Taylor Mabuni ’21: More Than a Carpenter

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

On a chilly December morning, Taylor Mabuni ’21 pulled up to a house surrounded by construction equipment and film crews. Mabuni leads a team of seasoned construction workers as they take on custom home builds. Many of these renovation projects are featured on HGTV shows like Celebrity IOU with the Property Brothers, Revealed, Help! I Wrecked My House, and First Home Fix. “Most of what we do is the actual building that happens behind the scenes. It’s fun to watch as the film industry collaborates with our construction,” he said. “I tell my friends and family that you might see me in the background on the shows, but the truly exciting part for me is not being on TV, it’s getting to see the end result of projects. It’s so rewarding to see how my skills are a part of giving someone a beautiful home.”

While Mabuni loves his work, it’s not the career he had pictured pursuing when he came to Azusa Pacific University as a trustee scholar. Mabuni entered college with plans for a career in aerospace engineering. However, after interning at a helicopter manufacturing company, he knew it wasn’t the right major for him. Mabuni then tried studying business, before he decided to switch majors to interdisciplinary studies, which allowed him to combine his experience and create his own degree with emphases in applied mathematics, business, and leadership. “I never really fit the mold of any one of those areas. Interdisciplinary studies was the perfect solution,” Mabuni said. “I highly recommend the program because it allows you to gain a broad range of skills from different fields while not being locked in to any one of them.”

While Mabuni finished his degree at APU, he began working for Facilities Management. He had always liked working with his hands and loved to create. After graduating in May 2021, he took a week off to go back home to Kona, Hawaii, then returned to APU to work full time on the maintenance team. Mabuni learned the skills of carpentry and welding, and got to work on many projects around campus like the Shalom Cafe sign. “I told my friends and family that it was just a temporary job, just a way to save up money until I figured out what I was going to do post graduation, but it actually ended up opening the doors for my career now,” he said. After eight months working for APU, Mabuni was approached by a contractor, Bohler Builders Group based in Glendora, where he was offered a job as a carpenter. Less than a year into the job, Mabuni was promoted to site manager.

Mabuni loves that he gets to apply what he learned in his classes at APU. He uses knowledge from his mathematics courses when he uses calculations and diagrams for house blueprints and plans. He draws upon his business and finance classes when he oversees budgets for clients during projects. He also takes what he learned from his leadership studies and applies it as a manager, communicating with others and bringing out their strengths to get the job done best. “People have this perception that construction and college are mutually exclusive, that going into construction after college is a waste of a degree,” he said. “That’s just not true. More than the hard skills, college prepared me to be a critical thinker, problem solver, and communicator. These are skills that I use in my job every day.”

Being a manager provides Mabuni with a great opportunity to share his faith. “I get to reflect the heart of Christ in the way I treat and lead others,” he said. Like many, he grew up in a Christian household but was challenged with making his faith his own when he moved out. “Living on my own was the first time I had to choose what I was going to let take up my time, what I value, if I wanted to continue going to church on Sundays or use it as just another day to do homework and hang out with friends,” he said. “I’m glad I chose to value my faith.” Mabuni began attending One and All church in Upland, joined a small group, and found mentors to pour into him.

Mabuni was never steered toward construction when it came to career advice. He was told that construction is for people who couldn’t make it in college. Yet, at just 23-years-old and less than two years removed from graduation, Mabuni recognizes an important life lesson that he hopes to pass onto others. “Construction has opened up incredible opportunities for my career of working alongside industry leading designers and builders who are regulars on renovation TV shows. But what’s so much more important than that is getting to use the gifts that God has given me in carpentry and the trades to bless others and honor Him,” he said. “I’m passionate about sharing that lesson. It’s not about building homes, it's about pursuing the gifting and passion that God gave to me to work with my hands. There are unique skills and talents God has given to each of us and we get to choose how to respond with what we’ve been given. Using our God given gifts is one of the most powerful ways we can bless others and give all glory to Him.”

Bailey Wilson '18: If the Lord Leaves a Door Open, Run Through It

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

When Bailey Wilson ’18 opened her food truck, Bondi Bowls, she had no idea that it would become so popular and grow so rapidly. The idea for the business had come from her mother after noticing how bored Wilson was laying around her house in Oklahoma in the early days of the COVID pandemic. “She said, ‘Bailey, you need to get out of the house. You’ve been making these delicious acai bowls for Dad. He loves them. Your friends love them. You should share them with the community.’” Wilson found a used food truck on Facebook Marketplace, fixed it up and repainted it with her father, and launched Bondi Bowls on June 1, 2020. “I didn’t think many people would show up,” Wilson said. “But when my sister and I opened the window, there was a line of people so long it went through the entire parking lot. We literally hit the ground running.”

