Chapel Speaker Bios
Academic Convocation
April 19th, 2010
The Office of the Academic Dean, along with the faculty of Westmont, celebrate the achievements of the graduating class. Each academic department extends their highest honors to outstanding seniors in their discipline who have achieved academic excellence.
Neil Anderson
October 2nd, 2009
Dr. Neil Anderson (EdD, Pepperdine University) is the author of more than twenty books, including the bestselling Victory Over the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker. He is the president of Freedom in Christ Ministries.
Gayle Beebe
Sept. 2nd and Nov. 18th, 2009; Jan. 13th, and February 10th, 2010
Gayle Beebe became Westmont eighth president July 1, 2007. He comes from Spring Arbor University, where he served as president for seven years. He earned doctorate in philosophy of religion and theology from Claremont Graduate University, an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker Center at CGU and an M. Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He was general editor of the Renovare Spiritual Formation Study Bible and co-authored (with Richard Foster) Longing for God: Seven Approaches to the Christian Life.
Alistair Begg
October 21st and 23rd, 2009
Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry for 30 years: eight in Scotland following graduation from The London School of Theology and 22 years at Parkside Church in suburban Cleveland. He has written several books and is heard daily across the nation on the radio program Truth for Life. He recently received an honorary doctorate from Cedarville University. He and his wife, Susan, have been married 31 years and have three grown children.
Father Greg Boyle
October 26th, 2009
Fr. Gregory Boyle – best known as Fr. Greg by all who meet him -- was born in Los Angeles, one of eight children. After graduating from Loyola High School in Los Angeles in 1972, he decided to become a Jesuit and was ordained a priest in 1984.
He received his BA in English from Gonzaga University; an MA in English from Loyola Marymount University; a Master of Divinity from the Weston School of Theology; and a Sacred Theology Masters degree from the Jesuit School of Theology.
Prior to 1986 Fr. Boyle taught at Loyola High School and worked with Christian Base Communities in Cochabamba, Bolivia. He was appointed as Pastor of Dolores Mission in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1986 where he served through 1992. He then served as Chaplain of the Islas Marias Penal Colony in Mexico and Folsom Prison, before returning to Los Angeles and Dolores Mission.
Homeboy Industries traces its roots to “Jobs For A Future” (JFF), a program created in 1988 by Fr. Greg at Dolores Mission parish. In an effort to address the escalating problems and unmet needs of gang-involved youth, Fr. Greg and the community developed positive alternatives, including establishing an elementary school, a day care program and finding legitimate employment for young people. JFF’s success demonstrated the model followed today that many gang members are eager to leave the dangerous and destructive life on the “streets.”
In 2008 Father Greg celebrated the 20th Anniversary of this important work. Homeboy Industries, now located in downtown Los Angeles, is recognized as the largest gang intervention program in the county, and has become a national model.
Viji Cammauf
October 28th, 2009
Viji Nakka Cammauf received her PhD in theology from the Graduate Theological Union (2003), her Masters of Divinity from the American Baptist Seminary of the West (1988), both in Berkeley, California. She received her Masters of Art from Mills College in Oakland, California (1982).She is a member of the Board for Perspectives on World Christian Movement - Northern California, World Christian Fellowship (Asian American Christian group committed to Global Missions) and the William Carey Heritage Foundation (which is dedicated to helping Serampore College in Calcutta India recapture the vision of William Carey in its theological education and training).
Viji organized the Little Flock Childrens' Home in India in 2004 (littleflockhomes.org). She has a dream of building an orphanage dedicated to transforming the lives of orphans, widows, and their communities through the healing, love, hope, and truth of Christ.Her vision is that widows, who have no means of support, can care for the orphans.She has worked with youth for 7 years and 13 years as the Minister of Missions, Adult Education, and Prayer Ministries at First Covenant Church, in Oakland California (1989-2002). Among other responsibilities, she founded and directed the church's school of laity - The Oakland School of Ministry. She is also an adjunct professor at American Baptist Seminary of the West, Fuller Seminary Northern California, and Logos Evangelical Seminary.Viji will develop ISAAC's lay academy and congregational consultation services.
Chapel CD
December 7th and 9th, 2009
Chapel Attendance will be taken at both of these services!
Each year our Chapel services are transformed into a recording sudio as we record "live" the next Chapel CD. Join us as we lift praises to our King and at the same time transform this praise into a permanent memory. (The CD will be released for sale before the end of the Spring Semester and will therefore not be available to hear online as Chapel Online.)
