Campbellsville University School of Nursing serves 2,125 in Haiti medical mission trip

School of Nursing’s faculty, students and friends served 2,125 people in four days of clinics on a medical mission trip to Haiti over the university’s Christmas break.

The team of 26 people served clinics which consisted of several stations, according to Hannah White, a nursing student from Hodgenville, Ky. She said stations included “prayer where we would pray for their specific needs and share the Gospel.”

In triage the team took vitals like blood pressure, pulse, temperature, etc. and then the Haitians would meet with a doctor who would write a prescription if needed. The pharmacy was run by a Haitian pharmacist, but the team bought all the medicine. 

After visiting the pharmacy, the team would give injections if the doctor said it was needed. The last station was gifts where the team gave away toothbrushes, shirts, food, toys and flip-flops. 

While the clinic was going on, other team members worked with children’s ministry. Sarah Fletcher, a biology major from Russell Springs, Ky., said, “The children were priceless, beautiful and just the sweetest children you could hope to meet.” 

While playing with the children, Fletcher said a child’s eyes “lit up” when he put a Tootsie Roll in his mouth, something that is not a big deal to Americans. 

In another clinic, Fletcher sat with a little girl while a translator asked the children in Creole: “Who do you love? Do you love Jesus?” Fletcher said the little girl in her lap “squished my face asking me if I loved Jesus and knew him. She has known me for a very short time but was concerned if I know God and who He is.” 

Fletcher said seeing the joy in the Haitian people with what little they have has “made me realize how much I have been given and how I should be more joyful every day.” 

White came to a similar conclusion when the team visited a poor community where people lived in huts and tents. When the team arrived, children came running and were so happy to see them. “They had nothing but were such happy people,” White said.

 This was White’s second trip to Haiti and she said she realized “just how blessed I really am. It’s almost embarrassing how much I have and how little these people have, and they are probably happier than I ever will be.” 

Also during their trip, the team fed over 500 Haitian children rice and beans during one day of clinical. Angie Atwood, instructor in nursing, said, “We merely donated our time, smiles and unconditional love -- exactly what those children requested from us.” 

Erin Martin, a December 2011 graduate of CU’s School of Nursing from Campbellsville, Ky., has been to Haiti with the School of Nursing two years in a row. Last year she said she “fell in love with this little boy named Mackenzie.” This year, she and her husband have begun the process of adopting Mackenzie. 

Another Campbellsville University team of five students traveled to Arlington, Texas over Christmas break to serve in Mission Arlington’s Christmas store helping needy families pick out Christmas gifts for children and sharing the Gospel with them. 

East Texas Baptist University students enjoy eye-opening trip to Ethiopia

“Eye opening,” is the sentiment of 12 East Texas Baptist University students who experienced a 10-day mission trip to Ethiopia during the Christmas break. The long journey from campus to Bona, a small village in southern Ethiopia, was the first ETBU student trip to the area. The final leg of the journey to arrive in Bona was a five hour bus trip, with the last four traveled on a very bumpy, dirt road. The whole ministry trip had over 90 hours of travel.

ETBU Assistant Professor of Religion Dr. Elijah Brown, along with his wife, Amy, accompanied the team of students to Ethiopia. Dr. Brown said it is difficult to put into words the different lifestyles that one finds in the various places of the world.

So what is Ethiopia like, especially for a small village of 5,000 such as Bona?

“On the Sunday the students were in Bona, they visited a family that lives in a small one- room hut,” shared Dr. Brown. “There was very little separation between the parents and the six children. The kitchen area consists of a fire to cook over. At night, the family brings their cows inside the hut with them. Can you imagine sleeping at night in that kind of environment?”

“This was my first trip overseas,” said Breann Whitaker, a sophomore from Caddo Mills. “It was really eye opening because, when compared to the possessions that most college students have, the Ethiopians have very little. They are not worried about material things. I thought I was going to be very sad while I was there, but their happiness is really contagious.”

“The people of Ethiopia are so welcoming, warm, joyful, and thoughtful,” added senior Jordan Langford of Wellington. “Our main objective while in Ethiopia was to bring honor to God,” said Alisa Roberts, senior from Sherman.

“On the trip, we did a VBS at the Bright Hope Buckner School in Bona for about 400 children. We split in different groups, using a rotation of Bible study, crafts, recreation, and health stations,” said sophomore Onisha Bradshaw of Garland. “I was on the crafts team and it was amazing seeing little children using a crayon for the first time.”  