What began as a simple idea to help her make it through the pandemic quickly turned into much more. Just two-and-a-half years later, Bondi Bowls is a franchise with 17 food trucks in eight states, one brick and mortar location, and two kiosks in Oklahoma sporting venues. “In the beginning, I had no plans to hire employees, but we needed to,” she said. “Once we started franchising, we’ve continued to grow and now have more than 100 employees across the company.”

A big factor in this growth came about a month after Wilson opened her first truck. She was serving her bowls at a CycleBar event when a man approached her to talk about the business. “It turned out he served as a top executive at Disney for a long time. He also worked closely with Steve Jobs and helped start iTunes,” Wilson said. “He’s been my mentor ever since.”

Wilson also attributes her business growth to a vital lesson she learned while a student at APU. “I learned it’s so important to operate your business correctly, obey the rules, not taking shortcuts for short term gain, running it the right way and watching the Lord bless your business,” she said. “Everything we do is connected to the mission and mindset of growing the Kingdom. I’m so glad APU taught me the right way to do business.”

The food Wilson serves echoes this idea as well. Bondi’s acai bowls are made without any sugar or preservatives. The granola and nut butters are created in house and the acai base is blended fresh daily. “We spend a little more money, but we’re serving clean, healthy food, which is really important to me,” she said. “It’s literally part of our mission, to encourage God honoring conversation while providing clean and healthy meals.” Wilson decided on Proverbs 16:3 (Commit to the LORD whatever you do and He will establish your plans) as her company verse before Bondi Bowls even officially started. “We want to serve the Lord,” she said. “That’s our why. It’s what keeps us going.”

Although Wilson’s mother helped come up with the idea for Bondi Bowls, it never would have been possible without her father. After graduating from APU in 2018, Wilson decided to travel around the world. “Coming to APU from Oklahoma was a big test of my faith,” she said. “I wanted to test it again. It’s exhilarating once you enter an uncomfortable situation, but grow so comfortable in that decision because of the Lord.” Wilson moved to Australia, even though she didn’t know anyone there.

“I never got a sure yes from the Lord, but He also never shut the door. One thing that I’ve learned is that if the Lord leaves a door open, run through it.”

Wilson lived in Australia for two years. During this time, she worked at a cafe and a study abroad company that took college students on adventures. From leading tours of the Sydney Opera House to scuba diving and surfing trips, Wilson thrived with her job in Australia. “I loved the people and the culture there. There was always something fun to do.”

It was while living in the world famous Bondi Beach that Wilson got some bad news. “My dad called to tell me he had a 6-centimeter tumor in his bladder. The doctor was honest with him. It didn’t look good. He had emergency surgery the next day.” Wilson flew back home in March 2020 to be with her father, who ended up making a complete recovery. Unfortunately, Wilson was unable to return to Australia due to lockdown restrictions. “Bondi was such a special place to me for my faith and growth. When I moved back to the U.S., there were still nine months left on my lease in Bondi, so I say my time there wasn’t finished, which is where the name for Bondi Bowls comes from.”

While Wilson has experienced rapid success with her business, she remembers she’s just a few years removed from being a humble college student who worked multiple jobs to get through. “I was an RA in Adams Hall. I was an Alpha Leader. I worked as a social media intern for Communiversity (now Commuter Life). I was your typical APU student,” she laughed. One of Wilson’s favorite memories from APU is taking a Senior Seminar class with former APU President Jon R. Wallace.

Perhaps her biggest takeaway from this class was the idea of servant leadership. She models this in her business by making sure to never spend more than two hours in her office at a time. She’ll pop out of the office and ask her employees what they need help with. Sometimes she’ll serve bowls, other times she’ll deep clean, even scrubbing trash cans. “I never forget where I came from and that I’m not too big for the little day-to-day tasks,” she said. “I learned that from Jon Wallace. He was the epitome of servant leadership. I miss that man so much. I wish I could have shown him Bondi, but I know he’s looking down and smiling. He passed that knowledge from one generation to the next and I hope to do the same.”

