Avery Burn ’24: Sharing God’s Love Through Nursing

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Avery Burn ’24 is passionate about helping people. Although she didn’t know she wanted to study nursing until the end of high school, Burn is absolutely sure that she’s found her calling. Her classes at APU have strengthened her resolve that nursing is the best way she can care for others while showing God’s love. “Being a nurse aligns so well with my faith,” she said. “I came to APU because the nursing program is one of the best in the world and I wanted to have a top education while also growing through Christ- centered relationships on campus.”

Burn’s experience in classes like Mental Health Nursing helped develop her passion for advocating for people with mental health challenges. In March, Burn put together an event in partnership with the University Counseling Center featuring a panel with six APU students who live with chronic illnesses and disabilities. “Both my roommate and I have had a chronic illness and we realized there was a big lack of knowledge most people had about it,” she said. “We wanted to create a space where APU faculty, staff, and students could learn from their peers who have chronic illnesses and disabilities.”

Burn’s worldview has also been shaped by her time in APU’s Honors College. After completing her minor in honors in the fall, she feels more equipped to speak out for the marginalized. “Before honors, I wasn’t a good public speaker,” she said. “Honors gave me a great foundation to learn from other students gifted in this area and to gain more confidence in public speaking.”

Although Burn sees her future as a career in emergency nursing, her commitment to health spurred a side business with a friend and she is excited to see it grow. Her business, Pacific Poppies, sells luxury coconut-soy wax candles. “My friend, Chloe Palmer, and I love burning candles, but they were affecting our asthma and giving her headaches,” Burn said. “We researched and found out that there are many toxins and chemicals in the candles we had. We wanted to create our own solution to that.” After researching, Burn and Palmer found waxes that burn cleanly with pleasant fragrances, offering a healthier solution for candle lovers.

Before they launched the company, Burn and Palmer decided on Psalm 27:1 as their company verse. The verse, which reads “The Lord is my light and salvation—whom shall I fear,” embodies the faith that they want to incorporate into their company.

For Burn, faith is what it all comes down to. After accepting God into her heart in the third grade, she has let her faith guide her life. “I also really like Psalm 23 because it’s calming and lets me know that God’s in control, that he’s the one leading me, my shepard,” she said. In the next year, Burn hopes to start a prayer group for APU students with chronic illness and disabilities. In the years following, she wants to share her faith through her work. “As a Christian, I want others to accept Jesus as their Savior. Through the medical field, that means being the best Christian nurse I can be and serving others with the love of Christ.”

Faculty Friday: Mike Wong- Transforming Students into Great PT Clinicians

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

During 23 years of teaching in Azusa Pacific University's Department of Physical Therapy, Michael Wong, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, has poured into the lives of thousands of students, training them to become great clinicians. Wong recently received the James A. Gould Excellence in Teaching Award from the Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy as one of the top PT professors in the country. “I was excited, humbled, and honored to receive this recognition,” he said. “But the truly special part was seeing my family, students, alumni, and colleagues who have shared in this journey with me and came to the conference in San Diego to support me. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

When Wong started at APU, his first class had 12 students. Today, the DPT program has cohorts of 74. “It’s been wonderful to see our program grow. Our students and the program are very well respected in Southern California,” he said. The DPT faculty interview each student and make sure they’re a good fit for the program. “What that creates for the classroom is a really motivated, bright, people-centric group of students who are eager to learn. You can’t beat that in teaching,” Wong said. “Uniquely at APU, you have a real focus on great people at the root. It’s the soil that you’re working with in order to grow this young clinician and craft their mind into becoming a great physical therapist.”

In addition to teaching, Wong is a residency and fellowship trained orthopedic clinical specialist. He is also the author of Pocket Orthopaedics: Evidence Based Survival Guide. “I’ve always thought of how to aggregate information to make it easier for clinicians to access the information to make better decisions. I had been making these laminated reference sheets and selling them to schools because there was a need,” he said. Wong was approached by a publisher and put together his first book. “But even with my own textbook and 10 years of teaching under my belt, I realized there were major holes that needed filling. That’s what led us to build PhysioU.”

PhysioU is a software platform with many web apps that assist Wong and other physical therapy professors in their instruction. Because the subject matter is very intricate, it’s taught in a sequential system, but that can present challenges for students. “The students were only able to see a narrow amount of material at a time. We began using a web-based platform to develop complex connections between content they’re learning currently, what they’ve learned previously, and content they have yet to learn,” he said. “We want to build a much more complex clinician who has access to all the material they need to succeed, not just what is being taught in that moment.” Wong and his colleagues created a suite of content which is useful across the entire physical therapy curriculum—everything from orthopedics to cardiopulmonary rehab and neurologic rehabilitation. In 2020, the pandemic led physical therapy programs across the country to begin using the app to support virtual student learning.

