< Previous20 FOCUS WINTER 2022 Seminary Receives Lilly Endowment Grant To strengthen urban ministry programs, develop remote delivery capability and moreAndrews University ANNUAL REPORT 21Academics ANDREWS UNIVERSITY IS PLEASED TO announce that it has received a five- year grant of $997,444 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help the Seventh- day Adventist Theological Seminary (SDATS) strengthen the ability of pastors to serve effectively in urban settings. Lilly Endowment made the grant through its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. It is a three-phase initiative designed to help theological schools across the United States and Canada as they prioritize and respond to the most pressing challenges they face as they prepare pastoral and lay leaders for local congregations. Andrews University President An- drea Luxton shares, “I am delighted that the University has been awarded this competitive Lilly Endowment grant. This generous support will enable the Seminary to significantly deepen the opportunities available to Seminary stu- dents to engage in innovative ministry in urban environments.” The funds will be used to establish (a) an urban ministry concentration with a strong focus on community development; (b) an urban Clinical Pastoral Education program, in col- laboration with Kettering Health; (c) a fully off-campus MDiv cohort for students preparing for urban ministry through the equipping of classrooms for in-person/remote delivery; and (d) an open-access database of Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) theological scholarship. Jiří Moskala, SDATS dean, states, “I am excited that the Seminary is the recipient of the highly competitive Pathways for Tomorrow grant, which will advance the pastoral preparedness to minister in the urban setting in the North American Division. I especially rejoice over the future establishment of the Clinical Pastoral Educational program with practical field-based mentoring and training. New great opportunities of the untrodden path lie ahead of us.” The SDATS-led project will be de- veloped in conjunction with Kettering Health, the College of Arts & Sciences, the James White Library, and the Office of Research & Creative Scholarship. The grant application team was led by Cedric Vine, PhD, associate professor of New Testament. The Seventh-day Adventist Theolog- ical Seminary is one of 84 theological schools that will benefit from a total of more than $82 million in grants through the second phase of the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. Together, the schools represent evangelical, main- line Protestant, nondenominational, Pentecostal, Roman Catholic and Black church and historic peace church traditions (e.g., Church of the Brethren, Mennonite, Quakers). Many schools also serve students and pastors from Black, Latino, Korean American, Chinese American and recent immigrant Chris- tian communities. “Theological schools have long played a pivotal role in preparing pastoral leaders for churches,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “Today, these schools find themselves in a period of rapid and profound change. Through the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, theological schools will take deliberate steps to address the challenges they have identified in ways that make the most sense to them. We believe that their efforts are critical to ensuring that Christian congregations continue to have a steady stream of pastoral lead- ers who are well-prepared to lead the churches of tomorrow.” Lilly Endowment launched the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative in January 2021 because of its longstand- ing interest in supporting efforts to enhance and sustain the vitality of Christian congregations by strengthen- ing the leadership capacities of pastors and congregational lay leaders. Lilly Endowment Inc. is an India- napolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their phar- maceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, edu- cation and religion and maintains a special commitment to its found- ers’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. The primary aim of its grantmaking in religion, which is national in scope, focuses on strengthening the leadership and vitality of Christian congregations in the United States. The Endowment also seeks to foster public under- standing about religion and lift up in fair, accurate and balanced ways the contributions that people of all faiths and religious communities make to our greater civic well-being. “This generous support will enable the Seminary to significantly deepen the opportunities available to Seminary students to engage in innovative ministry in urban environments.”22 FOCUS WINTER 2022 MISSION & SERVICE “IT SEEMS YOU’VE HAD THIS condition for quite a while. Why didn’t you get tested earlier?” As I drew blood from a patient, 19-year- old me thought nothing of their physician’s inquiry. That is, until they responded, “I don’t know, tests are expensive.” When the physician went on to explain that diabetes mellitus requires a robust monitoring program and dietary changes to manage the disease, I began to realize that this patient may not have a good outcome. Dialysis soon followed, and to this day I do not know what happened to that patient. It’s an experience that not many young adults have, let alone one laboratory professionals have. When I witnessed that conversation between doctor and patient, I knew that there was a problem in the field of laboratory medicine. As laboratory assistants, scientists and phlebotomists, we possess the notion that those who need diagnosing will get diagnosed on their own or with help from a doctor. When a computer screen is between you and a