APU Libraries Display Special Collection Exhibit: Advent Voices

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Azusa Pacific University’s Libraries will display a special collections exhibit entitled Advent Voices: Waiting Between Time for the Star of the East from Dec. 1-16, 2022 in the Darling Library Rotunda. Curated by librarian Luba V. Zakharov, MA, MTS, MLS, MFA, this exhibit includes a variety of illuminated manuscripts, books, leaves, and images dated from as far back as 1380 A.D.

“The inspiration for this exhibit is Advent, a celebration of longing for the return of Christ who has already come,” Zakharov said. “At APU, people come from so many different religious backgrounds. Not everyone knows the history of these liturgical traditions. The goal is to provide a space for people to come in and reflect on Advent and perhaps glean insight from the voices of those who spoke from that time period.”

Included in the exhibit are illuminated manuscripts and Bibles, including the Saint John’s Bible, which consists of seven volumes, of which only 299 copies exist worldwide. Illuminating means writing each letter by hand and surrounding the text with ornate illustrations, sometimes using solid gold to brighten up the text. Using this process, the St. John’s Bible took 15 years to create. “The intent of illumination is to make the words on the page live, as opposed to running it through a printer,” Zakharov said. “It makes you truly look at each word.”

APU students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to take in Advent Voices. Zakharov hopes people will make the connections between the individual items to see the flow of the story with its central theme of Advent. “We live in a hurried culture. I hope people will pause for long enough to benefit from reflecting on Advent through the lens of voices from the past,” she said. “After all, advent takes time and turns it on its head, saying this has happened, but it’s also coming in the future.”

Zuleika Franco: Getting to Know God Better Through Biology

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Azusa Pacific University senior biology major Zuleika Franco ’23 dreams of becoming a physician one day. She took a big step toward achieving this goal last summer when she interned at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the top hospital in California and second ranked hospital in the nation. More than 600 students from across the country applied to the summer program and Franco was 1 of just 20 selected to participate. “It was pretty intense. I honestly didn’t expect to get it, but I’m so grateful that I did,” she said. “It was an amazing opportunity to learn from renowned physicians and other healthcare professionals.”

During the internship, Franco shadowed Bahareh M. Schweiger, DO, MPH, a pediatric endocrinologist, and Wendy L. Sacks, MD, an adult endocrinologist. “Dr. Sacks specializes in thyroid cancer. I got to see a lot of thyroid ultrasounds and I learned to identify some of the major things when looking for thyroid cancer or when looking at someone who has hypo or hyperthyroidism. I learned so much from both her and Dr. Schweiger.”

Franco also participated in Cedar-Sinai’s Pre-Med Student Volunteer Program overseen by Jason S. Cohen, MD, which focused on radiation oncology where she learned from radiation therapists and worked with cancer patients. From these two experiences, Franco formed a major takeaway. “Doctors don’t just fix the body. You deal a lot with the mental and spiritual aspects too,” she said. “You have to be careful with how you word things. You are talking to a person who might be at a very low point in their life. So you need to be sensitive while also making sure they’re educated on what’s going on in their body.” Franco recalled the most memorable part of the program, witnessing the emotional moment when a patient was able to ring the bell, symbolizing that they finished their treatment. “It was amazing to hear that bell.”

Franco’s passion for medicine and science began at a young age. “I’ve always had this love for science, the complexity of it,” she said. After graduating from high school in South Central Los Angeles, she wanted to attend a university where she could embrace both her faith and love for science. When she visited APU, she knew it was the right place for her. “Everybody was just so friendly,” she said. “The classes here are small and all of the professors genuinely care about us and want to help us succeed.”

Franco experienced the dedication of APU faculty during her freshman year when she had to withdraw from a chemistry course. “I didn’t have a strong foundation in chemistry. I just couldn’t understand what was going on in class,” she said. Franco took a level 100 chemistry class to get the basics, then retook the course she had dropped. “My professor, Elijah Roth, helped me so much. He was very passionate about not just our academic learning, but our mental and spiritual well being. He pushed me toward a journey of self discovery.”

Franco’s studies extend beyond the classroom. She has worked on a research team with Sarah Richart, PhD, professor in the Department of Biology and Chemistry, for the past two years, most recently studying the effects of fungi on termites. Franco said Richart has taught her about independence in research. “She gives you a general idea of where you’re going and wants you to explore it yourself. If you mess up, it’s not a mistake, it’s a learning opportunity,” Franco said. “You have to come up with these questions and figure out how to solve them, and then more questions arise. That’s the whole point of research, so I’m glad for how she’s helped me grow as a researcher.”

