I can hardly believe I’m in my 15th academic year as president of Belhaven College—the second longest serving president of any of the four-year schools in Mississippi.

It seems like just yesterday that I held the first press conference in Girault Auditorium (which we’ve since torn down), made the first major decision about whether or not we could afford to continue the music program, and hired the first new person on the leadership team—Tom Phillips, who served as VP for Campus Operations and oversaw the physical transformation of the campus.

Much has changed in 15 years.  God has been good and gracious to Belhaven College.

•         We launched, by faith, new campuses in other states, moved into online education, expanded graduate degrees, developed our Worldview curriculum, and have grown the size of our faculty and staff as the enrollment took off.

•         We developed extensive construction projects across the campus that seemed to go on forever, trusted God to supply our needs during tough times when we didn’t know how we’d meet payroll, and rejoiced in years when we were blessed with modest surpluses.

•         We negotiated hurricanes, purchased property on Riverside Drive, ramped up the Arts to become a world leader, began a football program, and faced accrediting challenges that sometimes scared me to death and other times made me burst with pride for the quality of Belhaven.

Normally at milestone anniversaries of college presidents, the school magazine displays charts and graphs counting successes during the leader’s tenure. In my 15th year, I didn’t want to do that kind of counting for three reasons:

1.         It would be both selfish and silly to think I did this.  The remarkable progress of Belhaven is only the result of God empowering 262 full time employees and 317 adjunct faculty, as well as scores of alumni, friends, and churches who continue to give and pray for the College.

2.         Good things didn’t start the day I got here.  I’m deeply thankful for my predecessors in leadership who advanced Belhaven in such important ways, going all the way back through the nine presidents before me—and especially
Drs. Cleland, Kennedy,and Wilson of this most modern era.  And I thank God for strong leaders like Dan Fredericks and the senior faculty who have carried so much during these years, as well as a Board of Trustees who
have been unshakable in their vision for a
Christ-centered college.

3.         I didn’t plan God’s direction for Belhaven during these years—the Lord did.  My responsibility as president is to guide us in being good stewards of the resources (people, dollars, and ideas) and be ready to capture the opportunities God has given us.

I also did not want to create a “score-card” for the past 15 years, because that is not how God measures success.  I feel so strongly about this, I wrote a book to address my concern, stating this in the opening chapter:

“The Church has been duped into fostering a generation of leaders, board members, employees, and constituencies who value short-term gain over longview significance. Ministry leaders believe it and act accordingly—hiring and rewarding people who can promote Band-Aid fixes as monumental solutions, creating plans that promise the moon and always come up short, raising funds from unrealistically compressed donor relationships, and touting to boards and constituencies those results that can most easily be measured and applauded.”

As the apostle Paul challenged us in I Corinthians 13, it is time to put away childish things in leadership and not be wooed by the immediacy of appearing productive by making meaningless sounds like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. Rather than our noisy quarterly reports (or even 15-year graphs), our standard for how we measure success as Christian leaders needs to reflect the longview desires of God, built on values that endure.

When I look back on the 15 years I’ve been privileged to lead Belhaven College, I want to focus on:

•         students whose lives were transformed as they captured God’s best for their future

•         faculty who have invested in developing insightful worldview thinking and Christ-like mentoring

•         chapel services during which the Lord spoke to us all in deepening ways

•         athletic teams and residence hall living that purposely built character

Those successes don’t show up in graphs or charts, but they are how God measures the value of Belhaven.

I love Belhaven College—I love our God-honoring mission and the people who have such a passion for ministry through Christ-centered higher education.  I love that we have been given a worldwide reach for the Gospel from this charming campus in Jackson, Mississippi.

As I look back over these years, I’ve loved every day, and I am filled with anticipation knowing the Lord has great things in store for us in the years to come—I ’m counting
on that!—RP

DANCE FACULTY: (Left to Right) Krista Bower, Cynthia Newland, Emily Wright, Britta Wynne, Caleb Mitchell, Stephen Wynne, Amanda Parsons Browning, Laura Morton, Erin Scheiwe Rockwell, Ravenna Tucker

By the time a dance major graduates from Belhaven College, he or she has averaged 3,000 hours of dancing, spent 1,280 hours with dance faculty, gone through at least 40 pairs of Pointe shoes, and performed in up to 60 major dance performances. Pursuing a dance degree at Belhaven is not something you should try at home. In fact, anyone who knows a Belhaven dancer could tell you that graduating in dance takes the endurance of a long-distance runner, the time management of an event planner, and the determination of a mountain climber.

Even with these challenges—perhaps because of these challenges—dance has become the second largest major at Belhaven, and this just ten short years since the first dance degree was granted. With over 100 dance majors making up 10% of the student body, dance is not just a part-time hobby for these students—it’s a life calling. All of this begs
the question: why do students come from 44 states and 4 foreign countries to study dance
at Belhaven?

For one, Belhaven is the only Christian evangelical college to offer both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. That status alone makes Belhaven stand out amidst a sea of secular institutions, but Belhaven’s dancers come for more than just its status of Christian college—they are drawn to the experienced, high caliber faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and the unapologetically Christian curriculum.

