Live Streaming and Video On Demand: Chapel Services Special Events Seminars Student Films Sporting Events Commercials Alumni and friends from more than 35 countries have tuned in to SAGU.tv since it launched at Fall Commencement 2010. Viewers can participate in live discussions via Twitter along with Southwesterners attending the event in person. Approximately 90 percent of the production crew for SAGU.tv is composed of students. Event schedule available at www.sagu.tv Interactive Cover Challenge: In celebration of our third-consecutive 2,000+ student enrollment, we are setting a record with the most faces pictured on our magazine cover. How many? submit your guess at www.sagu.edu/sagutoday for a chance to win one of 3 album prizes: 1) saGu Worship “In all the earth” 2) The Call “only one” or 3) The Harvesters “Hymns of our faith.” Contents President’s Perspective ........4 Gift Leadership .........................5 Master of Organizational Leadership .................................6 Campus Connection ...............8 Royal Family Kids Camp .....14 Faculty Notes .........................17 Pathak reaches internationals through Chi Alpha .....................18 Can one week change a To God be the Glorie ..............19 child’s life forever? Athletic News ............................20 14 Homecoming Photos .............22 Celebrating All-Steinway ......26 Class Notes ................................27 Special Content As you read, watch for the following icons. They indicate special content available only online. About Today Magazine fall 2011 • Vol 15 Issue 2 SAGU Today is a publication of Southwestern Assemblies of God GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT: Clint James Perez, Ryan McElhany DIGITAL EDITION: Ricky Ramirez, Ryan McElhany University, a non-profit institution of higher learning. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Christina Freeze, Ryan McElhany, Statement of Purpose: The purpose of Southwestern Assemblies of MANAGING EDITOR, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING: Shannon Hicks, Chantal Jules, Morgan Shaeffer, Mark Warde God University is to prepare undergraduate and graduate students Ryan McElhany Ryan McElhany, Rachel Sanderlin, spiritually, academically, professionally and cross-culturally so as PHOTOGRAPHY: to successfully fill evangelistic, missionary and church ministry ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Christina Freeze, Jessica Grissom, Landon Perry, Elizabeth Christina Freeze, Public Relations Coordinator Monsivais roles and to provide quality educational and professional Christian service wherever needed throughout the world. Leave Your Mark - 3 President’s perspective n the early 1900s, a young Baptist needs. man named P. C. Nelson was struck by In each circumstance we see that God an automobile in Detroit, Michigan. used individuals at an established time IThrough that unfortunate incident Brother to achieve his purpose–a Baptist-turned- Nelson experienced the healing power of Pentecostal, a local official cleaning up a God and subsequently the Pentecostal train wreck, a dedicated missionary turned experience. He would later distinguish University president, and countless donors himself as a brilliant scholar, evangelist, who captured the vision for SAGU. and leader in higher education, establishing In 2009, the Lord birthed a vision at Southwestern Bible School in Enid, SAGU for a World Communication Center Oklahoma in 1927, one of three schools (WCC). At an estimated $19 million to Kermit s. Bridges, D.Min., that would merge and form what is now construct both phases, this technology President Southwestern Assemblies of God University. intensive facility will be the largest capital From humble beginnings of 43 students project in the history of the institution. in its first year to 2,023 students this fall, With such vision there has been uncertainty the history of this great institution is filled regarding where the provisions would come with miracles. In 2003, SAGU released the from. As students prepared to enroll or history book “For the Whole World.” It re-enroll during this past summer, it was Charitable featured countless stories of God’s provision. apparent that current economic conditions One of the most memorable occurred in had taken a toll on many families. A Gift Annuities 1932. During the Great Depression, the number of students’ parents lost jobs. University found itself without sufficient Additionally, cutbacks in federal and state In trying to create new avenues for resources to feed students. Students were grants left many students coming up short instructed to spend the night in prayer. by several thousand dollars. our donors, saGu offers a Charitable The next morning, a train transporting an As He has done throughout our history, Gift annuity program. With this new assortment of cargo, which happened to the Lord again used generous people to meet include food, derailed while passing through the needs of the University and deserving program, you can give and