Wong also speaks frequently at large physical therapy conferences across the country alongside several notable professionals including Drew Morcos, the PT for the Lakers, and perhaps the most well known PT in the world, Stefania Bell, the injury analyst for ESPN. “Part of my joy in presenting is that I love pulling together great works from researchers and turning it into something that’s easy for people to learn and transform how they practice. We take those opportunities on the platform to teach our own peers very seriously. All of it helps to put APU’s DPT program on the map.”

Reflecting on the award and his time at APU, Wong said he feels extremely grateful to work with a number of talented and respected professors. “As much as this award is in my name, really it is just a representation of a special place where I’ve been able to grow and learn and work together with amazing people,” he said. “APU is one of the great programs. It’s a special place where we can do this good work. We produce some of the best physical therapists in the country.” Wong is excited to see this year’s cohort walk across the commencement stage and graduate from the program equipped to become difference makers in the world. He’s even more excited to see the next cohort enter APU and spend the next three years with them. “It’s truly a joy to be able to help transform students' lives,” he said. “It’s never been a day of work for me in these last 23 years.”

APU Launches Dual-Enrollment Classes at Whittier Christian High School

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

On Wednesday, April 26, Azusa Pacific University will officially launch a partnership with Whittier Christian High School (WCHS) to offer dual-enrollment classes beginning in fall 2023. These courses will give WCHS students credit for both high school and college courses simultaneously. WCHS students will be able to take: Personal Finance, Business Communications, Principles of Management, and Business and Entrepreneurship.

While many high schools across the country offer Advanced Placement (AP) classes, which offer college credit through AP tests, many colleges do not accept AP courses for college credit. Even if they do accept AP, most colleges require a score of four or five on AP tests, which is particularly challenging to achieve for students. “Are AP tests the best method for assessing student mastery of content and learning outcomes? Not always,” said Michael White, MA, vice president of Enrollment Management. “Some students are incredibly smart but just aren’t good test takers. Dual-enrollment courses are a better method to test course material knowledge and are better at preparing students for collegiate courses.”

A huge benefit of dual-enrollment classes is that students can save thousands of dollars compared to what they would spend on the same classes in college. While the course material is entirely the same and the instructors have been vetted and approved by APU faculty, the classes cost a fraction of what they would in college. “Whittier students are only paying $75 per UNIT . If they take all four classes by the time they graduate from high school, they could enter college with almost a semester's worth of credit under their belt and would have saved several thousands of dollars” said Roxanne Helm-Stevens, dean of the School of Business and Management.

Both WCHS Head of School, Carl Martinez ’95, MBA ’03 and College Advisement Director, Joel Nunnally ’02, MAEd ’05 are APU alumni who majored in business during their undergraduate studies. “WCHS is thrilled at the opportunities APU is affording to our students. These are the same courses we completed at APU and to think our students can enjoy these courses in high school is a huge advantage and blessing,” Martinez said. “We expect to have full enrollment in all dual enrollment offerings. WCHS is very grateful for APU and our partnership together helping students explore, discover, and pursue their life calling.”

Dual enrollment courses are open to WCHS sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a 3.0 or higher GPA. “We’re excited to get these students familiar with a college curriculum. These courses will get them more comfortable with a syllabus, managing assignments, and give them the tools and confidence they need to succeed in college,” said Tina Sprague, enrollment partnerships manager. APU plans to expand dual enrollment offerings to two other schools by the end of 2023 and expects to continue adding school partners in the future.

Brian Casey ’09, ’12 : A European Football Life

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Brian Casey ’09, ’12 did not plan to still be playing football at age 37. Then again, he didn’t plan to play American football for six different teams across five countries in Europe. “Never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate I’d play football professionally for as long as I have and travel the world along with it,” he said. “The ability to play the game and inspire others to continue their dreams is the greatest gift I could ever ask for.”

At Azusa Pacific University, Casey redshirted his freshman year. As a sophomore, he struggled to see playing time until an injury sidelined the starting linebacker. Once he got his opportunity to play for the Cougars, Casey never looked back. He started for the next three years and went on to become a team captain, APU’s Defensive MVP, First Team All-Independent, and Third Team All-American as a senior. “It was tough to have to wait to get on the field, but when I look back, giving it up to God and seeing where He led me solidified my faith in Him,” Casey said.