HIGH CALIBER FACULTY

Cynthia Newland, chair of the dance department, took the helm of the program because, “Belhaven takes seriously the call of Christ on the lives
of the students.” In her six years here, the program has more than doubled in size, and last spring she won the prestigious Mississippi Alliance of Arts Education 2009 Higher Education Award for her engagement in the classroom and the community. Newland’s passion
for excellence has also helped the
school obtain coveted accreditation
by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).

Working with Newland are four full-time dance faculty, two specialty instructors, and three adjunct instructors, all representing a wide array of professional experience. In fact, if they were all gathered in one room, their combined dance careers would represent more than 100 years of experience and span nine countries. Their backgrounds include dancing with the prestigious American Ballet Theater (NYC), Joffrey Ballet Company (NYC), Houston Ballet Academy, Pacific Northwest Ballet (Seattle), Pennsylvania Ballet, Milwaukee School of Ballet, the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet (England), Rotterdam State Academy of Dance (Holland), Tanz-Forum of the Metropolitan Opera House (Germany), The State Theater (Switzerland), Centre De Danse International (France), Stagione Lyrica (Italy), Dance Society (Malaysia), and DC Dance Company (Singapore).

The dance faculty have come to Belhaven for a number of reasons, but their desire to develop the next generation of excellent Christian artists is the common thread that unites them. Stephen Wynne, Associate Professor of Dance, became aware of Belhaven’s vision for the arts when his Philadelphia dance company worked with several Belhaven dance graduates. He says, “I felt that God was nudging me to investigate Belhaven. It took a few years, but I deeply felt I was supposed to offer my insights to help develop a new generation of choreographers who incorporate their faith and art in a way that addresses real life issues in today’s anti-faith culture. It became apparent that Belhaven would be the best place to begin this process.”

Ravenna Tucker, Associate Professor of Dance, was drawn to Belhaven from a successful international career, including seventeen years as a principal dancer for The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet companies. She says her desire to work for a “Christian institution” brought her to Belhaven. For some instructors, working with other Christian dance professors at Belhaven is a dream come true. Erin Rockwell, Specialty Instructor of Dance, says, “The chance to work, in collaboration with a united Christian faculty, with a large number of skilled dance students who have a heart for Christ and a passion for dance, is a dream—or calling—come true.”

STATE OF THE ART FACILITIES

In 2006, Belhaven’s growth in the arts demanded more space, and the addition came in the form of the beautiful 42, 756 square-foot Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center. Dance classes take place in four spacious, well-lit studios, and performances occur in the flexible dance performance theatre. Faculty offices, lockers, and full bathrooms provide dancers with the amenities they need. This new space has allowed the dance program to further expand and offers some of the best practice and performance space available anywhere.

CHRISTIAN CURRICULUM

“When you are a Christian and you dance in the world, you can’t be lukewarm, watered down, or wavering,” states Caleb Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Dance. Mitchell and the other faculty members build upon the foundation of the Worldview Curriculum, Belhaven’s innovative Christian core curriculum, to offer students a way to stand against the pressures of the secular dance world. Mitchell, who danced with a secular company for nine years, says he and other faculty use their own experiences as Christians in the professional dance world to teach students how to hold to their convictions in the face of adversity. One way they do this in Mitchell’s class is Scripture memory. He says, “The Belhaven staff firmly stands by the hiding the word of Christ in the hearts of their students. So when the students face struggles in their profession, the word of God is easily accessible to help them persevere.”

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Word about Belhaven is getting out, and alumni are perhaps the greatest advocates for the dance program. Over 90% of the dance alumni are working in the field of dance in some capacity—from dancing in a professional company—to teaching—to using arts on the mission field. Katy Hagelin ’08, Keith Williamson ’05, and Elizabeth “Deder” Gordon (plans to graduate in 2010) are all using their gifts for dance in unique ways across the country.

Katy Hagelin, a Seattle native, had at first planned to attend a secular school that the dance world would applaud. When she decided her commitment to the Lord was more important, she was thrilled to find Belhaven, a school that doesn’t compromise standards or its Christian focus. She says, “Belhaven was a place where excellence was the standard—both in dance techniques and in service to the Lord. God has blessed this accredited dance program with amazing faculty and facilities. Through the Belhaven dance department, He has equipped me to enter the secular dance world and make an eternal impact.”

Katy is back in the Seattle area making an impact through freelancing opportunities to teach and choreograph, and she has also started her own non-profit dance company, the Katy Hagelin Dance Project (katyhagelin.com). She says the vision for her dance company was inspired by her time at Belhaven: “I believe I would not be the confident and gifted choreographer and dancer that I am without my life there. I will always continue to strive for even more excellence, because I will always remember what my instructors taught me while I was at Belhaven.”

Keith Williamson, who hails from Clayton, New Jersey, quickly discovered Belhaven when he narrowed down his college criteria to include only an “evangelical school with a dance program.” Belhaven was the only one that he found with a dance major!

Keith is working as a freelance theater technician based out of Atlanta, and he credits Belhaven with giving him a passion for behind-the-scenes technical work. He says, “I went to Belhaven as a performance major and left a technician.” During his freshman and sophomore years, he watched dance performers pour their hearts out on stage without seeing the same efforts take place backstage. It was then that he realized his heart and calling was in setting the stage for each performance to come to life.

