Carl (’60) and Marilyn (Friesen, ’60) Gerbrandt celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 11, 2011. They were married in 1961 at the Mennonite Brethren Church of Reedley, Calif. The Gerbrandts currently live in Greeley, Colo.

George Pontius (’61) published his autobiography, Grace over the Long Run, in December 2010. The book follows his time as a Navy corpsman, a student at Biola, an overseas missionary and as a pastor. He is now retired and lives with his wife in Spokane, Wash. His autobiography is available on Amazon.

Harry Brewer (’67) is grateful for God’s faithfulness to their four children and 11 grandchildren. After 20 years of leading Bible studies, he is pleased to announce the publishing of A Study in the Book of Colossians: Focusing on Jesus the Christ. This in-depth study is available as an e-book on Amazon. Living with his wife, Holly, in Seal Beach, Calif., he enjoys frequent visits from grandson Luke, age 5.

Lyle Jacobson (’67) self-published the book Good Lookin’ Man Like Me in August 2011. The book is a biographical sketch of his disabled brother, Wendell “Wendy” Jacobson, and is available through Amazon.

Michael Magill (’73, M.Div. ’77), recently published the book, Disciples’ Literal New Testament. The book retains the writing style of the apostles themselves, rather than transforming their Greek ways of writing into an elegant or contemporary English writing style, he says. It can be purchased at literalnewtestament.com.

Charlie Tarrell (’74) was a pastor in the Evangelical Free Church for 25 years. For the past six years Charlie has served as a full-time hospice chaplain. He recently published a book, Testing the Gospel in the Book of Romans, in August 2011. Charlie lives with his wife, Leta (Howard, ’74), in Everett, Wash., where she works in the vaccine preventable disease program as a public health nurse for Snohomish County.

Rubens Marshall (’75) currently lives in Paraná, Brazil, where he recorded a CD of hymns using virtual instruments. He would love to hear from fellow alumni and can be contacted by email at rubensmarshall1@gmail.com.

Barney Kasdan (’78, M.Div. ’81) had his third book published in July 2011, Matthew Presents Yeshua, King Messiah (Messianic Jewish Publishers). The 400-page commentary brings out Matthew’s Jewish perspective on Yeshua/Jesus as the Messiah of Israel and for all nations. Barney serves as Rabbi at Kehilat Ariel Messianic Synagogue in San Diego, Calif. He and his wife, Liz, have four grown children.

Mark Bradshaw (’79) is an evening news anchor for KTUL-TV, the ABC affiliate in Tulsa, Okla. He's been an anchor/reporter all over the country, including Las Vegas and CBN News. His wife, Michelle, is a realtor in Tulsa, and two of his three boys attend the University of Oklahoma. Mark also writes about news, money and family issues on his website, tvnooz.com.

Greg Behle (’82) presented his research on the University of Illinois as a participant in the conference “Legacy & Promise: 150 Years of Land-Grant Universities” in June 2011. This conference hosted researchers from around the United States at Pennsylvania State University as part of the 150th anniversary of the passage of the Morrill Act. Research focused on the backgrounds and attainments of students who entered the university when it opened in March 1868. His paper will be part of an upcoming book, Land-Grant Universities and the Reshaping of American Higher Education.

Trish Wiebe (’99) recently traveled to Cairo, Egypt, to begin a three-year assignment with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) as a program coordinator. MCC is a worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches with workers in 48 countries.

Jared Begg (’03, M.A. ’07) contributed two pieces to the devotional Our Savior Come: An Advent Companion. The book was printed in early November, just in time for Advent. Over a dozen writers contributed essays and discussion questions to the book to help readers fully enjoy the Christmas season. It is available on Amazon.

Tom Gender (M.A. ’06) recently published Truth Matters: Life’s Five Most Important Questions, which systematically and critically explores five of life’s biggest questions: Where did everything come from? What is wrong with the world? How should we live? What happens after we die? Can we be sure? Tom graduated from Biola with a master’s degree in Christian apologetics and writes and teaches frequently about faith and apologetics.

Bridgette Ann (’04) recently authored the book Now Is The Time!: Kingdom Minded, which was published in June through Westbow Press. The book focuses on “the importance and urgency of the kingdom, which is the ministry of Jesus, and how we as believers are to live and function in the earth realm,” Bridgette says. You can find it online through Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Andrew M. Bailey (’06) recently completed a Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame (under the direction of Alvin Plantinga and Michael Rea). He will be teaching philosophy at Notre Dame for the rest of the academic year while he seeks a faculty job at a college or university. His website is andrewmbailey.com.

