Servanthood. It’s an important word on the Anderson University campus, often heard during a chapel convocation or read in one of many campus brochures. It’s part of a heritage that connects today’s thriving university with its Church of God foundation and vision for Christian unity. And it’s at the heart of AU’s mission to prepare students “for a life of faith and service in the church and society.”

However, servanthood is much more than a word to the university’s 500+ faculty and staff, who exemplify the spirit of giving in their professional and personal lives. Administrators, professors, and staff members alike expend the resources and talents God has bestowed upon them to reach out as missionaries, mentors, advocates, board leaders, supporters, and friends to those who need it most. They do it because they love and because they can.

“My impression is that the vast majority of AU employees are active in the community on some level,” says Denise Kriebel BA ’74, director of human resources and director of the Recognition Committee, a small group of staff members created in 2000 to identify and reward employees who strive in professional as well as service activities. “The university is looked to as a resource within the community, and as our faculty and staff become more involved in church and society, they are setting an example of what it means to give back.”

What follows is a mere glimpse into the service opportunities faculty and staff embrace. The individuals highlighted are part of a much bigger community of believers, all demonstrating a commitment to Christian love and servanthood in their daily lives.
Many faculty and staff minister through leadership, reaching out to others in their roles as board members, project coordinators, and church leaders.

Dr. Blake Janutolo, dean of the College of Science and Humanities, has taught Sunday school to second- through fourth-graders at Park Place Church of God in Anderson for 27 years. A love for children and the sense that teaching is one of his strengths have inspired Janutolo to continue this ministry, which has been a learning experience for him as well.

“To teach anything to children, you often have to simplify it,” he explains. “To simplify something, you must first understand it. Often, as I prepare a lesson for third-graders, I discover or understand the Bible stories in a new way.

Like Janutolo many professors and staff members share their talents at church. In fact, the majority of professors in the School of Music serve in their respective churches as musicians, vocalists, or music directors. Christian education professor John Aukerman BA ’72, MDiv ’75 has a special passion for youth ministry. Having pastored for several years before coming to the AU seminary to teach, Aukerman’s interest in youth outreach is what inspired him to join the board of directors for the LOGOS ministry more than 10 years ago.

An international, interdenominational program seeking to encourage youth into discipleship, the LOGOS ministry partners with more than 1,500 churches to bring young adults to a saving relationship with Christ.

“LOGOS is a relational ministry, building relationships among kids and across generations,” Aukerman says. “This is exactly the type of ministry I believe in.”

He first participated in LOGOS youth ministry training in 1993 in hopes of revitalizing the youth program in his home church of Maple Grove in Anderson. Two years later, he joined the LOGOS board of directors, which requires monthly teleconferences, participation in two youth conferences each year, and an annual donation of $1,000 or more. However, it’s worth the effort for Aukerman, who has witnessed the LOGOS success at Maple Grove.

“Statistics show that most churches lose 80 percent of their kids,” he explains. “I started keeping records at Maple Grove once we joined LOGOS. In seven years, only 26 percent of youth at our church dropped out. I volunteer for this ministry because I believe that this story is being replicated in church after church across the country.” In addition to church and religious participation, faculty and staff are also involved in community programs.

Kathy Hughel, assistant director of Human Resources, often brings and serves food to the men at the Christian Center Rescue Mission on Sunday evenings, hoping to show a little kindness to the men at the shelter.

Similarly, communication professor Don Boggs serves on the board of trustees for the Christian Center, helping with publicity efforts and financial decisions. He comments that his particular interest lies in making sure the residents are treated with respect.
Professor of French Sally Shulmistras started her own community outreach program in 1975 when she began offering Saturday morning French classes to the community. For seven weeks each semester, children and adults at all levels of French can learn about the language and culture.

“It’s a lot of work,” she explains. “You have to have someone to coordinate, teach, and organize all the different levels. One of my graduates usually comes back and teaches the adult classes, and we have AU French students come in and teach the children. It’s so neat to see students volunteer. It’s a ministry for them as well as a way to get more involved in the community.”

It would be hard to estimate how many people Shulmistras has touched through her Saturday morning classes. There have been lots of bright, eager children, missionary groups on their way to Africa or Haiti, and adult students in it simply for the love of learning. The joy for Shulmistras is in connecting with other people.

“We have a lot of students who started taking French classes on Saturdays and then went on to become French majors at AU,” she says. “A lot of times adults will have the entire class over for Christmas parties. It’s a great way to meet a lot of new people, and it’s nice to bring people in and show them what the Church of God and the university are doing in other areas.”

Of course, servanthood doesn’t always mean smiling faces and heart-warming moments. Often, the people in the most need of kindness and support are scared and suffering. But however discouraging these situations are, AU faculty and staff simply give more and try harder, believing firmly in the Lord’s power to forgive and restore.

