Alumni Profiles
Alumni extend family to youth at Triple L, Hope Hill
Gaither receives award
Messages in flowers
Renner finds success following heart's desire
Alumni extend family to youth at Triple L, Hope Hill
By Joy May
Rob Talbot BA ’93 has a big family. As president of Family Connection, Inc. (FCI), the parent organization for two rehabilitative youth facilities in Indiana and Kentucky — Triple L Youth Center and Hope Hill Children’s Home — Talbot oversees the care of more than 50 young people. But the familial feeling extends even further: More than 75 AU alumni have comprised the staff and administration of these three organizations since they came together in 1995.
The birth of FCI and its parent relationship to Hope Hill and Triple L has its own set of connections — with the Church of God. The Rev. Robert and Ruby Kitchen started Hope Hill in 1960 in Hope, Ky. Fostering a family of children in their own home, the Kitchens cared for the youth until the first “home” was dedicated and opened in May 1963. By 1965, more than 50 children were living at Hope Hill. Today Hope Hill operates three residential homes and has transitioned from an orphanage to a treatment center, providing independent living training as well as foster care.
In 1971 Charles B. “Tex” Thornton founded Triple L (Live, Love, Learn) as a boys’ ranch in Colorado. The ministry moved to Anderson, Ind., in 1986 and under the care of the Church of God Board of Christian Extension and Home Mission, now Church Extensions. Family Connection was born with the vision to “be a national leader in the rehabilitation of young people and a source of expertise and resources to assist families,” and Hope Hill and Triple L were placed under its direction.
The Church of God and AU connections keep FCI and its constituents well-staffed with professionals in the fields of social work, psychology and Christian ministries. Talbot returned to Anderson while completing his master’s work in counseling psychology and was hired as director of Triple L to oversee the building of new facilities on Madison County’s Bronnenburg campus near Mounds Park and to hire staff to operate the residences. He recruited Jaymie (Brooks) Dieterle BA ’92 to obtain licensing for programming at Triple L before its startup in May 1995 (she now serves as FCI’s quality improvement manager), and they began networking their AU resources.
“It has always been a situation where someone will say, ‘I know a good person from AU who might fit the bill,’ and that person knows someone else from the same program,” Talbot explains. “We consistently get good support, interns and employees from the psych and social work departments.”
While Talbot credits AU with providing a quality education, he is quick to recognize that the university’s focus is centered on Christ, which makes the biggest difference to him and his staff — and to the youth served by these organizations.
“People who come to work at facilities like this come for different reasons. There is often a ‘ministry versus money’ debate for some, an ‘others versus self’ kind of debate. But at AU, servanthood has always been a big part of the discussion in chapel and in classrooms and other places around campus. And that’s what we’re about, serving Christ by meeting the needs of these young people. I think that’s in large part why AU and Family Connection have such a strong link.”
Debbie (Lineback) VanNorman BA ’71, member of FCI’s board of directors, would agree. She recognized early in her life that serving one another is vital to exacting change. “Having been part of a university that stresses servant leadership, we understand that we come to FCI not for personal gain but that we might simply roll up our sleeves and make a difference.”
Paul Smith BA ’69, chairman of the board, also stresses AU’s contribution to his involvement with Hope Hill and Triple L. “A call to compassionate service to others was taught and modeled by faculty and administration,” Smith says.
Other alumni on the board include Marlyne Bruce BA ’83, Steve Lewis BA ’72, Emily Govan Carroll BA ’70, the Rev. Mark Martin MDiv ’94 and the Rev. Lee Preston BA ’55, MDiv ’58, retired pastor and former director of Triple L.
Over time, Talbot recruited Elvis Alicea BA ’90, program supervisor at Hope Hill, and Kevin Allender BA ’94, MDiv ’98, admissions coordinator and director of community development. Alicea oversees two treatment houses (female and male) and a staff of 20 people, and Allender works with the court systems, case managers, probation officers and private referrals to find youth suited for the facilities. Allender, in turn, recruited Randall Adams MDiv ’96 as program supervisor for the boys’ residential unit at Triple L. “I was sensing a call to work with at-risk youth,” Adams says, “when Kevin connected with this chance.”
Others have come by different means. Amanda (Collings) Armogum BA ’01 started as an intern in 1999 and is now full time as an independent living specialist working with youth seeking their own housing and training them in living skills. Karen (Hammel) Sloan BA ’65, a psychology/social work double major, now directs the foster care program at Triple L by training foster families, placing children within foster homes, and working to find permanent home solutions for each child, including the adoption option. Sloan says this most closely resembles what FCI is about — family. “In the adoption program, new families are formed. Placements forever influence the future of each child. The joy is indescribable.”
On the FCI campus in Anderson, other alumni fill the offices as administrative support and development staff. Joy Sloan BA ’90 works as vice president for finance, H.C. “Buzz” Dixon ’61 is vice president for development and Rhonda (Rider) Neidert ’77 serves as administrative assistant to Talbot.
Talbot knows the wide AU connection is rare. “Very few, if any of us, ran around together. We had classes together occasionally, but our commonality was the passion to help kids and their families,” he says. “Working with AU is so important in our journey to fulfill our mission.” With partnerships like the occasional social work trips to Hope Hill in the spring, internships at Triple L, mentoring and volunteer opportunities available through campus ministries, and resourcing information to provide the best solutions for needy youth, AU and FCI have a bond that continues to strengthen over time.
Gaither receives award
By Melody Boyer
Gloria (Sickal) Gaither BS ’63 received the Mark O. Hatfield Leadership Award for her work in Christian higher education. The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) presented Gaither the award Feb. 5 in Washington, D.C.
