Notes Along the Way

Faithful Leadership in Today's World

noreply@blogger.com (Cyndi McMahon) — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:30:00 +0000

There are millions of leaders in the world. They are a people with power, presence and reputation. But faithful leadership is rare—a radical idea that power is not just a possession or tool but a privilege. Faithful leadership requires selflessness and humility and must be used responsibly to inspire a new generation of leaders.

Recently Gordon honored some faithful leaders at the annual Celebration of Leadership. The Loring and Patton families each exemplify faithful leadership in their everyday lives through their legacy of philanthropy and service in Greater Boston along with significant contributions to social service organizations, education, and important causes. It is this kind of unique leadership that called Gordon to honor three members of the Loring family—Caleb Loring Jr., Caleb Loring III and Bronwyn E. Loring ’87—as well as Joanne Holbrook Patton with the College's most prestigious leadership award for public service, the George F. Bennett Leadership Award.

Many in the Gordon community, as well as across the North Shore, owe a great deal of thanks to the Loring family for their faithful leadership. They have helped establish hospitals, libraries and museums; endowed public and private educational institutions; supported the fine arts including the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Boston Athenaeum, and the Arboretum Park Conservatory; and have been very supportive in their dedication to increase the intellectual capital in the region. Caleb Loring Jr., patriarch of the Loring family, has also extended his philanthropic heart and leadership to assist the Salvation Army; St. John’s Episcopal Church; and to establish a United Way for North Shore. The Lorings also further higher education by giving generously to both Harvard and Gordon College.

Joanne Holbrook Patton is also a faithful leader. She is the owner of a certified organic farm, Green Meadows, which was founded by her late husband, Major General George S. Patton IV. Over her lifetime, she has risen to important leadership roles in non-profit organizations including the National Military Family Association; the North Shore Music Theatre; The American Red Cross; and Sweet Briar College. The North Shore Red Cross, the U.S. Army and the North Shore Chamber of Commerce have each honored Patton for her charitable work and a legacy of service to others.

Former White House chief of staff under President George W. Bush, Andrew Card, served as the evening's keynote speaker. Card, acting dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, has been in several faith-testing leadership positions and provided personal insight on the value of faith in positions of power. Card shared how the parallel lines of politics and faith often intersected for him, as he recalled his service for Bush administration. He told the audience how his position as chief of staff was grounded in the security of his faith and how each day he would accept the challenges of change laid before him. "To be a qualified leader, one must be grounded in faith.”

The Celebration of Leadership also provided a forum to introduce a new generation of leaders to the many community partners in attendance. Thirty Gordon student ambassadors engaged with members of Gordon's extended network and community. Looking out at the many students in attendance, Bonny Loring, one of the evening's honorees. shared, “it is important these students remain dependent on God and follow His lead and always remember that this looks different for everyone.”

Last year's Celebration of Faithful Leadership honored George F. Bennett—longtime leader in Boston’s financial world—as the inaugural recipient of the George F. Bennett Leadership Award. The annual event raises support for scholarships for Gordon students.

Blogger: Mac Gostow ’13. Mac is a communication arts major from California and a student writer in the Office of College Communications at Gordon College. With a double minor in business administration and sociology, Mac has interned for CBS News in New York City, is a founder of ScotRadio, performs with the Sweaty-Toothed Madmen improv troupe, and served as a show host for KURadyo in Istanbul, Turkey. As he graduates from Gordon this Saturday, this is his final blog post as a Gordon student.

Earth Week: Caring deeply about environmental change

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Gostow) — Sat, 04 May 2013 23:11:00 +0000

When I was in third grade my school introduced a comprehensive recycling system. Our teachers showed us the new addition to the corner of the classroom--bright plastic blue bins--and explained we'd be the newest partners in waste management for Oscar the Grouch. I remember thinking these new arrow-clad containers took up useful play space and gave us another responsibility to worry about. We knew not what they were for, or why their introduction was necessary, but that day we did our best to separate our recyclables and follow all the right steps. To this third grader, if someone took the time to create them, they must be important, right?

Last week was the 43rd annual Earth Week at Gordon. It was a week that serves to both remind and enlighten students about their responsibility as stewards of creation--how every student not only needs to engage in sustainable practices, but also needs to understand why it is important to do so.
As a senior, this is my fourth year observing this important time of year. I've come to respect much about this week, facilitated by Advocates For A Sustainable Future (ASF), a student-led group that seeks to involve students directly in environmental efforts on and around campus. Mostly it encourages a gentle but meaningful urge to rekindle a passion for our environment--at Gordon, a community ethos we call "Restore Creation." Whether it is listening to a lecture by a distinguished environmental advocate like Ben Lowe, author of Green Revolution: Coming Together to Care for Creation, or getting one's hands dirty planting seeds in our campus garden, students are encouraged to develop a fuller understanding of environmental concerns and their responsibility to make changes, even if they are small ones.

Gordon College has been an institution dedicated to these changes since 1988, when the College initiated programs for recycling and waste management reduction. Every year since, a notable change has been made toward this goal of sustainability, such as the complete removal of disposable plastic (save for cutlery) in the dining hall in 1994 and the introduction of recycling bins for metal, batteries, light bulbs, ink cartridges, cell phones and tires. In 2012, The Princeton Review recognized Gordon as one of the "greenest" schools in the nation and we recently learned the environmental honor has been given again for this calendar year. But no matter how many programs are introduced and how much recognition the school receives, it is the people who encourage us to improve each year a little more. If students don't understand the need, they won't engage in these practices and the efforts will be futile. An educational awareness time like Earth Week brings everyone on campus up to speed with the knowledge we need to be a community of good stewards. ASF does not simply tell people what they should be doing, they invite them in to understand why they should care about it--and through this, encourage small, manageable changes. As God's creation we are meant to ensure the land thrives as we thrive, and not to debase it as we prioritize industry expansion. Grow with, not through.

The introduction of the Lane Student Center water filtration system cut back on the high levels of plastic waste, and the high-power hand dryers in the bathrooms cut back on paper waste. These small introductions, voted for and implemented by students, shows that this is a campus that knows which sustainable practices it should engage in, and how to create a system that makes a difference. As I'm a senior, I participated in the annual vote for a class gift. Our choices included a compost system in the student center; signage updates; and the installation of lights around a walking path along the water. The senior class voted for the comprehensive compost system in Lane. Although the senior class committee lacked the funding necessary to put the system in place, that it received the most votes reassured me that the students here care deeply about making contributions to environmental change.

Mark Stowell, director of facilities and grounds, wants to capitalize on this generation's awareness and receptiveness to environmentally-friendly practices. "Gordon students are not only open to sustainable practices, they often push for some of our most significant campus-wide changes." One of the real challenges, according to Stowell, is in the day-to-day responsibility to minimize waste through use of campus recycling containers. Currently, Gordon's campus has a 36 percent recycle-to-waste ratio. "I think Gordon can get to the 50 percent mark in a few years if we increase campus-wide dedication to daily recycling and waste reduction practices."

I think that Stowell is right. I have witnessed an impressive and respectable change in student practices during my four years here, especially compared to my time studying abroad at another university. Every kitchen I walk into at Gordon seems to have a compost bin, and every hip or backpack seems to have a Nalgene bottle attached to it. Nate Mori ’13, co-director of ASF, also recognizes Gordon students' passion. "Students who have participated in discussions have shared many insightful thoughts and opinions. It is clear they care to know more about how they can help mitigate threats to our environment. We're very thankful that Gordon students are interested in becoming more sustainable."

When I notice these small but important adoptions, I see a community of people that understands not just the value of their practice but their responsibility to set an example for others. ASF leads this charge for environmental stewardship on campus. Their passion to inform and guide this change is infectious. As this generation of students continues to grow our passion for sustainability and realize that we each have an individual responsibility to creation, I've no doubt other institutions will soon follow in Gordon's carbon-free footsteps.

Blogger: Mac Gostow ’13. Mac is a communication arts major from California and a student writer in the Office of College Communications at Gordon College. With a double minor in business administration and sociology, Mac has interned for CBS News in New York City, is a founder of ScotRadio, performs with the Sweaty Tooth Madmen improv troupe, and served as a show host for KURadyo in Istanbul, Turkey.

Chemistry Chapter Earns National Recognition

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Gostow) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:10:00 +0000

"We are not just about blowing stuff up and making it look cool. We are about making a solar cell out of blackberry juice and glass slides." -Owen Williams '14

This month, Gordon College student chemists received a prestigious honor: two awards at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), of which Gordon College has a very active student chapter. At the group's national meeting in New Orleans this month, nine Gordon students were recognized with the Outstanding Student Chapter Award as well as a Green Chemistry Award. Receiving both awards together is the most elite recognition any chapter can receive, and only 25 other schools (from a pool of over a thousand) have received this honor.

Thousands of college students and professional chemists gathered to present research, hear lectures by distinguished scientists, and network with high-profile chemists. All nine Gordon students presented their research through poster presentations. Chemistry major Owen Williams ’14, treasurer of the Gordon chapter, remarked, “Top academics go to the poster area of their specialty. It was an incredible opportunity to dialogue with these distinguished people, as almost everyone I cited in my paper was there!” The students had over three thousand lectures to choose from at the conference, in fields ranging from agricultural chemistry to chemistry law.

Gordon’s ACS chapter seeks to serve the local community by promoting chemistry in a way that keeps environmental and human impact in mind. Community outreach also includes tutoring children in Lynn every Friday night in physics, chemistry and biology.

