27 Aug Soccer Camp in Walbridge, Ohio

The Huntington University men’s soccer team partnered with Mainstreet Church in Walbridge, Ohio, to host the Onside Soccer Camp August 11-14. Two coaches and 23 players worked with 86 children, ages 4-13. The children participated in drills, games and team time activities. This is the second camp the team has organized for the church and the community.

“Not only do we share the game of soccer, but we also have an opportunity each night to share our faith with the children,” said Russ Lawson, head coach of the Huntington men’s soccer team. “This stretches most of our players and moves them out of their comfort zones. This week also allows us to learn more about each other and prepare for the season with a handful of training sessions.”

Lawson added that Cathy Burson, children’s ministry director for Mainstreet Church, and her staff volunteers “do an amazing job of taking care of us.”

21 Aug Four New Huntington University Faculty

L-r: Lee Shortridge, Michael Slane, Jonathan Krull, Jay Duffer.

Four new members are joining the Huntington University faculty this fall.

Lee Shortridge, assistant professor of art. His resume includes a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1982 from Rosary College Graduate School of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy (he focused on drawing and painting). Shortridge has taught courses for Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Oral Roberts University, Bradley University, and Northeastern University. His areas of expertise include graphic design and fine arts.

Michael Slane, assistant professor of theatre. He holds a Masters degrees in theatre from the University of Kentucky (2001) and Ohio University (2008). His areas of expertise include theatre design and technology.

Jonathan Krull, visiting professor of philosophy (a one-year appointment). He earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn., and is pursuing his Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of South Carolina.

Jay Duffer, visiting professor of theatre (one-year appointment). He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Baylor University. He is a professional actor, director and playwright. He has performed in venues ranging from Off-Broadway and New York theatre to regional houses as well as working in productions overseas.

For the past few years, Duffer has directed the popular New York-based sketch comedy troupe, Freedumb. The troupe played to sold-out crowds at the 2006 and 2007 Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, the 2005 and 2006 Toronto International Sketch Comedy Festival, and the 2007 DC Comedy Festival. From 2004-2007, he served as the executive director of New Works for Threads Theatre Company, a faith-based arts company that promotes and supports Christian writers in the secular marketplace.

You can read more about them on the Huntington University news page.

19 Aug The New Livingston Hall Opens This Friday

Huntington University will welcome new and returning students on Friday, August 22, for Move-In Day.

The first-time freshman class and the overall new student group, including freshmen and transfer students, are both expected to be 10 percent larger than previous record levels. The university anticipates that the new student group will break the 300 mark for the first time in Huntington’s history.

Also on Friday, Livingston Hall officially will open to students. The modern student residence is designed to house 150 undergraduates, primarily freshmen and sophomores. Construction began in the summer of 2007.

Move-In Day will kick off a three-day orientation weekend for new students, including the Huntington University Plunge, small group sessions and social activities. The plunge, sponsored by the university’s Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service, involves groups of new students as well as faculty and staff volunteering at various locations in the Huntington community.

31 Jul August 8 – Final Godspell Performance

Godspell will be performing their final show at Huntington University, in the Merillat Centre for the Arts, on August 8 at 7:00 pm.

This show concludes the summer tour of 44 venues and nine states, including churches, church camps, high schools, a community festival and a performing arts center.

This year’s program captures an island theme – Survivor meets Cast Away. With references from classics such as Fantasy Island, Hawaii 5-0, Gilligan’s Island, and Tarzan to the more familiar Survivor, Lost, Cast Away and The Amazing Race, achieves another fresh take on the Gospel of Matthew that will entertain, inspire and transform!

Admission is free, and a reception will be held in the lobby afterwards.

31 Jul Worship Leadership Program at HU

This five-minute video tells about the Worship Leadership Program at Huntington University. The program is now in its third year.

09 Jul HU has Record Enrollment Weekend

Huntington University registered 229 first-time freshmen during Registration Weekend, topping the previous record set in 2006 by 28 students.

In addition, 38 more freshmen indicated to the registrar’s office that they intend to register in the near future.

