JOHNBULLETIN BROWN A publication for the alumni and friends of John Brown University SUMMER 2004 [ CONTENTS ] JOHNBULLETIN BROWN President’sPerspective Spring 2004 Managing Editor Andrea Phillips Dear Alumni and Friends of JBU, Alumni News Editor Adriane Carr Copy/Feature Editor Andrea Phillips The decision to step down from the presidency of JBU was a difficult Contributing Writers Adriane Carr one indeed. God has blessed and used the people of JBU wonderfully Luke Davis during our ten years here. Alice and I are very enriched to have had Cherissa Dees the privilege of working with the people of JBU. Lindsay Dikes Luke Friesen There is a strong spirit of Christ-centered vitality and Christian formation among students, faculty, and Laura Gray staff. Our academic programs have enjoyed tremendous leadership by faculty and students, including Delia Haak numerous national honors and awards. Alumni and friends of the university have given financially so Stan McKinnon that basic needs as well as urgently needed new facilities could be provided. Enrollment and retention features2 Cathedral Choir Tours Ireland. Director Paul Smith Andrea Phillips are the highest ever. took 50 Cathedral Choir members along with Sarah Seward faculty and staff from JBU throughout Ireland for Designer Carrie Burns More students are involved in Christian service and international missions than ever. More faculty two weeks. Photographers Luke Davis are providing academic leadership nationally and internationally. JBU continues to receive awards Mark Jackson and recognition in the areas of athletics, debate, music, business, broadcasting, and overall student 5 Advancing in Life: Alumnus Dave Cameron. Dave Jon VerHoeven scholarship. describes how JBU’s Advance Program changed his Print Coordinator Patrick Carr life. Printer Just-Us Printers We’re appreciating our new Walker Student Center and Bell Science Hall, and we just moved into a Production Assistants David Adair new art center. We’re building a new residence hall and planning construction for a business center 10 Circle of Friends. A 42-year-old letter keeps a group Traci Collins funded last fall. of JBU alumni friends connected. Matthew Feyerabend The endowed Center for Marriage and Family Studies (CMFS) and the endowed Soderquist Center for 16 Joe Walenciak Spends Sabbatical in Guatemala. The John Brown Bulletin is the official publication of John Leadership and Ethics (SCLE) are already nationally recognized. They’re providing expert Christian Dr. Walenciak, professor of business, spent his Brown University. It is published at 2000 W. University leadership so urgently needed by families and business leaders. sabbatical teaching in a classroom in Guatemala. Street, Siloam Springs, Arkansas 72761. His experiences with children on the street had a So this is God’s time for us to step aside from the presidency and for the next era of leadership to be dramatic impact. This story contains excerpts from initiated. There will be no waiting or lapse of effort during the transition. The people of JBU are newsletters he sent to friends while he was there. To submit stories, photos, feedback: people of vision and passion. The historic mission is as strong as ever. God is blessing and challenging Andrea Phillips, Director of University Communications us with plenty of opportunities even now. [email protected] John Brown University’s mission is to provide Christ-centered higher Alice and I are excited about the future of John Brown University. Indeed, this is where we hope our education which contributes dynamically to the intellectual, spiritual Alumni news and photos: grandchildren will get their distinctly Christian, top-quality university education. There is no better and occupational effectiveness of men and women in God-honoring Jean Frase, Alumni Office place in the world for them to grow in Christ, in relationships, in understanding, and in Christian living and service. [email protected] virtues. We hope you’ve caught this spirit and vision of your university. C OV E R PHOTOS The Fund for Student Financial Support: May God continue to bless John Brown University! Top: Joy Potter ’01, prays during chapel Steve Onnen, Director of Advancement Services Middle: The Engineering Building in the spring [email protected] Bottom: Rachel Haddon ’73, and Evie Coates, daughter of John ’72 and Marty ’69 Coates Admissions information: Lee Balzer Don Crandall, Vice President for Enrollment Management President, 1994-2004 www.jbu.edu/admissions [ IRELAND ] [ CAMPUS NEWS ] Cathedral a student’s Choir Tours The CD includes African PERSPECTIVE pieces, hymns, and a selection of Days of modern and traditional works. Luke Davis, a junior graphic design major, Ireland The recording also features student 40 wrote a devotional message to his friends choral assistant Ian Aipperspach PURPOSE in response to reading The Purpose performing