patient, you do not see the human side of their healthcare experience. From that experience forward, I knew I wanted to make serious, intentional changes in the healthcare system and find an answer to these questions. I grew up in Berrien Springs, Michigan, surrounded by an Adventist community. I was in Ad- ventist education all my life, from elementary school to college, for which I am grateful to my parents. My family is full of healthcare professionals, so access to medical care and information was some- thing I did not struggle to obtain. I came to realize after certain life experiences such as the ones men- tioned previously that the access to healthcare I grew up with is not the same for all Americans. During my freshman year at Andrews, I volun- teered for a nonprofit mega clinic called Your Best Pathway to Health, which organizes mobile health clinics for large cities. Services like lifestyle education, medical, dental and surgical care are pro- vided to anyone free of charge. I’ll never forget the people I met from all walks of life who desperately needed healthcare services. As I walked into the convention center each morning, I saw the wrap- around line of people just waiting to be seen by a doctor for the first time in many years. One day I drew the blood of a man who seemed to be middle-aged and spoke almost no English. He began talking about something I could not quite un- derstand until he burst into tears. His translator explained that he was so grateful he had the oppor- tunity to receive medical care. As an undocumented immigrant, he did not have health insurance and did not get paid enough to afford even basic health screenings. But through the free health clinic, he could get the services he needed to stay well. Although I was greatly moved by his experience, the sad reality of the situation was that the clinic only lasted three days. The lack of public health services for those unable to receive medical care for various reasons led me to seek change within our healthcare system. Before attending Andrews Uni- versity, I was at Andrews Academy. There, I had supportive teachers/ faculty who helped inspire me to pursue my dreams of being in the medical field. It was through my experiences at Andrews Academy that I was able to discover the field of medical laboratory sciences (MLS). I always appreciated the hands-on nature of laboratory work, particularly in microbiology, virology and chemistry. Pairing A Foundation for Service When a computer screen is between you and a patient, you do not see the human side of their healthcare experience. by Justin JohnsonAndrews University ANNUAL REPORT 23Mission & Service that appreciation with my passion for data analytics and process im- provement made for an enjoyable program experience at Andrews University. The Department of Med- ical Laboratory Sciences has great faculty who support their students in every aspect of their collegiate experience. They have provided help with my academic affairs, clinical placements and board examination preparation. Overall, the depart- ment fosters a sense of community and stewardship that trains students to serve. Additionally, the Under- graduate Leadership Program has helped me and countless other students develop valuable servant leadership skills that can be used in my career and even in my everyday life. It was actually through my Un- dergraduate Leadership Project that I solidified my desire to work in the public health field. Finally, studying at Andrews gave me the support I needed to learn about myself and how I can change the world. During my college experience, I had the honor of serving with several clubs on campus, including the Andrews University Student Association (AUSA), the Medical Laboratory Sciences Club and the Andrews Filipino International Association (AFIA). These roles have allowed me to gain real-world experiences when it comes to being a leader, which has encouraged me to lead wherever I may go. In training students to be leaders, Andrews is doing a stellar job. Each student in the MLS pro- gram at Andrews has the chance to serve in the field through clinicals. Clinicals, or clinical rotations, are a 16-week practical experience where senior MLS students work along- side practicing medical laboratory scientists in the field. I had the op- portunity to rotate through several departments including the blood bank, microbiology, virology, chem- istry, hematology, immunology/ serology, molecular diagnostics, flow cytometry, and specimen processing at various AdventHealth facilities in central Florida. Rotations in virol- ogy were required, but the timing of it all, being that it was during the pandemic, made for an interesting experience. I thought I was there to observe and learn but quickly learned that my learning would be much more experiential. I helped the scientists alleviate the increased COVID-19 workload by pipetting samples into PCR (polymerase chain reaction) cartridges and by performing QC (quality control) procedures on the analysis instru- ments. I learned later on that my colleagues from Andrews had also stepped in during their virology ro- tations. Because of this, the virology department recognized the caliber of students Andrews sent to clinical rotations. Andrews sends not only students but servant leaders as well. Additionally, I noticed that each virology scientist used extra care and precision while handling each sample. Despite the many samples that would be processed each day, the attention to detail perfectly showcases that a sense of mission and service is crucial to the success of any clinical laboratory. After my clinical rotations and graduation, I passed my Board of Certification exam and got my MLS(ASCP) credential. I began applying for jobs, hoping God