Casey also saw his faith grow from the bonds he made on the team. With his teammates, he enjoyed road trips with the players who became his brothers. “We were all brothers of one blood under Christ battling together on the gridiron.” His coaches including Peter Schinnik, Victor Santa Cruz, Bo Beatty, Peder Moore, and Brian Wilmer played an influential role in Casey’s life. “They invited me in with open arms. Playing for these steadfast men of God—it felt like a family from the start,” Casey said. “They cared for us like we were their sons. They wanted us to succeed on the field and long after we were done playing.”

After graduating, Casey found an agent and was signed by the West Texas Roughnecks, an arena football team. His teammates were from across the country, some also just out of college and some much older who had been cut from NFL teams and were trying to make their way back. Unfortunately, shortly into his first year, Casey injured his knee in practice. “It was a minor injury. I was only out for a couple weeks, but it was still too long,” he said. “My linebacker coach told me they were cutting me and sending me home. That was my first wake up call in the business of professional football.” Casey returned to Southern California and worked on his master’s in physical education at APU. Just a few months later, he got a call that changed everything.

Casey’s agent had received interest from the Allgau Comets, an American football team in Germany. “Not a lot of people know about American football in Europe. I didn’t even know about it back then,” he said. After the dissolvement of NFL Europe, an NFL sponsored league with teams across Europe, many European countries started their own leagues. While the leagues were smaller, they provided more opportunities for countries to develop their own talent and recruit American players to help spread the game. “I was amazed that I could get paid to play football and travel,” he said. “I knew I had to take the chance. It was life changing in every sense of the word.”

Casey fell in love with the experience from the start. The teams felt more like a family, and less like the rat race of arena football. He received stipends for housing, food, insurance, and was given a car by a local dealership. As one of only four Americans on the team (German leagues cap at two Americans on offense and defense), Casey was able to make friends and build connections with players from all over the world. “You’re brought into this multicultural world and are traveling a bunch right away,” he said. “My first year, I soaked it up and took it all in.” A few of his friends from APU flew out for his final game of the season. After the game, they traveled to Paris, London, Ireland, and Amsterdam.

Casey returned to the U.S. for a few years before his next contract with the Sirium Legionaries in Serbia (2014-15). Then he joined the Albershausen Crusaders back in Germany (2016-17), before signing with the Patrioci Poznań in Poland (2018). In what he thought would be his final season, he played for the Bratislava Monarchs in Slovakia (2019). “I’ve seen just about every side of Europe. The game has grown and changed so much,” he said. Casey’s career accolades include being inducted into the Touchdown Europe Hall of Fame, four championships (Serbia, Slovakia, and Germany twice), six Euro American All-Star Bowl selections, two Polish Player of the Week awards, and a German Football League South Defensive Player of the Year award.

After COVID struck in 2020, Casey decided to begin his coaching career, coaching outside linebackers (one of the many positions he played professionally) for the University of Virginia College at Wise, an NCAA Division II program. While Casey learned from the experience, he realized he had some gas left in the tank of his playing career. “I remember so many people telling me they wished they had played longer,” he said. “I always wanted to play football at the highest level for as long as I could before coaching. I prayed about it and decided to give it one last go.”

The return didn’t go as planned. After signing with the Ravensburg Razorbacks in Germany in March 2022, he tore his hamstring during the second game of the season. After rehab, he tried to come back a few weeks later, but wasn’t at full strength and injured his shoulder, ending his season early. “This season tested my faith more than it’s ever been tested. It was the first time in 20 years that I had a season ending injury,” he said. Casey returned home before getting an offer from an old APU friend to train and rehab his injury in North Carolina. He spent the next several months recovering and focusing on his health.

Although he has yet to make a decision on whether he’ll play one truly final season, Casey is confident in his future and his identity in Christ. “Through all this, I see God has a plan and a direction for me. It may not be what I thought of, but I’m so appreciative of it all,” he said. “I always tell people that I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for APU and wasn’t for football and traveling. Football teaches you so much. It teaches you how to do things the right way, how to be a man, how to be on time, how to be a leader, how to be the first to show up and the last to leave.” During the offseasons, Casey has worked for a camp called Europe’s Elite, sharing American football with European kids who are interested in playing in college and professionally. This has given him the opportunity to be a role model and share his faith. He gives the same advice to these kids that he would current APU athletes who aspire to play professionally. “Trust God first and yourself second. Don’t listen to the naysayers. If it makes you happy and you feel that you’re doing what God has called you to do, then stay true to that path,” Casey said. “If you have God in your heart, believe me, you’ll do amazing things.”

