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Graduate Assistant Christopher Johnson finding joy in Hebrew

Graduate Assistant Christopher Johnson finding joy in Hebrew

by | May 18, 2021

Calvary University graduate assistant, Christopher Johnson, receiving the “Biblical Greek Award” in 2018 from CU Professor, Dr. Neil Nelson.

“I feel a tremendous obligation and duty to know my material well…”

Christopher Johnson has three words of advice for undergraduate students learning biblical languages. “When the going gets tough,” said the graduate assistant for Hebrew classes, “remember why you wanted to learn the languages; be self-disciplined, have a plan and execute it; and repetition is the key to learning and the key to learning is repetition.” 

Johnson said, “Each week I prepare focused topic lectures to meet the projected objectives of the class, construct PowerPoint presentations, and grade assignments. Being a graduate assistant is like being in a teaching apprenticeship.” Johnson taught Hebrew I and OT Survey I & II this past semester.   

Johnson is currently pursuing his doctorate at Calvary University in Bible and Theology. After getting his doctorate, Johnson hopes to write books and do speaking engagements. “Anything ministry related,” Johnson said. “I would eventually like to leave my secular job and be in full time ministry. Probably teach at a university during the week and serve as a pastor or teaching elder in the church.”  

Johnson said the hardest part of his graduate assistant job is the pressure to teach well. “I no longer am just wearing a student hat but a teacher hat as well. Being a student is challenging, but I think being a teacher is more challenging. One reason is because I am not passively listening to lectures each week but preparing them and delivering them. I feel a tremendous obligation and duty to know my material well and try to present it in a manner that is both professional and engaging. In layman’s terms, I feel the pressure to know what I am talking about and not be boring in the process.”  

However, Johnson said that his favorite thing about being a graduate assistant is the opportunity to teach students about the Word. “My greatest joy has been the opportunity to lecture. Knowing that I am going to be presenting information in front of students has inspired me to study extra hard to know the material. I find that in my times of class preparation, the Holy Spirit is teaching me perhaps more than even what I experience as a student. That is a wonderful joy which becomes realized when class starts, and I have the opportunity to try to pass that information on to my brothers and sisters in Christ.” 

Johnson receiving an academic award from Professor Joel Williamson in 2018. 

Commencement in 2018 when Johnson received his Master’s degree from CU.

Johnson receiving the highest honor cords from Calvary’s Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Teddy Bitner, in 2018.

Fred Hendricks 2021 Alumnus of the Year

Fred Hendricks 2021 Alumnus of the Year

by | May 11, 2021

“My years at Calvary were the best years of my Christian life.”

Fred Hendricks has been chosen as Calvary University’s alumnus of the year. Hendricks graduated from CBC in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies. Today, he is the senior pastor at Alton Bible Church in Alton, Illinois.

“Fred is a biblical leader,” said Dr. Allan Henderson, CU Professor of Education and Bible, who has known Hendricks for many years. “He demonstrates an ongoing commitment to the Lord through his preaching, teaching, and lifestyle. You can tell that he has a strong walk with the Lord after being with him for a few short minutes.”

Hendricks grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. While working as a barber, his boss invited him to church, where he got involved in a Bible study. He trusted Christ after memorizing John 3:18 and understanding the gospel for the first time. He served in the Vietnam war in the early 1970’s and that military service provided him the opportunity to study at Calvary.

“I thought I had died and gone to heaven,” Hendricks said about his early days at Calvary. “Along with the fellowship of the faculty, the student body was made up of the best people I’ve ever met in my life to this very day. I am still in touch with classmates who still encourage me and check in on me, and I have a ministry to them in the same way.”

He went on to Dallas Theological Seminary, graduating in 1981. He then returned to St. Louis, serving as pastor of Blessed Hope Bible Church for 17 years, and in 2002 becoming senior pastor at Alton Bible Church. In addition, he serves with Marketplace Ministries as a chaplain for various companies in the greater St. Louis metro area.

Hendricks is passionate about the values which Calvary University upholds. “I am what I am and who I am because of Calvary. I love that the school has maintained its doctrinal position. Calvary is a rare school. I wish every college-bound student could go there.”

“Being alumnus of the year is a tremendous honor,” he continued. “I am thankful that Calvary was my personal grounding in Christianity. My years at Calvary were the best years in my Christian life. I think there are many others who deserve this recognition much more than I deserve it. I am very thankful, appreciative, and grateful for it.”

