BEYOND CROSS COUNTRY PLACES NATIONALLY MUSIC SMILES RECHARGE AND REBOOT
ONE SIDE
FALL 2020
COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Back Together University marks 11 consecutive years of record enrollment (Story, page 6)
ccu.edu
Spring 2020 | FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear friends, Two rocking chairs adorn Sanders Court just outside my office on the Lakewood campus, a shady spot that overlooks flower beds of daffodils that encircle the court, with a wider view of the Anschutz Student Center and Rockmont Hall in the distance. This spot has become a favorite of mine these last few months — not only does it offer a beautiful view of campus, but it has become a new location to hold outdoor, properly distanced, one-on-one meetings with faculty, staff, students, and guests of CCU. Perhaps this will be one of the 2020 ‘adjustments’ that I will continue to adopt long after we see the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic. Just like these outdoor meetings, some things have looked and felt markedly different for all of us at CCU this fall, yet our commitment to providing Christcentered higher education that transforms students to impact the world with grace and truth has remained steadfast. Despite the operational challenges that the pandemic has presented, Colorado Christian University continues to soar in ways we couldn’t have imagined even six months ago. By God’s grace, not only were we blessed to achieve our goal of resuming in-seat instruction this fall, but we also saw record enrollment in both colleges that comprise CCU for the 11th consecutive year. While most universities saw a decline of 10-20% in their enrollments, CCU saw the opposite. This spring we will graduate our first cohort of doctoral students in nursing practice (DNP), a first for CCU. And finally, our enrollment numbers for the next academic year in both colleges that comprise CCU are stronger than ever before! Throughout the fall semester, the CCU community has persistently adhered to the Cougar Commitment and followed protective and preventive health protocols, allowing CCU to have a safe and healthy on-campus experience. We are very grateful for a relatively low number of positive COVID-19 cases on campus during the fall semester, with no serious complications and no hospitalizations due to COVID-19, to date. As we conclude 2020 and look ahead to 2021, I recognize that this will continue to be a challenging time for Christian higher education in America, and Colorado Christian University is not immune to these challenges. Gratefully, the spring 2021 semester will begin as scheduled, and will again feature the high-flex-model of instruction, with in-person instruction and optional remote mode for our traditional undergraduate students, with campus services and residence halls continuing to be open. The College of Adult and Graduate Studies will continue to provide world class instruction to students around the globe through CCU Online. This issue of BEYOND is a recap of the last few months at CCU, and a testament to God’s continued faithfulness to His University. I pray that these stories will encourage your hearts after a particularly difficult year. By God’s grace,
DONALD W. SWEETING, Ph.D. President Colorado Christian University Walkway at Seven Falls
BEYOND | 31
inside VOLUME 6 NO. 1
04
12
28
News & Highlights
Athletics Updates
In Memoriam
Learn about recent happenings in the CCU community
Men’s cross country notches a top five finish in the nation and the newly renovated All Star Park is unveiled
Remembering Dr. Bill Watson and Professor Sanne McCarthy
06
16
30
Record Enrollment
One Side
ALI Update
CCU celebrates 11 years of consecutive record growth
CCU junior Rachel Lucas explores the struggle of living as a bi-racial woman in America
Funding for the Armstrong Center enters the homestretch
08
18
31
New Faculty
Faculty Publications
Class Notes
Meet new CCU faculty
See the various publications that were published by CCU faculty in 2020
Find out what CCU Alum have been up to
10
20
CCU Fund
Music Speaks
Discover how undergraduate students are helped through the CCU Fund
From Lagos to Lakewood, Ebenezer Eferobor’s journey is one of music and faith
11
23
The Hope Fund
Recharge and Reboot
Learn how the newly formed Hope Fund will help students in the adult and graduate programs
Practical ways to recharge and reboot
A publication of Colorado Christian University
Our Magazine In BEYOND, our goal is to share the story of CCU, as well as God’s faithful provision for more than 100 years. We aim to share the stories of the people who go beyond and make CCU the great university it is today. Whether you’re an alum or a friend, this magazine is designed for you, because your story, our story, His story, is meant to be told.
BEYOND Production & Creative Team Executive Vice President: Dan Cohrs Assistant Vice President of Communications & Creative Services: Chris Franz Director of Communications & University Spokesperson: Lance Oversole ’06 Writer & Editor: Aaron Burnett Graphic Designer: Jason Young Intern: Carina Constanico ’23
University Advancement Team Vice President of University Advancement: Eric Hogue Senior Director of Major Gifts: Braden Randall Director of Major & Planned Gifts: Mark Heckelmann Director of Alumni & Parent Relations: Kara Johnston Director of Foundation Relations: Nancy Engel Data Architect: Matt Rummel Project Coordinator: Mikayla Kakihara ’19 Athletics Advancement Coordinator: Phil Nelson ’11 Assistant to the President for Board & Donor Relations: Carrie Ann Newton Executive Assistant to the Vice President: Jill Sneed
Mission Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth. Colorado Christian University cultivates knowledge and love of God in a Christ-centered community of learners and scholars, with an enduring commitment to the integration of exemplary academics, spiritual formation, and engagement with the world. We envision graduates who think critically and creatively, lead with high ethical and professional standards, embody the character and compassion of Jesus Christ, treasure the gospel, and who thereby are prepared to impact the world in their callings.
On the Cover Matthew Hodgkins ’19 and Emily Simonaitis ’19 have been on the front line of the coronavirus outbreak in the Lombardy region of Italy.
Colorado Christian University 8787 W. Alameda Ave., Lakewood, Colorado 80226 303-963-3000 | ccu.edu
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado BEYOND | 3
CCU NEWS | Fall 2020
News & Highlights An overview of what’s happening at CCU
Board of Trustees Announces Five New Members Five prominent business and community leaders have been appointed to the Colorado Christian University Board of Trustees. Jeffrey H. Coors, Dr. Biff Gore, Sen. D. Michael Kopp, John Pittman, and Robert E. Warren Jr. bring decades of combined experience and expertise to the board in ministry, higher education, business, law, and medicine. Coors, Gore, Kopp, Pittman, and Warren join 18 fellow Trustees in advancing the institutional Mission and Strategic Priorities. CCU’s Board of Trustees meet at least three times each year. The Board of Trustees exercises ultimate authority of the University and within the board, working committees and sub-committees oversee vital areas of University governance. The new Trustees joined their fellow board members Oct. 15 and 16 for the board’s annual fall meetings, which were held remotely in light of the global pandemic.
4 | BEYOND
CCU Academy: New Academic Division Colorado Christian University is excited to announce the formation of a new academic division to extend educational opportunities to high school students via an online format. CCU Academy will house three areas within its division: the University’s current dual credit program; a new dual enrollment online academy with general education courses; and a new associate degree program in liberal arts. Initially 15 dual enrollment online courses will be offered through CCU Academy. Subjects will include English, anatomy, literature, theology and biblical studies, math, biology, communication, psychology, and art. All CCU Academy online courses will be taught by CCU faculty from a biblical perspective and a Christian worldview. Courses will be available for individual students as well as high school cohorts offered by partner high schools. With the availability of both dual credit and online dual enrollment courses, CCU Academy will also offer an associate degree in liberal arts that will complement the overall course offerings.
Dr. Ben Carson Joins Roundtable Discussion on CCU Campus On Tuesday, October 6, 2020, Colorado Christian University welcomed Dr. Ben Carson back to campus for a roundtable discussion on adoption and foster care. Secretary Carson also highlighted the expansion of the Foster Youth Independence (FYI) initiative, a program that offers housing vouchers to local public housing authorities to prevent or end homelessness among young adults under the age of 25 who are in, or have recently left the foster care system and have no home base. Ahead of the roundtable discussion, Secretary Carson met privately with CCU students and provided insight on the work of HUD, the FYI voucher program, and other important topics. The roundtable discussion included FYI recipients along with local HUD officials and also marked one year since the FYI program’s launch.