Julia Stone: Re-imaging Church Worship Music

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Julia Stone ’24 wants to enhance the way the church worships. As a junior music and worship major with an emphasis in Christian ministries and a double-minor in honors humanities and theology, Stone has a unique worldview that shapes her desire to innovate. Through her studies, she has done extensive research surrounding the church and the role music plays. “Worship is such a huge part of the way the church functions. The way I see it, it’s in need of reform because we’ve been stuck in the same format for so long,” Stone said. “I want to create a space for everybody to have a seat at the table in worship.”

According to Stone, modern church worship is influenced by Christian record labels that tend to produce the same type of music. “In the early 2000s, they searched for the most popular type of music. At the time it was soft rock,” she said. “So they told Christian artists they wouldn’t produce anything that wasn’t soft rock. That’s why if you listen to K-Love or other Christian radio, the format you hear is often one style of music.” Stone thinks worship music could benefit from diversification. “Most church worship bands feature five vocalists, a drummer, and a few guitarists. I’d love to see a jazz band, or brass, or an orchestra in the church,” she said. “Let’s create a space where worship is paramount and is musically inspiring and beautiful. Worshiping the Lord has a huge spiritual impact.” As an example of worship she would want to replicate, Stone points to Michael W. Smith’s “Awesome God” at the Worship Forever concert in 2021, which uses a drumline and full orchestra.

Although Stone is set on a career in worship now, she had completely different plans in high school. “I was going to study business. I’d been a musician for most of my life, but I mostly considered it a side hobby,” she said. It all changed when she had the opportunity to sing on stage during her junior year at her home church in Wenatchee, Washington. “In that moment, I felt the Lord’s pleasure and presence so strongly,” she said. “That’s when I realized that’s what I was meant to do. The Lord created me for worship.” Stone’s epiphany led her to search for top Christian schools with strong music programs, and she found APU.

Stone’s experience in the School of Music has been life changing. From singing in the pit with the University Choir for APU’s production of Phantom of the Opera to caroling in the Santa Anita Mall last Christmas, she has loved making memories with close friends. “The community is phenomenal. I’ve loved being a part of every one of those opportunities,” she said. “I believe strongly in the power of music and what God does through music, especially when you’re in a space with hundreds of people all working together toward the same goal. I love that we get to do something that matters while in community.”

Perhaps the most significant experience for Stone came last summer when she participated in the Angeles Worship Initative’s (AWI) Songwriting Academy. Although Stone was just working the event and wasn’t planning to perform, she felt inspired to write. “At the time I hadn’t written much of anything,” she said. “That day, the Holy Spirit went to work. I’ve never written a song that fast in my life. The lyrics were done in 15 minutes and the chord progression went quickly right after that.” Stone got to perform her song about revival and the Lord moving in tangible ways with world class musicians including Zach Rudulph (Andy Grammer’s bassist) and Michael Lee, MM, professor and director of Music Technology. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

While Stone has big plans after graduation, right now she is focused on learning as much as she can. On top of her music classes, Stone works three jobs, serving as a research assistant for AWI, a teacher’s assistant for Stephen Martin, PhD, director of worship studies, and is a member of the Gospel Choir. “I never do anything in my life that doesn’t have a sense of purpose. I’m incredibly goal oriented and I wanted to apply what I’ve learned in the School of Music,” she said. “Sometimes it involves a few late nights, but I make it work. I’m hoping to help people and have influence in a positive way.”

APU Cinematic Arts: Training Transformative Storytellers

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

For students who dream of becoming filmmakers, Azusa Pacific University is the perfect place to be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the industry. Many factors go into this top cinematic arts program including its location next to the entertainment business, its unique opportunity for students to start making films as freshman, its industry-standard software and hardware, its industry experienced faculty, and its small class size providing individualized attention.

Location

Located just 30 miles outside of Hollywood, APU’s proximity to the film industry offers students opportunities they couldn’t get outside of Southern California. APU Cinematic Arts students have interned at Disney, CBS Television, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Scott Free Productions, and a number of other top entertainment organizations. “Internship opportunities here are through the roof,” said Zach Cheney, PhD, assistant professor of Screen Studies. “Being plugged into the places you want to work in Hollywood is invaluable.”