The Chapter also wants to provide even more access to the study of chemistry at Gordon for future students through an endowed Chemistry scholarship, so the chapter is fundraising with hopes to establish one. This is the first time Gordon students have tried to endow a scholarship while still in college and after three years of offering hosting their "cookie fundraiser," they are well on the way.

The chapter also gains important professional experience in scientific writing and project management through their work with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They work with government officials in the chemical sciences to make experiment overviews more comprehensible for the general public.

But the Gordon chapter never neglects its home community. In an effort to expose more students to the fun of science, the club created Chemistry on the Quad. Over 250 Gordon students gather on the quad to partake in science demonstrations and exhibits.

The ACS chapter at Gordon began in 1990 when Chemistry Professor Irv Levy encouraged a student to share their research at a national conference. Once accepted, the pair traveled together for the student to present nationally. Over the past decade members of the Gordon chapter have attended the ACS conference nearly every year in cities including Atlanta, Washington D.C., San Diego, New Orleans, Boston and San Francisco. In 2005, a Gordon student presented at the first ACS green chemistry education symposium in San Diego. But it is only in the last two years that Levy and the students have traveled to be recognized as a club, not purely for individual research. Last year, Gordon was recognized as a “commendable”chapter by the undergraduate advisory board, a group of national scholars that evaluates each chapter’s annual report of experiments, findings and activities. This year’s “outstanding” recognition places the Gordon chapter in the 97th percentile of student chapters. Professor Levy says, “Our students do so much outreach, and go beyond just chemistry in the classroom. They are involved in tutoring for children in public schools; help with scholarship opportunities for local youth; and work with organizations to promote sustainable chemistry. They take their own initiative and really are outstanding.”

The Chemistry Department is a tight-knit community and the faculty often gather with students to share food (a favorite form of chemistry!) and fellowship. Joel Boyd, associate professor of chemistry, serves as the ACS advisor and works closely with the students to assist with their experiments. “Our student chapter of the ACS is an extremely active branch of the largest professional society in the world,” he says. “The secret to their success is their history of having strong, yet decentralized, leadership from many different students over the past three years.”

President Justin Andrews ’14 notes the club would be nothing without the dedication and passion of its scientists: “The leadership and organization of our chapter is spread out to all of our very dedicated members. Leading a group of students passionate about the work we do has made leadership easy. It is a testament to the caliber of student leaders Gordon trains up through its unique leadership-nurturing environment.”

As members of the Gordon chapter of ACS continues to share the important potential of chemistry in today’s world, they recognize the importance of working with the other science departments. Each of the natural science departments at Gordon has its own club, but Andrews has hopes for next year for them to team together. “Next year I hope to see the leaders of the science clubs to meet monthly and share in the planning of and participation of science based events. Together we could make an even larger difference at Gordon.”

Photography--Top: --> Members of the Gordon College ACS Student Chapter- Front Row: HanByul Chang, Bria Pelletier, Rachael Albury, Lee Andrews and Ben Stewart. Back Row: Clyde (CJ) Daly, Justin Andrews, Faculty Advisor Joel Boyd, Owen Williams and Sarah McCarron
Photo #2: 2011-2012 chapter president Ben Stewart receiving "Outstanding Student Chapter" award in April 2013
Photo #3: Vice president Sarah McCarron and 2012-2013 chapter president Justin Andrews presenting the Gordon chapter's poster.

Link to ACS Blog

Blogger: Mac Gostow ’13. Mac is a communication arts major from California and a student writer in the Office of College Communications at Gordon College. With a double minor in business administration and sociology, Mac has interned for CBS News in New York City, is a founder of ScotRadio, performs with the Sweaty Tooth Madmen improv troupe, and served as a show host for KURadyo in Istanbul, Turkey.

Restore Creation: Earth Week at Gordon

noreply@blogger.com (Cyndi McMahon) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:58:00 +0000

Happy Earth Day! This week the Gordon student club Advocates for a Sustainable Future hosts a week-long tribute to environmental care with programs and events to educate, celebrate and restore Creation.

The week includes film screenings, garden clean-ups and plantings, a Boston service project partnering with the Charles River Watershed Association and urban nonprofits for a Charles River Cleanup, tours of small farms in the area, and educational discussions.

"Earth Week is a favorite of mine," said Cyndi McMahon in the Communications Office, who often takes photos of the events during the week. "I love hearing the sounds of the Recycled Rhythm pop-up performances similar to the bucket drumming near North Station in the city."

Though environmental stewardship is a year-round commitment at Gordon, it's important to set aside time for discussion, and also to celebrate the Gordon community's leadership role in this important field. Recently Gordon College was again named to the Princeton Review's Green Colleges Guide, a highly selective listing of universities and colleges across the U.S. that go beyond traditional expectations for environmental care. Gordon staff members Paul Helgeson and Mark Stowell have been invited to speak at a forum on Faith and Sustainability at the third Massachusetts Sustainable Communities and second Massachusetts Sustainable Campuses Conference this week at the Worcester DCU Center, a clear testament to why the Princeton Review would set its sights on Gordon for this distinction.

"If we can each take some baby steps toward more sustainable living, collectively we can indeed make the world a better place," said Ming Zheng, professor of biology (who will introduce the first documentary screening of the week, Bag It). "A better world not only for us humans, but for all creatures God calls good after His creation."

The diverse roster of events and activities students have planned for Earth Week includes a faculty and student round table discussion in Chester's Place. Students will have the chance to ask questions and hear insights informally over coffee with expert researchers in environmental biology and students from ASF's leadership. Also, guest speaker Ben Lowe from the Evangelical Environmental Network will be on campus this week talking with students and speaking in Chapel.

"Caring for the world God created is part of our worship, part of our ministry to others, part of our spiritual discipline, and a way in which we can reach people with a message of hope and love," said Dorothy Boorse, professor of biology. "Today, oceans are heavily fished, soils are depleted, and environmental refugees flee droughts, floods and pollution." Boorse, a Gordon alumna who is co-author of one of the top-selling environmental textbooks in higher education, Environmental Science: Toward a Sustainable Future, is a national leader on creation care. "Now more than ever, caring for the creation is a part of caring for all life, a part of pursuing justice and honoring God. Gordon is a good place to make those connections, and to prepare for a life of service, including service to the natural world."

Miroslav Volf at Gordon: Understanding Religious Violence

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Gostow) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:18:00 +0000

Religious violence has been a major source of conflict for thousands of years. Is there a way to prevent it, or is it inherent in a pluralistic world? Acclaimed theologian Miroslav Volf visited Gordon recently as the keynote speaker for a Faith Seeking Understanding Lecture Series event hosted by the Center for Faith and Inquiry where he applied his personal experience and scholarly research to wrestle with this topic.

The German-educated Volf is the founding director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture and a Henry B. Wright professor of theology at Yale Divinity School. Born in war-ravaged Croatia and a witness to the violence there, at a young age Volf had to reconcile his Christian faith with this devastation.

Volf kicked off the lecture with a philosophical explanation of the three motivations for conflict as put forth by Hobbes: that people invade for gain, safety or reputation. Religion, according to Volf, follows right after because of its nature as a system of truth. Anything that stifles a group's practice of its religion will spark dissent, and perhaps violence. This extends even to traditionally peaceful religions and cultures; in Sri Lanka, Buddhist monks whose protests have been long been non-violent now are sometimes raising guns. And today we see Muslims in France facing threats to their religion over a potential ban of the hijab, the traditioanal veil worn by Muslim women.

What can people of faith do to prevent such conflict, and foster civility between religions? Volf believes that religious harmony can only be reached if each faith is granted freedom of expression, and if all the parties involved aspire to the golden rule of reciprocity.

After the lecture, Volf offered insightful responses to questions such as how Christians should respond when religious expression becomes hostile.

Molly Connolly ’13, a linguistics and Spanish double major from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, said after the event that “it was incredible to enjoy a lecture from a theologian whose work I have read and admired during my studies at Gordon. I appreciated Dr. Volf's honest approach to the potentially polarizing topic of religious violence. With clear points and examples from his own experiences he was able to make a case for the tolerance of other faiths without succumbing to the dangers of relativism.”

Nick White ’13, a history and secondary education double major from Glenside, Pennsylvania, shared that “Miroslav Volf's talk was definitely something we need to hear in this day and age. His challenge to us is about putting ourselves in the shoes of the “other” and seeing things from their perspective. Christians have to be willing to cling to nothing but the welcoming arms of Jesus spread out on the cross and make space for other religions.

This event was made possible by the Terrell B. Crum Lecture. For more photos, quotes and conversations, please visit the Center For Faith and Inquiry Twitter account.

Multigenerational Leadership: One Size Does Not Fit All

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Gostow) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:59:00 +0000

Four insightful panelists gathered around the table at the front of the room, sharing their views on a relevant issue: How can a business operate effectively when its workforce has employees from different generations? Gordon’s thrust to feature more Boston-based events paved the way for the recent “Organizational Success Through Multigenerational Teams” event in the heart of Boston's business and e-commerce neighborhood. The event, sponsored by Gordon's Career Services and Advisory Board, brought professionals and students to the Boston Private Bank & Trust Company’s conference rooms to hear how organizations thrive despite different generational perspectives. The four panelists,—Dave Caruso, founding chairman and managing director of Coastal Capital Group; Pilar Pueyo, senior vice president and director of human resources at Boston Private Bank & Trust; Mary Mariano, vice president of the finance division, employee development and inclusion for State Street Corporation; and Jessie Saintcyr, deputy treasurer and human resources director and employment counsel, at the Office of the Treasury for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts—offered unique views on the subject from their vantage points in institutions of quite different sizes.

