Winter 2001

ECUA Confers Degrees in Fall Graduation Ceremony

Many come to ECUA, but sometimes Evangel comes to you. The president and dean of Evangel Christian University of America traveled to the little town of Jonesboro in the far Northeast corner of Arkansas. The occasion was to confer four degrees in a special fall graduation ceremony.

Jonesboro Freewill Baptist Church hosted the event on September 24th, 2000, following their regular Sunday morning worship service. One of the graduates, Pastor Tim Morgan, graciously lent his pulpit to President Nance as he addressed the graduates, their families and friends and congregation.

Dr. Nance charged the graduates to be true to the vision that God has given them. Their receiving degrees affirmed God’s purpose and equipping in their lives, but it was merely a signpost along the way of His great plan for all of our lives. A commitment to integrity and a passion to impact lives with His freeing Gospel will aid them in contributing to the realization of the great commission.

Finally, Dr. Nance exhorted the graduates to give back what was given to them. Nobody gets to the pinnacle of their academic success without being carried on the backs of someone. Whether it was an encouraging word or some type of financial assistance, a good professor who showed interest or some person that stirred up their God-given potential, no one gets to the end of the race alone. Remember the numerous cadre of support by honoring them. We can’t always give back to them, but we can give to others in their name. Find young men and women in whom God has placed His seed of potential. Water that planting with your time and consideration. Give as it has been given unto you.

Following the charge, Dr. Nance performed the most joyfull task of anyone involved in education, the presenting of degrees to the candidates. The four graduates were:

• Charles Coleman, DMin
• Savoil King, DMin
• Dorothy King, PhD/Bib.Coun
• Tim Morgan, MCC

The packed sanctuary of the Freewill Baptist Church stood in applause, honoring the graduates. The event was covered by the news media. Portions were video taped for airing on the local television newscast.

Following the ceremony, the congregation treated us to a fine meal. We left with the warmth gained by the meeting of several new friends.

ECUA Can Come to You Too

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 of 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.

In the Light of Wonder

The turkey is eaten, the gifts unwrapped, the malls are empty and the credit card’s maxed. Still we wish it could go on a bit longer. Come on now-you can admit it.

You may say otherwise, but there is something about this time of year that keeps us coming back for more. Perhaps it is the music. It could be the food. Many like it when the family gets together. And there is nothing quite like that certain something in a child’s eyes while out looking at Christmas lights.

Christmas is for the kid’s, you know. That is what’s often said. And there is no denying that the impact and joy the season brings to the little ones rubs off on us grownups a bit as well. It helps bring all the trials of the year into focus-seeing things through a child’s eyes. Witnessing little ones that are so impressionable reminds us that it is a good thing to be moved. To have something that draws us into wonderment, something that takes our breath away, adds some intangible ingredient into our lives. Without that certain something, life becomes flat like an old soda-there’s no more fizz.

We see a child enraptured by something under a tree, or hear her scream with glee while out caroling. We observe in the distance with moist eyes, somehow removed wishing it were ourselves that was screaming. Our higher reasoning dictates to us the doctrine of the grownup: Only children act like that. You’re respectable now. You have responsibilities. Act your age.

But we yearn to run into the room with all the presents. The Christmas tree to tower above telling us that there are things bigger than us. We don’t have to understand everything. We don’t have to make things work and run right. We don’t have to be respectable and toppling over with crushing responsibilities.

"But that's just not the case," we condition ourselves. "That was a long time ago. And, besides, it really wasn’t all that great anyway. It wasn't, wasn't it?" our confidence replaced by doubts and melancholy.

So with uncertain conviction we defer our wonderment to our kids, and thus live what we greatly desire vicariously through them. We put up the tree the way we like it. The way it should be. The way it was when we were kids. When caroling we make them sing, "O Tannebaum" instead of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” We wouldn’t be allowed to sing that dreadful song by our parents. Neither should our kids. It’s not right. It's not the way we did it.

Example after example points out the truth: We’re convinced that Christmas is for the kids and putting ourselves under such restrictions prevents us from enjoying the season in a childlike way the way we desperately desire, with wonderment and excitement. So we live Christmas through our children. All because we refuse to be amazed; we refuse to let go.

We live in such a control-obsessive culture. We are control freaks. We refuse to let things move us. We deny that things are bigger than us. We do not allow anything to take our breaths away. To do so would be to let go.

But we put up with the craziness of secular Christmas activities (the maddening shopping, the busting of budgets, the ballooning of credit card debt) because won’t be childlike. We then have to live the wonderment through our kids.

What was it like that first Christmas those thousands of years ago? The Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Was there wonderment in His eyes?

No, I think rather in the King of king’s eyes were purpose. And those majestic eyes were perceiving foreign kings and local shepherds. Those eyes perceived two parents without much of a clue, still pondering what was in their hearts.

There were mouths agape, wide eyes transfixed and a respectful silence. In a word, wonderment-there was a profound awe. That something so wonderful and so longed for had come to earth in such a small and unassuming way, there was no denying that they were witnessing something far bigger than themselves.

What a switch. That first Christmas the grownups were the ones acting like kids.

Would it be that it could happen that way today, that Christmas would not be about impressing and controlling and living life second hand. But that Christmas would be simple and unassuming and full of wonderment.

A Friend Heads West

Our dear friend and colleague in the Faith, Jerry Hatfield, has chosen to leave our little ECUA family. Dr. Hatfield was Evangel’s adjunct professor of Semitic languages.

Jerry came to us from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He earned a degree in Semitic languages from Fuller.

In the years we were blessed to work with Jerry, we were touched by his passion for the land of God, Israel, and the people, customs and language of the original chosen people of God. To spend time with this gracious man is to know the need to pack a lunch when anticipating entering into a conversation with him regarding Israel. He spent some time there years ago, which intensely steeped his passion.

That passion was contagious, infecting his students with his zeal for the things of God. People have been taken aback witnessing this mild-mannered man transform with effervescent emotion like a switched on light bulb-rather more liken to an explosion, the truth be told. This man exuded the transforming zeal of God.

We at Evangel will miss him like a warm fire on a cold night. But we have confidence that his love for God will be warming the hearts of others out west. Dr. Hatfield is taking on the challenge building an education program in West Texas.

Pray for Jerry, as will we, as he tackles this opportunity. Freely he gave to us at Evangel. That is just who he is. We know that wherever he goes, he will be giving his all for the call of Christ.

Welcome New Students

• Kizhakkevila Daniel, India
• Senjanu Dei, Ghana
• Leveni Hansen, Fiji Is.
• James Jones, MS
• Fakeau Joseph, Fiji Is.
• Sidweshwar Kumar, Fiji Is.
• Pamela Laub, NV
• Jimmy Metuakore, Fiji Is.
• Niukino Pange, Fiji Is.
• Anthony Rhaney, VI
• Joel Santos, Philippines

(as of 12/31/00)