Fall/Winter Transform 2012

A look At how your investment impActs simpson university And its students

ransformFall/Winter 2012t

I n the last Transform, I focused on our long-term motto, “Gateway to World

Service,” giving examples of how this passion for service continues to be carried out by our students, faculty, and staff in our local community and around the world. We have had approximately 1,600 students serve on cross-cultural mission teams to more than 60 countries in the past 18 years. Toreflectourmotto,theSimpsonstudent mission team program has been rebranded as Simpson WorldSERVE with a new wave of enthusiasm. There is a new logo, a new website, and a new tagline—“Be Discipled, Make Disciples.” Listed below is a description of WorldSERVE taken from the website simpsonu.edu/missions:

“Every fall, we invite students to join a WorldSERVE team which takes them on a discipleship journey including a short-term missions project in the spring or summer. The main objective for all students participating on a team is that they would BE DISCIPLED (through training, mentoring, and team preparation) in order to MAKE DISCIPLES (by partnering with God to serve alongside long-term workers in

Dear Friend,

transformPresident:

Dr. Larry J. McKinneyVice President for Advancement:

Gordon FlinnEditor & Layout: Candace Brown Dyar

Staff Writer: Elise Wilson ‘08

Photographer: Tessa Ratner

The Transform is a newsletter designed to inform friends of Simpson University

about how their gifts are making a difference.

For more information about giving to Simpson University, call 1-800-598-2239 or visit

simpsonu.edu/giving.

On the Cover: Senior Sarah Parodi uses her hands to mark a

heart-shaped shadow around the Middle East on a map in her room. See story p. 4.

Photo by Tessa Ratner.

2 TRANSFORM Fall/Winter 2012

IN THIS ISSUE

Simpson WorldSERVE 2012

4 Student Focus

6 Meet the Faculty

8 Trustee Profile

10 Student Service

11 Giving Focus

Simpson University Mission Statement:

As a Christ-centered learning community, Simpson University

develops students in mind, faith, and character to influence the world through

leadership, scholarship, and service.

Dr. Larry J. McKinney

President

www.simpsonu.edu / 1-888-9-SIMPSON 3

reaching the nations). We believe that short-term mission projects have the greatest impact when they are a catalyst for both the long-term strategy on the fieldandthelong-termgrowthinthestudent.Inotherwords,it’sreallynotaboutthe‘trip.’It’saboutthediscipleshipjourney.It’saboutjoiningGodinHis work around the world, and asking how you can be part of HIS mission for the rest of your life…no matter where you are.”

I am pleased to report that 12 student-led teams went out over spring or summerbreakthisyear:atotalof87students,fivefacultyandstaff,andsixcommunity leaders. Listed below are the 2012 WorldSERVE locations, where studentsservedinorphanages,churches,andchildren’sministries,withC&MA pastors and other international workers.

SPRING BREAK TEAMS (March 23-30): Los Angeles, Chicago and PeruSUMMER TEAMS: Mexico, France, Thailand, Gabon, El Salvador, Romania, Germany, Asia, and Spain

This particular edition of Transformhasadefiniteworldserviceflavor.Itfeatures a student who did a summer internship in a cross-cultural setting; anditlooksatthelifeofDr.DavidStrong(facultyprofile),chairofourTheology and Ministry Division and professor of intercultural studies, who servesasachampionforworldmissions.ItalsoincludesaprofileoftrusteeJo Anne Cripe and talks about a generous couple who started a fund to help Simpsonstudentsgoingintomissionspayofftheirdebts.Andyou’lllearnabout another student deeply involved in ministry at a local church.

Thank you for your continued support of Simpson University. Because of your giving and your prayers, we continue to be a Gateway to World Service.

Simpson WorldSERVE 2012Read the president’s blog at blogs.simpsonu.edu/president.


STUDENT FOCUSSarah Parodi, senior Cross-Cultural Studies major

“My dream is to see transformation in the Middle East, and I believe that it is the Lord who has placed this desire on my heart,” she said. “I am aiming toward moving there.”

Sarah started attending Simpson in fall 2008 and hopes to graduate in December. She is majoring in cross-cultural studies, with an emphasis in ministry, and studying for a minor in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).

“I came to Simpson with the intention of learning within an environment that would challenge me and equip me to serve the Lord overseas,” she said. “Simpson was exactly what I wanted in a school.” SimpsonprofessorsDavidandCindiStronghavebeenveryinfluentialin

Sarah’sgrowth.Sheappreciatedthattheycombinedclassmaterialwithreal-life application, since they served as missionaries before coming to Simpson. Sarah especially enjoyed taking classes on Islam from Dr. Cindi Strong.