Alister Chapman
January 27th, 2010
Dr. Alister Chapman came to Westmont in 2004. He teaches courses in modern European history and the World History survey. Dr. Chapman was born in London and received all his formal education in England. He did his PhD in modern British history at the University of Cambridge. Alister is married to Margaret, and they have three children: Abigail, Lucy, and James.
Margaret Chapman
November 30th, 2009
Margaret Chapman teaches a women's Bible study in town and has taught Christian Doctrine here at Westmont. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, she went to Columbia University in New York City and then did a masters degree in theology at Cambridge University. She is married to history professor Alister Chapman, and they have three children: Abigail, Lucy, and James.
Class Chapels
September 21st, 2009
Please meet with members of your class in the following locations:
| Freshman | Murchison Gym |
| Sophomore | Page MPR |
| Junior | Prayer Chapel Lawn (Bring a towel or blanket to sit on) |
| Senior | Porter Theater |
Christena Cleveland
September 18th, 2009
Christena Cleveland joined the Psychology faculty in 2008. She's excited about social psychology but equally passionate about helping people discover their true and powerful identities in Christ. When she's not teaching or conducting research on group motivation, she is jet-setting to exotic locales, listening to people's stories over coffee, going on spiritual retreats, and watching CNN. For the past several years, she has developed friendships with lots of junior high students as a Young Life leader and has served as a lay leader in her local church. Christena believes that the grass is always green right where she is and is delighted by the ways in which Jesus brings life and purpose in the midst of even the most barren seasons.
Toya Cooper
November 13th, 2009
After majoring in political science at Westmont, Toya Cooper earned a law degree at the College of Law at Willamette University. She clerked in the juvenile section of the Marion County District Attorney’s Office. After her admission to the California State Bar, she worked in the private sector in the Bay Area before returning to work at her alma mater.
Angela D'Amour
September 28th, 2009
Angela has served as the Director of Campus Life since 2007 and in this position variety is the greatest norm. Highlights of the role include discovering students’ passions, advising WCSA and WAC (Westmont Activities council) and improving the experience of Westmont students through leadership training and creative new programming. Angela is a Westmont alumna with a BS degree in Psychology and she earned a Masters degree in Higher Education from the University of Vermont. She previously worked as an RD and Asst. Dean of First Year Students at Dartmouth College. Angela and her husband Brian have been married for 4 years and they have a little one on the way. Angela and Brian spend much of their free time adventuring in SB, such as finding new trails and rollerblading down State Street at the crack of dawn. They also enjoy getting to know people from different walks of life.
Marva Dawn
February 24th, 2010
Internationally renowned theologian, author, and educator Dr. Marva J. Dawn serves as Teaching Fellow in Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Under Christians Equipped for Ministry (CEM), she has preached and taught at seminaries, clergy conferences, churches, assemblies, and universities throughout the United States and Canada and in Australia, China and Hong Kong, England, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Madagascar, Mexico, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Singapore, and Scotland.
A scholar with four master degrees and a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics and the Scriptures from the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Dawn is also a popular preacher and speaker for people of all ages.
She is the author of numerous articles and over 20 books, several of which have won awards and\or been translated into Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and other languages.
Marvaand her husband Myron, a retired elementary school teacher,live in southwestern Washington State.
Departmental Chapels
November 11th, 2009
Join with students in your field of study as your professors conduct Chapels at the following locations:
| Department | Location |
| ART | PORTER THEATER |
| BIOLOGY | HIERONYMUS LOUNGE |
| CHEMISTRY | WHITTIER SCIENCE #204 |
| COMMUNICATION | PAGE MPR |
| ECON & BUSINESS | FOUNDERS DINING ROOM |
| EDUCATION | VOSKUYL #108 |
| ENGLISH | PORTER THEATER |
| HISTORY | REYNOLDS #109 |
| KINESIOLOGY | DANCE CLASSROOM |
| LIBERAL STUDIES | VOSKUYL #108 |
| MATHEMATICS | PORTER CLASSROOM #3 |
| MODERN LANGUAGES | REYNOLDS #209 |
| MUSIC | DEANE CHAPEL |
| PHILOSOPHY | PORTER CLASSROOM #4 |
| PHYSICS | PHYSICS PORTABLE |
| POLITICAL SCIENCE | MONROE DINING ROOM |
| PSYCHOLOGY | CLARK "A" CLASSROOM |
| RELIGIOUS STUDIES | UPPER KERR STUDENT CENTER |
| SOCIOLOGY | PRAYER CHAPEL |
| THEATER ARTS | MEET IN THE PORTER THEATER LOBBY |
Joni Eareckson-Tada
November 4th, 2009
A diving accident in 1967 left 17-year-old Joni Eareckson a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, unable to use her hands. After two years of rehabilitation, Joni re-entered the community with new skills and a fresh determination to help others in similar situations. Joni wrote of her experiences in her international bestselling biography, Joni. Her name is now recognized in countries around the world following the distribution in many languages of her biography and the full-length feature film JONI.
