Feb. 2005 - Abilene Christian University

Newsletter for the College of Biblical Studies

Volume 3, Number 1
February, 2005

2005 Annual Bible Lectureship

"Since You Have Been Raised With Christ: Messages from Colossians" is the theme of the upcoming annual Bible Lectureship, February 20-23, 2005. Theme speakers include Billy Wilson (Glasgow, Scotland), David Holmes (Malibu, CA), Harold Shank (Memphis, TN), Prentice Meador (Dallas, TX), Billy Curl (Los Angeles, CA), Phil Ware (Abilene, TX), and Randy Harris (Abilene, TX). See photo of speakers.

The Zoe Group will lead worship each evening, setting the tone of praise and prayer. Morning prayers, contemplative evening worship (in the Taizé style), and special singing groups each day will help make the worship experience at lectureship both diverse and full. In addition to regular lectureship features like "Art & Faith," "Forum," and "Gospel and Culture," a new track is being offered this year entitled "Marketplace Faith." Breakfasts, classes, and forum conversations will help participants who are interested in seeing the workplace as places of ministry.

The Teague Special Events Center will host both exhibits and fellowship space. New vendors with resources for ministry will exhibit, including publishers such as Eerdmans and Abingdon. The full program is on the ACU website at http://www.acu.edu/events/lectureship.html, including a link to request printed brochures.

A Ministry of Compassion

Chaplain Chris Hale

Over the past two years, Chris Hale has moved from chaplain intern with the Abilene Fire Department to Division Chief/Fire Chaplain. Faculty and students who know Chris are not surprised that he has excelled in this ministry. When Chris walks into a room, his care and compassion embraces you. Chris combines a deep faith and a disciplined work ethic to all his commitments. Dr. Charles Siburt has been mentoring Chris for two years. He states, "Chris Hale has a rare gift for ministering to people who are in crisis. He brings a powerful blend of compassion, encouragement, hope, and even joy to troubled times in the lives of friends or strangers. And no one has a more infectious sense of humor than Chris. Pastoral ministry seems to come easily to him, yet I know that he works hard at it. Chris brings a loving presence to people and situations that need it, and he does it with grace and discernment."

eConnections asked Chris to share his story with you. Read the complete interview.

Outreach to Hispanics

The United States is a growing mission field. In fact, as a nation, the United States has the fourth largest unreached population in the world. Among these unreached Americans, the growing Hispanic community presents a vast opportunity for the church. Historically, the church has reached out to Hispanics using methods that are typically "Anglo", that is, churches have been planted that function in relationship with an Anglo church.

A desperate need exists to reach this growing community in ways that will foster independent, culturally relevant expressions of the church. Significant opportunities for such training do not come our way frequently. But, with regard to Hispanic outreach, there is a great opportunity for training this summer. During Summer Seminar in Missions, Dr. Dan Rodriguez of Pepperdine University will be teaching a class called "Hispanic Missions in the U.S.: Missions to and from the Barrio." The class will be helpful to church leaders, ministers, evangelists, missions committee members, and anyone who has a heart for outreach to the Hispanic culture. Dan will give insights to Hispanic culture and how to meaningfully plant churches in those communities. The class is offered during the first session, May 16-26 and includes the Missions Focus (see following article). Seminar courses can be taken for academic credit or for continuing education units. Please check our website for more information, www.bible.acu.edu/missions/SummerSeminar.

Missions Focus

The heart of Summer Seminar in Missions is Missions Focus (May 24-26). We are thankful for the growth of the Kingdom worldwide. The multiplication of churches in other countries presents the American church with new possibilities and challenges in missions. Rather than planting churches, often there is the need to partner with national churches. In a world where Americans are no longer the primary catalysts for missions, incarnational ministry is more important than ever. Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter will be addressing the issue of "Incarnational Ministry and Partnership." During the mornings he will help us explore and understand the important related facets of partnership and the need to be incarnational.