Today, Keith is on the Board of Directors for Refuge Dance Company, a small company that he and several friends formed together. As the Technical Director, he says, “When Refuge performs, the only thing the dancers have to worry about is glorifying God with their movements. By allowing them to do that I bring glory to Him—that is how Belhaven has prepared me for today.”

Elizabeth “Deder” Gordon grew up in Shizuoka, Japan and is now living in San Antonio, Texas, where she dances professionally with Ballet San Antonio. She says that her time at Belhaven helped prepare her for the transition from college to career: “The faculty did a tremendous job of maintaining a Christ-centered atmosphere in which nothing we did was separate from our faith. We never stepped out of our Christianity to become dancers. We were always encouraged to first and foremost be Christ-lovers, and to dance, or do whatever we did, on top of this foundation.”

The faculty’s influence and continued friendship still astounds Deder: “What an amazing gift to have teachers with very little obligation other than to teach you to dance who continue to be dear friends and advisers long after their requirement to you has been fulfilled.”

As the dance program continues to expand and more alumni spread the name of Belhaven across the country (and world), the essence of the dance program is still the same: the pursuit of excellence in a Christ-centered environment. Cynthia Newland sums up her hopes for each student in a simple prayer “that each student would hear God’s calling for their lives. Our hope is that each student will be an intentional voice both in the market place and in God’s kingdom.” If the words and lives of Katy, Keith, and Deder are any indication, it appears that the Belhaven Dance department is achieving its goal—creating a new generation of Christian dancers who, as Deder puts it, “never step out of our Christianity
to become dancers.”—MP

Ever think “what was the greatest thing before sliced bread?” Mrs. Mary Harmon could tell you.Belhaven’s legendary retired home economics professor just celebrated her 103rd birthday. This means Mrs. Harmon was growing up in Goodman, Miss. long before sliced bread was even invented (1928) or the creation of the Model T car—or even the discovery of Penicillin.

Mrs. Harmon, a member of the Legacy of Learning, began her Belhaven career in 1952, when Dr. Gillespie asked her to “finish out” a semester in the home economics department. This temporary position quickly turned into a 30-year career of which Mrs. Harmon says, “I loved every minute of it.” When asked what she taught, she answers without skipping a beat, “everything it takes to make life worthwhile.” Her love for home economics is still evident by the grace and hospitality she shows in her Jackson home today. Mrs. Harmon says she was drawn to home economics by her “love for beauty, progress, and family life.” Not only was family life an important aspect of her teaching, it is evident by her own life that she views family as foremost. Upon meeting her, it doesn’t take long to hear about her
love for her late husband, “T Carter” Harmon, and her daughter, Mary Parker Harmon Buckles, both of whom
she admires greatly.

Perhaps it’s also Mrs. Harmon’s sense of humor that kept her teaching home economics for so many years. She tells the story of a former student who called her up on Christmas morning wondering how to thaw and cook the turkey she had just pulled out of the freezer. Mrs. Harmon instructed her to do three things: put it back in the freezer, go out and find whatever she could, and save that turkey for next year!

In 1954, when the announcement was made that men would be entering Belhaven, Mrs. Harmon says she glibly remarked, “Oh, that won’t concern me”—only to have the very first man at Belhaven take her class! He wanted to become a buyer for the food service industry, and when he graduated, he got the job.

In her 103 years, Mrs. Harmon has faced many things—from the outlandish (finding a snake in the home economics dining room)—to the gut wrenching (watching her uncles and brothers leave on the train to serve in World War II). Through it all, she has developed an attitude that can only be described as selfless. From taking it upon herself to empty the swimming pool in the basement of Fitzhugh for more classroom space (they had to back trucks up to the windows…there was no “easy way” to empty the pool)—to putting most of her paycheck back into the home economics program—Mrs. Harmon truly has lived out the Belhaven motto, “to serve, not to be served.”

Her legacy continues through her students, who still use
her recipes and speak of her as “family.” Mrs. Diana Howie ’69
says that Mrs. Harmon was like a mother to her students, and today, she is like a great-grandmother to her students’ grandchildren! Just this past September, Mrs. Howie’s granddaughter, Caroline Grace Hodges, was the seventh child baptized in the baptismal gown sewn (by hand) by Mrs. Howie for Mrs. Harmon’s  “Child Care and Clothing” class in 1968. Even 40 years later, Mrs. Howie says, “I find myself doing things in my home like we did them in the Home Economics ‘practice house’.” She adds, “Mrs. Harmon has impacted a lot of people through the years, and I am fortunate to be among them. She’s never been just a teacher to her students—she’s always been family.”

Mrs. Harmon, thank you for adding to the rich Belhaven heritage with your 30 years of diligence, grace, and perseverance. And in your own words of encouragement to Belhaven: “Keep on keeping on!” —MP

back to

Belhaven

Spectacular weather, meaningful events, and wonderful interactions between Belhaven alumni were the highlights of Back to Belhaven – Homecoming 2009!  When the curtains closed on the final event of the weekend, more than 350 individuals participated in the festivities across campus.

“I enjoyed myself greatly during the weekend,” expressed Sara Smith T, a member of the Class of ’89.  “I was so very impressed with the state of my alma mater.  The campus looked wonderful, the students were friendly and helpful, and it was great to be with all the dear faculty who were such blessings in my life.”pectacular weather, meaningful events, and wonderful interactions between Belhaven alumni were the highlights of Back to Belhaven – Homecoming 2009!  When the curtains closed on the final event of the weekend, more than 350 individuals participated in the festivities across campus.