Having been catapulted onto a national stage, Joni founded Joni and Friends (JAF) in 1979 to accelerate Christian ministry in the disability community throughout the world. The impact of Joni’s work is felt beyond the Christian community. Mrs. Tada's role as a disability advocate led to a presidential appointment to the National Council on Disability for three and a half years, during which time the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. In 2005, Joni Eareckson Tada was appointed to the Disability Advisory Committee of the U.S. State Department to advise Dr. Condoleezza Rice on policy and programs which affect disabled persons in the State Department and around the world.
She is the author of more than 35 books. Her latest book, A Lifetime of Wisdom: Embracing the Way God Heals You (Zondervan, March 2009), recounts the hard-won gems of wisdom she has garnered during more than four decades of life in a wheelchair.
Joni and her husband Ken Tada have been married since 1982. Mr. Tada retired from 32 years of teaching in 2004 and ministers alongside Joni as they travel across the country and around the world. Ken Tada, along with Joni, are permanent members of the International Board of Directors of Joni and Friends. In 2001, Mr. Tada received Family Life Ministries’ Robertson McQuilken Award honoring “The Courageous Love of a Marriage Covenant Keeper.”
John Eldredge
March 8th, 2010
John Eldredge is the founder and director of Ransomed Heart™ Ministries in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a fellowship devoted to helping people recover and live from their heart. John is the author of numerous books, including EPIC, WAKING THE DEAD, WILD AT HEART, THE JOURNEY OF DESIRE, and coauthor of CAPTIVATING and THE SACRED ROMANCE.
John lives in Colorado with his wife, Stasi, and their three sons, Samuel, Blaine, and Luke. He loves living in the Rocky Mountains so he can pursue his other passions, including fly-fishing, mountain climbing, and exploring the waters of the West in his canoe.
Richard Allen Farmer
November 2nd, 2009
Richard Allen Farmer, born in New York City and having lived there most of his life, now resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife Rosemary and son, Timothy.
Dr. Farmer began piano studies in NYC at age 11 and became a person of faith at age 12. As his faith and musicianship grew, they were blended. Farmer now uses his music as a vehicle for inspiring, motivating, challenging and entertaining diverse audiences around the world.
A graduate of Nyack College where he earned the Bachelor of Music degree (1975) and Princeton Theological Seminary where he earned the Master of Divinity degree (1980), The Reverend Farmer has been awarded the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Gordon College in 1986 and the honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology degree by Houghton College in 1999.
An experienced pastor and college chaplain, Dr. Farmer has served as Senior Pastor of the Bethany Baptist Church in Pittsburgh (1980-1988) and as Dean of the Chapel at both Gordon College (1988-1992) and Taylor University (1999-2002).
Dr. Farmer spends most of his time offering inspirational, informational, verbal and musical presentations that clearly demonstrate passion and excellence.
Luisa Gallagher
April 12th, 2010
Luisa is passionate about mentoring and helping people to become more like Jesus. In her role as the Resident Director in Page Hall Luisa has been surprised and blessed by the great RAs and students she has lived and worked with over the last four years.
Luisa holds a B.A. in communication studies and a M.A. in educational ministries from Wheaton College. She has a heart for Christian higher education and since the age of 10 has been either living on, working at, or attending a Christian institution of higher learning.
Her favorite part of her job is getting to connect with students off campus or sharing a meal together. Luisa enjoys backpacking through the Sierra Nevadas with her sister Sarita, traveling to new countries, and spending time with her new kitten Henri.