Fred Hendricks was recognized as 'Alumnus of the Year' in a special presentation at Calvary's 2021 Commencement.

Fred Hendricks (CBC75) was recognized as “Alumnus of the Year” in a special presentation at Calvary’s 2021 Commencement. 

Golfer Bobby Clayton was a “people guy”

Golfer Bobby Clayton was a “people guy”

by | Apr 22, 2021

“His charisma, sense of humor and knowledge of the Bible drew people to seek him out.”

Bobby Clayton was a beloved Calvary alumnus who passed away September 16th, 2020, from cancer. He was one of the people who originally initiated the idea for a golf tournament at CU. Clayton attended the tournament each year up until the year of his passing.  

Randy Clayton, Bobby’s son, described him as fiercely loyal and generous. “My father was flawed and imperfect like the rest of us, but he cared deeply about people. Many people have said the same thing about him and that was that he had the gift of “phone.” If he was thinking about you, he would often call that person out of the blue. Many times, it was an encouraging call that they needed at just the right time.” 

“Dad was a Navy veteran and served during the end of the Korean war,” Randy said. “After he was discharged, we moved back to Wichita KS, and he became a golf professional and was an assistant pro at several different golf clubs in the Wichita area.

“Dad was 26 years old when Jesus found him and saved him. We attended Wichita Bible Church. He immediately had a hunger for understanding God’s word which led him and his young family to Kansas City and Calvary Bible College in 1966. He crammed four years into five, majoring in Pastoral Studies and graduated with high marks in 1971 and then took a church in Paola, Kansas.”  

As Bobby became a respected Bible teacher, serving as pastor, elder and teacher in Paola, and later back in Kansas City, golf was always a significant part of his life. He became a sales representative for the Ben Hogan Golf Company, and worked for at least three country clubs repairing clubs and giving golf lessons. 

“Dad was a master club fitter and repair professional and was inducted into the PGA Midwest Section ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2009,” Randy explained. “He was a craftsman. He was still working at the age of 84 at Blue Hills Country Club where had a repair shop and gave golf lessons until he passed away.

“Dad was a people guy,” Randy said. “He enjoyed and benefitted from counseling and training couples and small groups of believers in Bible doctrine and Greek language studies. He could fill the pulpit and was a good teacher but working with individuals and small groups was his gift. His charisma, sense of humor and knowledge of the Bible drew people to seek him out. He was the associate pastor at Koinonia Bible Church in Kansas City. I can tell you he was loved by the congregation. The Sunday before his passing, the church showed up and worshiped and had church in his front yard and they had an opportunity to say goodbye to him. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced.” 

The 2021 Calvary University Golf Tournament will be played in Bobby’s honor. It has been named The Bobby Clayton Memorial Golf Tournament. 

Bobby Clayton Memorial Golf Tournament

Click Here for Registration

CU’s focus on the Bible has kept Williamson for 39 years

CU’s focus on the Bible has kept Williamson for 39 years

by | Apr 19, 2021

Joel Williamson speaking in a recentChapel.

“This isn’t just a school. It’s a training ground.”  

Joel Williamson has been teaching at Calvary University for thirty-nine years. “I stayed at Calvary because Calvary was doing what needs to be done,” Williamson said. “They’ve been focusing on the Bible.” 

When Williamson first began to consider moving to Kansas City he was impressed with Calvary’s reputation. “I asked people, ‘What do you think?’ and I got some really interesting answers from more than one. But one in particular made a marvelous statement. They said, ‘You know, we’ve noticed something. The young people from this church have gone to two different schools. In both schools they got really good biblical education, but the kids from Calvary came home and got the other kids to go to work, to start active ministry for the Lord. They came back and said, “Why are you sitting around?”’ So I said, okay, this isn’t just a school, it’s a training ground.” 

Williamson has taught several different classes over the years, but regularly teaches Developing a Biblical Worldview and Hebrew. His interest in the Biblical languages began in high school. “I discovered that we had a dictionary that had the Greek etymology of English words. So, I started to try and learn some Greek. I had a youth leader who came through for a year or so at church who gave me his Introduction to Greek textbook from when he went to Moody Bible Institute, and so I played with that. I really loved Greek! I went into seminary thinking I’m going to take Greek, this is my world. And then I took Hebrew and I said, ‘You know what? This is my home.’ I took biblical Hebrew and an Aramaic dialect called Syriac and a Canaanite language called Ugaritic.”

