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Congratulations, Susan!

To read the full article on Beyer please visit Columbia International University’s website.

Lierheimer gained bachelor and master of science degrees from the State University of New York at Albany (1985-6) and later received a certificate in counseling from Denver Seminary (2004). Lierheimer and his wife founded Our House Children’s Learning Center and Evergreen Academy, a private K-8 Christian school, in Evergreen, Colorado.

Canyon Courier reports, “His strong faith in Jesus Christ was an inspiration to others. His heart’s desire was to lead children and others to a saving relationship with Jesus.”

Click here to read Canyon Courier’s full article.

Alumnus David Timmerman (MDiv) has been named Dean of Monmouth College and will begin at Monmouth on July 15. Timmerman has served at Wabash College for the past 17 years as professor of rhetoric, chair of the rhetoric department, and chair of the division on humanities and fine arts.

Timmerman earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA before earning master’s degree in divinity from Denver Seminary. He spent seven years as a pastor in Littleton, Colorado. Timmerman left Colorado to pursue a Ph.D. in communication from Purdue University. He joined the Wabash faculty in 1994 and served nine years as chair of the Rhetoric Department. In 2005, he earned the McLain-McTurnan-Arnold Excellence in Teaching Award.

Additionally, Timmerman has written dozens of articles for the journals Rhetoric Society Quarterly, Philosophy and Rhetoric, and the Journal of Communication and Religion, and has contributed chapters to several books.

For the source of this blogpost, and full article on Timmerman, visit the Wabash College website.

Associate alumnus Mike Sares has recently published a new book entitled Pure Scum: The Left-Out, the Right-Brained and the Grace of God. In Pure Scum Sares takes readers along a faith journey, telling the story of how a pretty normal, middle-aged guy met and became friends with Reese Roper and other members of the band, Five Iron Frenzy, and got hoodwinked by the band and the Holy Spirit into pastoring a vibrant church called Scum of the Earth Church in Denver.

Mike will discuss and sign his book at the LoDo Tattered Cover on Monday, June 28 at 7:30pm.

Congratulations, Mike!

“Dr. Fairbairn brings expertise in the patristic period, expertise rarely found in evangelical institutions of higher learning,” says Dr. Timothy Laniak, Dean of the Charlotte campus of Gordon-Conwell. “As a noted scholar and excellent communicator, he will provide reliable information about these controversial centuries to students and the broader public and will play a strategic role in the development of the Robert C. Cooley Center for the Study of Early Christianity, a Center devoted to exploring the historical foundations of the Christian faith.”

Click here for Gordon-Conwell's full press release.

Alumnus Dr. James Duren spent most of his life studying the book of Revelation, beginning during his days as a Denver Seminary student and continuing on through 41 years of missionay service.

In his book, The Overcomers: The Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ, published by Xulon Press, Dr. Duren recordes his study of Revelation that engages both believers and cynics. Dr. Duren's wife Ellen says, “James’ desire was that as a consequence of his studies, the readers of the book would have some new perspectives and a clearer understanding of the book of Revelation.  James was recognized for his intelligent, insightful thinking.” Sadly, Dr. Duren passed before seeing his lifetime of work published.

Xulon Press, a division of Salem Communications, is the world’s largest Christian publisher, with more than 7,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order The Overcomers through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. The Overcomers is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

You can read an article about Ferris here: http://www.lamarledger.com/ci_15119820

Congratulations, Bill!

Zac was born September 10, 1976 in Denver, CO. He graduated High School in 1994 from Alliance Academy and later attended Denver Seminary. He was also a graduate of Arizona State class of 1998. He was a member of NewSpring Church where he was the Central Operations Executive Director in Anderson, SC.

Surviving are his wife, Mandy Smith; daughter, Lizzy Smith; 2 sons, Luke and Jake Smith all of Anderson; parents, James and Sharon Boonstra Smith of Springfield, MO and sister, Stacey Smith of Mesa, AZ.

(From independentmail.com)

Click here to view a video Zac's story.

Alumnus Robert P. Dugan passed away May 4 at the age of 78.  Dugan served in NAE’s Washington, DC office from 1978-1997, working with public and governmental affairs.  Dugan offered a strong and trusted evangelical voice in the nation’s capital.

Dugan received a B.A. from Wheaton College, a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Divinity from Denver Seminary. After seminary, he served in pastoral positions at Brookdale Baptist Church in Bloomfield, N.J., True Memorial Baptist Church in Rochester, N.H., First Baptist Church in Elmhurst, Ill., and Trinity Baptist Church in Wheat Ridge, Colo. He also served as the chaplain of the Colorado State Senate, which led to his involvement in politics. After an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Congress in 1976, Dugan joined the NAE staff.