Dave Gibbons
November 20th, 2009
The fringe, the misfits, artists, the poor, students, business executives, and community development specialists are the domains Dave intersects with in many of the major cities of the world. He is the CEO of www.yangdang.com, a ground breaking donor engagement platform that streams resources to amazing projects and leaders locally and globally.
Dave serves on the Board of World Vision US and is also the CVO of Xealot, a community development organization that develops movement leaders. He also is the CVO of NewSong Third Culture Alliance (Multi-site communities in Irvine, NOC, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Dallas, India, Seoul, and Bangkok) which catalyzes churches and non-profits with multiple forms and styles. Newsong is considered one of the most innovative churches in America.
Dave shares dynamic insights from his leadership development experience with the next generation both in North America and throughout strategic cities of the world specializing in Asia. He regularly consults with corporate executives, artists and strategic leaders from the business, non-profit, arts, entertainment, sports and financial domains.
He is the author of an exciting new book on global, adaptive leadership called, “The Monkey and the Fish: Liquid Leadership for a Third Culture Church”, foreword by Pulitzer Prize writer, Jeff Brazil.
Andrea Gurney
January 22nd, 2010
Dr. Gurney earned her Ph.D. at Northeastern University. She spent three years training at Harvard Medical School in individual, child/adolescent, and couples and family therapy before moving to Santa Barbara. She teaches part-time at Westmont, while she devotes the rest of her time to her clinical psychology practice in the community. Her research interests focus on resiliency in children and families. She joined the faculty in 2005.
Walter Hansen
September 11th, 2009
Dr. Walter Hansen joined the Westmont College Board of Trustees in May 2002. He and his wife, Darlene, had previously served on the Parents Council in the 19990's when their sons, Nathaniel ('94) and Jonathan ('96) were students. Walter received a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College in 1968, a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1972 and a Doctor of Theology from the University of Toronto in 1985. He was Professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary (1995-2005), and has authored numerous books and articles on Paul's writings. He serves as a trustee of the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, is a member of the Westmont Art Council, and is also the President of Rivendell Stewards’ Trust, a foundation that gives grants for seminary education and microfinance work in Africa and Asia. Previously, he had pastored The Chapel in Cleveland, Ohio and taught at Trinity Theological College in Singapore before moving to Santa Barbara. The Hansens enjoy sailing, horseback riding, and ballroom dancing. They have been married for 42 years and are members and he frequently preaches at All Saints by the Sea Episcopal Church here in Montecito.
Jane Higa
September 14th, 2009
As Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, Jane Hideko Higa oversees all of the Student Life programs and personnel at Westmont College. She has held several leadership roles in the student development profession: chair for the Commission of Chief Student Development Officers for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), member of the Racial Harmony Commission for the CCCU, and Vice President and President Elect for the Association of Christians in Student Development (ACSD). She has either chaired or served as a member of various audits and program reviews in Christian Colleges across the nation. She has also servedas a member of an accreditation sitevisit under the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Jane was the Dean for Student Affairs at Biola University in La Mirada, CA, for seven years and was the Dean of Women in the 1980’s for two years. Previously she worked at the University of Southern California (USC) as Associate Director of Residential Life and Director of Resident Student Development. Thirty years ago, she began her career in higher education as Head Resident at USC. A graduate of Westmont College and a recipient of the prestigious Kenneth M. Monroe Award, Dean Higa earned a Master of Science in Education with a major in College Student Personnel Services from USC. Jane’s son and daughter, are both graduates of Westmont College.
Joanne Herdrich
February 8th, 2010
Joanne Herdrich received her Bachelors in Psychology from California State University Long Beach and her Masters in Practical Theology from Talbot Theological Seminary. Joanne worked as the National Director of Press and Public Relations for "Chosen Women," a stadium revival ministry. She has also served as Coordinator for Mothers of Preschoolers and is active in leading women's bible studies at her local church.
Joanne is married to Brian Herdrich and they have two children, Jessica (10), and Chloe (7).
Carol Houston
April 9th, 2010
Pastor Carol A. Houston ministers in the Watts community of Los Angeles, California. With a passion for winning souls and empowering disciples of Jesus, she has served as Senior Pastor of Bethel Unspeakable Joy Christian Fellowship Church, Inc. for fifteen years.
Pastor Carol received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Denver where she also taught Physical Education and Recreation. For eight years she was a secondary school educator in the City of Compton, California. Her postgraduate studies include Physical Education and Recreation, Gerontology, Educational Administration, Speech Communication and Theology.