Four generations make up today’s workforce and each contributes a unique element to the business dynamic. Although employees are not bound by the stereotypes of their generation, there are some basic characteristics of each generation that can impact workplace dynamics. The traditionalists, the oldest generation, think that gain only comes with sacrifice and are less comfortable with change. The baby boomers, between ages 49 and 64, are optimistic and derive self-esteem from what they do. Members of Generation X distrust national institutions, are comfortable with change and emphasize balance in life. Finally, Generation Y, the youngest generation, expect instant gratification, are tech-savvy and measure their work by the results, not the process. So how can an administrator manage effectively when one generation thrives on Twitter but another hardly understands it? How can a manager oversee employee conduct when each generation feels differently about workplace formality?

The fundamental challenge, according to panelist Dave Caruso, is “to figure out how to craft a message so that everyone can understand to communicate in ways that connect with all the generations.” Caruso has experience speaking to different audiences—to his clients, employees and to his listeners as the financial editor on Boston’s WBZ radio. He believes “communication is the most important aspect of effective management.”

Jessie Saintcyr believes the recipe for multigenerational well-being starts with sensitivity and respecting the differences between generations. “A simple awareness of other perspectives builds a foundation for an inclusive and adaptive workforce,” she said.

To the benefit of the Gordon students in attendance, the conversation led to suggestions for new grads entering the workplace. From crafting an effective resume to interview prep, the panel emphasized the importance of maintaining a level of formality in the workplace. Mary Mariano screens hundreds of resumes for different positions for State Street Corporation and highlighted the importance for new graduates to find out in advance all they can about a potential employer, in preparation for an interview. "I have stopped interviews when a response to my inquiry about our company's work produces a blank stare."

The presence of a multigenerational workplace can prove difficult at times, but if managed effectively can bring out the best in each generation. Older staff members tend to be more patient and temperate, while the younger generations tends to be tech-savvy and fast-acting. Each generation has its strengths and a workplace that brings the best out of each generation will be an enjoyable place for employees to thrive.

Economics and history double major Rusty Hawkins ’13, reflected after the event that “it was interesting to hear how so much success in the workplace comes from being a sensitive and understanding co-worker.”

State Street's Senior VP Pilar Pueyo described the event as “an opportunity to reflect on a relevant topic that plays out on the individual level. There are differences between cultures and genders, and we need to find an intersection to operate our companies effectively.”

Play With A Purpose: Triple Honors for Gordon

noreply@blogger.com (Cyndi McMahon) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

“We are in the business of making people smile. We are not selling to people. We are trying to show them the importance of a healthy, joyful life.”- Marcos Castellano, senior in the Recreation and Leisure Studies program.

When people think of academics, recreation and leisure are two of the last words that usually come to mind. But the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department at Gordon strives to show the importance of leisure in our collective and individual lives. Through holistic study of the quality of life, the department seeks to enrich student lives and their communities. The department's excellence was recognized at this year’s Massachusetts Recreation and Park Associate (MRPA) Conference in which three Gordon representatives were honored for excellence in the field.

Student Marcos Castellano ’13 was named Student of the Year, alumnus Peter Coleman ’03 won Professional of the Year and Professor Peggy Hothem received a special citation for 40 years of service in the field. Professor Hothem—who won the Peter O’Brien Humanitarian award in 2003, the highest honor bestowed by the MRPA—was recognized this year as a long-time member of the organization and for initiating the recreation and leisure studies major at Gordon in 1990.

Though multi honors in one day are rare at the conference, it wasn't surprising to the awards committee that the cream-of-the-crop this year were from Gordon College. "It is unusual for three award recipients to come from one organization," said Doig, who also serves as director to one of the most beautiful ocean adjacent park and recreation programs in the state. "I think this success is a direct result of the great work Dr. Hothem has done over the past 35 years," said Doig. "She has created a great Recreation and Leisure Studies program. Her active involvement in the MRPA over the years has helped many students network within our industry and not only get valuable internships and training but go on to become outstanding recreation professionals."

So what does a student of recreation and leisure look like? Take Marcos Castellano. A committed student and outdoor enthusiast, he has worked at several branches of the North Shore YMCA, and served as assistant to the youth and family director there as an intern in the fall of 2011. He is a captain of the swim team and has worked as a lifeguard for the state of Massachuestts for the past four years, in the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Professor Hothem recommended Marcos for the Student of the Year award, deeming him a “cordial and thoughtful man with a strong sense of responsibility and a servant leadership disposition.”

A Lynn native, he benefited greatly from the Boys and Girls Club and YMCA while growing up. “I gravitated toward my family at home, and at these places, and it kept me out of trouble,” he says, noting that growing up in Lynn was no easy task as kids must overcome pressures to engage in nefarious activities.

As a youth, Marcos nearly drowned twice. But he overcame his fear of the water becoming a lifeguard as a teenager. “Part of it was showing myself I could overcome my fear,” he says. “The other part was a preventative measure. I wanted to make sure other kids didn’t have similar scares.” And overcome it he did. Marcos joined his swim team in eighth grade and has kept at it ever since, elected by his teammates this year to be a captain on the Gordon College swim team.

Marcos attended a technical high school and thought he was going to be an electrical engineer. But his passions never quite aligned with this prospect and when his electrical teacher junior year saw Marcos’ passion for recreation, he urged him to pursue it.

The recreation and leisure major, according to Marcos, is more than just play. “Rec and leisure at Gordon is an all-encompassing major. It draws from all disciplines: sociology, psychology, education and communications. It is a field that opens your eyes to far more than being a P.E. teacher. It opens you up to a way of living and a way of enjoying life to the fullest.” The departmental verse, John 10:10, echoes this notion: “I have come so that you may have life and live it to the fullest.”

Marcos graduates this May and hopes to continue working either with the YMCA or the Department of Conservation and Recreation. He wants to use his background with sports studies, health and fitness to become a trainer or a swimming coach. Marcos feels confident Gordon prepared him for work in his field. “The advisors in my major really work hard to network for students. I feel that after graduation I will have resources for employment opportunities, and that is very important.” As the world continues to stress the importance of productivity and efficiency, Marcos wants to show people the value of leading a balanced life and getting the most out of it. “Our job as leaders is to bring smiles to people, to show them the beauty of a life well led, and connect with them through the universal language of laughter."

Blogger: Mac Gostow ’13. Mac is a communication arts major from California and a student writer in the Office of College Communications at Gordon College. With a double minor in business administration and sociology, Mac has interned for CBS News in New York City, is a founder of ScotRadio, performs with the Sweaty Tooth Madmen improv troupe, and served as a show host for KURadyo in Istanbul, Turkey.

Stand for Freedom: Raising Awareness for Global Slavery

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:02:00 +0000

It’s 7:36 a.m., and I’m trudging through the winter weather to grab breakfast in the Lane Student Center. On the chapel lawn, I squint through the wind to see a girl wrapped in a blanket, standing alone over a small smoking fire pit. In her hands she holds a crooked sign with two words painted in white over black: END IT.

At this early hour, she’s the only one standing. In an hour or two, however, more will join her. The numbers vary with the time, but over the course of 27 hours there will always be someone standing there representing this message. As my fellow students and I go about our busy days, we will pass this makeshift gathering place, looking at the students at the fire with a mixture of confusion and awe. A lot of us know they’re standing for freedom, but we don’t really understand why they have braved the cold at all hours of night and day. The story those students tell shows their determination to fight for a cause in the midst of the college life routine.

Stand for Freedom, part of the END IT Movement and the International Justice Mission, is an initiative on college campuses across the country to raise awareness about global slavery. Students stand for a period of 27 hours, representing the 27 million slaves in the world today—more than at any other time in the history of the world.

Angel Nguyen '16 was one of the organizers behind Stand for Freedom here on campus. She credits her awareness of modern-day slavery to a Passion conference she attended with other Gordon students, where she heard powerful stories of individual slaves and learned about International Justice Mission (IJM) chapters at colleges and universities. When they returned from the conference, Nguyen, along with fellow first-year students Amber Woods '16 and Julia Bartos '16, they started their plans for an IJM chapter at Gordon and began planning for Gordon students to participate in the nationwide Stand for Freedom event.

After three packed-out weeks of planning, recruiting, advertising, praying, and support from Gordon's student-run Human Network, the new group began its 27-hour-long stand for freedom on the chapel lawn. There were scheduled times of prayer, Scripture reading, and worship music, and performances of poetry by members of the student Spoken Word group. Between events, students came and went, talked in low voices, or stood in silence. At times, 30 or more people huddled around the fire in knit hats, holding their Bibles. For the entirety of the event, the fire ring was never abandoned.

“We stood for 27 hours,” says Nguyen. “We took shifts, of course. When it was freezing temperatures at night and started to rain we had to really pray and focus on why we were doing it all.”

In spite of the challenges proffered by the March weather, the students at Stand for Freedom remained steadfast in their purpose. Multiple students testified to one stand-out moment in which they felt God’s power. Toward the end of the 27 hours, under a dry sky, the students sang worship songs—and switched to singing “Let it Rain,” when raindrops started falling around them. As soon as the song ended, so did the rain. “I got chills during that moment,” says Nguyen. “You could physically and literally feel God’s presence in our group as we were praising him.”

