Friday Evening Connections and Reflections

Connections and Reflections for July 17, 2020

• Spent a few minutes talking with John Pryor (JUTN ‘70), former missionary with Pioneer Bible Translators to Papua New Guinea.  He is looking for a part-time ministry opportunity in a Restoration Movement church somewhere in or near Destin, Florida.  If you know of anything, please let me know.
  John spent some time as a faculty/staff member on the Tennessee campus in the late 1990’s.  John and I played intramural floor hockey together and I always admired his ability to out-run and out-work students who were almost 30 years his junior.   

• I learned this week that the family of Tim (JUTN ’81) and Lisa (Seymour, JUTN ’84) Jones have experienced some challenges with the COVID situation.  Please keep them in your prayers.
  
  
• This week, James Burrell (JUFL, ’80) of Montrose, Colorado, became the FIRST Florida alumni to join the Johnson University Alumni Association!  Welcome to the Association, Jim! Association benefits are on their way!
  
  
• We learned last week that Robert “Bob” Huber (JUTN ’76) passed away.  Pastor Bob served North Street Christian Church in Butler, Pennsylvania, for 42 years (1978-2020)!  Other alumni who have recently finished the race include:
• Donald “Donnie” Kirby (JUFL ’81)
• William “Bill” Thompson (spouse of Tina Kaiser Thompson, JUFL ‘83)
  If you know of other alumni who have passed away, be sure to share that information with the school.  Send an email to alumni@johnsonu.edu or call 865-251-3498.

• Patrick Riecke (JUTN ’00), Director of Chaplaincy and Volunteers at Parkview Health in Fort Wayne, Indiana, recently achieved “best-selling author” status on Amazon.com for his book, “How to Talk to Sick, Dying, and Grieving People.”  Congratulations on the accomplishment, Patrick!

• On July 14, Robert “Bob” Berry (JUTN ’65) and David Eubanks (JUTN ’57, ’58, President Emeritus) hiked to the top of the Great Smoky Mountains.  Bob quipped, “12 miles total. Pretty good for an 84 & 76 year old buddies.”

• Gary Boschain (JUTN ’04, ’11) called me this week to solicit my reference for an upcoming ministry opportunity.  Gary and Renee (JUTN ’04) are dear friends and excellent representatives of Christ and of Johnson University.  Gary serves as a Regional Representative for Johnson University. As such, he reaches out to alumni within his region to check up on behalf of the University.  It is always great to hear his cheerful voice!

• I had the privilege of playing tennis this week with Dr. Steve Cook, Professor of Old Testament on the Tennessee campus. He is one of those professors that significantly contributes to Johnson’s reputation as an UnCommon Community.  He is a friend to the students and a well-respected voice among the faculty. This was our first opportunity to play tennis on the new courts that are a part of the Athletic and Recreation Complex on the Tennessee campus.

• On Thursday, I received an electronic newsletter from Daniel (’09) and Kasey (Doiron, ’09) Willis.  They announced the birth of child #5 on June 16, 2020.  It was a pleasure to learn about all the Lord is doing through them in the northeastern United States.

• To this point of 2020, membership in the Alumni Association has grown by 14% over 2019 membership!  Thank you to all of you who joined!  If you are not a part of the Association, remember that annual dues are only $25 per person ($35 per couple).  You can learn more and join at https://johnsonu.edu/alumni/alumni-association/.  This Association is for alumni from all locations in the Johnson University System.