Table Of Content

1 1 0 2 l l a f the magazine of Southern Adventist University Reaching Out Students make service part of Southern’s culture | page 6 Special Section Five-Year President’s Report | page 32 POWER FOR MIND AND SOUL 6 Students Touch Lives Far and Near | 10 Long-Distance Learning | 22 Wakeskating Witness | 31 The Prodigal Father Southern Serves! Many homes near campus remain af- fected by the April 27 tornado in Apison, Tennessee. To demonstrate Southern’s heart for helping, this year’s “We Serve – Freshman Community Service Day” had a large storm cleanup component. Matthew Harris and 668 other freshmen spread out across the area, with almost a third of them assisting tornado victims specifically. “Truthfully, I didn’t want to work,” Matthew admits. “I was throwing a little tantrum in my mind until I felt God tell me, ‘Relax Matt, be you.’ It was a pretty good day.” 2 Columns contents 6 10 POWER FOR MIND AND SOUL 12 32 features departments 6 | Serving It Up 4 | New Media Students raise funds and volunteer time to touch 17 | Professor Inspiration lives locally and across the world. 18 | Life 101 19 | Headlines 10 | Distance Learning 24 | Mission Minute Student groups travel overseas for some hands-on instruction during summer study tours. 26 | Spotlight 27 | On the Move 12 | Changed 31 | The Word Business professor’s research affirms the ability of God’s Word to alter personality. Departments across campus keep pace with research projects of their own. 32 | Special Section: President’s Report The full report that President Gordon Bietz presented to the Southern Union Conference constituency meeting, held in Atlanta this September. Cover Photo: A performer at Asian Night waits for the curtain to open. The evening helped raise more than $7,500 for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Fall 2011 3 »new media Volume 63 Number 2 Alumni Edition Editor’s note: Much of the Schilling family’s home was destroyed by the tornado that swept through Apison, Tennessee, on April 27. Once the storm passed, David Schilling, junior sports studies major, helped neighbors escape from cars Executive Editor Ingrid Skantz, ’90 and damaged houses. Later that week he wrote this account of his experience. Layout Editor Ryan Pierce David’s father, Bruce, is a professor in the Chemistry Department at Southern. Editorial Assistants Ruthie Gray, ’99 & ’04 I woke up Thursday morning and started taking Ingrid Hernandez, current Rainey Park, ’10 pictures of the house and the devastation. I took Lucas Patterson pictures of the other houses in our area and Katie Partlo, ’06 went up to Clonts [Road] to figure out what Kristine Barker, ’11, center, and Tanya Musgrave, senior, Layout Assistant Isaac James, ’08 happened to everyone. That’s when I heard accept Best of Fest award for their entry, “Blue” at the 2011 Photography L eo Macias, current confirmation of those people we couldn’t find SONscreen Film Festival. Photo by Gerry Chudleigh. Justin Peter, current being dead. The people on the other side of our flickr.com/photos/gchudleigh/5604699743 Ricky Oliveras, ’11 property were also dead. Later that day people from Southern showed up—teachers, students, President Gordon Bietz and others—to cut the trees away from our Academic Administration Robert Young driveway so we could get out. As it stands we are staying at Southern Financial Administration Tom Verrill Village apartments [on the university campus] Advancement Christopher Carey and have two rental cars from Southern. We Enrollment Services Marc Grundy, ’96 have been getting food and stuff from a ton of Strategic Initiatives Vinita Sauder, ’78 people who God has sent our way. Through this Student Services William Wohlers whole experience God has blessed us im- A leaky pipe caused the Dining Hall to be invaded by a small Marketing and University Relations Ingrid Skantz, ’90 mensely. We haven’t been able to do much with army of green fans over the summer. Alumni Relations Evonne Crook, ’79 the house since we haven’t had the insurance flickr.com/photos/southernu/5727671658/in/photostream people out yet, since they have thousands of houses to go. With God’s help and the commu- Send correspondence to [email protected] nity around us for support, we will and have Send address changes to started the long road to recovery. Alumni Relations Southern Adventist University Post Office Box 370 » David Schilling, junior Collegedale, TN 37315-0370 sports studies major or email [email protected] You guys! This verse just rocked my world!!! Phone 1.800.SOUTHERN Fax 423.236.1000 Ezekial 18:25!! “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Email [email protected] Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is Southern Adventist University graduates listen as names are Website southern.edu it not My way which is fair, and your ways which called in the Spring 2011 Commencement ceremony. flickr.com/photos/southernu/5683548443 are not fair?” Scripture in this issue is taken from the Holy Bible, New *paradigm shift!* International Version® (NIV). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights » Hillary Prandl, senior reserved. And from The Message (MSG). Copyright © 1993, mass communications major 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. New CD now on 35 Life Groups! So far, soooo goood! iTunes!!!! COLUMNS is the official magazine of Southern Adventist University, produced by Marketing and University Relations » Kevin Kibble, to provide information to alumni, Southern Union constituents, Assistant Chaplain and other friends of the university. ©2011, Southern Adventist University. Life Groups are small student groups that meet for prayer »Joey Tolbert, ’01 & ’07 and Bible study. 