McTavish succeeds Gary Armstrong as CCU Board Chair
School of Education Named Among Top Teacher Prep Programs
U.S. News & World Report Recognizes CCU
During the summer 2020 meeting, CCU alumnus Tim A. McTavish MBA ’13 was elected chair of the CCU Board of Trustees. He succeeds Gary Armstrong, who served as board chair since 2014 and concluded his 18 years of service to the board in October. McTavish was elected to the board in 2009, during the tenure of then-President Bill Armstrong and at the outset of the initial phases of the Lakewood campus redevelopment effort. McTavish founded InsureMe in 1993, an entrepreneurial venture that connected insurance agents with high-intent prospects shopping for insurance. In 2008, McTavish sold InsureMe to Bankrate, a public company. Since then, McTavish has been involved as an investor and advisor to several businesses in Colorado and abroad. He has also taught courses in entrepreneurship and personal financial planning in the School of Business and Leadership in CCU’s College of Undergraduate Studies, where he was named affiliate faculty member of the year in 2018.
Colorado Christian University’s undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program in the College of Undergraduate Studies has been named among the top in the country by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a nonpartisan, not-for-profit research and policy organization, for strong training in classroom management strategies and high-quality clinical practice experiences. CCU was among only 17 elementary education programs in the country to earn an ‘A’ in both clinical practice and classroom management. NCTQ released its 2020 Teacher Prep Review in October: Clinical Practice and Classroom Management. Colorado Christian University and the other top-performing programs are recognized for their strong clinical experience requirements, screening mentor teachers for mentorship skill and/or instructional effectiveness as measured by student learning, among other skills; and requiring program supervisors to give student teachers written feedback based on observations at least four times during the clinical practice experience.
For the first time, CCU is now ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top university in the west region. CCU ranks ahead of the majority of the peer institutions within the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), of which the University is a member. The University was also ranked a top performer for social mobility in the west region, highlighting its success in enrolling and graduating a large proportion of economically disadvantaged students. For the ninth consecutive year, CCU has received an “A” rating from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni for the University’s traditional undergraduate general education curriculum. The University’s “A” rating on the survey places CCU among the top 2% of colleges and universities in the nation. Finally, for the third consecutive year, CCU has been ranked in the top 5 fastest growing master’s granting institutions by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The University was ranked fifth overall in percentage growth in the publication’s latest rankings, which were released in August 2020.
University Partners Program Launches
Van Kooten Awarded Fulbright Grant to Teach in the Netherlands
Conservative documentary debuts at Western Conservative Summit
Colorado Christian University alumna Madelyn Van Kooten ‘20 was recently named a Fulbright Scholar. Van Kooten, who graduated in spring 2020 with a double major in English and Secondary Education, is the first CCU undergraduate student to be awarded a Fulbright grant. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar program provides research, study, and teaching opportunities in 140 countries. Van Kooten intends to teach English in the Netherlands beginning in 2021. Van Kooten learned of her award during the week of spring break, a time when the University had just announced the transition to online instruction for the remainder of her final undergraduate semester. Van Kooten said that while the situation remains fluid, she plans to leave in January for the Netherlands. If Van Kooten is able to travel in the January, she will be paired with a Dutch teacher and will be tasked with teaching English as a native speaker and promoting American-Dutch relationships.
The 2020 Western Conservative Summit featured the debut of a film-quality, one-hour documentary, America! America! God Shed His Grace on Thee. The documentary included conservative speakers reflecting on the importance of faith in the founding of the United States, the importance of faith in America, and why it’s critical to maintain our religious roots. The film was directed by Christopher Burgard and stars Nick Searcy. The film’s debut at the Western Conservative Summit highlighted the events growth over the last decade into the largest gathering of conservatives in the Western United States. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the move to a virtual event for 2020, but the summit still featured the William L. Armstrong Award for national conservative leadership given this year to Steve and Jackie Green of Hobby Lobby, the Under 30 Speech Contest sponsored by Turning Point USA, and workshops from the Heritage Foundation and the Judicial Crisis Network.
Colorado Christian University is excited to announce University Partners, the University’s preeminent donor program. University Partners, formerly known as President’s Circle members, are generous alumni, parents, faculty and staff, board members, and friends committed to and partnering with CCU’s distinct and compelling Christcentered higher education mission. CCU’s University Partners represent a core community of individuals who value Christ-centered higher education and recognize the unique opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students. Through prayer, promotion, and annual financial provision, each University Partner plays a critical role in helping equip CCU students for successful careers while training them to impact the world for Jesus Christ. Levels of partnership begin with annual support of $1,200 and increase with various additional tiers reaching $250,000 lifetime gifts.
ccu.edu/news
BEYOND | 5
ANNUAL ENROLLMENT | Fall 2020
E L A U N N A S ’
S S A P R U S
CCU
0 0 5 , 8 ES
T N E M L L O R N
University marks 11 consecutive years of record enrollment
enrollment of 8,579. This marks an increase of nearly 100 students in the total student population compared to 2019 and serves as a new high-water mark for enrollment in the University’s 107-year history.
espite logistical, health, and safety obstacles faced during an unprecedented global pandemic, Colorado Christian University has notched its 11th consecutive year of enrollment growth. As of the University’s annual census date on September 9, CCU has a total
“The continued growth of Colorado Christian University is truly a testament to God’s blessing, provision, and direction as we strive to provide Christ-centered liberal arts higher education, despite a global pandemic,” said Dr. Donald W. Sweeting, CCU president. “It is also indicative of the hard work and dedication of our faculty and
D
6 | BEYOND
staff during one of the most trying times in the history of American higher education. I’m so grateful to everyone who has worked so hard for this outcome.” The University’s growth has been driven by strong enrollment numbers among all three core student populations: 1,417 traditional undergraduate enrollments, 5,565 adult undergraduate enrollments, and 1,597 master’s and doctoral enrollments. While colleges and universities across the nation and around the world have seen doubledigit percentage enrollment decreases in the wake of COVID-19, CCU continues to see strong enrollment numbers both on campus and online.
Fall 2020 | ANNUAL ENROLLMENT
Graduate Studies currently offers more than 90 academic options including 33 master’s program options and one doctoral program. Nearly all programs are offered 100% online and are designed for working adults. “For more than a decade, CCU has been providing world-class Christian higher education online. The global pandemic has made it more important than ever to maintain and grow our robust online offerings to meet the needs of tomorrow’s leaders today,” said Allison Burkhart, vice president of Enrollment for the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. “CCU Online is uniquely positioned to help students meet their education and career goals through high-quality instruction designed for the working adult. It is because of this stellar track record and the hard work of our faculty and staff that we continue to see strong enrollment numbers.”
CCU has also seen record enrollment in traditional undergraduate students in the College of Undergraduate Studies, despite a downward nationwide trend of residential collegiate enrollment. After moving all traditional undergraduate courses to remote learning in March, the University reopened its Lakewood campus to residential students in August for the fall 2020 semester. CCU is utilizing a highflex model for traditional undergraduate education during the 2020-21 academic year. Residence halls and on-campus services are open and students have the option of attending all or a portion of their classes either in-seat or remotely.
