We enjoy hearing what is going on with alumni. You can submit your update at any time.
4-17-12 Leward Fluty (’87) Leward Fluty was recently cast in two productions by All Ears Theatre in Kalamazoo, Michigan, recording “old time radio” styled programs for later broadcast on local public radio – “The Adventures of Goldilocks”, on Saturday, March 31, and the “The Tell Tale Heart”, upcoming on Saturday, April 28. The recording session is open to the public free of charge, at 6pm in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo.
3-27-12 Benjamin (’05) and Stephanie (Morris, ’05) Terpstra Ben and Stephanie now have three boys: Keegan (5), Bennett (3), and Cooper (almost 1). Ben has served as the assistant/youth pastor at Faith Baptist Church in La Crosse, WI, since 2005. He and Stephanie are starting their seventh year at Faith and are thankful for challenges, teaching, and growth God has taken them through and look forward to serving the Lord for many more years. Ben was ordained in 2009 and is now in seminary working on his MAT. Please pray for God’s provision for their needs during this time and for wisdom for Ben during his studies.
3/26/12 Randy Clark (’79) Randy has served part-time as pastor of Union Ridge Bible Baptist Church, Rogers, Ohio, for several years. He was installed as full-time pastor on March 4, 2012.
3/19/12 Dennis and Ellen (Roehl, ’84) Hierl Dennis and Ellen adopted seven year old Brooklyn Jiani from China on March 6, 2012. Read more of their story at www.dennis-ellen.blogspot.com.
2-29-12 Jonathan (’08) and Joanna (Ray, ’09) Potter Jonathan recently became an assistant pastor at Hampton Street Baptist Church in Auburn, Massachusetts. Hampton Street Baptist Church is a growing church plant and is looking to construct a building in the near future.
2-2-12 Shorty (’98) and Jennifer (Mortimer, ’99) Shank After 11 years of service on pastoral staff at Keystone Baptist Church God has directed our family into the ministry of evangelism. This has been a desire God had placed in our hearts while in college and a decision we have been praying over for the past few years. We are scheduling meetings and would be honored to serve in your church. We are available to serve in churches, schools, camps, and various other ministry opportunities are also welcomed. If you would know of any ministry where we could help we would greatly appreciate you passing our information on to them. If you would like to follow what God is doing in our lives visit our website (www.shankfamilyministries.com). There you will find information about our ministry as well as ways to connect with us via Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
2-2-12 Rose Fisher (’05) Rose is currently working as a teacher and serving in China at a Chinese private school. She is excited to see what the Father has planned for her next as He continues to open doors to minister in China.
1-31-12 James Leslie (’93)
Dear Friends,
The Lord was so good to me during this past deployment. God protected my Soldiers in so many ways that it would take too long to write in this short email. I want to thank so many of you for your faithful prayers, notes and care packages. Our battalion did not have a single Soldier killed in Afghanistan which is a wonderful blessing.
I did leave last month just a few weeks before I was scheduled to leave due to my older brother Stephen being in serious condition and not expected to live. My Commander was incredible and helped me leave Afghanistan quickly. I left on a Monday and on Tuesday I was at my brother’s bedside just a few hours before he passed. He was heavily medicated, but I’m hoping he could sense my presence there. Just after the doctor pronounced him dead, my brother Dave, his daughter Lisa and I sang a hymn that is very precious to the Leslies – How Great Thou Art. As we finished singing the hymn I saw a tear running down the side of Stephen’s face. I hadn’t seen any tears before that. It was an incredible feeling and the blessing is that I will see Stephen again in heaven one day.
During my tour in Afghanistan my FOB (Forward Operating Base) did have a truck suicide bomber try to get in with over 1,000 lbs of explosives. Only by God’s grace we didn’t have any US Soldiers killed in that blast. Most of us were thrown to the ground or thrown out of our beds from the blast. Two Afghan guards died protecting us.
Having returned to Ft. Knox I have found out that I will be needing ACL replacement surgery next month on the 22nd of February. I would greatly appreciate your prayers for that. The family is doing well and we are enjoying time together again. Please pray for our Soldiers as they reunite with family. Pray that I will have even more opportunities to share Christ and help our military families.
