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AlumNews Online Archives
We update this page monthly so that we can keep
you more informed of what is going on in the ministry here as well as
your ministries. Please send pictures and news to Amy Maczuzak or Ginger Weeber.
December 2006
Drew Elling [1993-95] writes, "We're doing great here. We're in Cedarville, Ohio (home of Cedarville University) right now as the Pastor of Cedarville United Presbyterian Church. I'm starting my fourth year. Our biggest life mission right now is adopting two kids from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Jennifer and I have been working on it for almost two years so we could use your prayers. Emily Grace, our biological daughter, is now 10 years old and Jackson is almost 8 years old. On a sad note, my mom, Sue Elling is now battling terminal colon and liver cancer. She's doing fairly well right now though."
And Lee Morest [2004] writes, "Presently I reside in Atlanta, GA and work for The Salvation Army at Territorial Headquarters as the Territorial Character Building and Camp Director. I oversee, develop, and administrate our 11 camps, all of our Boys & Girls Clubs, Community Centers, character building and sports ministry programs. It is full of incredible opportunities to effect the lives of teens and young people as well as help train and prepare our current and future youth leaders. I feel blessed and am often amazed at the road God led me down that finally placed me in the position and responsibilities I now have. I thank God also for the work the CCO is still doing and continue to support its efforts. Many blessings upon you all and perhaps I'll see you in 2011."
November 2006
The CCO recently partnered with Women of Pittsburgh 2000 to organize the Walk for Racial Harmony, which took place in Pittsburgh on October 21, 2006. Several area churches, CCO staff and students participated. Click here to read more about it.
Separated at birth
You won't believe this remarkable discovery recently made by CCO alumnus Walt Mueller [1978-81]!
The Joseph Alliance
The Joseph Alliance, Inc. (JAI) is the newest project on LaVerne Hanes Stevens' [1987-91] very full plate. LaVerne is the founder and director of JAI and Renewal Ministries, Inc. Her passion for overseas mission, especially on the continent of Africa, fueled the founding of JAI as a way of providing mission opportunities to increase the presence of African-Americans on Africa's mission field. In July and August 2007, for the third year JAI is sponsoring mission trips to Ghana. More info about the Joseph Alliance and the Ghana trips is available at www.josephalliance.org.
It would be great to have other CCO alumni join in the time in Ghana! LaVerne would also love to connect with alumni or friends of alumni who are passionate about encouraging African-American churches to embrace the full command of the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
Though Kami and LaVerne didn't overlap on staff, CCO connections recently introduced CCO alumna Kami Rice [1999-2001] and LaVerne, and now Kami is working with the Joseph Alliance, helping with publicity and writing. For more info, contact LaVerne at 770-774-0479 or LaVerne.Stevens@josephalliance.org or contact Kami at 615-804-7466 or justkami@hotmail.com.
LaVerne is currently living in the Atlanta area with her husband Stephen. Their grown children, Crystal and Jonathan, are living in Atlanta and Richmond, Virginia. LaVerne also works at a senior clinical consultant for Chestnut Health Systems.
Remembering Eugene
We also continue to mourn the passing of Eugene Tiller [1986-89] on September 27, 2006 , ten weeks after his diagnosis of a brain tumor. The Rev. Ellen Campbell [1995-98] officiated at his funeral on October 2, and other CCO alumni in attendance include the Rev. Ted Martin [1985-89], Andi Ellis Schrader [1982-86] , Denise Frame Harlan [1984-88], Sharon McClay Stewart [1983-86], Phyllis Farmer Thompson [1982-85], John Britton [1984-88], and Julie Nan [1986-92]. Click here to read more about Eugene.
October 2006
It is with great sadness that we report that Eugene Tiller [1986-89] passed away on Wednesday, September 27, 2006. Eugene, who graduated from Westminster College and ministered to students at Gannon University through the Kirk House, died about ten weeks after his diagnosis with a brain tumor. It happened without warning, while he was at home and after a family dinner. Please pray for Eugene's wife Christine, and their two children, Ava (5) and Miles (3).
Services will be at 2:30 pm, Monday, October 2 at Captiol Hill Presbyterian Church, 201 4th St. SE, Washington DC. The service will be followed by a reception at the church. Christine O'Reilly, Euguene's wife, can be reached at:
163 Duddington Place SE Washington, DC 20003 or corcity@hotmail.com
September 2006
Jeff [1976-79] and Judy Winter would like to invite all CCO staff and alumni who might be interested to accompany them on a "faith tour" of Turkey in April 2007. For more about this, click here.
CCO alumnus Walt Mueller [1978-81] is praising God after a close call...click here to read his account of God's grace (posted on August 23, 2006 at the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding website).
August 2006
Kim Miller [2003-2006] is preparing to say goodbye. As our Alumni Relations Coordinator prepares to pursue a career in marketing outside the CCO, she is soon to be an alumna herself. Click here to read Kim's farewell article.
CCO alumnus Walt Mueller [1978-81] is praising God after a close call...click here to read his account of God's grace (posted on August 23, 2006 at the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding website).