Within CCU Online, new student enrollment has been on an upward trajectory since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The College of Adult and
“We’ve been blessed to be able to work collaboratively with our students to ensure a safe and productive living and learning environment in light of the current global
health crisis,” said Jim McCormick, vice president of Enrollment and Student Life for the College of Undergraduate Studies. “Implementing the high-flex model of instruction has allowed CCU to continue to cultivate our sense of community for students, faculty, and staff while maintaining the safety of all involved. A liberal arts Christian higher education is an invaluable resource that can be a generational instrument of change for individuals and families. Through this unprecedented time, the selfless dedication of our faculty and staff has allowed us to continue to train students to impact the world with grace and truth.” The College of Undergraduate Studies offers more than 50 program options for traditional undergraduate students in a distinctly Christian environment. The University’s core curriculum has been ranked in the top 2% nationally for nine consecutive years by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) — one of only 23 institutions in the nation to earn an “A” rating in 2020. University census data can be found online at ccu.edu/about/factsandstats.
BEYOND | 7
NEW FACULTY | Fall 2020
NEW FACULTY
Christian Finnigan
Dr. Bryan Crutcher
Professor Christian Finnigan earned a M.A. in History of Political Thought and Intellectual History from Queen Mary University London and a M.Div. in Theological Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Christian Thought and History at McGill University. Finnigan previously served as a teaching fellow and a visiting research assistant in the Department of History at Yale University. He specializes in early modern European political thought with degrees in multiple areas of history, theology, politics, and law. Finnigan has experience working with presidential campaigns and served in the White House as an advance representative for the Office of the Vice President. At Colorado Christian University, Finnigan will bring his vast experience and expertise to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences as a professor of history and politics.
Dr. Bryan Crutcher received his Ph.D. in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He has expertise in the areas of exercise physiology, biometrics, and sports psychology and has several article and journal publications regarding a wide variety of current topics in his field. Dr. Crutcher will be serving as the first full-time professor of kinesiology and exercise science at Colorado Christian University, bringing his passion for Christ and kinesiology to the School of Science and Engineering.
Craig Jacobson Professor Craig Jacobson earned a M.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine’s Graziadio School of Business and Management. As a chartered financial analyst, Jacobson has more than 25 years of experience in finance and has served as a board member and president of the CFA Society of Colorado. For the last 12 years, Jacobson has owned and managed the investment management firm, Roads Capital, LLC. At Colorado Christian University, Jacobson will bring his expertise and passion for ministry to the School of Business and Leadership as a professor of finance.
8 | BEYOND
Dr. Gregory Moore Dr. Moore received his Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of Denver and has expertise in foreign affairs, foreign policy and U.S.- China relations. He has taught in Chinese higher education for 14 years at several major Chinese universities, where he served as a professor of international trade and relations. Dr. Moore has also been a fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies in Washington (2019-20) and he is currently a member of the U.S National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. At Colorado Christian University, Dr. Moore serves as a professor of global studies and politics as well as the director of global engagement in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Fall 2020 | NEW FACULTY
Dr. Paul Lange
Jennifer Montoya
Dr. Paul Lange received his M.D. from Michigan State University. He is board certified in pulmonary and critical care medicine and clinically practiced medicine for 25 years. Dr. Lange is responsible for establishing the development of the lung disease and transportation program at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine during his time there as Medical Director. Dr. Lange also currently serves as a clinical professor in the Department of Medicine at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine in Michigan. Colorado Christian University is honored to have Dr. Lange serving as a professor of health science, as he will bring years of experience and expertise to the School of Science and Engineering.
Jennifer Montoya has been a registered nurse for 14 years. As a new grad, Montoya spent her first year in the emergency department at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. From there she returned to Colorado to work at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She spent time working in oncology where she herself was a patient when she was two years old. After going through a difficult season in oncology, she transferred to the emergency department where she worked for five years. She took a few years off to care for her family prior to deciding to go back to school to become a certified pediatric nurse practitioner in primary care. Montoya is excited to join the CCU family and to share her knowledge and experience as an assistant professor of nursing in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Susan Fuentes Susan Fuentes earned a M.S. in Nursing from Azusa Pacific University where she also served as an adjunct faculty for two years. She is a licensed clinical nurse specialist from the Board of Registered Nursing. For 10 years Fuentes served as vice president of the QueensCare Health Centers, which is a faith-based community health care program. She also served as the director of nursing and president and chief executive officer at the Los Angeles Christian Health Centers for several years. Fuentes will bring her passion to help others and her expertise in nursing to Colorado Christian University, serving as an assistant director/faculty of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
BEYOND | 9
CCU FUND | Fall 2020
The CCU Fund helps undergraduate students afford the cost of college
O
ur country is at a cultural and spiritual crossroad. Now more than ever, young people need a college education based on historical, biblical Christianity, and the foundations of classical liberal arts that instill an appreciation for all that is good, true, and beautiful. Our students in the College of Undergraduate Studies are being bombarded with conflicting images, revisionist history, and changing societal norms that lead to doubts and desensitization toward adverse cultural forces. Colorado Christian University is standing alone in the Rocky Mountain region as the proverbial “city on a hill” — a bright light in
10 | BEYOND
the darkness for students who are seeking an education firmly rooted in truth and grace. So many students want the type of Christ-centered higher education CCU offers, but their financial needs are greatly limited — especially now. It is our desire that every student who desires and deserves a CCU education can enroll — but they need your help. The cumulative effect of donations from alumni, parents, and friends of CCU enables students to receive the financial assistance they need to pursue an exemplary Christcentered higher education. You can be a “bright light” for a student in need with a gift to the CCU Fund. Established in 2018 on the legacy of the Beckman Fund, you can join thousands of other CCU alumni, parents, and supporters who want to help students thrive.
All contributions support scholarships and financial aid for students who need help to pay for their education. Many students are working jobs or are dependent upon family and other scholarships to help pay their tuition, but there is still a gap that you can help close. You can “Be the Light” for a student and transform their life. Your gifts help to be certainty in the midst of chaos. Truth from confusion. Light from darkness. Hope from despair.
LEARN MORE To discover how you can “Be the Light” and help students in the College of Undergraduate Studies reach their full potential, visit ccu.edu/ccufund.
Fall 2020 | THE HOPE FUND
individual lives and families. Your generous support of future nurses, business professionals, teachers, and ministry leaders will positively impact the world beyond our city, state, and nation.”
LEARN MORE To learn how you can support hard-working adult learners as they better their lives through a Christ-centered higher education, visit ccu.edu/hopefund.
With increasing pressures of life, The Hope Fund helps adult students pay for college
A
t Colorado Christian University we understand that completing a degree and reaching educational and career goals can be difficult for adult learners as they balance life, family, and school obligations. With this in mind, the University launched the Hope Fund in November 2020, a scholarship fund solely dedicated to supporting students in the College of Adult and Graduate Studies to reach their full educational potential. The Hope Fund will provide vital scholarship dollars for hard-working adult students — over 94% of whom take classes online through CCU Online — that otherwise would be unable to continue their education.
ccu.edu/giving
“The Hope Fund is the latest step in Colorado Christian University’s efforts to support learners of all backgrounds in their goal of obtaining a Christ-centered liberal arts education,” said Dr. Donald W. Sweeting, CCU president. “Joining together to lift up our adult learners financially as they work to better their lives through education is the embodiment of our principles of grace and truth.” The majority of CCU Online students are eligible for financial aid, but there remains a financial gap as adult learners balance life obligations. Donors to the Hope Fund can close this gap with their donation — in essence, becoming the answer to prayer and changing lives. “Your donation can make a substantial difference in the lives of CCU Online students,” said Eric Hogue, vice president of Advancement. “A liberal arts education is a generational-changing force that transforms
The University has seen record enrollment in the College of Adult and Graduate Studies, eclipsing 7,000 combined undergraduate and graduate enrollments as of the University census date on September 9. The college offers more than 90 academic program options from the associate to doctoral level. Students include single parents, veterans, students seeking employment, and many others who want to improve their careers and personal lives with a CCU degree. “The Hope Fund is a unique opportunity to positively impact the lives of adult learners,” said Roger Chandler, vice president of Student Success for the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. “Cost of attending can be prohibitive and adult learners face multiple pressures that can make degree completion very challenging — balancing full-time jobs, raising families, paying their mortgages and bills, caring for aging parents, and more.
