Faulkner athletes offer surprise welcome at local elementary school
The excitement was high Monday morning at Davis Elementary School…
Partners, November 2019
Featured photo (above): A boy named Jhonny works on chores in the boys’ residential house at Emmaus House, a ministry in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, that helps orphaned youths transition to independent living. Amid recent unrest in the impoverished Caribbean island nation, everyone is safe at Emmaus House, but almost all its programming and services are on hold, said Jillian Kittrell, director of operations and co-founder.
BIBLE CAMP
LARIAT CREEK CHRISTIAN CAMP
GEARY, Okla. — Two Oklahoma congregations — the College Hill Church of Christ in Alva and the North Leach Church of Christ in Watonga — co-hosted an areawide men’s retreat.
The recent event at Lariat Creek Christian Camp focused on the theme “Taking Hold of the Kingdom: Lessons on Leadership from the Life of Joseph,” according to North Leach member Joe Paul Bryan and College Hill elder Kim Barker. About 31 men attended.
Layne Heitz of the Durant Church of Christ in southern Oklahoma developed these themes over four lessons. “This retreat among men of congregations in northwest Oklahoma, often times with shrinking populations, was a powerful spiritual experience to encourage leadership in our congregations,” Bryan said.
HIGHER EDUCATION
OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Oklahoma Christian University has opened the new Dave and Shirlie Ellis Clinical Skills Lab and Simulation Center.
The 7,000-square-foot lab space is outfitted with advanced simulation equipment and healthcare supplies. Shirlie Ellis generously donated to the lab for OC’s School of Nursing, a program both she and Dave Ellis began supporting years ago, when their daughters were college-aged. In 2013, the Ellises anonymously funded a scholarship to prepare a future leader and instructor of OC’s School of Nursing. Instructor of nursing Trevy Rauch, one of the Ellises’ daughters, was the recipient.
K-12 CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
MOUNT DORA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Brian Mast
MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Brian Mast has been appointed president of Mount Dora Christian Academy and Children’s Home, effective Dec. 1.
Mast, who previously served at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., succeeds James Moore, who is retiring after three decades at the helm.
Mast holds a doctorate in education. He and his wife of 24 years, Lorri, have two children, Ella and Eli.
SPOTLIGHT
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Nikki R. Haley, former U.S. ambassador and South Carolina governor, keynoted Faulkner University’s recent annual benefit dinner.
Women and history were highlighted at the event, which coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment. That amendment, which granted women the right to vote, passed Congress on June 14, 1919. It was ratified on Aug. 18, 1920.
Nikki R. Haley speaks at Faulkner.
“Although many might want to argue that progress has been slow over the past half-century, it is absolutely undeniable that women have assumed significant roles of influence throughout American life,” Faulkner President Mike Williams said.
Faulkner recognized several alumni for their inspiring stories and accomplishments, including Judge Carole Medley, Dr. Sky Jones, teacher Joetta Kelly, Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Parker and Monica Pugh, a mother of five children and foster mother to three.
