Updates, Events, and Publications

BEESON SUMMIT CANCELLED

PRAY WITH ATS STAFF

JOHN WESLEY DEVOTIONAL IN PORTUGUESE

Hope Owsley graduated from ATS in 1986 and has been a Free Methodist missionary in Brazil for 30 years. She recently published a devotional book based on John Wesley’s sermons (in Portuguese).

UPDATES FROM ZAMBIA

To read what our Distinguished Alumni, Alfred Kalembo, and his family have been doing throughout this past year, click here.

EDEN’S GLORY: A HOME WHERE HEARTS ARE TRANSFORMED

This time of year organizations often stand in tension of celebrating milestones gained while anxiously awaiting the results of year end giving campaigns. We are so thankful that while we wait we can celebrate a certain confidence as we reflect on the advances our fundraising team has made this year.

• We held our first annual Golf Scramble in June.
• We partnered strong with Marcoot Jersey Creamery for our first annual Graze in the Grass in September.
• We won the full amount of two grants applied for this Fall.
• We have experienced an increase in the number of our monthly sustaining donors.

Because of prayers and gifts from people like YOU, we have MUCH to celebrate!  This year we have served 6 women and trained over 3,500 people. We celebrated a woman completing her time with us and graduated with a beautiful celebration of her journey toward healing. We have another woman who celebrates her victory over crippling fear, stating “I’m not going to let fear say ‘no’ anymore.” All of the women have a resilient determination to overcome that inspires us. We celebrate when we notice them respond to what we teach and change perspective and behavior toward a healthy restored life. In 2019 we anticipate even more of the same:

• Offering hope and healing to our residents.
• Engaging our community and beyond in working toward prevention by coming alongside those who are vulnerable.
• Advancing the resources available to Eden’s Glory 
• Mentoring and training new staff and interns 

Thank you to all of you who have helped us love well, and advance this work in 2018. There’s still time to give that sets us up for success in 2019.

For Freedom, 

Ginger Coakley, MDiv 2009

ASBURY ALUM NAMED PRESIDENT OF EASTERN NAZARENE COLLEGE

Dr. Russell Long, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Eastern Nazarene College (ENC), announced today that Rev. Dr. Jack Connell, MDiv 1987, DMin 1997, will be the fourteenth president of the Christian liberal arts college, founded 118 years ago in Saratoga Springs, New York. Dr. Connell’s election is the culmination of an exhaustive, national search conducted by a committee of trustees, faculty, and staff of the college that attracted a talented and competitive pool of candidates. Dr. Connell’s distinguished career in Christian higher education and ministry as well as his vision for the future of the college resonated with the committee in a profound and inspiring way.

It is the Board of Trustees’ belief that under Dr. Connell’s leadership, ENC will be well positioned for future growth as it celebrates 100 years of academic excellence and a rich legacy of leadership and service at its current Quincy campus. Dr. Long remarked on the Board of Trustees’ enthusiastic approval of the search committee’s recommendation of Dr. Connell to lead the college. “We have made prayer a priority during the search for our next President, and frequently we have been reminded that God has been working behind the scenes. While we were searching, God was preparing Dr. Connell for this assignment. A former President of Roberts Wesleyan made the comment that he believed God had saved Jack for this assignment. We feel that confirmation as well in that he is uniquely prepared for the multiple challenges we face.” Dr. Connell joins ENC from Houghton College in Houghton, New York, where he has served as Provost and Dean of the Faculty since 2016. Leading over 100 faculty and staff members, Dr. Connell serves as the Chief Academic Officer and Chief Enrollment Officer on the President’s leadership team. He has been instrumental in the development of new academic programs, the growth of Houghton Online, and the launch of new extension site programs. From 2008 to 2016, he spearheaded major initiatives in Enrollment, Advancement, and Strategic Planning at Roberts Wesleyan College & Northeastern Seminary (RWC) in Rochester, NY as an Executive Vice President. Among his many accomplishments at RWC, Dr. Connell led the largest comprehensive fund raising campaign in the college’s history, a campaign that raised more than $40 million dollars for scholarships, endowment, and capital projects.