“My desire is to one day live in the Middle East and see transformation there, and I learned so much from those classes, especially having a professor who was so passionate about what she was teaching,” she said.

This summer, Sarah did an internship, a requirement for all cross-cultural studies majors, traveling to Italy and Spain with Operation Mobilization. She received training in Rome before going to Algeciras, Spain, to teach English to Moroccan children.

“My favorite part of my internship was just seeing the Lord work both in my life and those around me,” she said. “God worked a lot in my heart, renewingmypassionforhimandmyvisionandpurpose.DuringourKids’English Club, I was able to see the Lord working in the lives of the children

Senior Sarah Parodi has spent

the majority of her life overseas, living in Morocco, Peru, Mexico, and England, where her parents served as missionaries. She hopes to follow in their footsteps one day.

we were teaching and ministering to and feel his love for them. It was truly amazing.”SarahhadsomefinancialstrugglesincomingtoSimpson.Shesaidshewas

blessed to be able to live at Gatehouse, a nearby home for missionary kids, for two years. Being at Gatehouse also helped her adjust to living in the States.

“Living at Gatehouse provided me with the opportunity to form friendships with other students who grew up all over the world, with different cultural and church backgrounds than my own,” she said. “Being from different backgrounds, we were able to challenge one another and learn from each other.” AnotherwaySarahreceivedfinancialhelpwasthroughSimpson

scholarships, including the A.B. Simpson Scholarship, the MK Grant, and the David and Cynthia Strong Family Scholarship. She is very grateful for donors.

“It means so much to know that people see my life and future as something toinvestin,”shesaid.“ItalsohelpssomuchfinanciallyasIpreparetoeventuallygotothemissionfieldoverseas.”

Thank you for donating money for student scholarships, so young people like Sarah can pursue their dream of serving God overseas.

— By Elise Wilson ‘08 / Photo by Tessa Ratner


Sarah, left, with members of her summer team and the Kids’ English Club.Photo courtesy of Sarah Parodi

Division of Theology and MinistrySarah is one of about 130 students enrolled in the Division of Theology and Ministry, which includes the following programs:

MAJORS

Bible and Theology

Cross-Cultural Studies

Discipleship & Education Ministries

General Ministries

Pastoral Studies

World Missions

Youth Missions

Learn more about the division and its faculty at simpsonu.edu/theology.

MINORS

Bible and Theology

Cross-Cultural Studies

Discipleship & Education Ministries

Pastoral Studies

Transformational Community Development

World Missions

Youth Missions


MEET THE FACULTYDr. David Strong, chairDivision of Theology and Ministry

One thing is clear about Frances P. Owen Distinguished Professor of Missiology David Strong: he loves his students. “Simpson without

students is like tacos without hot sauce,” he said. “I really do care about my students. I want them to succeed and excel more than they do.”DifficultcircumstancesbroughtDr.Strongandhiswife,Cindi,toSimpson.

In March 1996, Cindi was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The Strongs left their post as professors at the Alliance Bible Seminary in Manila, Philippines, so Cindi could receive treatment in Redding. WhileCindiwasundergoingchemotherapy,theStrongslivedinSimpson’s

married-student housing. Simpson staff and faculty furnished the apartment with items from their own homes. In August 1997, Dr. Strong was offered a teaching position at Simpson so Cindi could continue recovering in the States.“WereachedacrisispointwithCindi’shealth,”hesaid.“TheSimpson

community provided for us in our time of need. Simpson is a special place with special people.”

Prior to coming to Simpson, Dr. Strong served in the Navy as a supply officeronanuclearsubmarine.WhilestationedinPearlHarbor,Hawaii,heand Cindi felt called to mission work. They served as missionaries in Korea and the Philippines for 15 years. Dr.StrongreceivedhisB.A.inmathematicsfromUCLA(1971),hismaster’s

in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary (1978), and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. (1990).

In 1998, Dr. Strong became chair of the Division of Theology and Ministry at Simpson. Since that time, the division has undergone several curriculum changes, including the addition of specializations in both the Bible and Theology and cross-cultural studies majors, and the creation of a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) minor.

“More and more of the upcoming generation are interested in helping people,”hesaid.“We’retryingtopreparestudentsforthewaythechurchand


Frances P. Owen Distinguished ProfessorshipThe Frances P. Owen Distinguished Professorship was established in 1993 by Mrs.

Fran Owen. She created the fund to help professors in their work and reward them for

exceptional service to Simpson. Professors who hold the title receive an annual cash

reward they can use to enhance their work, including purchasing books or computers

or attending conferences.

