I told him I would steal his good idea and blog it here (In response, Cantwell said, “Thanks! I’m happy to be in the company of Dr. Lockwood, if only by quoting someone else.”)

Evidences of Freedom

 From the Declaration of Independence

Source: US Declaration of Independence

“… all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”

“And for the Support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honour.”

John Adams re: the Formation of Independence Day in 1776

Source: The Massachusetts Historical Society

“It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”

From the Congressional Record

Source: C-Span Transcripts

“To the distinguished character of a Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of a Christian.” - US Congressman Robin Hayes on June 17, 2008

This Blog is Not Political

On such a day as this, the “4th of July”, I should think that it is truly humbling to read through the entire context of the linked materials above and be reminded of what an impossibility it was to form the United States of America.

Even more than this, however, is the overwhelming sense of gratitude I have for the fact that God has afforded me things that I did not earn. A dry place to sleep, plenty of food, children who grow healthy, access to health care and many other things that people around the world do not have a chance at.

Independence Day = Devotion to God

Not least among these is the ability to openly worship Jesus! Praise him and do it often. Help missionaries who assist others around the world who have to worship in secret. Remember the students who train to know how to do this work.

Solemnly remember your brothers and sisters around the world on this day. This, a day of prayer and thanksgiving.

MUBlog recently announced the official details of the new Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) degree. Recently, we got some commonly asked questions answered by our “Master of Counseling” Dr. Elizabeth List.

Interview with Elizabeth List, PsyD

Tell me a little about the Masters in Counseling Program at Multnomah University.

The Masters of Arts in Counseling degree at Multnomah is a 62 semester-credit-hour program for working students who are interested in a career in counseling.  We are fully accredited by the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and we are currently under the guidance of the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists to ensure that we meet educational licensing requirements.

Our desire with this program is to focus on two distinct goals:

1. Merging faith integration and academic quality
2. Offering practical information from practicing professionals.

We want to produce quality, biblically-based counselors that will be able to work in any venue in which God calls them, whether that be secular or church-based.

What kind of career can you have with a Masters in Counseling?

The M.A in Counseling program is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure by the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC).  Licensed Professional Counselors may seek employment in counseling agencies, private practice, hospitals, para-church organizations, educational settings, human service agencies, or may go on to pursue a doctorate in clinical Psychology.

Can you work in a school with a Masters in Counseling?

The M.A. in Counseling degree prepares you to counsel many different populations, including children, adults, teens, groups, families, and couples, with many different kinds of issues. While you will be trained to counsel children and their families, you will not be considered a School Counselor. A school counselor is a profession that results from a Masters Degree in School Counseling (which we do not currently offer). The Masters in School Counseling distinct degree is necessary in order to work in the school system with children.

You said before that this program is designed for working students. How does that work?

Our program is offered at night and on the weekends in order to allow students to work full time for at least the first year of the program.

• The bulk of the classes are offered one night a week, from 6-10pm, one at a time.
• There are a few weekend elective courses (Friday night and all day Saturday) that are offered once a month as well.
• In the second year of the program, each student must complete an internship where they practice what they are learning in the “real world.” While the internship will probably take some time away from working, we are committed to flexibility with this time in order to help working students find a balance between work and school.

Our small cohort-style classes are also designed for the adult student. A masters degree in any form is a lot of hard work. Our class design allows for students to get to know each other and their professors in a personal way. Throughout the classes, cohorts grow to support each other in their endeavors to finish the program. Many cohorts continue to meet and fellowship on their own long after they are finished with their degree.

What is the internship program like at Multnomah?

Oregon law requires 600 hours of internship while students are in their masters program. Multnomah will partner with each student to place them in an internship that meets the internship requirements of the state. The internship hours are to be accumulated in the second year of the program. If students desire to graduate within the timeframe of their classes, students should complete approximately 11 hours of internship a week. Those who cannot dedicate this much time to internship in the second year may work out an internship plan with their advisor to complete internship hours after they finish their coursework.

What if a student wants to pursue a license in another state?

While this degree meets Oregon licensure requirements, this does not mean that you cannot receive licensure in other states with this degree. The Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists is aware of national standards and works to meet them, if not exceed them. If you know that there is a possibility that you will be going to another state, the best thing to do is to talk to your advisor about this so that we can make sure that your educational requirements are met in the state you want to be licensed in.

 Anything else you want to add?

I am very excited about this program and its potential to reach those who need highly qualified and Biblically-centered counselors. I believe that caring for the suffering is one of the most loving thing anyone can do. If you feel that God is calling you to this ministry, then this program is for you.

Intimacy With God

Hear It

• Download the MP3


• Get it from Laurelwood Baptist Church

Want a Faculty Speaker?

