FORWARDA PUBLICATION OF EMMANUEL COLLEGE VOL. 3 ISSUE 1 | SUMMER 2020 EMMANUEL CENTENNIAL HOMECOMING A GREAT SUCCESS! BY ASHLEY WESTBROOK uring the weekend of October alumni, current Emmanuel students and 17-20, Emmanuel College alumni staff made their way to the Quad for the Dfrom across the United States annual Dirty Pig Feast where they enjoyed made their way to Franklin Springs, GA to a BBQ meal, fellowship, and fun. Former celebrate a momentous year in the College’s and current Emmanuel athletes gathered history...the Centennial! at the Shaw Athletic Center for an Athletic The festivities began with the third Honors social followed by a Hall of Fame annual, Sherman Smith Memorial Golf Induction. Tournament on Thursday. Sherm (’61) was EC Women’s Basketball alumna, a faithful supporter of Emmanuel College Michelle Bryant Gregoire was inducted and served as the president of the Alumni to the Emmanuel College Hall of Fame. Association for many years. Sherm’s She played for the Lady Lions from ’85- daughter, Sebring was in attendance to greet ‘87 where she averaged 22 points and 13 the golfers and open the tournament. rebounds per game. Michelle helped the On Friday, the day began with the 72nd Lady Lions to a 59-4 record during her Annual Vision 4 Education celebration. The time at Emmanuel. She was selected MVP ladies from the IPHC Women’s Ministries in both Regional Conference Tournaments Department were welcomed to campus. in which she participated and was selected They presented $48,926.25 to the college Conference Player of the Year. Michelle to provide financial support and student still holds the single game scoring record by scholarships. That evening alumni had scoring 44 points in a game her sophomore two tracks to choose from. Many of the year. After finishing at Emmanuel, Michelle FORWARD MAGAZINE EMMANUEL COLLEGE | 1 went onto play at Clemson University where she was a starter for the Tigers and was named to the All-ACC team in her senior year. Following the Hall of Fame Induction, many alumni remained to catch a glimpse of the Emmanuel Women’s and Men’s Basketball teams as they scrimmaged. Also, on Friday, alumni and friends were treated to an evening in Paris at the EC Fine Arts Café. Guests enjoyed coffee, deserts, and entertainment from the Emmanuel Chorale, ACTs, and the Emmanuel Players. Later that evening, alumni took a stroll down memory lane with a Walk Down Spring Street, a series of stops where they encountered historical figures from our past. On Saturday, graduates from the class of 1969 were honored and inducted into the Coach Mike Bona with newest Hall of Fame Golden Grads. The newest Golden Grads inductee, Michelle Bryant Gregoire enjoyed sharing stories of former teachers and of warm memories of their time at Emmanuel. They also contributed a class project of two beautiful lion statues at the entrance to the Shaw Athletic Center. At the annual Alumni and Friends Luncheon and Awards Ceremony, two alumni were recognized for their dedication to the college. Bishop Preston Mathena was named the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for his service to Emmanuel. He is a 1980 graduate of the Emmanuel College School of Christian Ministries where he earned his bachelor’s degree in pastoral studies. Bishop Mathena currently serves as the superintendent and presiding bishop of the Appalachian Conference of the IPHC. He Bishop Preston Mathena receiving “Distinguished has over 35 years of pastoral and ministry Alumnus of the Year” Award experience. Bishop Mathena earned a master’s degree in Church Planting and Revitalization from Southwestern Christian University, Bethany, Oklahoma, where he received the 2000 Southwestern Graduate School Distinguished Leadership award. He serves on the IPHC Council of Bishops. For the last nine years, he has been a member of the Emmanuel College Board of Trustees where he serves as a member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Board Development Committee. Brian James, Vice President for Advancement, was awarded the inaugural Heart of the Lion Award. After graduating from Emmanuel, Brian worked for the college for 14 years in admissions, development, and alumni Brian James, Vice President for Advancement, receiving “Heart of a Lion” Award 2 | EMMANUEL COLLEGE NEW DIRECTION, NEW DAY A PUBLICATION OF EMMANUEL COLLEGE relations. He then spent seven years as a commercial lender in the banking industry FORWARD Since his return to Emmanuel, Brian has helped VOL. 3 ISSUE 1 | SUMMER 2020 the college build new residence halls and supervised the completion of the new $10 million Shaw Athletic For Alumni and Friends Center project. He has spearheaded several campus of Emmanuel College beautification projects including the entry ways to MISSION STATEMENT Emmanuel College is a Christ-centered, liberal the College. arts institution which strives to prepare students Following the luncheon, the 2018 Miracle to become Christlike disciples who integrate faith, learning, and living for effective careers, Memorial was dedicated to commemorate scholarship, and service. Emmanuel’s deliverance from debilitating debt Founded in 1919, Emmanuel is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2018. This beautiful stone garden adorns the Commission on Colleges to award associate and southwest corner of the quad and reminds us daily baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA that God is our deliverer. 