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Calvary Student Awarded in Short Story Contest

Calvary Student Awarded in Short Story Contest

by | Jul 16, 2020

Amanda Harman

Harman’s short story, “Three Walls,” was named Most Creative.

Calvary Junior Amanda Harman recently won “Most Creative” in a short story contest by online literary magazine Bottom Shelf Whiskey. Harman studies in Calvary’s English & Communications department, and originally drafted the piece for a creative writing course. Her piece, “Three Walls,” follows the experiences of a character who realizes she is just that—a pawn in her author’s story. Harman said, “I got the idea for ‘Three Walls’ from my love of humor that breaks the fourth wall, like in The Emperor’s New Groove. That self-awareness is really funny to me, so I figured I could try it myself and see what happened.”

Harman saw an ad for the contest online and said, “I decided to submit ‘Three Walls’ to the contest because it was my favorite story that I wrote, and when I saw the contest, I figured it was worth a shot.” While “Three Walls” didn’t win the contest, Bottom Shelf Whiskey awarded her story as “Most Creative.” Harman said, “It’s kind of hard to explain the feeling of being published. I am very proud and still kind of surprised that someone decided that my story was worth sharing.”

Beyond creative writing, she also writes articles for GotQuestions.org, a database created by a Calvary alum with answers to theological questions. Harman will be entering her junior year this fall, studying English Literature. She said she chose the English program because “I love reading. Books are such an escape; I can go anywhere in the world with the right book. I also love seeing the connections between books. The more you read, the more you understand.”

Read "Three Walls" Here
Cory Young Named Alumnus of the Year

Cory Young Named Alumnus of the Year

by | Jul 9, 2020

Interim President Jeff Campa presents the Alumnus of the Year award to Cory Young on June 27.

“The free grace and the dispensational theology that I came out of Calvary with drives everything that I have done.”

Cory Young, a Calvary graduate of 2003, was given the Calvary University Alumnus of the Year Award at the 2020 Commencement ceremony on June 27. Young serves as a rodeo chaplain through Golden Spurs Ministries. He explained, “[Rodeos are] a subculture in the U.S. that, because of their lifestyle, they’re on the road a lot, so it’s a needed thing.” Interim president Jeff Campa presented the award to Young, who said, “The free grace and the dispensational theology that I came out of Calvary with drives everything that I have done.”

Young grew up near Belton, Missouri, just south of Calvary’s campus. Horses and rodeos were a part of his life from a very young age. He said, “I grew up in that world, and that was kind of part of my family.” Young was raised in a church that “didn’t really preach the gospel,” so when he attended a rodeo Bible camp at age 16, he heard the gospel for the first time. He expected to learn his sport better and thought he was “good on the church stuff,” but when he heard the gospel explained, he said, “I was an easy sell.”

Young came to Calvary to earn his bachelor’s degree in Missions and Pastoral Studies and said, “When I did my internship, I never thought I could do my rodeo ministry… but I ended up with a rodeo chaplain—the only guy that did it—and I actually did my internship with the same guy that led me to Christ.”

After graduating, Young worked for Calvary’s maintenance department and served as a youth pastor in Belton. “After that, I just started hitting I think ten rodeo Bible camps in the summer.” Young quickly became involved in the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA), serving at the National High School Finals Rodeo and National Junior High Finals Rodeo for the past 15 years.

As Young developed his outreach, he formed Golden Spur Ministries. Young and his wife, Leslie, are currently the only members on staff, but they have trained other leaders who went on to Bible college and other ministries.

Young said 17 years down the road, his time at Calvary is still impacting his ministry. “I’m still going back and using resources and notes, and that foundation is essential.” He noted that, “I had to take Greek and a lot of hermeneutics, and it taught me how to learn. I rely on that every day. On the flipside, having the missions program’s courses on culture has really informed a lot of my ministry. Even though this is not as stark of a difference [in culture], it still trained me to look at things through the culture.”