“It is our intention that the Hope Fund gives our adult students the financial boost, security, and confidence needed to reach their educational goals. I am certain that your donation will be life changing for our adult students as we strive to fulfill our CCU mission: Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth.”
BEYOND | 11
CROSS COUNTRY | Fall 2020
Cross Country CCU Cross Country
No. 5 No. 5
finishes season ranked
in the Nation! A season that started with so much uncertainty proved the most certain of things: The Colorado Christian University men’s cross country team belongs among the nation’s elite. The final NCAA Division II National Coaches Poll for 2020 clocked the CCU Cougars in at No. 5, the highest NCAA ranking in the University’s history. The program received 86 points, which was just two points behind No. 4 Augustana. Rounding out the top five spots were Colorado School of Mines, Western Colorado University, and University of Alabama-Huntsville. With eight conferences competing during the fall season, the voting committee consisted of coaches that volunteered to
12 | BEYOND
represent their conference. In addition to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference — the Cougars’ home conference — Division II conferences with teams competing in 2020 were the Lone Star, Michigan Intercollegiate, Peach Belt, Gulf Coast, Great Midwest, and Great Lakes Valley. “This has been a challenging season for obvious reasons, but despite the restrictions and enhanced operational protocols the team showed that their focus was unwavering,” said Jon Poag, Cougars head coach. “To be considered a top five team is a notable milestone for the program. I suspect it will motivate these fellas to think big in the years to come. Looking forward to 2021!”
While the 2020 season provided its fair share of challenges related to the global pandemic, Colorado Christian University rose to the challenge. The Cougars competed in three meets with the highlight of the season coming in the finale when the squad finished a school-best third at the RMAC Championships. The Cougars placed four individuals on the all-conference squad after entering the race having never earned an all-conference runner. The Cougar duo of Josh Pierantoni and Ryder Searle earned first-team accolades after finishing ninth and 11th overall during the RMAC Championship 8K race. Pierantoni crossed the finish line in a school record time 24:41.5 while Searle registered a time of 24:43.4. Those are the two fastest 8K times in program history. Trent Cochran ran the sixth fastest 8K in school history as he clipped the tape in 25:19.0 while Alex Vance’s time of 25:36.9 also earned him second-team accolades. The RMAC awards their cross country honors based on an individual’s finish at the conference championship meet. The first 14 runners to cross the finish line are deemed first-team with the next 14 finishers awarded second-team honors.
In addition to their success at the RMAC Championship, the Cougars captured the Colorado Springs Cross Country Open to start the season.
Fall 2020 | CROSS COUNTRY
Pierantoni, Searle Lead Colorado Christian’s RMAC Academic Honors During the entire season, a pair of runners led the team on the course. That same pair also led the team in the classroom. Ryder Searle and Josh Pierantoni were both named to the 16-person RMAC Academic First-Team. To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have been an active student at the institution for at least two consecutive semesters or three consecutive quarters and carry a cumulative 3.30 grade point average (GPA). The first-team is voted on by the league’s sports information directors based upon the runner’s success on the course and quality in the classroom. Searle has accumulated a 3.850 GPA while working towards his Master’s in Business Administration. He also earned first-team recognition last season. Pierantoni’s 3.636 cumulative GPA as a business administration major aided in his honor. He is the fourth Colorado Christian men’s runners to earn the recognition. On the course Searle was the squad’s top finisher at the 5675 Time Trials while Pierantoni finished first at the Colorado Springs Cross Country Open and at the RMAC Championships. They weren’t’’t the only runners from CCU to earn academic accolades from the RMAC, as five other runners earned Honor Roll recognition. Noah Burroughs, Business Administration – 3.625 Trent Cochran, Strategic Communications – 3.736 Aiden Day, Business Administration – 3.729 Caden Magnuson, MBA – 4.00 Jeremy Miller, Political Science – 3.653
Magnuson has earned Honor Roll accolades three times while Noah Burroughs is a repeat honoree.
ccucougars.com
BEYOND | 13
ALL STAR PARK | Fall 2020
All Star Park I
Cougars renovate their new long-term home for baseball and softball
t is with tremendous enthusiasm and thanksgiving that Colorado Christian University Athletics celebrates the completion of the All Star Park Baseball and Softball Complex Renovation. On July 1, 2020, CCU officially opened a new chapter in school history with the launch of newly renovated All Star Park (ASP). In November 2019, the renovation began with the removal of the old sod, installation of a new drainage system, field base, and ultimately the installation of synthetic turf. In June 2019, CCU entered into a longterm lease agreement with the Gold Crown Foundation that provides the University with preferential scheduling of the facility. In order to fully maximize the use of ASP yearround, CCU
14 | BEYOND
made the investment to install synthetic turf, along with a portable baseball mound system and removable softball fencing, to allow for the park to be multiuse for both baseball and softball competitions. Beginning in the spring of 2021 both CCU Baseball and Softball teams will play their home games on the new and improved synthetic turf surface, which was modeled after the system installed in the Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field. Renovations at ASP were also made to upgrade the bullpens, install new backstop netting (which will be much more fan friendly), and to renovate the batting tunnels. On June 26-27, 2020, CCU’s softball and baseball programs successfully hosted their inaugural prospect camps on the new field.
Fall 2020 | ALL STAR PARK
ccucougars.com
BEYOND | 15
ONE SIDE | Fall 2020
One Side By Rachel Lucas, ’22 Strategic Communications
CCU student talks about the struggle of being biracial in a black and white world
T
ears swelled up in my big, brown eyes and quickly fell down my bronzed skin as I looked into my white mother’s beaming, blue eyes. I sat and let myself feel every riveting emotion that flushed my face. For the first time, I cried in response to being called out as a black woman. I cried as I was identified for being different because my skin is a shade darker than most people. As I sat with my mom and tried to process why it stirred uneasy emotions, I realized that my whole life I have had to choose one part of who I am and then deny the other. When I finally gathered the strength to lift my heavy head, I looked straight into my mother’s now-bloodshot eyes. I could physically see the weight of the pain she had been carrying for the past 27 years raising biracial children. Her whole motherhood was dedicated to protecting me from a world that viewed my darker skin as a curse and show me a world that looked at my heart before the pigment painted on my exterior.
16 | BEYOND
The world we live in forces us to stand and claim a side, but the difference between you and me is that your decision is clear. I have and always will live in the gray, as an outlier. As a young adult, I am having to physically choose as the world slowly uncovers its true brokenness. If I stand here and say I am a black woman, you will tell me I am the whitest Black person you have ever met. If I stand here and say I am a white woman, you will tell me I am wrong because my skin is “too dark.” I cried because I realized I do not identify as a Black woman, but I also do not identify as a white woman. I should not have to feel like I have to identify as one or the other, but I am forced to pick. All my life, I have been told to check a box, white or Black, but it is a trick question. According to the world, there is only one correct answer. Truth is I am not just Black, and I am not Black enough to be Black. I am not just white, and I am not white enough to be white. Yet, I live in a world that screams at me to choose, when I have already been
tossed to the side with the rest of my Black brothers and sisters. That is the reality I live in, that we live in. Just because you have one trace of pigment in your skin, you are Black. By law, you are Black.
