Difference #5: - Cincinnati Christian University

CCU514 | Fall 2010AlumniMaking a DifferenceOn July 10, 2010, Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Virginia, was featured on the CBS television’sJohn Deere Golf Classic for being part of a first in golf scramble fundraising history! Jack Nicklaus, ArnoldPalmer, and Gary Player participated in this notable tournament that raised more than $15,000,000 forMountain Mission School. This set a record for the PGA and is allowing Mountain Mission School tomake much needed improvements such as constructing new classrooms and refurbishing an old building.Mountain Mission School, which has been dedicated to providing a home, school, church, and hope tochildren in need, will also be able to cover their ever-increasing operating costs.While record-setting fundraising is an incredible blessing, the day to day difference that the staff makes atMountain Mission School is life changing. Alumni from Cincinnati Christian University have been workingat Mountain Mission School through the years. Melinda Jump (’02), Randy (’92) and Paola (’92) Marrs,Judy Sparks (’49), Wayne and Rhonda (’84) Currier, Ron (’64) and Jeanette (’62) Heller, Todd (’90) andTami (’89) Carter, Lillian Ford (’49), Ellen Clark (Att’d) and Henrietta Gambill (’49) are some of theCCU Alumni who have served at Mountain Mission School as teachers, dorm parents, trustees, or in othercapacities. Three CCU alumni currently serve on staff at Mountain Mission School.Jessica (Redford) Hertzog (’02) and her husband Russ live with 20-25 junior highboys. Jessica teaches junior high math, grammar, and reading as well as first-grade Sunday school. Shealso helps lead worship on Sundays. After her internship before her senior year, Jessica says, “I foundmyself traveling to the middle of nowhere, not knowing very much about what I would be doing as anintern. I helped with teaching summer school and lived with the toddlers. I fell in love with the missionof the school. My senior year at CCU was spent preparing to come to Mountain Mission School.”Janet Campbell (’09) lives in Parker Hall One and is responsible for first throughfourth-grade boys. She teaches Pre-K, junior high Health and Physical Education, teaches Sundayschool, serves as the Assistant Athletic Director, coaches the fourth-grade boys basketball team, andis a youth group leader. Janet came to Mountain Mission School after hearing a presentation by tworepresentatives who visited her Human Development and Learning class at CCU during her senioryear. “I interviewed in early May and knew right away that Mountain Mission School was the placeGod wanted me to be. It is Christ-centered and committed to making children’s lives better. That iswhat brought me here, but what keeps me here is the kids.”Melissa Oakes (’04) takes care of the seven to 12-year-old girls in Hurley Hall One.During the week, she works in the school as a substitute teacher and helps in the classroom; onweekends she teaches Sunday school for fifth graders, leads worship, and works with the elementaryage youth group. She also works with the junior Girl Scout Troup. Melissa became interested inMountain Mission School after Jessica Hertzog came to visit CCU’s campus and gave a “MissionsMoment” in chapel. “I sat there in chapel and knew that Mountain Mission School would be aplace that I could serve my Lord in a way where I would find joy. Also, my D-group leader CandyFaust came to me after that chapel service and said, ‘Melissa, I really feel that Mountain MissionSchool would be a perfect fit for you.’ And she was right!”These three alumni learned much at CCU to prepare them for the work they are now doingat Mountain Mission School. “Inside and outside the classroom, I learned that building lastingrelationships with people is the best way to share the love of Christ,” Melissa says. “As important asmy class schedule was at CCU, the administrators also knew the importance of getting out into theworld and sharing the love of Christ with everyone we met.” As a CCU student, “I was challenged tostep outside my comfort zone and serve in places I would have never gone before,” Janet says.The CCU difference prepared these three alumni well. To Janet, the location is what setsCCU apart. “The location is perfect, surrounded by people to minister to and love. Almost everyoneI encountered at CCU whether faculty, staff or students was so friendly.” For Melissa, “the CCUdifference is the emphasis on service. I was encouraged duringmy four years at CCU to go out into my community and sharethe love of Jesus.”Contributed byGerri Henderson (’61),who grew up in Grundy, VAWhile astudent at CCU,Jessica Hertzoginterned at MountainMission School.Janet Campbell learnedabout MountainMission in a senioryear course.A CCU chapel serviceintroduced MelissaOakes to MountainMission School1213