During Missions Focus the afternoons will provide opportunities for special equipping. Practical workshops will be presented that will benefit missionaries and the local church. Topics will be: "The Work of the Mission Committee", "Evangelism", "Reaching the World of Islam", "Managing Stress", "Financial Challenges for Missionaries", and "The Role of Technology in Missions". These sessions will be helpful to elders, mission committee members, missionaries, future missionaries, and church leaders. Visit our website for costs related to Summer Seminar in Missions and Missions Focus, http:// www.bible.acu.edu/missions/summerseminar. Come and spend a productive three days that will help you organize your congregation's missions ministry for effective Kingdom work.

"This Summer, Why Not...?"

ACU students at the World Wide Witness Weekend Retreat

"Why not spend your summer in Australia or Thailand or England or Uganda or France or New York City or Brazil or any number of places around the world? You could have the experience of your life while helping mission efforts around the world this summer."

This appeal was made recently to sophomores of all majors in general Bible classes by the World Wide Witness program at ACU. The purpose of World Wide Witness is to encourage short-term missions involvement (6-10 weeks) with experienced mentors at mission sites around the world. More than a campaign or mission trip, the internships provide opportunity to serve missionaries and local churches, to study language and culture, to practice cross-cultural ministry, and to experience "Christian service and leadership throughout the world."

The Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry seeks to encourage all undergraduate students, regardless of major, to participate in some cross-cultural experience during their time at ACU. This experience will promote the spiritual growth of each participant and will increase the vision of the church for missions by multiplying the number who have had first-hand experience in cross-cultural ministry.

Wimon Walker and Gary Green serve as the directors of the program. Training has begun for the 2005 internships proposed to go to about 30 sites around the world this summer, including the opportunities offered through "Let's Start Talking."

Students, Faculty, and Graduates Participate in the Annual Conference of the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Plano, Texas

Eighteen students, two graduates, and the faculty from the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy participated in the 32nd annual conference of the TAMFT, January 26-29, 2005 . Students participated by monitoring sessions, volunteering in a variety of capacities, attending professional workshops and plenaries, and presenting their own research projects. Faculty participated by co-authoring poster sessions and leading forums or discussion groups.

The MFT Department faculty continues to prepare students to enter the workforce in both public and private settings and in church or secular settings. Participation in the TAMFT conference encourages the students to find their niche in the professional world. Our calling to be "in the world, but not of the world" is clearly played out in this context in which faith in Christ is often marginalized. As the profession of marriage and family therapy experiences similar politics as other professional associations, students have the opportunity to experience the dissonance between faith and profession and how to stay engaged with the professional world while holding on to their faith.

Cynthia Chow, Chris Cummings, Tim Ehrhart, April Sizemore, and Dr. Waymon Hinson presented "Assessment and Treatment for Relationship Ambivalence: Preliminary Data." Sara Darling, Kimberly Deaton, Mark White, Bryan Wilhite, and Dr. Jaime Goff presented a paper entitled, "The Relational Impact of Marriage and Family Therapy Education." Shaun Burrow, Christie Kerschbaum, Katie Epps, Kristy Williams, Daniel McClellan, and Dr. Jackie Halstead presented "God, Jetlag, and the Blues: Cultural Experience and Depression." Maggie Cheung, Shannon Humphrey, Amanda Prescott, Rebecca Robertson, and Shawna Spencer presented "Experiential Therapy and the Family."

Additionally, former MFT students Anne Blakeslee and Faith Drew presented a workshop entitled, "Who is in my Mirror?" which was designed to integrate spirituality in the lives of both client and therapist.

Dr. Waymon Hinson moderated a panel which discussed the topic "Sunrise, Sunset: History of Texas Licensure." He also led the annual "Professional Issues and Approved Supervisors Breakfast" and a discussion with professional colleagues related to ethics and licensure.

The process for the students involves selecting a research team, mentor, and topic, followed by researching the topic, and, finally, preparing the research for presentation. The process also involves TAMFT's evaluation in terms of its worthiness to be presented.


Bryan Wilhite, Mark White, Kimberly Deaton, and Sara Darling	Tim Ehrhart, April Sizemore, and Chis Cummings

Rochester ElderLink Launched

The ElderLink Ministry continues to grow. The first Rochester ElderLink Forum was launched on the campus of Rochester College on Saturday, January 29, 2005. The event was co-sponsored by ACU and Rochester College. Presenters for the day included Randy and Rhonda Lowry from Pepperdine University, Greg Stevenson and J. C. Thomas from Rochester College, Monte Cox from Harding University, and Charles Siburt from ACU. About 200 church leaders participated in this first effort in the upper Midwest. The date for Rochester ElderLink Forum 2006 will be January 28, 2006.