30033-4097, or call 404-679-4500 for questions That afternoon, we were joined by four about the accreditation of Emmanuel College. biographers who shared their research and President knowledge in a panel discussion about the history of Dr. Ron White the IPHC and Emmanuel College. Vice President for Advancement On Saturday evening, more than 700 guests Brian James thoroughly enjoyed a delicious dinner followed by Advancement Staff Shanterrin Harland a powerful program celebrating the centennial. A Rachael Ward cast of alumni and students presented A Doorway Executive Editor in Time, a drama written by Buck Hodge (’69) and Ashley Westbrook directed by faculty member Jennifer Benson. The Contributing Writers Centennial Homecoming Choir Reunion, under the Ashley Westbrook Contributing Photographers direction of Tres Ward and comprised of past and Rachel Howington present Emmanuel Singers, provided inspiring music Tracy Johnson to complement the drama and reinforce that God is Corey Nolen Ashley Westbrook with us. Barry Wood Sunday morning guests attended the Franklin Design and Printing Services Springs PHC to hear a message from IPHC General Beth James Wansley, Designer Superintendent, LifeSprings, Inc. Presiding Bishop FORWARD 2017, Vol. 1, Issue 3 (USPS 175-200) is published four times a year by the Emmanuel A.D. Beacham Jr., College Office of Advancement, 181 Spring to commemorate the Street, Franklin Springs, GA 30639. Periodicals postage paid at Franklin Springs, GA 30639. Centennial year! To submit address changes, send an e-mail to Thank you to [email protected] or call 800-860-8600, opt. 4. all who joined us POSTMASTER: in celebrating EC Please send address changes to Emmanuel College Alumni Relations, and the work God P.O. Box 129, Franklin Springs, GA 30639. continues to do on Ranked as a Tier One private college and named our campus! Please as a Best Regional College (South) mark your calendars –U.S. News & World Report (2013 – 2015) for October 2nd-4th Anna Shelton playing as we celebrate 101! Ms. Bea Coley Follow us on Instagram /EmmanuelCollegeGA Follow us on Twitter @EmmanuelNews Like us on Facebook facebook.com/EmmanuelCollegeGA Join our alumni group facebook.com/groups/EmmanuelCollegeGA Alumni and former coaches reconnect at Athletic social. FORWARD MAGAZINE EMMANUEL COLLEGE | 3 4 | EMMANUEL COLLEGE NEW DIRECTION, NEW DAY FORWARD MAGAZINE EMMANUEL COLLEGE | 5 ALUMNUS SPOTLIGHT JONATHAN SHIREY A GIFT OF PAINTING For EC Alumnus, Jonathan Shirey ‘99, “I grew a lot in my first two years in his love of art began with watercolor and particular,” he remembers. “Just being in an oil painting in high school art classes. At environment where faith was encouraged first, he saw art as a hobby, but a great was great for me. I loved Chapel because I teacher showed him that it could be more. heard from the Lord and experienced His “My high school teachers gave me presence. It was a key time in my life.” freedom,” he remembers. “They’d give “My final year at EC was difficult, me art projects that I needed to complete though. I experienced a lot of doubts but they didn’t give me a timeline. Their about my faith.” Professors like Dr. Sallie instruction was to finish by the end of the Krickel and Jackson Hall RD, Betty Webb, semester. That allowed me the freedom to provided essential encouragement to pursue different techniques.” Jonathan’s faith journey in that season. This freedom also allowed Jonathan Although his faith grew while at to tap into his creativity, resulting in Emmanuel, Jonathan’s passion for art was recognition both in his district-wide art stagnant. It remained that way for 20 years. show and at the state level in Washington. In 2016, while on a brief trip to the US At 17 years old, Jonathan accepted from abroad, for the first time in many Jesus as his personal Savior. He sensed a years, he felt inspired to paint. So that night calling on his life that wasn’t obviously he painted while the family slept. art-related. “Trying to figure out what “The next morning, I remember my to do with my painting at the time was wife saying she couldn’t believe I had this a challenge,” he said. “Some art schools showed interest in me, but I didn’t pursue them because I wanted to pursue the Lord.” Jonathan knew that he had given his life to the Lord who would guide him down the right path.