FRESNO PACIFIC COLLEGE VJrIHIJE 00000 EfilJE~~JE~@JEIB NEWS FROM CENTRAL CALIFORNIA'S ACCREDITED SENIOR CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Fresno, California Sep tern her, 1980 Vol. 6, No. 4 DAN QUISENBERRY's name is minor leagues at Waterloo, Iowa; a household word among those who Jacksonville, Florida ; and Omaha, stay tuned to the latest exploits of FPC's Nebraska) "wasn't going anywhere the Kansas City Royals. But few and I was thinking about what to people know that the lethal "sub­ Influence do next. So I chose FPC." marine" sidearm of the American After two quarters he was ca lled League's leading relief pitcher be­ up to the majors with the Royals. longs to a man who says his spirit­ in the "I had one more quarter to go on ual life was enriched at Fresno Paci­ my degree and I had to decide whe­ fic College. Bullpen ther to finish up or give baseball Quisenberry's stay at FPC (two one more shot. I took the right one, quarters in 1978) was not long by apparently." involved in FPC's graduate educa­ most standards, but it was long Indeed. He immediately estab­ tion program and "she was very enough to influence him spiritually. lished himself last year as a reliable high on the school ... so I had "I had no religious training or back­ short reliever for the Royals with heard about FPC from some very ground when I became a Christian a 3-2 won-lost record, 3.15 ERA, reliable sources." (in 1973) and I guess I still am non­ and five saves. Heading into the At the time, Quisenberry felt his denominational," he recalled in a last weeks of the 1980 season, Quis­ baseball career (four years in the recent interview with the Messen­ enberry was leading the American ger. League in games saved and is cred­ "But it was at FPC where i think ited by marry with being the main I learned the most about theology. reason the Royals were running And now, though I'm not a Menno­ away with the Western Division nite Brethren, I think more in MB title. terms. As a matter of fact, I would A leading candidate for the like to find a Mennonite Brethren American League's" Fireman of the church in this area." (The closest, Year" award (given to the top re­ however, is the Community Bible lief pitcher), Quisenberry has dis­ Church in Olathe, Kansas, about tinguished himself not only for be­ 35 miles west of Royals Stadium.) ing a reliable "stopper" but also for One of the things I learned at his unorthodox "submarine" deliv­ FPC was about social action and ery, a style made famous in last the gospel," says Quisenberry. "I year's World Series by Ken Tekulve had always learned about faith and of the Pittsburg Pi rates. spiritual growth and reading the How has he adjusted to this sud­ Word, but the social dynamics had den recognition? Some aspects never been stressed to me before." were tough at first, like getting used He attributes much of this nurture to rubbing shoulders as a teammate to the course in Jeremiah he took with stars he had been a fan of, or under John Fast ("probably my trying to strike out a major league hardest class, but the one I learned hitter he had followed for years. the most in") as well as the influ­ "That was kind of awesome." ence of the "tremendous speakers" He still has questions about the who came to campus as part of the glamorous "ultra first class" life­ College H our program. style that attends becoming a major While a student at another col­ league figure. The publicity, for lege, Quisenberry heard about Fres­ example. "Too many people want no Pacific from two friends who to know what you think about cer­ had done some graduate study at tain things, when I don't think it the college and liked it. Moreover, really matters," he says casually. his w ife's mother, a teacher in Bak­ Has he been changed by it all? ersfield, California, had also been "Really, the only difference be- tween me now and before is that anyone else. God keeps my attitude Brethren churches starting up in the I've got different numbers to go right." Kansas City area," he says in part­ with my name." Baseball keeps Quisenberry on ing, "be sure to let me know." Friends from his pre-Royals days the road about half the t ime, mak­ attest that Quisenberry has not let ing regular church participation dif­ success go to his head. Fresno Paci­ ficult. His w ife, Janie, and new fic friends who have gone to Oak­ daughter Alysia Ann attend a Pres­ land t o watch the Royals and chat byterian church in Kansas City. FAO~~fY with Quisenberry say he is still a Quisenberry regularly participates ACTIVITIES "regular guy" who hasn't changed in baseball chapel