The Forge Report: Official Valley Forge Christian College E-Newsletter
Volume 131: September 2011
Fall Semester Starts with a Whirlwind

Move-in Day at VFCCThe fall 2011 semester is already underway, and what an exciting time of year it is for everyone! Freshman are meeting new friends and finding their way around campus, while upperclassman are reconnecting and finalizing their class schedules. This year proved to be a year like no other. Due to Hurricane Irene, check-in and orientation was pushed back three days to Tuesday, August 30. Although many plans were changed at the last minute, faculty, staff, students and parents all helped to make the delayed check-in as smooth as possible. Spirits were high as students arrived on campus, and many parents thanked VFCC for the delay, as it ensured students and their families were safe during the storm. VFCC looks forward to seeing how God will change the lives of the students in preparing them for a life of service and leadership in the church and in the world.

Click here to view the check-in photo gallery �

Homecoming 2011 - Registration is Now Open
Homecoming 2011

Register now for Homecoming 2011 - October 17-21, 2011. Bring your whole family to experience the festivities. You won't want to miss this special event filled with alumni speakers, sporting events, awards and reunions! You may register by clicking on the link below.
Monday, October 17: Homecoming 2011 festivities kick off with President Don Meyer as featured speaker for chapel service beginning at 10 am.

The CouriersTuesday, October 18: Very special musical guests, "Dave, Duane and Neil" will be performing during chapel service at 10 am. With over 56 years in the music ministry, this group originally performed all over the world as "The Couriers".

Wednesday, October 19: Help VFCC welcome Rev. Brigham Lee '06 as the featured chapel speaker and this year's Distinguished Young Alumni Award recipient.

Harry PressleyThursday, October 20: Rev. Harry F. Pressley '81, with Calvary Chapel in Bellmawr, N.J. and The Shepherd's Heart Radio Program will address the VFCC community and receive the Distinguished Alumni Service Award.

Thursday evening, the Class of 1961 will celebrate their 50th Anniversary with fellowship and a reunion dinner at 5 pm in Solomon's Porch.

Court DurkalskiFriday, October 21: Homecoming culminates with guest chapel speaker, Mr. Court Durkalski '91, renown author of Winning at Work followed by the All-Alumni Reunion Luncheon; Kidzone! activities for children under 12; alumni soccer and volleyball games; the crowning of the 2011 Homecoming King and Queen; and the Homecoming Basketball Game!

Don't miss it - make your reservations today.

Click here to register for Homecoming �

Building Biblical Communities All Across Philly

Doug and Kelly BlackA church plant looks a little different to each planter. To some it follows an identifiable, proven plan, and to others it is an attempt at an out-of-the-box dream. To Doug '03 and Kelly (Beatty) '02 Black, a new church looks like "simple, reproducible, Biblical communities all across Philadelphia." In an effort to fulfill the next stage of their ministry, they moved to the city and settled in.

Click here to read the full story �

Student Initiates Change in Her Own Backyard

Anita CardozaAs Anita Cardoza's internship at the Phoenixville Civic Center came to a close in the spring of 2010, her thoughts moved toward the realization of her expected December 2011 graduation as an Urban Missions major. But as much as her sights were set on ministering in a big city, she couldn't ignore what she was seeing in the small town of Phoenixville. Anita began to notice the growing Latino community, and when she was assigned a final project in which she had to focus on a local needy area, she knew that she had to do whatever she could to help her neighbors.

Click here to read the full story �

Church Plant Meets in Basketball Hall of Fame

Sorcinelli FamilyThe Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., holds more than pictures, statues and jerseys of exceptional athletes. On Sunday mornings, it now holds the congregation of New Day Church, a growing church plant started by alumni Mike '04 and Kristin (Davis) '05 Sorcinelli.

Click here to read the full story �

VFCC Dining Services

 

Manage Meal Plan
Student, parents and friends can now purchase Patriot Dollars for students at the registers in the Dining Commons and Jazzman's with cash or credit card. In addition, you can now log onto https://vfcc.campuscardcenter.com to add funds directly with any major credit card. Connect with us at facebook.com/VFCCDining. "Like" our new page to view menus and nutritional facts for the Dining Commons and find out about special deals at Jazzman's.

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency PreparednessOver the past few weeks, VFCC has had its share of natural disaster scares. We experienced the rumblings from the earthquake in Virginia, high winds and rain from Hurricane Irene and the tornado warnings that accompanied the storm. All of this activity got us thinking about how prepared we are in case of an emergency. Do you have an emergency supply kit? If you answered no, you may want to take a look at the Chester County Emergency Preparedness Newsletter. If you answered yes, you may want to be sure your kit has everything it needs. One staff member on campus realized she had enough canned food, but no can-opener! Please be safe and take a moment to be prepared!