Pastor Carol serves as trustee of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California and Helping Hands, Inc. in Garden Grove, California. She ministers in many areas and has blessed the Body of Christ through her teaching. As Jesus did with His twelve, Pastor Carol is committed to empowering her team of twelve to win souls and make disciples.
Jamey & Cindy Lewis
October 16th, 2009
Jamey and Cindy Lewis are 1984 Westmont graduates who have lived and worked in Indonesia for the past 19 years. They are committed to living authentic lives of vibrant faith in Jesus alongside their Muslim neighbors and friends. They have numerous opportunities to help the poor and to train and coach others who are living cross-culturally.
Frederica Mathewes-Green
February 22nd, 2010
Frederica Mathewes-Green is a wide-ranging author, whose work has appeared in such diverse publications as the Washington Post, Christianity Today, Smithsonian, the Los Angeles Times, First Things, Books & Culture, Sojourners, Touchstone, and the Wall Street Journal. She is a regular columnist for the multi faith web magazine Beliefnet.com, and she writes movie reviews for National Review Online and Christianity Today Movies.
She has published 8 books, including Facing East: A Pilgrim’s Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy (HarperCollins, 1997) and The Illumined Heart: The Ancient Christian Path of Transformation (Paraclete, 2001). In the past, her commentaries have been heard on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition. Her essays were selected for Best Christian Writing in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006, and Best Spiritual Writing in 1998 and 2007. She has published over 600 articles.
She has also appeared as a speaker over 400 times, at places like Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Wellesley, Cornell, Calvin, Baylor, and Westmont; at the Smithsonian Institute, the Aspen Institute, Washington National Cathedral, the Los Angeles Times Book Festival, the American Academy of Religion, the Veritas Forum, the Family Research Council, and the National Right to Life Committee.
She has been interviewed on Prime Time Live, the Diane Rehm Show, the 700 Club, PBS, CNN, NBC, Fox News, and by Time, Newsweek, the New Republic, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the New York Times.
She lives with her husband, the Rev. Gregory Mathewes-Green, in Baltimore, MD, where he is pastor and she is “Khouria” (“Mother”) of the church they founded, Holy Cross Orthodox Church. Their three children are grown and married, and they have 9 grandchildren. Since 1997, Frederica has been recording books for the blind with the Radio Reading Network of Maryland.
Britt Merrick
February 5th, 2010
Britt Merrick grew up near Santa Barbara, CA in a little town on the beach named Carpinteria. In his childhood years Britt’s singular passion was surfing, and soon he was making surfboards along side his father (Al Merrick) at the Channel Islands, Inc. surfboard factory for some of the best surfers in the world. Britt was also handling the famous company’s advertising, marketing, and amateur surf team. Shortly after re-committing his life to the Lord in his early twenties Britt began to teach bible studies at his parent’s home for the surfer kids in Carpinteria. These bible studies eventually led to Britt teaching and preaching at a Friday night college ministry at a local church in Santa Barbara. In the fall of 2003, sensing a further call to ministry, he and his wife and some close friends started a church called Reality in his hometown of Carpinteria. Reality Carpinteria is active in, and passionate about: youth, community transformation, birthing other churches, sending missionaries overseas, and equipping the next generation of leaders. By the grace and to the glory of God, the Reality network of churches has grown to include churches in Los Angeles and Stockton, CA, and soon London and San Francisco. Britt continues to pastor full time and loves his wife Kate, their son Isaiah and daughter Daisy Love, the Bible and, of course, Jesus and His church.
Mark McCormick
April 21st, 2010
Mark McCormick, more commonly known as Mark “the RD”, graduated with his B.A. in psychology from Westmont and later completed his Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently finishing his 21st, and last, year at Westmont as Resident Director of Clark Halls. He and his wife, Nora, raised their two daughters within the walls of their Clark Cottage. Aside from the duties his title automatically attributes, Mark has touched the lives of thousands of Westmont students through his devotion and servant’s heart.
Rarely seen without a Coffee Bean cup in hand, Mark has used his unique ministry as an opportunity to mentor, counsel, befriend and truly inspire all his RA’s and residents.
John Ortberg
March 26th, 2010
John Ortberg, is passionate about "spiritual formation," which is how people become more like Jesus. His teaching brings Scripture alive and invariably includes practical applications and warm humor. John is the author of many books, including "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat" and "The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Growth for Ordinary People", and his latest book, "Faith & Doubt". He has also contributed to many other books and periodicals.
