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When first-year teachers begin teaching, they discover they are responsible not only for themselves but also for a whole classroom's academic, social, and spiritual development. Jean Buller, chair of the education department at Pacific Union College, describes this first year's experience as a "culture shock".Pacific Union College's education department is dedicated to supporting their new teachers even after they graduate. They plan events such as the February experience, at which all first-year teachers come back to Pacific Union College to meet and share their experiences with their professors and fellow first-year teachers.The education department professors also make it a point to call or write to their first-year teachers, encourage them, and give helpful hints on classroom survival.This year the education professors decided to add another element to the support system--prayer.The education department now begins their faculty meetings by praying for two new teachers, two student teachers, and several current education students that are completing their courses. Buller said, "We pray for these individuals during our faculty meeting as well as in our personal devotion time."This idea has also blossomed into a colorful prayer board displayed in the department's foyer. The board lists the names and schools of the teachers and...

Feeling the need for prayer support as they face the challenges of college life, a number of Pacific Union College students and faculty have formed an online prayer network."We needed an online prayer chain to bring people together so that they could pray for problems and individual situations on campus," said Hans Smith, a sophomore media technology major. Smith started the prayer network early autumn quarter along with some friends.The prayer network includes about 20 men and women, including three faculty and staff. While all members of the prayer network are able to e-mail prayer requests to each other, they generally pass their requests on to Smith, who forwards them to everybody on the list, deleting names on sensitive requests to ensure privacy.The network members have already seen some remarkable answers to their prayers. Early autumn quarter, Smith asked the network to pray for his financial situation, which he feared would force him to leave Pacific Union College. He soon found out about two loan options that enabled him to stay in school. Just before Thanksgiving vacation, the network prayed for a person who was suffering from recurring bouts of depression. "We prayed intensely for this person," said Smith. "Even...

If you are looking for a lively and interactive church service, visit the Youth Chapel on the second Sabbath of every month. What's inside may surprise you. At first glance, if you stick your head in at the right time, you may see what looks like a crowd of elementary-school children, acting surprisingly grown up, watching several unshod grown-ups act shockingly childish. This is Children's Church, led by Rita Hoshino, student services assistant director. She and some friends, including Mike and Michelle Mesnard, Cliff Rusch, Milbert Mariano, and Betsey Ross are working to help children in grades one to six learn about church through participation."Our goal is to bring the church service down to a child's level," said Rita. "The first thing we do is take off our shoes. There's nothing that makes a woman look grown-up like her shoes."Children's Church starts out with what Hoshino calls "mover music," spiritual, spirited songs that require action. "This is to get the wiggles out of them," said Rita. "We gradually go to quieter and more worshipful songs, so that everyone is quieted down for prayer."The kids are encouraged to share prayer requests at prayer time. This can make things rather interesting, because...

Pacific Union College is expanding the scholarships it offers in two important areas. PUC's academic scholarships will now be renewable and will be larger in size. The college is also offering scholarships to students working in summer ministry.Pacific Union College's academic scholarships, with the exception of National Merit scholarships, have previously been awarded for the freshman year only. They were based on the student's academy or high school GPA. The new academic scholarships are also given to freshmen based on their high school or academy GPA, but students can renew them each year by keeping up their grades at Pacific Union College. The scholarships have been enlarged as well: Previously, a freshman could receive a one-time scholarship of up to $1,950 for having a high school GPA of 3.75-4.0. Now, he or she can receive a renewable scholarship worth up to $4,000 over four years. Beginning in the fall of 1998, all students who are maintaining high GPAs at Pacific Union College will be eligible to qualify for the renewable academic scholarships for their remaining college years, even if their GPAs were originally too low to qualify."I think it sounds like a very good idea," said Lary Taylor, associate professor...

Pacific Union College is offering three interesting and educational tours during the summer and fall of 1997. Dr. Gordon Thomas, professor emeritus of history, is leading two tours: one to the British Isles and the other to the Panama Canal. And PUC graduate Rob Stretter, '95, is leading a visit to the annual Shakespeare festival in Ashland, Oregon.Britain & IrelandFrom July 8 to 23, Gordon Thomas will conduct a tour of Britain and Ireland. The itinerary includes Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, the panoramic Ring of Kerry, Dublin, the north coast of Wales, England's Lake District, Edinburgh, York, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, Windsor, and London. The price for the Britain and Ireland tour is $3,098 per person, which includes round trip airfare, accommodations in first-class hotels, and most breakfasts and dinners. Three units of college credit are available for a $105 tuition fee.Shakespeare Festival at AshlandRob Stretter will lead a visit to the annual Shakespeare festival in Ashland, Oregon, August 11-15. Participants will attend four of Shakespeare's plays: As You Like It, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Timon of Athens, and King Lear; take a backstage tour; meet an actor; and discuss the plays. The $245 base price includes theater tickets and accommodations at a...