In addition to his impressive credentials in higher education, Dr. Connell served as a senior pastor of the Crosswinds Wesleyan Church in Canandaigua, New York from 1995 to 2006 and the Lyncourt Wesleyan Church in Syracuse, New York from 1989 to 1994. Under his spiritual guidance, the Crosswinds congregation became one of the largest churches in the denomination with average weekend attendance growing from 200 to 1400. His educational background includes a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Rochester Warner School of Education; a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Biblical Preaching and a Master of Divinity from the Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY; and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Houghton College. Dr. Connell has served on numerous boards, including thirteen years as a member of the Houghton College Board of Trustees. With two doctoral degrees, executive-level experience with Christian colleges and theological seminaries, leadership and strategic planning skills, pastoral and teaching experience, and boundless passion for the transformative mission of Christian higher education, Dr. Connell is uniquely qualified to assume his new responsibilities with ENC. Dr. Connell remarked on his new appointment, “My heart has been captured by the mission of ENC, and I am deeply honored to be selected by the Board of Trustees as ENC’s next president. I believe there are amazing opportunities in front of us, and I look forward to engaging with the entire community as we move boldly and hopefully into a bright future. Wendy and I look forward to moving to the Quincy area next summer and ask for your prayers in this time of transition for us all.” Dr. Connell currently resides in Houghton, New York with his wife Wendy, a special education teacher. They have four adult children, David, Rebekah, Jonathan, and Michael. He will begin to assume leadership of ENC immediately as president elect and will transition more fully into his new role over the next several months as he transfers his current duties to new leadership at Houghton College.

PRICELESS: A GREAT MARRIAGE IS WITHIN YOUR REACH

Dr. Terry Swan, MDiv 1980, recently published a new book titled, Priceless: A Great Marriage is Within Your Reach. You can purchase this book here. Dr. Swan is a Professor of Psychology and Religion and Dean of the Chapel at Lindsey Wilson College, in Columbia, KY. He has served in various capacities at the college over the past thirty years, including Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the College, Chaplain, Director of Counseling Services, and Chair of the Human Services Department. He currently coordinates the Christian Ministries Program. The LWC student body named Dr. Swan Teacher of the Year five time. He was LWC’s first master teacher ever named in a 1.8 million-dollar US Department of Education grant. He was honored with the Exemplary Teacher Award among the United Methodist affiliated colleges and universities. He has been the recipient of the Francis Asbury Award for Distinguished Service in Higher Education. Dr. Swan was also honored with the Bentley Sloane Award for Outstanding Leadership in Church Vocations by Centenary College of Louisiana.

Dr. Swan is the author of over 30 books, including best sellers, What in the World Am I Doing Here? and The Balance Book. Some of his newer titles include Soul Explorers: An Invitation to the Called Life and Let Today be Your Best Day. He is a popular speaker and worship leader. Dr. Swan served as Dean of the college, leading LWC’s transition from a two-year school to a baccalaureate degree granting institution. Today, LWC offers degrees from associate-level through Ph.D. Dr. Swan created and directed the Human Services and Counseling program at LWC. It is now the largest major in the school, offering degrees all the way to the Ph.D level. He also began the B.A. in Christian Ministries, and today it is the largest program of its kind among UMC-affiliated colleges and universities. Dr. Swan initially attended the University of Wisconsin in Barron County and graduated from Centenary College of Louisiana. He holds four graduate degrees from Asbury Theological Seminary, Western Kentucky University (2), and Vanderbilt University. He is a retired officer from the US Army Reserves with a rank of Colonel. Dr. Swan is married to Dr. Cinda Swan, also a United Methodist clergyperson. They have two adult children. Dr. Asa Swan works in the state government in Frankfort, and Eva Swan is an actress/screenwriter in Los Angeles, CA. The Swans reside in Campbellsville, KY.

Theological Studies Professor Brian Edgar Receives Book of the Year Award from Christianity Today

Christianity Today gave Dr. Brian G. Edgar’s The God Who Plays: A Playful Approach to Theology and Spirituality an Award of Merit in the Spiritual Formation category in this year’s book awards. Each year a panel of scholars, pastors and informed readers evaluate outstanding books of special interest for the Christian community. “I was surprised to receive the award given that there are so many other wonderful Christian books being published,” Edgar said. “But I greatly appreciate Christianity Today’s recognition of “The God Who Plays,” and see it as an affirmation of the importance of the basic theme that the Christian life involves joy and playfulness in relationship with God as much as service and sacrifice.” The God Who Plays provides a correction to the work-focused faith in Western Christianity that often results in anxiety, perfectionism and exhaustion. In his book, Edgar discusses play as a virtue, emphasizing that we are first children of God. His book also explores Aquinas’ warning against the sin of not playing enough and Bonhoeffer’s claim that in a world of pain it is only the Christian who can truly play. The God Who Plays is available for purchase on Amazon.

Dr. Brian Edgar is Professor of Theological Studies and has been a full-time faculty member at Asbury Theological Seminary since July 2007. He is an ordained minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia and has pastored several churches. He is a Fellow of the Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology, a Fellow of the Australasian Wesley Research Centre, and a board member of Ethos: EA Centre for Christianity and Society – Australia, and Crucible: an on-line, peer-reviewed journal of ministry and theology. He has received two Templeton awards for teaching on science and faith and one writing award for a journal article on scientific and theological notions of immortality. He has written a number of books, the major ones being The Message of the Trinity (IVP) and God is Friendship: A Theology of Spirituality, Community and Society (Seedbed). He and his wife Barbara have two adult children and live in Australia.

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