• Request a Speaker or learn more online


• Kristin Kendall at kkendall@multnomah.edu


• 503.251.6452

After traveling 19 hours in flight, I arrived safely Monday afternoon.  How wonderful to be back on American soil again and to take pleasure in the familiarity of being home: seeing familiar faces, enjoying warm receptions and sleeping in my own bed. 

This past week was such a gift. I said goodbye to our team a week ago Sunday and had the privilege of staying an additional week in Jinja, where I enjoyed precious moments with my sister Danielle and her family (The Pierce’s our team hosts).

Dentists, Superglue, and Braids

While the week was restful it was certainly not without adventure. A few highlights include: An opportunity to experience dentistry in Uganda, when one of my back molars broke off, sitting for seven hours straight and having two African mama’s braid my hair (I am now sporting a new African doo) and discovering the multi purposes for superglue, when my niece fell from a top bunk and busted her chin and we super glued it back together. True story!  (a great remedy for those of you who, like myself, may fear needles…It works!)

Thanks and Praise!

Many thanks again to each of you for journeying with me these past six weeks.  While it is hard to summarize my experience in just a few words, overall I would say: God is faithful and is at work doing amazing things through the lives of our alumni. Through each unique and significant cultural experience I was able to witness what He is able to do through lives surrendered to Him.

May He continue to be at work in and through each of our lives as we yield our hearts and hands to Him as vessels for His use.

Appreciative of your prayers and partnership,

Michelle

One Big Difference Between Publics & Privates

Recently, almost all public institutions (including community colleges) have announced sizeable increases in their tuition and operating expenses - and have lobbied for more taxpayer support (And why not? It’s even more expensive to run a major public research institution).

As you may know, private independent institutions are not subsidized by public money. The good part about this is that it forces us to tighten our belts when the times get tough and endowments take dives with the stock market. This can be a very healthy thing, forcing us to focus more on achieving our mission efficiently.

The Charge of Stewardship

Instead of passing all the costs on to students and their families or asking donors to throw more money at the operation (although, we’ll gladly talk to any donor willing to contribute!) we have to trim expenses and make wise moves to demonstrate good stewardship with an eye toward future health. At Multnomah, this stewardship principle takes on a whole new meaning, because we know it is not “our” operation to begin with - we are only taking care of what God has charged to us.

But Not Just Multnomah

Multnomah belongs to an organization called the Oregon Independent Colleges Association (OICA). As a collective, it has become a mantra to show a commitment to keeping cost increases to an absolute minimum. Recently, OICA sent out a news release that gave a brief overview of what these institutions are doing.

OICA College Cost Containment Press Release

Also, don’t forget about our new Tuition Relief Scholarship we announced after this press release went out.

A Tough Economy

Multnomah’s leadership, under the direction of President Dan Lockwood, got together to discuss what they’d been hearing from students and parents: “Help! This economy makes going to college more difficult!”

Doing Something About It 

As of today, Multnomah is offering a “Tuition Relief Scholarship” this year for our Bible College students.

It’s Simple
To earn the Tuition Relief Scholarship, students must be enrolled for a minimum of 14 credits in a Bible College undergraduate program offered on the Portland, Oregon campus. If a student enrolls in 14 credits, they will then get every additional credit up to 17 free - for a total savings of up to $1500 per semester or a total of up to $3,000 for the year.

Simpler Still
This means that if you enrolled in 15 credits, you only pay for 14. If you enroll in 16 credits, you only pay for 14. If you enroll in 17 credits, you only pay for 14! That’s the equivalent of a whole class. Or $1500. Per Semester.

I don’t know about you, but getting done with college faster and doing it with an extra $3000 sounds like a pretty good deal to me. (As if being the lowest priced around wasn’t already a great value…but I digress).

The Official Details

There are some conditions, so be sure to Read the Offical Press Release.

Spread the Word

We need to get the word out to current and new students - so please Tweet it or Spread it on Facebook…text your buddies. Find our accounts to repost/tweet here:

www.multnomah.edu/goto/social

The Congdon family name is one familiar to generations of Multnomah friends. Many of Dr. Congdon’s own children and grandchildren are alumni. He taught and led at Multnomah for 37 years.

Memorial Service

• Monday, June 29, 2009
• 6:30 PM
• Emmanuel Baptist Church
  • 14810 N.E. 28th St.
  • Vancouver WA 98682
  • 503-254-9586.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church or Gideons International.

Comments, Memories & Condolences

• We’ve included a scan of the obituary published by The Oregonian below.
• You can also read it at Oregonlive.com.
• Please leave your thoughts and prayers in the comments section below.

Musiibye mutyano (How are you?)

I pray this greeting finds you well and enjoying His best. Our time here in Jinja is quickly coming to a close. With such amazing experiences accompanying these past few weeks it’s hard to believe it’s been such a short time. The days have been so full that they have felt like weeks…So much to reflect upon, process through, apply and implement. Our lives have certainly been touched and marked in powerful ways.