4 Columns »new media twitter collegedalechurch.com/newpastor My favorite part of Strawberry Get to know Collegedale Seventh-day Fest? Friends and cheesecake. Adventist Church’s new senior pastor and In that order. his wife on the church website. Dave Smith comes to us from his position as president » Ashley Wagner, senior of Union College. He and his wife, Cherie, mass communication major also a pastor, are no strangers to the Collegedale area. The two lived in town for 17 years while Love smelling @LittleDebbie’s while Dave chaired and taught in the English Depart- walking to class @SouthernNews in ment at Southern and Cherie worked variously the morning! Yum! in Student Finance, Alumni Relations, and as an assistant for three academic deans. Recently, » Becca Anderson, sophomore they’ve felt a calling to come back to the area public relations major and are looking forward to serving the Colleg- edale Church. So very happy, I received my acceptance letter to Southern Adventist University today. Watch out Collegedale, I’m coming back!!! »Katie Pettit, future student About 40 families hit by tornados have stayed in emergency accommodation at Southern Adventist University. »Adventist_News Southern’s faculty and students More than 5,000 attendees What I learned from Strawberry Fest: share their thoughts about and of Southern’s 2011 Spring We all have a story. We need to learn experiences with prayer in Prayer: Commencement ceremony sing how to share our story, the story of The Power to Change Lives. “Happy Birthday” to President Jesus. See the video at southern.edu/columns. Gordon Bietz. Anthony Whitlow, See the video at southern.edu/columns. freshman theology major Curling up in bed and falling asleep Connect With Southern Adventist University: to the sun rising and birds chirping. #allnightsoftball website: southern.edu flickr: flickr.com/photos/southernu » Sarah Crowder, youtube: youtube.com/user/SouthernAdventistU senior public relations major facebook: f acebook.com/pages/Southern- Adventist-University-Official twitter: twitter.com/SouthernNews Fall 2011 5 Serving iT UP Students Touch Lives Near and Far By Kelli Gauthier, ’06 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did Photo: Christina Stew fyooru —o dnie dM ofoaf rtt thmheee lw.e”a 2s5t :o3f 5t-h4e0s,e NbIroVthers and sisters of mine, art 6 Columns At Southern, community service is more than a reason to skip a day of classes in January; it’s a way of UP living. Whether students are planting churches, tutoring kids in inner-city schools, or working as volunteers across the world from Uganda to the Philippines, many of them take time out of their busy lives to give back and help others. More than 500 participated this year in Community Service Day, 70 served as student missionaries across the world, and hundreds gave up weekend hours to participate in one of the campus ministries. A vital part of the campus culture, service is even written into the university’s mission statement: “Southern Adventist University as a learning community nurtures Christ-likeness and encourages the pursuit of truth, wholeness, and a life of service.” And it’s a mission that students across campus have taken to heart. ganbare nippon He talked to Asian Club President over to the Asia-Pacific Division of Leroy Abrahams doesn’t usually cry. Keri Mau, and it turned out she’d been the Seventh-day Adventist Church for But once the videos started play- thinking the same thing. disaster relief. ing, it was tough for the junior biology The two sprung into action, launch- Throughout the project, there were major to keep from getting emotional. ing a campaign titled “Ganbare Nip- countless inspiring stories of people who Hunched over his roommate’s com- pon,” which is Japanese for “Don’t Give felt called to give, Leroy says. Junior puter, he first saw YouTube clips of the Up, Japan.” nursing major Rhina Urdaneta prayed aftermath of Japan’s deadly 9.0 magni- After hearing testimonies from some that God would help her find some tude earthquake and the devastating of Southern’s Japanese students and money to donate to the project, because tsunami that followed. watching a documentary by Kristine she had none of her own to give. The “Seeing people screaming and jump- Barker, senior film production major, next week, an older woman whom ing in their cars to get away—these are students donated $1,100 during a love Rhina had been driving around town to people who live like we do in the U.S., offering at Asian vespers. run errands said she wanted to give the and they’re “When we showed student $100 for her help. in such a the documentary at At first Rhina declined, but then “This has given students a chance to desperate vespers, some of the realized it was the answer to her prayer. situation,” see that they can have an impact… responses were over- Students are finding their own ways the 21-year- We’re getting trained to shine our whelming; some people to serve, with the help of groups old says. “It light to people around the world.” donated all of the like the Student Associa- really struck money in their wal- tion. me.” lets,” Keri says. “The “One of The images stayed with Leroy for Lord really blessed.” my goals days, but it took a Sunday morning The next evening a donation box at phone conversation with his mom sev- Asian Night brought in an additional eral days later for the details of a plan to $2,700. start coming together. Through the end of the school year, “It sort of dawned on me, ‘I’m the student leaders like Leroy and Keri put community service director [for the a donation box in the student center Student Association], and I have extra and sold red and white “Don’t Give money in my budget. I could use my Up, Japan” wristbands and T-shirts. position to organize students to do They also visited local churches, something about it.’” encouraging the congregations to That Friday was Asian Club vespers, support the