Homecoming events kicked off on Thursday, November 5, with the Blazer Volleyball team squaring off against conference foe, the University of Mobile, in the Rugg Arena.  The annual Homecoming Dance continued its recent tradition of being held on Thursday, as the student body ventured out to Reservoir Pointe in Ridgeland to eat, fellowship, and dance, dance, dance.

Friday, November 6 was full of activity from the beginning, as the Office of Admission conducted its “Discover Day” program for prospective students and their families.  After alumni checked in at registration, they were welcomed at the Alumni Reunion Reception in the McCravey-Triplett Student Center commons.  From the general reception, individuals from the classes of 1959, 1969, and 1999 branched off for special gatherings at various locations.

The highlight event for Friday evening was the “Thirty Years of Excellence” Celebration honoring Dr. Al Chestnut and Dr. Phil Kelly for their thirty years of teaching service in the Belhaven Science Department.  (See page 14 for recap)

More than 120 people attended the 17th Annual Belhaven College Sports Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday evening in the H.C. Bailey Dining Commons.  The five new members inducted into the Hall this year were:  Mrs. Wanda McDonald Gatlin, ’99 (Women’s Basketball); Mrs. Leanne Smith Henderson, ’02 (Women’s Soccer); Mr. Patrick Fitzgerald, ’88 (Men’s Soccer); Mr. Orley Hood, ’71 (Sports Information/Manager); and Mr. Danny Lewis, ’81 (Men’s Basketball).

The 4th Annual Belhaven Homecoming 5k Run/Walk took place first thing Saturday morning, November 7.  Participants enjoyed spectacular weather as they either ran or walked the 3.1 mile course that rolled throughout the Belhaven neighborhood.  Both male and female champions were crowned, with the winning times being a little more than 18 minutes and just short of 20 minutes, respectively.

A crowd of nearly 130 people was present for the Alumni Awards Luncheon, honoring Belhaven alumni for their outstanding achievements in the arenas of business, church ministry, community service, and education. This year’s recipients were:  Mr. Mark J. Windham, ’77 (Alumnus of the Year); Mr. Grant Callen, ’05 (Young Alumnus of the Year); Mrs. Erma Driver, ’04 (Community Service Award); Mrs. Peggy Skattebo, ’78 (Church Service Award); Mrs. Beverly Weathersby, ’78 (Bettye Quinn Education Award); and Mr. John Eichelberger, ’76 (Jim Park Business Award).  In addition to hearing from each of the recipients, attendees were witness to the induction of the newest members into the Fifty Year Club from the Class of ’59.

The Blazer Football team got caught up in a shootout with Mid-South Conference foe Shorter College.  Unfortunately, the Blazers could not pull out the victory, falling by a score of 55-42.  At halftime of the game, Mr. Alex Freel and Miss Madison Childs were crowned the 2009 Homecoming King and Queen.

Saturday evening the Belhaven String Chamber Orchestra presented “The Landing,” by Belhaven’s Dr. Andrew Sauerwein in the Concert Hall of the Center for the Arts.  All those who attended enjoyed featured performances by the Belhaven College and Jackson Community Symphony Orchestras.  Additionally, the Blazer Men’s Basketball team defeated the Pensacola Christian College Eagles by a score of 86-64, and improved to 3-0 on the season. —MD

Dr. Phillip Kelly and Dr. Al Chestnut

For three decades Dr. Phillip Kelly and Dr. Al Chestnut have been staples in the Belhaven College Science Department. Over that course of time, many students have had the privilege of sitting under their teaching, being guided and educated through their gifts and passionate approach to the sciences. Most of their students would agree that both Dr. Chestnut and Dr. Kelly have influenced not only the way they approach their chosen discipline, but life itself. ” I must acknowledge the tremendous influence both gentlemen have had on me,” said Dr. Glenn Harris, a 1987 graduate who majored in Chemistry and minored in Biology and Mathematics. ” The classroom instruction I received from these men was second to none. In several respects, the courses I took under them were more challenging than some in medical school. However, it was the ‘life’ instruction I received form them that truly made the difference in my life. These two men really care about their students, and we are their legacy.”

In May, Dr. Kelly completed his 30th year of teaching service at Belhaven, while Dr. Chestnut began his 30th year in the classroom when the fall semester started in August. In celebration of this remarkable achievement for both, the College hosted a ” Thirty Years of Excellence” Celebration event in their honor during Back to Belhaven 2009 Homecoming festivities on the evening of Friday, November 6. The event was attended by a great number of Belhaven science alumni, current science students, Belhaven faculty and staff, and other key friends. A panel of six science alumni, emceed by Dr. Max Gordon ‘83, shared of the lasting impact Dr. Kelly and Dr. Chestnut have had on their lives and careers. The additional panelists were: Dr. Richard Whitlock “82, Dr. Glenn Harris ‘87, Dr. Sara Smith T ‘89, Dr. Brad Steenwyk ‘94, and Dr. Jeremy Allen ‘99.

—MD

LEADING THE WAY: Dr. Verne and Martie Kennedy and Dr. Newton and Becky Wilson are ready to launch the 100 campaign!