would lead me to the right place. I spent time praying for God to open doors for me, and soon enough, I received a call. Now, I am serving in the Division of Laboratory Genetics and Genomics at Mayo Clinic where I collaborate with other laboratory professionals and pathologists to perform molecular testing that can be used to diagnose various can- cers and genetic abnormalities. My academic experiences at Andrews University combined with my clin- ical experiences at AdventHealth have provided a solid foundation that prepared me for my career here at Mayo Clinic. I am grateful to be where I am today, and I plan to grow in the role I am in currently while looking forward to what the future holds and where God will lead me next. I hope to serve in a role that includes an opportunity to make positive and lasting changes in the healthcare system. I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERY MLS student to not just look for opportunities in the laboratory but to also discover ways to work with other allied health peers. Cross- professional collaboration is crucial to improving the healthcare system as a whole and is already a part of the current operating system in some capacity. Begin having conversations with your colleagues in the College of Health & Human Services and think of ways you can come together to fix some of the issues present in the healthcare system. Only through our combined efforts can we enact improvements on a large scale. Finally, view every opportunity as a service opportunity. Whether it be work or everyday life, accept the challenge of helping someone in need, learning something new or making something better. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Go and change the world. Justin Johnson, MLS(ASCP), graduated cum laude from Andrews University with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science in August 2021. The lack of public health services for those unable to receive medical care for various reasons led me to seek change within our healthcare system. Only through our combined efforts can we enact improvements on a large scale.24 FOCUS WINTER 2022 ON NOV. 20, 2021, NEW LIFE FELLOWSHIP AND THE SOCIAL WORK CLUB collaborated to distribute turkeys and water to the Benton Harbor community via Harbor of Hope, an Adventist church in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The social work department at Andrews University has a close relationship with Harbor of Hope as our professor, Shannon Trecartin, is active in the church. After the unclean water statement was issued for the city of Benton Harbor and after talking extensively with our professor, the Andrews University Social Work Club held an event for social work students and faculty to hand out water. On campus, the leaders of New Life Fellowship, Chaplain Danielle Pilgrim in particular, and the congregation have committed to serve the city of Benton Harbor and help where possible and needed. While the Social Work Club prioritized giving out water, New Life Fellowship gave out turkeys the week be- fore Thanksgiving. This ensured families in the neighborhood had something special to enjoy. I am very thankful that I witnessed and was part of this experience. We cannot stay silent or do nothing when we are faced with God calling us to be our brother’s keepers and “love each other as [he] loved us” (John 15:12). Throughout the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, Andrews University faculty, staff and students connected with the local community by distributing food and water, collecting jeans for an area organization and sharing the gift of music through a television broadcast. Holiday Outreach by Morgan WilliamsMission & ServiceAndrews University ANNUAL REPORT 25 WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY. ANDREWS UNIVERSITY declares in their mission statement that they seek to change the world, and Paris’ Purse has a calling to help women in need. Both of these organizations have a passion for serving people. This is the will to help others. Together these two organizations partnered with Pioneer Memorial Church (PMC) and PMC’s Grow Groups to hold a jean drive in the fall semester of 2021. The mission? To gather jeans as a gift to empower women. Bins were placed in every residence hall and at each entrance of PMC for a month. Jeans were collected because they are versatile enough to wear in all seasons, and the pairs unworn could be sold to create a source of income. This is the way to help others. We col- lected over 200 pairs of jeans donated from students, faculty, staff and church members through this drive. In addition, there were also donations of socks and shirts. These items were handed over to Paris’ Purse to be given freely to women who need them because “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” IN CONTRAST TO THE 2020 CHRISTMAS CONCERT PANDEMIC SCHEDULING disruptions, in December 2021 the Andrews University ensembles were able to present live Christmas concerts to audiences in the Howard Performing Arts Center. The Andrews University Symphony Orchestra, directed by Chris Wild, joined the University Singers and Chorale, directed by Stephen Zork, for the annual “Welcome Christmas” concert on Dec. 3, and the following evening the Andrews University Wind Symphony, directed by Byron Graves, performed another Christmas concert. Students who performed together voiced their excitement about the experience and expressed their desire to perform one large concert with everyone from the music department. This is nearly what happened over the course of two days on campus, and from these two concerts, an expert team of technicians, in collaboration with the ensemble directors, created an integrated program of selections from both performances