Cory, his wife Leslie, and son, CT.
Young ministers at rodeos across the country.

Kansas City Mask Requirements

Kansas City Mask Requirements

by | Jul 8, 2020

These are the new Kansas City, MO, guidelines for mask usage:

“All employees or visitors to any indoor public accommodation must wear face coverings in an area or while performing an activity which will necessarily involve close contact or proximity to coworkers or the public where six feet of separation is not feasible.”

When should masks be worn?

Anytime you are inside and unable to maintain social distancing (6 feet of separation).

Examples:

  • The receptionist could wear a mask while attending to a guest in the reception area when being less than 6 feet from an individual is required.
  • A Security Officer could wear a mask when responding to a call for service and will be inside and when being less than 6 feet from an individual is required.
  • Those working together in a meeting where maintaining 6 feet of separation is not possible.

When masks do not have to be worn:

  • Persons alone in their offices do not have to wear a mask.
  • If the distance of 6 feet can be maintained anywhere indoors between coworkers or visitors, you do not have to wear a mask.
  • Masks are not required outside.
  • Minors are not required to wear a mask.

CU Welcomes New Dean of Women

CU Welcomes New Dean of Women

by | Jul 7, 2020

Jamie Franz, the new Dean of Women at CU, with her husband Greg, and daughters Jadyn, Jaycie, and Jemma.

This fall Calvary welcomes Jamie Franz to the Student Development team as the new Dean of Women. Franz was born and raised in Raymore, Missouri, and currently lives in Raytown with her husband and three daughters.

Franz earned her B.S. in English at Southwest Baptist University and her M.Ed. at Mid America Nazarene University. She said, “I taught English for the past 19 years. During this past school year, the Lord made it abundantly clear that we needed to make a change for our girls. I started walking through doors and the doors at Calvary kept opening up.” When someone suggested she consider the role of Dean of Women, Franz sought out counsel, and “it became quite obvious that this is what the Lord had been preparing me for all along.”

Franz is excited to be involved with the student body here at Calvary. She has worked in Christian schools for most of her career and said her favorite part of the job is building relationships. “It’s through solid relationships that you are able to challenge one another and even discipline when necessary. I love getting to see how God uses me to encourage students, but I also love how He uses students to encourage me.”

Officially starting her role in August, Franz will be joining Calvary in time for the fall semester. Her passion for mentoring aligns with Student Development’s growing focus on discipleship on campus. Franz said, “Mentoring is such a crucial part of the Christian walk… I’m excited to be a mentor to the girls at Calvary. I’m excited to help them find mentors and help them become mentors.”

2020 Grad Teaching Internationally This Fall

2020 Grad Teaching Internationally This Fall

by | Jun 25, 2020

“I’ve learned that education is, at its core, the same everywhere, especially for Christian education.”

Elizabeth Viens graduated this spring with her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. In the fall, she’ll be teaching 3rd grade at an international school in Southeast Asia. Viens said, “Since I was about 10 years old, I noticed that I just had a really big desire to go internationally. I love traveling and people groups. I have a heart for the world and for lost people.”

Calvary was a top choice for Viens, who lived in the Kansas City area. She chose the education program because, “I’ve always loved kids; loved teaching. It was always kind of on my radar. I wanted something that I could do in a ministry context, not just the professional world.”

Viens has traveled to several schools abroad while at Calvary, visiting Russia, China, and Mexico. She said, “I’ve learned that education is, at its core, the same everywhere, especially for Christian education. Even though it may look different to different people groups, the goal is still to inform minds to be more like Christ and impact the world for his kingdom.”

Viens will be teaching through the organization Teach Beyond. She first encountered Teach Beyond when their reps visited Calvary’s campus, and she “felt like that was God saying, ‘here’s your direction.’”

As she puts her degree to work, Viens is excited for this opportunity to teach internationally. “I think as an educator, I’m helping prepare the next generation of people to be logical and sound thinkers, to have a knowledge of God and his word, and … preparing them to serve in the world wherever they go.”