Julie Ward BS ’04, office manager for the publications office, has also worked since January as an overnight supervisor at Dove Harbor, a women’s shelter in Anderson. From 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Ward helps monitor video surveillance and security, handles any emergencies that arise, and maintains a staff presence at the shelter. In her free time, she’s getting to know the residents and being a friend to women who are struggling.
The position, in conjunction with a staff apartment in the shelter, had been open for several months before Ward realized God was prompting her to apply. She explains that her life experiences working as a court reporter and bailiff for the county court system and dealing with custody and divorce issues help her connect with some of Dove Harbor’s wome

“It just makes sense for me to be there,” Ward says. “And I’ve come to realize that there are so many different reasons for women to be there. It could be that they’re homeless or that they’re overcoming troubles with addictions. Some are going through a separation from an abusive spouse, and they don’t have the financial resources or the support system they need to improve their situations. One woman just needed to be in a safe and supportive environment while she works through some personal issues, including the death of her son. It’s a reminder that that could be me, and it just makes me want to help.”

Shelly Short, administrative assistant for the INvision AU program, also has a desire to help. Believing strongly in the healing power of prayer, Short and her husband, Clint, began Hidden Treasures Ministries in 2004 as a commitment to caring for those in need and testifying to God’s grace. A growing part of their ministry are the Healing Rooms, in which the Shorts and 12 other members provide organized prayer sessions for anyone in need of healing.

“We have prayer requests for back pain, cancer, arthritis, bone spurs, depression, marriages, finances, relationships,” Short explains. “The list goes on.” Open once a week in downtown Anderson, the Healing Rooms operate similar to a doctor’s office as the “patients” fill out forms with their names and prayer requests. A trained prayer team invites the person into a Healing Room, where they pray over the person. Often, they will lay hands on the sick and anoint them with oil.

“Clint and I believe that as we get outside of the walls of the church and do what our Father has taught us, we will see more healing and miracles,” Short says. They hope their ministry will encourage people to receive Christ and follow his Word.

The mission to help others that so many faculty and staff espouse extends far beyond Anderson, Ind. Their ministry is one of global proportions, impacting people who have never even heard of Anderson University. Nevertheless, these distant communities have needs — for building construction and repair, for medical attention and supplies, for compassion and biblical teaching. Through God’s perfect timing, word travels to the AU campus, and professors and staff take it from there.

Some, such as religion professor Dr. Fred Shively BA ’61 or Physical Plant systems manager Bob McCormick, lead students on mission trips. Having led 58 Tri-S trips to more than 20 destinations worldwide, Shively not only serves the needs of others but also teaches students the meaning of servanthood. Likewise, McCormick has traveled twice with students to parts of Louisiana, helping with hurricane clean-up efforts. He has also led Tri-S trips to Honduras every year since 1999.

“I love to help people, and I get the greatest blessing from doing that,” McCormick says. Other employees are led to travel with church groups and alternative organizations. Desiree Busby, an administrative assistant in the School of Adult Learning, is preparing for her third mission trip to Haiti in October. She and her husband, Garry, will lead more than 20 people from their church along with medical professionals to deliver treatment and supplies to one of the poorest countries in the world.

“The first time I went to Haiti was six years ago with my daughter,” Busby explains. “I thought I was all prepared for it, but when we got on the bus for the orphanage, I just started looking at the poverty. We went by this river, which was their main water source, and there were pigs and cows in it; some people were doing their laundry in it, and one man was standing there taking a bath. I just thought, ‘I can’t live this way for a week. I can’t do it.’”

However, Busby did make it and enjoyed working with the children so much, she helped organize a medical mission trip two years later. She and her husband were designated as leaders of the group, who visited the same orphanage and dispensed medical supplies to more than 2,000 Haitians. As their third trip to Haiti approaches, the Busbys and their group have long been making preparations, recruiting available doctors and nurses, raising money for medical supplies, and also fundraising to offset part of their travel expenses.

“I just think it’s what God calls us to do,” she says. “This year, especially, I just asked God to show me someone who needs something. Let my heart know what to do for them. I just feel like if you’re open to it, God can use you anywhere.”

Indeed, God uses the able bodies and joyful hearts of Anderson University faculty and
staff in countless ways, big and small, every day. It often means that their days are longer, their weekends busier, or their budgets tighter. But ask any AU employee invested in servanthood and they’ll probably agree that the more they give of themselves, the more fulfilled and truly blessed they feel.

–Cara Miller [Signatures, Summer 2006]

Homecoming 2006 will be filled with the usual exciting activities, from RavenFest4 to the football game. But two special events are being planned this year for music lovers and for Dativus alumni. A second Celebration of Song is scheduled for Saturday morning at 10 in Park Place Church of God. And throughout the weekend, Dativus alumni will be celebrating the club’s 35th anniversary through service and fellowship.