Walter Owens
March 5th, 2010
Walter Owens, Jr. serves the Rev. Senator James T. Meeks and the 20,000-member congregation of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago as its Minister of Music and Arts. He completed his undergraduate work at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) and graduate work at Butler University (Indianapolis, IN) where Dr. Michael Shasberger served as advisor and mentor. He recently served on the Advisory Committee of the newly-published African American Heritage Hymnal (GIA Publications) and is a sought after choral clinician in Sweden, Germany, and Switzerland.
His wife, Rev. Terri Owens, is the Dean of Students at the University of Chicago Divinity School and they share the privilege of raising a 16-yr.old son, Walter III, who is pursuing a musical career in composition.
Ben Patterson
Dates throughout the semester
Ben Patterson is a contributing editor to Christianity Today and the Leadership Journal. He has written five books, including Serving God (The Grand Essentials), Deepening Your Conversation with God, and He Has Made Me Glad. Previously, he was dean of the chapel at Hope College in Michigan, senior pastor for two congregations and the founding pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in California.
Lauretta Patterson
October 9th , 2009
Lauretta Patterson has partnered for 38 years in marriage, family, and ministry with her husband Ben. Through many life seasons and multiple moves, she has found prayer and laughter to be the surest way to cope with disconcerting change. She loves to teach, and often can be found discipling small groups of students on campus, leading women in Bible studies, or opening the door wide to friends and guests.
John Piper
March 1st, 2010
John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, where he first sensed God's call to enter the ministry. He went on to earn degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.) and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem. John is the author of more than 30 books and more than 25 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and an increasing number of grandchildren.
Soong Chan Rah
January 15th, 2010
Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah is the Milton B. Engebretson Assistant Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. Rah is formerly the founding Senior Pastor of the Cambridge Community Fellowship Church (CCFC), a multiethnic, urban ministry-focused church committed to living out the values of racial reconciliation and social justice in the urban context. Soong-Chan was a plenary speaker at the 2003 Urbana Student Missions Conference, the 2005 Summer Institute for Asian American Ministry and Theology, the 2006 Congress on Urban Ministry, the 2007 ECC Midwinter Conference, the 2007 Urban Youth Workers Institute Conference and the 2008 CCDA National Conference.
Soong-Chan received his B.A. in Political Science and History/ Sociology from Columbia University; his M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; his Th. M. from Harvard University; and his D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is a contributor author to Growing Healthy Asian-American Churches (IVP). He is the author of The Next Evangelicalism, on the changing face of American Christianity and on the cultural captivity of the American evangelical church (2009).
Soong-Chan, his wife, Sue, who teaches special education, and their two children, Annah and Elijah live in Chicago.
Helen Rhee
September 25th, 2009
Helen grew up in Seoul, South Korea, and then in Southern California, and developed respect and love forhistory since childhood. She earned her B.A in History at UC Berkeley and her M.Div. and Ph.D. at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA.Prior to coming to Westmont in 2004, she has served as pastor of a local church (Buena Park, CA) for a number of years. Helen specializes in early Christian history, especially the second and third century Christian literature, focusing on the diverging Christian self- identities in relation to Greco-Roman culture and society. Her recent book, Early Christian Literature: Christ and Culture in the Second and Third Centuries (Routledge, 2005), explores the very issue. Her scholarly interest, however, extends to other periods and aspects of Christian history as well. Helen is currently writing a book onearly Christian attitudes toward and practices of wealth and poverty and how these contributed to shaping Christian identities within largerGreco-Roman and Jewish contexts.
Senior Chapel
April 28th, 2010
The final Chapel of the academic year is a celebration of the Lord's goodness and faithfulness. It is also a time to thank the Lord for our senior class and to celebrate with them in their final Chapel at Westmont as undergraduates. As we send all of our students out to destinations all over the world, we do so with grateful hearts that the Lord has entrusted them into our care and for His faithfulness in growing, maturing, and strengthening each student. The culmination of this Chapel is the serving of communion by senior class representatives to the Westmont Community.