Weddings

Melinda (Lavorante, ’05) Meuser married Garret Meuser on June 27, 2009, in the Boise, Idaho, area. For five years following graduation, Melinda taught honors high school English. After the birth of their daughter, Nora, in June 2010, Melinda has worked part time as an English tutor. Garret is the pastor of Casco Alliance Church in Casco, Maine.

Dana (’10) and Chawna (Vasquez, ’10) Dill were married at South Shores Church in Monarch Beach, Calif., on Aug. 21, 2010. The high school sweethearts both graduated from Biola in 2010 with degrees in Christian education and communication disorders. Dana is the junior high youth pastor at South Shores Church, and Chawna is working from home and helping out with junior high and high school students. Biolans in the wedding party included Emily Barr (’09), Maribeth Johnson (’09), Laura Kurica (’08), Jake Hamilton (’10) and Chris Reeder (’10). Dana is currently studying at Talbot and they are living in Dana Point, Calif.

Dan (’11) and Linzy (Spann, ’11) Westman were married on June 24, 2011, at the Fort Belvoir Officer’s Club just outside Washington, D.C. Biolans in the wedding party included Tavia Grubbs (’11), Mason Wren (’10), Lucas Floyd (’11), Evan Eliason (’11), Brent Worthington (’12) and Ryan Adams (’11). The couple honeymooned in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the British West Indies. Dan and Linzy now live in Deerfield, Ill., where Dan is studying at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Linzy works as the sales associate and event planner for Worship Team Training, Inc.

Births

Jeff (’97) and Jessica Eschen (’99) gladly announce the birth of their sixth child, Joel Brian Eschen. He was born at home in Canby, Ore., weighing in at 9 pounds, 2 ounces. Joel joins his siblings Andrew, Gwen, Leah, Luke and Naomi. Jeff is a CPA in Salem and Jessica gets to stay home and school the children.

Daniel (’98) and Leslie (Norvell, ’00) Olivo are blessed to announce the birth of their precious baby boy, Luke Emmett Olivo. Luke was born May 10, 2011, weighing in at 10 pounds and measuring 21 inches. The Olivos live in Fresno, Calif., where Daniel is working in HR for Milano Restaurants and coaching soccer at Clovis North High School. Leslie is a general sales manager with Pulte Group.

Andrew (’99) and Lana (Schroyer, ’01) Wahlquist welcomed their second son into the world on Nov. 7, 2010. Leif William Wahlquist was born peacefully at their home in Downey, Calif., and joins big brother, Peer, 4. He weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and was 19 inches long. Andrew works in Santa Monica for Local Hero Post. Lana is enjoying being a stay-at-home mom and recently finished her M.A. in theatre from Cal State Northridge. In addition to family life, work and school, the Wahlquists also run a local arts advocacy organization, The Downey Arts Coalition.

Michael and Melissa (Ward, ’00) Ice are pleased to announce the birth of their prince charming, Alexander James, born May 31, 2011, in Glendale, Calif. Big sister Micheya loves to help care for her little brother in any way she can. Melissa loves being a stay-at-home mommy. As of August 2011, the Ices call the Washington, D.C., area home.

Mark (’00) and Brandy (Malone, ’02) Baesel joyfully welcomed their second daughter, Charlotte Anne, into the world on Sept. 17, 2011. She weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and was 19 inches long. Charlotte joins her big sister, Ayla Jayne, now 3. The Baesels are currently living in San Diego, Calif.

Tony and Rebecca Blanchard (’01) were graced with a fourth son, Eston James, on their 11th wedding anniversary, May 27, 2011. He was welcomed with great fanfare from his big brothers, Silas, Dorian and Roman. After a recent move to Colorado Springs, Colo., Rebecca is a stay-at-home mom and Tony is blessed to work from home for LOGOS Church Management Software.

Andrew (’02) and Kelly (Brandes, ’02) Hartman announce the birth of their son, Luke Brandes Hartman, born Aug. 11, 2010. Long and lean, Luke weighed in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces and was 20.75 inches long. Big sister Emma, 3, is thrilled to have a little brother!