Leg-a-cy (leg’ e-se) n. pl.

1. A bequest 2. Something handed down from an ancestor
or predecessor, or from the past.

Belhaven College graduates have long been known for the impact they have made throughout the world to glorify Christ in their varied vocations and ministries. In an effort to preserve and expand Belhaven’s mission, we are excited to announce the 100 Legacies for Belhaven Campaign. Put simply, we want to identify at least 100 friends to help establish a lasting legacy for future generations through the creation of 100 planned gifts that name Belhaven as beneficiary.

The “100 Campaign” seeks to create awareness of the benefits for not only creating a will, but also developing a comprehensive estate plan that will allow donors to expand the mission of Belhaven while providing for their family and loved ones. With numerous tax advantages, creating a planned gift can truly be a “win-win” for everyone.

As indicated in the arch above the logo, through initial efforts, the 100 Campaign has already identified 31 friends who have named Belhaven College as a beneficiary of their estate plans. Over the course of the campaign, watch the number of planned gifts grow as the arch above the 100 fills with green!

The Time has Come

Over the 127 years of Belhaven’s existence, the College has been blessed by many alumni and friends who have made regular and annual gifts to sustain Belhaven’s Christ-driven mission—these gifts are essential! The 100 Campaign encourages our friends to consider a strategically developed planned gift that will leave a lasting legacy for the College. Through wise estate planning, individuals can often leave a gift to the College that is 10-20 times greater than what they might be able to give on an annual basis.

In establishing the 100 Legacies for Belhaven Campaign, we have identified a campaign leadership team of individuals from a broad range of classes and college relationships that will serve as ambassadors for our efforts over the next several months. Through future issues of the Tartan and specific mailings, you will hear their compelling stories of support for Belhaven College. Former Presidents and first ladies Dr. Verne and Martie Kennedy and Dr. Newton and Becky Wilson have agreed to serve as co-chairs for this important effort.

Planned giving is simple and impactful

“People often think that making a planned gift is an extremely complicated process,” notes Vice President for Institutional Advancement Kevin Russell. “That’s just not true! No matter your age or stage in life, it is extremely easy to make a significantly larger gift to Belhaven through any one of several planned giving options.” Quite simply, a planned gift is any written document that names Belhaven as a future beneficiary of a portion of one’s assets. Planned gifts include but are not limited to:

Wills – Consider adding, “I give, devise, and bequest to Belhaven College (insert percent, amount, or nature of gift).” By using this simple phrase you can make a lasting gift to Belhaven College.

Life insurance – A policy that you no longer need or a new policy that names the College can be low cost to you but a significant way to give to Belhaven College.

Property – Giving your home or other real estate is an attractive way to support the College and gives you tax benefits—you can even live in your home the rest of your life.

Annuities – Increase your spendable income and take a charitable deduction by providing the College cash or stocks to be managed for you.

Retirement plans – You might find that after providing for your personal needs you can make a gift to the College through your IRAs, 401 (k)s, Keoghs, and other plans.

Remainder of Lead Trusts – Trusts are excellent ways to support the college while fulfilling your personal needs—the corpus from the Remainder Trust stays with the College, while the Lead Trust allows it to return to you after a time.

Former Belhaven College Presidents, Alumni, and Friends volunteer to chair the 100 Campaign

When Belhaven College decided to launch a concentrated effort to significantly increase the number of documented planned gifts through the 100 Legacies for Belhaven Campaign, we wanted to select chairpersons who have an abiding love for the College and understand the full impact that a coordinated planned giving effort can make. Former Presidents Dr. Verne Kennedy and Dr. Newton Wilson, along with their wives Martie and Becky, know first-hand the tremendous difference that legacy gifts can make. “During both our Presidencies, Belhaven benefited greatly from the foresight of donors who made planned gifts that named Belhaven College as a beneficiary of their estates when they passed on to glory,” noted Dr. Wilson.

“The Wilsons and Kennedys are extremely excited to serve as leadership co-chairs for this important effort,” exclaimed Dr. Verne Kennedy, “It was important to both of us to participate in this significant effort, and we are thrilled to help the College encourage others to do the same. In my own tenure as President, I saw the Lord use planned gifts to provide for the College at critical times of need.”

The 100 Legacies for Belhaven Campaign has assembled a broad group of alumni and donors to serve as the outward leaders of this important effort. Graduates spanning over 50 years have agreed to participate in the campaign. The leadership team is composed of alumni and friends who understand the value of preparing the way for future Christian leaders.

Twenty-nine year old alumnus Joel Bomgar and his wife Rachel were delighted to name Belhaven as a beneficiary through Joel’s life insurance policy: “Belhaven College was an integral part in my spiritual and professional development. The lessons I learned at Belhaven still thrive today in the corporate values of the company that I researched, developed, and launched. No matter one’s age, it is never too early to make plans to provide for your loved ones and the institutions you care about.”

“The 100 Campaign is already off to a wonderful start,” says co-chair Newt Wilson, “and we’d love to see this effort achieve its goal as soon as possible—first through those who have already included Belhaven in their planned gifts but have never told the College and secondly by those who still need to develop an estate plan. Either way, it will be exciting to watch the giving arch grow as we strive
for 100 legacies!”

