Summer 2000

In This Issue...

• Changing of the Guard
• Graduation a Watershed Event
• ECUA Adopts New Administrative Structure
• 2000 Graduates
• New Students

Changing of the Guard

It is the push needed for the new century. The momentum transferred from one generation that makes it possible for the next to excel.

Dr. Milton O. Peacock, president of Evangel Christian University of America, retires after over twenty years of service to the university. Dr. Timothy G. Nance, academic dean, will take over at the helm at Evangel.

For many years Dr. Peacock has lent his esteemed name and credentials to the university. Peacock founded the School of Pharmacology at Northeast Louisiana University (now University of Louisiana Monroe) many years ago. His interest was drawn to naturopathic medicine in subsequent years. He founded the Peacock Institute after becoming the first Doctor of Naturopathic (ND) recognized by the state of Louisiana. Through his institute Dr. Peacock comforted many that had been given up by traditional allopathic medicine.

Dr. Peacock was a tireless worker in promoting ECUA. Writing reams of letters to students and graduates, he greatly encouraged all he directed his pen at. Incoming president, Dr. Nance, benefited from his encouragement to write what the Lord has given. Nance now is a Christian writer for magazines and is writing a book.

“Years ago Dr. Peacock had me sit down in his office. He challenged me to write. ‘Write whatever comes to mind. Write what the Lord lays on your heart.’” Nance said.

An inspiration to all, Dr. Peacock was not one to be set back by adversity. A paralysis relegated him to a pair of crutches. Still his passion for people and Evangel spurred him on all these years. A favorite of each year’s graduation exercises, Dr. Peacock gave his famous charge to the graduates. Each year he was thrilled at the new crop of graduates taking there place at the plow of the Kingdom of God.

Dr. Nance held the academic dean post at ECUA for the past five years. In that time he restructured the curriculum, developing new programs and pioneering new university policies. Nance has also put ECUA on the Internet.

Nance wants his legacy to be that he developed a new distinctiveness for ECUA for the new century. Evangel has always been distinct in its cutting edge approach to nontraditional education. The universities motto has always been “preparing the students of the 21st century today.” Well, we’re here now. And while that vision was good for then, we cannot continue living in yesterday's vision.

A new distinctiveness is needed, something to put Evangel heads and shoulders above the rest. And while being distinctive, remaining as dedicated and passionate to our students. We are here for the student. ECUA might market itself well and still fail bitterly if we don’t follow our divine mandate: entrust the mysteries of God to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2).

We would have not been able to stand as we do today if it weren’t for the sacrifices of those going before us. ECUA will always be indebted to men like Dr. Peacock who dared to dream and then gave themselves to that dream.

Graduation a Watershed Event

Dr. Gary Barkman gave a thrilling commencement address this past June at the graduating ceremonies. In his motivational delivery he took a moment to be vulnerable. He didn't confess about any skeletons in his closest. He didn't elaborate on any sown wild oats nor shed light on his misspent youth. No, but Dr. Barkman did let us in on one area of his life we weren't aware of–he is a ‘trekkie.’

Those aberrant of our society now stretching over four generations that fancy the tales of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Whether it be the going where no man [one] has gone before, screaming through the Crab Nebula at warp nine, or just the smell of Klingon on a warm summer’s day on Alpha Ceti Prime, those languished of souls that have yet to forget to dream–I know for I am one–that still set their VCRs to tape Star Trek reruns in the middle of the night, these people are serious dreamers.

Barkman is such a dreamer. He Spock– rather he spoke about one of his favorite trekkie vignettes.

On every episode the command is given to lay in the course and set the speed for the next adventure. Once done, everyone waits for the word that initiates the step off point for the next ponderous thing to happen. The next things to be explored, the next great discovery, the next inexplicable obstacle that will take them within an inch of their mortality delivering them to greater heights, all this hinges on one word. Engage!

Engage! Step off into the unknown. Engage! Pursue God-given vision. Engage! Relying only on faith as we embrace the new things of God.

There is something in that emotion that shatters the fears and inhibitions that hold us back from all God has for us. The engaging of the grace mechanism allows us to shed the skin of yesterday allow for the new growth necessary for tomorrow.

How indicative of where ECUA is today. At the vantage point of a new century and millennium, Evangel stands ready to shed its old skin, stands ready to engage on a bold new course.

But to plot a new course requires knowledge of where one has been. A course is plotted as a line on a chart. A line is defined as two points: both starting and ending. The ending point is usually not ending at all but a current point, because the journey is not at an end.

But the starting point is crucial. You don’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been.

So in plotting ECUA’s course we must recognize where we’ve been.

Dr. Gary Bartman’s address plotted where we’re going, engaging into the unknown. Dr. Peacock’s address plotted where we have been.

A long time tradition at ECUA commencements is the charge to the graduates given by the President of Evangel Christian University of America, Dr. Milton O. Peacock. Each year Dr. Peacock would move us as this humble man would speak. Those that knew him and what he has done for Evangel were moved even more.