to broadcast on the local WNIT public television station (PBS Michiana). Immediately after receiving the program for broadcast, the WNIT manager exclaimed, “Outstanding!” and expressed his thanks to the Andrews team for sharing with the WNIT audience. Making music together was a joy to the musicians, and responses from the broadcast audience affirmed and expressed appreciation for the beautiful Christmas concert. by Kyra Collins by Karin Thompson26 FOCUS WINTER 2022 Developing Professionals to Transform the World WEAVING MISSION AND SERVICE into the fabric of our School of Busi- ness Administration (SBA) courses is at the core of our philosophy. Many of our courses involve projects where students work on campus and in the community, helping orga- nizations to thrive. Multi-classroom projects are chal- lenging but nothing new to us. Once we evaluate the situation, we explore what professors and classes are best suited to work with a project, and the Enactus team gets involved in coordinating the overall project right away. The students gain experience under the supervision of their profes- sors and also in team coordination and project management. One example of helping our cam- pus thrive was the MBA students’ excitement in creating targeted campaigns to help the Andreasen Center for Wellness grow despite the challenges of launching during the COVID-19 pandemic. A long-term commitment we are engaged in is working with SOHO, an eSwatini orphanage village de- signed by our School of Architecture & Interior Design. Several business faculty have consulted and advised the nonprofit, helping restructure the organization, and a number of classes are working with SOHO. The idea is to create a number of small businesses, run by the orphans as they grow up, giving them sustain- able businesses to support the orphanage in the future. by Kimberly PichotAndrews University ANNUAL REPORT 27Mission & Service ONE OF THE FIRST CLASSES THAT I took when I came to Andrews was Strategic Marketing Management with Professor Kimberly Pichot. The class was focused on giving us the knowledge tools necessary to become effective marketing strategists. Even though there are over a thousand MBA programs in the U.S. offering courses based on the same concepts, Andrews University’s MBA program has two main factors that made this course unique. The first one was the relevant real-life experiences that the professor presented to bring each concept into practice. The second one was the willingness to serve that Dr. Pichot constantly showed—she was always willing to provide us with clarifications and valuable insights. One of the projects I have enjoyed the most during my MBA was the Mar- ket Study Project that we conducted for the Andreasen Center for Well- ness. The project was divided into different stages. First, we did general research about the wellness industry, then we evaluated the needs of our target market which was the Berrien County community. Also, we did a competitive analysis to understand the strengths and areas of improve- ment that the Center had. Finally, we designed a marketing plan to implement. It was a very interesting project because we worked closely with Rachel Keele who is the director of the Andreasen Center for Wellness. She provided us with detailed and relevant information that helped my team understand the needs of the Center and how to design effective marketing strategies for it. My favorite part about the project was having the opportunity to apply all the knowl- edge I received in class to serve the Andrews University community with this market study. BY LUZ RESTREPO THIS PAST SEMESTER I WAS IN Project Management class, and we worked on a project for SOHO, Saving Orphans through Healthcare and Outreach, a nonprofit organization located in eSwatini. SOHO partnered with the SBA to give students the opportunity for hands-on experience working with a nonprofit. Our project was to build a branding document, create a website and create a management structure. I am the vice president of projects for Enactus for the 2021–2022 school year, and together with the SBA dean and the Project Management pro- fessor, we felt this project would be perfect for Enactus to be part of and ultimately take over once the semester ended. We started to integrate Enac- tus slowly into the project and had the branding team manage them during the semester so we would have a smooth transition. Enactus helped cre- ate a mission statement and branding document. At the end of the semester when we finished our deliverables, the CEO of SOHO and several members on the board of directors came to An- drews University where we were able to present to them our documents and all our work that semester. I will cherish the time I spent on the SOHO project. I loved having the opportunity to help an organization that powerfully impacts hundreds of kids in eSwatini. And what better way to learn project management than actually doing it? One of the main reasons I decided to come to Andrews is because the faculty and staff are committed to preparing students to be successful post-college. They are willing to go the extra mile to help you, encourage you and set you up for success. This project is just one example of how they do that. BY JEFFREY GEHRING28 FOCUS WINTER 2022 EACH MORNING AS THEY HEAD OUT from their home in Boise, Idaho, Jill Cornforth and her husband, Fred Cornforth, founder and CEO of Community Development, Inc. (CDI), say to each other, “Let’s go out and make the world a better place today.” For this couple, emphasizing the present is imperative. Fred explains, “Within Adventism, we’ve been programmed to think that all the issues we face today will be cured at the Second Coming. This sets up a ‘watch and wait’ lifestyle. As decades