Jason (’02) and Megan (Aley, ’03) Newell celebrated the birth of their first child, Lily Anastasia, on Aug. 26, 2011. Her name comes from Matthew 6:28 (“consider the lilies”) and is a reminder that our sovereign God knows and cares for our needs. The family lives in Fullerton, Calif., and both parents work at Biola — Megan in the Office of the Registrar and Jason in University Communications and Marketing.

Amanda (Davis, ’04) and Andrew Slaughter welcomed the birth of their son, Jonathan Andrew Slaughter, on March 23, 2011. Amanda worked in the admission office at Biola for several years but currently lives in Jackson, Miss., and serves as a chief retention officer at a Christian school named Belhaven University.

Chris and Rae Lynn (Rucker, ’05) Lott are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Emmersyn Rose, on Oct. 9, 2011.

Melinda (Lavorante, ’05) and Garret Meuser welcomed their first child, Nora Doan Meuser, on June 5, 2010, at 7 pounds, 10 ounces and 21 inches long. Taking after neither of her parents, she has blond hair and blue eyes.

Austin and Anna Nielsen (’05) would like to announce the birth of their first child, Corbin Jay. Corbin was born in San Diego on July 23, 2011, and weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces. Austin is a software engineer for a defense contractor, and Anna works for H2H International, a mission organization that cares for Romanian orphans. They look forward to taking Corbin to Romania soon.

David (’06) and Emily (Bates, ’06) Rummelhoff happily announce the birth of their first child, Liv Margaret Rummelhoff. She was born on May 24, 2011, weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and measuring 20 inches long. David and Emily were married on Dec. 12, 2008, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Allentown, Pa. David and Emily currently live in Cincinnati, Ohio, where David is a stay-at-home dad and grad student seeking his master’s in religious education from Loyola University New Orleans, and Emily ministers to the mentally ill as a researcher in the department of psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati.

Wes and Kristen (Howard, ’08) McClain celebrate the birth of their first child, a beautiful daughter, Camille Renée. Born Aug. 4, Camille weighed 9 pounds, 3 ounces and was 19 inches long. Camille was born at Sutter Tracy Community Hospital in Tracy, Calif., where the couple reside. Wes works in nearby Livermore as engineering manager for a fire protection company while Kristen is a stay-at-home mom and independent consultant for a faith-based company, Thirty-One Gifts.

Adam (M.Div. ’08) and Holly (Peters, ’99, M.A. ’05) Pivec welcomed their second child, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Blue, on Sept. 16, 2011. Lizzie joins her 3-year-old sister, Kate. Adam and Holly live in Fairbanks, Alaska, where Adam serves as an associate minister at Bethel Church. Holly stays home with the girls and researches and writes about the New Apostolic Reformation. See Holly’s blog at www.spiritoferror.org.

<... Coulter (Ed.D. ’03) was born June 6, 1943, in Glendale, Calif. He died at the age of 68 on Sept. 15, 2011. Gordon became a Christian at age 4 and entered into a life of ministry after college. He married his wife, Lindy, on March 18, 1967, who joined him in ministry. Gordon served as a pastor at Neighborhood Christian Fellowship and a full-time professor of Christian education at Azusa Pacific University. He was the director of the new youth ministries minor at APU in 1973. Gordon worked as a youth pastor for Downey Free Methodist Church from 1969–72 and was also the executive director for Suburban Youth for Christ from 1965–69. He also served as chaplain at Booth Memorial Hospital and Home for Unwed Mothers. From 1975–79, he served as a full-time police officer for the city of West Covina. When he left the department as an officer, he became their official chaplain. Aside from youth ministry, another of Gordon’s passions was music. He played the string bass and trombone, often accompanying the musical talents of his mother and two siblings.

Wanda J. (Hazelton, ’55) Humble was born in Luan, Shansi, China, on May 29, 1933. The daughter of missionaries, Wanda grew up speaking Chinese as her first language. Her family lived in America briefly while she was growing up, and she attended elementary school in the United States before going back to China. Wanda graduated from Biola in 1955, where she held two leadership positions as a student. She served as president of the King’s Daughters and secretary of the student body. She married her husband, Arny (’56), in 1956, and their family later grew to include four children and nine grandchildren. Together, Wanda and Arny served as missionaries in West Borneo, Indonesia, under the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society. While there, Wanda started a women’s ministry and led the youth ministry. After 23 years in West Borneo, she moved to the island of Java, where she led marriage and family workshops with her husband and taught at the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Indonesia until 1999. Wanda died on Feb. 17, 2011.