The 27-hour Stand For Freedom event has ended, but those involved continue to emphasize that engaging with global issues like slavery is not just for those in the mission field. As Nguyen put it, “This is the kind of thing all Christians should try to do.” Julia Bartos ’16 agreed, saying, “The church needs to be leading the fight against human trafficking, educating people who don’t yet know about it, and rejoicing in the Spirit’s work taking place.” And to those who believe an awareness event does little for the cause, Nguyen says, “Awareness is action. Maybe we cannot go into the field and rescue victims, but that does not mean that we should do nothing. God uses what we have to make a difference—if we offer it up to him.” That’s the focus these student are trying to cultivate as they stand as an example of justice on a global scale. Amber Woods ’16 added, “It’s about the broken reaching out to the broken, and pushing for the redemption and love we’ve all received through grace.”

Nguyen, Woods, and Bartos plan to establish an official chapter of the International Justice Mission at Gordon next year. In the meantime, Nguyen hopes for continued faith and support on campus for this cause. “Faith can move mountains,” she said, “and no prayer is unheard by God.”

To read more stories and student reflections from the Stand for Freedom event, check out the Human Network tumblr here.

Rebekah Connell ’15 is an English major from New York and student writer for the Office of College Communications. She has a concentration in creative writing and is published in Idiom, Cicada Magazine, and Thought Catalog.

Rebekah has been a writer for Notes Along the Way since freshman year, when her writing as a senior in high school grabbed the attention of an editor at Gordon. This fall, Rebekah will continue her studies in literature as she spends a semester abroad at Oxford University.

City Life: Gordon Students Meet Alumni at 3rd Annual Boston Networking Event

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Gostow) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:59:00 +0000

Conversations flowed and affable waiters circled with their delicious delicacies as the Alumni Office hosted a networking event at the Boston Marriot Long Wharf. Over 40 alumni connected with 30 current students seeking job opportunities and advice. The March 21 event included a panel discussion and gave students an opportunity to connect with professionals in their desired field of work.

Engineers, sales managers, insurance brokers, consultants, lawyers, physician’s assistants, program coordinators and entrepreneurs were among the Gordon graduates who attended, and they all were looking to offer opportunities to students in whose shoes they once stood.

After about 45 minutes of networking the group gathered for the panel discussion. The speakers were Gordon grads from a variety of fields: social worker Kayla Peck ’11, attorney Abigail Baird ’03, financial services professional Peter Holt ’06 and recruiting professional Greg Karr ’93. They answered questions about their transition out of Gordon life, the pros of a Gordon degree and the role their faith plays in their work.

Abigail Baird spoke about how important it is for young professionals to develop their own values and goals.“No one will draw boundaries for you when it comes to work. It is ultimately up to you to find your balance in life,” she said.

The speakers urged students to take advantage of the many networking options available to them. “With networking websites and online job boards there is no reason not to get yourself out there and cast your potential employer net as wide as possible,” explained Greg Karr, “I actually mailed out resumes during my last semester of college and there was little thought behind it. Nowadays you can be more intentional about who you connect with.”

Senior Naama Mendes, an economics and international affairs double major, says, “It was refreshing to see the many vocational possibilities out there for Gordon students.”

The success of the event in connecting students with alumni was undeniable, but both groups expressed a desire for more events of this nature. “This event is a great starting block, but there needs to be other events throughout the year as well,” said Peter Holt.

This marks the third Career Services alumni networking event held in Boston. Peter Bayreuther, Assistant Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, said Gordon hopes to organize more in the future to offer current students expanded connections with the alumni.

Pam Lazarakis, Director of Career Services, reflected positively on the evening: “Alumni and student networking is invaluable. There is a wonderful alumni contribution to students, who benefit in building confidence for employers and learning the skills necessary to get a job.”

DeWayne Davenport, creative brain at DC Group, commented, “I love being a part of a community that can give back to students. I have an affinity for wanting to help people that went to the same school as me, and see our presence in the Boston area grow.”

Blogger: Mac Gostow ’13. Mac is a communication arts major from California and a student writer in the Office of College Communications at Gordon College. With a double minor in business administration and sociology, Mac has interned for CBS News in New York City, is a founder of ScotRadio, performs with theSweaty Tooth Madmen improv troupe, and served as a show host for KURadyo in Istanbul, Turkey.

Leadership 101: Chairman of NYSE Imparts Wisdom to Students

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Gostow) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:22:00 +0000

“The U.S. is losing its ethical bearings. From the Clinton scandal up to the Baseball Hall of Fame steroid problem, we see examples of corruption in our country.”

Marshall N. Carter commanded the attention of the presidential fellows over lunch in the President’s Dining Room at Gordon during his short trip to campus last Tuesday. Carter, a candid and confident man, is the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange Group and frequently speaks with students and professionals about leadership in a complex and quickly developing world.

Carter’s varied experience in military, medicinal and financial sectors has instilled in him a thorough knowledge of leadership. He served as a U.S. Marine officer in Vietnam, chaired the board of directors at Boston Medical Center for eight years, and was CEO of the State Street Bank and Trust company in Boston for nine years. The fields differed, but the vital leadership characteristics remained constant: technical competency, ability to communicate, and adaptability.

“A leader is a catalyst that provides direction and energy to achieve his ends,” said Carter. “This involves a careful, balanced charisma.”

Carter cleared up some misconceptions about leadership, showing that leaders are not necessarily born, but trained. He also did away with the traditional notion that success can be repeated through similar techniques; instead, he advocates constant change in business structure and operation.

Perhaps most importantly, Carter exhorted the aspiring leaders around the table to foster a personal life beyond work and family, “Two of the ‘stool legs’ of life are work and family. But we must have a third stool leg that comprises our personal life outside of these two. It can be a passion or hobby, but it provides an outlet from the stress and strain of the other legs,” he said. In an increasingly demanding culture that pushes us to accomplish, his view of the need for balance in life was refreshing to all ears in the room.

Amber Fiedler, a senior business administration and communication arts double major from Wayne, New Jersey, serves as Fellow to Gordon's Vice President for Marketing and Strategic Communications. Amber reflected, “I am somewhat star-struck and incredibly grateful for the opportunity to meet such a well-respected man. I will not soon forget his insightful take on effective leadership.”

Carter took questions from around the table. In his answer to the final question asking about his greatest failure, he revealed the all-too-human side of leadership. His quick response: “I spent $52 million on a data center my company never used. That was something I spent a long time coping with.” Failure is a natural component of leadership, and where there is greatness, there is also failure. To hear this first-hand from such an experienced businessman came as a consolation and an empowerment.

After lunch, Carter snuck off campus, with few members of the Gordon community aware of his presence in the first place. But he stopped to offer a few words prior to his departure: “With 55 colleges and universities in the Boston area, I find Gordon fascinating. There is clearly a focus on leadership here.”

Blogger: Mac Gostow ’13. Mac is acommunication arts major from California and a student writer in theOffice of College Communications at Gordon College. With a double minor in business administration and sociology, Mac has interned for CBS News in New York City, is a founder of ScotRadio, performs with theSweaty Tooth Madmen improv troupe, and served as a show host for KURadyo in Istanbul, Turkey.

Student Diplomacy: Gordon Delegates Get Invaluable United Nations Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Cyndi McMahon) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:59:00 +0000

As any student will tell you, there is no substitute for firsthand experience in a desired career field. For Gordon students interested in politics and international relations, Model United Nations (MUN) offers an unparalleled immersion in real-world diplomacy.

Recently, 18 Gordon student delegates represented the country of Tunisia at the 2013 Harvard National Model United Nations conference in Boston. The event brought together 3,500 college students from around the world for a four-day conference that simulates the United Nations. During the conference, delegates work together to form policies and draft resolutions that they vote on during the final assembly.

The 18 Gordon delegates collaborated with Paul Brink, associate professor of political science, in a 2-credit MUN class from November to February. They spent the first month researching their country, and then drafted proposals during winter break. The culmination of their work was presented during the MUN conference.
Brink and two head delegates handpicked the 18 students—many of whom are international students from places like the Dominican Republic, Romania and Korea—out of a pool of 50 applicants. The 18 delegates served on 11 different UN committees at the conference and worked closely with students from other schools to draft a resolution. As Brink put it, “Model UN offers students a taste of the nuts and bolts of retail politics and forces them to confront ethical questions about political behavior.”

Gordon has made annual appearances at Harvard Model UN since 2006, when Professor Brink came to Gordon from Eastern University, where he also served as the MUN advisor, His class regularly represents African countries, including Angola, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania. Brink explains, “We choose to represent smaller African countries because it provides Gordon students a chance to engage the perspective of a less privileged country.” During the conference, delegates participate in three sessions a day, revising, editing and forming working policy drafts. But as Brink points out, most of the politicking happens in the hallway or at social places like Starbucks.

Ian Isaac ’14, a political science major from Wenham, aspires to develop an NGO focusing on resolving social conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Isaac shares that “MUN helped me to exercise relational skills and provided an opportunity to see what real diplomacy looks like, in all its messiness.” For the international students who were part of Gordon's MUN delegation, representing an American college at the conference was an additional interesting dimension. Nora Kirkham ’16, an international affairs major from Bucharest, Romania reflects: “Having lived abroad my whole life, I participated in several Model UN conferences before, but none matched the level of intensity or sophistication in debate that I witnessed that weekend. It was a challenging but enriching weekend that I would recommend to any student interested in international diplomacy.”

For the first time this academic year, students also had an opportunity to participate in additional MUN simulations, by joining a student-run Model UN club. The club participates in MUN conferences in other cities including Chicago and Philadelphia. Guanya, who has participated in four MUN conferences with Gordon, shares the United Nations Team “hones member debate skills, parliamentary procedures, and teaches about the sophisticated United Nations structure.” Guanya, who aspires to enter into the field of international or investment real estate reflects: “It was bittersweet to participate in my final MUN conference. But the interpersonal and public speaking skills I gained will be useful for any job I take in the future.”