Why did it take until now for people to recognize me as a Black woman? Why until now are people reaching out to me to say, “I see you as a Black woman” or “I appreciate you and our differences.”? No, I have always been Black in their eyes. Behind my back, I have been labeled as the “Black girl.” Yes, I look different than you. Yes, I am Black and have seen the chains of racism wrapped around their angry, ignorant fists,
Fall 2020 | ONE SIDE but I am also white just like you. I have experienced privilege just like you. I have whitewashed who I am as an attempt to fit in with you. I cried because I have been faced to choose one or the other my whole life when really the world has chosen for me. The difference now is that it is tangible. I can feel the tension, the pull. I can feel the tension tearing me apart. I can feel the tension within this broken country. I am a biracial woman that has felt the pressure and the pull all her life to pick a side, to check one box even though the Black box already has a giant checkmark through it. This is not a problem with two sides, white or Black. There is one side as we are one body in Christ Jesus, the side of humanity, justice, and love. The only checkmark that matters in the one through the box marked, a child of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. I am first and foremost a child of God before I am seen as just another color.
My true identity is found in the One that created the beauty of skin color in the first place. We are all image bearers made divinely by the Creator, no matter the color of your skin. Because of this truth, we are one, one body, one side united in Christ’s love.
BEYOND | 17
FACULTY BOOKS | Fall 2020
2020 Faculty Publications
I
n addition to their work in and out of the classroom supporting students, Colorado Christian University faculty members pursue research and publishing as well. Several faculty members in CCU’s College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult and Graduate Studies have written recently published books on subjects ranging from the ethics of foreign policymaking to a geotheological perspective on climate change. Here’s a listing of books published by our full-time faculty members this calendar year.
A Guide to Theological Reflection: A Fresh Approach for Practical Ministry Courses and Theological Field Education
Arts in the Key of Musical Joy 4th edition
Dr. Earl Waggoner
Professor of Music and Coordinator of Instrumental Music
Dean of the School of Biblical and Theological Studies and Professor of Theological Studies
Reformed Evangelicalism and the Search for a Usable Past: The Historiography of Arnold Dallimore, Pastor-Historian
Reforming Culture: J. W. Alexander’s Christian Approach to Social Reform
Dr. Ian Hugh Clary
Chair of the Department of Social Sciences and Assistant Professor of History
Assistant Professor of Historical Theology
18 | BEYOND
Mark Dorn (contributor)
Dr. Gary Steward
Fall 2020 | FACULTY BOOKS
Climate Change in History: A Geotheological Perspective
Niebuhrian International Relations: The Ethics of Foreign Policymaking
Dr. Barry Vann
Dr. Gregory Moore
Dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Historical Geography
Director of Global Studies and Professor of Global Studies and Politics
The Unspoken Narrative, A Composer’s Handbook
Why the Coronavirus: Is God Still Good
Charles Denlar
Dr. Peter Kerr
Director of Composition and Music Production and Engineering and Assistant Professor of Music
Dean of the School of Business and Leadership and Associate Professor of Business and Marketing
Leading Small Groups That Thrive: Five Shifts to Take Your Group to the Next Level Dr. Ryan Hartwig Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of Communication
BEYOND | 19
MUSIC SPEAKS | Fall 2020
MU S I C S P E A KS By Carina Constancio English ’23
I
t was 6 a.m. in the morning, in Lagos, Nigeria, and six-year-old Ebenezer Eferobor could hear the voice of gospel singer CeCe Winans coming from the small speaker his older sister had turned on. He woke up listening to her songs every morning and was drawn to the beautiful sound of Winans’ voice. From a very young age Eferobor developed a love for music, fascinated by the musical tunes that would come to bring him great joy throughout his life.
“Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, is similar to the inner cities here in the United States. I grew up with not enough food and three meals a day was never a promise; you just eat when you find food. But when I started loving music is going back to that moment when I was six years old. It still fascinates me, those moments that I look back to, I was able to find hope in the pain, in the struggles. Even when I didn’t know what to do about any of the stuff that was going
20 | BEYOND
on [in my life], it was a safe space for me. I could go anywhere in my head. I could have not eaten anything all day, and go to bed listening to music and I would be fine.” Eferobor has seen God’s hand move countless times, but he recalls one defining moment that changed his life, “I have seen God work in my life, in a lot of ways. But one turning point for me, was when I made the decision to move forward with the opportunity to study in the United States, regardless of all the people who said no and all the people who were not going to support me. I finally became free from opinions [of other people], and had the consciousness that God is sovereign and He’s going to take care of me and I am going to be okay.” Today, Eferobor is a senior at Colorado Christian University and has transformed his love of music into a degree in Music Production, Composition and Engineering.
Ebenezer Eferobor ’21 B.A. in Music Production, Composition and Engineering
Fall 2020 | MUSIC SPEAKS
The love for music Eferobor had when he was young, he has developed into a career, with his time at CCU playing an instrumental part in pursuing his passion. Since coming to CCU there have been many ups and downs for Eferobor, but the Lord has been with him every step of the way. Throughout his time at CCU, Eferobor has experienced much victory and growth in his life, but he has also experienced some failure. For Eferobor, God is in the everyday moments and struggles of life and he is thankful for the people at CCU that God has placed in his life. “God has sent people to walk with me through this season, and these are people I would have never known if I had gone to [another] university. And those people have also helped my faith and they have been good examples for me spiritually and also in life.”
Eferobor is also one of the first recipients of the Sweeting International Scholarship which has helped to make his education possible. Receiving this scholarship has had a tremendous impact on Eferobor’s life. “Part of what [the scholarship] has helped me to do, is realize that it’s not about me. There is a higher mission that I serve, a higher will and that is God’s will. In conversations with Dr. Sweeting I have realized that I am setting the path for other people, for which I am grateful but it is also a lot of responsibility. The Sweeting scholarship has helped me to be a symbol of hope to other people who are like me and come from a similar background as me. I am grateful that I am here and can give someone out there who sees this can [chance] to dream again, and know that being at a place like this is possible. The scholarship has helped me to give other people hope.”
BEYOND | 21
MUSIC SPEAKS | Fall 2020
One of the people at CCU who has had a tremendous impact on Eferobor’s life is Curt Butler, an instructor in the School of Music. Butler has been a mentor and a friend to Eferobor both inside and outside the classroom, taking time to invest in Eferobor as a student and an individual. “Getting to know [Butler] and working with him has prepared me already for a lot of things. Working with him has made me understand what it means to be smart enough to learn through a process especially in the industry I am in, you are constantly learning. He is a model for me both in the classroom and in the workplace. But watching him not just in the classroom but outside of that has opened my mind up to what is possible for me and how to navigate situations in the professional setting. “[I am] also grateful for all of the faculty in the School of Music. I am grateful that I have had some really great conversations with these people, and I feel like this network is always going to be a resource to come back to.” Colorado Christian University seeks to equip students to make an impact on the
22 | BEYOND
world with grace and truth in the name of Jesus. Eferobor knows first-hand how much music speaks to people every day and studying the production and performance of music is one of the ways CCU has helped prepare him for the future. When it comes to making a difference Eferobor says, “I am grateful for the things that I am doing right now and the communities that I am a part of. I don’t think about [making an impact] as some huge gigantic vision or something, no, it’s in the individual conversations. How am I taking care of the people who are around me? It’s not about the number, it’s about the one person who you win over as a friend and that person is encouraged by the conversations that we have. That’s how I see it.” Music has always been a part of Eferobor’s life and the Lord has used his gift of music to open up opportunities and blessings in his life, preparing Eferobor to minister to people in a beautiful and unique way.