Franco has also experienced growth in her faith during her time at APU. “You can see God’s attributes through creation,” she said. “I’m literally studying creation because biology is the study of life. I feel like I’m getting to know God better through what I’m learning in my biology classes and research.”

Prospective Students Find Belonging at APU

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

On a rainy Saturday in October, more than 180 students from Kern High School District (KHSD) filed onto six school buses and headed down the I-5. After a two-hour journey, they arrived on Azusa Pacific University’s campus and were welcomed into the Upper Turner Campus Center (UTCC) by a team of students, faculty, and staff. Led by Bryan Bowens, EdD ’14, the students made the trip as part of Project BEST (Black Excellence in Scholarship and Teaching). “I am a product of Project BEST and the Black Student Union from KHSD,” Bowens said. “I wanted these students to experience APU in the same way I experienced APU, to consider it as a viable option for college because it could change their lives in the same way it changed mine.”

As the high schoolers enjoyed breakfast, Keith Hall, EdD, vice president of student belonging and chief diversity officer, took the stage to deliver a keynote address. “I wanted to give students a vision of our hope as Christian higher education leaders and professionals for prospective and current students to thrive academically, socially, and spiritually—to consider ways they can acquire clarity on their calling and steward the knowledge, personal agency, influence, and faith to carry out a God-given purpose,” Hall said. Hall also spoke about the value of education and the choice students have to prioritize the educational experience in high school and college to open pathways to personal development, critical thought, social engagement, and an invaluable avenue to offer a meaningful contribution and make a difference in the world.

Following Hall’s keynote address was a panel discussion themed “Black Excellence in Higher Education,” featuring Michelle R. Cox, PhD, director of the School Counseling Program; LaShan Epperson, DBA, assistant professor in the School of Business and Management; Ta’Tyana Leonard, MA, campus pastor and associate director of the Office of Corporate Worship; Candice R. Williams, PhD, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice; Xavier Whitaker, EdD, dean of students; and Paul Dennis, executive director of Campus Safety. “They each shared their story of how they obtained their education and the obstacles they overcame in doing so. It was really powerful and their stories definitely resonated with the Kern students,” said Tina Sprague, enrollment partnerships manager, who helped put the event together.

The students then split into groups. One group heard from a panel of student club leaders, while the other group heard advice from the Gen1 Scholars Program. The students enjoyed a catered lunch from Chick-fil-a and talked with current APU students about their experiences. After lunch, the students headed to West Campus where many went on tours and participated in a workshop led by Bowens, while others worked with admissions representatives in an “on the spot” event. A total of 25 students filled out applications and were admitted to APU that same day.

These students benefit from APU’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KHSD, a partnership that helps students fulfill their A-G requirements to be ready for college. With the MOU, Kern students are guaranteed to receive an academic scholarship from APU as well as an additional $1,000 scholarship to support their education if they maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher. “We’ve created a pathway for students to be able to afford a degree in higher education through our MOU with KHSD,” Sprague said. “When you go through higher education, more doors open for you. I have a passion for all students to have that opportunity, to be able to obtain a degree that will open a world of possibilities.”

The day concluded with a keynote speech from Antoine Hawkins, PhD, superintendent of the Evergreen Elementary School District in San Jose. Hawkins and Bowens are both members of Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest African American fraternity in the U.S. which develops leaders, promotes brotherhood, and academic excellence. Hawkins emphasized the importance of focusing in high school to the students, that college is within reach if they buckle down. Bowens seconded this message, encouraging his students in Project BEST to do everything they could now to prepare for college. “Higher education enhances one’s life, providing different perspectives of cultures and lifestyles and equipping students with the tools to think critically for themselves,” he said. “I want my students to know that they can do all things, including getting a degree, through Christ who strengthens them.”

Bowens recollected his time at APU fondly, talking about how he felt welcomed at APU and was inspired by seeing other leaders of color in the Educational Leadership Department. “I was around people that looked like me and shared the same lived life experiences as me. We motivated and pushed each other,” he said. “I had a strong sense of belonging and knew I was supposed to be here. I am who I am today because of how I was transformed as a leader at APU.” Bowens advises all of his students in Project BEST to apply to two colleges: Cal State Bakersfield (their local university) and APU. He said that his students were treated so well that he has already started planning another trip for at least 120 more Project BEST students to visit APU in the spring. “My students felt that same strong sense of belonging on APU’s campus. They loved being welcomed so warmly and I truly hope some of them matriculate to APU after graduation.”