For the Love of the Game: Gordon Alum Goes Pro

noreply@blogger.com (Mac Gostow) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:04:00 +0000

It started out like most great sports stories do: a kid, a ball and a dream. But for Matt Horth ’11 the journey to Major League Soccer has been a series of small steps, serious sacrifices and unwavering determination. As a member of the Gordon Men's Soccer team, the newly drafted forward for the New England Revolution cultivated the skills necessary to accomplish his dream and learned life lessons that have prepared him for the journey ahead.

Matt fell in love with soccer early on. He first strapped on cleats and took to the field at age 6 in a church recreational league. Unlike most fathers who recognize potential in their kids, Matt’s dad encouraged him to play for pure enjoyment in a stress-free environment. Soccer quickly became his stress relief and enriched his life. Around age 10, the heavy yet fascinating dream of one day becoming a professional player began to settle in. Most kids eventually abandon the dream, but Matt stuck with it. He reflects, “When I turned 11, I realized how few players make it to the big leagues. So I thought, ‘What can I do on my end to make it work? Which factors can I control?’”

He answered that question on the field in his freshman year of high school. He began to harness the realistic, embracing the demanding work ethic and saying no to parties and late nights. Jake DeClute, a professional coach for the Cleveland City Stars who coached Matt’s club soccer team, observed Matt on the field, and recalls, “The first day of training I thought to myself, ‘The tall kid could become a really good player.’”

Matt and DeClute quickly formed a close relationship both on and off the field. “He's the kind of kid who is always asking the coach for ways to improve, always staying after to do extra work, always in the office watching film, so we ended up spending a lot of time together,” says DeClute. When DeClute got the job as head coach at Gordon College, Matt followed him.

Matt dominated the field during his time at Gordon with 37 goals and 20 assists over his four years. He was voted TCCC Rookie of the Year in 2007 and he made TCCC First Team All-Conference each of his four years.

But for the Gordon team, Matt was more than just his impressive numbers; he was a leader. DeClute chose Matt as team captain his sophomore year and he remained the captain for the next three years. “As much as the team benefited from him, he benefited from them. I think he helped them to compete more, while they helped him to have a better perspective on soccer. Plus, they pushed him,” DeClute recalls.

Matt blossomed as team leader, encouraging greatness from his teammates both on and off the field; he became a role model for both character and conditioning. He took seriously the team’s theme verse from Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” “We stressed brotherhood. This meant pushing one another hard on the field but also supporting one another off the field,” he says. And on the field Matt led by example. Former teammate Ryan Coil exclaims, “I have never seen anyone work as hard as Matt. He arrived at practice early and left late every single day. He was extremely dedicated to the game.”

When fall of his senior year came round, Matt and DeClute eagerly contacted a handful of second- and third-tier professional soccer clubs and arranged tryouts. Matt performed well but didn’t receive any call-backs until his final tryout with the Atlanta Silverbacks. He showed his true potential on the field and right after practice they signed him to a two-year deal.

During his time in Atlanta, Matt honed his skills on the field, proving himself a formidable goal-scorer. He racked up 18 goals in 49 appearances and learned what it means to condition for a long season. Horth continued to push himself mentally and physically, training five days a week building his stamina and durability. His performance on the field caught the eye of Revolution General Manager Michael Burns, who invited Matt to Boston for five days last October. After several weeks of dialogue between his agent and the Revolution scout, Matt was signed to the team after Thanksgiving. “For me,” he says, “it was so much more than just signing a contract. It was 16 years of hard work paying off. It was the culmination of a journey; the sacrifice had turned into dividends.”

As he continues to grow as a player, he never forgets those who helped him get there. Matt maintains a close relationship with Jake DeClute to this day. DeClute shares, “As good as it was to coach Matty, it has been even better to get to know him as a person.”

Horth recently became engaged to his friend of five years (and fellow Gordon grad) Jessica Figurido ’11. Jessica has remained by his side providing much-needed support during his journey. The two plan to marry next winter, just after the soccer season ends.

His faith also helped him through the hardest times along the way. He has learned many life lessons through soccer, and reflects, “God humbled me to not use soccer for personal gain and popularity, but as a gift that I must respond to by glorifying Him. He has given me a platform, and I must decide how I will use it.”

As he lets his accomplishments settle in, he stresses the importance of taking things day by day and not looking too far into the future. “This entire journey has been a series of stepping stones across a river. It is just one stone at a time. It was this last jump, the one to the other shore, that was the most difficult.”

Beanpot: Boston's Biggest Collegiate Improv Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Cyndi McMahon) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:22:00 +0000

In most cases, an adventurous journey through the deepest caverns of ice planet Zilia in search of the mythical sphinx with healing powers seems far-fetched. But in the world of improv, anything is possible.

The members of Sweaty-Toothed Madmen, Gordon’s improv troupe, harness the imagination to create humorous, often outlandish theatrical scenes. Later this month, the troupe will make their fourth appearance in the Beanpot, a Boston-based competition that brings together improv teams from Boston University, Northeastern University, and other colleges in the area.

Throughout the three-day competition, teams extemporaneously create characters and plots in either 60 or 90-second scenes. Three judges score teams based on elements like story, character development and originality. The players also hone their craft in workshops led by professional improvisers and share the stage with other teams, culminating in an explosion of creative magic.

The Madmen have been an integral part of Gordon campus life since 1996. The group participated in Beanpot in 2007, 2010 and 2012, taking third place in the final competition the last two years out of a pool of 14 teams across the city of Boston.

The Beanpot is an opportunity for the Madmen to put their skills to the test and network with other local university students. Last spring, Boston University’s Liquid Fun came up to Gordon for a year-end show and took the stage with the Madmen, and the Madmen participated in BU's 24-hour improv show.

Ryan Coil, leader of the Madmen for the past two years, explains, “Beanpot is one of the most important events for us. Not only is our team exposed to new improv forms, but we get professional instruction. And the networking opportunities between teams is fantastic.”

This year’s Beanpot competition will be from February 21 to 23 at Improv Boston. Two nights of performance and competition on Thursday and Friday will be followed by all-day workshops on Saturday. The two finalists will compete for the Beanpot title that night. Tickets and show information are available through ImprovBoston online.

A Cultural Nomad, A Grounded Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Cyndi McMahon) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:48:00 +0000

By Mac Gostow ’13

“My concern is for souls, not material wealth. A soul lost here is just as big of a loss as a soul lost in Africa.”

Business Administration major Chan Mi Kim is a cultural nomad of sorts. Born in Korea to missionary parents, she moved to Vietnam at 7, attended boarding school in Malaysia at 13, and traveled to six countries during a gap year before making her way to America for college. She brings a perspective many Americans can appreciate but few can identify with. In the Gordon community, she exudes confidence, grace, and passionately engaged faith. With a zeal for photography, languages and people, she breathes life into everything she touches.

Chan Mi arrived in America last summer feeling called to the Boston area. A Gordon alumnus at a camp in Korea had introduced her to the school and she thought it the perfect place to cultivate her business knowledge and serve the many college students in the Boston area.

As she entered the Class of 2016, Chan Mi discovered she'd traveled the farthest from home to get a Gordon education (8,539 miles, to be exact). Her first semester settling in at Gordon included several particularly American experiences.

She spent Thanksgiving in Tennessee at a gathering that featured a vast plethora of food and greater table camaraderie than she imagined possible. She felt engaged and rejuvenated by the excited family dynamic. Then, while bitter winds devastated the northeast, she found herself spending Christmas in sunny Malibu, California, surrounded by other missionary kids. She explains, “There is not just one culture that missionary kids identify with. We know home by people, not place.” Chan Mi appreciates the diversity she sees in America. “Korea is 98 percent Korean, ” she notes. “It is the most homogenous country in the world. Coming here I have had the pleasure of meeting people with different backgrounds, both ethnically and culturally.”

Outside of class, Chan Mi is the photographer and webmaster for Advocates for a Sustainable Future (ASF). She is also a member of Model UN and plays on her resident hall intramural basketball team. But what she looks forward to most each week is her commute to Boston, where she engages in fellowship with other students in the Boston area. Chan Mi wants those she meets to share her belief that “God is everything. He is not a priority atop a list. He is the entire list and much, much more.”

Chan Mi wants to direct her passion for people and business toward starting her own company by her junior year. She has many ideas, such as a translation company that would offer legal assistance to Boston’s immigrant population. She sees starting a business as an opportunity to create an environment where faith and work intersect. “Unlike church, where the pastor only sees his people once a week, I want my business to be a means of daily discipleship with my coworkers and customers,” she says. “I want to create a community that can work toward a common goal of loving God and loving others.”

Whatever her future has in store, Chan Mi will bring her diverse background and enthusiasm to the table, challenging others to seek God in all things.

Photo 1: Chan Mi with friends from Gordon heading back to campus on the train. A quick 20-minute train ride gets her to North Station in the heart of Boston. Photo 2: Thanksgiving with friends. To view more photos of Chan Mi's first few months studying at a Christian American University, visit her "Love At First Sight" album on Facebook.

Mac Gostow ’13 is a communication arts major from California and a student writer in the Office of College Communications at Gordon College. With a double minor in business administration and sociology, Mac has interned for CBS News in New York City, is a founder of ScotRadio, performs with the Sweaty Tooth Madmen improve troupe, and served as a show host for KURadyo in Istanbul, Turkey.