Fall 2020 | SELF CARE
Recharge and reboot with these expert self-care tips If 2020 and the global pandemic has taught us anything, it is that self-care is vital to ensuring that you live a healthy and productive life.
J
ust as Jesus took time alone to commune with the Father and practice self-care (Mark 1:35), so too should we make it priority. Faculty and alumni from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in the College of Adult and Graduate Studies provided some of their best self-care tips.
PLAN TIME FOR SELF-CARE Self-care can easily get pulled off the schedule when other responsibilities crowd the calendar and vie for our attention. Try planning for smaller chunks of time daily or longer stretches several days per week with some cushion around start and end times. When it makes it onto the family calendar with reminders on your device, everybody is aware of the activity’s importance and can support your personal space. Build in rewards and incentives to keep you on track. The point of self-care is to recharge and reboot, so that you are better able to invest in others — loved ones, ministry, work, and life. Jennifer S. Park, PhD, NCC, LPC, ACS Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
BEYOND | 23
SELF-CARE | Fall 2020
MAKE A MENU OF SELF-CARE TIPS Make a menu of self-care tips or a self-care basket/box for you to go to when in need of some time and space. The menu provides some variety and fun. Think of creative ways to encourage your self-care routine by exploring new hobbies or asking friends to contribute an item to the basket/ box. Including a list of people who support this endeavor invites a measure of accountability and who knows, you might inspire someone else to compile their own. But choose wisely for they may want to buddy up on self-care time, which may not be a bad idea from time to time. Jennifer S. Park, PhD, NCC, LPC, ACS Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
PRACTICE MINDFULNESS Mindfulness includes accepting the present experience by bringing awareness to sensation in the moment. The Lord says to be still and know that He is God. For us to be still, we have to turn off auto-pilot and quiet our mind, which requires that we ground ourselves in the present moment and in our physical body. To do this, start by noticing your breath and follow it as you inhale and exhale. If you have a distracting thought, without judgment, come back to your breath. Every time you come back to your breath you are strengthening this ability like flexing a bicep. Then, begin to notice the sounds, smells, sights, and tactile sensations you are experiencing in the moment. Mindfulness fosters acceptance of our present condition and circumstances which helps us to trust the Lord. We do not serve the God of “I was” or “I will be,” but the God of “I AM.” Shannon J. Tallon, MA, LMFTA Affiliate Faculty
FIND A MENTOR, BE A MENTOR We discover who we are through relationship with others. Scriptures says we love because He first loved us. Part of self-care is intentionally connecting with others. Friendships boost self-esteem, self-worth, and help us cope with stress. Friendships have also been shown to strengthen our immune systems! Be a friend to someone needing encouragement and support such as a teen from your church, a younger cousin, or neighbor. By giving your life away, you will find purpose and meaning. It is also important that your cup is filled, so be on the lookout for a mentor of your own. Perhaps this is a youth-group leader, family friend, or sports coach. Love in, love out. Shannon J. Tallon, MA, LMFTA Affiliate Faculty
24 | BEYOND
Fall 2020 | SELF CARE
EXPLORE PODCASTS Open your world to new perspectives by sharing your space and finding a podcast(s) that not only brings you inspiration, but also might stir reflection and life changes. There are podcasts that range in topic from relationships to fitness, and part of the fun is picking the first one you enjoy listening to. Whether you listen to it in the car or in a comfy place in your house with a cup of coffee or tea, you are allowing yourself dedicated time with something that feeds positivity and encouragement for personal growth into your life. Part of self-care is nurturing your willingness to hear about and try out different ways of navigating life. Check out this link from the Oprah magazine website to get some possible ideas: http://bit.ly/2ITGRAe Marissa Meyer, MA, LPCC, NCC
GIVE YOURSELF COMPASSION Compassion for oneself is an important part of self-care that often gets looked over. Taking a break and saying no are also equally important. Remember that self-care doesn’t have to take a lot of time nor does it need to be expensive or extravagant. It can be taking time to listen to a favorite song, use your favorite mug for a cup of tea, or even having a moment of prayer or reflection. Also remember that know that basic human needs are part of self-care (for example, are you eating, sleeping?). Self-care can involve preparation for the future and finally, self-care is not selfish. Sarah Haney Jarvie, Ed.D., LPC, NCC Associate Professor, Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
FIND BALANCE To balance the call to serve others while setting healthy boundaries, engage in the following activities, daily. Prayer – We cannot do the work without God’s strength. Jesus often left the crowd to go up on the hill to pray. Jesus had a self-care routine. Scripture Reading and Meditation - We cannot fight the battles in life without the weapon. The Word of God is our weapon. It sustains as well as protects us. Rest – We intentionally trust God knowing that we can sleep peacefully as God takes care of the things and people that we cannot. Balance - Do not say “Yes,” to everything. This helps balance and prioritize needs. Sometimes, saying “Yes,” to one thing can be a “no” to the most important things God is calling you to do. Pray for discernment and wisdom as you choose what is important in God’s agenda. Dr. Selin Philip Associate Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
BEYOND | 25
SELF-CARE | Fall 2020
CREATE A SELF-CARE BOX Create a personal self-care box filled with things that you enjoy doing or that bring you comfort. There are two aspects of this, with the first one being, you can find enjoyment in seeking out and buying things for your self-care box. Whether it is books, candy, or puzzles, as examples, you can always be on the lookout for something to add, and you may find new hobbies that bring you satisfaction. Secondly, there is delight when you pull out your box of goodies and select something from it, especially on rough days. There can also be a work version for this by making a self-care drawer (i.e., mints, lip balm, stress toy). What is great about this “box” is you can have things in it that you share with others, such as a movie, or things that you do on your own, such as a book. Marissa Meyer, MA, LPCC, NCC
SPEND TIME IN COMMUNITY Spend time with people who affirm and love you. Call a friend or family member and catch up on your lives. While texting is fine, it can’t replace hearing someone’s voice. Take a walk and talk to your neighbors. You can do this and social distance. Ask for and give hugs, even if they can only be virtual, with people in your life. If your church is open, go to church and be in community and worship with your faith family. The idea is to not isolate yourself from other people, as we tend to do when we are stressed (and COVID is stressful). This is the time when we need connection to people in our lives. Jane McGill, MA, LPC
SHOW GRACE TO YOURSELF Remember to give yourself grace and to silence that inner voice that says we should be doing more. Many of us are experiencing the weight of the world right now trying to juggle family life with work and school and with all the restrictions placed on us because of COVID, and we are feeling the fatigue of carrying this weight for the past year. Our normal ways of coping are often not there. Give yourself permission to say no to the extra things that don’t add meaning, just additional stress to your life. Give yourself permission to say “I can’t do it all” right now. This is where giving ourselves grace comes in. Show grace to yourself by being kind to yourself and letting go of that which wears you down. Jane McGill, MA, LPC
26 | BEYOND
Fall 2020 | SELF CARE
STAY ACTIVE In a word: exercise. This is based on the principle of balance. As a rule, life is emotionally taxing. Exercise promotes balance by taxing our physical bodies. When both are ‘taxed’ paradoxically, we experience renewed energy. This is due to balance. Imbalance equals toxic. Stay active through exercise and restore balance. Dr. Trent Langhoffer Clinical Director of the CCU Community Counseling Center and an affiliate faculty member
BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT CREATING ENVIRONMENTAL CUES The study of behaviorism embraces the feat that we are often cued, albeit outside of our awareness, by our environment. Many of us have external factors located within our environment(s) that serve to cue us to be in a particular frame of mind. For example, sitting at a work desk invites a working frame of mind, compared to sitting in a cozy chair with a blanket. These cues have been largely altered, if not completely removed, as a result of the pandemic. Often times, each day looks the same as we are confined to our homes. Thus, my self-care tip involves being intentional about creating environmental cues within the home that initiate renewed self-awareness and which orient you to your environment. For example, creating a designated working space or identifying a defining action to start your day (a mindful cup of coffee) and one to end your day (a warm cup of tea). Activating the senses in creating these cues is key, as we look to pair external factors with internal representation. Even though every day looks similar, we can create external prompts that provide structure and promote sensibility as we navigate through a most difficult time. Dr. Krystyne Mendoza, Ph.D., LPC Associate Professor of Counseling
BEYOND | 27
DR. BILL WATSON | Fall 2020
MOURNING THE PASSING OF DR. BILL WATSON C CU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and administrators past and present mourned the death of longtime professor of history Dr. William (Bill) Watson, who died unexpectedly on November 12, 2020, in Lakewood. Dr. Watson served as Professor of World History in the Department of Social Sciences, and specialized in the interaction between Western civilization and the rest of the world. During his extensive career, he traveled to more than 30 countries, lived in five, studied six foreign languages, was a linguist in Military Intelligence at an NSA listening post in Berlin during the Cold War, and taught on world issues for over 40 years. In 2004, he was a Fulbright Senior Scholar teaching Western civilization and U.S. foreign policy in Moldova and a Visiting Summer Fellow at Oxford in 2007. Watson joined CCU in 1996, and led numerous student trips to Europe, the Middle East, and India. Although Dr. Watson served as faculty in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, he was known and loved by CCU students and alumni in all the schools for his animated lectures, passion for history and Western civilization, and zeal for the cause of Christ and His kingdom. His former students have gone on to careers in government, media, intelligence, diplomacy, global relief, missions, and ending poverty in the underdeveloped world. He will be deeply missed by all in the CCU family, and beyond.