Ten Radically Counter-Cultural Things that You Can Learn at Belhaven that You Won’t Learn at Other Colleges.

Dr. J. Ligon Duncan, III, Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson and member of Belhaven’s Board of Reference, spoke at the Fall Academic Convocation. He contrasted Belhaven’s emphasis on the biblical worldview with 10 “isms” that are at odds with Christianity.

(”Isms” at odds with Christianity listed in gray)

The Blazer baseball and softball teams have experienced their most successful seasons to date, breaking school and national records, receiving NAIA recognition, and watching senior Craig Westcott win Mississippi’s most sought after college baseball award—the Ferriss Trophy.

Before their season even began, the teams were building a strong foundation of teamwork through community service projects across the city. With an eye towards the college motto “to serve, not to be served,” teammates and coaches first found success in breaking ground with shovels—and later breaking records with bats.

Baseball Team: blood, sweat…and books

Since the day after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Belhaven Baseball team has carried on an annual tradition of giving blood. Head Coach Hill Denson says, “We look forward to our blood drive every year. We talk to our guys a lot about how important blood donation is, and I am really proud of our guys this year.” This year the team broke a record with 32 pints of donated blood.

At the Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Day, the baseball team worked together to help New Life Ministries with a number of outdoor projects. Chris Bennett, junior baseball player, says the service day “gives us a chance to come out and serve the community. It’s not about us looking good or helping each other—it’s about helping everyone else around us.”

The Blazers also worked with Read Across America to read aloud to elementary school children. It was a busy year for the Blazers—even before they made it to the baseball diamond.

Baseball Team “Blazes” New Trail

The baseball team’s season was unprecedented. The Blazers won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Tournament for the first time since 2004 and made it to the championship game of the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round for the first time in the program’s history. To top it off, senior Craig Westcott won the 2009 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy, which recognized him as the top college baseball player in Mississippi!

Belhaven started strong with six wins in their first seven contests, including a victory over Delta State University who was ranked 1st in the NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll at the time. The Blazers’ final record was 43-20 overall, and the regular season closed at 36-18 which included a hard-fought win over Millsaps College who was ranked 1st in NCAA Division III.

The GCAC Tournament was a hard fought battle, as the Blazers had to come up from a third-ranked conference position to pull off a victory. After one win against the University of Mobile, a shutout by pitcher Craig Wescott against LSU-Shreveport, and a second win against LSU-S—Belhaven was vaulted into the championship game. The final showdown was between Mobile and Belhaven, and the Blazers pulled off a last minute GCAC tournament victory.

With the GCAC tournament won, the Blazers moved on to the 2009 NAIA Baseball Championship Opening Round. Amidst fiery competition, the Blazers withstood all but the hottest flames—the Lee University Flames. After three wins and one loss, the Blazers fell to Lee University in the championship game. In their ride to the National Championship, the baseball team “blazed” a trail where no other baseball team in college history has traveled.

Another first for the team (and for all small schools) was Westcott’s triumph as the 2009 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy award winner. Westcott also received NAIA recognition as National Pitcher of the Week on March 24, as well as six GCAC Pitcher of the Week Awards.

Six players earned GCAC All-Conference honors for their efforts during the season.  Craig Westcott, Timmy Foster, Lake Eiland, Bryan McCormick, and Kyle Medley were all awarded All-Conference Team recognition for their performance, and Charlie Edwards was the GCAC Gold Glove winner.

“I’m very proud of our team and the effort the players put forward throughout the course of the season,” says Head Coach Hill Denson. “They battled all season long and fortunately for us, the pieces fell into place enabling us to make a strong postseason run. We hope that the momentum and confidence gained during this season will carry on into 2010 as we move forward next year,” adds Denson.

Lady Blazers’ season marked by Service and Success

The Lady Blazers softball team has worked together to serve the community and to achieve a record breaking season. The Lady Blazers volunteered their time to serve as a team, building bonds between teammates and the community. In September, they spent time with mentally disabled adults at The Mustard Seed in Brandon, Miss. They played board games, danced and sang, played softball games, and made it a day to remember for both the team and the residents.

The Lady Blazers softball team has worked together to serve the community and to achieve a record breaking season. The Lady Blazers volunteered their time to serve as a team, building bonds between teammates and the community. In September, they spent time with mentally disabled adults at The Mustard Seed in Brandon, Miss. They played board games, danced and sang, played softball games, and made it a day to remember for both the team and the residents.

They also volunteered for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Day by removing debris and raking leaves at the Perkins Foundation. These service projects set the stage for the necessary teamwork that would culminate in the Lady Blazers’ most victorious season in the softball program’s history!

Smashing Records, Recording Success

The softball team broke 26 various national and school records en route to a 36-19 record. The 36 wins by the Lady Blazers sets a new school record for most victories in a season, and it was the second time in four years that the previous record has been eclipsed.

They started the season with key victories, including one over NCAA Division I Grambling State University. After two losses, they bounced back to win 13 of their next 17 games. With a win over Jackson State they tied the previous school record for most wins in a season—33. The next day Belhaven surpassed the record with a win over Spring Hill College.

They advanced to the GCAC tournament championship contest for the third time in four years, where they fought hard but bowed out to William Carey in the championship game.

