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David Neff, editor in chief and vice president of editorial for the Christianity Today Media Group, will speak for the Longo Lecture at Pacific Union College on January 28. Neff will lecture on "Earth Day and the New Earth: Is creation care in competition with second-coming Christianity?" He will investigate questions about a Christian approach to environmental responsibility and activism that can affirm both care for the present earth and anticipation of the earth made new. Neff has worked at Christianity Today International for almost 25 years, where he has guided the editorial process for Christianity Today, Books & Culture, and Christian History magazines. During this editorial career, he has written articles on a wide variety of topics, including climate change, Middle East politics, the American presidency and the rule of law, and the church fathers' approach to the Bible. In addition to his publishing work, Mr. Neff has worked with Northern Baptist Seminary to establish the Robert E. Webber Center for an Ancient-Evangelical Future. Before coming to Christianity Today, Mr. Neff edited InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's magazine for university students and was a pastor and religion teacher at Walla Walla College. The Longo Lecture Series brings major figures to PUC...

During the fall 2009 quarter, two Pacific Union College film and television majors got a chance to intern with American Zoetrope, the film production company of legendary filmmaker and Napa Valley local Francis Ford Coppola. Seniors Ryann Pulido and Tim Wolfer were accepted into an internship working at Coppola’s Napa Valley studio in Rutherford, about 20 minutes from PUC. The work itself was not very glamorous — like many internships, it mostly consisted of cleaning and organizing around the office and making coffee. Through these low-level tasks, however, the two were able to gain some valuable insights into their future careers. “It’s actually the best place to watch from,” says Wolfer. “You really don’t know anything and they have no expectations of you, so you can actually learn and soak it in.” “Seeing filmmaking firsthand instead of reading about it was valuable,” says Pulido. “It takes you from what you think it will be to what it actually is. When I first went there I was kind of afraid they were going to be mean or bossy. But everyone there was extremely friendly and it was like a family atmosphere.” That wasn’t the only illusion that was shattered by this...

During the Christmas season this year, Pacific Union College held its first Global Medical Brigade (GMB) trip. The site was in Honduras, the second-poorest country in Central America, and 22 students and one physician devoted a week of their vacation with the mission of providing medical care. GMB is an organization developing sustainable health initiatives and providing relief in areas of limited healthcare access, with a focus in Central America. It is a program of Global Brigades, Inc., the world’s largest student-led global health and sustainable development organization. They define "brigades" as “groups of passionate volunteers who mobilize toward positive social change.” Last year, several PUC students went on a GMB trip with UCLA, and this year the movement spread to our own campus. In December, the PUC students were joined by a few La Sierra University and Loma Linda University students, PUC staff member Edilson Garcia, and student Janna Vassantachart's father, Prasit Ben Vassantachart, who works in internal medicine. The PUC brigade traveled to Tegucigalpa and settled into brick cabins alongside Sociedad Amigos de los Niños- Nuevo Paraiso Village, the orphanage project of a nun named Sister Maria Rosa. The first day was spent visiting the orphans and...

The Pacific Union Community has watched in sorrow news of the tragic earthquake in Haiti. The campus rejoiced with our one student from Haiti, Pierre Julov, when he was finally able to speak with his parents and learned that they were alive and well. In the meantime, the community has endeavored to help in several ways, most notably when the Angwin Community Services pledged up to $10,000 in matched funds. Calls for participation were made at colloquy and church services and word spread across campus, resulting in the raising of $17,690 — totaling $27,690 with the matching funds. Another connection came in the form of a PUC alum. On January 14, Scott Nelson ('92) arrived in Haiti to set up an orthopedic surgical unit. Nelson works as a medical director for CURE International at a hospital in the Dominican Republic and has made numerous trips in the past to Haiti to perform corrective surgery for children. At Hopital du la Communitie Haitien, Nelson and his team found many orthopaedic cases filling the parking lot and patio, as people were too frightened to go inside the building. "One 3 year old child was about to get his arm amputated by an...

At Southwestern Adventist University's (SWAU) winter graduation this year, PUC director of library services Adu Worku spoke on "What a Difference Education Makes." He shared his own story of being a shepherd boy and not beginning school until the age of 15, going on to earn three master's degrees; he is now a great proponent of the value of Adventist education. "Seventh-day Adventist education is value-added education," he said during his address. "The education we provide is both timely and timeless. It is purpose driven with consequences for this life and for the life to come." Following the address and the bestowing of degrees, SWAU president Eric Anderson, a former professor at PUC, surprised Worku by presenting him with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Anderson said that Worku's "life story is an illustration of the transforming power of Christian education,” adding that "today he is one of the most learned men I know.” Worku is a musician, poet, activist, teacher, and writer and has earned master's degrees in history, education, and library science. Worku and his family also have connections to PUC in addition to his role at the library. Worku received his undergrad degree at Avondale, but...

