Fall 2001

Graduation More Than Celebration —A Challenge

Graduation ceremonies are usually festive. Such was the case at this year's ECUA commencement exercises. They are a time to celebrate, to congratulate, and to cheer. Yet they are far more than that.

Each year we recognize the ones who have paid the price to earn their degrees. Through all the sacrifices they stuck with their goals and achieved their dreams. All they want to do is receive their diploma and get on with life. But first they have to sit through the time-honored tradition of receiving the charge to the graduates.

Politely they sit all in rank and file, festooned in their purple robes with various arraignments of tassels and hoods. With Herculean patience they sit while one who has gone before them speaks about what they have to look forward to. This onetime graduate challenges those whose day has come to not squander what they have worked so hard to achieve. They are encouraged to reach for every drop of what is out there before them and settle for nothing less.

Commencement Speaker Dr. Andy Starks

This year the charge was given by Dr. Andy Starks. With great alacrity he wove admonition amongst threads of hilarity, wit and down home humor. As the graduates listened to the challenge, the audience as well as the administration and faculty sitting on stage found themselves moved to response as well. The robed graduates were not the only ones challenged that day.

Dr. Starks reminded us all that time is short. We've been allotted only so much time and the job set before us, the opportunity given us, the talents entrusted to us will all expire with our Savior's coming. Reach out, seize the opportunity, with a sense of urgency be about the Father's priorities. For time is short and the task is great.

Between uproars of laughter and the silence of conviction Dr. Starks challenged all that day. This lended us the opportunity to grasp a great truth. When achievement is witnessed in others, let it be a reminder to us all that we should ever be encouraged to press on. We should ever be in a mode of achievement, of betterment. Not of ourselves for our own sakes, but as Paul said it, "Pressing on to the mark of the higher calling."

The graduates received one last instruction: now is no time to coast. We all were challenged in recognizing their achievement. Be inspired by their success. Let it motivate you to succeed. So that we too can all press on ever forward to the great and wonderful things that eye has not seen nor ear has heard, all these things that the Lord has for us. Be challenged.

Fall Graduation Ceremony

One of ECUA's greatest strengths is being able to offer educational opportunities to busy people currently in ministry. These men and women, having their hands to the plow, cannot and should not remove their hand to travel miles away for an education. It is always a great joy to see such dedicated individuals achieve their goals in receiving their diplomas.

For many, however, the same dedication to ministry that kept them out of the traditional classroom, keeps them from traveling to Monroe, Louisiana to walk the platform to receive their diplomas.

This happened this past August in Adrian, Michigan. Pastor Jerry Lacey shepherds a vibrant group of believers in this "salt of the earth" mid-western town between Toledo, Ohio and Detroit Michigan. Freedom Christian Fellowship has benefited to Pastor Lacey's hand to the plow for nearly twenty years. Such commitment to the Lord's flock made it difficult for Pastor Jerry to make it to the Spring Commencement. Evangel was honored to be able to travel to Michigan to present Pastor Lacey's degree to him.

Drs. Jerry Lacey, Tim Nance and Bill Hughes

On August 4th in front of a packed congregation Dr. Jerry Lacey's degree was conferred upon him. God's people erupted in praise to the Father and expressions of joy for their pastor's achievement.

Dr Bill Hughes, president of World Ministry Fellowship, added anointing, authority and a sweet spirit to the ceremony in reading from the Scripture and praying for Dr. Lacey. Dr. Timothy G. Nance, president of ECUA had the honor of addressing the crowd and presenting the degree.

This ceremony was one of the most powerful off-site graduation exercises in recent memory. This was due in no small part to the zeal of Dr. Lacey, the love of his people, and the graciousness of God, whom they serve with all their hearts.

ECUA Can Come to You Too

If you are a recent graduate of ECUA or are planning to graduate in the near future and were/will be unable to attend the spring commencement in Monroe, consider availing yourself to Evangel coming to your congregation or home church. Contact the University office for details and availability. Evangel Christian University of America for 25 years has been the leader of nontraditional education. Not only have we been innovators of efficient distance education opportunities, we offer lagniappe, that little something extra to celebrate your educational achievements.

Officers of ECUA are available to come to you location to confer upon you your earned or honorary degree. We have traveled across the globe to perform graduation services.

Each year many travel to Louisiana to take part in our annual commencement exercises in June. Many too choose to have their own ceremony before their family and friends in their hometown.

Contact the ECUA office for details on holding a special graduation ceremony. Call 800-346-4014 or email admin@ecua.edu.

Meet the Faculty

From time to time we want to introduce our ECUA family to you. The Lord has lended Evangel a great wealth of academic talent loaded with caring hearts. This perfectly describes the faculty member we want to introduce this issue.

Karen Lanham is our newest addition to our counseling department. Karen was a self-proclaimed military brat. Growing up she moved with her family all over the United States and the world. She was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The ink was barely dry on her birth certificate, however, before moving on to her father's newest posting. One of the more interesting postings was in France. As a young girl, she remembers playing in old World War II bunkers, long since abandoned.