Seniors Britney Webb, Mallory Meadows, and Keresa Steichen had solid seasons to complete their Belhaven careers. Webb set a new school record for most runs scored in a season (73), led the nation in triples (9) and stolen bases (55), and broke Belhaven’s single season record with 181 trips to the plate.

Meadows turned in one of the best seasons in school history, as she led the team with a .485 batting average, NAIA best 78 RBI’s, 18 home runs (2^nd nationally), 150 bases (4th nationally), and a total of 80 hits on the year. Meadows holds the Belhaven single season record in each of the aforementioned categories.

Freshman Heather Pace led the NAIA with 24 doubles, which put her at the top of the Belhaven record books for the most in a single season. Pace also broke the NAIA record for 11 RBI’s in a single game!

Players who received conference and national recognition for their efforts in 2009 include: Mallory Meadows, Britney Webb, Heather Pace, Tiffany Ansley, Salina Cervantes, Ashley Mottola, Jessica Eggold, and Keresa Steichen.

“I am very proud of this group for breaking the school record for wins and getting back to the GCAC Championship game after a year lapse,” says Head Coach Rick Fremin. “I also feel that this team has raised the level of play for the program and that the future is bright”.

With such a strong foundation, 2010 looks like a bright year for both teams to “blaze” an even brighter trail, full of service and success.  —KM and MP

For 35 years, Barber Auditorium has been a gathering place for lectures, performances, concerts, meetings, and campus ministries. It was built in honor of Mr. Harold Barber, Board of Trustees member, and his wife Annie Ford Barber, class of 1925 and one of five sisters who attended Belhaven.

In 2007, Barber underwent a complete renovation, and a dedication was held in the fall of 2008 with Barber family members, close friends, and Belhaven representatives in attendance. Along with new foyer furniture, hardwood and carpeted flooring, elegant curtains, and 148 newly re-covered theatre-style seats, the auditorium boasts of an updated audio and visual system with wireless internet, digital projection, two VGA computer inputs in the stage, two wireless microphones, two wired microphones, and a CD/DVD player.

Barber Family and Friends: (L to R) Back row: Ada Brandon, Kathy Hays, H. Barber Boone, Robert Barber, Jr., Walter T. Boone. Middle row: Julie Barber Weaver, Helen Barber Boone, Donna Barber, Allison Boone Ruhl. Front row: Annie Weaver, Helen Weaver, Ella Ruhl, Reese Ruhl, Ainsley Ruhl.

Dr. Parrott, president of the college, reflects on why Belhaven has adopted “Our Standard is Christ” as its new identifier.

“Everyone uses standards, even if their expectations are low, arbitrary, or self-serving. What is missing in our society are standards that require people and institutions to live up to the highest benchmarks of quality and integrity. In this time of misplaced standards, it is crucial to be reminded what standards do and why our standard is Christ.”For 125 years, we have been identifying ourselves as a Christian college, so why is that label no longer enough?
Back at Belhaven’s founding, or even 50 years ago, we were identified as a Christian College, and in those days, that was all the identification we needed.  In that era, to be known as a Christian College made it clear to our constituency that all the faculty and staff were Christians who believed the Bible, were committed to Jesus, and taught and lived accordingly.  No other descriptor was necessary.

But today, to be called a Christian college is generic to some, confusing to others, and misunderstood by many.  Colleges that call themselves Christian represent a wide spectrum from the ultra conservative to the ultra liberal, and that identifier is inadequate to help our friends understand how faith is the foundation for all we do at Belhaven.

Many Christ-centered schools call themselves “evangelical.”  So why don’t we just use that term as our identifier?
At Belhaven, we sometimes call ourselves an evangelical school, but the media has distorted that word for many, and even among the 110 schools of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities there is still wide diversity within that spectrum.

We have those I call, “pray before class” colleges. They hire Christian faculty and staff, have Christian behavioral standards, and they do pray at the start of every class-period.  But they don’t teach much differently from what students would find at a secular university.

Moving along the spectrum, there is a large group of institutions that have a commitment to the integration of faith and learning, and like seasoning a soup, they flavor their instruction in and out of the classroom with Christian thought, although they do not have a comprehensive academic program that prepares students with a Christ-centered worldview.

But then there are a small handful of schools that have gone back to the source, to create curriculum, teach, coach, support, and advise from a solid biblical framework. I’m thankful that Belhaven is a leader among this group.

So to call ourselves a Christian college, and to lump us in with schools that range from those at the  liberal end of the spectrum to those at the legalistic end, is about as adequate as calling Walt Disney World an amusement park.  It is one, but the Disney people don’t want to be identified in that limited way, nor be pooled together with others in that category.

“Our Standard is Christ” is now on the letterhead for the College.  Is this primarily a marketing slogan?
“Our Standard is Christ” is a wonderful way to describe Belhaven College; because Christ is the only standard we want for our students and the faculty and staff.  This phrase identifies who we are, and whose we are, but it is not a marketing slogan—

it is a commitment.

Yes, it may be used in marketing, but its purpose is to define Belhaven College, not make us memorable.  Tag lines are cute for marketing, but what we are talking about with this identifier goes to the very core of our mission and to the heart of our personal relationship with Christ.

Putting it on our web site, in our materials, and on advertisements is the public commitment of our inward desire.  And like announcing to all your friends you’re going on a diet, there is nothing like making it public to help hold ourselves accountable internally.