Thanks to the close proximity, the Department of Cinematic Arts, along with other programs in the College of the Arts, holds an annual Industry Spotlight at Warner Bros. studios. “Our students get to premiere their films in the same place that stars like Clint Eastwood premiere theirs,” said assistant professor Jesse Negron, MFA, assistant professor. Many talent agents and recruiters attended the event, and one animation student even got a job at Disney after a representative saw his work. “That happened because of the spotlight,” said Tim Samoff, professor. “I don’t think that could happen anywhere else.”

Creating Films from Day One

While many cinema programs focus on theory in the first couple of years and students aren’t able to put their skills into practice until their junior or senior year, at APU, students have a camera in their hand and begin making films during their freshman year. During this first year, students make three films which have an inciting incident, a belly of the whale (where hope is lost), and a climactic choice—all in two minutes, similar to a Pixar short. “In these freshmen films, you do everything—you script it, you shoot it, you cut it, you do sound design, all of it. It helps you learn the ropes of filmmaking,” Cheney said.

During their sophomore year, students partner up and create 5-8 minute movies, expanding by adding character development in a shot-by-shot film. In their junior year, students decide on their specialties ranging from directing to sound design. They form a team and create a 15-minute film supported by a university-matched budget. Their education culminates in the senior thesis film with a similar team structure. “The idea is that you’re trying to create something that’s going to generate buzz for film festivals and could launch your career,” Negron said. “Students are showing the world what they’re capable of through this film.” Several APU student films such as Remedy and Saigu have won awards including the Best Student Short at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival.

Industry Standard Software & Hardware

The Department of Cinematic Arts provides all the necessary equipment for students to make the best films possible. “We have some of the best gear and facilities around. I’ve seen them all,” Negron said. “Having a Red Weapon, an Avid S6, a sound stage, a foley stage, and labs with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of the latest gear is incredible. I used to work on the Universal Studios lot and my editing room didn’t compare to the facilities we have.” Students also have access to play their movies on a 7.1 surround system in a mixing theater that seats 78 people, letting them hear what their movie will sound like in a theater.

As part of the Department of Cinematic Arts, the Animation and Visual Effects and Games and Interactive Media programs also have access to the latest industry-standard software and hardware including Toon Boom Harmony for animation, Da Vinci editing software, and Unity and Unreal game engines. “Students aren’t just learning the skills, they’re actually learning on the programs they’ll be using in the industry,” Samoff said.

Faculty in the Industry

The most valuable resource to students is their faculty who have worked extensively and are still active in Hollywood. Professors share insight through what they’ve learned in the industry and help students build meaningful connections that will help them get jobs in the future. “We have faculty who have created television shows with Ridley and Tony Scott, who have directed action sequences in top movies like The Mummy, Van Helsing, and GI Joe, who have written scripts for popular Netflix series, and who have animated numerous characters for Disney and Pixar movies,” Negron said. “Anytime we’re not teaching or helping our students, we’re working in the industry.”

Small Class Sizes

Not only do students get to learn from world class faculty, but they get to do it in small classes. Most production classes contain 8-10 students, allowing professors to give individual attention to each student when reviewing their films. “Our faculty can pore over literally every frame of every shot and every cut and every sound and give the kind of feedback that’s unparalleled anywhere else,” Cheney said. These small class sizes allow students to experience a similar development cycle to what happens at Netflix, Warner Bros., and Amazon Studios.

Versatility of Degrees & Graduating On Time

Students in the Cinematic Arts programs have a unique opportunity to pursue other interests while in undergrad. Many choose to add a minor in disciplines like business or to double major in programs like honors humanities. “I love when our students study humanities because they read great books and develop a perspective which is informed and well rounded,” Cheney said. “When they make films, they can contextualize it, know where they’re recycling and where their story is cliché.” Studying other topics still allows students to graduate on time.

For many cinematic arts programs, graduation rates in four years are very low, sometimes even under 50 percent. APU’s Cinematic Arts students have a graduation rate of over 90 percent in four years. APU also has pathways to help transfer students graduate in two years. “What allows our students to graduate on track is faculty who are so committed to seeing them do so,” Cheney said. “We’re not just invested in that graduation, but we’re constantly dreaming about how we can continue to push that further.”

Over their time at APU, professors truly get to know their students and want to see them succeed after walking across the graduation stage. “Cinema looks glitzy from the outside, but it takes a lot of hard work. When I write letters of recommendation to anybody who’s anybody in town, I’m doing so because I know that student’s driven and has a very strong work ethic,” Negron said. “We’re preparing our students to become incredible storytellers in Hollywood, to go out and create movies that explore truth.”