During the Bible study time, the ETBU students used translators to help them teach through the first 11 chapters of Genesis. “One day while I was in the middle of teaching about Adam and Eve, so many distractions started happening,” said Lucy Elston, a junior from Mansfield. “The children were talking, looking out the window, and the teacher’s cell phone literally went off three times.”

Elston had prayed before the trip that the children would have an understanding to the truths being taught. As the distractions were occurring Elston asked silently, “God, why so many distractions?  I am trying to teach Your Word.”

“I realized something, in our teaching we were proclaiming some serious truth, and the enemy was trying to thwart its purpose in the lives of the children by distracting them,” continued Elston. “God confirmed my request when He made me realize these things. I began to feel so empowered and continued teaching with even more boldness that drowned out the cries of the enemy.”

“The principal at the school, who also served as one our translators, said he was so intrigued by the health teaching because it was new to him,” said freshman Logan Moree of Paris. The health education station taught the children how to boil their water to make it clean, brush their teeth, wash their hands, and use the restroom and dispose waste correctly.  

“The principal said he had plans of teaching the same material to the families of his students we taught. It just warmed my heart that simple health techniques that we practice in America and take for granted, could potentially save lives,” added Moree. 

The group did other evangelistic work by showing the “Jesus Video,” one evening at a local Christian church. “There were people just crying and weeping openly as they watched how Jesus was being treated,” said Langford. “I remember one woman distinctly, during the scene when the soldiers were beating Jesus in the court. The woman and myself caught eyes as she was holding her baby so tight, rocking back and forth, just crying. That emotion was so real.”

The team split up on Sunday while in Bona, allowing each group to attend different churches. Dr. Brown was invited to preach at one church and freshman Calvin Williams preached his first ever sermon at the other.

“What a blessing to partner with the churches that are there. The church within Ethiopia is growing at a rapid pace. It is an exciting time to go to a place and see that Christianity is really on the move,” said Dr. Brown.

“One of the highlights for many of the students that has been shared with me, was the opportunity we had on Sunday morning to participate in a robust worship service,” said Dr. Brown.

Roberts said, reflecting back on her Sunday attending church in Bona, “I will never forget the experience. During the worship time, the congregation literally jumped and danced in praise of Jesus. At that moment, it hit me that we were all part of the body of Christ and even though I could not understand them, we were worshipping the same Jesus. And some day in heaven we will be united together in praise of the Lamb!”

“I say frequently, you have not really worshipped until you have worshipped in Africa,” added Dr. Brown.

The team also participated in a high school exchange with approximately 25 students. The cultural exchange allowed for a time of relationship building and for each group to visit about their culture, customs, and holidays.  

Before leaving the country, time in the capital city of Addis Ababa allowed the ETBU students to tour the offices of Bright Hope, including their baby and children’s orphanage. They also toured Addadi Maryan Church, which is a rock hewn-church built in the 12th-14th centuries and still in use today.

“The people of Ethiopia are so different than me and live halfway around the world from the ETBU campus, yet we believe in the same God. God is doing so much in the country of Ethiopia,” concluded Elston.

Hardin-Simmons University offers new doctoral degrees and MBA

Three new advanced degree programs will be offered at Hardin-Simmons University beginning in the 2012-2013 academic year. The HSU Board of Trustees recently approved the two new doctoral degrees, and a new track will be added to the M.B.A. degree program.

The new programs are part of a growing trend among universities in the United States to remain globally competitive as the premier location for post-graduate studies. According to the Council of Graduate Schools, during a 10-year period (1999 to 2009) doctoral degrees awarded in the United States increased annually by an average of 3.5%. Graduate education in European universities has also grown through the establishment of the European Higher Education Area.

HSU professors headed the teams that formulated the new degree offerings. Dr. Mary Christopher, associate dean of Irvin School of Education, professor of education studies, certification officer, and graduate program director, assisted by Dr. Pam Williford, dean of the Irvin School of Education, led the team for the new Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in leadership.

Dr. Robert Friberg, professor of physical therapy and Dr. Janelle O’Connell, director of the graduate studies program in physical therapy and professor of physical therapy, led the combined professorial and staff team that developed the Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree in functional manual therapy.

Dr. Doug McIntyre, associate professor of business, and director of job placement and internships in the Kelley College of Business; Dr. Jennifer Plantier, assistant professor of business and marketing, and director of the Master of Business Administration program; and Edgar Reed, instructor of fitness and sport sciences in the Irvin School of Education, comprised the team that developed the new Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree in sports management.