Dugan is survived by his wife, Lynne; son, Robert Dugan, III; and daughter, Cheri Rifkin.

To read the full press release visit the NAE website.

* From Greely Tribune tribute

The initial launch of Journey Corps, and the Goehring’s new home, will be Cote d’Ivorie (Ivory Coast), Africa.  For more information on the Goehring’s new ministry visit www.peterandkatrina.drom.org and www.myjourneycorps.com.

In January the Rwandan House of Bishops unanimously elected the Rev. Dr Laurent Mbanda (MA Christian Education) as bishop-coadjutor of Shyira. Bishop-elect Mbanda was consecrated on March 28, and will assume responsibility for the diocese on Nov 14.

As a child Dr. Mbanda left Rwanda with his family for Kenya following a pogrom of Tutsis. He is currently the Regional Vice President for Africa of Compassion International and a graduate of Kenya Highlands Bible College. He holds an M.A. in Christian education from Denver Seminary and a Ph.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and has served as Country Director in Burundi with Campus Crusade, Director of the African Fellowship Ministry for International Students Inc, and as African Director for Christian Aid Mission.

Click here to read the full article on Bishop Rucyahana’s retirement and Dr. Mbanda’s election.

(Taken from geoconger posting, first published in The Church of England Newspaper.)

Mike Sares has published Pure Scum: The Left Out, the Right-Brained and the Grace of God through InterVarsity Press. Sares is Senior Pastor at Scum of the Earth Church in Denver.

Bob Beltz (MDiv ’79) has transitioned into the role senior pastor of Highline Community Church in Centennial.  Beltz began as interim pastor last June and is now formally the senior pastor.  For more information about Highline Community Church visit www.highlinecc.org

Alumni William Fay was once the CEO of a multi-million dollar company, involved with the Mafia, owned a prostitution house, and other such activities.  In his mind he was successful – a powerful man with many dollars.  Through the years of his success, Fay was often told of Christ by many Christians.  One in particular, Dr. Paul Grant, made a connection with Fay and witnessed to him, and continued to reach out to him after Fay’s arrest. 

In 1981 Fay accepted Christ through the moving of the Holy Spirit.  Today, Fay is author to Share Jesus without Fear, and his definition of success has shifted from selfish power to sharing the faith of Christ and living life for Jesus.  Fay also hosts the internationally syndicated radio show "Let's Go." His pamphlet, "How to Share Your Faith Without an Argument" has more than 5 million copies in print.

Davis helped to start Cherry Creek Presbyterian in Denver.  In 1982, Davis and family moved back to Fort Collins and started Christ Fellowship Church.  Davis’ years of ministry are marked by teaching, counseling, baptisms and thousands of marriages.  He championed mission work in Mexico, Guatemala, and Africa, as well as work at home in Colorado. 

He was an outstanding husband, an exemplary father, a leader of many, pastor to pastors, loyal friend, coach, loving son, caring brother and teacher. Ed enjoyed playing, coaching and watching sports with his sons. He enjoyed time with his daughter, daughter-in-laws and grand-daughters. He is survived by his wife Donna, his two sons Jeremy and Grant, his daughter Amy, his daughter-in-laws Jill and Jennifer, his grand-daughters Kyla, Madelyn, and Kennedy. He is also survived by his parents, Herbert and Wanda, his brother, Maynard, and his wife, Robin, a brother, Barry, his sister Nancy and brother-in-law Mark, father-in-law, Robert and his wife, Wendy, many special nieces, nephews, and extended family.

One of Reed’s hopes for Lakewood Avenue Baptist includes involving the church with nearby schools, to "inspire the kids to set short-term and long-term goals and work toward those goals. There are kids who have no clue about that because they've never seen anyone do it. And yet they wonder why their lives aren't better than they are. I think this is a way this church can come alongside families and kids to help them overcome obstacles to better lives. You find God in doing that."

On his 56th birthday Bob Skold (’88) will run his 50th marathon this October at the 2010 Athens Marathon. Although a grand personal accomplishment, Skold’s story extends far beyond himself. Skold has Neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow anywhere in the body. After receiving news of a brain tumor and a prognosis of four weeks to live, Skold did not give up. In fact, he did the opposite. Although the tumor partially paralyzed the left side of his face and stole his hearing, Skold continued on in his devotion to help others. After a successful surgery, Skold continues to motivate others through his work with the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s NF Endurance Team. He hopes to raise $50,000 for the Foundation’s research efforts. Skold exemplifies a humble, encouraging, determined spirit. His attitude is to “Run Happy.”