Eileen O’Neall: Restoring Hope Overseas Through the Arts

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

One trip changed the trajectory of Eilen O’Neall’s (’12) life. During her junior year at Azusa Pacific University, O’Neall went on a Center for Student Action (CSA) trip to the Himalayas. O’Neall, who majored in music education and performance, was on the way to teach music classes at a Mother Theresa home in Kolkata when she saw a blind boy begging for change. “He was singing and he had such a beautiful voice,” O’Neall recalled. “That was my first time seeing the effects of human trafficking. It was an eye-opening experience.”

Many children like this in the region and across the world are intentionally harmed by adults because they’re likely to earn more as beggars if they have disabilities. “I learned that his eyes had been damaged on purpose. This didn’t sit well with me and I knew I had to respond,” O’Neall said. After returning to California, she began to research the problem and what was being done to fight it. “I asked myself, what can I do as a music educator? How can I help solve this problem?”

O’Neall made it back to South Asia after finishing her undergraduate studies at APU. “The reality of the vulnerable children I had encountered in the Himalayas never left my mind,” she said. O’Neall decided to found a nonprofit organization, Creative Hope International, with a small group of artists, all connections from APU. They led music and dance camps in countries in South and Southeast Asia with high rates of human trafficking. The camp made an impact in the lives of these children. “Girls that had been rescued from abuse and trafficking got to learn how to express themselves through dance, reclaiming their bodies for something beautiful. It gave them so much confidence. The counselors said it was amazing to see how big of a contrast there was in the girls after the camp.”

Although the group was limited by their school schedule, including O’Neall who was pursuing her master’s at Cal State Long Beach, they traveled across the world again the following year to continue the camp. After finishing her master’s, O’Neall moved to South Asia and the work with Creative Hope International became a full-time job. Since then, the nonprofit has expanded with a team of local staff in the Himalayas and a long-term partner in Southeast Asia. They’ve helped more than 1,000 people since 2014 through teaching singing, musical instruments, folk music, and dancing. “We believe love and creativity changes oppressive minds and systems. When people create, they can embody justice, beauty, and hope,” O’Neall said. “Music and the arts provide a powerful avenue for healing, restoration, and empowerment. We’re giving students channels of connection where they can realize their potential and have a better future.”

A large part of the impact O’Neall is making through her nonprofit is a result of the music education she received at APU. From being a part of the University Choir and Orchestra to participating in CSA mission trips, O’Neall said she was equipped for her current work through her time at APU. “I really loved my ethnomusicology class. It’s especially useful for my instruction today because it explores music in different cultures. Classical western music isn’t as appropriate in South Asian music classrooms,” she said. “The music education classes had us do a lot of observation and participation type of learning, which was really helpful.” While her music classes were vital to her current teaching, one of O’Neall’s biggest learning moments came in her Christian Life Faith and Ministry class with Michael Bruner, PhD. “I realized that being who God called me to be is Christlike.”

Faith plays a major part of O’Neall’s life and work. “I believe that God loves all people, especially these vulnerable children. My faith enables me to keep going and face challenges with confidence,” she said. “My work is 100 percent based on His faithfulness and His promises.” O’Neall said she has seen many examples of God moving in the Himalayas, including stories of her students letting go of negative and oppressive labels. “I catch a glimpse of the story God is weaving, and I love seeing how God’s love changes people’s hearts and lives.”

STEM Research Symposium Offers Undergrad Students Unique Opportunity

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Azusa Pacific University’s Center for Research in Science (CRIS) recently hosted the fourth annual STEM Research Symposium. The symposium, held in the Segerstrom Science Center, provided an opportunity for more than 30 undergraduate students from the departments of Biology and Chemistry; Engineering and Computer Science (ECS); and Math, Physics, and Statistics (MPS) to share the research they conducted under guidance of faculty advisors. “The symposium provides an excellent opportunity for our undergraduate researchers to disseminate their findings,” said Louise Huang, director of CRIS and acting dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

A unique part of this event is the collaboration between departments. While working only a few classrooms away from each other, students rarely get to see what kinds of research other STEM majors are doing. “It was great to see other student’s research,” said William Dortch, a sophomore systems engineering major. “I was amazed at how much work they put into it. It inspired me to go further in my research.” Dortch, alongside sophomore Isaiah Chang, worked with faculty advisor Aisha Chen, PhD, to research music therapy and machine learning. “It’s such a fresh field. We gathered lots of research to assess the best music therapy practices in order to improve movement for patients with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.”