Doctor of Education in Leadership

The Doctor of Education degree in leadership seeks to merge scholars with community practitioners to develop enlightened, ethical leaders. Christopher says, “Through study in a faith-based environment, graduates of the program will embody skills, knowledge, and dispositions to bridge theories with research-based practices to become visionary leaders.

“Good leadership, like critical thinking, crosses all boundaries and applies to all circumstances in which people work together,” she says. Christopher points to several significant writers on the topic of leadership, and leaders in the Abilene area who agree that good leadership requires good character. “While the students who seek this doctorate in leadership may enter the program with well-developed character, the doctoral studies will influence further character development,” says Christopher. “Developing and encouraging the unique gifts and skills of an effective team requires character that demonstrates respect for fellow human beings. HSU’s inherent Christian foundation provides the perfect base for fostering exemplary character essential for leadership.”

The program has been designed to meet the demands of employment and family responsibilities many post-graduate students face. Students will receive supportive learning opportunities in various settings through faculty visits to student locations in other cities, video-conferencing, Skype, online chats, podcasts, and Blackboard assignments. Christopher says students will also benefit as they move through the program in cohort groups, providing collegial support, enhanced camaraderie, professional networking, and increased retention throughout the program. The diverse delivery model highlights a personal connection with students while providing a positive, productive learning environment that does not require residence on the HSU campus or in Abilene, Texas.

The interdisciplinary degree will offer the opportunity for concentrated leadership programs in a variety of disciplines. The initial concentration will be in higher education leadership. In the future, considerations for other areas will be explored.

Another unique distinction of the program includes three brief summer residencies (approximately one week each in length) that incorporate action research (a practical application of theoretical knowledge and research skills) in authentic settings at in Austin, Texas; Washington, D.C.; and a specified global location.

U.S. News and World Report lists higher education administration among the Best Careers of 2011 with a strong job market for university administrative positions, which require a master’s or doctoral degree. Growth in the community college sector is projected to be even stronger. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a rapid employment growth rate of 8% in the field of higher education administration is projected from 2008-2018, and expected retirements will add to job opportunities.

Students completing an Ed.D. in higher education leadership must also consider potential salaries, says Christopher. In May 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that postsecondary school administrators earned a median income of $80,670. While salaries vary based on location and enrollment, administrators during 2008-2009 earned up to $158,000.

Doctor of Science in Functional Manual Therapy

The Doctor of Science degree in functional manual therapy provides a unique opportunity to integrate advanced study of applied sciences (relevant to physical therapy) with clinical skills offered through the Institute of Physical Art (IPA), a nationally recognized clinical organization specializing in functional manual therapy.

Dr. O’Connell explains that in 2000, when professor of physical therapy, Dr. Bob Friberg, joined the HSU PT faculty, a close relationship was started with IPA. Through this relationship, HSU students began participating in IPA clinical workshops as part of their clinical internship process. “With this positive history between HSU and IPA, there is a good match to provide a distinctive D.Sc. degree in functional manual therapy from HSU,” says O’Connell.

In the new program, directed by Friberg, physical therapists will combine post-professional academic coursework and advanced clinical skills to obtain both a functional manual therapy certification (through IPA) and a D.Sc. degree through Hardin-Simmons University.

The D.Sc. program consists of 64 credit hours. Ten clinical courses at HSU will augment the 10 IPA workshops that will contribute to 29 hours in the curriculum. Ten foundational courses will also be offered by HSU. These will include five applied science courses in biomechanics, neuromechanics, motor control, orthopedic physiology, advanced anatomy and an elective applied science course oriented to functional manual therapy. Additionally, students will take two research methodology courses and two courses focused on instructional design and educational outcome. The doctoral work will culminate with a doctoral research dissertation.

Based on the results of a needs assessment, Friberg says the program expects to attract at least 10 to 15 new students each year. Students will be expected to complete general coursework in four years, assuming the student takes approximately 18 credit hours per year.

The program is designed as a limited residency model where students would be expected to come to campus for a long weekend only one time per semester. Significant amounts of the coursework will be primarily distance-based, says O’Connell.

M.B.A. in Sports Management

In addition to the two new doctoral degrees, a new track will be added to the M.B.A. degree this fall. Students can currently earn a generalized Master of Business Administration degree from Hardin-Simmons University or the Acton M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship, which is housed in Austin, Texas. HSU’s new specialized M.B.A. in sports management will be available on the Abilene HSU campus.