In addition to his work with the Children’s Tumor Foundation, Skold is the co-founder of the Denver based nonprofit, Providence Network, offering transformational housing opportunities. Recently, Skold won the Carlsbad Marathon’s “Hero of the Marathon” award.

Chaplain Mike Ballinger
Plymouth Village Retirement Community
900 Salem Drive, Redlands, CA  92373
Cell: 253-228-6521   Office: 909-793-1233
mikeballinger@juno.com

John (MDiv, '08) and Lori Buechner have officially launched The Mercy Project Colorado. It is a ministry of encouragement working to help churches partner with after care facilities that care for children who have survived sex trafficking. The goal is to establish solid relationships between a church congregation and the staff of a safe home or center that offers important care to children who have escaped or survived trafficking.

You can learn more on their website: www.mercyprojectcolorado.org

October 2009 Update: Very First Gift

Through gifts coming in from the website, we were able to send $345 to a group of children living in India! Although this is a relatively small amount to us, it is a fortune to these kids! (It is over 14,000 rupees!)

Because of this generosity, these beautiful children will continue to receive education, care and the love of Christ. They will not have "stand the line" tonight in some filthy brothel and wait as buyers of commercial sex place bids on them.

We are so honored and humbled to be able to be a part of their lives.

THANK YOU for your support and for your prayers!

Chaplain Cynthia Brittin (Alumna Associate) of Glendale, Arizona was recently named the 2009 Chaplain of the Year, the highest award given by Marketplace Ministries, a Dallas-based Employee Services Provider. The annual award is given to the chaplain who has gone “above and beyond” the call of duty and exhibited exceptional compassion to others. Brittin has served with Marketplace Chaplains since February 2003. She was nominated for her exceptional service to several Phoenix-area client companies, which employ the unique employee benefit services. “I will use this honor as motivation to continue to serve others in the workplace,” she said during ceremony. Chaplain Brittin graduated from the University of Northern Colorado and attended Denver Theological Seminary.

John also serves as editor of SBC Life, the official journal of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. In the past, Revell has also served in pastoral ministry in Long Island, N.Y., and in South Florida. As a well respected and distinguished writer, Revell’s articles have been printed, reprinted and cited in numerous publications. He has also been quoted in notable publications such as Newsweek, The Los Angeles Times and The Boston Globe.

Tapera also conducts monthly leadership development seminars for pastors and church and community leaders.

Tapera and his family were in Salem, Oregon, recently to share their stories at Solid Rock Community Church. The family spent five years obtaining visas to travel to the U.S., as the governmant of Zimbabwe has restricted travel here. They will spend the summer reporting to supporters and fundraising and plan to return home next month.

You can read the article about their visit or learn more about the church in which they spoke by clicking here.

If you are in the area and would like to learn more about Unzicker's practice, you can visit his website at www.NHopeCounseling.com.

You can read the press release about Dr. Williford's appointment here: http://www.tiu.edu/tiu/president/

Congratulations, Craig!

Mackey has served churches in Colorado, Iowa and Maryland. Active in Kiwanis International, she has traveled extensively and spoken in churches in Scotland and Ghana.

You can read the entire article about her appointment here: http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=225383&format=html

The following article was written by a woman who grew up in the youth ministry of alumnus, Tom Coffan (MA, '85). Coffan has served as youth director of East Boulder Baptist Church for 40 years. While Coffan is not retiring (he plans to continue serving youth), the church recently honored him to celebrate his many years of faithful ministry.

Thank you, Tom, for your many years of dedicated service. Your story is an inspiration!

On Friday, March 6, 2009, Applewood Baptist Church opened its doors and its heart to a long-time friend and faithful servant of the Lord.  In honor of a remarkable 40 years in youth ministry, Tom Coffan, the current Youth Director at East Boulder Baptist Church, was stunned by a sanctuary filled with hundreds of current and former students, parents and youth workers, many of whom traveled from the country round to show their gratitude.

Gathering in one room to honor Tom was an experience so many of us shall not soon forget.  It was difficult not to be humbled by the visual spectacle of Tom's impact on so many lives.  For four decades Tom has devoted his whole self to impacting the lives of young people. He seemed innately gifted with an appreciation for the importance of sincerity and consistency, when it came to leading youth.  He knew of that ever watchful teenage eye and he endeavored daily to practice in his own life the words he preached in the church, around the campfire, and while spelunking through the dark crevices of a mountain cave.

