Cornerstone University Alumni Journal 2017

IN THIS ISSUE:
4 CAMPUS NEWS
8 GOD’S HEART FOR
JUSTICE AND THE POWER
AND RESPONSIBILITY OF
THE CHURCH
by Dr. Jonathan Greer,
Associate Professor of
Old Testament at GRTS
10 FOR THE LOVE OF
LANGUAGE
Faculty profile of
Dr. Michael Pasquale
by Tiffany Kreh (B.A. ’07)
12 NEVER WITHOUT HOPE
Alumna profile of
Rebecca Deng (M.A. ’11)
by Amy White
16 ANNUAL ALUMNI, FACULTY &
STAFF AWARDS
20 SHARE YOUR NEWS
SUMMER 2017 ALUMNI JOURNAL STAFF
AMANDA LAWRENCE (B.A. ’12)
Managing Editor
LAYNE FULLER
Director of Marketing
CAROLINE CAHOON (B.A. ’03)
Art Director
KRISTINA GARVELINK (M.S. ’15)
Digital Content Manager
JORDAN GROOTERS (B.S. ’17)
Communications Coordinator for Marketing and Advancement
BOB SACK
Vice President for University Advancement
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Ryan Prins Photography
Benjamin DeYoung
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Tiffany Kreh (B.A. ’07)
Amy White
Anna English
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The CU Alumni Association is a community of people who reflect
Cornerstone University’s history, steady its present and cultivate its future.
The Cornerstone University Alumni Journal is produced annually through a
partnership between the Alumni Relations and Marketing & Communications
offices at Cornerstone University.
Permission to quote short portions of this publication is granted as long as content is
preserved and proper credit is given to the Alumni Journal.
Cornerstone University does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, sex,
age or disability in its policies and programs.
CONTACT US
www.cornerstone.edu/alumni
alumni@cornerstone.edu
616.222.1439
Cornerstone University
Office of Alumni Relations
1001 E Beltline Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
© 2017 Cornerstone University.
All rights reserved.
LETTER FROM
THE PRESIDENT
In a world that is often at odds with Kingdom values, compassion
is the exception rather than the rule. But for CU and GRTS
students and graduates, compassion is a lead virtue. It is
difficult to deny the power of the gospel when it means we see
the intrinsic God-given value in others regardless of their life
situation. For our grads, compassionately caring for the least-ofthese,
protecting the vulnerable and bringing justice to an unjust
world is a normal outgrowth of their Cornerstone training. Their
compassion driven, culture-shaping activities enable them to
speak redemptive truths into the lives of the lost.
We strongly believe that, in addition to professional
competency, virtue-driven character is an essential component
of our students’ ability to influence the world for Christ.
Nothing makes me prouder than stories of alumni who are
doing just that by caring for the sick, the orphaned and the
impoverished as they bring the healing love of Jesus to our
broken world.
Alumni who live out the character of Christ through their
careers is the goal of a CU education. Our curriculum,
programming and student experiences are intentionally
structured to empower our graduates to live and work to
influence their cultures for Christ and His Kingdom. Serving
in this way makes work more than a career. It is a full-time,
exhilarating calling!
To this end, our faculty challenge students to think critically,
to live out their professions competently and to engage the
world with the transformational virtues of the Kingdom so that
our graduates can be equipped to fruitfully face a world that
desperately needs the light of Jesus Christ.
I count it a privilege to preside over a university learning
community that is deeply committed to these Christ-honoring
outcomes!
Joe Stowell, President