What other “standards” were considered as the campus and board set this new identifier?
When you boil it all down, there is no other standard for us as a College, or for us as individual followers of Christ.   Jesus set the standard for how we are to live with others, grapple with ideas, understand the world, love and forgive, set personal goals, and focus on what matters in life. Any other standard for Belhaven would be secondary to this high calling for every Christian.

In moving through this discussion about what standards are important to us, you have to ask the question: what other standards could there be?  Any other standard we might consider is insignificant in comparison to “Our Standard is Christ.”

• Our Standard is the accrediting Associations

• Our Standard is XYZ University, Only More Christian

• Our Standard is Being Better Than We Were Last Year

• Our Standard is Gaining in Prestige

• Our Standard is US News and World Report National Rankings

No, the only standard that matters is Christ.

How do you answer those who believe Belhaven cannot be as strong academically if we are going to have a clear Christian focus?
I believe it is just to the contrary!  Because Christ is our Standard, we have no option other than to be academically strong.

If strength is equated only to serving the top tier of IQ students coming out of high schools, we surely wouldn’t fit in that category – and wouldn’t want to.  To me, academic strength is helping every student understand that he or she is uniquely created by God, and then help each discover their unique God given gifts, and push to achieve the Lord’s best for their life.

We have lots of students who can stand up in any national academic competition and other students who are doing their best to get “C’s.”  But God doesn’t call any of us to live lives of failure.  So if we can teach students to use all the gifts God has given them, do what He calls us to do, and not settle for anything less than a life of meaning and purpose – I’d call that excellence.
But it takes an exceptional faculty to teach with this Christ-centered understanding of quality.  In the world of higher education that has eliminated Truth from teaching, holiness from living, and grace from relationships; we need to never waiver from our standard of excellence.

How can Belhaven College measure up to Christ?
That is the key question if this identifier drives to the core of Belhaven and is not simply a slogan for us.  It is a challenging question to ask: how can we be like Jesus, since He was fully God on earth?  Yes, He was, but He was also fully human.  And focusing on those human traits that were God-filled, we have a clear picture of the standard Christ sets for us.

I’ve looked at it from many angles and with many insightful people, and it all comes down to this standard Jesus set for us: He spent time building His inner strength, so that outwardly, He could reveal the nature of God through what He did.

Everything Jesus did with others reflected the nature of God – from the work He did alongside Joseph as a carpenter’s apprentice – to preaching the Sermon on the Mount.  From conversation over a meal, to struggling with fatigue from the business of a day, to the way He developed relationships – it was all about showing others the nature and love of God.

Every outward action in the life of Jesus grew from an inward spiritual strength, and so, for Him and for us, we can’t focus on the outcome without linking it to the indwelling of God in our heart, soul, and mind.

That is the key to a Belhaven education – helping students build God honoring inner character – so they can use their gifts to be people of quality and Christian service in their profession, community, and family – living lives that see, love, and understand the world as God designed it to be.

Specifically, how do you, faculty, staff, coaches and others lead Belhaven College when “Our Standard
is Christ?”
We follow the pattern of Jesus.  And if you look at how he lived his daily life – in the ordinary stuff we all do – I believe there are five characteristics that give us a standard to follow. Each one starts with an inward strength that results in an outward lifestyle pattern from Jesus.

In a nutshell, let me share the five principles I’ve found to be helpful in making Christ my standard.  I’ve written about this in a book I have coming out next fall.

1. Jesus was Prayerful, so He could Live Genuinely

2. Jesus was Compassionate, so He could Love Unconditionally

3. Jesus was Humble, so He could Mentor Deeply

4. Jesus was Confident, so He could Assure Availability

5. Jesus was Focused, so He could Work Purposefully

Our world promotes career advancement, money, and influence as the standards by which we should be measured, so if Christ is the standard, what replaces that?
The world’s standards are wealth and power for selfish desires, while Jesus calls us to serve our world, not to be served by it.  So it is not simply the choice of a vocation that is the standard of commitment to Christ, but rather the motivations behind our “success” that God is measuring.

Jesus understood the importance of his followers being salt and light in the marketplace.  He called his disciples straight out of successful business careers. His teaching attracted huge crowds and influenced the culture at every level.

But the difference is this: Jesus lived in this world just as we do, but his focus was toward another place, not this one.  He had a perspective that allowed him to understand what the new heaven and new earth would be, and so His priorities were eternal, not earthly.

He had been with God and would return there, so He had the assurance of something that takes lots more trust on our part to grasp.  Jesus worked on this earth completely focused toward heaven, because He knew it was as genuine as the ground he walked in Galilee.  Having that same earthly/eternal perspective leads us to the “abundant life” Christ taught us to seek.

If you had to sum it all up in an “15 second elevator speech” how would you describe this new standard for Belhaven College?
Jesus prayed, taught, mentored, and loved in ways that connected eternal life with earthly life.  He made every day count, but He understood the ultimate goals and purpose of life.

That same Christ-centered worldview is what we want Belhaven graduates to treasure as they head into “the world of careers, ideas, and human relationships,” as our mission statement articulates.

Our Standard is Christ.  There is no higher standard we could set as a College – and only with God’s help will Belhaven’s faculty and staff help our students achieve God’s best for their lives.