GIVING TREE FUNDRAISER TOTAL
Well done, BJU alumni! Through the annual Giving Tree fundraiser, the Lord is using you as a community to tangibly support two of our members, David and Ruth Zellers, as they rebuild following Hurricane Helene. Your prayers, encouraging notes and a financial gift of over $31,000 are beautifully described in David Zeller’s words below:
On the night of Sept. 27, 2024, after running for our lives, speeding in a patrol car over compromised bridges, arriving at an evacuation center, eating an impromptu meal with a church family and receiving accommodations from special friends, we laid in bed with the feeling of being betrayed. After 33 years in a rural mountain community, a flood had left us with one pair of clothes.
Then through the night, words to a song kept repeating. “When you pass through the flood, it will not sweep o’er you.” But how did the song end? Around 2:00 a.m. the words came. “You are mine. You are precious in my sight.” And then the tears would not stop.
Since then, the Lord has shown His tender kindness through His people in so many unique ways. Now that story includes a special gift from the BJU family. Thank you for being part of our story.
GIVING TREE FUNDRAISER TOTAL
Well done, BJU alumni! Through the annual Giving Tree fundraiser, the Lord is using you as a community to tangibly support two of our members, David and Ruth Zellers, as they rebuild following Hurricane Helene. Your prayers, encouraging notes and a financial gift of over $31,000 are beautifully described in David Zeller’s words below:
On the night of Sept. 27, 2024, after running for our lives, speeding in a patrol car over compromised bridges, arriving at an evacuation center, eating an impromptu meal with a church family and receiving accommodations from special friends, we laid in bed with the feeling of being betrayed. After 33 years in a rural mountain community, a flood had left us with one pair of clothes.
Then through the night, words to a song kept repeating. “When you pass through the flood, it will not sweep o’er you.” But how did the song end? Around 2:00 a.m. the words came. “You are mine. You are precious in my sight.” And then the tears would not stop.
Since then, the Lord has shown His tender kindness through His people in so many unique ways. Now that story includes a special gift from the BJU family. Thank you for being part of our story.
Exciting Change to Homecoming 2025
The countdown has begun! BJU’s centennial celebration is just around the corner during the 2026–2027 academic year and many are already planning a trip to campus to celebrate this incredible milestone! So, as we anticipate a larger attendance for the centennial year, the traditional on-campus Homecoming this year will be replaced with regional gatherings spread across the country. Instead of you coming to us, we are excited to bring a bit of home closer to you! In the coming weeks, we’ll announce more details including the location and date for each regional event. We look forward to sharing what God is doing on campus and how BJU is accelerating into the next 100 years!
Exciting Change to Homecoming 2025
The countdown has begun! BJU’s centennial celebration is just around the corner during the 2026–2027 academic year and many are already planning a trip to campus to celebrate this incredible milestone! So, as we anticipate a larger attendance for the centennial year, the traditional on-campus Homecoming this year will be replaced with regional gatherings spread across the country. Instead of you coming to us, we are excited to bring a bit of home closer to you! In the coming weeks, we’ll announce more details including the location and date for each regional event. We look forward to sharing what God is doing on campus and how BJU is accelerating into the next 100 years!
Bible Conference 2025
BJU’s Bible Conference is less than a month away, kicking off on Tuesday, Feb. 18 and running through Friday, Feb. 21. The theme for the week as seen in Psalm 34:8 is the goodness of God and was chosen by President Josh Crockett as a companion to the current chapel series from Ecclesiastes. Dr. Crockett observed, “the trials of life can lead us to question God’s character. As we’ve studied Ecclesiastes in chapel, we’ve seen that life under the sun is vanity. Emptiness. Our students are constantly bombarded by bad news– a devastating hurricane, political chaos and the pressures of social media. It’s no wonder anxiety and depression are constant struggles. But God calls us to live above the sun, to focus on His goodness and know that He cares. He is always, only good.”
