Marilyn
Laszlo
a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators
Verseput
Receives
Faculty Excellence
Award
RENEW Refreshes Attendees
“Engaging Culture and Overcoming Barriers” was the theme of Bethel College and Seminary’s annual RENEW conference in spring 2000. The theme was designed to answer the question: “How do we communicate the gospel through the power of the Spirit in relevant and penetrating ways?”
Three internationally known speakers addressed the topic from their own experiences and perspectives. Mark Mittelberg, executive vice president of the Willow Creek Association and former director of evangelism at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Ill., spoke on "Understanding the Secular Landscape" and "Building a Contagious Church." Marilyn Laszlo (pictured), a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators for more than two decades, discussed "Mission Possible - Letting God Work through You" and "Christianity Confronts Culture." Renowned apologist, author, and speaker Ravi Zacharias addressed three topics: "Lessons from History: The Tale of Two Men"; "Whatever Happened to Worship?"; and "Flirting with the Truth." In addition to the three keynote speakers, RENEW offered workshops by Bethel College and Seminary faculty and other experts. John Leon Lewis, pastor of music and worship for the largest church in Charlotte, N.C., led conference attendees in singing praise to the Lord before each general session.
RENEW
is Bethel’s annual three-day pastors conference that promotes spiritual
renewal, teaching, and fellowship. RENEW 2001 will be held April 24-26,
2001. 
Students
Win
Preaching Award
Three Bethel Seminary students were recognized last spring for their preaching prowess as recipients of the Edwin J. Omark Scholarship for excellence in preaching. Drew Fernelius, M.Div. ’00, from Coon Rapids, Minn., was awarded first place for his sermon "What Type of Person Does God Use?" The second place award went to Christa Knudsen, M.Div. ’00, from Woodbury, Minn., for "A Rainbow from the Clouds." Ruth Conard, M.Div. ’00, from Maple Grove, Minn., received third place honors for her sermon, entitled "The Power of Blessing."
The
annual Omark Preaching Scholarships, granted by Dean Emeritus Edwin J.
Omark, encourage preaching proficiency and highlight the seminary’s
preaching ministry. Any middler or senior degree student may anonymously
submit an original sermon manuscript to qualify for the competition. A
faculty panel selects six finalists from the submitted manuscripts. The
six finalists are videotaped preaching their sermons, and a second faculty
panel selects the top three entries. Winning sermons are preached in chapel
in late spring.
Seminary
Honors
Alumnus of Year
A leader in the Twin Cities African-American community was honored as Bethel Seminary’s alumnus of the year in June. Alfred Babington Johnson was recognized at the annual Bethel Seminary Breakfast, part of the annual meetings of the Baptist General Conference and Bethel University. The event, which also featured speaker Raleigh Washington of Promise Keepers, drew approximately 150 seminary alumni, pastors, and friends of Bethel Seminary.
Babington is president and CEO of The Stairstep Initiative Companies,
a group of businesses committed to creating a model of unity among Twin
Cities African Americans. He received a master of divinity degree from
Bethel Seminary in 1984, and during his professional career has been a
stockbroker, an actor, a business
analyst, and a business owner. He also is an associate minister at Grace Temple Deliverance Center. Babington and Denise, his wife, have two children.
In
his remarks, Babington said that by honoring his work with The Stairstep
Initiative, Bethel Seminary called attention to the "second highest
priority of God in respect to the activity of mankind." God’s
top concern for humankind, he said, is that we trust Him, but His second
priority is the issue of community. "I believe that our churches
are mandated to create community, and I am persuaded that Bethel Seminary
is being called to the center of the struggle," Babington explained.
"Healing and knitting together are needed. If we have done anything
worthy of note it is to embrace this agenda of community."
Seminary
and College
Collaborate on New
Degree Focus
The unique focus for a graduate degree program, offered through Bethel’s
Center for Graduate and Continuing Studies beginning fall 2001, is the
result of a collaboration between Bethel Seminary and Bethel College.
The master of arts in nursing will soon offer a focus in Christian Health
Ministry to prepare graduating nurses as leaders of Christian/health ministries.
The course of study is grounded in the disciplines of nursing and Christian
lay ministry and will prepare professionals to coordinate and educate
interdisciplinary health ministry teams in local churches, church-related
agencies or missions, and governmental or private organizations. It emphasizes
the relationship between faith and health as it explores Christian models
of accessible, dignified, and culturally appropriate care. The curriculum
will include content from both the college nursing department and the
seminary, and seminary faculty will serve as guest speakers in existing
nursing courses.
Seminary
Hosts
50th Reunion
Three
graduates of the seminary’s class of 1950 returned to participate
in this spring’s commencement exercises and to receive certificates
commemorating their 50 years of Christian service. Participants included
(pictured from left to right) Lloyd Nordstrom of Puyallup, Washington;
Doug Stimers of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Dick Turnwall
of Shoreview, Minnesota, who also delivered the commencement rehearsal
address. Turnwall lauded Bethel Seminary’s long-time emphasis on
both theological learning and personal holiness, saying that above all
else, God’s people expect circumspect holiness from pastoral leadership.
"Christian leaders by all means should develop appropriate skills,"
Turnwall concluded. "And their place of service in the kingdom may
require great skills. But transcending even the greatest professional
skill is the demand for authentic Christian living. That is where our
validation occurs."
Lloyd Nordstrom, Doug Stimers, Dick Turnwall
