The Forge Report: Vol 134, December 2011

Volume 134: December 2011

Surprise Homecoming Welcome for VFCC
IT Director, National Guardsman

VFCC is thrilled to announce that Information Technology (IT) Director, Sergeant Brian Swomley, returned home from Afghanistan on Saturday, November 3, 2011! President Don Meyer was eager to reunite this American hero with his work family and invited him to visit and attend chapel on Monday, December 5, 2011. Sgt. Swomley was told that he would be recognized during the chapel service, but what he didn't know was that his VFCC family had a surprise welcome planned.

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A Christmas Miracle

Faith and Vanessa Duncan

On Thursday, December 1, 2011, Intercultural Studies Department Chair, Rev. Jenny Duncan and her husband, Dennis, received a phone call that every parent prays they never get. A state police officer informed the Duncans that a car had hit their 15-year-old daughter, Faith, in front of her high school and she was being airlifted to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. They were not sure of the extent of her injuries, except that she was alert and on oxygen.

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Christmas at Valley Forge

The 2011 holiday season began with an evening celebrating the sounds of Christmas. The 7th annual Christmas at Valley Forge was aglow with decorated Christmas trees and hundreds of luminaries leading the way to the Flower Chapel where the concert took place.

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Steps of Faith

In August 2001, Danielle (Caszatt) Christy '06 took her first step of faith. She never thought that she would attend a college like VFCC, but after a friend introduced her to the Lord and she went on her first missions trip, Valley Forge Christian College received her one and only college application.

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Impacting Indonesia

Leah and Jeff Hartensveld

Jeff '87 and Liz (Barger) '90 Hartensveld, missionaries to Indonesia, know first hand how to help during a natural disaster. Their family lives in Surabaya, East Java, where Jeff pastors an AG church. After the tsunami struck Indonesia in 2004, the Hartensvelds and their congregation focused on ministry to children since many of the children lost one or both parents. In the two years following the disaster they helped build 67 schools and helped equip teachers and collect supplies. As many relief agencies came and went in the years following the devastation, the Hartensvelds were there to stay.

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VFCC Student Writes a New Kind of Fairytale

If it weren't for God's prompting and a conversation with Evie Meyer, Kathleen Bird probably wouldn't have found her way from Iowa to Valley Forge Christian College (VFCC). And if she hadn't come to VFCC, the young author-to-be wouldn't have met some of the biggest supporters of her greatest endeavor so far.

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Dr. Meyer Appears on the Don Kroah Show

VFCC President, Dr. Don Meyer, was the featured guest on the WAVA 105.1 FM, The Don Kroah Show, on November 18, 2011. This radio show is broadcast out of Arlington, Va.

Click here to listen to the interview »

VFCC Talent Show

The VFCC talent show was held on the evening of November 17, 2011. The event featured 15 acts that included a quartet, a song in spanish, a drum solo, popping (similar to hip-hop), rapping, the spoken word, and musical numbers. Khashif Khan placed 1st, Byron Purnell placed 2nd, and Maranatha Purring and Bess Harbison placed 3rd.

Click here to view photos of this event »

Meet Freshman, Shaatir Monroe

Current freshman, Shaatir Monroe, shares how God lead him to attend VFCC and how he is able to incorporate his musical talents here.

Click here to read more about Shaatir and watch the video »

Video Devotionals - A Nudge Toward God

Subscribe to receive an email with Dr. Meyer's bi-monthly video devotionals, A Nudge Toward God.

Click here to view and subscribe »

Health Center Reminders

Winter Travel: Prepare Your Car
Prepare your car for the winter. Service the radiator and maintain antifreeze level; check time tread or, if necessary, replace tires with all-weather or snow tires.

Keep gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Use a wintertime formula in your windshield washer. Keep a winter emergency kit in your car in case you become stranded. Include: blankets, food and water, booster cables, flares, tire pump, a bag of sand or cat litter (for traction), compass and maps, flashlight, battery-powered radio, extra batteries and first-aid kit.

Student Athlete Honored By Philadelphia Small College Coaches Association

VFCC men's basketball player, Latrell Alford, was recently honored at the Philadelphia Small College Coaches Association luncheon on December 5, 2011. The luncheon was hosted by Philadelphia's University of the Sciences.

Alford, who has been a key player for the past couple of years, was honored for his performance in the Gallaudet University tournament. The Patriots fell in the opening game to Muhlenberg (60-68), but bounced back the following day to defeat the host team, Gallaudet (78-71).

Over a three-game stretch, Alford averaged 18.1 points per game, but this honor went beyond statistics. Alford is a selfless leader and his impact is often immeasurable. There is no statistic for deflections or pressuring an opponent into throwing an errant pass.

This season Alford is averaging 13 points, six rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot per game. Though his statistics have been good, his leadership skills are even more impressive.

Congratulations to Latrell Alford.

Red-Cross Blood Drive Results

Thank you to all who donated to the American Red Cross Blood Drive! VFCC donors successfully donated 66 units of blood which will go on to help many many people.

Thank you also to those who donated platelets. If you successfully donated blood this donation, I encourage you to consider platelet donation next time around. We were told that someone was "already waiting" for our platelets in order to resume chemotherapy treatment. It was easy, painless, and I FELT GREAT afterwards with a heart extra full of joy!!!

I extend to all of you a heartfelt thank you. Thank you for your time, thank you for your help and thank you for your blood.

If you wanted to donate and couldn't this time, please don't be discouraged. There will always be more opportunities.

You are all heroes.
Michelle Keating-Sibel
Director of Health Services

Online Giving Tool

You can give to VFCC online through a 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 »

Forge Report Archives

Have you missed a previous Forge Report email newsletter? You can access our archive by clicking the link below.

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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.

For information on how your gift can benefit VFCC, contact:

Kristie Overly
Director of Annual Fund, Grants & Alumni Services
610.917.1414
Email

Leadership Tools by Dr. Don Meyer

Cowley, Robert. What If? Berkley Books: New York, 1999.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." This is taken from Proverbs 16:9 and is a comforting thought indeed. We can do nothing to foil the ultimate plans of God. Have you ever wondered though what the outcome of a situation had been if it had been handled differently or if God had willed it to end in some other way? Maybe it was a defining moment in your life or perhaps it was just a simple quandary on how life could be different if a historical war had a different outcome. In Robert Cowley's novel What If, he compiles a series of essays written by various authors which pose some differences in today's world if history had had a change in events. Being an American military historian, Cowley's many scenarios may seem interesting or ideal while others may show themselves horrifying. This compilation not only offers many interesting views on the changes that could have taken place throughout the world, but also opens the reader's mind to wonder how their decisions of today will influence their tomorrows.

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