a fanfare on the Down Driven Life. He allowed us to share As you sit and talk to Paul Smith, intently to the concert.” Cathedral organ. his message with John Brown Bulletin director of the Cathedral Choir at “The JBU Cathedral Choir is “Recording in Downpatrick readers. Luke’s words encourage us all John Brown University, about his known for their extensive repertoire Cathedral was both a privilege and that the Lord is still impacting students’ recent trip to Ireland, excitement of a capella music, a style not well an honor,” said Paul Smith, who is hearts and lives as they study here at JBU. washes over his face. Most people known in Ireland,” Smith said. also an associate professor of music. awould not spend part of their sum- “Listeners were extremely “The choir worked hard for two days Once Upon a Bridge mer vacation with a group of college interested in the fact that a choir to produce the recording.” students touring overseas. However, could sing beautiful six- to eight-part Midway through the tour, Last week I found myself out on one his passion for music is the driving music that blended in pitch and tone the choir traveled to the northern of my drives again, around Siloam force that led Paul to take a group of complemented by rich lyrics,” Smith coast to visit Carrick-a-Rede Rope Springs, as I frequently do. I like to students to Ireland. said. Bridge, Dunluce Castle, and Giant’s go out for drives as often as possible, Last year Paul took Causeway. The northern usually out on the Arkansas country the 50 Cathedral Choir coast became a favorite roads at sunset or evening. It’s my members, along with spot of the students. favorite way to do my quiet times; faculty and staff from The choir also visited getting out into His creation. I love JBU, throughout Ireland many schools where they to see the world around us, the sun for two weeks, May 16-30, gave concerts and shared In the midst of a busy fall semester, students, faculty and staff took time setting, the stars twinkling, the trees on the annual Cathedral with the students about JBU to reflect on God’s purposes for their lives. Over 500 individuals in the swaying in the breeze. Somehow, Choir tour. Traditionally, and the music program. John Brown University community participated in a nationwide initiative by simply getting off campus and the choir goes on tour “I can’t stop talking called “40 Days of Purpose.” outside, I can relax, focus more eas- during spring break in about this trip! There was Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life and the “40 Days of ily on God and life and think a little late March. In 2003, for something about it I just iPurpose” initiative have been tools used by churches around the world to more clearly. It is my introspective the first time in the history can’t explain,” Sbanotto bring people to a deeper understanding of God’s design for life. time. Every once in a while on these of the choir, the tour took said. “It was a beautiful At JBU, participants in “40 Days of Purpose” read a daily devotional drives, my mind races so furiously place outside the U.S. Members of the Cathedral Choir outside of Scrabo Tower with the country with beautiful people chapter from Rick Warren’s bestselling book, The Purpose Driven Life, and that driving becomes a distraction While on tour, the County Down Valley and the Irish Sea in the background that responded to God’s attended a weekly small group discussion to share what each had learned (and well, possibly a hazard to pe- choir performed a selection of com- “The people of Ireland outpouring of love. The choir worked about God’s purpose for their lives. One long-time staff member destrians and other cars...(grin),) positions from different musical responded so graciously to our every very hard; they literally shined.” commented after finishing the study, “This has been the best spiritual and I am forced to stop and go out- eras for audiences in Ballynahinch, performance,” Elaine Sbanotto said. The CD recorded at growth activity I have participated in since I’ve been at JBU.” Students side to continue my deep thoughts. Downpatrick, Portstewart, Carry- Sbanotto accompanied the choir Downpatrick Cathedral was released were also highly impacted as they considered God’s purpose for them This time though, the drive duff, and Bangor. Approximately to help with the logistics of taking in the fall and can be purchased in the midst of making decisions about vocation, faith and relationships was late, and I found myself needing 1,875 people heard the music of the a large group of students on tour. through the JBU music department that will have a lifelong impact. to stop, but the closest stop was the Cathedral Choir during the tour. “The experience was priceless,” by calling Becky Pohle at (479) 524- The introduction to The Purpose Driven Life states, “Self-help books downtown park near college.