I came in as a wounded soul, and I am leaving here as a person Corporate and Family Foundations Support JBU [email protected] solidified in Christ, weak in my own nature but strengthened beyond my limitations by by April L. Moreton God’s presence. Thank you.” www.jbu.edu/admissions Notes such as this one remind me of the good work being done by so many 22 Stories from the Road by Eric Greenhaw here at JBU. The rest of this Brown Bulletin has other reminders of that good work. I trust To submit alumni news and photos: 23 Alumni News that you will be as encouraged as I have been in reading these stories and recognizing [email protected] that God continues to be at work through John Brown University. www.jbu.edu/alumni/magazine/index.asp 35 Flashback JBU Star Athletes God-speed, For information about giving to JBU: C OV E R PHOTO Mark Jackson ’90 www.jbu.edu/giving or (800) 446-2450 PICTURED Alex Larsen, son of Lindsay (Dikes) Larsen ’03 John Brown University provides Christ-centered education that Dr. Charles W. Pollard prepares people to honor God and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual, and professional lives. jbu in focus Walker Gift Adds $1 Million to as community involvement. This is KLRC’s third Station of Endowed Scholarship Funds the Year award in the past five years. Sean Sawatzky ’96, station manager, attributes the station’s success to its focus In January, the Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Founda- on community involvement. Letters tion, Inc. pledged $500,000 to JBU’s endowed scholarship “If we aren’t serving the people who listen to our sta- fund to benefit students in the biblical studies division. Be- tion, we are no different than a CD player, iPods, or satellite Appreciation for Katrina Help cause the Walker Foundation gift qualified for JBU’s $10 radio,” he said. “Christian radio is a partnership—a relation- Million Challenge campaign, it was matched with $500,000 ship, and we must never lose sight of this.” My name is Diane Phillips, and I live in St. Bernard Parish, classes and every day living at JBU! (Thanks, Dr. Copeland and from an anonymous donor to create a $1 million endow- In the past year, KLRC experienced record growth as Louisiana. Week before last, we noticed buses from JBU in the everybody.) ment. This Walker endowment fund will provide significant it became one of the top stations in area. I wanted to take just a second of your time to express our • International marketing: Working for such a global company, scholarships to 15 to 20 students each year beginning in the Northwest Arkansas with 50,000 lis- appreciation to the students of JBU for their time and selfless effort I better know how to interpret and understand international fall 2006 semester. teners. on behalf of the people of St. Bernard Parish. issues affecting our business. (Thanks, Mr. King.) “JBU is deeply grateful to the Walker Foundation for Without the time donated by the many university and church • Business communication: I have to prepare a lot of business “I am excited to share this award this wonderful gift. It will benefit JBU students for genera- organizations, many of the displaced people would be unable to presentations, and I need to be clear and concise in order to with our listeners,” Sawatzky said. return. The neighborhood your bus was in is made up of many communicate effectively. (Thanks, Mr. Balla.) tions,” said JBU President Chip Pollard. “The students in “They play such an important role in older couples, at or near retirement age. Many of them had no I always remember my time at JBU, and I hope I can visit you our biblical studies division are some of our finest. They KLRC’s success. This honor is their’s flood insurance and simply do not have the funds needed to repair soon. Thank you for being such wonderful teachers, mentors, and go out from JBU to become leaders in churches, camps, as much as it is our’s!” their homes. The students have helped lift the spirits of many friends! God bless you all. youth programs, missions, and social services organizations Since KLRC features many stu- forgotten victims of the storm. They give us hope that maybe the throughout Northwest Arkansas and around the world. The dent disc jockeys, program director world hasn’t forgotten us after all. Sincerely, Walker scholarship fund will make a great difference in Melody Miller ’00, emphasized the We pray that God will continue to bless JBU and the students, Hernán A. Reyes ’05 helping these students earn their JBU degree and continue value of the award for undergraduates as well as the parents and teachers that encourage these young Market & Operations Analyst - Honduras to serve others.” people in their charitable work. Thanks to them and the many in JBU’s communication division. “It The Coca-Cola Company, Latin Center Division The Walker Foundation designated its funds to students other students from across the nation, this small section of St. is exciting for our students who get Bernard Parish has a good start on rebuilding and repairing their working toward a degree in the biblical studies division. to learn at an award-winning station,” lives. Please keep our community in your prayers and thoughts. This includes students who are studying biblical and theo- Miller said. “Also, it is great for JBU logical studies, cross-cultural services, children and family Sincerely, No Escaping JBU or Rose Bud and KLRC to be recognized in this ministries, outdoor leadership ministries, youth ministries, way.” Diane Phillips and family and human services. KLRC received the award statuette St. Bernard Parish, LA JBU Friends, I just got a phone call from a friend, Paul, from Rose Bud, during the 37th Annual GMA Music Arkansas (where I grew up).