YOUR VOICE The Mission Is the Answer re you on the mission field? Washington, D.C., and this is my mis- I am. Every day. sion field. As ORU alumni, we’ve been That might sound just a called to “everyman’s world” and I’m little crazy, since what I do learning day by day just what that A most days is drive up the means. George Washington Parkway, cross Sometimes it means taking on a pro the Potomac River, and go to an office bono case where, through my legal in the heart of our nation’s capital. work, I can care for the widow and Martin Luther King wrote his “I Have orphan, as Jesus commanded — seek- a Dream” speech in the building ing political asylum for those in danger where I work, and Abraham Lincoln in their home countries. Most of the lived here for a few months while wait- time, though, my legal work is more ing to move into the White House removed from “the mission” and it’s next door. Now it is mostly inhabited hard to see a clear connection. Some Bob Vander Lugt with Alumni Office staff member by law firms, including days, all I do is work on Tammy Denton (right) and Laneice Goodwin (left; the one where I work. technology transfer daughter of John [74]), an ORU student who This is not the place As ORU alumni, issues between U.S. and interned at the Pentagon this year. most Christians picture foreign corporations. and in lives of ORU alumni who have when they think about we’ve been called But I’m learning that dared to accept the challenge to live this the mission field. The to “everyman’s every day the Lord has mission in their homes, their neighbor- people I meet as I walk a “divine appointment” hoods, and all around the world. I hope around the hushed corri- world” and I’m for me, if I’ll only be you are challenged and encouraged by dors of Washington’s law learning day by alive to Him, and to these stories, and that you will let us firms and government those in need, enough know if God is doing something in your offices look like they day just what to recognize it. life that you would be willing to share have it all together. They that means. Yesterday I prayed to challenge and encourage others. don’t look like the with someone whose One last thing. I want to thank all of “needy” people in the closest friend died the you who participated in our little pictures I get from the night before. Today, I “experiment” this year as we sought to missionaries we support. But you know prayed for the daughter of a co-worker find a fresh new look for Excellence. We what? Appearances can be deceiving. whose helicopter went down fighting received lots of input from you about The people I rub shoulders with every the big fires in Colorado, and now the two formats we were comparing day are just as “needy” spiritually as we’re praising God she’s safe. God is (spring and summer issues) and will any of the people in those pictures showing me small ways to show His keep working to make this magazine — (and perhaps more so, since many of love every day. your magazine — one that is not only them think they are too busy even to As we truly come to recognize our fun to read, but that challenges us all in think about God). neighborhoods and places of employ- the fulfillment of our mission every day. When God told Oral Roberts to ment as mission fields, we will be raise up students to go “where My God’s voice where it is heard small, God Bless You, light is seen dim, where My voice is His light where it is seen dim, and heard small, and My healing power is purveyors of His healing power where not known,” He knew that would it is not known. This issue of Excellence Robert D. Vander Lugt (87) include Pennsylvania Avenue in describes what God is doing at ORU 2 | Excellence | Fall 2002 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu TABLE OF CONTENTS Alumni Association Board of Directors “Called and Committed to Supporting and Serving” Segment I (1968-72) Dr. Clay Powell Doug Foster 901 Cranes Ct. 11756 E. 128th Pl. S. Maitland, FL 32751 Broken Arrow, OK 74011 Home: (407) 475-5379 Home: (918) 369-5407 Charles_C_Powell_MD@mail. Office: (918) 573-3953 fhmis.net [email protected] Maj. Dean Prentice L. Christina Sjostedt 2202 B Cherrywood Ln. P.O. Box 8042 Scott AFB, IL 62225 Fall 2002 | Vol. 14, No. 3 St. Paul, MN 55108 Home: (618) 746-2587 Home: (651) 645-8578 [email protected] [email protected] Gene Steiner Segment II (1973-77) Jenks, OK David Barton, Vice Chairman Home: (918) 296-3191 Features P.O. Box 397 [email protected] Aledo, TX 76008 Office: (817) 441-6044 [email protected] Alumni Relations Staff Key Contacts The Mission Is the Answer Larry Nowicki 4932 