Dr. Glenn Schaefer, Frances P. Owen Distinguished Professor of Old Testament

Emeritus, used his funds to purchase artifacts that depict Bible life and cases to

display them in the LaBaume-Rudat building on campus. He also upgraded his

computer. ”The money has been a ‘God-send,’” he said.

Other recipients of this honor include Dr. Len Wallmark, Frances P. Owen

Distinguished Professor of New Testament Emeritus; Dr. David Strong, Frances P.

Owen Distinguished Professor of Missiology; and Dr. Craig Slane, Frances P. Owen

Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology.

missions have changed.”Another change is the hiring of professors who strengthen the faculty and

arespecialistsintheirfieldofstudy.In2011,Dr.StephenBaileywasbroughton to help improve the transformational community development cross-culturalstudiesemphasis,andDarrenGordonsolidifiedtheTESOLminorfaculty.

“Our faculty is a group of scholar-practitioners,” said Dr. Strong. “They have strong educational backgrounds but also have extensive ministry experience.”

Dr. Strong realizes that donors are important in the lives of students—so important that he and Cindi created the David and Cynthia Strong Family Scholarship. The scholarship is usually awarded to a returning junior or senior cross-cultural studies or world missions major, who has a minimum GPA of 3.5. Students who are committed to Muslim ministry are given additional preference.

“We started this scholarship because of the need for scholarships for ministry students,” he said. “Most mission agencies will not send people with debt,becausemissionariesandothersinministrydon’tearnenoughtopayoff debt. If the churches expect students to go into ministry, they need to help them get there.”

We are so grateful for the commitment of professors like Dr. Strong and his wife, Cindi, who retired in 2011. Thank you for your support of and prayers for our faculty.

— By Elise Wilson ‘08 / Photo by Tessa Ratner


TRUSTEE PROFILEJo Anne CripeChico, Calif.

Jo Anne Cripe has spent her career working with college students, children and families, and organizations serving community needs. A biblical

studiesandEnglishmajorincollege,sheearnedamaster’sincounselingfrom James Madison University and a doctorate in human development and education from Boston University. In the 1990s, she was an associate professorinwhatwasthenSimpson’sEducationDepartment.Sheisafull-time instructor of student success/life management at Butte College.

Describe the journey that led to your involvement with Simpson University’s board of trustees. When I served as a full-time faculty member at Simpson, I came to love this university, its students, faculty and staff. My own undergraduate experience was at a small, Christian liberal arts college (Gordon College), where I developed a lifelong appreciation for the value of Christian higher education. I have been teaching at Butte Community College since 2000 and recently served as president of the faculty Senate, a role in which I reported often to the board of trustees. I began to be intrigued by the idea of serving God and “the academy” as a trustee. When Dr. McKinney asked me to consider serving Simpson University as a trustee, it felt like the pieces just fell into place. I am moved by the thought that God has brought so many elements of my own journey together for this time and position.

What is your personal philosophy, vision or motto? It is challenging to select just one, but here is a favorite: “Just say YES!” Years ago, I learned that by saying “yes” to opportunities to grow, learn, serve,andlove,Iwassurprisedbymyability(byGod’sgraceandwithHis

“with thoughtful, prAyerful, strAtegic plAnning...we cAn become A university known worldwide for its AcAdemic excellence, pAssion for christ, And service to the globAl community.” — dr. Jo Anne cripe

Trustee values Christian higher education


Meet all of our trustees online

at simpsonu.edu/trustees.

strength)toaccomplishsignificantthings.Itistemptingtodownplayourpossibilities, whether out of insecurity, desire to be “humble,” or fear of committing to a big undertaking. But when I have taken a deep breath and said,“Yes,I’lldoit,”Ihavefoundthatamazingthingscanhappen—and that I am changed in the process.

What would you like to see for Simpson University and its students? I would love to see Simpson live into its potential as a truly excellent Christian university. We have a superb faculty, dedicated staff, and visionary programs. With thoughtful, prayerful, strategic planning and follow-through, we can become a university known worldwide for its academic excellence, passion for Christ, and service to the global community.

What do you see at Simpson that encourages you? I really enjoyed attending graduation this year and getting a feel for the “who” of Simpson. It bought me back to my own Christian college days, reminding me of what is so special about this unique slice of academia. The bonds forged in the residence halls, in classroom dialogue, and in shared work and fun are lifelong. Getting a feel for the on-campus student population was a real joy and reminded me of why supporting and empowering colleges like Simpson is so important.

Why do you invest your time and resources in Simpson University?I believe in Christian higher education. When I arrived at Gordon

College as an undergraduate, I was just beginning to learn the deep truths of my new Christian faith. It was in the rich context of Christian higher education that I grew into my core identity: a woman who seeks to love God with all her heart, mind, soul and strength. I want to be part of making that reality available for future Simpson University students.