“Hebrew requires you to think in a different way,” he said, “and I found that wonderful. I love doing it. That’s been the fun thing to do, to ask ‘How can I teach this?’ particularly to those students who don’t get it and don’t think that way.” 

Growing in his own knowledge of the Bible is what Williamson likes most about teaching at Calvary. “I get to teach the same books over and over. I never preached through the book of Romans in my two pastorates—five years at one location and six and a half at the second. I never did because I knew I would only get one shot, and I said, ‘I’m still young and I still don’t get it.’ And at Calvary, I have taught the book of Romans almost every year, and on occasion twice a year. I get to go over it and over it every year. And Genesis! I’ve taught Genesis for several years. I taught John back-to-back-to–back. It’s like I just get to bathe in the truth and refresh myself again and see new and exciting stuff. That’s been a real joy for me.” 

Robby Bollinger Hired as Women’s Basketball Coach

Robby Bollinger Hired as Women’s Basketball Coach

by | Apr 10, 2021

Calvary University is pleased to announce the hiring of Robby Bollinger as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach.

Robby played the defensive back and running back positions on his high school football team in Harrisonville, MO. He was an accomplished guard for HHS on the basketball court as well. Throughout his high school career, he received numerous honors, and then went on to play football on scholarship at Mid America Nazarene University.

Coach Bollinger has been on the men’s coaching staff at Calvary for two seasons. He was an integral part of the 2020-21 team that won the North Region Championship and represented Calvary in the NCCAA National Tournament. He also has coached a number of additional sports in Cass County for over 20 years. His passion and excellence in fitness and strength training have allowed him to impact the careers of many highly successful athletes and teams in the Belton community. Recently he was able to launch his own fitness company F3 as well.

Coach Bollinger’s passion is sharing the gospel with the youth of our community through sports. He is happy to fit basketball at CU into that passion. He is married to his beautiful wife Brooke. They live an extremely active life with their children Logan(18), Drew(16),  Solomon(12), and Holland(10). Their family lives in Belton and attends church at Abundant Life in Lee’s Summit.

Student Abigail Tschetter reflects on The Fantasticks

Student Abigail Tschetter reflects on The Fantasticks

by | Mar 15, 2021

Ashley Huseby (Hucklebee, the Boy’s Mother) and Abigail Tschetter (Bellomy, the Girl’s Mother) listen carefully for eavesdroppers.

Reflection on The Fantasticks

by Abigail Tschetter

I love the theme of The Fantasticks, encapsulated by a line from the song “Try to Remember:” “Without a hurt, the heart is hollow.” The Fantasticks is a show about learning and growing through difficulty. Its main characters, Matt and Luisa, learn that the world is not what they expected, and then they take that newfound wisdom, as heartbreaking as it is, and look at it in a hopeful light. Their story has made me cry more than once, partly because it is a little sad, but mostly because it is beautiful.

Yes, the world is more than just pain-free excitement, but understanding that makes the beautiful moments stand out that much more.

That’s why it feels so special to be a part of this show at Calvary University, where I’ve had the chance to learn this lesson for myself. College is a formative time for everyone in one way or another, and that is undoubtedly true for me. I can relate to Luisa, the hopeless romantic, and to Matt, who’s sure that whatever’s around the corner is exactly what he’s dreamed of. It’s at Calvary that I really began to relate to their journey.

This is my third year at Calvary, and every semester has carried some kind of expectation that was not met in the way I anticipated. I have struggled with loneliness and anxiety, disappointments and discontentment, insecurity, frustration, and plenty of other things in between. Yet I have also found community and friendship, peace and joy. In particular, my involvement in Calvary Theatre has taught me about service, confidence, humility, and worship, on and offstage. Each semester at Calvary has grown me and taught me something about myself, my relationships, the blessings in my life, and most importantly, the unfailing goodness of God.

It is a true blessing to have the chance to bring this show to life at a school and in a department that has contributed so much to my growth. It feels like coming full circle to share what I have learned—and will surely continue to learn—with the Calvary community that helped me learn it.

Bellomy, a fastidious gardener, waters her thirsty little peppers.