Beatrice Buob ’03: Sharing the Gospel Through Happy Voices

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Beatrice Buob ’03 had almost given up on her dream of pursuing a career in music when she learned of Azusa Pacific University. Originally from St. Gallen, Switzerland, Buob had been told by Swiss music schools that she was too old for their programs. Fortunately, her brother lived in San Diego. Buob searched for Christian universities in Southern California that didn’t have age limitations. After being accepted at APU, she moved more than 6,000 miles to pursue her dream. Although she originally planned on only taking a few classes, Buob enjoyed the program so much that she went on to earn her Master’s of Music in Conducting.

From her first day on campus, Buob was struck by how different APU’s community and welcoming environment were compared to her educational experience in Switzerland. “Students would come up to me and check in to see how I was doing. If I said I wasn’t so good, they would stop and pray with me. I was impressed by their friendliness and faith,” she said. Buob felt this same reception from the faculty. “I had professors who invited me to join their family for dinner. Even now, when I come back, they still invite me.”

After graduating, Buob was offered a job leading the African Children's Choir. She traveled to Ireland, England, and Scotland with the choir, supporting children from Rwanda and Uganda as they sang to vast audiences. Three months later, Buob returned to Switzerland and her home church, where she taught private voice lessons and began a Gospel choir. “I started Happy Voices in October 2004 and it’s still going nearly 20 years later,” she said. “I always wanted to be a missionary. He sent me back to Switzerland because this community choir is my mission field.”

Happy Voices performs regularly at the local Reform Church. The choir also sings at eight concerts every year in churches across Switzerland. Buob loves watching the choir grow. “As a conductor, you have the gift of seeing what a choir is capable of. I like to push them. They are surprised at what they can accomplish by the end of the season,” she said. “They have to believe so they can do more than they thought possible.” Under Buob’s care, the group has grown to 24 members with more planning to join.

Buob said many who attend the concerts are not believers. Through the Christian songs Happy Voices sings, Buob hopes to change that. “For people who come to our concerts who don’t believe in God yet, I hope to plant seeds,” she said. “I preach a bit between songs, talking about my personal experiences with God. I think that touches people’s hearts because they can relate to it.” Buob also aims to spread her faith in other ways. She hosts weekly events in her home where people can come to enjoy baked goods and coffee, fellowshipping together. Buob also holds worship nights at her house once a month. “Through this fellowship and Happy Voices, I’ve seen people become born again Christians.”

Reflecting on her personal journey, Buob said she is grateful to be using her God given talents to serve others. “I never thought I could actually conduct music in Switzerland,” she said. “But APU made that possible and here I am.”

Dylan and Cheri Harris ’98 are Fulfilling their Call with Shelter on the Lake

This article was originally published on APU’s website and in the APU Life magazine Spring 2023 issue.

Dylan and Cheri (Hacker) Harris ’98 are spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth, or about as close as you can get to that. In 2011, after years of traveling across Asia and Europe and down the Pan-American Highway, the couple settled with their three kids—Ritter, 15, Amelia, 13, and Tobin, 11—in San Carlos de Bariloche, a lake town at the base of the Andes mountains in southern Argentina. Dylan and Cheri decided that this would be the perfect spot to launch a ministry—one geared toward backpackers.

“We spent a lot of time sharing the Gospel with locals on our travels, but they weren’t generally very receptive,” Dylan said. “Backpackers, on the other hand, were much more willing to talk about their faith. They’re searching, exploring, and are open to learning about Jesus.”

The couple runs Shelter on the Lake, which offers up to eight travelers at a time a spot to stay for free. Though lodging is free for guests, most contribute by helping pay for community food and participating in cleaning, cooking, and upkeep projects. Travelers come from all over the world, passing through on their journey north. During the day, guests and volunteers spend time on outdoor adventures including rock climbing, hiking, and paddle boarding.

“We purposefully spend time with them, getting to know their story, who they are,” Dylan said. “It’s when we’re out in this gorgeous Argentine paradise that we talk about Jesus.”

Shelter on the Lake is staffed by a rotating handful of volunteers from the U.S. who spend a few months at a time furthering God’s Kingdom. “When backpackers stay with us, they step into this Christian community where we truly do life together,” Dylan said. “We get to know them and pour into them. They’re overwhelmed by this love in word and deed that they’ve never experienced before.” Before the travelers depart, they’re given a small, lightweight Bible in their language to bring with them on their journey. “Our vision is for them to hear the Gospel, see it in action in the community, and take it with them,” Dylan said.