S. Oak Ave. George Fisher (76) In a world beset by attacks on everything that God considers holy, a university like ORU is needed now more than ever Broken Arrow, OK 74011 President, Alumni Foundation Home/Office: (918) 451-2297 Board of Directors (918) 495-7312 before. The ORU mission — preparing its students to become whole people and share Jesus with those who don’t know Segment III (1978-82) [email protected] Greg Ford Him — is a mission that continues, and alumni are finding creative ways to fulfill it. From producing uplifting music to P.O. Box 52794 George Paul (69) Tulsa, OK 74152 Alumni Director Home: (918) 745-9874 (918) 495-6588 adopting babies to sharing dental skills in Afghanistan, ORU alumni are making a difference all over the world. Office: (918) 359-3333 [email protected] [email protected] Kevin Bish (93;2002) Rhae Buckley, Treasurer Major Gifts Director 23 Forest Dr. (918) 495-7436 6 Music to the World’s Ears Mansfield, TX 76063 [email protected] Home: (817) 477-3170 Alumni in Nashville, Los Angeles, and other cities Office: (972) 595-5258 Tammy Denton (87;99) [email protected] Annual Fund Director are traditional (and not so traditional) in their work. (918) 495-6580 Segment IV (1983-87) [email protected] Robert Vander Lugt, Chairman 4305 Sheridans Point Ct. Winnie Perdue 10 China Dolls Alexandria, VA 22309 Alumni Events Coordinator Home: (703) 704-5347 (918) 495-6627 Stacey Rogers was surprised to find that someone Office: (202) 639-6540 [email protected] [email protected] she knew was adopting a Chinese baby, too. Dr. Scott Cordray, Secretary Publisher 725 Country Wood Way ORU Alumni Foundation Sapulpa, OK 74066 12 Richer With Time [email protected] Editor Debbie (Titus-1977) George Segment V (1988-91) Alumni reflect on why they support ORU. Dan Borman Contributing Writers 7328 Native Oak Lane David Barton (76), Tammy Irving, TX 75063 Denton (87;99), Debbie (Titus- Home: (972) 373-9275 77) George, Elissa K. Harvill, Office: (214) 855-0525 x106 Julie Heden (2002), Jessica Hill, Departments [email protected] Nance Mitchell, Winnie Perdue, Robert Vander Lugt (87), Michael Gimotty Marshal Wright (83;89-MBA). 12972 S. Summit 2Your Voice Olathe, KS 66062 Photography Home: (918) 397-9792 Shari Bjelke, Al Cook, Jim Bob Vander Lugt is on the mission field. Grillot, Dorothea Heit, Larry Segment VI (1992-95) Huene, Michael Denton (87), Dr. Natasha Washington John Korstad, Don Wilson (77), 4Presidential Perspective 11130 Stratford Pl. #411 Sports Information. Oklahoma City, OK 73120 It’s more than a mission; it’s a mandate. Home: (405) 748-5819 Art and Production [email protected] Waller & Company Public Relations 9 First Person Second director’s slot open. Excellence is published and David Barton weighs in on the Pledge controversy. Segment VII (1996-2001) distributed three times a year to Josh Allen alumni and friends by the Oral Home: (806) 771-6797 Roberts University Alumni [email protected] Foundation. 14 Head of the Class Jeff Burritt Direct all inquiries to: A talk with Casey Preslar, the new Miss Oklahoma. Tulsa, OK ORU Alumni Foundation Office: (918) 269-6600 P.O. Box 702333 [email protected] Tulsa, OK 74170 Phone: (918) 495-6610 17 Campus Currents School of Law Fax: (918) 495-6650 McLane Layton Web site: alumniweb.oru.edu • A Call to Heal 6404 Woodridge Rd. E-mail: [email protected] Alexandria, VA 22312 Questions or comments? • Enrollment Home: (703) 354-3319 Contact the editor at Office: (202) 224-5754 [email protected]. [email protected] Excellence Magazine 20 The Eli Report School of Nursing Mission Statement Paula Sterns The purpose of Excellence • Volleyball Team Puts God First 2942 Hastings Dr. magazine is threefold: to make Also in this issue . Grand Prairie, TX 75052 alumni aware of what their • Men’s and Women’s Basketball Schedules Home: (972) 641-8815 former classmates are doing, • Homecoming 2003 [email protected] to tell alumni what is happening today on the Oral Roberts 22 Lifelong Links • Transferring Assets School of Theology University campus, and to share Gene Gregg the good news about alumni • Chapter Events • Our New Designer 401 E. College St. accomplishments with faculty, Broken Arrow, OK 74012 staff, and friends of the • Golf Outing • Pick the Alumnus of the Year Home: (918) 251-0791 University. Excellence magazine Office: (918) 254-9622 is proof positive that the mis- • Notes from Alumni • The Alumni Web Page [email protected] sion of ORU is being carried out on a daily basis all over the • Mark Hodge and Gary Wood in Afghanistan • The New Alumni Directory At-Large Directors globe — “in every person’s Dr.