Too often, we speak of what we could do, what we might do and what we plan to do.  Tom always just did.  Countless youth have trudged through their formidable years under Tom's inspiring guidance.  Many of them now grown and many others still on their way, it will never be within our capabilities to gage the full impact of Tom's service.  To be sure, the devil must have been livid the day Tom (middle name) Coffan accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, as I am sure no one knew better than he, the potential breadth of Tom's ministerial impact on the next generation.

So Tom, as I draft this message, I am certain I speak for all those who have been privileged to know you.  Your impact has always been and will always be far broader than the reaches of the youth room.  Each year that we age, we grow deeper in our appreciation for your unwavering dedication to the Lord, for such an allegiance is a rare thing to witness.  Your surrender to the Lord's calling will long outlast your years on here on Earth.  Without a doubt, the day you call your time in Ministry to a close will prove a heartbreaking day for the teenager in us all.

Thanks Tom!

My family left the Seminary for rural Kansas back in 2000. I had just finished cramming my 2 year Youth & Family MA into 4 years of school and ministry. What a formative time Seminary was for me and my wife as we tried to undertand more of what it means to be a ministry team.

I've been an associate pastor in a little town in S. Central Kansas for almost 9 years now. What a remarkable exprience. Having always lived in large cities, and having traveled so much of the world during my ten years in the Navy, it was (and still is!) a real cross-cultural experience serving here.

There is so much good to find in rural ministry (people, relationships, literally living in community with each other, lots of peace and quiet and the beauty of Creation always before us). Of course there is also the other side of the coin that can be found from time to time as well--resistance to change, isolation from the wider world, gossip and in-fighting. But isn't there "stuff" to deal with wherever we serve? We count on God's grace to help us deal with these things come up.

It's remarkable to me how frequently I reflect on things I learned during my Seminary training...how often I hear Dr. Buschart's voice; or use something from my classes with Dr. Blomberg; or see Dr. Carroll's face in my mind as he reads Scripture and challenges us to "Think!"; or remember something I heard Dr. Hess say about "Old Testament culture"; or reflect on the insight I gained from Dr. Cappa and Dr Lindquist. Such influence in my life! Such gratitude I feel toward those people and the school! Thank you Denver Seminary.

The Schweissings are currently based in Denver for a six-month home assignment and are anticipating reassignment to a new ministry in Latin America or the Caribbean this fall.

"According to George Barna's research in 2003 only 2% of churches in America experience an average attendance of over 1000 people each weekend, '...the statistics show that about four out of ten church-going adults (41%) go to churches with 100 or fewer adults while about one out of eight church-going adults (12%) can be found in churches of 1000 or more adults.' [The Barna Update, September 2, 2003]"

The website is full of helpful thoughts on leading an "average" church, including practical advice and encouragement to those who may feel pressure to become a "mega church." The site features articles in two categories, Expectations and The Role of the Pastor, as well as insightful blog posts to challange and encourage.

If you find yourself serving in an "average" church, and you are interested in more information, their website is http://averagechurch.org/.

For information about Front Range Counseling center, be sure to visit their website.

While working on her doctorate, Nesbit works part-time as a private practice clinician through Northwest Counseling Associates and as an adjunct at John Brown University.

You can learn more about what Jim and Sue are up to through their blog: http://www.holmsblog.blogspot.com/

We at Denver Seminary are proud of our grads who so faithfully live out Scripture and who make an impact in our world for the glory of God. "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." - Hebrews 3:3

For more information about North River Community Church, visit their website: http://www.northriverchurch.org/

Alumnus Robert Gelinas ( MA, '96), has had his book, Finding the Groove: Composing a Jazz-Shaped Faith, recently published by Zondervan. In this provocative book, Gelinas draws parallels between the body of Christ and the qualities inherent to jazz.

To read a review by Professor Doug Groothuis, click here.
To see Gelinas' web page, Reflections of a Jazz Theologian, click here.

Congratulations, Robert!

"A jazz-shaped faith ... balances freedom with boundaries, the individual with the group, and traditions with the pursuit of what might be. I have discovered in jazz a way of thinking, living, communicating-a way of being ... a groove."

You don't have to be a jazz musician, or even a jazz connoisseur, for this book to speak to you. If you love God and his Word, and if you've longed to follow Jesus Christ outside the slick corporate structures that some American churches erect, this book is for you. If you want to discover a freer, more genuine expression of Christianity, Finding the Groove will be music to your ears, your heart, and your mind.

Using brilliant metaphors from the world of jazz, Robert Gelinas reveals breathtaking possibilities for the body of Christ. What might a "jazz-shaped faith" look like-and how could it help us fulfill the message of the gospel in a way no method, movement, or structured program ever could? How can understanding the beauty of jazz help you better understand Jesus, his vision for those who follow him, and his heartbeat for a world that is badly out of sync?