With the lineup of speakers, the week is sure to be rich in scriptural truth carefully handled and applied. And as a special bonus, the BJU alumni community is fully represented both in the speakers and with the focus of this year’s Bible Conference fundraiser. All eight speakers graduated from BJU as did the international director of Jonathan’s House—the organization designated for the ministry project supported by the 2025 Bible Conference fundraiser. Donna Bixby, a 1996 BJU graduate and a Biblical Ministries Worldwide missionary, helps lead Jonathan’s House in the extremely impoverished country of Central African Republic. This ministry is a critical source of physical and spiritual care including a medical clinic, an orphanage for over 50 children and a school educating and feeding hundreds of children. While Donna and her co-workers witness heart wrenching situations daily, they are also part of many God-given victories where lives are spared through physical care and souls are saved through the power of the gospel. Now we as BJU alumni have an opportunity to play a significant role in supporting the vital work of Jonathan’s House in CAR.
To learn more about the Bible Conference speakers, the preaching schedule and the ministry of Jonathan’s House, click the button below.
Bible Conference 2025
BJU’s Bible Conference is less than a month away, kicking off on Tuesday, Feb. 18 and running through Friday, Feb. 21. The theme for the week as seen in Psalm 34:8 is the goodness of God and was chosen by President Josh Crockett as a companion to the current chapel series from Ecclesiastes. Dr. Crockett observed, “the trials of life can lead us to question God’s character. As we’ve studied Ecclesiastes in chapel, we’ve seen that life under the sun is vanity. Emptiness. Our students are constantly bombarded by bad news– a devastating hurricane, political chaos and the pressures of social media. It’s no wonder anxiety and depression are constant struggles. But God calls us to live above the sun, to focus on His goodness and know that He cares. He is always, only good.”
With the lineup of speakers, the week is sure to be rich in scriptural truth carefully handled and applied. And as a special bonus, the BJU alumni community is fully represented both in the speakers and with the focus of this year’s Bible Conference fundraiser. All eight speakers graduated from BJU as did the international director of Jonathan’s House—the organization designated for the ministry project supported by the 2025 Bible Conference fundraiser. Donna Bixby, a 1996 BJU graduate and a Biblical Ministries Worldwide missionary, helps lead Jonathan’s House in the extremely impoverished country of Central African Republic. This ministry is a critical source of physical and spiritual care including a medical clinic, an orphanage for over 50 children and a school educating and feeding hundreds of children. While Donna and her co-workers witness heart wrenching situations daily, they are also part of many God-given victories where lives are spared through physical care and souls are saved through the power of the gospel. Now we as BJU alumni have an opportunity to play a significant role in supporting the vital work of Jonathan’s House in CAR.
To learn more about the Bible Conference speakers, the preaching schedule and the ministry of Jonathan’s House, click the button below.
Last Chance to Register
In the Great Commission, Jesus told his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” On the basis of that supreme authority, He then commanded the disciples, and the Church, to “make disciples of all nations, … teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:18–20).
Not only can the Church speak authoritatively on these subjects, she should. But amid the clamoring voices of relativism and unsound doctrine, the Church has often lost her voice.
Join us at BJU Seminary for our 2025 CoRE Conference, “Has the Church Lost Her Voice? Recovering the Authority of the Church,” to connect with others, renew your thinking and equip yourself to speak authoritatively as Jesus has commanded — to effectively make disciples and thereby carry out the Great Commission.
Speakers this year include Billy Gotcher, Armen Thomassian, Stuart Scott, and Josh Crockett. Registration closes soon for this exciting event! Click the button below for more details.
Last Chance to Register
In the Great Commission, Jesus told his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” On the basis of that supreme authority, He then commanded the disciples, and the Church, to “make disciples of all nations, … teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:18–20).
Not only can the Church speak authoritatively on these subjects, she should. But amid the clamoring voices of relativism and unsound doctrine, the Church has often lost her voice.
Join us at BJU Seminary for our 2025 CoRE Conference, “Has the Church Lost Her Voice? Recovering the Authority of the Church,” to connect with others, renew your thinking and equip yourself to speak authoritatively as Jesus has commanded — to effectively make disciples and thereby carry out the Great Commission.