Unlike most larger public and private institutions, STEM students at APU have the opportunity to conduct research during their undergraduate years. Dortch said this invaluable experience has taught him a lot. “I definitely learned the importance of time management and having excellent writing skills,” Dortch said. “Doing research at 19 is a lot of responsibility. It’s going to make me better and sharpen me at the end of the day.” Emily Gottry, a senior applied math and honors humanities major, echoed Dortch’s sentiments. “Research was a top priority for me when I was deciding where to go to college,” Gottry said. “I love to see math in action. The opportunity to do that for multiple years during undergrad with an expert to guide me is so impactful.”

Gottry won the “Outstanding Oral Presentation in ECS/MPS” award for her research on multipulsing and bifurcations of optical solitons in the 2D complex cubic-quintic Ginzburg-Landau equation with faculty advisor Edwin Ding, PhD. Since fall 2020, Gottry has worked with Ding to investigate optical solitons, waves that behave like a particle. “They can do some funky things, oscillating or forming two or three pulses instead of just one. The difficulty is that full simulations take a long time,” Gottry said. “We’re building a model to qualitatively reproduce it without taking so long. It’s neat to apply a statistics model on a physical problem.” Gottry said this research experience was paramount in helping her find internships over the past two summers: one at a government research facility and the other doing business analytics for State Farm. She thinks it will also be helpful when she goes to find a job in signals or data analysis.

The symposium prepared students to practice presenting their research, both in written and verbal mediums. Students put together posters showcasing their research, explaining what they had found with other students, faculty, staff, and members of the APU community. For senior organismal biology major Halina Liu, this was her second time presenting at the symposium. “Public speaking was never my strong suit. I was really nervous the first time, but I’ve gotten a lot better and really improved this year,” Liu said. Liu’s research focused on characterizing the kinetics of non-photochemical quenching and efficiency of photoprotection in Helianthus annuus, Venegasia carpesioides, and Celtis reticulata.

Under the direction of faculty advisor Charles Chen, PhD, Liu practiced formulating questions, composing a hypothesis, planning the steps of how to tackle the problem, and finding a solution. Two plants they experimented with were common types of sunflowers, since they’re an important economic crop in the U.S. with their seeds and oil being used frequently in food production. “We investigated how photosynthetic abilities and the photoprotective mechanisms differ in plant species,” Liu said. “By getting familiar with these characteristics, we may one day be able to manipulate these plants in order to increase harvesting, grow food crop yields, and fight food scarcity.” Liu said the research process has taught her a lot about problem solving. “That will be really important going forward after graduation. I’m so glad to have done research in undergrad. It’s a great opportunity at APU and I’d recommend it for anyone who’s interested.”

Tevin Krall: Helping Single Parents Through Mama Boy Movers

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Just four years after graduating from Azusa Pacific University, Tevin Krall ’18 is thriving in ways he never expected. Raised by a single mom, Krall moved more than 10 times as a child. Anytime the rent would increase, they would pack up and find a new place in his hometown of Ventura. Although he didn’t know it at the time, these experiences equipped him to one day start his own moving company, Mama Boy Movers, along with the education he received at APU.

Krall came to APU on a football scholarship, enabling him to become the first in his immediate family to go to a four-year college. “My scholarship opened the door for me and gave me an opportunity. I probably wouldn’t have been able to afford college otherwise,” he said. A powerful defensive lineman, Krall totalled 9.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles-for-loss in his career. He earned second-team all-GNAC (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) honors and was named to the GNAC academic conference team. This was a huge accomplishment, especially considering Krall entered APU on academic probation. “My coaches at APU took a chance on me. My GPA wasn’t the best in high school, but I told them I would work hard and find a way to keep my grades up,” Krall said. “Receiving tutoring and going to study hall sessions were part of the journey. It was a lot of hard work, but it all paid off in the end.”

Although he began college as a social work major, Krall quickly switched to sociology after taking an introductory class. He had never felt very interested in most academic subjects growing up, but he became engrossed with sociology. “I remember learning about topics like race and pay gaps and having an instant connection with it because I felt that I had gone through a lot of those things my whole life. It was so relatable,” he said. Krall wasn’t sure what he would do after college, but he knew he had a strong desire to help others. After graduation, Krall served as an assistant high school football coach for one year with former APU football coach Ben Buys. While this allowed him to continue with the sport he loved, it didn’t pay the bills, so Krall delivered packages for Amazon part-time. During a delivery one day, he had an epiphany. “In sociology, you learn that single parents move far more often than families with both parents. Moving is something that always just came second nature to me. I wanted to build a business that could help single parents,” he said. “Being raised by a single mom, I wanted to dedicate my company to her, so I started Mama Boy Movers.”