The last Air Force move was to Barksdale AFB right down the road in Shreveport (Bossier City), Louisiana, when Karen was in Junior High School. This was quite fortunate for us because a few years later after graduating from High School, Karen moved to Monroe to attend Northeast Louisiana University (now University of Louisiana at Monroe).

Karen graduated from ULM with a BA with an emphasis in Psychology and Sociology. As with many tenderhearted souls, Karen learned the truth penned by Paul that we are to "comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Corinthians 1:4). Karen's innate ability to empathize with others allows her to listen to hurting people while staying out of the way of the Great Comforter, the Holy Spirit's healing touch.

Karen felt compelled into the counseling ministry after receiving the Holy-Spirit-enabled caring of a good friend. Not long after, she surrendered to the call of counseling. She returned to ULM to earn a Master's degree in Education with emphasis in counseling and guidance. A few years later she returned once again to get her specialization component in community counseling.

For the last several years, Karen has been the staff counselor at Covenant Church in Monroe. She is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Karen has been easing into her new relationship at Evangel by consulting with the administration on counseling curricula issues. She now is writing curriculum for the counseling department. She is a trusted voice and friend to all of us at Evangel. She is a stellar asset to the department and the University. Welcome aboard, Karen!

Announcing ECUA's New e-Campus

• Meet other students from around the world
• Get help on assignments and papers
• Meet on-line with your professors
• Find assistance with your computer problems
• Attend on-line conferences and lectures
• Take on-line classes (future implementation)

The hub of the Evangel e-Campus is the ECUA e-Campus Center. The Center isa set of discussion boards (called forums) where pertinent information isposted. Find information about: assignments, school policies, degree programs and requirements, other students

An integral part of the e-Campus is the Prayer Center. We hope that students and faculty will check here often to post your prayer requests and praise reports here. Part of the faculty's burden for you is lifting up your name before the Father in prayer.

In the future special lectures will be held in the Auditorium. You can go to the auditorium several ways. The easiest is by clicking on the Auditorium link on the University home page (www.ecua.edu).

Even though something might not be currently scheduled when you drop by, come on in anyway. You never know who might be hanging around to give you live information and help on your assignments, thesis or ECUA life in general.

We hope you take advantage of the e-Campus offerings. As with every community, success or failure depends solely on the participation of the community members. If you ever have the need of assistance, post your questions, comments and issues at the help desk: Forum Help and Comments. Or you can email help@ecua.edu. Someone will promptly get back to you.

See you soon on the e-Campus!

Congratulations to the Class of 2001

• Charles D. Brannon (Oklahoma) D.C.E.
• Soon Young Choi (Korea) M.C.M.
• Charles R. Coleman (Arkansas) D.MIN.
• David Demas (South Africa) D.D.
• Leveni Hansen (Fiji Islands) TH.B.
• Yi Pyo Hong (Korea) N.D.
• Robert Jackson, Jr. (Georgia) TH.B.
• Aquilla Johnson, Sr. (New Jersey) D.D.
• Fakeau Joseph (Fiji Islands) TH.B.
• Dong Sung Kim (Korea) PH.D./B.C.
• Jung Gon Kim (Korea) PH.D./B.C.
• Soon Whan Kim (Korea) PH.D./C.P.
• Yeon Su Kim (Korea) N.D.
• Yeong Soo Kim (Korea) TH.D.
• Dorothy King (Arkansas) PH.D./B.C.
• Savoil King (Arkansas) D.MIN.
• Sidweshwar Kumar (Fiji Islands) TH.M.
• Pamela Sue Laub (Nevada) B.C.C.
• Chang Jae Lee (Korea) N.D.
• Kang Mi Lee (Korea) TH.B.
• Jimmy Metuakore (Fiji Islands) TH.B.
• Sun Yong Paek (Korea) D.C.M.
• Ki Dae Park (Korea) N.D.
• Yeon Hoon Park (Korea) D.C.M.
• Niukino Pange (Fiji Islands) TH.B.
• Kenneth L. Parnell, Sr. (Arkansas) TH.M.
• Michael J. Shanlian (Michigan) D.D.
• Clark Sherman (Montana) D.P.S.
• Mark A. Sledge (Louisiana) D.P.S.
• James Zensen II (Florida) D.C.C.

(as of 7/2/2001)

Welcome New Students

• Dorothy Barbour, MD
• Da Chung, Korea
• Kevin Cunningham, CO
• William Davis, MD
• Elizabeth Foy, LA
• Gregory Grove, CA
• Sang Soo Han, Korea
• John Hill, FL
• Man Sik Ji, Korea
• David Johnson, AR
• Kwang Sik Jung, Korea
• Soon Hwak Kim, Korea
• Luke Tamu, New Zealand
• Elizabeth Williams, NY
• Kelli Wolford, OR
• Marc Zando, Ivory Coast

(as of 10/31/2001)