And click here to find out the latest in the life of alumna Kami Rice [1999-2001].
July 2006
Denise Frame Harlan [1984-88] reminiscences about moving from ministering to students at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania to Gannon University students in Erie in "Unwanted Transitions."
June 2006
Chris Noyes [1986-90] returns this month with some thoughts about boundaries, second chances and forgiveness, and what it really means to be “Free in Christ.”
Congratulations to the Rev. Dean Weaver [1986-89]on his installation as Pastor of Memorial Park Presbyterian Church in Allison Park, Pennsylvania on June 11, 2006.
May 2006
This month, Denise Frame Harlan [1984-88] is back with reflections on how to communicate to children the true significance of Easter in “Two Small Children and the Mean Old World.”
Thanks to all who joined us in Pittsburgh on April 21st to make the 11th annual CCO Auction and Dinner such a huge success! We broke all records and raised over $100,000 in corporate sponsorships, even before guests showed up to bid on the many great items that were donated. A sincere thanks to all of you who attended, donated items, volunteered or encouraged others to join us for a fun and fruitful evening!
Also, do you or someone you know play golf? The CCO is currently looking for foursomes to play in the CCO Golf Outing on May 8th. This year's event is being held at Treesdale Golf & Country Club in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania (in the North Hills outside Pittsburgh). We still have room for golfers—we need a total of 145 golfers total for the 27-hole course. For more information, contact Alyssa Creasy at 412.363.3303 ext. 144 or alyssa@ccojubilee.org, or click here.
April 2006
Chris Noyes [1986-90] is back with reflections on spring cleaning, hospitality, and how Jesus calls us all to be about the task of “Cleaning House.”
And over the next few weeks, the CCO will hold its two biggest annual events:
The 11th annual CCO Auction and Dinner takes place on Friday, April 21st at the Westin Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. Come re-live your own college experience at College Days: a night on campus. We currently have raised $92,000 in corporate sponsorship and several exciting highlighted items, including Steelers tickets, a $1,000 gift certificate to Henne Jewelers, and a weekend getaway trip to Deep Creek, Maryland. For more information, contact Sarah Landini at 412.363.3303 ext. 120 or slandini@ccojubilee.org, or click here.
Also, do you or someone you know play golf? The CCO is currently looking for foursomes to play in the CCO Golf Outing on May 8th. This year's event is being held at Treesdale Golf & Country Club in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania (in the North Hills outside Pittsburgh). We need 145 golfers total for the 27-hole course. For more information, contact Alyssa Creasy at 412.363.3303 ext. 144 or alyssa@ccojubilee.org, or click here.
March 2006
Attention all CCO Alumni in the Philadelphia area!
On Friday, March 31st, you are invited to A Work in Progress: Open Studios. This open exhibit features the work of local Christian artists who make the Olivet Covenant Presbyterian Church studios their workspace. This unique facility allows students to work out their faith through painting, sculpture, and graphic design. Doors open at 7 p.m. All proceeds from sales of the art go to the artist and the CCO's ministry in the Metro-Philly area. For more information, contact Becky Wainwright [2002-present] at rwainwright@verizon.net or (215) 232-8393.
CCO staff-written devotional for sale!
Written by six current CCO staff ( Andy Campbell, Sarah Walsh Landini, Amy Maczuzak, Michele Barnes McClendon, Derek Melleby and Jennifer Bestwick Rash), A Time Between is a devotional designed to accompany us on our spiritual journeys from Easter to Advent. Each weekly devotional reading includes four texts from the Lectionary, a meditation written by our staff and a prayer. The cost is $3 each, including shipping. Limited quantities are still available. To place an order, please contact Jennifer Bestwick Rash [1991-present] at jenbestwick@aol.com.
Jubilee 2006: Imagine the Kingdom
This weekend was a huge success from every angle—the keynote speakers, the worship, the breakout sessions, and so on. The Hilton ran out of hotel rooms and we had to have a live video feed into an extra conference room to accommodate all the people in the ballroom for Saturday night! Praise God for His blessings on both the college students and on all the staff and volunteers who made Jubilee possible this year. To read more, check out this Report from Jubilee from Byron Borger [1976-80; associate staff 1994-present]. And continue reading Byron's reflections in his Hearts & Minds Booknotes weblog.
Featured in the February 6, 2006 issue of USA Today is an editorial/opinion piece about Christians and popular culture, entitled “Evangelicals miss the big picture” by CCO alum and Calvin college professor Bill Romanowski [1976-88].
Walt Mueller [1978-81] recently released his latest book, Engaging The Soul of Youth Culture: Bridging Teen Worldviews and Christian Truth (InterVarsity Press, 2006). Walt serves as the President of The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding based in Elizabethtown, PA. Recently, CPYU entered into a cooperative relationship with the CCO. The CCO's Derek Melleby [2001-present] is heading up CPYU's new College Transition Initiative, created to help high school juniors, seniors, and their parents prepare for the transition to college.
Click here for news from Pete [1994-2000] and Melanie Daniels and family!