In its annual Martin Luther King Jr. memorial colloquy, Pacific Union College celebrated the legacy of this civil rights leader in several ways on January 14, 2010. PUC president Dr. Heather Knight opened with a brief background on Dr. King and thoughts on his legacy, which influences our own campus as a "dynamic multicultural learning community," she said. "We owe a lot to Dr. King." She also shared a little-known fact about King's name: His father was named Michael Luther King and named his son Michael Luther King Jr. After a family trip to Germany, the family was so impressed by the life and legacy of Martin Luther that King's father changed both his and his son's names to Martin. The program featured several beautiful and energetic songs from a recently formed PUC gospel choir, who, said Dr. Knight in her intro, "are truly embodying our living out of the 'Beloved Community' here on campus." One of their songs, "Bless Me (Prayer of Jabez)," was dedicated to those suffering from the recent earthquake in Haiti. Dr. Norman Knight, PUC's outreach chaplain, delivered a sermon – "a message that I believe Martin Luther King would bring to college students today." He...

Art instructor Cheryl Daley, a local artist who teaches at Pacific Union College, took her 3D design class on an inspiring field trip this November. Daley has a bit of a family connection to the late Ray and Charles Eames, famed American designers. Charles Eames' daughter, Lucia Eames, and granddaughter, Llisa Demetrios, are sculptors based in Petaluma, California. Their studio and home contains their own work as well as many important examples of the work of Charles and Ray. Eames and Demetrios gave Daley and her students a personal tour. "They love sharing and talking about the work of Charles and Ray Eames and their revolutionary designs for furniture, exhibitions, short films, and architecture, and about their process of working out solutions to their ideas," explains Daley. "At their studio in Petaluma they showed us many historically important 3D examples of Charles and Ray’s work as well as explaining their own work and showing examples of the creative process and technical challenges of their own large-scale metal sculptures." Christine Ha, a sophomore fine arts major, was impressed by the trip from the beginning. "Nearing the hand-painted gate designed by Lucia Eames herself, the urge to touch everything became almost unbearable,"...

It wasn't long ago that men's soccer became an official varsity sport at Pacific Union College; but in an amazing turn-around season this year, the soccer Pioneers set a precedent for a strong soccer program that may have a lasting legacy for the college. The soccer team, who ended last season with three wins, nine losses, and one tie, set the record at PUC for most wins in a season this year with nine wins, two losses and one tie. Several changes to the team dynamics contributed to the Pioneers’ success. Until this year, head coach Jesús Medina had been the only member of the coaching staff, leaving him alone to carry the burden of playing multiple roles. This year, however, Medina was joined by his brother Carlos and by Hernan Granados, dean of Newton Hall, to share responsibility over the team. Carlos led the team in the technical and strategic aspects of the game, and “Hernan is basically the dad of the people here,” said Medina. “He’s everything for the guys.” Notes team member (forward) Edrei Mauries, “With the support of older and wiser leaders, we feel more confident in the game, and it showed a lot this year.”...

This winter, the managers of the Albion Field Station, owned by Pacific Union College, are reminding people that the station isn't just for groups — and they're offering a 25 percent discount on weeknight and holiday season reservations! For many years, groups ranging from church groups to wedding parties to mushroom hunters have made use of the cabin, lab, and lodge facilities at the station, located near the coast town of Mendocino. But "it seems that most think they can only come as a group," says director Gilbert Muth. "We want to dispel this concept." Albion has always been a great place for family excursions or individual getaways, with its rustic but comfortable cabins (now renovated), its setting on the Albion River, an abundance of wildlife, and the tourist attractions in the scenic area. So the station is offering the 25 percent discount for any bookings Sunday through Thursday nights during the months of December and January; and the same discount applies for the Christmas and New Year holiday weeks, December 18 to January 3. The station has various rooms and cabins, some with kitchenettes and all with bathrooms, available for booking. To learn more or book a room, visit...

Pacific Union College officially welcomed the Christmas season November 30 with a short ceremony to light the campus Christmas tree. At 7 pm, students flocked to the center of campus to sip cider and hot chocolate, while Student Association president Scott Brizendine gave a short welcome and college president Heather Knight led a countdown to the lighting of the tree. “It was fun getting back together with everyone I hadn’t seen over the break to celebrate the season,” says graphic design senior Kerry Chambers. The lighting of the Christmas tree is a long-standing tradition at PUC. Formerly, a massive tree beside the church complex was strung with lights and "lit" after vespers on a Friday evening. In recent years, a smaller tree near the library has become the campus's Christmas icon. The tree lighting will be followed by other seasonal celebrations on campus, including the annual music department Christmas program and various open houses until Christmas vacation begins on December 11....