But none were moved then as much as now in retrospect. For at the time we did not know that that would be Dr. Peacock’s last charge to the graduates. Because no one knew that he would retire in August.

Though saddened by the change, we are fuller in our expectations of the future because we do know where we have come. Benefiting from those that go before, we are at a place now where we can engage the future and all that God has for ECUA.

Looking back, graduation was a time when the pilot of our ship, our savior, uttered the command: Engage!

ECUA Adopts New Administrative Structure

As his first action as president Nance submitted a plan to simplify the organizational plan of the university.

The plan called for the removal of various dean positions including the one of academic dean he just vacated. In lieu of this, the administrative responsibilities will be consolidated into two positions, president and dean.

The board unanimously adopted the plan. As a result, Dr. Dee Nance, D.D. was promoted to the position of dean of ECUA.

Dee has been with the university for eight years, serving as Dean of Admissions for the six years. She will oversee all the administration of the university.

The administration will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the university and is accountable to the board of ECUA.

Congratulations Class of 2000 Graduates!

• Patrick Adeniyi, Nigeria, Th.B.
• Paul Agbam, Nigeria, Th.B.
• Wesley Alofi, Fiji, Th.B.
• Joshua Anyanwu, Nigeria, Th.B.
• Okokon Ating, Nigeria, Th.B.
• Seruki Baleibua, Fiji, Th.B.
• David Bikpo, Nigeria, Th.B.
• W. Glen Byron, Jr., AL, DPS
• Chris O. Chimezie, Israel, DRP
• Sherral Clark, AR, B.C.C.
• Wesly Corbin, TX, Th.M.
• L.B. Davids, Nigeria, B.C.E.
• Steven Davis, MD, Ph.D.
• Senyanu K. Dei, Ghana, DRP
• Sunday Edoghamhen, Nigeria, B.A.
• Edward Ekwenchi, Nigeria, DRP
• Ben Fias, Nigeria, M.A.
• William Griffith, Jr., OH, D.C.C.
• Joseph Haleegoah, Ghana, Th.B.
• Lindley J. Ham, TX, M.C.C.
• Kwang Il Han, Korea, Ph.D.
• Hye Young Hwang, Korea, B.A.
• Sunday Izuagie, Nigeria, M.A.
• Donny Jarrett, AL, DPS
• Byung Ho Jeon, Korea, Ph.D.
• Soon Ja Kim, Korea, Ph.D.
• Savoil King, AR, Th.M.
• Ayuba Kumba, Nigeria, B.A.
• Young Tae Kwon, Korea, Ph.D.
• Joseph W. Lee, CO, Th.M.
• Samuel Lee, CA, B.A.
• Sung Tae Lee, Korea, Ph.D.
• Gesuala Jacob Luiya, Fiji, Th.B.
• W. Louis McDowell, NJ, Hon.D.D.
• Timothy Morgan, AR, M.C.C.
• Michael Musa, Nigeria, M.A.
• Samuel Ndango, Nigeria, M.A.
• Patrick Ogar, Nigeria, B.A.
• Francis Okponaviobo, Nigeria, M.A.
• Miriam Okponaviobo, Nigeria, B.C.E.
• Robert Onoja, Nigeria, Th.B.
• John Pande, KY, DRP
• Sang Jun Park, Korea, Ph.D.
• Clark Peterson, Hon.D.Let.
• George E. Powell, CA, Th.M.
• Josefa V. Qaqa, Fiji, Th.B.
• Zi Soo Ryu, Korea, Th.D.
• Peter Sarki, Nigeria, M.A.
• Won Yong Shim, Korea, Ph.D.
• Eun Woo Shin, Korea, Hon.D.Litt.
• Angela Silineo, NJ, Th.D.
• Kulima Tafea, Fiji, Th.B.
• Erasmus Uruawuike, Nigeria, Th.B.
• Habib Usman, Nigeria, Th.B.
• Etilati Vaenuku, Fiji, Th.B.
• Aisea Volavola, Fiji, Th.B.
• Janet Warrington, FL, Hon.D.Litt.
• Ray Winston, CA, DRP
• Elizabeth Wood, LA, M.C.C.
• Celina L. Woods, VI, DPS
• Vitalis Yahemba, Nigeria, Th.B.

Welcome New Students

• David Abioye, Nigeria
• P. Elijah Anyomi, Ghana
• Ben Asumang, Ghana
• George Ata-Baah, Ghana
• Leston Blackburn, SAF
• James Cavanah, FL
• Keith Francis-Williams, CA
• William Griffith, Jr., OH
• Richard Hennessy, NJ
• Richard Judy, OH
• Calvin Lidmark, WY
• Bruce Pier, HI
• John Skinner, NY
• Paul Sorace, NJ

(as of 8/31/00)