I graduated from FBBC in 2005 with a degree in Biblical ... · Charlie Carter (’14; current FBTS student) hit the road for this past summer as the leader of Team Impact, Faith’s

Congratulations to Amber Akkermann (McCool ’13) on submitting the winning entry in naming our alumni publication! SOAR was her submission, and you are now holding the Fall 2015 edition. Thank you to all who participated—I was overwhelmed by all of the responses.

The purpose of SOAR is to keep you updated on what is going on in the life of other alumni of FBBC&TS, inform you of what is happening on campus, and in general keep you “in the loop” on current happenings at Faith.

I also want to let you know that Leanna Acree is now our full-time alumni coordinator. Leanna is a 2015 graduate of FBBC, was married to Caleb on June 20, and will be your primary contact for all things alumni. You may reach her at [email protected].

Update Your Information We really do want to keep in touch with you! If you have new contact information (especially a primary email you would like us to use), let us know. If you begin a new ministry or know of ministry changes of other Faith alumni, we would like to hear about it. We want to keep other alumni informed of the changes so we can keep them in our prayers. You can send any updated information to Leanna at [email protected].

Communication Plan We want to let you know when to expect emails/publications/information from the Alumni Department. Moving forward, you can expect an expanded edition of SOAR in your mailbox every August. We also plan to send postcards and monthly emails informing you of exciting announcements and inviting you to upcoming events.

Eagle AthleticsRemember that you can now attend all our sporting events for only $1 if you show your Eagle Nation alumni card. We would love to see you and your family on campus this fall!

Moving Forward TogetherMark Davis

Thanks to all who submitted photos for our alumni photo contest.

First Place: Paul Speed (’07) “Free Falling from 8,000 Feet.” (Note his Faith T-shirt.) Paul wins one

week in a timeshare anywhere in the world.

Second Place: Sarah (Lewis) Poorman (’10). “Leaving Children’s Hospital after Baby Hudson’s

Open Heart Surgery.” Sarah and her husband receive Faith jackets.

Third Place: Andrew Stalcup (’15) “At His Wedding in Iowa.” Andrew and his new wife receive

Faith sweatshirts.

To view all the photo contest entries, visit the Alumni Facebook Page.

Homecoming 2015If you missed Homecoming 2015, you missed a great event. The weekend was filled with athletic

events (the Eagles won both games on Saturday), food, boat races, and a parade led by

President Tillotson on his motorcycle. Put September 16 and 17, 2016, on your calendar to attend

Homecoming next fall.

While you may be familiar with names like Hartog, Domokos, and Long, you may not be as familiar with Stearns. Professor Andy Stearns started teaching adjunct at Faith in 2011 and transitioned to full-time in the fall of 2013 as a teacher and registrar. We want you to get to know him a little better so we asked him a few questions.

Where did you attend college and seminary? I graduated from FBBC in 2005 with a degree in Biblical Studies and then from FBTS in 2008 with my M.Div. degree. I have also received the Th.M. degree from Central Seminary in 2012 with a focus on Systematic Theology.

Where did you meet your wife?I met Robyn here at Faith my freshman year. We sat next to each other in class and in chapel, and the rest is history! We have been married 14 years and now have an 20-month-old son, Evan.

What classes do you teach here at Faith?I teach first-year Greek, Cults, and Intro to Bible Study. I also teach History of Denominations online as well as a new online course coming spring 2016 called God among the gods: Seminar on Worldview.

What is your favorite part about teaching?The students! Without them Faith would have no reason to exist and I would be talking to the air. It is always exciting to see what God has for them after their time at Faith.

How do you interact with the students outside of the classroom?Students regularly stop by my office to chat or to drink coffee. I also enjoy meeting them off-campus for coffee as well. I get to serve alongside many of our students at my local church, and my wife and I enjoy having them over for meals.

What hobbies do you have?I love coffee and reading up on technology . . . not that I can afford the technology! I try to keep up on new trends in the tech world. I also LOVE coffee!

Do you have a favorite vacation spot?I love the West! We went to Big Sky, Montana, for our honeymoon. And yes, the sky really is bigger out there! We enjoy Yellowstone and also get out to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park every few years.

Faith is thankful for the ministry Andy has in the lives of our students both in and out of the classroom. Investing in the lives of the students is clearly a priority in his life and is evidenced by the amount of time and energy his family invests in them.

Charlie Carter (’14; current FBTS student) hit the road for this past summer as the leader of Team Impact, Faith’s traveling camp team. Before heading out, Charlie spent some time with us recalling how God has worked in his life over the past several years.

Charlie was born and raised near Williamsburg, Iowa, in a home where many religious views were presented. “As a child and through my teenage years, I attended many religious services from a number of different denominations. I thought I had it figured out. If I were a good person, God would allow me to enter heaven when I died.”

As Charlie went on through junior high, God allowed difficult circumstances to come into his life. “I thought I was a good person. So why was God allowing so many bad things to happen to me?” God indeed had a reason for allowing those circumstances into Charlie’s life and placed solid believers in his friends’ group at Williamsburg High School. At the end of his freshman year, some of the members of the youth group at Harvest Baptist in Williamsburg reached out to Charlie and invited him to their youth group. It was there Charlie heard the gospel for the first time, and that next fall, as a sophomore, Charlie placed his trust in Christ for the forgiveness of his sins.