At the entrance between Rice and Dunn Halls at Anderson University a move-in team was loading and unloading dorm items at lightning speed Thursday morning. As parents drove up to drop off their newly registered freshmen, a tornado of helpers all wearing dark green T-shirts immediately swarmed each car. Pulling everything from computers to pillows and sheets to skateboards, cars were unpacked in a matter of minutes. “This is fantastic,” said Dawn Huguenard who was moving her daughter Charissa into the dorms. “I can’t believe they did this so fast. (Charissa) is on the third floor, and I was wondering how long it would take the two of us to get her moved in. They are an answer to my prayers.

US News and World Report has again ranked Anderson University among the best universities in the Midwest offering master’s level degree programs. Institutions in this category offer a full range of both undergraduate and master’s level degree programs. The magazine’s 2007 guide to “America’s Best Colleges” marks the third consecutive year that Anderson University has been listed among the best in its class. To rank schools, US News first organizes colleges and universities by category, and then ranks them within each group. Rankings are based on a wide range of criteria, including academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, and financial resources to name a few.

Anderson University dedicated the first phase of York Seminary Village south of Decker Hall on Wednesday, August 16. The dedication was conducted at the site of Phase I, consisting of 4 buildings, located on the west side of Walnut Street, between 6^th and 7^th Streets, in Anderson. York Seminary Village is made possible through the generous support of Dr. James and Elizabeth York. The project will provide apartment units for students studying through the Anderson University School of Theology and their families (photo–l to r: President Edwards, Dr. James York, Elizabeth York, Dr. David Sebastian).

“York Seminary Village adds an exciting new dimension to the nature of seminary education at the School of Theology,” said Dr. James L. Edwards, president of Anderson University. “Housing is more than a convenient necessity. It adds the dimension of a living and learning community to the seminary experience. We believe this residential element will greatly enhance the breadth and depth of students and families preparing for ministry.”

The project is being developed in phases. Phases II will be located on the east side of Walnut Street, a mirror image of Phase I. Construction of Phase II will begin as the need and demand arise. The total project will consist of 20 apartments in 8 buildings, plus a community building.

“Through the generosity of the Yorks, we have been able to accelerate the time frame for fulfilling a long-standing institutional dream,” said Bob Coffman, vice-president for Advancement. “Their support for this project is the most recent of many gifts that are making a significant difference in the lives of our students.

Dr. James and Elizabeth York have given of their time and resources to make a difference in people’s lives. Their giving spirit was what convinced the couple that Dr. York should retire early from his practice of orthopedic surgery so that they could work in mission hospitals throughout Africa. It also prompted them to contribute to the Harry L. and Henrietta Harp Endowed Memorial Fund at Anderson University. And it is one of the primary reasons they created the James M. York, M.D., and Elizabeth H. York Endowed Scholarship Fund through the Anderson University School of Theology.

Mrs. York’s parents, Rev. Harry and Henrietta Harp, were active in the Church of God, and it was in their honor that their children established the Harp Endowed Memorial Fund. The fund supports the Harp Lectures in Christian Theology and Leadership at Anderson University and provides an annual award (known as the Harry L. and Henrietta Harp Memorial Award) to a graduating seminary student who has made the most outstanding accomplishment in congregational ministries. Future plans for the fund include support of a visiting professorship.

Advocates of lifelong learning, the Yorks recently established the York Endowed Scholarship Fund through the Anderson University School of Theology that is designed to reduce tuition expenses for deserving seminary students and promote a healthy diversity within the seminary community.

Mrs. York came to Anderson University in 1949. She later married Dr. James M. York, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University Medical School, and they spent the next several years in various locations as Dr. York completed his orthopedic surgery training. As they traveled, Elizabeth continued her undergraduate studies, graduating from Rutgers University in New Jersey. Dr. York took early retirement after 32 years of practice and volunteered his surgical skills at mission hospitals throughout Africa. The couple served hospitals in Kenya, Cameroon, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. In all, they served as short term missionaries for six years.

The Yorks have given generously to the Anderson University School of Theology and the university is grateful they have committed resources for the construction of the new seminary housing project on the south side of the campus.

Anderson University is a private, four-year, Christian liberal arts institution of approximately 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, the university offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

With more than 18 months of planning, developing, surveys, revision, and production, Anderson University announced the launch of a redesign to the public Web site (www.anderson.edu ) effective Aug. 14. Chris Williams, director of University Communications, and Julie Tuttle, webmaster, had the challenge of creating a site that not only had to mirror the times of today’s technology, but also to look four to five years into the future.

The Anderson University Board of Trustees recently approved the construction of a new Education Center that will be connected to the southwest end of the 40,000 square-foot Flagship Enterprise Center located at I-69 and Pendleton Avenue (exit 22) in Anderson. Projected to be completed in the summer of 2007, the 53,000 square-foot Education Center will provide space to support education initiatives of Anderson University and Purdue University.