How would you encourage those who invest in Simpson financially and prayerfully? When I think of how grateful I am for my own Christian college undergraduate education, I am reminded that it was due to the generous supportofsomanydonorsoversomanyyearsthatIwasabletobenefitfrom that experience. My husband and I are putting our own sons through college right now, but that does not stop us from giving to Simpson. We feel like, through our giving, we are a part of the transformational change that happens through the unique blend of academic, spiritual and personal development offered at Simpson.

Jo Anne and her husband, Jeff, live on a 90-acre walnut orchard with their two young adult sons. Jo Anne and Jeff are active at Bidwell Presbyterian Chruch—each week they host a Bible study for men and women in their 20s. Jo Anne also is involved in women’s ministries and in mission to communities in Honduras and Haiti. “These kinds of experiences make our lives richer, and I am grateful for the call to reach out with God’s love to these beautiful people and places,” she said.


STUDENT SERVICEKyle Power, seniorDirector, The Well

T wenty-one-year-old Simpson University senior Kyle Power already has acareer,andhe’snotoutofcollegeyet.Kyleservesasthedirectorfor

NeighborhoodChurchofRedding’syoungadultservice,TheWell,apositionhe’sheldforthelastsevenmonths.“Thejobcametome,”hesaid.“Ididn’tpursueit.”Kyle was asked to apply for the job after he preached at The Well one Sunday

for a class assignment. After a three-month interview process, he was offered the job. His responsibilities include meeting with people, coordinating small groups, events, missions, and outreach, preaching at the Sunday night service, andbeingpartofthechurch’sdirectorteam.Hesaidheenjoysthepeopleheworks with, the flexibility of his schedule, and that his passion for preaching is getting fulfilled.

Kyle is majoring in General Ministries and minoring in Bible and Theology. He hopes to graduate in April 2013. After graduation, he plans to work fulltime at The Well. He desires to one day serve overseas.

“I am such a different person than I was three years ago,” he said. “I have learned and grown so much.”

When deciding where to go to college, Kyle had a choice between Simpson and Warner Pacific College in Portland, Ore. If he had gone to school in Oregon, it would have been less expensive and closer to his family and friends.“Ididn’twanttogotoaplacethatwascomfortable,includingbeing

comfortable financially,” he said. “I wanted to go to a place that would cultivate my growth most.”

In addition to some loans and government aid, Kyle has been able to afford Simpson with the help of the A.B. Simpson Scholarship and a Christian and Missionary Alliance Scholarship. He is grateful for those who support Simpson.“Donorsmakeschoollessexpensive,”hesaid.“EverylittlebitI’vebeen

given is a blessing and helps.”Kyle has been very active in the campus community. During his freshman

andsophomoreyears,heplayedonthemen’sbasketballteam.Heplayedonthemen’ssoccerteamasajunior.Hehasalsobeenaprayerleaderanda

Cont. on p. 12

— By Elise Wilson ‘08 / Photos by Paul Wilson


GIVING FOCUSTribute scholarshipssimpsonu.edu/giving

Former Simpson University board member Rod Samuelson and his wife, Dianna (pictured above), created the Samuelson Mission Fund to help

topayoffstudents’loandebtsotheyareabletoserveonthemissionfield.The fund began at Puget Sound Christian College in Washington. When the school closed in 2007, the Samuelsons requested the balance be transferred to Simpson.

The Samuelsons got the idea for the fund when they were traveling from Arizona to their home in Washington.

“We discussed the cost of education and how it was impacting the number ofmissionariesgoingtoforeignfields,becausethedaycollegeendedtheirstudent loans became due,” said Rod. “Consequently many students had tofindjobstostartpayingbacktheirloans.Ourdiscussionturnedinto‘brainstorming’ideasastohowwemightdoourpartinalleviatingpartofthe problem.”Simpson’sdirectorofUniversityRelationsworkswiththeSamuelsonsto

create an application for alumni to apply for this “debt reduction” award. Graduates who are serving in international ministry through a recognized evangelical mission organization are given preference.

“The Alliance has always been known for its support of missionaries,” said Rod. “God planted the idea regarding an issue that needed to be addressed at a particular time, so we thought perhaps if we started the fund others could and would join in the effort to help solve this problem.”

Past recipients include Elizabeth Gross and Leah (Rush) Bakers (2009), Aaron Steinert (2010), and Jackson Cha (2011).

Learn more about tribute scholarships and other ways to give at simpsonu.edu/giving.

Fund helps alumni missionaries

Photo courtesy of the Samuelsons

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Fall/Winter Transform 2012

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