The Mark O. Hatfield Leadership Award was established in 1997 and named for its first recipient, U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield. Since then, awardees have included Wheaton Professor Arthur Holmes, the Rev. Billy Graham, Theologian Dr. Carl Henry, Habitat for Humanity founders Millard and Linda Fuller, and Prison Fellowship founder Charles Colson.
“This award goes to a person our board feels exemplifies the values and Christian character for which our campuses strive in their students. Gloria is an international leader who knows Christ-centered higher learning, a graduate of one of our fine campuses, a passionate advocate for our purpose and a leader who influences many parents and young people to consider a Christian college. Further, she is a distinguished former member of our Board of Directors and currently serves as a trustee of the United Christian College Fund,” states CCCU President Bob Andringa.
Dr. James Edwards presented Gaither with the award. “I count it an honor to speak about some of Gloria’s many accomplishments in this national forum,” he said. “Gloria’s passion for expanding the horizons of creative young people finds expression in the classroom where she teaches and mentors aspiring artists. Her writing and speaking schedule affords many opportunities to advocate the holistic development available across the scope of the many outstanding teaching institutions that model the best in a Christ-centered higher education.”
Gaither was honored to receive the award, but adds, “Perhaps an even greater honor is the privilege to serve 155 outstanding institutions of Christian higher education by working for many years with the CCCU Board of Directors. I believe in the whole opportunity of a Christian higher education and know by personal experience what a difference a Christian college can make in a young person’s life.”
Gaither’s role in the future endeavors of the CCCU will include acting as a passionate voice of support to their vision for the future, serving as a trustee of the United College Fund and advocating the value of gaining a Christian higher education.
Messages in flowers
By Deborah Lilly
Linda (Moody) Bengtson’s love of flowers extends beyond their beauty in gardens, floral calendars or vases. In studying their histories, myths and meanings, she has learned that flowers represent “forever values that we can live by.” She shares these values in her new book The Flowers Speak, published last year by Chinaberry House.
“Part of the fascination was discovering how flowers have had meaning through centuries and still do today,” says Bengtson, AU class of ’57. For example, the dogwood is associated with endurance, and mythology links the iris with comfort and hope. In the end, she chose to highlight 15 different flowers. Watercolor artist Lynn Ellinger has added illustrations of each flower.
The writing process that followed the research was also pure joy for Bengtson; selling the idea to a publisher was a bit more trying. Bengtson sent out 20 proposals for her book and received 20 rejection letters. “I was ready to let it go,” admits Bengtson. But husband Dale Bengtson BS ’57, whom she calls “Mr. Perseverance” (a quality associated with the magnolia), wouldn’t let her give up. He insisted, “I think you need to find a way to have this published.” With her husband’s encouragement and renewed hope, Bengtson did find a publisher. Now she has graduated to another phase of the project — marketing.
To date, two Barnes & Noble bookstores have invited Bengtson into their stores for book signings. The first was in Sarasota, Fla., in January; the second will be in Grand Rapids, Mich., May 11. She will be signing books in Anderson, Ind., at the University Village clubhouse on April 28. Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids has also ordered copies of The Flowers Speak to sell in the gift shop. Copies are also available through www.theflowersspeak.com or by e-mailing Bengtson at dalelin@aol.com.
Renner finds success following heart's desire
By Benjamin Griffith
Luke Renner BA ‘98 believes the success he’s experienced happened because God was looking out for him. In the four years since graduating from AU, he has directed, produced and edited projects for nationally known Christian artists such as Ray Boltz and Bill and Gloria Gaither. In January, the Gospel Music Association nominated Renner for a Dove Award, recognizing his directing talents for the video Bill & Gloria Gaither Present A Billy Graham Music Homecoming, Vol. 1. The Dove Awards will be announced and presented April 25 in Nashville, Tenn. Looking back, Renner sees how unique faith in God and some hard work have taken him to a place he could not have imagined as a college freshman.
“When I went to AU, my original thought was to be a teacher,” Renner says. “I didn’t know I wanted to be in TV or radio or anything.” Then he discovered AU’s Covenant Productions and his plans changed.
Covenant Productions offered Renner opportunities to work with professional Christian artists, including the Gaithers who were using Covenant for a lot of their projects at the time. Renner put in extra effort, and two weeks before he graduated, the Gaithers offered him a job.
Initially Renner was hired as a video editor for the Gaither Homecoming videos series. “Bill Gaither liked what he saw on the editing side of things and thought I had an understanding of what he wanted in terms of the shots I picked,” he remembers. Before long, Renner was directing videos. As a director, his work took him all over the world, including New Orleans, London, Ireland and New York City.
In 2000 Renner accepted a job with Ray Boltz at Off Center Studios in Muncie, Ind., where he edits, directs and produces conceptual music videos, authors DVDs and directs multi-camera live television shoots. He continues to do freelance editing and directing for the Gaithers.
Renner knows that by the rules of the game he has moved very quickly. “A lot of guys wouldn’t get to direct anything significant until they were much older,” he notes. But doing so well while so young and so new to the industry is not without its consequences. He notes, “You start paying dues real quick, because people don’t want to listen to you and people give you attitude.”
None of that discourages Renner. “I totally love what I do,” he says. He has discovered that success is more than climbing the career ladder; it is about discovering and then following the God-given desires of the heart. “I used to believe that if we desired something enough, God might give it to us someday. Now I believe the desire itself is given by God,” Renner explains. “It’s almost like human gasoline. It’s something in the tank that keeps us going. If you can find that one thing you were made to do, it will be hard to fail at it. God doesn’t make junk.”
Renner has been blessed in ways outside of his career as well. He and his wife, Adrian, experienced the birth of their first child, Samara Grace, on May 14, 2001, and they have adopted his wife’s niece, Hannah, 10. Another addition to the Renner family is expected in August.