This ministry is possible because of what Dylan and Cheri learned while students at Azusa Pacific. Dylan worked full-time in the bookstore and helped lead Walkabout with former APU President Jon Wallace. “I was a nobody, but Jon made me feel like the most important person in the world,” Dylan said. “His listening and caring inspired me.” Dylan uses these same skills with guests and while discipling volunteers.

Cheri graduated with a degree in Spanish and Christian ministries and a minor in art. “Our ministry is a direct result of being equipped with the education we received at APU,” she said. Cheri used her creative skills to design the building for Shelter on the Lake, as well as make the furniture, crockery, and art inside. She uses her Spanish knowledge to communicate with locals and run the shelter. The couple also operates a small church out of their house, allowing Cheri to use what she learned in her ministry classes.

Dylan and Cheri are exactly where they want to be. “We’re living our dream. Everything that God created us for—outdoor adventures, travel, ministry, language, art—it all just came together,” Cheri said. “At APU, there were always conversations about doing what God has called you to do. We’re blessed to be doing the work that God made us for.” To learn more about Dylan and Cheri’s work with Shelter on the Lake, arrange a visit, or volunteer for the season, contact them at shelteronthelake@gmail.com.

The Sword Project: Blessing Athletes with Personalized Bibles

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Carrie Webber, Azusa Pacific University’s head softball coach, was on a mission. She walked onto the field with a stack of thick leatherbound books in her arms, knowing that this moment meant more than any win ever would. These were no ordinary books; in fact, they were copies of the bestselling, most read book of all time. Titled the Sword Project, APU’s Athletics Department gives personalized study Bibles to all incoming athletes.

For Webber, the inspiration for the Sword Project came from former player Becca Jewett ’21. While Jewett was an upper-division student at APU, she went into her own pocket to buy Bibles for the freshmen on the team. “Becca would have dinner with them and present them with a Bible with their name on it,” Webber said. “It was awesome watching the impact that had. It definitely meant a lot to them.” Webber began to notice that many incoming athletes didn’t have Bibles. “I think that one of the best things that we can possibly do for our athletes is to put a Bible in their hands,” she said.

As Webber began to look for the right study Bibles, she encountered a problem—the Bibles weren’t cheap, and the cost added up quickly with the large number of athletes. This problem was solved thanks to a generous donation through a foundation by Jamen Wurm, CPA, MS ’98, a member of APU’s 1998 NAIA national-championship-winning football team. Wurm, a partner at Goehner Accountancy, is a big believer in giving back to the program that helped shape him into who he is today. When APU announced the closure of the football program in 2020, he asked former football coach Bo Beatty ’94 if he had any ideas about where the funds he had donated could go. Beatty told him about the work Webber does and got them in contact. After talking with Webber, Wurm knew he wanted to be a part of the Sword Project. “I’m very excited to know that this is going toward such a great cause,” Wurm said. “It is a blessing to be a part of possibly providing a student-athlete with their first Bible ever.”

The Sword Project’s name comes from a hand-engraved sword on the cover of each Bible, referring to the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). Inside the sword, Webber can inscribe up to 12 characters, which athletes choose. Many ask for their names or the Scriptural location of their favorite Bible verse. Webber has received lots of encouraging feedback from the athletes. “One girl had wanted a Bible for years, but cost was always an issue. She was so excited to receive one,” Webber said. “Another girl had an old hand-me-down Bible. She said it was hard for her to open it, for many reasons, but this Bible is her own and has given her the newfound motivation to open it and experience God’s Word.”

APU athletes have a unique opportunity to grow in their faith, according to athletic director Gary Pine ’84, who conducted a survey on their spiritual growth. “While Bible classes and chapel are an integral part of APU’s Christian education, the resounding response from athletes was that they saw the most spiritual growth from meaningful conversations with their teammates and coaches,” Pine said. “The beauty of athletics is that when you’re on a team, you develop a bond that allows for vulnerability. People feel comfortable asking deep questions that they might not feel comfortable asking elsewhere.”

In academic classes, APU faculty find ways to integrate their faith with the subject material. On athletic teams, coaches model a Christian lifestyle and walk alongside their players. “We want to impact our athletes beyond the four years they’re here. Nothing can impact your life greater than the Word of God,” Pine said.

“When our student-athletes walk across that commencement stage, they’re no longer a student and no longer an athlete. We hope to pour into them enough so they know their identity is not in academics or athletics, rather it is in Christ. Now they’ll have their own Bibles, and it’s a book they’ll continue to use long after they graduate.”

