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The Steps Before Us

The Steps Before Us

by | May 20, 2020

By Dedra Pease

Here we are at the end of another school year. This year has ended differently than anyone of us could have possibly imagined. Some are breathing sighs of relief that the days of distance learning at this time are done. Some are in a confused state wondering where March and April have gone. Some are handling life day by day.

Wherever you are, we are all making adjustments to our lives. Some of you are preparing to send a senior (high school or college) on to the next phase of their life, a job, trade school, or college. Some of you have an eighth grader preparing to enter high school. Fifth graders are stepping into a secondary school environment. Kindergarteners are taking a big step into first grade. Four-year-olds are plunging into kindergarten. As this so clearly illustrates, life is filled with moments of transition.

I am reminded of when I found out, forty years ago, that I was pregnant with our son. Fear began to well up. I did not feel prepared for this. I didn’t have the concerns of a difficult pregnancy, but fear of the delivery process loomed. When that day came and went, the fear of taking this helpless human home began to creep in. Then there were all of those typical parental concerns. You are never quite sure you are doing the right thing in the right way at the right time. Fear filled my thoughts.

As we all step into the next phase, whatever it looks like for you, remember what Jesus told His disciples. As He was preparing them for His physical departure, He said, “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1, ESV). Just as Jesus prepared His disciples, God has prepared each of us for the steps before us. Each stage has baby steps before the big leap. God has brought you to this place. As He told Joshua in Joshua 1:7, “Only be strong and very courageous . . .” (ESV). God has prepared you and He will go with you. Be strong, courageous, and do not let fear reign.

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Mrs. Dedra Pease has just completed Calvary’s Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Leadership. Dedra’s Master’s Project included a series of devotions written to encourage the hearts of educators.

Calvary Announces Interim President

Calvary Announces Interim President

by | May 18, 2020

Interim President Jeff Campa and his wife Amy Campa, Office Manager and Director of Campus Hospitality at Calvary University Innovation Center.

KANSAS CITY – May 18, 2020 – The Board of Trustees of Calvary University is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Campa as our Interim President. Jeff has been with Calvary University since 2009 and is currently its Chief Operating Officer. Jeff is a Chaplain (Major) in the US Army Reserve. He just returned from a deployment to Iraq as the Chaplain for the 244th Combat Aviation Brigade. The Board is confident that he will bring strong leadership and a steady influence to his new role at CU. He and his wife, Amy, are in the process of relocating from Calvary’s Innovation Center in Colorado to the main campus in Kansas City. He will serve as our Interim President until we select a permanent President at which time he will resume his current role as C.O.O.

Campa served as Director of the President’s office for two years and has a comprehensive understanding of the role and its function. “Serving in that role allowed me to see the University as a whole,” Campa said. “It helped me to understand both the overlap and intricacies of each administrative and academic department and how they work together on behalf of the students.” As the Board of Trustees pursues selecting a permanent President, Campa will work “to ensure that CU continues to fulfill its mission and that the faculty and staff are prepared for a seamless transition to the next President with minimal disruption to operations.”

Calvary University is an accredited, Bible-centered university that has been preparing Christians to live and serve in the church and in the world according to the Biblical worldview since 1932. CU offers more than 60 accredited undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees, fully online or through our main campus in Kansas City, Missouri, and teaching sites located in Fort Morgan, Colorado, and Warrenton, Missouri.

Calvary’s Tim Hange Joins English and Communications Faculty

Calvary’s Tim Hange Joins English and Communications Faculty

by | May 18, 2020

Calvary TESOL professor Tim Hange takes new role in English and Communications Department.

Tim Hange joined Calvary’s faculty in 2017 as International Student Services Director and TESOL Coordinator. In the Fall 2020 semester, Hange will be joining the English and Communications department faculty while continuing to teach some TESOL courses. Hange said, “I’m very excited to bring what I’ve learned into the department and help students delve more deeply into the tradition.”

Hange is currently finishing a doctoral program in English pedagogue with a focus on teaching the English language. He said, “My primary entry into English teaching was TESOL,” though his current studies at the doctoral level have been focused on British Literature, which he will be putting to work teaching British Literature I in Cycle 2.