have gone by, I’ve seen peo- ple starved or beaten to death when we could have helped. What’s the best way to fill our time? What do I want to be doing when the Lord comes?” Fred finds his answer in scrip- ture. “I have two choices. I can be either a sheep or a goat,” he con- cludes. “Jesus makes it very clear. He describes the sheep as the ones who look around them, see a need and fill it.” Fred quotes from Matthew 25: “For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was a stranger, you took me in to your home; when naked, you clothed me; when I was ill, you came to my help; when in prison, you visited me.” Pondering this passage leads Fred to sum up his mission this way: “We were born to serve others. We were created for it. It’s our highest calling.” Fred gives Andrews University much of the credit for helping him to focus and refine his concept of service, instilling within him what he calls “the mitochondria of my motivation.” After earning an undergraduate degree at Wal- la Walla College, with a major in business and minor in religion, Fred moved across the country to Berrien Springs, Michigan, where he enrolled in the Seventh-day Adven- tist Theological Seminary in 1987. He can’t say enough good about that decision. “Here I studied under the most demanding and rigorous schol- ars,” Fred recalls. “Many of them were trained in European schools and brought with them into their classrooms that Old World, unparal- leled, unapologetic seriousness and academic rigor.” Among his profes- sors were John Baldwin, Miroslav Kiš and Randy Younker. One professor in particular, Raoul Dederen, profoundly impacted the young biblical scholar. “It took me a few weeks in Dr. Dederen’s Revela- tion and Inspiration class to figure out what he was all about,” Fred admits. “At first, I found him quite intimidating. Dr. Dederen lectured from memory and only allowed ten minutes at the end of each Friday’s class for questions. I soon realized, however, that if I listened carefully and kept up with my reading, many PHILANTHROPY & DEVELOPMENT Making the World a Better Place Today Fred Cornforth’s Mission, Mindset and Motivation by Beverly Matiko Fred (MDiv ’90) and Jill CornforthAndrews University ANNUAL REPORT 29Philanthropy & Development of my questions eventually would be answered. In the interim, learning to live with the questions proved to be a valuable lesson too.” Eager to live up to Dr. Dederen’s expectations, Fred resolved to earn the highest grade in that large lecture class of over 200 students. Never did he work so hard for an A. But even more rewarding than finally seeing that grade on his transcript was the affirmation he received from his professor one day. “We were chatting in the hallway after class,” Fred remembers, “when General Conference President Neal C. Wilson walked by, obviously visiting campus for some meetings. Dr. Dederen called him over and said, ‘Elder Wilson, I want you to meet Fred. He is the president of our Student Forum and one of our best and brightest students.’” Fred still tears up, recounting that moment. “While I was pleased that my professor wanted me to meet Elder Wilson, I was overjoyed to hear Dr. Dederen’s vote of confidence in me. I felt simultaneously humbled and proud. It has taken me years to unpack all that moment represents, but I realize now that this professor, along with his colleagues, helped me develop the ethical base for all my research and decision-making, both professionally and personally. My seminary training also taught me critical thinking which is the single greatest skill I take with me into every task. I continue to rely on this skill every day, in every job and every encounter, from my earlier church work as a pastor, to conference appointments, then on to the General Conference and now overseeing multi-faceted real estate developments with my own company, including building apartment com- plexes nationally and orphanages internationally.” Fred further explains, “Real estate development demands that I take on many roles—from archi- tect, to lawyer, to banker, to financier and more. I know that some might find this surprising, but achieving a billion dollars in real estate development wouldn’t have happened without those critical thinking skills. I owe so much to my professors in graduate school.” Fred also credits Andrews Univer- sity with transforming him into what he calls “a global citizen.” He fondly remembers sitting in seminary classes next to a C.P.A. from Japan, a lawyer from Philadelphia and an architect from Ghana. Also, through community initiatives sponsored by Pioneer Me- morial Church and the Student Forum, Fred found himself in nearby Benton Harbor, meeting the people on the streets and in their homes. “I saw first- hand how great the needs were right on my doorstep,” Fred says. “A flame was ignited—a flame that would continue to grow.” While Fred estimates that about two- thirds of his seminary courses were required classes, he elected to take as many courses as he could in archaeol- ogy and Islamic beliefs and culture. He spent a life-changing summer doing archaeological work in Jordan with Professors Doug Clark, Larry Geraty, Larry Herr, Øystein LaBianca and Randy Younker. “Working alongside Muslims taught me that much more binds us than separates us,” Fred says. An in- “I saw firsthand how great the needs were right on my doorstep,” Fred says. “A flame was ignited—a flame that would continue to grow.” “This scholarship helps support unsponsored seminarians. I was sponsored throughout my seminary studies,” Fred acknowledges, “but every day I sat alongside classmates who weren’t. They struggled to pay for tuition and books and to provide housing, food and clothing for themselves and their families.” The Cornforth familyNext >