Forgotten, Imprisoned Women

This past Tuesday we returned to Kirinya (the women’s prison) where we were given another opportunity to share personal testimonies and teach on servant-hood, as well as to demonstrate Christ’s servant heart through a special foot washing and bless each woman with her very own pair of sandals. Words cannot communicate appropriately the experience in full and how rewarding it was to serve these women in this way. Forgotten and dismissed among the Ugandan society, many of these women are imprisoned on account of false accusation. Some will serve a 1-2 year term before even being offered a trial. What a blessing it was to bring a little joy and hope to such a dejected and despondent community. A memory that remains precious to us was the gift we were given as we departed. With tears streaming down faces (theirs as well as ours) and with their beautiful Ugandan voices they sang: Tembeyana Yesu Tembeyana…(Go with Jesus) “…Go with Jesus and we’ll see you one day again in heaven.” What a gift it was to be able to affirm these women in their worth and value as we shared with them Christ’s love knowing that one day we would see them again in glory.

Calvary Chapel Jinja and Orphanages

On Wednesday we had the privilege of sharing with the women serving on staff at Calvary Jinja. In anticipation of our trip this year, this event was again another one that we were excited about and looking forward to with hopes of continuing relationships with our African sisters that we had began in 2007. It was a real treat for us to be able to pour back into the ministry God is doing through their lives as we enjoyed a Ugandan meal together, encouraged them on the importance of abiding, and the challenge of ongoing dependence (a key principle being: God is more interested in what He is doing in our hearts, than what He can do through us)-a wonderful reminder, even for our team.

Today we will have an opportunity to be back at Amani baby cottage and New Hope orphanage and then Sunday we will worship one last time with the community at Calvary Jinja before the team heads home.

Prayers

As we shared together (as a team) yesterday afternoon, the things the Lord had been speaking to our hearts, I was encouraged to hear all that God had been at work doing. Our prayer has been that this trip would be more than just a 2 week missions experience but that God would use it to bring about real change…not only in the hearts of those we minister to, but in our hearts as well; and that He has done. We’ve gained new perspective and a greater desire to live intentionally-lives that care deeply for others-a reality that has been modeled for us through our interactions with the African people.

Other Highlights

Apart from ministry, some of the other highlights that were shared around the breakfast table this morning include: Enduring the 82° F humidity sleeping conditions, becoming well acquainted with our bathroom friend (a cockroach we’ve named Ralph), cold showers that can seem as effective as hot, when seeing red African dirt fill the tub (a good investment of soap and water). Ironing line dried underclothes (to avoid the eggs of mango flies embedding under our skin), enjoying African chai and chapatis (an African tortilla), and the amazing home cooked meals from our team hostess, Danielle (many from which the produce has been harvested right out of their backyard). It has been an exciting and enriching adventure!

Thanks again to the many of you who have supported us and covered us in prayer as we’ve continued in this journey. We are looking forward to being home with you soon and sharing personally all that God has done.

With deepest appreciation for your ongoing love and partnership,

Michelle (for the team)

This leaves 1,268 more books that need to be collected before reaching the goal of 10,000 books by December 18. So spread the word, and be a book donor. Keep those books coming; just give, give, give!

Clearly, God is good!

Past Posts

Read the rest of the posts that are tagged with Kigali.

Abortion, Voting, and Stirring the Pot

Mr. Enyart was interviewing Stephen about the story he wrote for The Voice regarding Down Syndrome abortions - unfortunately much of the interview changed focus to items such as moral relativism and the fact that so many Christians voted for President Obama and, by extension, a “pro-abortion” agenda. The interview then went further to imply that most Multnomah Bible College students voted for Obama and therefore are engaged in the same “moral relativism” as other Christians (although, how they can know whether students voted and for whom, is beyond me).

(Note: MUblog is not making a judgement on voting habits of anyone, we are simply reporting the facts of the radio interview.)

Worthy Of Comment

(Full disclosure: since I run MU’s public relations functions, I’m a little protective over MU’s image in the community.)

I have to admit, I still don’t know exactly how I feel about the interview. I am more than a little uncomfortable with the insinuations made regarding the spiritual health of MU and the students who come to learn their Bibles and love their Savior - but it is a fair and logical line of questioning for the interviewer to pursue. I’m just afraid that Bob Enyart ended up erroneously scaring some students and parents away from a college that strongly espouses absolutes of Biblical truth in an otherwise morally relativistic society!

I look forward to your thoughts in the comments section below.

The Recording

Download:
http://kgov.com/bel/20090528

Stream:

What I do know is that Stephen Harris is a fantastic example of the types of students I’m proud of to have on campus!

The interview was broadcast over AM670 KLTT in Denver, the most powerful Christian radio station in the country (50,000 watts). The station has between 3.5 and 4.5 million listeners daily (plus it streams on the Internet and is on HD radio). The Bob Enyart Live show airs at 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.