New VFCC Online Giving Tool

 

Give to VFCCYou can now give to VFCC online through a new tool at vfcc.edu/give. We can attest to the wisdom and faithfulness of every person who has invested in VFCC and we thank you sincerely for considering VFCC in your giving plans. Whatever the size, your gift truly matters and inspires others to give. Your contribution will help VFCC serve students and the world through Christ through education and spiritual formation. Thank you for faithfully lifting up VFCC in prayer. Your support, both spiritual and financial, will ensure that VFCC's light will shine brightly for years to come.

Click here to give now �

Dean of Institutional Effectiveness

Judy DunhamDr. Judy Dunham joins VFCC as the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, a new position at VFCC. She received her Ph.D. in Special Education from Purdue University in 1985. Prior to coming to VFCC, Judy served at a Catholic University, a Church of Christ College, and a Nazarene University. In addition to developing various programs and courses in these institutions, she has participated in a number of accreditation activities and was the University's Faculty Development Coordinator in her last position. Judy's present research interests include teacher efficacy and K-12 education in the sub-Saharan country of Zimbabwe and the professional development needs of U.S. teachers in Christian schools.

Leaving their home in the Kansas City area in July, she and her husband moved to an apartment in Exton, Pa. Her other interests include cooking, reading and learning to use various Web 2.0 tools to accomplish tasks. Her current read is Geeks and Geezers: How Era, Values, and Defining Moments Shape Leaders.

VFCC Welcomes New Business Chair

Dr. Bill ClarksonDr. William Clarkson joins VFCC as an Associate Professor and Chair of the Business Department. Dr. Clarkson was the Equipping Pastor for Christian Celebration Center, an Assemblies of God church in Midland, Mich. In 1995 he co-founded Mid-Michigan Royal Family Kids' Camps, a faith-based nonprofit ministering to the unique needs of children that have suffered abuse and/or neglect in their lives. Dr. Clarkson also worked as a local government administrator for twenty years, and taught as Adjunct Instructor of Political Science at Central Michigan University for ten years. He continues to be a national and regional speaker at ministry conferences on the subjects of children's camps, early childhood issues, and motivating children in the area of praise, worship and prayer.

Dr. Clarkson holds a Bachelor's degree from Muhlenberg College and his Master's Degree in Public Administration from Ball State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Administration, with a concentration in Organizational Development & Christian Leadership from Trinity Theological Seminary. He is licensed to preach and is credentialed with the Assemblies of God.

Dr. Clarkson and his wife, Jan, have been married for 31 years and have two adult sons, Kyle (daugter-in-law Amanda) and Keith.
New Deaf Pastoral Studies Chair

Dr. JoAnn SmithVFCC is pleased to announce a new program chair to its campus. Led by Dr. Joanne L. Smith, the Deaf Pastoral Studies program will be designed to include training and mentoring for deaf men and woman to be leaders in their deaf communities.

Dr. Smith was born and raised in Hawaii. She was saved at an early age by the faithful teachings of her grandparents. She attended Northwest of the Assemblies of God (presently Northwest University) where she graduated with a dual major in Pastoral Studies and Christian Education. From there she pioneered and pastored the Rochester Deaf Assembly before becoming an instructor at the Central Bible College Deaf Program and completing her Master's degree in Cross-cultural Studies at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Dr. Smith then served as the AG Appointed Campus Chaplain at Gallaudet University, in Washington, D.C., for 10 years, where she met her husband, Rod. From there they moved to Minneapolis, Minn., to develop the Deaf Pastoral Studies Program at North Central University. She then completed her doctorate was completed in Organizational Leadership from Regent University in 2005.

In 1992, while working at North Central University the Smiths led a student missions team to Tallinn, Estonia. There, they met two deaf boys, Andrei and Juri, who were 13 and 8 respectively at the time, who touched their hearts. They quickly fell in love with these boys and adopted them, completing the Smith family.


New Social Work Program Director

Stephen StoefflerStephen W. Stoeffler, MSW, LSW, joins the VFCC team this fall as the Social Work Program Director and Assistant Professor. Stoeffler is a generalist social work practitioner with practice experience in the fields of child welfare, probation and parole, protective services and family homelessness. He has been a child welfare caseworker, probation officer, program coordinator of a university institute, and program director of a non-profit social service agency. He earned a BSW from Shippensburg University, an MSW from Temple University and is currently completing his Ph.D. in social work at Widener University.