In the fall of 2010, he enrolled as a freshman in the Pastoral Training program at Faith. He served on a ministry team, was the Student Association president, and led Team Impact. He also worked in the Admissions Department at Faith while pursuing his M.Div. degree from the seminary.

As Charlie’s time at Faith wound down, the next stage of his life was just getting started. He candidated at Harvest Baptist Church in Williamsburg and now serves as an associate pastor there. Charlie is looking forward to this exciting opportunity. “There is something special about seeing the faces of all my spiritual parents when I preach. I am so thankful that God has led me back to Harvest Baptist Church!”

Stories like Charlie’s never get old, and we can’t wait to see how God continues to use him in the years to come. Please add Charlie to your personal prayer list as he seeks to serve God faithfully for years to come in pastoral ministry.

Since 2001 Phil Betz has been the camp director at Iowa Regular Baptist Camp at Clear Lake,

Iowa. This summer marked his 15th year of ministry at the camp, and 26 years over all in full-time

ministry.

In the fall of 1984 a tall kid from Ankeny arrived on the campus of Faith. “I was pretty familiar

with Faith,” recalls Phil. “I grew up in Ankeny and attended Grandview Park Baptist School.” He

enrolled in the Youth Pastor program and graduated in the spring of 1988. Along the way, Phil

played basketball and soccer for four years, served in the student government for two years,

and met his wife, Barb (Office Administration, 1988).

Phil and Barb were married in the fall of 1988 and headed out to Camden Baptist Church in

Wellington, Ohio, where he served as the youth pastor for six years. Phil and Barb later moved to

Saylorville Baptist Church in Des Moines, Iowa, where he served as the youth pastor for six years.

In the fall of 2000 Phil was called to be the camp director at Iowa Regular Baptist Camp.

God has not only allowed the Betz family to serve in various ministries over the past 25 years, but

He has also blessed them with five children: Tyler (’13), Pamela (’14), Samantha (freshman at

Faith), James (15), and Silas (4). Their children have kept Phil and Barb young and plugged in to

what is going on in the minds and hearts of teens.

Phil has learned much after 15 years in camp ministry, but the main lessons remain the same.

“One main thing I keep learning and am reminded of weekly is that God is in control and will use

every circumstance, seemingly good or bad, to bring glory to Himself. I also have learned that

the greatest work we can do is pray! It reminds us that the entire summer program is about what

God wants, not what I believe needs to happen.”

His favorite part of the ministry is the campers and staff! Each summer IRBC ministers to 1,400

youth campers, 1,800 family campers, and 2,500 during the retreat season. “I love working with

our high school and college staff. It is so rewarding to see the growth in their lives.”

MVP WEEkEnD November 19–21

For high school sophomores, juniors, and

seniors who are interested in music or

athletics. Cost is only $50 and they will

have the opportunity to attend classes

and interact with professors and coaches.

Visit faith.edu/events/mvp-weekend or

contact Stacy at [email protected].

TAkIng FLIgHT It’s hard to believe the 95th academic

year at Faith is underway! We want to

make you aware of a few key events

to consider attending, as well as some

events for that potential student in your

life.

For Our Alumni• Festival of Carols: December 4–5

• nEW Refresh Conference: February 9–12

• nEW Creation Seminar: April 13

For the Future Eagle in Your Life• MVP Weekend: November 19–21

• Scholarship Weekend: March 17–19

• Student Leadership Summit: April 14–16

• nEW Athletic Skills Camp: June 9–11

• Jump Start: June 12–17

Check out faith.edu for details about these events.

Faith’s new president, Jim Tillotson, has stated from day one that his desire

is to see Faith be a place that serves local churches and alumni. This winter,

February 9–12, 2016, Faith will hold its first annual Refresh Conference which

is designed to do just that!

This conference is designed to be a time of refreshment for pastors, assistant

pastors, their wives, and anyone who needs to be encouraged from solid,

practical preaching. This year’s speakers include

• Dr. Gary Anderson, president of Baptist Mid-Missions

• Rev. Jason LaFlamme, pastor of Munising Baptist Church, Munising,

Michigan

• Dr. Doug McLachlan, former pastor of Fourth Baptist Church, Plymouth,

Minnesota

• Rev. Patrick, Odle, pastor of First Baptist Church, Elyria, Ohio

• Dr. Les Ollila, former president of Northland Baptist Bible College

• Dr. Will Senn III, pastor of Tri-City Baptist Church, Westminster, Colorado

Encourage your pastor to attend and maybe even attend yourself. The

conference will start Tuesday evening and run through Friday afternoon.

We will not have classes during the conference to allow our students to

attend the sessions and serve our guests. Visit faith.edu for the schedule, costs, and registration information. Register by December 1 to take

advantage of the early discount price. EAgLE nATIOn ALUMnI CARDIf you did not receive your Eagle Nation alumni card,

let us know. We will send one to you immediately.