Registration Weekend, held June 20-21, is an orientation to Huntington University for students and parents. Both attend seminars introducing them to faculty, staff, and current students. Students can take placement tests, sign up for housing, have their student identification photo taken, and learn about the university’s wireless computer network. A highlight of the weekend is the HU Olympics, hosted by current students.

25 Jun Paul Hirschy and the Good Sense Training

Paul Hirschy, former bishop and now a Huntington University staffer, has been offering the Good Sense stewardship training to UB churches. He recently conducted this at Franklintown UB church (Franklintown, Pa.). What’s this about?

Paul explains, “Willow Creek developed the Good Sense materials because they found that people would not give the time required for the demanding Crown Ministry. It is practical, designed to be done in one day, with six one-hour sessions. However, people are expected to do some pre-session work in preparation for the training.

“The material emphasizes that:

• God owns it all and we are to be good trustees of what God has entrusted to us.
• Credit card debt is the most damaging kind of debt, and people need to be very wise in the use of credit cards.
• People can get out of debt and find financial freedom.

Credit card debt is a huge issue for many people. Churches need to deal with it to be relevant to one of the major problems in people’s lives.

“I like Good Sense because it is easy for people to understand, it can be presented in one day, and the cost is reasonable ($15 per manual, which a couple can share).”

If you’re interested in possibly hosting a Good Sense seminar, contact Paul Hirschy at phirschy@huntington.edu or call toll-free 1-866-213-3710.

14 Jun Godspell Heads East

Huntington University’s summer “Godspell” troupe kicked off their summer tour with a performance in Huntington on June 8. People around the Healthy Ministry Office gave it rave reviews, noting especially the strength of the vocals. The group is headed east this weekend, with a performance tonight at Atlantic Avenue UB church in Franklin, Pa., and then at Salem UB in Chambersburg, Pa., on Sunday (both at 7 p.m.). Check the schedule for a performance near you.

28 May Godspell Meets Survivor: HU Summer Tour

United Brethren churches in the midwest and mid-Atlantic regions are invited to schedule a performance of “Godspell” during the summer months. Student actors and musicians from Huntington University will launch the summer tour of “Godspell” with a free show at College Park Church (Huntington, Ind.) at 7 p.m. on June 8. Then they’ll hit the road, anticipating doing up to 40 performances.

For booking information, contact Paul Hirschy at 260-359-4357.

For the third consecutive run of the production, director David Shamburger has incorporated a “Survivor” meets “Castaway” theme into the Gospel of Matthew. Godspell includes almost word-for-word retellings of several of Jesus’ parables.

“While the ‘stoic’ thinkers of the past and present find themselves locked up in their ‘ivory towers’ and eventually falling to their knees, our band of players find themselves on a deserted island in what might be considered ‘Paradise,’ free from the rigors of legalistic thinking and exploring a new kind of journey led by a native islander named Jesus,” Shamburger said.

The presentation includes pop-culture references to “Fantasy Island,” “Hawaii 5-0,” “Gilligan’s Island,” “Tarzan,” “Survivor,” “Lost,” “Cast Away,” and “The Amazing Race.”

The 2008 Godspell tour features powerful acting and vocal performances as well as a live band with guitar, piano, keyboards and drums. Leading up to the production, students completed a semester-long course and a two-week “boot camp” to prepare them for the rigors of approximately 40 shows between June and August in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.

19 May Honorary Degrees to Three Worthy People

Congratulations to three wonderful servants of the church who received honorary degrees from Huntington University on Saturday.
Russ and Nellie Birdsall (right) have served the Lord as a team in a variety of capacities–as missionaries in Sierra Leone, in administrative positions at Huntington University, in the pastorate, as conference superintendent, and most recently, during 11 stints as short-term missionaries in Jamaica and Macau.

Owen Gordon (right, being recognized by HU president G. Blair Dowden) is a long-time leader in Jamaica Conference. He is currently president of Jamaica Bible College in Mandeville, and also pastors a church.

Nine people from Jamaica, including Superintendent Winston Smith, were on hand to see Rev. Gordon receive his honorary degree.