In His Service,
Jim Leslie
Ft. Knox, KY
1-17-2012 Salina (Howe, ’09) Turnbull– Salina and her husband Zachary were married in September of 2010. They have moved from Colorado to Pennsylvania, and Salina is currently teaching kindergarten at a Christian school in Pennsylvania.
11-23-11 David and Brittany (Leporacci, ’10) Moore– Dave and Brittany live in Cranston, Rhode Island, and serve actively in their local church. Brittany is in her second year of teaching high school English at Grace Baptist Christian Academy in Attleboro, Massachusetts. David works as a lab technician at New England Testing Labs.
11-22-11 Gary (’88) and Adina Kniseley– Gary now serves as the executive pastor of a church in Rockford, IL.
10-25-11 Tim (’91) and Michelle Berlin– After serving the Lord for over eight years at Hillcrest Baptist Church, Tim and his wife Michelle have been led to Faith Baptist Church in Warren, Michigan. They are excited about the possibilities and potential of ministering at Faith Baptist Church.
10-25-11 Dave (’86) and Abi (Potter, ’95) Anderson– Dave is now the pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Roscoe, IL.
10-19-11 Kristen Lloyd (’10)– Kristen teaches sixth grade at Harvest Christian Academy in Guam.
10-11-11 Rick (’83) and Brenda Osborn– After 30 years of pastoral ministry, the Osborns have begun deputation for ministry in West Africa. They will be planting churches and starting a Bible college to help train national pastors from Liberia, Ghana, and Togo. Please pray as they schedule meetings and raise support.
10-10-11 Laurie Glass (’85)– Laurie maintains an online ministry to those struggling with eating disorders. She provides mentoring services and has written a book entitled Journey to Freedom from Eating Disorders.
10-10-11 Debra Arnett (’84)– Debra is a quality analyst RN at Fort Health Care in Fort Atkinson, WI. She is active in the ministry of Calvary Baptist Church in Jefferson, where she teachers junior church, plays the piano, emails missionaries, and visits senior citizens.
10-7-11 Daniel Potter (’77)– Daniel writes, “After serving for 15 years as pastor of Bible Baptist Church, Shickshinny, Pa., I am now employed as a case manager at Community Counseling Services in Wilkes-Barre, PA. In this job I am doing what I loved most about the ministry–helping needy people.
10-7-2011 Matthew and Jessica (Aucoin, ’08) Asire– Matthew and Jessica reside in Valdez, AK, and attend Valdez Bible Baptist Church. Matthew is a member of the United States Coast Guard, and Jessica works in office administration at Alyeska Pipeline Service Company/Doyon Universal Services.
8-19-2011 Andrew Burggraff (’99)– Andy recently accepted the position of Assistant Pastor of Adult Ministries at Colonial Baptist Church in Cary, NC. He was also recently accepted into the PhD program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, where he will be pursuing a PhD in Systematic Theology.
8-19-2011 Teri Short (Horton, ’74)– After Mark’s death, I am have been, and am currently, serving in the Fiji Islands. I am a Missionary/Teacher in the Christian school in Nausori. The church Mark pastored in Utah is having a special memorial service in Sept. commenorating the 10 year anniversary of his home-going. I will be returning to the states for the event. God has done great things in Fiji in reaching many, many students in the christian school at Nausori Baptist Church, for the Lord and seeing many Christ-honoring decisions that may never have been made otherwise. God’s uses ALL things for good, even though it may not seem good at the time! His plan is always best!
8-19-2011 Nik (’06) and Stacy Lingle– Nik and Stacy live in Raleigh, North Carolina. Nik is the associate pastor at their church, and Stacy is a medical assistant for James Jacobs, M.D.
8-9-2011 John (’96) and Rachael Delano– John successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at UW Milwaukee on Tuesday, August 2.
7-28-11 Timothy Blank (’00)– Timothy Blank received a Masters’ Degree in Land Warfare from AMU. He was also promoted to the rank of Major in the USAF.