which is attend­ Make mathematics exciting? That was much. (Among the friends he re­ ed by about half the Royals play­ the task of ARTHUR WIEBE and LAR­ ers. He is also involved in a small RY ECKLUND of the math education calls with fondness from FPC days faculty, along with Dr. L ola M ay of Win­ are Hal Smith, the current coach, group home Bible study which has netka, Illinois, as they taught at a Math and Keith Martens, who has since included Jerry Terrel, since gone Festival at Eastern Mennonite College gone to Oregon on a Christian Serv­ to the minors, and Royals catcher this summer. Eighty elementary school ice assignment.) Darrel Porter. It was through such teachers from the state of Virginia and Wa shington, D.C. were inspired and chal­ His attitude is one not common­ a Bible study with John Verhoeven, lenged by these staffmen in the six-day ly associated with sports fame. "I've now a reliever with the Minnesota seminar sponsored by Eastern Menno­ been becoming more aware of so­ Twins, that Quisenberry was first nite in Harrisonburg, Virgin ia. c ial needs and hurts," Quisenberry introduced to the gospel several OLIVE HIEBERT, assistant t o the recently told a reporter from World­ years ago. president, had an "historical" summer. wide Challenge magazine. "There Meanwhile, he continues to re­ She spent two weeks of her vacation studying Mennonite history and culture is a tendency to get puffed up and member the spiritual nourishment while traveling in Europe. Her t our group separated from the average person. he received at Fresno Pacific. "If visited England, the Netherlands, Ger­ But the athlete is no better than you get wind of any Mennonite many, and Austria, and included over- A Message From the Alumni President "Ownership," "Regionaliza­ future plans, programs, and cur­ wants to hear from you and col­ tion," and "Fresno Pacific Col­ riculum at FPC. Questions re­ lectively share dreams for the fut­ lege, a Pacific District Confer­ garding the Special Events Cen­ ure. We as alumni and constitu­ ence School. " These words have ter, faculty members, and contin­ ency need to actively participate frequently been spoken among uing education were numerous. in this relationship. our conference constituency Again, alumni as well as the FPC During this school year I en­ since the Denver conference. constituency appear to be asking courage each ofyou to utilize the Many of our constituents have for more information about the forms of communication current­ expressed interest in building clo­ college. ly established. As a guide in this ser ties with FPC. Churches, pas­ It has been my observation endeavor I suggest one or more tors, and lay leaders have offered that the FPC administration and of the following activities: the FPC board, board have long been aware of (7) Talk with an FPC board administration, the need for communication be­ member or church advisory coun­ and faculty tween FPC and its various constit­ cil m ember from your area; much in the uency groups. As a result, several (2) Encourage and support way ofguidance effective channels of communi­ FPC admissions counselors when for the future. cation, such as alumni surveys, they visit your church,· Given its new the Alumni Council, the Messen­ (3) Call the College Relations ownership re­ ger, Alumni Phone-a-than, the Office and ask about current cam­ lations with FPC, College Relations Office, and in­ pus events. our constituen­ creased faculty visibility in con­ (4) Schedule yourself to at­ cy is concerned about communi­ ference churches have been re­ tend one or more campus events cating to the college the needs emphasized. The Church Advis­ this year (i.e., Homecoming and future direction of the con­ ory Council has been established sports even ts, Fall Festival, Spe­ ference. to serve as a liaison between the cial Events Center groundbreak­ In a recent FPC alumni sur­ churches and Fresno Pacific. ing ceremony, etc.). vey, a great deal of useful infor­ However, effective communi­ Communication requires ef­ mation was obtained concerning cation is contingent on the in­ fort and commitment. I encour­ how alumni view their relation­ volvement of both participants age all of us to put forth the ef­ ship with FPC. A large percent­ in meaningful dialogue. Fresno fort and build a supportive rela­ age of those surveyed indicated Pacific has many channels of tionship with Fresno Pacific Col­ a desire to know more about the communication available and lege. -by Lowell Boldt night stays at the homes of local Menno­ nites in Friesland, Holland, a visit to the Fall Festival Coming Oct.