And this month, Denise Frame Harlan [1984-88] checks in with reflections on how habits learned during her days as a Residence Hall Director inform her life today, in Mid-Year Calendar Workshop.
And it's not too late to wish Dave Guthrie [1978-86] and George Foose [1981-88] a happy 50th birthday. Click here to leave a message: http://georgefoose.blogspot.com
February 2006
Would you like an opportunity to wish Dave Guthrie [1978-86] and George Foose [1981-88] a happy 50th birthday? Well, here's your chance! From Lisa (Owens) Foose [1983-88]:
Greetings from the Blue Ridge of North Carolina! I'm really "reaching" here in hopes you can help me with an upcoming birthday celebration. Dave Guthrie [1978-86] and George Foose [1981-88] are both turning 50 next month and a blog site has been created for them (unbeknownst to them, however!). They were both on staff with the CCO in the mid '80s and then connected with the CCO for many years afterwards. As well, they were the first OCBP Directors. All this to say, I'd love to find some way to get their birthday blog site into the hands of as many CCO & OCBP alum as possible prior to their birthdays. I'd love to get as many old ministry partners and alum "in" on this as possible.
To leave a birthday wish for one or both of these guys, click here: http://georgefoose.blogspot.com
Thank you! Looking forward to hearing from you,
Lisa Foose
Here's the latest news from Jeff [1976-79] Winter:
"From September until the end of December Judy and I helped serve the International Church of Antalya, Turkey. Antalya is a city of one million people situated on the Mediterranean Sea. If you know your Bible, it is the town (Atalia) that Paul sailed out of on his way back to Antioch during his first missionary trip. I was the interim pastor of the church while the founding pastor was away working on his Ph.D. Judy helped run the church café, led the women's Bible study, and used her gift of encouragement in the lives of many internationals and Turks. While in Turkey, we learned firsthand that the Islamic faith is bankrupt, God is able to change the hearts of Muslims, Turkey is breathtaking, a person can live on vegetables, PCUSA missionaries love Jesus, and a person can live very simply without TV, a car, or a home phone."
And this month, Chris Noyes [1986-90] contemplates lessons in ministry that can be learned from the documentary film, Grizzly Man and the latest Byron Borger [1976-80; current associate staff] article over at the Hearts & Minds website is entititled “Some More Award Winners and Jubilee Authors.” (Also, check out Byron's blog, Heart & Minds Booknotes!)
Jubilee 2006
Join us the weekend of February 24-26, 2006 at the Hilton Pittsburgh for Jubilee! This year's keynote speakers include Dr. Tony Campolo (media commentator, professor at Eastern University, author, and ordained minister), author Lauren Winner (who has recently finished her third book, Real Sex: the Naked Truth about Chastity ) and Carl Ellis (President of the Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Project Joseph). Also, several fellow CCO staff and alumni will presenting during breakout sessions, including Derek Melleby [2001-present], Don Opitz [1984-87; 1994-99; associate staff 1999-present], Bill Slease [1992-97], Sam Van Eman [1998-present], and members the CCO’s Outdoor Leadership Team. Click here to read more about the conference and register today!
Going to Jubilee? GCTS alum? Interested in doing a Doctor of Ministry at Gordon-Conwell?
If you can answer "yes" to the first question and "yes" to either the first or the second question, then Dave Currie [GCTS M.Div. 1984; CCO staff 1984-87], Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, would like to invite you to be his guest for dinner at the Hilton Pittsburgh on Friday night, February 24, to connect with other GCTS alums & DMin students and to hear more about the DMin program. Free admission to Carl Ellis' plenary session included. For more information, contact Dave at dcurrie@gcts.edu or 978-646-4176.
January 2006
Byron Borger [1976-80; current associate staff] offers his picks on the bookstore website, in “Hearts & Minds Best Books Awards 2005.”
Denise Frame Harlan [1984-88] offers reflections on the complexities of ministry and mentors in “License to Receive.”
And in news from your former colleagues:
Click here to read a Christmas newsletter and to view a family photo from Carl [1979-83] and Jeanie (Santschi) [1978-82] Kalberkamp.
Nicki (Saggio) Carpenter [1998-2003] writes,
So I was on the CCO website looking for some resources (I found a lot of good stuff), I clicked on the Alumni section and then I clicked on " where are they now?" and now I am typing you a quick note to let you know where I am.
Right now, at this very minute, I am in front of my computer at my office at my church, which is River Terrace Church in East Lansing Michigan. Here is how I got here: after leaving the CCO and WV I was married. We moved to Florida for two years so that Ricky could get his masters degree, and we are now living in East Lansing where Ricky is going to Michigan State for his PhD. I work full time at the student bookstore in the clothing department and I work part-time at the church as Co-Director of Youth Ministries. In March we are expecting our first child.
Keep up the good work! I enjoy coming to the website to get info and hear about what's going on with y'all!
AlumNews Online Archives 2005
AlumNews Online Archives 2004
AlumNews Online Archives 2003
AlumNews Online Archives 2002
AlumNews Online Archives 2001
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