Hardin-Simmons University has a large population of students active in sports programs, about 22% of the student body. Reed says, “HSU’s Irvin School of Education produces graduates from its Bachelor of Behavioral Science in fitness and sport sciences. These are students who represent a ready market for a graduate business degree in the sports field, which is popular throughout Texas.” McIntyre adds, “Fifteen colleges and universities in Texas currently offer a sport management program, 10 of them offering master’s degrees.

“Applications for these programs have risen in recent years,” says McIntyre, “as undergraduates have sought to beef up their credentials before hitting the job market.”

According to McIntyre, the new track will prepare managers and leaders for the dynamic and growing sports management, event management, and entertainment industries. The program will provide advanced study in all functional areas of business and will include those particular issues that arise in the field of sport management. As with any graduate program, it will help students develop and refine broad skills and abilities such as analytical thinking and problem solving.

The M.B.A. in sports management can be completed in 45 academic hours.

Howard Payne University offers MBA degree

A new master’s degree at Howard Payne University will soon pave the way for future Brownwood and Central Texas leaders looking to improve their effectiveness at their current jobs or learn skills to find new careers. The university will offer a Master of Business Administration degree beginning January 2012.

The unique MBA program will concentrate on equipping students for future leadership roles, while also aiding them in their current careers. While HPU’s MBA has a business core, it will also include other courses such as organizational communication and psychological applications, designed to add a deeper understanding of practical skills to business and management applications.

The university designed the degree plan around busy, working schedules. The MBA can be achieved in as few as 12 months, with all courses offered at night and on weekends.

“Unlike many MBA programs, HPU’s will focus more on application than theory,” said Dr. Mark Patton, professor of business administration, adding that the degree will be useful for business and non-business undergraduates alike.

He and his wife, Dr. Lois Patton, who serves as the MBA program director, will teach courses and have been instrumental players in bringing the degree to HPU.

“We want to give the students information that is relevant to them right now, not just in the future,” said Lois Patton. “We’ve designed the courses to include information they can use at work the very next day.”

The Pattons have many years of experience in business, both in the field and in the classroom, and have developed and taught MBA programs around the world. The couple joined HPU in 2009 after teaching in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, as well as numerous universities throughout the United States.

Prerequisite self-study course work is available for non-business undergraduates entering the program.

“Students without a business undergraduate degree who wish to move toward a business career are also welcome,” said Lois Patton. “With two self-study courses directed by Dr. Les Plagens, dean of the School of Business, these students will be able to fit right into the program.”

“We’ve designed the MBA to be a broad-based management-oriented program that may offer value to anyone holding a bachelor’s degree,” Plagens said. “I’m excited about the possibilities for what it may do for future students and their career development, our local business community and the HPU School of Business.”

Faculty members have been assembled from across the university to teach in the program.

“The university appreciates the diligent work performed by Dean Plagens and the business school’s faculty in planning the new program and in achieving approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,” said Dr. Mark Tew, HPU’s provost and chief academic officer.

For more information about the program, visit www.hputx.edu/mba or call (325) 649-8704.

Central Seminary offers courses in St. Louis

The FOUNDATIONS Certificate in Ministry is a one-year program of courses offered in
partnership with Central Baptist Theological Seminary (www.cbts.edu), Shawnee, Kansas, and
Third Baptist Church (www.third-baptist.org), St. Louis, Missouri. Partial funding has been
provided by a legacy from what was formerly the Des Peres Baptist Church. FOUNDATIONS
is a broad and rapid introduction to the basics of ministry for those who serve as leaders in
congregations and want to enhance their ministry skills or those who are interested in serving
their church and want to improve their theological knowledge.

Interested persons may take courses in St. Louis beginning in January 2012 and complete the
certificate by October 2012. The ten courses will be offered once a month for $50 per course
– a total of $500 for all ten courses (textbooks are extra). Students may take a single course or
the entire rotation. The deadline to register for the first course is December 3, 2011.

Subjects covered in the courses include biblical studies, pastoral arts, missional church studies,
administration, ethics, Christian heritage, and Baptist polity, among others. They will be
offered Friday evening and all day on Saturdays at Third Baptist Church, 620 N. Grand, St. Louis,
MO 63103.

For more information visit www.cbts.edu or contact Terrell Carter at terrell.carter@cbts.edu or 314-704-9111 or 314-533-7340, ext. 126.