Atlanta ElderLink Forum 2005

The Atlanta ElderLink Forum 2005 is gaining momentum daily. This will be the second Atlanta event, and is co-sponsored by ACU and Lipscomb University. It is scheduled for Saturday, March 19 at the Campus Church of Christ on the campus of Greater Atlanta Christian Schools. Presenters will include Randy Harris, Doug Foster, David Wray, and Charles Siburt from ACU, Jay Guin from Tuscaloosa, AL, Stephanie Bell from Montgomery, AL, Jerry Sherrill and Jason Thompson from Nashville, TN, and Janice Massey, Charles Holton, and Paul Watson from Durham, NC. More information about schedule, lodging, and registration is available at http://www.acu.edu/ministry/elderlink/conferences/atlanta.html.

Houston ElderLink Forum 2005

The first Houston ElderLink Forum is scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 2005 at the Bammel Road Church of Christ. Presenters will include Randy Harris, David Wray, Jeff Childers, Ken Cukrowski, Tom and Sandra Milholland, and Charles and Judy Siburt from ACU, Rick Marrs from Pepperdine University, Virgil Fry, Hal Elrod and Richard Fancer from Houston, TX. More information about schedule, lodging, and registration will be available soon.

Small Churches Workshop 2005

July 28-30 are the dates for the 2005 Small Churches Workshop on the ACU campus. The first Small Churches Workshop was offered last summer and was enthusiastically received. This year's workshop promises to be another excellent experience for leaders and members from small churches. The two presenters will be Randy Stephens, minister of the Sulphur Well Church of Christ in Springville, TN and Roy Young, minister of the Apache Church of Christ in Apache, OK. Both are outstanding ministers in small churches and will bring a wealth of experience and expertise in small church ministry. More information will be available soon.

Lectureship Class Focuses on Interim Ministry

Interim Ministry has been around a long time, especially in other fellowships. But Interim Ministry--ministry during the transition from a departing minister to an incoming minister--is becoming a valued ministry for a growing number of churches. And the number of ministers interested in Interim Ministry is also growing. A daily class at the 2005 Lectureship will focus on Interim Ministry. The three resource persons for the class will be Charles Siburt from ACU, John Parker from Lipscomb University, and Jerrie Barber from Franklin, TN. All three are trained in Interim Ministry. Anyone interested in learning more about Interim Ministry or in exploring opportunities in Interim Ministry in Churches of Christ are encouraged to attend.

GST Alumni Meet During Lectureship

Alumni of the Graduate School of Theology will gather for the first time for lunch at the Williams Performing Arts Center and an organizational meeting on Wednesday, February 23, the last day of Lectureship. Dr. Carl Holladay, Charles Howard Candler Professor of New Testament at Emory University's Candler School of Theology and an alumni of the GST, will speak about the challenges of ministerial education. After Dr. Holladay's presentation, the alumni will hold a brief business meeting to elect officers and present plans for the future of the Alumni Association.

The formation of the Alumni Association will be a major milestone for the GST, according to Dr. James Thompson, associate dean of the GST. "ACU has offered masters' degrees for half a century now, but the alumni of the graduate programs have maintained no mechanism for maintaining contact with each other and with the faculty," according to Dr. Thompson. "Many of our alumni come to events like Lectureship regularly, but have had no vehicle for maintaining contact with the school." The GST will maintain a database of graduates, which will allow graduates to stay in touch with each other. Annual meetings will provide opportunities for alumni to meet for discussion and renew friendships.

Membership in the Alumni Association is open to all former students of the graduate program in Bible and the Graduate School of Theology. The Association will exist to encourage mutual support among alumni, to provide resources for alumni, and to build support for the Graduate School of Theology.

Please click here to RSVP on-line. Seating is limited, and advance reservations will ensure that you have a seat. Feel free to invite your spouse. Tickets for any remaining seats will be made available Monday of Lectureship week.