project. and Asian Night was just around the By the end of the school year, corner; why not raise money for disaster students had raised $7,500. All relief at those two events? of the money will be turned Fall 2011 7 it was time for Southern to reach out surprised how open the Westside com- to the community. There aren’t many munity is to having Southern students churches within walking distance from visit. Residents have told him that the projects, and many residents have violence and gang activity stops when no transportation to leave the area, the students are there, so the com- he says. So along with several friends, munity feels safer when the volunteers [as community service director] was Eliud, Southern’s outreach director for are around. Sometimes, before students to make community service a lifestyle Campus Ministries, began West Side 4 even begin talking, residents will grab among our student body … to make Jesus. their hands and ask them to pray about community service more than just the It’s a multifaceted ministry: Friday something that’s going on in their lives. annual Community Service Day,” Leroy afternoons are for flag football, GED “I feel God is coming very soon, and says. “This has given students a chance tutoring, and health expos. On Sab- the people in Westside are really open to see that they can have an impact on bath, some students participate in the to God,” Chett says. “There really are a people’s lives across the ocean. We’re lot of people down there searching for getting trained to shine our light to God, but they don’t know how to get people around the world.” Residents have told him that out of the situation they’re in because There are few Christians—let alone violence and gang activity stops all of their friends are doing drugs or in Seventh-day Adventists—in Japan, when the students are there, so gangs. They want to know why we’re Keri says, so she hopes the students’ ef- different and how they can get that.” the community feels safer when forts will help people see Jesus’ love. the volunteers are around. Therapeutic riding “We want to be able to spread the gospel through this disaster and give From her perch on top of the horse, them a little hope.” children’s ministry, playing games with the little girl didn’t speak at all. the local kids; some go door-to-door, She was about 5 years old and West Side 4 Jesus praying with people and collecting had autism. Every Friday around 3 p.m., a group prayer requests; while others hold Bible She may have been quiet, but Joshua of boys starts to gather in the grassy studies inside people’s homes. Their Walker, senior architectural drafting common area outside the housing proj- goal is to hold an evangelistic series in major, was struck by the girl’s hap- ects in Chattanooga’s Westside. the projects in September 2012. piness as he led her horse slowly There are about 11 middle schoolers The key to the West Side 4 Jesus around the ring. and high schoolers waiting for the van ministry is consistently building “This little girl, for the entire full of Southern students they’ve come Christian relationships, Eliud says. time, had this huge smile on to expect once a week. He remembers one couple who was her face, and her mom said she Flag football is the main event on expecting their first child and had to really enjoyed coming for the Fridays, but the games are only part of move out of their house. Homeless, exercise,” Joshua says. “It was what has, in two years, become one of they had nowhere to turn. kind of a blessing, and it was re- the most attended ministries organized When the students heard about the ally cute to see how happy she by Southern students. situation, they took up a collection was. She didn’t talk; she just Junior nursing major Chett Clay- among themselves and raised enough smiled.” ton says it was when he realized the money to buy the couple a night’s stay In his past two years at Westside boys were actually waiting on in a hotel. Later, Eliud followed up with Southern, Joshua has spent the Southern students for the weekly them and got them connected with a hours cleaning stalls, feed- football game that he knew his ministry local homeless shelter. ing horses, and leading had taken root. “The look on their faces was so horses around the grounds “It was sort of shocking,” he says. priceless; that’s something that will at Tri-State Therapeutic Riding “They’re really disappointed if we don’t touch them for eternity,” he says. “The Center. What started out as a way to show up.” gospel is that God loves you, but also fulfill a community service requirement Senior pastoral care major Eliud that Christ took care of people’s needs for a class turned into something he Sicard had been doing some Bible work first.” often looked forward to. in the Westside area when he decided Chett and other students have been “Volunteering is mandatory for 8 Columns I started contacting the local schools,” ponent was integrated into Southern’s “Volunteering is mandatory for Denise says. curriculum. school, but after you do the volun- She wasn’t disappointed. From the The idea is to give students experi- minute the first two Southern volun- ences that will empower them to go teering, if you put your heart into it teers stepped into the barn, Denise into their communities after they gradu- at all, it’s more of a blessing to you knew the partnership was a good fit. ate, identify the specific needs, and use than to those you’re helping.” “The students at Southern are so the precise skills they have developed at willing. They just gave a whole lot; they Southern to address those needs. school, but after you do the volun- have a heart for it.” “The new program will help us be teering, if you put your heart into Denise says she’s on the lookout for it at all, it’s more of a blessing to additional dedicated volunteers. Tri- you than to those you’re help- State Therapeutic Riding Center has “It’s important for all students to ing,” Joshua says. started a mentoring program for at-risk realize they can use their gifts, Tri-State Therapeu- teenagers, and all mentors must be over skills, and careers in service,” tic Riding Center gives the age of 18. says Tortal. “God hasn’t just called children and adults with “We really rely on college students. pastors and teachers to serve, but mental, emotional, and They tend to have such good attitudes,” people of all professions.” physical disabilities she says. the chance to increase Christian Service Program their dexterity and to exercise their trust in Melissa Tortal, ’09, has always been sure that all students are involved in animals and people. passionate about service. As a junior at service,” says Bob Young, vice president Whether the staff is Southern, she was a natural at direct- for academic administration. “I believe leading a horse and ing Community Service Day, where she it will be a blessing to the local commu- rider around the are- organized more than 700 students and nity, help our students grow in signifi- na or helping more faculty members in volunteer projects cant areas, and raise general awareness severely disabled throughout the Chattanooga area. of the call to Christ’s followers to serve children into an “It’s important for all students to re- the needs of others.” enclosed saddle to alize they can use their gifts, skills, and Whether through short-term or keep them upright, careers in service,” says Tortal. “God long-term mission work, community they’re always in hasn’t just called pastors and teachers to service projects or fundraisers, Southern need of an extra serve, but people of all professions.” provides opportunities for students to set of hands. Next, she took a year to serve as give back to their communities, im- When Denise a task force worker at Camp Kulaqua prove their leadership skills, and catch Wright first in Florida. Returning to campus her the inspiration for a lasting commit- became director senior year, Tortal once again led the ment to service. n of this Cleve- Community Service Day event. After To see video clips of several service projects, land, Ten- graduating, Southern hired her for visit southern.edu/columns. nessee-based the new position of service initiative nonprofit and coordinator. was in need For the last year and a half, the uni- of volunteers, versity has conducted a pilot initiative she thought to explore an official service-learning immediately program. Tortal has documented exist- of Southern. ing service projects, assessed community “In col- needs, and established a system for lege, I was helping students find projects relevant always looking to their career paths. As a result, a for volunteer new Christian Service Program was internships. launched this fall, and a service com- Fall 2011 9 m e r Stu d y T o u r s m dvantage of S u A W ho Take Trips Overseas Provide Extra Edg e fo r S o uth ern Stu d e nts By Caitlin Foster, ’11 After spring final exams have been completed and summer officially begins at Southern Adventist University, many students pack up and head home until fall semester. Some, however, pack for an entirely new and different destination. International study tours give students the opportunity to learn more about their courses of study while expanding their worldviews. Business in China uted to their future careers by allowing them to directly observe The opportunity offered by the School of Business and and speak with those already working in international business. Management to earn credit hours by traveling to a foreign The experience made it easier to understand the diverse nature country sounded perfect for senior international business of business between cultures in a way that would not have been major Haslel Toruno. possible in a traditional classroom environment. Plus, as To- “I love to travel, so the summer study tour to China runo observed, a study tour to China looks good on her résumé! seemed like the best of both worlds!” Toruno said. The China trip was also appealing to senior social work Music in Poland major Xenia Figueroa, who admits that at first, she didn’t fully As the business students were learning commerce in China, anticipate the impact the journey would have on her experi- members of Southern’s orchestra were displaying their musical ence at Southern. skills in Poland. For two weeks in early May, student musicians “I’m so glad I went, because not only did I get to see an- performed at cathedrals, music conservatories, and Seventh-day other country and its culture, but I got to experience how the Adventist churches in Pszczyna, Warsaw, and Gdansk. Between country does business,” Figueroa said. concerts, they were able to explore the cities and learn about From May 8 to May 27, students kept a journal that they the country’s history. The group also visited Wawel Castle in turned in for credit at the end of the trip. The daily schedule Krakow, the salt mines, and the Auschwitz concentration camp. typically involved visiting a local business in the morning, Cathedral performances, with their grand architecture and and then sightseeing in the afternoon. This created a balance history, stood out for many Southern musicians. The stately between learning about China’s business practices and its houses of worship provided excellent acoustics and a reminder cultural heritage at places like the Hong Kong International for students of their focus as musical witnesses for God. Trade and Stock Exchange and the Forbidden City. In one cathedral, the orchestra held a benefit concert to Both Toruno and Figueroa believe the trip greatly contrib- raise money for a child in the hospital with heart problems. 10 Columns