Speakers this year include Billy Gotcher, Armen Thomassian, Stuart Scott, and Josh Crockett. Registration closes soon for this exciting event! Click the button below for more details.
Employment Opportunities
BJU Faculty Positions
BJA Positions
Alumni Updates
Future Bruins
Nason, Caleb ‘17 and Sarah (Gabert), Caden Judah, October 5, 2024
Rush, Jason ‘10 and Emily (Heinz), Chelsea Selah, December 14, 2024
Marriages
Carter: Esther Griffith ‘22 to Nathaniel ‘24, January 11, 2025
Deaths
Allen, Donna (Hammond) ‘56, November 14, 2024
Allen, Walter ‘57, November 14, 2024
Bailey, Charles ‘62, FE, December 21, 2024
Bain, David Sr. ‘75 ICS, November 23, 2024
Bemis, Pauline (Plemons) ‘64, January 3, 2025
Butterfield, Georgia ‘60, December 13, 2024
Byers, William ‘54, December 5, 2024
Countryman, Ronald ‘62, FE, December 2, 2024
Dalton, Robert ‘69, FE, October 13, 2024
Ellison, Charles ‘67, December 31, 2024
Erickson, Allan ‘75 ICS, December 31, 2024
Estes, Philip ‘83, December 16, 2024
Eyer, Gwendolyn (Henderson) ‘79, December 13, 2024
Farrar, Virginia (Richter) ‘51, December 10, 2024
Gluck, Lois (Tressler) ‘52, FE, December 27, 2024
Hafer, Daniel ‘69, October 17, 2024
Hallberg, Pam (Tritt) ‘72, December 10, 2024
Hartley, Iris “Jeaneine” (Wagner) ‘53, January 8, 2025
Holmes, Elizabeth (Wilson) ‘92, November 28, 2024
Howe, Tammy (Bachman) ‘90, December 17, 2024
Innes, Carol (Buchanan) ‘61, January 6, 2025
Lambert, James Sr. ‘65, December 29, 2024
Mahler, Susanne (Loomis) ‘58, December 31, 2024
Marks, Arie (Zittrouer) ‘50, January 13, 2025
Martindale, Kent ‘96, November 27, 2024
Mishler, Timothy ‘78, November 25, 2024
Ranieri, Ralph ‘89, December 24, 2024
Reinhardt, Janet (McLaughlin) ‘73, FE, December 5, 2024
Robinson, Tiffanie (Speers) ‘10, November 25, 2024
Roderique, Carolyn ‘64, January 3, 2025
Seidner, Linda (Frank) ‘76, January 2, 2025
Snider, Dorothy (Anderson) 1YB, January 1, 2025
Tee, Sharon (Davidson) ‘79, November 18, 2024
Tufts, Norma (Taber) ‘61, FE, December 25, 2024
VanderWier, David ‘78, December 19, 2024
Voss, William ‘57, November 13, 2024
Watson, Mary Grace (Lewis) ‘66 ICS, September 24, 2024
White, David ‘76, January 5, 2025
Whitney, Gloria (Bordeaux) ‘57, January 3, 2025
Williams, Howell ‘65, December 19, 2024
Wilson, Louise (Cassel) ‘56, January 14, 2025
Wipf, Amos ‘56, FE, November 19, 2024
Wokaty, Robert Sr. ‘69, November 24, 2024
*FE indicates a long-time former employee of BJU.
*RFS indicates a Retired Faculty or Staff of BJU.
Class Notes
Joshua Briggs ‘97 finished medical school and is currently an OBGYN resident at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – Amarillo.
Stephen Huebscher ‘94 recently had his first book published and he completed six years as a US Navy Chaplain and will be beginning a tour with the U.S. Marine Corps soon.
Matthew Hughes ‘16 recently joined Fox Rothschild in Greenville, SC as an Associate in the Litigation Department.
Chef and BJU faculty member, David Miller ‘93, was selected as the Hospitality Educator of the year by the Upstate chapter of the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association.