receive! Enid, Oklahoma. To the surprise of school students by providing donations of $50,000, leadership, a considerable amount of beef $100,000, $200,000, $465,000, $2 million Charitable Gift annuities have become and other foods were offered to the school. and $5 million. Details of those generous In 1982, the University was again gifts are provided to the right, but let me the most popular gifting vehicles in financially struggling, but the Lord share briefly about the last two gifts. helped SAGU achieve solvency under the Through a mutual friend, I received today’s volatile market. The Charitable leadership of Dr. Delmer Guynes. Dr. word that a family felt led to establish a Guynes and his dear late wife Eleanor were scholarship fund, so I scheduled a time Gift annuity with saGu foundation honored at Homecoming this year with the for them to tour the University with no is fixed for life. Your lifetime payment unveiling of a new tribute wall in Guynes knowledge of the amount being considered. Hall. There is no doubt in my mind that As it turned out, I was unable to be present amount is dependable and unaffected the willingness of the Guynes to leave the the day of the visit due to the funeral of mission field, and their commitment to a family member. During the grave side by economic downturns. establish a intercessory prayer, were major factors in the service, I opened perhaps the most exciting turnaround of the University. text message I’ve ever received from Craig CGa for yourself, or anyone you choose, Our own students can share endless Rinas, Senior Director of Development and testimonies of God’s provision. Recipients Gift Planning. This generous family not with a charitable donation of $10,000 of God’s 11th Hour Angel Fund, Maurice only provided a $2 million check for the Jones and Tyler Martin, can share how God scholarship fund, but they stunned us with or more. You may choose either a provided for their needs through Kristine a second check for $5 million. After hearing single life or a Joint and survivor Rikli, who felt led to provide for needy the vision of the WCC, they felt led to help students. Glorie Ndongola (p. 19) shares make the dream a reality. annuity. You may also choose to defer how the Lord provided for him financially By now, you may have noticed countless times when it appeared he would the intentional use of the word “led” payment for a higher annuity rate. be unable to return to SAGU. Yet, God throughout my comments. All of the gifts always led individuals to provide for his listed above represent individuals allowing 4 - Today Magazine July 2011 God to lead them. A church leadership team, a couple who $50,000 believe in this University, a couple with a heart for financially impoverished students, an elderly couple’s final gift to their Freedom Fellowship International, in Waxahachie, alma mater, and a financially blessed family–all led to invest Texas, under the leadership of Pastor John Bates, gave their resources in the ministry of this wonderful school. $50,000 toward the World Communication Center. These generous friends are helping lead us into the next era of University development. Though we are uncertain where the September 2011 remaining funds for the WCC or $100,000 scholarships for deserving students will come from in the future, I have never Gary and Sheree Sutton pledged $100,000 been more confident in God’s ability toward the World Communication to provide, and for faithful men Center. and women to hear His voice and respond with generosity. I ask you to join me as never before in praying that God will prepare the hearts of many who will help make the WCC a reality and for those who will provide scholarship funds to make it possible for wonderful young people to receive a quality education in a Spirit-filled environment. n August 2011 $464,986 $464,986.88 was generously donated from the William and Irene Farwell estate. The full amount is unrestricted, allowing SAGU to choose where the funds can best be used to sustain the University. August 2011 $200,000 SAGU received $200,000 from September 2011 a couple who prefer to remain anonymous. $7,000,000 The full amount is designated for SAGU received two checks totaling $7 million from a family scholarships to widows, dependents who prefers to remain anonymous. of widows, disabled students, and $2 million was designated for scholarships to be awarded each of dependents of disabled parents. the next 20 years at $100,000 per year. $5 million was dedicated for the new World Communication Center to begin construction in Spring 2012. Leave Your Mark - 5 t is Monday morning, and it has already can we cut expenses? How can we recruit begun. Your assistant informs you that more congregants?” It’s the age-old issue the Board is waiting for you in the of the Church – especially yours. You have conference room. They have come to exhausted every resource trying to think of a Idiscuss the church’s finances . again. Yet solution and finally succumbed to the belief another round of the same questions.