Michael Shasberger
September 7th, 2009
Michael Shasberger joined the Westmont faculty in 2005 after a distinguished career in higher education and church music. A graduate of St. Olaf College in Minnesota, he earned a doctorate in choral music, vocal performance and church music at the University of Southern California. He has extensive experience as a conductor and soloist in a wide variety of musical performances, including opera and classic works.
Spring Break Commissioning
March 12th, 2010
Prior to sending all of our students out to the world for Spring Break, we take time to pray and as God's protection, provision, and guidance. We will specifically take time in this service to pray for those students going on Potter's Clay in Ensenada, Mexico and Student Ministries Mission's trips all over the globe, as well as those going to Jackson, Mississippi for a special Racial Equality and Justice Reconciliation trip.
Student Testimonies
November 23rd, 2009
Once each semester we take time to hear from students whose lives have been touched and changed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Those students who have been asked to share will give witness to what the Lord has done and how their faith is integratated into practice in their lives.
Carri Svoboda
March 24th, 2010
As a young child, Carri Lynn Svoboda moved often as her father, who was in the Air Force, was stationed all over the world. The family finally settled down in Atwater, which is in Central California. After high school, Carri moved to Santa Barbara, where in 1992 she received her Bachelors Degree in English from UCSB and the following year she received her teaching credential from the same institution. Carri taught 8th grade English for seven years at Santa Barbara Junior High and is currently teaching 6,7, & 8 English, 7 Bible & 8 History at Santa Barbara Christian School.
Carri's religious training was eclectic, as her mother was raised in a Mormon home and her dad was raised Catholic. She accepted Christ after a Divine revelation when I was 8. She was the only Christian in my family growing up and attended the local First Southern Baptist Church with her neighbors. Locally, Carri attends the Free Methodist Church.
Anyone who knows Carri is impressed with her wild humor, her infectious laugh, her thoughtful discourse, and her deep devotion to Jesus. She is an avid reader and loves to walk and travel.
Libby Vincent
January 22, 2010
Libby Vincent is a pastor and teaches systematic theology for Fuller Seminary in Northern California. She is passionate about integrating the truths of Christian faith with the realities of daily life. She has a particular interest in working with students and young adults and also speaks regularly at Christian conferences In her spare time Libby enjoys: music, bookstores, working out and her newest adventure, learning how to play drums. She lives in Folsom with her husband Dan, and her children, Maggie and Trent and all of their pets.
Dennis Wadley
October 5th, 2009
Dennis served for 8 years as the Pastor of High School Ministry and Student Missions at Rolling Hills Covenant Church in Los Angeles. In 1992 he became the senior pastor at Community Covenant Church of Goleta where he served for 11 years. While serving at those two churches Dennis completed my MA in Theology at Talbot Theological Seminary and completed all the coursework for my Doctorate of Ministry at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has been living ABD (All But Dissertation) for almost a decade now and hopes to complete it on the topic of Holistic Discipleship as a Model of Development in an HIV/AIDS Ravaged Community.
Dennis along with his wife, Susan, have served as the founding Co-Directors of Bridges of Hope International and Bridges of Hope South Africa. In February of 2001 they read a Time magazine article that changed the course of their lives—it was about the AIDS pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. After two visits to South Africa, they moved their family to the Cape Town area in 2003 to begin an AIDS related Community Development program in the deeply impoverished and violent Cape Flats.
During the next five years Bridges of Hope has cared for over 10,000 people in the Cape Flats through our Community Health Program, After School Program, Orphans and Vulnerable Children Ministry, HIV/AIDS Support Groups, Micro-Business Program, and Gang Member Outreach. They have developed a boarding school for AIDS orphans called Bridges Academy, which opened in January 2008. In 2007 the ministry expanded to include the country of Swaziland, which has a 50% AIDS infection rate.
In December 2007, the Wadley family returned to the U.S. where Susan and Dennis continue to direct Bridges of Hope and Dennis is again serviing as the senior pastor at Community Covenant Church of Goleta.
Hanan Yaqub
November 9th, 2009
Hanan Yaqub has served since 1979 as Minister of Worship and Music at Trinity United Presbyterian Church of Santa Ana, California, where she directs an outstanding program of 12 choral and instrumental ensembles and plans weekly worship services known for their broad eclecticism. She is a graduate of Occidental College, California State University Fullerton, and the University of Southern California. Dr. Yaqub has taught choral music at the University of Southern California, California State University Fullerton, Chapman University, Scripps College, Cypress College, and Hope International University, and is a past president of the California chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.