Each coach has their own ways they pour into their players—some do Bible studies, others have team movie nights featuring Christian productions such as The Chosen, and others pray with their team before and after practices. All APU coaches are available to talk to their players when deep questions arise. “I had a player call me recently and say, ‘Coach, I know God’s real, and I don’t know much more, but I really want to know. Can you sit down with me and tell me more?’” said Webber. “I told her I absolutely could. I live for those moments. Wins are pretty cool, but the joy from those moments lasts way longer. I don’t always get to be there for that moment when they say yes to their faith and yes to God. But while I might not get to see that moment, I definitely notice how they’ve been transformed at APU. That’s very special.”

The Freshmen Honors Experience: Transforming Together

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

On a sweltering Tuesday in August, 12 strangers walked into a small classroom and sat across from each other in a circle. The room was quiet with uncertainty as the students nervously pulled out their copy of The Prince by Niccoló Machiavelli. The group of freshmen in Azusa Pacific University’s Honors College were about to participate in their first colloquy, a student driven discussion of great texts throughout history. As David Weeks, PhD, dean of the Honors College, led the conversation, the freshmen began sharing their thoughts on Machiavelli’s views of leadership. Although they didn’t know it at the time, they were cultivating the seeds that would later sprout into what one student called her “new family for this season of life.”

Over the course of their first semester, the students read an astonishing amount of great works from authors such as Aristotle, Mencius, Erasmus, Martin Luther King, Jr., Sun Zi, William Shakespeare, and several books of the Bible. After reflecting on all he read, Heath Koranda ’26 decided Erasmus’ The Education of a Christian Prince was the most influential for him. “I loved it because he established Christ as the ultimate standard that every leader should aspire to, but he also added supplementary wisdom from human thinkers,” he said. “The uniting of those two makes for an amazing leadership guide.” While Abigail Tam ’26 appreciated Erasmus, she contended that King’s Strength to Love was the most impactful. “MLK’s wisdom was so powerful,” Tam said. “It convicted me to truly follow Jesus’ example and live as a witness of Christ.” Nadia Ibarra ’26 expressed a similar sentiment, “God has shown Himself to me through what I learned in the Honors College. Being able to see His work was a life changing experience, and it affirmed my faith in Him.”

While academic growth is an integral part of honors, building a community outside the classroom is also a fundamental component of the students’ learning experience. Mia Guillen ’26 shared that “listening to others rather than relying solely on myself made it a lot easier to tackle difficult readings, such as Aristotle.” Tam affirmed the value of learning from her peers. “The relationships I built gave me the freedom to express and debate different ideas and beliefs,” she said. “It has been so refreshing to discuss polarizing subjects in a friendly manner.” Koranda compared the friends he made in honors to the friendships of virtue described in Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. “Friends of virtue sharpen and want the best for each other. I've definitely felt that here,” he said. “I love deep and real conversations. Having these purposeful discussions with other like-minded people is such an amazing opportunity.”

Ultimately the Honors College prepares students to continue developing their intellect, character, and faith for the common good. “My dream, God willing, is to become a surgeon. I’d like to open up a hospital in a disadvantaged area—there are some places where the nearest hospital is more than 50 miles away,” Rami Ezzeddine ’26 shared. “Honors College has prepared me for that career path because in health care, you’re going to be helping a lot of people from different backgrounds.” Modern culture can tend to be self-orbiting, but the honors curriculum encourages students to consider a variety of perspectives in order to impact the lives of others. Koranda recalled Erasmus’ compelling notion of a “leader that takes up burdens to ensure the safety and wellbeing of others even at the expense of their own comfort. This idea is so powerful to me.”

Just four months after that first colloquy, the students gathered together for their last class of the semester. Though they sat in the same seats, they approached their final conversation in a much different way. As the freshmen devoured donuts and Crumbl Cookies, they recollected the formative parts of the semester. The students shed tears of joy and their bouts of laughter echoed down the hall as they shared the impact they had on each other. “Growing up, I was homeschooled. You were the friends I always wanted to have,” Tam said. “Thank you all for giving me the best school experience of my life.” Koranda seconded Tam’s sentiments, describing how much he enjoyed being with his classmates in the honors setting. “I never knew this kind of life was possible, an immersion in great people, great books, and great conversation,” he said. “It is my life now, and I truly cannot believe it. I am so happy that I am living that life at APU.” Koranda said he is sad that this semester in Weeks’ colloquy is over, but he is excited for the next seven semesters in honors. “This journey is one that I am absolutely sure will transform me.”