The theories of written and spoken communication hold a special fascination for Hange. “To some degree, all communication comes to us through words… the written word is capable of permanently capturing an amazing range of things from the human experience, stories that deserve to be told over and over.” He commented that the mental acuity required for literature studies helps us become better thinkers overall. “As we explore the amazing configuration of those words in literature, I think we are shaped more into the image of God… and the depth of thinking that is required, being people who possess His image.”

Hange is eager to bring his knowledge and experience in the field of literature studies to students at Calvary. “To teach somebody to communicate or to become a better communicator is a very enriching and beautiful thing. And for me, I just find it very inspiring to be part of that process.”

Hange with graduates Xiaofei He, Yang Zhang, and Qing-long Liang at 2019 Commencement.

 

A group of students play a board game with Hange at the SLC.

2020 Graduate Samuel Tschetter Replacing 2018 Graduate Rachel Hontz in Student Development Role

2020 Graduate Samuel Tschetter Replacing 2018 Graduate Rachel Hontz in Student Development Role

by | May 17, 2020

Samuel Tschetter (left), joined by his sister Abigail and CU Head Basketball Coach Matt Sanders, was recognized on Senior Night for his contribution to the basketball broadcasts. 

“I like to think that I have been prepared to work, and serve, others well.”

Samuel Tschetter, who graduates from Calvary this spring with a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministry, will be taking over the role of Student Life Coordinator. For the past year, Tschetter has been working with Student Development through the CAMS program doing administrative and work to assist the current ResLife Coordinator, Rachel Hontz, who is moving on after graduating from CU last May.

Tschetter said there were several factors that influenced his interest in the position. “I really enjoyed what I was doing [this past year] and am glad that I’ll be able to continue to do it. Also, being able to be around Calvary for at least another year was a big draw; I have some family going to school here… and I have been doing play-by-play for the athletics broadcasts and it looks like I will be able to continue that in some capacity, which is exciting.”

The role of Student Life Coordinator has two sides, “A lot of the residence life coordinator half of the role is taking care of the dorms and the students that live in the dorms. Letting maintenance know when things in the dorms need fixed, getting sign out sheets to RDLs before breaks, doing chapel attendance, things of that nature which directly involve the residents’ lives on campus.” On the student development office manager side “is things like making sure that dorm students have the proper health forms filled out and filing those, putting students on meal plans, scheduling meetings for the deans, and more administrative type tasks.”

The interpersonal position of Student Life Coordinator will give Tschetter opportunities to continue growing in his ministry and administrative experience. He said, “Obviously a big part of any kind of ministry is working with people, and that is a huge part of this job as well. I like to think that I have been prepared to work, and serve, others well.”  He also mentioned his familiarity with Calvary’s system “and knowing how things work is a big help, which is not something specifically tied to my degree, but more to my education as a whole.”

Outgoing ResLife Coordinator, Rachel Hontz, graduated last May. 

Outgoing ResLife Coordinator, Rachel Hontz, will be missed by everyone on campus for her joyful personality as well her contributions to the spiritual lives of students.

Calvary Plans for Graduation Ceremonies

Calvary Plans for Graduation Ceremonies

by | May 17, 2020

Graduation ceremonies scheduled for June 26-27

As stay-at-home orders lift across the country, Calvary is revising plans for graduation ceremonies in June. The weekend of festivities, originally scheduled for the beginning of May, has been postponed to June 26-27. Cory Trowbridge, Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Development, is taking a lead role in the replanning of the events. Trowbridge said Calvary still plans to hold all three ceremonies that typically take place over graduation weekend: Baccalaureate, Awards Banquet, and Commencement.

Baccalaureate is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday in Liberty Chapel, the Awards Banquet also on Friday in the Student Life Center starting at 6 p.m., and Commencement Saturday at 10 a.m. also in the Student Life Center.

Trowbridge said, “We’re also looking at what other things and activities we can do to make this a bigger deal. So we’re planning that, probably Friday night, we’ll be doing the Senior Banquet. And Coach Regier is working on some alumni games like soccer and basketball. We’re trying to put together a big celebration.”

The fluid situation across the nation requires for flexible planning, but Trowbridge said, “At this point, it’s looking like we’ll be able to actually host events. The small group requirement should be expired by then.” He added, “Everything will be livestreamed so people who can’t be here can still participate.”