Superbowl of Birding

noreply@blogger.com (Cyndi McMahon) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:13:00 +0000

Instead of a helmet, Greg Keller, associate professor of conservation biology, and four of his students grabbed their binoculars to compete in the tenth annual "Superbowl of Birding" last week. This year's birdwatching competition took place at the Joppa Flats Education Center during New England's arctic season and invited participants to spot as many species as possible in the course of a 12-hour day. Though his students said Keller could have easily taken first place in the competition if he had brought a more advanced crew, their professor invited a sophomore marine biologist, a junior mammalogist, and a senior environmental philosopher--all with limited birding knowledge--because he wanted to give them a new opportunity.

Though the temperature was frigid, Dr. Keller's enthusiasm kept the students engaged. "One moment you're sure that the abusive cold has sapped all motivation from you, and the next you've forgotten the freezing temperatures because Dr. Keller is darting to the scope, having caught a glimpse of a Western Eider hidden in the rough ocean," shared Sam Mason '15.

The competition included various categories. As a group, the Gordon team identified the most life birds (birds that a participant is seeing for the first time), with a total of 106 new species. Mason, a biology major from Maine, won the Lifer Award at the competition recording 38 new species that he had never seen before.

Dr. Keller's knowledge about birds is evident. "There was one point in the day when he identified half a dozen species by their song during a two-minute walk through the paths of Halibut Point," said Mason. "While he obviously wanted the Gordon team to do well, he was never in such a hurry that there wasn't time to explain why what we just saw was a Bonaparte's Gull and not Herring Gull. He struck a balance between making our efforts worthwhile and ensuring we were enjoying ourselves while learning something."

Looking back on the day, Mason added, "I think what makes Dr. Keller's off-campus field trips so unique is his evident love for sharing his interests with his students."

Read more >>

Fat Dog Shellfish: An Alum's Journey into Sustainable Aquaculture

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 19:04:00 +0000

By Mac Gostow ’13

Many people think about abandoning their office jobs for a more adventurous life, but few take the steps to make it happen. Jason Baker ’95 is an exception. After 13 years of working out of a Boston-based office, a suggestion from a close friend prompted him to leave his old life behind and found Fat Dog Shellfish, an oyster farm in New Hampshire's Great Bay. With the drive to grow the perfect oyster, and a commitment to promoting an environmentally friendly industry, Jason is putting his Gordon education to use in an interesting, exciting way.

Jason studied biology at Gordon, where he took advantage of the many immersion opportunities offered through his department. “Gordon is where I first cultivated my environmental ethic,” he says. During a summer environmental studies program at the Au Sable Institute in Michigan, Jason's passion for environmentally sustainable practices and industries was solidified.
After graduating, Jason worked as a technician for a wildlife program at Crane Beach in Ipswich. Soon thereafter he acquired an MA in environmental coastal management from Duke University, where he felt Gordon prepared him to compete with his Ivy League peers. Jason went on to serve as Director of the Massachusetts Bay National Estuary Program.

His call to a more venturesome life became apparent when he learned about aquaculture—the farming of aquatic organisms like shellfish. In shellfish Jason finally found a profitable and sustainable industry. Shellfish are filter feeders and pump gallons of water through their tiny gills, removing hazardous phytoplankton that would otherwise disrupt the water column. The waterways along the Eastern Seaboard suffer from overabundance of harmful nutrients like lawn fertilizer, which cause excessive algae blooms and a loss of habitats for many kinds of marine life. By farming shellfish, Jason and Fat Dog Shellfish help clean the coastal waters, preserving marine habitats and allowing for a diversity of species to thrive.

Jason now spends his summer days out on a boat in Great Bay, living a life he only dreamed of in years prior. Fat Dog Shellfish will reap its first crop this summer, selling the harvest to wholesale chains, local restaurants and friends. He seeks to expand Fat Dog in the near future; he would like to broaden the company's species diversity to include seaweed and clams, and he hopes to provide immersive summer internships to Gordon students interested in marine biology. Jason reflects on his career change with excitement and a renewed vitality: “I made the move from cube jockey to a farmer, and it has made all the difference.”

Photo: Jason Baker ’95 grows oysters in New Hampshire's Great Bay with his company, Fat Dog Shellfish.

Mac Gostow ’13 is a communication arts major from California and a student writer in the Office of College Communications at Gordon College.

On View in the Art Gallery: Jay Walker

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Morse) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:42:00 +0000

“What is our relationship with Mystery? Do we ignore, indulge, or succumb to its daily presence in our lives?” – Jay Walker

The Gallery at Barrington Center for the Arts kicked off its spring exhibit schedule this past Saturday with a new show by Philadelphia artist Jay Walker. The exhibit, From my book: Installations by Jay Walker, features large-scale interpretations of the Theotokos figure (the Greek title for Mary, mother of Jesus, especially in eastern Christian traditions), using nothing but tape and cut vinyl. You can view the exhibit in Barrington through February 16, 2013.

As the title indicates, all of the installations, which cover nearly every inch of the Gallery walls, started as rough drawings found in Jay’s sketchbooks. “In the sketchbook, it has always been my inspiration to work quickly and intuitively…These works began in that place,” Jay explains. This mindset drove the installation process itself, as Jay worked in the Barrington galleries day and night for a full week before the opening.

However, Jay didn’t complete the installation entirely by himself; he was assisted by three Gordon art majors, who returned early from winter break to join in the work. Walker wanted the installation to be a true collaboration with both the space and the students who occupy Barrington. Michela Kendrick-Tedesco ’13, Becky Orcutt ’16 and Damaris Gibaldi ’16 jumped at the opportunity to work on the artist's sprawling creation.

Throughout the installation week, Jay and the students explored the themes of devotion, church history, and the incarnation. In particular, they attempted to “take the relationship aspect of the incarnation and wrestle with it.” The four pieces depict a series of mysterious incarnational connections between the presence of the human figure and the divine.

Bruce Herman, Gallery Director, commented that one of the figures especially—"Theotokos XXVI: Devotion"—struck him as “stunningly beautiful,” adding, “It feels like something very precious, like platinum, or spun glass, or gossamer… and it’s just plain old packaging tape.”

Bruce went on to say that this contrast is what makes Jay’s work so successful: his pieces manage to “overcome the ordinariness of a material and have it be transfigured into something transcendent.”

From my book: Installations by Jay Walker will be on view through Saturday, February 16th. The Gallery is open Monday–Saturday, 9 am–7 pm. You can learn more about the exhibit at www.gordon.edu/jaywalker.

Not a Museum, but a Garden: Massimo Faggioli Lectures on the Meaning of Vatican II

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:50:00 +0000

By Hilary Sherratt ’12

It was Massimo Faggioli's provocative lecture title, “Vatican II: Then and Now,” that likely drew many local Catholic parishioners, as well as Gordon faculty and students, to the Ken Olsen Science Center MacDonald Auditorium for the final talk of the Fall 2012 Faith Seeking Understanding Lecture Series at Gordon College. Faggioli explored in his lecture the history, theology and broad cultural impact of the Second Vatican Council. Professor Faggioli, assistant professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, is an Italian scholar who has taught at the University of Bologna, the University of Modena-Reggio Emilia, and the Free University of Bolzen-Bolzano; he brought his passion and enthusiasm for church history to his listeners.

Beginning in 1962 and concluding in 1965, the Second Vatican Council represented a major effort on the part of the Catholic Church to address issues of modernity in a way understood by many (Faggioli included) to be more open and culturally engaged than the Church's approach through "the long 19th century."

“The question is, is Vatican II Council in continuity or in discontinuity with the rest of the church tradition?” Faggioli asked. Then, with a small smile, he proceeded to elaborate: “As a theologian and church historian, I can tell you that it is in continuity AND in discontinuity with the tradition. I challenge everyone,” he went on, “to show me a place in church teaching before the Second Vatican Council where religious freedom was talked about in a positive way. It’s not there. This was a discontinuity. I also point out that the law of the Church is the Scripture—that was true in the Second Vatican Council as well—it is in continuity. So there are both.”

For Faggioli, the Council is far from a curious object of the past. He explained, in the words of Pope John XXIII, “The Church is not a museum—it is a garden.” That is, the Catholic Church is a living thing, a communion of people that experiences real change and transformation over time. In fact, Professor Faggioli’s lecture itself felt more like wandering through a garden—noticing different plants, exploring hidden corners of meaning and implication—than it did a museum. The Council and its outcomes were as powerful and immediate after fifty years as they must have been after only five. At the end of the lecture, the audience was eager to ask questions and to deepen their understanding of this monumental event.

Professor Faggioli offered eight major outcomes of the Council, which included a more engaged laity and lay movements in the church, the recognition of the Church as global (there were 2,500 bishops in attendance at the Council from all over the world), and the realization of ecumenism as the destiny of Christianity. Before the Council, he suggested, ecumenism was not pursued by the Catholic Church, and there was no real recognition of Protestants and Orthodox Christians as part of the faith. Now, fifty years later, the Catholic Church has active dialogues with many different Orthodox Christians and with Protestant traditions.

 In some ways, then, the Second Vatican Council’s recognition of ecumenism is, in part, what brought Professor Faggioli to Gordon College: to dialogue with our community of faith, to share about his tradition, and to work together towards our deeper understanding of one another. His lecture sparked new exploration and conversation—a ramble through the garden of the Catholic tradition.

Photo: Massimo Faggioli

Hilary Sherratt ’12 is a grant writer in the Office of the Provost at Gordon College and a guest blogger for Notes Along the Way.