28 | BEYOND
“Dr. Watson was a great man and an inspiring teacher, who impacted literally thousands of students over his nearly 25 years of teaching at CCU, including me,” commented Dr. Ryan Hartwig, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. “The impact of his teaching, mentoring, and exuberant encouragement literally reverberates around the globe, carried on by the scores of CCU alumni who are now serving in missions and various kinds of international relations and humanitarian work around the world.”
Our hearts go out to his wife, Carolyn, and their children and grandchild, as well as those who knew him as a professor, colleague, and friend. The CCU community hosted a virtual a memorial service on Thursday, December 3, during the traditional undergraduate chapel service. A private family memorial service was also held on Friday, December 4, at Arvada Covenant Church.
Fall 2020 | SANNE MCCARTHY
MOURNING THE PASSING OF PROFESSOR SANNE MCCARTHY O n Thursday, September 17, 2020, Lois Anne “Sanne” McCarthy took her final bow, exited stage left, and went home to be with the Lord. Sanne served as director of Theatre at Colorado Christian University from 1994 to 2016. McCarthy spent her childhood in Merced, Calif., in the San Joaquin Valley, but completed her final years of high school in San Francisco when her family moved back to live. Following high school, McCarthy spent a decade pursuing her love of theatre. She performed in college productions at San Francisco State and branched out into summer stock and repertory theatre, as well as performing with a touring company in Europe. After returning to the states, she worked and lived in community with the Gestalt Fool Theatre Family where she met and made lifelong friends and memories.
students she taught and mentored as they explored what it meant to be a Christian and an artist. Her thoughts on this topic became the foundation for her book, Master Class: Pursuing Christ Through Performing Arts. “Sanne was brilliant, creative, unorthodox, hilarious, present, and as thoroughly redeemed a soul as I’ve met, with all the many loose ends of her unconventional life somehow tied together into one story that she told and lived, a story that brought great glory to God every day,” commented Professor Mark Dorn, coordinator of Instrumental Music. “She sat in quiet
fellowship with God many hours each week of her life, and gained an access to Him that many of us envied and admired. This inspired all who knew her to do likewise.” McCarthy was amazed and delighted by the life she lived. She is survived by her sister, Joan; her children, Sasha, Colin, and Ryan; her grandchildren, Elijah, Gideon, Josiah, Asher, Ruth; her nephews, Ken, Keith, Holden, Peter; and her niece, Karen. A celebration of Prof. McCarthy’s life was held on November 8, 2020.
In 1973, McCarthy and her husband, Tom, moved to the Denver area and started family. McCarthy also met the Lord, the love of her life. During her child-raising years, McCarthy’s artistic ventures revolved around God and her family. For a time, she and Tom had a family ministry involving music, skits, and puppet shows. She directed the children’s choir at her church and staged several musicals involving children and youth from the church. McCarthy completed her B.A. and an M.H., and in 1994 joined the faculty of CCU. During her nearly 22 years in this position, McCarthy inspired and encouraged the
BEYOND | 29
ALI UPDATE | Fall 2020
ARMSTRONG LEGACY INITIATIVE Dear Friends, Walking through 2020 has reminded me of this eternal truth: “God owns it all.” It is God who provides us with time, success, wealth, and resources. These resources are His gifts to us, so they can move through us to accomplish wonderful things. It has been a very hard, stressful, confusing 2020, yet I remain very optimistic as you and I walk forward in faith, trusting and knowing that God’s sovereignty holds the needed provisions
Armstrong Legacy Initiative Armstrong Legacy Initiative
FISCAL YEAR 2020 GIVING CAMPAIGN GOAL: $30,000,000
DONATIONS RECEIVED NEEDED FUNDRAISING PLEDGED GIFTS
72% 15% 13%
DONORS TO ALI CAMPAIGN SINCE 2016: 840 DONORS TO ARMSTRONG CENTER IN FY 2020: 241
30 | BEYOND
to complete the Armstrong Center. Because of you and your giving, our amazing students, faculty and alumni are positioned to impact this world for the glory of God’s great name and the grace and truth of Jesus Christ. With great gratitude,
Eric Hogue, MATS Vice President Office of University Advancement
Fall 2020 | CLASS NOTES
CCU CLASS NOTES How CCU alumni are making a difference
COVID 19 has changed so many things in the past year for our alumni. Weddings were postponed, jobs were lost, and health scares were all around. And yet, God revealed His faithfulness in so many significant ways. On December 15, we welcomed 57 new graduates to the CCU Alumni Association. These motivated and talented world-changers are prepared to go out and bring Christ to their professions and their community, wherever that may be. Our athletes continued training and competing, with accolades for both academics and sportsmanship. Our undergraduates were, for the most part, in person, with very few coronavirus cases or other challenges. 2020 was indeed a challenging year. But the new year of 2021 brings hope, expectation, and a reminder that God’s presence and love are always with us. We would love to hear what’s happening with you – please visit www.ccu.edu/alumni/share/ and update us on your life events, your prayer needs, and any stories of God’s faithfulness in your life. We are praying for you – may God richly
Dr. Gisela Roth ‘93 (CAGS Biblical Counseling) worked as a missionary doctor in Zimbabwe before training as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist in Germany, her home country. Gisela joined AIM Care to work at Tumaini Counseling Centre (Kenya) in 2005, where she offers support through psychiatric care, specialized trauma therapy, general counseling, as well as member care workshops. She returned to her hometown of Detmold, Germany, in November after living in Kenya for many years. She has named her flat “Mountain Peace (Rest)” in the hopes of finding peace (and rest) in abundance. She is asking for ongoing prayer to help her transition from her life in Kenya to Germany, and what things God has prepared for her, both professionally and personally. I kept thinking of the verse in Ps 116: 7 “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has done great things for you. “ As you can imagine, these were restless times for me, in spite of all the blessings I was given. Therefore I want to go on a silent retreat again before the end of the year. I read a quote attributed to Master Eckhardt: “God is always at home within us, too bad, we are so rarely home”. Please pray for Gisela’s new life of rest and discovery in Germany transitioning
Rosanna (Graham) Lindeman ’98 (CUS Liberal Arts) taught in public schools in Denver, in homeschool co-ops and at church, before transitioning to a private tutoring business for Dyslexic learners using a targeted, research based system. Eureka Tutoring (2018) is reaching these brilliant, atrisk kids as it’s become a passion for Rosanna after having worked with her own resident dyslexic learners. Finding her niche didn’t happen right away, but God really paved the way. Please pray for Rosanna and her important work with her students.