But this book isn't about music. It is about a passionate, biblical, fully integrated way of looking at life and salvation that will free you to find your own unique groove in the kingdom of God.

More Than Fun is an organization created to help build strong families by Teaching Timeless Truths to Children and Families® through creative, engaging and interactive experiences by Sweet Tart and Friends.

Sweet Tart is a purple-haired children's performer from Denver, CO specializing in "edutainism" (education, entertainment, and evangelism). Sweet Tart's friends include speakers and coaches who share a similar passion for the family.

To do this, Sweet Tart and More Than Fun partner with churches, families, and existing community organizations as a platform for sharing biblical truths. Touch a child, reach a family.

To learn more, visit www.MoreThanFun.org

Congratulations, Daniel!

You can read the entire article here: http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001991.cfm

You can read the full news article about Johnson's appointment in the Baptist Press.

Congratulations, Jerry!

If you'd like to read the entire encouraging story about George Gardner, you can see the article on INFORUM: The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.

You can read the entire news article, in which Fan describes his grandfather's devotion to Christ during Mao Zedong and the rise of Communism in China as his inspiration for becoming a pastor, here: http://hjnews.townnews.com/articles/2009/02/12/news/news04-02-12-09.txt

Congratulations Timothy!

Mr. and Mrs. Wooten have three adult children and five grandchildren. Congratulations, and may the Lord continue to bless your marriage!

For more information about HOPE's ID program, read this article in the Miami Herald.

For more information about HOPE and Pedro's other ministries, be sure to read the article about him in the Winter '08 issue of Denver Seminary Magazine.

You can read more about the program here on the Grand Junction Free Press website.

While Moffit now resides in Phoenix, the impact of the ministry he began 40 years ago is still being felt.

Hi, I'm Mick Thornton, a 2007 graduate. I'm a pastor in the very rural town of Ainsworth, NE. A nearby town hosts Rodeo Bible Camp every year, and this summer they asked me to come and speak. The only problem was that I am NO kind of cowboy. So I decided to ride a bull build some rapport with the students.

This is me wearing borrowed boots, spurs, and chaps, and getting some last minute advice from my friend and former professional rodeo cowboy, Jimmy.  Let me summerize; "hang on, and try not to die."

A word of advice to all those considering rural ministry -- if ever you find yourself on the back of a bull in a rodeo chute, DO NOT SLAP THE BULL. More advice: if the guy holding the gate is laughing hysterically at you before he opens it, thats not a good sign.

4.8 seconds later, Judas got his revenge, but what a wild ride!  :)  Speaking of wild rides; the night before, two of the students in the backgound answered God's call and put their faith in Jesus. Rural ministry rocks.

Hanke was born in Corvallis and graduated from Oregon State University and Denver Seminary. He has pastored in Colorado for 22 years, during which he taught at the seminary for 19 years.

He and his wife Kerri have four children, from middle school to college age.

First Baptist has 850 attendees and will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2009. It was organized the same year Oregon became a state.

Congratulations, Rev. Hanke!

"This is an exciting year for The Navigators as we celebrate our 75th anniversary," states Nuenke. "It isn’t merely a marking of time but a celebration of God’s amazing grace through 75 years of ministry and our amazing hope for the future."

You can read more about his appointment in The Christian Post.

Congratulations, Dr. Nuenke!

You can read about the church and Unzicker's mission in this article: http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/crossroads-church-091208.

Congratulations, Jason! May God bless your ministry.

You can read more about the support and the controversy surrounding Cizik's message in the article, located here: http://www.csindy.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A29875.

Congratulations, David!

Mike's article can be read on their web site: http://plainviews.org/v5n14/lv.html.

Congratulations, Mike!

Congratulations, Gary!

Congratulations, Janet!

Stroke. More than 500,000 Americans will suffer its silent attack this year. The number has epidemic proportions, but add to it the newly estimated 11 million victims each year whose strokes go undetected and America shakes its collective head and wonders, am I next? One third of those detected will die in a short period of time, over 160,000 fatalities, making stroke the number three killer in the US behind only heart disease and cancer. It leaves another 200,000 victims with permanent disability.

Different Strokes... unwraps the fear of stroke, revealing possibilities for healing and hope - hope birthed by the insight of experience and supported by research collected from leading edge resources.

Congratulations, Chuck!

Congratulations, Herb!

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_9434710

Click here to read the article on Time Magazine's web site.

Congratulations, Richard!