Gordon Students Win Big at Regional Skateboarding Contest (and Why It's Not About Winning at All)

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:13:00 +0000

Brian Glenney, assistant professor of philosophy and skateboarding enthusiast, shares a story of how two Gordon students are making some impressive (concrete and wooden) waves in New England:

The Fall Brawl, New England’s largest amateur skateboarding contest, took place earlier this month. Among the highly selective crop of 50 invited competitors were Gordon College students Matt Lane ’13, a recreation and leisure studies major, and Steve Mull ’15, an English major.

After warm-ups—a kind of Battle Royale which seemed to defy not only Newton’s laws of nature but Hobbes’ nasty, brutish, and short state of nature—competitors plied their tricks in groups of five for several minutes while judges jotted notes and, at points, covered their eyes. Following a few elimination rounds (a term I use in both its technical and descriptive senses), only two groups remained. Both our heroes, Gordiators we might call them, remained in the fight.

Allow me a moment to clarify something: skateboarding is not a sport. These contests are not really a competition amongst skateboarders. Skateboarding is, rather, an inherently kinetic activity of the body—not unlike ballet or other forms of artistic dance—which simply adds further dimensions of speed and landscape. What do you have when you add landscape to ballet? Parkour. Now, add speed—pushing-a-wheeled-stick-as-hard-as-possible-with-your-mobile-leg speed—and you get skateboarding. Add several skateboarders together, you get a session. Add judges, you get a contest. The Fall Brawl, then, is really some breed of obstacled, high-speed, free-form ballet—and Lane and Mull are kinetic artists of rare quality.

However, let’s not let this information take away the social meaning and fiscal value from a further set of facts: A this year’s Fall Brawl, Matt Lane took 1st place and $1000. Steve Mull took 2nd place and $450. And there’s little reason to be surprised. Consider the following:

“Matt [Lane]’s the best up-and-coming skater in Boston, hands down,” I overheard from Josh, part-owner of Boardwalk Skate Shop and Indoor Skate Park in Woburn. Matt’s recent feature article in Steez, a top skateboarding magazine, sharpen Josh’s point, as does Matt’s mug on the cover of another premier magazine, Focus. What makes Matt so good is that he rarely misses a trick. What’s more, every trick he does is done faster and bigger than anyone else who does that trick. I feel sorry for the obstacles in Matt’s landscape. It’s like watching a silverback gorilla move across a jungle floor: the trees might try to get out of the way, but the silverback is just too quick. Power, courage and backbone like Matt’s—well, you just can’t buy that stuff.

Steve Mull, whose signature board just came out with his sponsor, Vermont Skateboards (yes, I mean that Steve Mull has a skateboard deck with his name printed on it in fancy script next to graphics that would make any street artist go legal), is a different kind of skater. His style is influenced by the round and sloped semi-rural landscape of his home, Vermont. This kid is pure style. (And to use this word, ‘style,’ multiple times, as I intend to, is not being repetitive when describing Steve Mull.) Mull’s contest performance was marked by his signature trick, a very long, stylish stalefish crooked, which looks something like this (skip ahead to 2:30). It’s a trick as difficult as it is original. Steve Mull: innovator, innovator, innovator… and style-king… and owner of a heart-warming smile that could melt a Vermont winter.

Matt Lane, Steve Mull, we love you. You make Gordon proud—for your backbone and your style; for throwing your whole selves onto those boards.

Brian Glenney, PhD, is assistant professor of philosophy at Gordon College, where he also teaches a skateboarding physical education class. In addition to his peer-reviewed scholarly work on philosophical psychology and perception, Glenney has been an active skateboarder and (reformed, legal) street artist for over twenty years. His scholarly interests in perception and personal passions for art and mobility have recently coalesced into the Accessible Icon Project, a collaboration with Harvard artist Sara Hendren to transform the International Symbol of Access (the Wheelchair Symbol) into an “active, engaged image.”

Photos: 1—Steve Mull ’15, Frontside 180 Kickflip; 2—Matt Lane ’13, Frontside Nosegrind

Fall Theatre Wrap-up: Working: A Musical

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Morse) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 20:04:00 +0000

This past weekend in the Margaret Jensen Theatre, the Theatre Arts Department closed the curtain on its final performance of Working: A Musical. The show opened to a sold-out audience on Friday, November 2, and went on to welcome more than 600 attendees throughout its two-weekend run.

Working: A Musical is based on real interviews with American workers, conducted by writer Studs Terkel in the 1970s. Through a series of individual stories and ensemble numbers, the audience is offered a glimpse into the frustration, joy, pride and aspirations of average American workers.

Directed by Gordon professor Jeff Miller, the cast and crew were challenged with reimagining this classic American musical, each playing multiple characters and assisting the tech crew.

“The cast and crew deserve an enormous amount of praise for a very successful run…One of my favorite things about watching an ensemble cast is seeing each cast member get to embody multiple, different roles,” said production manager and technical director Matt Schwabauer.

One of these performers was Cristin Gordon ’14, a theatre arts major. “Being a part of a show like Working was amazing because of how close the entire cast and crew became. It's awesome to get to perform in such a fun, nurturing environment. Also, I felt honored to perform these roles and tell the stories of these people.”

Miller echoed these sentiments in his reflection about his students’ performance: “For college students to embrace and give integrity to these characters who are very different from themselves (in more than age) is a major accomplishment. Time and again we heard that audience members were moved, challenged and deeply affected by hearing these stories.”

Josh Kaplan ’16, a communication arts major, was one of those who connected with the stories presented by the cast. “Working was very thought provoking. The text of the piece and the performances by the actors truly made me think what is the value of work in today’s society.”

Another first-year student, Damaris Gibaldi, was excited both to serve as assistant stage manager and take part in a production that tackled these timely themes. “Not only did I learn about the logistics of backstage work, but I got to be a part of a show that clearly demonstrated the worth of the working class.”

Miller had been eager to present a show that communicated the values and complexity of work and vocation, and he concluded that he was humbled by his students’ “commitment to excellent work and their full commitment to their Creator, who gives them the opportunity to use their gifts in service like this.”

If you missed Working: A Musical, you still have plenty of time to plan your next visit to the Margaret Jensen Theatre. The Theatre Arts Department will present its next production, Waiting for Godot, in mid-April. Tickets can be purchased online beginning in a few months at www.gordon.edu/tickets.

Ten Years Towards Benign

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:57:00 +0000

By Hilary Sherratt ’12

“The real question is, how do we train chemists?” John Warner looked intently at each face in the front two rows of the MacDonald auditorium. “How do we expect chemists not to make harmful compounds if they’ve never been taught how to identify them?” Education was the key word at Monday afternoon's Green Chemistry Lecture at Gordon College. Warner, a world renowned industrial chemist and founder of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, shared his personal journey into green chemistry and his commitment to calling attention to this unmet need.

When he was a lead researcher at Polaroid, Warner met with his college friend and colleague, Paul Anastas, at the Environmental Protection Agency. Anastas was working in the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, and the two men got to talking about the need for environmentally benign non-toxics. This, Dr. Warner told us, was the birth of green chemistry. “It started with the two of us, wondering why there is such a lack of conversation around this important issue,” he said. The initial conversation in an EPA office in Washington, DC, sparked a worldwide revolution, the publication of a book, Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, and a new field of research and development in chemistry. Now, Warner says, green chemistry is projected to be a $100 billion industry by the year 2020.

What is most important for the success of green chemistry, we are likely to wonder after hearing these impressive projections. The answer is, of all things, education. “We need to teach scientists who to identify possible toxins, carcinogens and harmful compounds. If we can teach them how to see these possibilities, and create safe alternatives, we will go a long way in the right direction.”

And students at Gordon College are at the forefront of green chemistry education, Warner told the audience yesterday afternoon. Professor Irv Levy, professor of chemistry at Gordon, has been instrumental in the promotion of green chemistry both nationally and internationally. He is a leader in educating chemistry students about safety, sustainability and much more. Ultimately, Warner said, it is the education of our future chemists in environmental toxicology, law and policy, and sustainability that will be the way to solve future problems. In a world bombarded by news of toxic and harmful molecules, we need chemists who know how to create benign and even environmentally beneficial substances.

Over the past ten years since the beginning of the Green Chemistry Lecture series, Gordon has been extremely active in green chemistry education and scholarship. Students have helped with the Boston Museum of Science's Green Chemistry Day, and have completed independent research and presented their work at national American Chemical Society meetings. This year, students will travel to New Orleans, Louisiana, in December to present posters about their research.

Warner led a round of applause during his talk, thanking Gordon College for being a “pioneer in the education of green chemists.” Looking sincerely at each audience member, Dr. Warner said he hoped that sitting among us were the innovative, creative chemists who will become the problem solvers of the future.

Photo: Gordon chemistry students demonstrate green chemistry techniques prior to the annual Green Chemistry Lecture this past Monday, November 12.

Hilary Sherratt ’12 is a grant writer in the Office of the Provost at Gordon College and a guest blogger for Notes Along the Way.

Aruhah: Awareness and Prayer for the Hungry and Thirsty

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 20:24:00 +0000

By Rebekah Connell ’15

While in high school, McKenzie Watson ’15 remembers being asked, “If you could remedy anything in the world, what would it be?” A daunting question, but McKenzie didn’t hesitate to answer, “I want everyone to have clean drinking water.” This issue has remained close to McKenzie’s heart for much of her life. “The world is filled with needs and injustices, a smorgasbord of causes to lobby for,” she says. “Access to clean drinking water is the most basic. People die every day from not having their most basic needs met. And to me, that is absolutely crazy.”