Christian Ford ’02 (CUS Organizational Management) is the Southeast Regional Sales Manager and “People Leader” for the Endoscopy Division of Boston Scientific. He is married, and lives in Georgia. Christian played for the Cougar men’s basketball team. Please pray for Christian as he serves Christ in the scientific community.
For the latest news about your classmates, please follow us on social media: Web ccu.edu/alumni Facebook facebook.com/myccualumni Twitter @CCUAlumni Instagram ccualumniassociation LinkedIn linkedin.com/groups/50908/
bless you in the New Year and beyond.
ccu.edu/alumni/share
BEYOND | 31
CLASS NOTES | Fall 2020
JACKIE MCKELVIN ’85 (WESTERN BIBLE COLLEGE) Jackie McKelvin has observed how most individuals struggle to believe how they possess enormous value and are deeply and securely loved as a result. Some people believe that their value depends on their performance or is dependent on others’ approval. In order to address these destructive lies, the author decided to pen “Your Intrinsic Value” (published by WestBow Press – a Division of Thomas Nelson/ Zondervan publishing). “The Infinitely Powerful and Intimately Personal God displayed His power and love when He Created you and I to reflect Him, as His image was threaded into our intricate design,” McKelvin reminds. “You and I possess enormous intrinsic value and we are greatly loved because of it. Your value does not depend on your performance because it is infused into every fabric of your soul.” “Your Intrinsic Value” is a deep exegetical Biblical study of the creation story and a neurological discussion of how to replace the lies that our society and the enemy has communicated to us. In this spirituality book, the author presents the reality of God’s desire for people — to know that they are made by him, for him, and for the significant purpose of a life committed to the reality of his heart toward them in everything aspect of this life. More than points of origin surrounding geography, cultural ideology, traditions, or lifestyle geo-political pragmatics, the author conveys the eternal significance of knowing one’s created and salvific origins found in God himself.
32 | BEYOND
As readers embrace the truths presented in “Your Intrinsic Value,” McKelvin hopes that they can better understand their own personal preciousness and be set free to more effectively love and care for others.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jackie McKelvin has been speaking, teaching and writing on this subject for over 25 years. Attending Western Bible College and finishing her degree at Colorado Christian University taught her the individual skills of studying God’s Word in a deep manner. She was named the Distinguished Alumni of the Year by CCU in 2018. In addition to being a certified coach/speaker/trainer, she also has a certificate in counseling. McKelvin has been married to her husband Noah ’85 ’06 for 37 years and they have raised three beautiful children. Together, they have successfully taught Biblical parenting principles to men and women for the past 25 years. “Your Intrinsic Value” can be purchased on Amazon and at other fine book retailers.
Erin (Witte) Trumbull ’07 (CUS Human Communication) says there is no big news to share, we are just trying to get through this crazy year happy and healthy. My husband and I were blessed to have purchased my childhood home and raise our kids on the same piece of land I got to play on as a kid. She wants current students to “Enjoy all the fun times with your friends now because you may never get to spend this kind of time with them again. Cherish the memories you are making now.” Erin is a stay-at-home mom who lives in Washington State with her husband, John, and their two children Fern (4) and Forest (1). Please pray for Erin and her little family, as they grow and thrive together in God’s love.
Bailey (Mote) Hollister ’18 (CUS Psychology) graduated in December, 2018, and was married to John in early January, 2019. They had a son, Carson, in November, 2019. She shares “Much has happened in a short amount of time but we are so grateful and full of joy over what God has done in our lives. Nothing in life goes according to plan. Don’t be afraid to change direction whether that’s in your degree, living arrangements, or career plans. Be willing to adjust as God calls you to. Amazing things will happen.” Please pray for Bailey and her little family as they grow and serve the Lord together.
Fall 2020 | CLASS NOTES Emily Mills ’20 (CAGS Business Marketing) is asking for prayer and finances as she transitions from student to fulltime ministry at the University of Oregon through Resonate Church (because Resonate is a church that is ministering to college students, the staff must raise support). I have started writing monthly newsletters of all that God is doing and would love to keep anyone who is interested, updated. It includes prayer requests – she would love for people to be praying over this next season of her life! In her words, “I started following Jesus my freshman year of college. Before Jesus I was insecure, desperate, and a runner from all things. I found my identity in partying all throughout high school and was known to be the girl that was always down for any kind of adventure- hoping to escape from all the pain and brokenness in my own life. My freshman year of college, a girl shared the gospel with me in a coffee shop and I began to desire this idea of a relationship with Him. As I continued to go to church with my roommate, God was softening my heart. September of my freshman year I started following Jesus in my dorm room. I attended the University of Idaho for one more year, until I felt God calling me to move to Eugene, Oregon to help a church plant on the college campus there. I couldn’t afford to pay out of state,
so I began to look for online schools. My junior year I enrolled at Colorado Christian University, packed up some boxes, and drove to Eugene, Oregon and began ministering to college students as I too was a college student. As my chapter ends at Colorado Christian University, I am in awe of all that God has provided and done through my time here. I have just accepted an internship with staff for Resonate Church. My role will be a campus multiplier, meaning that I will train the leaders and equip them to lead people near to Jesus. As I walk into full time ministry, I am in awe of all that God has changed within my heart since coming to college four years ago. My life has transformed drastically from who I was as a freshman to who I am now. I cannot imagine doing anything else with my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without God providing an education like Colorado Christian University and the ability to be online while doing mission in Oregon. CCU has played a huge role in my story, and I am so thankful. I am eager to meet more freshman girls like me and watch God change their lives and give them purpose. I never would have thought I’d graduate from college and become a missionary- which shows how little control we have over our lives and how big our God is. I love this University and am so thankful to graduate from here.”
Have an update or looking to reconnect with the CCU community? Contact Kara Johnston, director of alumni and parent relations, at 303.963.3320 or kjohnston@ccu.edu.
If you would like to support Emily through prayer and/or finances in her mission work to share the gospel at the University of Oregon, please contact her at Emdmills@ gmail.com. Please pray for God’s continued guidance and grace in Emily’s life.
Thursday, March 4
CCU GIVES DAY 2021
ccu.edu/alumni/share
Online
Join fellow alumni and help a current CCU student receive vital scholarship aid to further their education. This one-day event seeks to raise $100,000 in new dollars to support students in need so they can benefit from a CCU education and become a kingdom-builder. All gifts — no matter the size — will be pooled with other donations to help students and athletes across CCU. Many students are waiting for your help — you can change a life. For more information, please visit ccu.edu/giving.
BEYOND | 33
OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT 8787 W. Alameda Ave. Lakewood, CO 80226