Connections and Reflections for 7/31/20

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 put his skills to work as a Financial Associate with Team Expansion’s International Services.  Ross says, “I am able to use my gifts and experience to help offer support to those in the field so that they can focus more of their energies on their local ministry.” 
• Ross’ statement reminded me of something I heard from Allison (Compton ’99) Ngallaba when she was a student at Johnson University.  During a missions-emphasis event, Allison expressed the conviction that, “When it comes to missions, a Christian only has three choices. Go, send, or disobey.”  Ross and Megan are living out that conviction by serving in a support role so that others can focus their energies on ministry.
• Stephen Alvey (JUTN ’16) shared a video of Dr. David Reece wrestling with a couple students, during class, to illustrate the plight of Job. Dr. Reece had a very special way of integrating engaging teaching methods to illustrate biblical truths.  Steven said, “I didn’t know then that my days in the classroom with him were some of his last days as a professor. Doc quickly became my favorite professor…” Want to see the video?  Go to https://www.facebook.com/JohnsonUniversityAlumni/.
• On Friday, July 31, Emily (Hughes, JUTN '17) Smith concluded her work as the Administrative Assistant for Alumni and Church Relations at Johnson University.  Emily and her husband, Kaleb (JUTN '17) have made the decision to enroll in Johnson University's Master of Arts in Strategic Ministry where they will be spending the greater part of the next year at Christ's Church of the Valley in Phoenix, Arizona. Emily...you will be sorely missed around here! Thank you for your excellent work!
• As Emily wrapped up her work, she trained a former work-study student to fill her shoes.  Priscilla (Cosme, JUTN '21) Chastain stepped in to fill a part-time role in the office. Having worked in the Advancement Office previously, she comes with a baseline of knowledge and a relationship with the staff.  Please join me in welcoming Priscilla to the staff!
• The Christian Standard recently featured an article on Jamin Bailey's (JUTN '06) 16-year journey from preaching student at
  Johnson University
  to corporate chaplain. Jamin serves with Corporate Chaplains of America where he "oversees 27 chaplains, mostly in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky." You can read the article at https://christianstandard.com/2020/07/baileys-dream-of-military-chaplaincy-has-covered-16-years/.
• One final note. The Alumni Relations Office at Johnson University will soon be launching a new online alumni community that will facilitate communication between alumni, make registering for events easier, and much more. Be on the lookout for an email announcing this new community in the coming week.