Since coming to Gordon, McKenzie, a biblical studies major, has sought the means to bring her passion for hunger and thirst to the campus community. Steph Clark ’15, a social work major, recently joined forces with McKenzie, and the two have brought to life a brand-new ministry called Aruhah—Hebrew for “meal.”

Aruhah works to transform, bringing awareness of the world’s needs to its members and to the campus as a whole. McKenzie points out, “As college students, we don’t have extra cash on hand, and while money is important, limiting our ‘charity’ to financial giving isolates us from those we hope to partner with.” Aruhah’s ministry at Gordon broadens this concept of charity, promoting practical activism—“seeking ways to be conscious of how our daily actions affect the global community.”

Alongside its focus on awareness, Aruhah is a ministry rooted in prayer. “We believe that prayer actually changes things,” says McKenzie, “We are choosing to activate our belief that prayer is important and effective.”

These two ideas—awareness an prayer—are closely linked within the ministry. “Steph and I are both really convicted that if we act before we are properly informed, we could do more damage than good,” McKenzie explains. “We’re seeking to be informed so that when we act, we can do so in a responsible way.” But on the flipside, she adds, “Being informed is of no merit if we don’t do anything with what we know.”

Each Saturday, Aruhah meets to discuss worldwide hunger and thirst, and to pray for the needs of millions around the globe. The discussion involves brainstorming ways to apply what the group is learning, and planning events to cultivate awareness on a personal and campus-wide level. “The entire second half of the meeting is devoted to prayer for those who do not have enough food or access to clean water,” McKenzie says. “Prayer is the work of the ministry.”

McKenzie and Steph have seen their passion for hunger and thirst expand from an idea to a growing ministry, but the biggest challenge for them has, perhaps surprisingly, been finding time for the group to do its work. “Gordon is a college brimming with smart, engaging students who have a passion for what God is doing in the world,” McKenzie says. “But a significant portion of us are battling overcommitment.” The leaders of Aruhah definitely understand students’ tendency to spread themselves too thin. “It’s hard being another good ministry in a sea of good ministries,” she says.

But that’s where passion for the cause takes over. “I really believe that Aruhah is God’s vision, because this is something close to his heart,” says McKenzie. It’s close to both of these student leaders’ hearts, too. “Caring about the needs of others makes us vulnerable,” McKenzie says, “because caring about anything makes us vulnerable. I want Gordon students to consider our fellow human beings around the globe worthy of that vulnerability.”

- - -

Want to get involved with Aruhah, or just find out more? Email aruhah@gordon.edu, or either leader at mckenzie.watson@gordon.edu or steph.clark@gordon.edu.

Meetings are Saturdays at 4 pm in the Lion’s Den, Lane Student Center.

Photo: Steph Clark ’15 (left) and McKenzie Watson (right).

Rebekah Connell ’15 is an English major from New York and student writer for the Office of College Communications.

Seek the Lord While He Wills to Be Found

noreply@blogger.com (Cyndi McMahon) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:32:00 +0000

Beginning Monday night, November 5, and through the evening on Tuesday, November 6, the Gordon College community marked its annual Day of Prayer. This year's theme, SEEK, focused on Isaiah 55:6—"Seek the Lord while he wills to be found; call upon him when he draws near."

Each year the Day of Prayer celebrates two fundamental realities about Gordon. On the one hand, we are one body in Christ. By praying together in two large chapel services on Tuesday, we sought the Lord as one campus. The morning service began with the Morning Chapel Band, the Dance Ministry, and others, all calling us to worship. We moved through a time of individual and corporate confession. And we prayed in groups for the needs of this community, this nation, and all nations.

In the evening we worshipped again as one in the chapel with a congregational expression of the Psalms through song. From a lone voice in the darkness expressing the cries of the Psalmist in Psalm 130, to voices in unison reading the Psalms of Ascent; from hymns to contemporary music to bluegrass; from a Taizé chorus to Gospel music led by the Gospel Choir, we raised our voices in prayer and praise together, using the words of the Psalms.

On the other hand, we recognized through this day the Church's rich scope and variety. Our students, faculty and staff at Gordon come from more than 40 denominations and worshiping traditions. Reflecting this diversity, the Day of Prayer saw students pray in multiple ways and various settings: floor prayer, Catacombs, early morning student-led prayer, Orthodox Matins, departmental prayer, prayer through hymns, Roman Catholic Vespers, creative prayers through writing on stones, praying through the Psalms around a fire pit, and guided prayer for the persecuted church.

There was a palpable sense of God's presence hovering over the campus on the Day of Prayer. God is always present at Gordon, but we often neglect to recognize and appreciate his presence with us each day. On the Day of Prayer we paused as a community, taking a break from our daily routines, to give to God our praises and petitions, and to seek his voice. We are grateful to serve a God who draws near when his people call on him.

Photo: Praying through the Psalms, hosted by Men’s Ministry.

Blog post by Abram Kielsmeier-Jones, Director of Christian Life and Worship.

On View in the Gallery: Joseph A. Fiore

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Morse) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:22:00 +0000

The Gallery at Barrington Center for the Arts continues its 2012–2013 season with a traveling exhibit of landscapes by the late artist Joseph A. Fiore (1925–2008). The exhibit, entitled Fiore/Drawing, will be on view in the Gallery until Saturday, December 14th.

Joseph A. Fiore was less well-known publicly than he was among his contemporaries in the academic art world, having spent much of his career as a professor at Black Mountain College in Asheville, NC, and Philadelphia College of Fine Arts. This exhibit attempts to give the public its first glimpse into nearly half a century of Fiore’s drawings, watercolors and pastels, revealing an artist who was dedicated to experimentation and abstraction within his representation of the American landscape.

Last Saturday's opening reception, in addition to unveiling this body of work for the first time to a New England audience, gave Gordon students and gallery visitors the chance to hear from two of Joseph Fiore’s closest contacts. The first was the curator of the exhibit, David Dewey, himself an artist and former student of Fiore. Before his passing in 2008, Joseph Fiore asked Dewey to take on the significant honor and challenge of preserving and curating his artwork. Dewey spent over a year preparing Fiore/Drawing, and he was delighted to see the work on the gallery walls in Barrington.

Joseph Fiore’s own daughter, Susanna Fiore, was also in attendance. Susanna and her husband, Jay—both accomplished jazz musicians from Boston—paid tribute to her father’s love of music with a wonderful set of classic jazz standards and original pieces. It was a fitting atmosphere for an artist whose work inherently reflects the energy and rhythms of live music.

Bruce Herman, Gallery Director, observed that Fiore “often started with a rendering of landscape and then improvised and experimented with abstraction in order to find just the right color, texture, or form to give voice to his vision.” The exhibit presents this vision in series of related themes and styles, each given its own wall within the Gallery. The result is a fresh interpretation of a cohesive yet diverse body of work.

“We are proud to host this exhibition, which surveys fifty years of Fiore's drawings and shows his acute visual thinking,” said Herman.

Fiore/Drawing is open to the public Monday–Saturday, 9 AM–7 PM. Visit www.gordon.edu/fiore to learn more about the exhibit.

Fiore/Drawing is sponsored by the Falcon Foundation, a Maine-based non-profit that has been exclusively entrusted with the archival and promotion of Joseph Fiore’s artwork.

Water Sundays 2013

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 18:06:00 +0000

Earlier this year, Kevin Herr ’09, a business administration graduate, shared about his experiences in Haiti as a part of the team at Water Missions International, a Christian engineering ministry that provides access to safe water and the Living Water message to people around the world. He also announced the launch of their Water Sunday initiative. Below he shares an update about all that's been accomplished through WMI since then, and what's in store for the future:

In January, we asked churches across the country to take one Sunday in March to educate their congregations about the global water crisis and to raise funds to provide safe water for people around the world. God moved—32 churches participated, and together we raised over $100,000 to bring safe water to four communities. The people of God responded and lives were changed.

Kimmi Island, in Uganda, is one of those communities impacted. 3,000 people live on Kimmi; the majority of the population is made up of fishermen. The community uses water from the lake for nearly all of its daily needs. Yet drinking this water causes devastating illnesses—typhoid, cholera, bilharzias, stomach pain and diarrhea. These ever-present illnesses affect all aspects of society.

It was wonderful to receive the pictures from the Kimmi’s celebration after the community’s new safe water system was fully installed. Thousands of people were present to participate in boat races, soccer, singing, tug-of-war, ribbon cutting and accompanying speeches. Seeing the faces of the children and knowing that, statistically speaking, by providing safe water you could save some of their lives really touches the heart.

Our vision for the 2013 Water Sunday campaign is for more than 100 churches to participate, providing access to safe water for more than 33,000 people. Churches can join in this effort by giving one Sunday between January and April 2013 to transform lives through safe water. Our desire is for church members to become something more than “transactional givers”—to become passionate participants, transformed by engaging with the call to care for the thirsty (Isaiah 58).

Water Sundays represent the active body of Christ responding to urgent physical needs. In addition, Water Sundays support our mission overseas to offer the living water of Christ to all who thirst spiritually.

Water Sunday 2013 from Water Missions on Vimeo.

To learn more about Water Sunday and to sign up, visit www.watermissions.org/watersunday. You can follow Water Missions International on Twitter @watermissions, and keep up-to-date on Water Sunday 2013 #WaterSunday.

Photo: Thanks to this past year's Water Sunday initiative, community members in Kimmi, Uganda, can share in safe, abundant drinking water.