Krall took a leap of faith and opened his company in January 2020 with the help of several APU alumni including Jonah Wataru ’17, Keeka Kaakau ’18, Cordell Smith ’18, Olivia Johnson ’18, Katie Little ’19, Gaige Allen '19, Jay Brylka Duvu ’20, Noel (Ming) Hosnell ’20, Brandon Jackson ’20, and Maeaeafe Alailima ’22. After two years in business, Mama Boy Movers has completed more than 700 local and long distance moves. The company has flawless 5-star ratings on Yelp, Google Reviews, and Facebook. “We’re more than just a moving company. Our mission is to make an impact in our community,” Krall said. “We’re an honest, trustworthy moving company from start to finish.” Krall is fulfilling his desire to help single parents by providing reduced rates for them and even doing some moves free of charge. “If you can share your story with us, we’re going to help you out as much as we can.”

While Krall’s hard work has led to entrepreneurial success, he knows that none of it would have been possible without God. Krall came to know Christ at a young age and served as president of his high school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, but there were times along his journey that he stepped away from his faith. At APU, he rediscovered his faith and it grew stronger. “My team and the community around me really helped shape and guide me, helping me grow as a man of God,” he said. However, it wasn’t always easy. In one particularly challenging moment after his father had passed away and he had a severe knee injury, advice from former coach Bo Beatty helped Krall stay on the right path. “I told him it didn’t feel like things were working out for me and I needed a fresh start. He asked me, ‘Why do you do what you do? Who do you do it for? Make sure that every decision you’re making is with God in mind,’” Krall said. “When he reminded me who I serve, I knew I needed to trust in God and stick it through. That led me to where I am today.”

APU Receives $5 Million Lilly Endowment Grant in Partnership with LPU and LABI

This news release was originally published on APU’s website.

As part of the Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, Azusa Pacific University received a $4,999,904 grant to fund a partnership with Life Pacific University (LPU) and the Latin American Bible Institute (LABI) that will strengthen pathways for theological education for Hispanic students. “This grant from the Lilly Endowment is a huge blessing. Our partnership with LPU and LABI will help us advance and elevate Hispanic theological education in Southern California and around the country,” said Bobby Duke, PhD, interim associate provost and principal investigator of the grant.

Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative is a three-phase initiative designed to help theological schools strengthen and sustain their capacities to prepare and support pastoral leaders for Christian churches. In the first phase of the initiative, 234 theological schools in the U.S. and Canada, including APU, received funding ranging from $38,676 to $50,000 for planning and assessment purposes. In the second phase, Lilly Endowment made 105 grants between $500,000 and $1 million to implement programs. In the third phase, Lilly Endowment made 16 grants, ranging from $4,999,792 to $7,950,555 to support large scale collaborative programs involving multiple theological schools, congregations, denominations, and other organizations. APU was awarded alongside other prestigious institutions, including the University of Notre Dame and Emory University.

The grant seeks to make attaining a ministry degree in Spanish more affordable and accessible for Hispanic students. All three schools—APU, LPU, and LABI—are Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI). To receive HSI status, an institution must have Hispanic students represent at least 25 percent of its undergraduate student body. There are only 559 HSI’s across the nation. “There are fewer universities that truly cater to first generation Hispanic students. We do that and have been serving Hispanic students since we opened in 1926,” said Marty Harris, PhD, president of LABI. “Our partnership with APU and LPU enables us to create pathways for our students to receive an associate’s and bachelor’s degree fully in Spanish. It also makes it much easier and more affordable for them to continue pursuing a Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS), or Doctor of Ministry (DMin) at Azusa Pacific Seminary. This is a trailblazing opportunity.”

The partnership between APU, LPU, and LABI will help develop a shared curriculum designed fully in Spanish, not translated from English. An integral component is providing cultural context in the curriculum. “Contextualizing is so important because Hispanic church leadership in the U.S. is very different than in Latin America, Europe, or other areas,” said Daniel Ruarte, EdD, vice president of academic affairs at LPU. “There’s a strong desire among Hispanic students to learn and grow theologically. There just haven’t been programs that have gone about it in the right way, until now.”