Stoeffler's interests include social and economic justice, poverty, race-relations and macro practice. He is the recipient of the 2011 Kristin Bowser Young Social Worker of the Year Award given by the National Association of Social Workers Pennsylvania Chapter, for his contributions to the profession of social work and demonstration of leadership within the professional community. Stephen resides in Elizabethtown with his wife, Crissy, and their two children, Caitlin and Lincoln.

New Business Professor

James WalterVFCC is pleased to announce James Walter as a new Assistant Professor in the Business program. Walters brings over 20 years of experience from the corporate world to VFCC. He taught Marketing and Management at Penn State and Business Technical Institute, and has been an adjunct instructor of marketing and management for over 15 years at Penn State, Albright College, and DeSales University. Walters earned his associate degree in Engineering from Penn State Berks, his bachelor degree in Business Administration/Management from Albright College, and his Master of Business Administration in Marketing from St. Joseph's University. Walter is currently a candidate for a Ph.D. in Organization and Management, specializing in Leadership with Capella University. He served on the Board of Directors of the Albright Alumni Association and is a member of Kappa Delta Pi of the International Honor Society in Education.

Walter and his family have spent the last three summers in Romania with a mission to live among and assist the villagers, churches and orphanages with whatever needs they may have. This has included feeding and clothing the children, to rebuilding and preaching in the churches. This past summer they spent 70-days in Romania, where they celebrated the marriage of their daughter and new son-in-law.

New Education Professor

Jill DreibelbisJill Dreibelbis joins VFCC this fall to teach education courses. She is a native of the Phoenixville area. Dreibelbis graduated from Delaware County Community College with a degree in science. From there, she began working at a pharmaceutical company and eventually completed her Bachelor's degree at Villanova University. After working for ten years, she began tutoring at Montgomery County Community College and substitute teaching at various schools while working toward her teaching certificate through West Chester University. Since receiving her certification, Dreibelbis became the science teacher at Buxmont Academy, an alternative school for middle and high school students, and then as a supplemental instructor for the math department at Montgomery County Community College. This past year she worked for a contract company where she taught math to struggling students in grades 1 - 8 and mentored a math teacher. Dreibelbis is looking forward to working in the Education Department at VFCC.

New Missionary in Residence

Ken BarickmanKen Barickman, the new Missionary in Residence at VFCC, and his wife, Marianne, have been involved in missionary work in Belgium since 1993. In 1994, they began work in Enghien, Belgium to plant an AG church. Since then, they have also been active with a Brussels prison ministry, a children's ministry, outreaches through prayer meetings and Bible studies, and helping churches reconstruct existing buildings.

Barickman has personally been involved in evangelism and church planting in Senegal, West Africa, as an AG missionary from 1983-1986. He also ministered at a Teen Challenge outreach in the Brussels area and was involved in University Campus Ministry and taught at Continental Bible College. Other experience includes leading as the Director of the Belgium International Correspondence Institute. Ken and Marianne have two children, Lucas, a freshman at VFCC, and Sarah, a high-school student.

Forge Report Archives are Now Available

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Make a Lasting Impact on VFCC



Transform lives, reach your financial goals, and make a lasting impact on Valley Forge Christian College. Planned giving can make it happen. A variety of charitable options allow you to make a significant gift to VFCC and reach future financial goals for you and your family.

Options include: charitable remainder trust, endowment, charitable gift annuity and donor advised fund. VFCC is partnering with Assemblies of God Financial Services to provide professional planned giving services.

AG Financial SolutionsFor information on how your gift can benefit VFCC, contact:

Dr. Dan Mortensen
Vice President of Finance & Development
610.917.1440
Email

Leadership Tools by Dr. Don Meyer
Dr. Don MeyersKeller, Timothy. The Reason for God. Riverhead Books: New York, 2008.

Who among us hasn't sought a watertight argument for the existence and nature of God, whether to find security in our declared faith or justification for our disbelief? Through the use of literature, philosophy, real-life conversations, and powerful reasoning, author and pastor Tim Keller boldly addresses a number of the challenging questions that have been raised by critics and skeptics in an effort to counter Christianity. After a brief "intermission" he dives into the second half of the book, which covers the reasons for faith.  The question Keller endeavors to answer is, in essence, "Why should I believe?

This New York Times bestseller has become widely known for its germane material and compelling presentation of arguments.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Health Fair Breakaway - Campus Visits
Academic Open House - Campus Visits


Fall Break  

October 6-10     

 

Homecoming  

October 21   

 

Ministry Forum 

October 25 

 

Academic Open House 

October 29    

 

Breakaway - Campus Visits  

November 10-11     

 

Thanksgiving Break  

November 23-27    

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VFCC.edu - 800.432.8322 - Preparing individuals for a life of service and leadership in the church and in the world.