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Volume 125: February 2011
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REFRESH '11 for Regional Youth Leaders
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 Valley Forge Christian College (VFCC) is inviting regional youth pastors to "REFRESH" on a one-day opportunity for training and refreshing. Hosted by Phil Baker, VFCC Youth Specialist, REFRESH will include exciting roundtable discussions and four sessions on focus, vision, soul and laughter. Speakers include Reggie Dabbs, Preston Centuolo, Meghan Weber and Jason Lamer. Join us on February 17, 2011, from 9:00am through 8:30pm. Early registration fee is $25 by February 10th, $30 at the door. VFCC student fee is $10. Click here to register.
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Faculty Travel to Thailand for Missionary Kids Retreat
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 When asked to host a five-day retreat in Thailand for middle school missionary kids, Paul and Kristin Mathias knew right away that God had planned a very special week. They prayed, prepared, kissed their little girls goodbye, and boarded a plane to Bangkok.
Both Paul and Kristin know the challenges of being a child missionary as they were missionary kids themselves. Their understanding of what these students face on a daily basis made them perfect candidates for sharing their hearts.
After an incredible week of fellowship, encouragement, and laughter, the Mathias couple returned to the states with a grateful heart of being able to be an encouragement to these missionary kids. "We were so blessed by these kids. From their morning devotion to playing around in the pool, they were a blast to be around. Their faces are sealed in our hearts, and we pray God will [continue to] give us creative opportunities to pour into their lives."
Click here to read the full story »
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$82,000 Raised for Clean-Water Wells in Africa
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 Professor Phil Baker returned home safely after an unforgettable experience in Africa. He had spent long days hiking and endured cold temperatures and altitude sickness, but his efforts will bring life to thousands. His most exciting accomplishment: reaching Uhuru Peak, the summit of Africa's highest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Of the 44 climbers who began, only 25 made it to the summit. A water well and school will be built in Lobersoit as a result of the contributions of the men and women who climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Professor Baker and five members of his local church made the climb. Because of the generous donations of the six climbers and their supporters, $82,000 was given for five new wells to be dug in Kenyan communities. WorldServe International will match those donations and will dig five more wells in Tanzania.
Click here to read the full story »
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Volunteer Ministry Teams Needed
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 Each summer, VFCC hosts ministry teams from churches in the Northeast Region. Teams come for three to ten days and participate in construction projects, tree trimming, landscaping, cleaning and other projects depending on the needs of the College and the expertise of individual group members. The College houses and feeds team members during their stay on campus. (Although some teams contribute to these costs, a financial contribution is not required.)
Church work teams are a wonderful blessing because each project contributes to enhancing the college experience for our precious students. In many cases, these projects could not otherwise be accomplished. Another significant blessing is that members of church teams are exposed - many for the first time - to the ministry of the College.
If you are interested in bringing a team to the College this summer (mid-May to late July) please contact Dr. Dan Mortensen, Vice President of Finance at dwmortensen@vfcc.edu or 610.917.1409. Space may be limited depending on response. Please let us know as soon as possible if your church is interested in bringing a team this summer.
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Student Center is a Blessing to Students
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 Since its opening in the beginning of the Fall 2010 semester, VFCC's new student center, The Anvil, has quickly become a place of personal connections and community building. The family-friendly atmosphere provides students the opportunity to enjoy a light snack and freshly baked goods from Jazzman's Café and Bakery. Students can connect over coffee with their study group, and can meet during a break between classes. "The Anvil is a true blessing to the college," stated President Meyer.
The Administration, knowing how much a space like this would mean to the students, made it a priority project for the summer of 2010. The beloved RVers donated countless hours to prepare a place where they knew everyone would be blessed. Arriving back to campus after the summer break, the students were stunned at the transformation of the previous room and overjoyed at the thought of having such a special place to gather. "It is a clean and comfortable area to hang out in and I like the atmosphere a lot," says Kristin Lombardi, a senior from Yorktown Heights, N.Y. The Anvil is sure to be a favorite spot for fellowship for many years to come.
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VFCC Unveils Military Support Prayer Display
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 To encourage your participation in honoring the men and women who serve in the military across the globe, we have developed a Military Support Prayer Display in the hallway outside of the Flower Chapel. These brave soldiers are defending the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans and are protecting our privilege to serve at VFCC to help prepare students to build God's Kingdom. It is with this attitude of thanksgiving that we ask for your help in commemorating the great work that our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, relatives and friends do to keep us safe. Please remember them on a regular basis, and to keep them and their families in your prayers.
The display includes the names, pictures and information of anyone connected to VFCC that is currently serving in the military. If you have family or friends that are serving in the military we would love to include them in the display. Please send the person's name, a suitable picture, their military branch, their location of service, their relationship to you, and other relevant information to Marie Valle at mnvalle@vfcc.edu or 610.917.1440.
Thank you for your support and prayers for our military.
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Faculty Spotlight in Community
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 Adjunct faculty, Bill and Hilda Bradney, are highlighted in a Main Line Health Heart Center article that discusses Hilda's heart care. The Bradney's have served in the missions field for 40 years before joining the VFCC family in 2003. To learn more about their inspiring story, click here. |
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Don't Forget the Alumni Facebook Page Has Moved!
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 The Alumni Association wants you to join us on our new page. Please go to facebook.com/VFCCAlumni and post your pictures and/or information. While visiting the new Facebook page, click the "like" button to keep connected to all things Alumni. If you have any questions related to the Alumni Facebook page move, please contact Kristie Overly at 610.917.1414.
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Position Announcement
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VFCC is seeking candidates for the position of Director of Social Work. This full-time, benefited position involves six hours of release time and a six credit course teaching load for the 2011-2012 academic year. For more information, click here.
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New Marketing Director
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 VFCC is pleased to announce the addition of Michelle Maloney as the new Director of Marketing. Michelle brings a wealth of marketing and communication experience to the College, and feels blessed that God has called her to serve here. She holds her Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Public Relations from Kutztown University, and her Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Immaculata University. Michelle resides in East Fallowfield with her husband, Mark, and their two sons, Rylan and Jakob.
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Leadership Tools
|  by Dr. Don Meyer
Zinsser, William. Writing About Your Life. Marlowe & Co: New York, 2004.
All reading is informative, but not all reading is enjoyable. William Zinsser is one author that has a way about him of drawing you in. Before you know it, you're smiling and thinking and not even realizing you've already been reading for twenty minutes. "Writing About Your Life" is like that. Zinsser writes to inform his readers about how to share their lives in the most effective ways, yet his method is to share about his own life. From the stories he includes, you not only get to know him, but the process of his story. One of Zinsser's favorite authors says about this book that "You learn without knowing it and are disarmed, charmed and eager to put pen to paper." Woven into his own story are specific topics Zinsser deals with...memory, academics, writing as ministry, memoir and writing about people, places and things. His advice is easy to understand and see in his own example.
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