APU became one of the first universities in the country to offer graduate degrees for Hispanic ministry leaders when it started its MDiv, MAPS, and DMin programs in Spanish. The program has grown rapidly in recent years, with more than 100 students currently enrolled. “In my 30 years at APU, we’ve grown to offer a truly multicultural, multilingual theological education,” said Enrique Zone, EdD, director of Hispanic Programs and founder of the Centro Teológico Hispano at APU. “All professors in the program were born in Latin America, whether South America, Central America, or Mexico. They live in the U.S., but have a background in Spanish culture. I’m grateful for this grant and how it will allow us to expand our program to reach more Hispanic students who will in turn have a greater impact in their churches.”

A unique aspect of this partnership stems from the cross-denomination collaboration. APU’s theology is centered on a Wesleyan Holiness tradition, LPU is sponsored by the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, and LABI is an Assemblies of God institution. The shared curriculum and resources will prepare students to make a difference in a variety of churches and denominations and although all three schools are located in the San Gabriel Valley, the impact will extend far beyond Southern California. “We’re going to make attaining a Hispanic theological education more accessible than ever before by offering online courses so students across the country, and potentially across the world, can benefit from this partnership,” said Matthew Elofson, PhD, acting dean of the School of Theology (SOT).

The grant will be divided in a 30/30/40 split with APU getting the largest share. John Ragsdale, former SOT dean, led the team in developing the proposal and will continue to serve as a consultant for accreditation and other matters. A focus of the grant is to include dedicated funds for coaching. “A big critique of theological education is that schools don’t prepare pastors for the stresses that come with the job. By offering coaching to these students, they'll have someone to come alongside them, mentor them, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and prepare them to make a difference through their ministry,” Ragsdale said. “This grant and partnership are going to transform theological education in Southern California and beyond.”

Azusa Pacific Seminary provides advanced preparation for practical, effective ministry in the Church and in the world. Whether pursuing work in ministry, leadership, teaching, or community engagement, students benefit from a supportive and vibrant community dedicated to transforming the world with Christ.

APU Receives $1.25 Million Lilly Endowment Compelling Preaching Grant

This news release was originally published on APU’s website.

As part of the Lilly Endowment’s Compelling Preaching Initiative, Azusa Pacific University recently received a $1,249,837 grant to support the Formation of the Preacher for More Effective and Engaging Preaching project. This initiative, which will be implemented by APU’s Center for Vocational Ministry (CVM) in collaboration with the School of Theology, will be funded by the grant from January 2024 through December 2028.

“Through this work, we will help aspiring and current preachers to define their personal theology of preaching, while also learning alongside other preachers,” said Jenn Graffius, DMin, executive director of CVM. “Compelling preaching is more than just “good” preaching. It is the transformational, instructive, hope-building, action-inducing, community-centered delivery of the good news. This robust theology of preaching will impact the preachers, and have a transformative impact on churches and communities." Instructed by renowned pastors and preaching scholars, the Formation of the Preacher project offers a continuing education certificate in transformational preaching. This comprehensive program encompasses all levels of the formational process of a preacher and is open to pastors at all stages of their career (including undergraduate and graduate ministry students). Designed to provide a means for the academy and the church to collaborate, this program will provide pastors and ministry leaders with robust mentoring training, peer-to-peer mentoring, preaching conferences, coaching, and lectures from renowned pastors. Special focus will be given to women in ministry, pastors of color, and those serving in solo pastor congregations.

"In 1899, Azusa Pacific University was founded as the Training School for Christian Workers, and today APU continues to train Christian workers to become agents of change in the world for the cause of Christ, “ said Azusa Pacific University President Adam J. Morris, PhD. “Through the Compelling Preaching Initiative, we pray that pastors will grow in their theology of preaching and be transformed while learning alongside others in community, for the sake of the Kingdom and the church."

APU is one of 81 organizations receiving grants through this competitive round of the Compelling Preaching Initiative. Reflecting the diversity of Christianity in the United States, the organizations are affiliated with mainline Protestant, Evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox, Anabaptist and Pentecostal faith communities. Many of the organizations are rooted in the Black Church and in Hispanic and Asian American Christian traditions.

“Throughout history, preachers often have needed to adapt their preaching practices to engage new generations of hearers more effectively,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “We are pleased that the organizations receiving grants in this initiative will help pastors and others in ministry engage in the kinds of preaching needed today to ensure that the gospel message is heard and accessible for all audiences.”

The Lilly Endowment launched the Compelling Preaching Initiative in 2022 because of its interest in supporting projects that help to nurture the religious lives of individuals and families and foster the growth and vitality of Christian congregations in the U.S.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.