Johnson University Alumni Connections and Reflections

 Here are a few of this week's connections and reflections regarding alumni of Johnson University. In an attempt to increase communication with all alumni, I have started sending out greetings on the day an alumnus celebrates a birthday. Some have replied to express gratitude and expand our dialogue. Billy (JUTN '09) and Holly (Crawford '09) Knieriem both celebrated birthdays this week and they said, "We are grateful for the impact Johnson has had on our lives and our ministry!" They serve with Morrison Hill Christian Church in Kingston, Tennessee. Trish (Wells, JUTN '04) Hansard said, "I am truly blessed with 69 years.  I am very thankful for God's mercy and grace!" David Enyart (JUTN '68, former faculty) said, "We have a great love for the college and wish the very best for those serve and study in that place. Our grandson, Andrew, is a freshman at JU this fall. He is the youngest child of our daughter Crystal, and he

Friday Evening Connections and Reflections Have you seen the news that Andrew Peterson and Arron Chambers (both graduates of the Florida campus) will be offering a very special evening of music and devotion on September 12?  For a $10 ticket to benefit scholarships for Johnson University Florida students, you can watch Andrew sing and Arron preach. Learn more and register at  https://alumni.johnsonu.edu/e/let-there-be-light/ . This week, Johnson University welcomed a new crop of students to Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee and Kissimmee, Florida. It is great to see this new group of students who are eager to start preparing for a career focused on extending God's kingdom. Please join me in praying for these new students and all those who are returning to campus this weekend. Among these new students is Adam Dillon, the son of Chad (JUTN '99) and Nicole (Flowers, JUTN '00) Dillon . As they were about to depart campus, Chad said, "Crazy to think we just moved our youngest

Friday Evening Connections and Reflections for August 14, 2020 I was recently contacted by an alumnus of the University who wanted to know about the annual cost of alumni dues and how he could submit his name for nomination to the Council of Seventy. While I could easily help him with the alumni dues question ($20-$35 depending on retirement/individual/couple status), his Council of Seventy inquiry was a different story. In order to help you understand why, let me offer you a brief history of the Council of Seventy. President R.M. Bell worked with the Alumni Association to establish the Council of Seventy in 1963. Dr. Tommy Smith wrote, "This body of alumni was elected by the Alumni Association to serve in an advisory capacity to the trustees and 'to promote the general welfare of the College.'" ( Above Every Other Desire , p. 94) In the years since its founding, the Council of Seventy lost its advisory capacity to the trustees and became little more than a sub-set of

 Friday Evening Connections and Reflections for August 7, 2020 COVID 19 is definitely impacting those we love from the Johnson community. Your prayers for healing and protection are appreciated. After 61 days in the hospital and several close calls with eternity, Carol Stookey, the wife of Kent Stookey (JUTN ’79) is now at home and continuing to recover from a battle with COVID 19.  Please keep them in your prayers. The Director of Church Relations and the Office Manager for Advancement on the Tennessee campus, Brian (JUTN '78 & '90) and Marie (Davidson, '79) Lakin, have been fighting COVID for the last two weeks. While Marie appears to be on the mend, Brian continues to struggle. Please keep them in your prayers as they try a new regimen of treatment to help Brian overcome this nasty virus.   If you haven’t heard by now, there is a new Johnson University Alumni Community available to help facilitate the communication between alumni. Alumni are invited to go to https://

Friday Evening Connections and Reflections for 7/31/20 This was a short week in the Alumni Relations Office as I took a couple days off late in the week.  So, I didn't make a lot of connections and didn't have many reflections.  However, I did want to give you a taste of the week. Reggie Braziel ('78) concluded a twelve-year preaching ministry at Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina on August 2 to become the preaching minister at Old Ford Church of Christ, Washington, North Carolina.   Johnson alumnus Bob G. Braziel (’56), Reggie's father, ministered at Old Ford Church until the time of his death in 1992. Ross (’07, ’18) and Megan (Brock ’07) Najmon recently celebrated 12 years of marriage.   Seeing Ross’ post of celebration on Facebook reminded me of his involvement with Team Expansion.   While Ross and Megan had gone through language learning in hopes of ministering in Italy, doors were not open to that ministry.   However, Ross has been able to p