Preview Weekend for the Graduate School of Theology

"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service." (Ephesians 4:10). Join us Sunday and Monday, February 27-28, and explore your calling and giftedness in God's kingdom and consider continuing your education in the Graduate School of Theology at Abilene Christian University.

To those of you who could say, "I've already applied to the Graduate School of Theology and been admitted," we say come and see who else is planning to attend. To those of you who say, "I am just exploring my options right now and do not want to commit to anything yet," we say come and ask good questions to find out if Abilene Christian University is the best fit for you as you continue your education. And to those of you who might say, "I work full-time and don't have any vacation days," or "I am a full-time student and I have classes that day," we say come and visit, your decision about graduate school is worth the investment and cost.

Sunday
3:00-5:00       Arrival and Registration
5:00-6:30       Dinner and Orientation
7:00-8:00       Worship
9:00-10:30     Fellowship

Monday
8:00-8:30       Continental Breakfast
8:30-10:45     Various brief presentations, interactions, and demonstrations intended to connect prospective students with the programs and opportunities in the Graduate School of Theology and at Abilene Christian University.
11:30-12:00   Closing chapel

Cost - $15. Housing Provided by current students and faculty of ACU. If you prefer to stay in a hotel, contact us for a list of hotels in the area.

For more information log on to www.acu.edu/gstvisit or contact:
B. J. McMichael, Director, Graduate Student Services
Graduate School of Theology
Abilene Christian University
ACU Box 29430, Abilene, TX 79699
Office: 290 Biblical Studies Building
Toll Free: 888-242-5360
Phone: (325) 674-3735
FAX: (325) 674-6180

Prepare Certification Seminar

You are invited be a part of the 2005 Prepare Certification Seminar at Abilene Christian University. Ministers and church leaders will be certified to use the Prepare/Enrich inventory in pre-marital and marital counseling in this one-day session. Strategies on how to implement a pre-marital and marital counseling program in your church will also be presented.

Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005
Cost: $150 (includes breakfast and snacks)
Presenters: Richard Ellis and Robert Oglesby, Jr.
Contact the Center for Youth and Family Ministry at 325-674-3731 for more information.

Make checks payable to:
Center for Youth and Family
ACU Box 29435
Abilene, TX 79699

The registration deadline is February 15, 2005.

For more information or to register, see:
http://www.acu.edu/ministry/centers_institutes/youth_family/premarital.html

Licensed Professional Counselors: you can receive six CEUs by attending this all-day Prepare Certification Seminar at ACU!

A Survey from the Pruett Gerontology Center

The Pruett Gerontology Center, a division of the Department of Sociology, requests your participation in an on-line survey at http://www.foa.webuilder.us/surveym.asp. Confidentiality of individual results is assured.

A survey like this helps with research that will aid ministers working in churches as well as those preparing for the ministry. The data collected will be available on a CD or website that will aid ministry to older adults within the local congregation and communities.

The survey consists of two parts that total 45 questions and can be completed within 8 to 10 minutes. Section one is general demographic information. Section two is a 25 item, true/false type questionnaire.

2005 Summer Interns

Interns from the Department of Bible, Ministry and Missions

Consider giving an undergraduate ACU student the opportunity to be an intern at your church this summer. Interview times during Lectureship are February 22 and 23. If you would like to participate in our Field Education Program in summer 2005, please take the link below in order to register your available internship position. There, you will find instructions and more information about ACU internships. For questions, call the Field Education Office at 325-674-3731.

To register go to: http://www.acu.edu/ministry/centers_institutes/youth_family/internships.html. The deadline to register is February 7, 2005.

Interns from the Graduate School of Theology

Your congregation has an opportunity to provide a place for life-changing "education" by inviting one or more students from Abilene Christian University's Graduate School of Theology to serve as a ministry intern. The Graduate School of Theology desires to work cooperatively with local congregations to educate men and women for ministry throughout the world. Some of the most important learning moments in a person's education occur when the student is learning while serving.

You are invited to a brown bag luncheon and supervisory training session on February 22, 2005. We will meet on Tuesday during Lectureship in the Missions Strategy Room, 12:00-1:30. Our agenda for the program is: