Asst. Vice President for

Senior Garrett Martin captures a moment of devotion at MadabaGreek Orthodox Church in Jordan.

ON THECOVER

Interim PresidentJoe Bill Sloan, ’67

Vice President for AdvancementVickie B. Butler, ’76

Asst. Vice President forCollege Communications

C. Parker Leake

JOURNEY Staff

Managing EditorJ. Charles Key, ’98

Senior WriterJ. Mark Brown

Editorial AssistantPaige Munroe-Mattocks, ’94

PhotographyJ. Mark BrownSarah BennettGarrett Martin

Cameron Wilson

C-N Alumni Association

Alumni PresidentSusan S. Fendley, ’68

Director, Alumni RelationsDavid Buchanan, ’79

Design & Production byPulp

For information andcomments, please write to:

Carson-Newman CollegeOffice of College Communications

C-N Box 71986Jefferson City, TN 37760

Phone: 865.471.3203Email: [email protected]

ffrroomm the Editor

In our fall issue of Journey (page 4) we noted A Cappella Choir’s upcomingpreparation for a pilgrimage and an unprecedented performance – a con-cert in Bethlehem’s Manger Square on Christmas Eve. Naturally, this was notan opportunity that just happened to fall into place. Methodical planning,scores of rehearsals and intense networking took place months prior to thetrip. During the course of their visit, C-N students would be able to see first-hand a land clinging to hope in the midst of unrest. This was a story thatneeded to be told.

We discussed how best to cover such an important occasion in the life of theCollege. The next issue of Journey was not slated until several months follow-ing the trip. We restructured the year’s production schedule to allow us toproduce a special installment of the magazine.

For this issue, Senior Writer Mark Brown traveled with the choir on the his-toric expedition, serving as the eyes and ears of the magazine and its reader-ship. Through words and photography, Mark tells the story of C-N studentswilling to spread the Gospel at a time normally reserved for family traditions.They served as both performers and ambassadors in places they had sungabout all their lives, while bearing witness to moments that can only bedescribed as “holy.” We hope this issue provides a mere glimpse into anevent that exemplifies the Carson-Newman Experience.

Because of this issue’s timing, the College’s next publication will be the 2007Annual Report followed by a fall Journey magazine.

Blessings on your journey in 2008,

J. Charles KeyEditor

Ryan Hubbard takes

a photo of Kat Angle,

Merideth George, and

Allison Hill on the

bow of the “Noah”

as it cruises the

Sea of Galilee.

JOURNEY winter/spring 2008 2

Prepare The Way Tour 2007A Cappella • Knoxville Choral Society • St. Timothy on the Northshore United Methodist Church

Nazareth • Amman • Jerusalem • bethlehem

Soprano: Kathryn Angle, Boonsboro, Md. • Janice Berry, Lutrell, Tenn. • Claire Brewer, Woodbury,Tenn. • Laura Leigh Carlton, Richmond, Va. • Merideth George, Asheville, N.C. • Allison Hill,Huntsville, Ala. • Cari Jessee, Big Stone Gap, Va. • Kaysi Knight, Sevierville, Tenn. • Katie Mason,Knoxville, Tenn. • Rachel Nave, Morristown, Tenn. • Andrea Newcomb, Bramwell, W.Va. • LauraTaliaferro, Greeneville, Tenn. • Alto: Sarah Bennett, Greenbrier, Tenn. • Kristen Davis, Knoxville,Tenn. • Julia Kindy, Dandridge, Tenn. • Constance Mack, Stone Mountain, Ga. • Hannah BethMuelder, Townsend, Tenn. • Kilie Pennington, Knoxville, Tenn. • Laura Peper, Poolesville, Md. •Katie Puckett, Chattanooga, Tenn. • Annaley Robertson, Newport, Tenn. • Carmen Smith, Kingsport,Tenn. • Hope Vradenburgh, Mohawk, Tenn. • Whitney Wilhite, Gallatin, Tenn. • Tenor: AdamBaumgartner, Holbrook, N.Y. • Matthew Cunningham, New Market, Tenn. • Jared Ferguson,Huddleston, Va. • Ryan Hubbard, Morristown, Tenn. • Garrett Martin, McMinnville, Tenn. • NathanMartin, Morristown, Tenn. • James Mathis, Knoxville, Tenn. • Matt Mimbs, McRae, Ga. • JacobPhillips, Blountville, Tenn. • Blake Ramsey, Blaine, Tenn. • John Russell, White, Ga. • Matt Swingle,Fletcher, N.C. • Bass: Antonio Gomez, Brewton, Ala. • Brandon Harvey, Heiskell, Tenn. • TravisHazelwood, Newport, Tenn. • Maurice Hendricks, Knoxville, Tenn. • Isaac Sharp, Knoxville, Tenn. •Chris McDonald, Knoxville, Tenn. • Brad Taylor, Knoxville, Tenn. • Paul Watson, Morristown, Tenn. •Cameron Wilson, Mosheim, Tenn. • Daniel Young, Harpers Ferry, W.Va. • Adam Zacher, Walland, Tenn.

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September 28, 2000. Little could C-N’s A Cappellachoir members – most of whom were in middleschool at the time – know events happening 6,000

miles away that day could figure into their futures.Surely they did not know of Ariel Sharon, or that his

visit to the Temple Mount, a.k.a. the Noble Sanctuary,would affect their lives. But September 28, 2000 iswhen Dr. Sam Morris, a Methodist pastor in Columbus,Mississippi, says he first felt the need to reach out toPalestinian Christians.

It’s difficult to get the real scoop on what happenedthat day more than seven years ago. Those who wishto try need only do a web search using the date and“Ariel Sharon.” A glance at the first ten or so sitesreveals a great deal; it’s easy to see if the informationis presented from either a Palestinian or Israeli per-spective. Numbers, be they the amount of policemenin Sharon’s party or the estimated number of rockthrowers the next day, vary widely depending on theauthor’s politics.

This much is certain: Sharon went there Thursday tosay it belonged to Israel and always would, and the fol-lowing day some Muslims threw rocks over the top ofthe Western Wall (Wailing Wall), and therefore downon Jews praying there. That commenced what somecall “The Second Intifada.”

“It’s actually the Al-Aqsa Intifada,” Morris corrects,saying that the second intifada (uprising, or literally,shaking off) happened before then. Al-Aqsa is one ofthe two mosques located on the site where Solomonbuilt the temple and also revered as Mount Moriah,the place Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him. Thatmakes it the holiest site in Judaism. It is also whereIslam holds that the prophet Mohammed was carriedon a night journey from Mecca in 622, making it thatreligion’s third holiest location.

Morris says his heart was particularly broken forPalestinian believers, those born from the land, rebornin Christ and yet who live in the shadows of recogni-tion by the world, its governments and even by otherChristians. He traveled the region leading study tripsas associate dean for the Jerusalem Institute for BiblicalExploration and wondered how he could be part of apeace effort. The seed of hope grew into a sprig during

a meeting with Moses Hanania, president of Consoli-dated Tours, almost two years ago.

From that point, Morris contacted Dr. RobertMcBain, who took the idea to his St. Timothy choirand contacted Dr. Eric Thorson, who presented it toA Cappella and the Knoxville Choral Society. Thenthe prayer, hope and hard work began.

Dr. Charles Page, JIBE’s faculty dean, remembersMorris mentioning McBain and Thorson and his hopethat music could play a part.

“Sam starts talking about Bob and Eric,” recalledPage during a bus ride. “And Moses says, ‘Why don’tyou put together a choir tour to come sing in the HolyLand at Christmas?’”

Page admitted skepticism that Americans would trav-el to the region during Christmas and was thereforeshocked when the 160-strong group materialized. Henoted particular joy that it included C-N students thathe said he had come to love.

“Just think about it,” he said, thrusting his thumbover his shoulder. “These wonderful young people aregoing to lift praises to the Lord in Manger Square onChristmas Eve with thousands of local Christiansaround. It’s incredible, just incredible, and they proba-bly won’t really realize the impact they’ll have for along, long time.”

3 JOURNEY SPECIAL EDITION

How The Trip Originated,or, What Ariel Sharon Meant for Power,

Sam Morris Took for Peace

DEVOUT LEADER: Dr. Sam Morris, who led devotions and scripturestudies during the journey, discusses Peter’s understanding of equality, asrelated in the tenth chapter of Acts, while standing above the harbor atCaesarea-Maritma.

Friday & Saturday, December 14-15 – Bus from C-N to Nashville International. Flew to New York; split intotwo groups: Madrid and Paris, then on to Tel Aviv. Rejoined Saturday evening at hotel on theMediterranean Coast.

Sunday, December 16 – From Netanya to Caesarea Martima. Traveled to Tel Megiddo (Armageddon),then Zippori National Park. Ended day at Nazareth’s Basilica of the Annunciation. The choirs moved to asecond floor chapel to sing The Benediction, “The Lord Bless You and Keep You”.

Monday, December 17 – From Nazareth to Tiberias. Boarded two boats and spent time on Sea of Galilee,including a praise and worship service. Landed at the site of Gennesseret, and drove up to the Chapel ofthe Beatitudes where communion was celebrated. Then traveled to Capernaum, where Jesus lived duringhis ministry. On to Yardenit Kibbutz, a Jordan River site where several students were baptized. The dayconcluded with the first concert by A Cappella and the Knoxville Choral Society. Nazareth’s mayor and thecity’s Roman Catholic Bishop were in attendance.

Tuesday, December 18 – Left hotel in Nazareth for Jordan. Stopped in Jerash, best preserved Roman cityin the modern world. Then to the capital city of Amman where the C-N and KCS groups presented theirsecond concert.

Wednesday, December 19 – Ventured to Madaba, site of a 6th Century mosaic map which provided pilgrimsdirections to Jerusalem and notes the region’s major holy sites. Traveled up to Mount Nebo, where Mosesviewed the Promised Land, died, and was buried by God. The party then crossed back into Israel andended the day at the hotel in Jerusalem, the base for the rest of the journey.

Thursday, December 20 – A late 8:30 a.m. start with a rehearsal followed by a tour of a scaled model ofancient Jerusalem and the Shrine of the Book. Went to Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, the placewhere Jesus is thought to have been born, and then Shepherds’ Field, located in Beit Sahour.

Friday, December 21 – Jerusalem’s Old City, including visits to the pools of Bethesda, the Lithostrotos andthe Via Dolorosa. The morning ended at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After lunch, the group madeits way to the Wailing Wall and ended the afternoon at Mount Zion, the traditional site of the Last Supperand Dormition Abbey. All three choirs were invited to sing during a Christmas Dinner presented byBethlehem Bible College. The event was taped for later broadcast on a local network.

Saturday, December 22 – Traveled to Masada, Qumran and the Dead Sea, where several students took adip – more of a bob really. An opera concert featuring the tour soloists was held at St. George’s, anAnglican cathedral near the Old City. A Cappella and KCS sang backup on several pieces.

Sunday, December 23 – Began the morning with communion in the Garden of Gethsemane before travel-ing to Ber Zeit to meet Palestinian Youth Orchestra members. The day ended in Bethlehem with rehearsalfor the final event.

Monday, Christmas Eve – Took in Mount of Olives and then traveled to Bethlehem for the evening’sManger Square concert with the PYO.

Tuesday, Christmas Day – Flights to Madrid and Paris, then New York, Nashville and bus ride back to C-N.


A Cappella Itinerary


Laura Taliaferro stood in the middle section of seatsnear the back of the jet that had just arrived atCharles de Gaulle International. Twenty-four hours

in, two flights down and one to go, she waited for thosein front of her to deplane so she could grab her carry-on,head for the next gate and the last leg to Tel Aviv.

From a couple of rows behind her, Laura heard a fel-low A Cappella member refer to the trip as a vacation.

She turned her head toward the voice. “Noooo,” shecooed. “It’s not going to be a vacation!”

Having worked to help write and compile a 24-pagedevotional to correspond to the travel itinerary, Laurahad the foresight to see the work in front of her group.She also knew the work it took just to make it that far.Beyond working summer jobs and saving as much as

they could toward the $2,700 travel and tour package,choir members spent several fall semester Sundays rais-ing donations for the mission opportunity. Thorson splitthe 50-plus group into four sections with each going toseveral East Tennessee churches. When those donationswere tallied and combined with a $20,000 grant, eachchoir member’s portion came to $1,900.

Back at school, Laura and her cohorts gathered everyMonday through Thursday afternoon for class, which, inreality is practice and rehearsal from 3 to 4 p.m. Fourhours per week for 15 weeks accounted for another 60hours of prep. Thrown in with practice and fundraisingwere performances with the Knoxville SymphonyOrchestra and the lion’s share of Carson-Newman’s pres-entation to the annual meeting of the Tennessee BaptistConvention. No vacation indeed!

For junior Connie Mack, of Stone Mountain, Georgia,the possibility of singing in and traveling around theHoly Land was a dream.

Sitting in a Bethlehem restaurant on December 23, sherecalled, “When I first heard of the trip last spring, ofcourse it was an opportunity for something I wanted todo, but in the back of mind I thought, ‘I’m probably notgoing to be able to.’”

She used her summer work to make the goal but thedream became a mirage that faded away when, as sum-mer ended and fall began, it became clear that sheneeded to help with her school expenses – about $2,000worth of them. Goodbye, Holy Land.

While some choir members opted not to go because ofwork schedules or family concerns about the region,Connie became one of the several who just could notafford it. Somewhere, somehow, College supporters andfriends of the music program learned of the problem.

Weeks after all the deadlines for payment and pass-ports had passed, Connie was reading a bulletin boardoutside the music department office after class onemorning. “Then Doc comes up, grabs my arm and said,‘Follow me,’” she remembered.

She was stunned when Thorson told her there was theopportunity for her to go, thanks to anonymous donors.“I was silent ‘cause I didn’t know what to do,” she said. “Iwas frozen; I don’t even think I blinked.”

Thorson told her he would need to know at rehearsalthat afternoon.

“So I called my mom,” recalled the senior before cor-recting herself. “Actually, no – I went to the bathroomafter that and I just started bawling. Then I called mymom.”

Not knowing who to thank for the blessing of support,Connie looked heavenward.

“Since the people who helped pay my way for this tripare anonymous, the only way I can thank them is tothank God. And the only way I knew to thank Him wasto make sure I got here and do what He asks me to do.”

GRATEFUL TRAVELER: Connie Mack, flanked by Julia Kindy and Brad Taylor,listens intently to a guide explain the Dead Sea Scrolls just prior to enteringJerusalem’s Shrine of the Book.

Preparationfor Trip

StretchesWallets,

Time, and Faith

Taco Bell is apparently big with college students.Of American restaurants it was the one mostmissed from “back home.” One afternoon,

Knoxville’s Kristen Davis, a sophomore, announced,“I’d give $30 right now for a Cheesy-Beefy Melt!”

Shortly after the last concert in Bethlehem, Brewton,Alabama’s Antonio Gomez, a sophomore who came toC-N to play football but whose love for music led himoff the gridiron, mentioned making a “run for the bor-der” as well.

“And I know what I want,” he declared. “I’m going toget the Number 25 combo!”

“They don’t have a Number 25,” came a quick reply.“Oh yeah!” he gleefully retorted. “I’ll have the Number

7, the Number 8 and a Number 3, and…,” his wish listbroken by his own laughter.

On the other hand, Middle Eastern food was educa-tional for travelers, particularly of the younger set, manyof whom had never eaten hummus, currants, shawarma,persimmons, falafel, lamb, dates or a host of other items.

On the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, those wish-ing to play it safe ordered salad and pizza, but the moreadventurous went for St. Peter’s fish, a cleaned butwhole-fried tilapia from nearby waters. Those wantingthe full experience ordered the fish head-on andremoved it themselves. Some who chose that route laterthought better of it and perhaps asked a fellow diner toremove it for them.

Less than half-way into the journey, cravings began tosurface. For some it was pizza, for some it was Starbucks,and for others it was home cooking. For Gallatin sopho-more Whitney Wilhite, it was the land of the GoldenArches.

As spring semester started, some two weeks after herreturn, the Gallatin sophomore was emphatic. “(It was)definitely McDonald’s,” she enthused. “I ate McDonald’sin Spain, I ate McDonald’s in New York, and I ateMcDonald’s in Nashville. And I ate one of those bighamburgers; not the little Chicken McNuggets.”


You say Falafel,I say Big Mac

NOW YOU’RE COOKING: It would be difficult to spend time in Israel

and not try a falafel, made from mashed fava beans or chickpeas.

Daniel Young, a senior, gets a lesson in making the hush puppy-like

staple from the proprietor of a Bethlehem stand.

HOLY MACKEREL!: Having ordered the St. Peter’sfish, a tilapia from the nearby Sea of Galilee, KristenDavis seems to have a second thought about the indel-icacies of the delicacy.


The Carson-Newman familyhas every right to be proudof its representatives who

toured the Holy Land.Compliments for each perform-

ance were plentiful and resplen-dent. In each of the first two con-certs, A Cappella presented themajority of the performance. TheKnoxville Choral Society joinedthe C-N group near the conclu-sion of both events.

After the first concert, held at anew educational center in Nazareth,a beaming gentleman approachedDr. Eric Thorson. He shook thechoral director’s hand and said,“Thank you, thank you. It was per-fect – every moment, every thing!”

Just one night later, the setting,Al Hussein Cultural Center in theheart of downtown Amman,Jordan, was completely different,regal even. Excited that they wouldhave a command performance forKing Abdullah II and QueenRania, choristers were thereforedisappointed to learn that otherreligious engagements precluded

the royal couple’s attendance.While they might have been sad-

dened, any consternation theymay have felt paled in comparisonto that of Jordan’s Minister ofTourism and Antiquities, HerExcellency, Dr. Maha Khatib.Shortly before the concert was tobegin, Khatib drew tour organiz-ers, travel agency representativesand one of her staffers close foran ad hoc conference. It was evi-dent that she wanted an explana-tion of how the event could havebeen scheduled during the Hajj,Islam’s annual pilgrimage toMecca, and on the eve of Eid ul-Adha, a day set aside for sacrifice,providing for the poor and a feast.

Although the confab was held inArabic, the minister’s disbelief atthe error was clear. The concertwas delayed in hopes that a largeraudience would arrive.

When the performance beganat least a half-hour late, with “OSing to the Lord a New Song” asA Cappella’s opening number,tension seemed to dissipate. A

serene quality entered the sparsely-filled hall and Ammanians there,especially Christians, were visiblymoved by the experience.

Just prior to the encore, “The LordBless You and Keep You,” whichclosed every performance, HerExcellency’s remarks were glowing.

“Thank you so much on behalf ofevery Jordanian, whether they arehere or at home,” she told Thorsonand his choir. “And I think those athome are missing a lot.”

After expressing gratitude to“each and every young man andwoman,” as well as other tour par-ticipants, she asked for a returnengagement. “And I would like toget a promise from you that youwill be coming back…for each andevery Jordanian to enjoy what wehave so enjoyed this time.”

In remarks after the concert shereiterated her compliments, call-ing A Cappella “such an amazingand impressive group.”

“I would love to have them in amuch bigger place with a muchbigger audience, but it needs

WARMING UP: Mezzo-soprano Viola Dacus, a Mississippi Collegeadjunct professor, fights off a chill as she rehearses with A Cappella

just prior to the Nazareth performance.

WINDOW WATCHERS: Members of the Palestinian Youth Orchestrawatch through a basement window at their Ber Zeit academy asA Cappella sings for the group. When the downstairs practice

facility was filled, several instrumentalists found a novel way to observe.

A Cappella Choir Draws Accolades Far and Wide


time,” she continued. “We would love to arrange something in thesummer, or even next Christmas.It has to be done with the differ-ent churches in Jordan.”

On the Saturday before Christ-mas, the last of the preliminaryconcerts was held at Jerusalem’sSt. George’s Anglican Cathedral.Designed as an opera showcase,the evening featured the five toursoloists: Viola Dacus, a mezzosoprano from Clinton, Mississippi;Horace English, a bass-baritonefrom Shreveport; Cheri Rose Katz,a mezzo soprano from Roosevelt,New Jersey; Sandra Lopez, a sopra-no from Miami; and tenor StuartNeill, also from Miami.

Lopez noted that she and Neill,to whom she is engaged, enjoyedgetting to know the C-N students,saying, “(they are) extremely tal-ented, disciplined, focused, won-derfully prepared, very enthusias-tic and always personable and fun.”

“One of the things that reallystood out to me was how support-ive they were within their own

group, always interested in point-ing out each other’s talents toeveryone and giving each otherthe opportunity to shine whilebeing very content to function as agroup,” she expressed. “Everyonewe spoke to had nothing but lovefor music and an excitement toshare their voices and music withthe audiences we had the opportu-nity to sing for. I thought that wasa wonderful attitude and definitelyspoke beautifully of Carson-Newman and the kind of guidancethey are receiving there.”

Dacus, who is a music professorat Mississippi College, praised thegroup on possessing what shecalled “a warm, rich sound.”

“I am especially impressed withthe maturity – I guess I would callit – of the soprano sound withoutbeing of a heavier weight. It’s justa gorgeous color. It’s good!” sheexclaimed, noting that their youthmakes it all the more noteworthy.

“For undergraduates, it is rare tofind that and to be able to manageit. A lot of times, you will have that

and it will stick out. But theirs isan overall homogenous, richsound. And it is throughout, andin the basses too. That’s what I amamazed at as well.”

As a mezzo, Dacus says she was like-wise awed by the ability of the choir’smiddle voices to do more than justfill in. “But,” she emphasized, “I hearthis breadth in this choir that is reallywonderful. I just love it; I really likelistening to them.”

By mid-January Sam Morris hadtaken time to look back on theevent that took almost two years toplan and almost two weeks to com-plete. While highly complimentaryof the musical chops of A Cappellamembers, he said he was even moreimpressed with their spirit, theeffect of which he says he saw first-hand in changes made in membersof the Palestinian Youth Orchestra.Having been with the PYO in BerZeit in October and seeing themafter the Bethlehem concert,Morris said they were different.

“What we got in them (C-Nstudents) was an extraordinarygroup of young people who reallyconnected with and related to theorchestra kids. Before, we justcouldn’t get close to the Palestiniankids; they kept us at arm’s length.But after the Christmas Eve concertthey were bringing their parentsover to meet us and thank us forwhat we did.”

“You just cannot imagine theimpact the groups had, andespecially the young people fromCarson-Newman,” he beamed.“I saw them engage this event insuch an incredible way. They rep-resented us as Christians, and asAmericans, so very well.”

He says he will carry the simplelesson he learned for a long time;“If we could just let young peopledo what they do, then we couldget to a different place.”

FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES: Her Excellency, Dr. Maha Khatib,Jordan’s Minister of Tourism & Antiquities, talks with Moses Hanania,

of Consolidated Tours, INC. before the Amman Concert.

ws Accolades Far and Wide

Bethlehem sits at the crossroads of divine hopeand human despair. As the birthplace of Christ,the scale is tipped in the favor of hope, but when

there, one must stay focused to keep despair at bay.Though a little more than five city miles from

Jerusalem to the City of David, Sarah Bennett learnedthat for many it’s much farther away than that. InJerusalem a few days before Christmas Eve the fresh-man met a young Palestinian named Amar. Inexplaining the purpose of her trip she invited him tocome to the Manger Square concert.

“No, no, I can’t!” he exclaimed. “If I try to go toBethlehem they will shoot me.”

“Believe me,” he continued, “I want peace. We all do.”Contrary to Amar’s assertion, not everyone does.

Posters made to promote the event included the

location of the concert scheduled for the area.At Jerusalem’s Renaissance Hotel, two posterswere displayed in the lobby when the tourchecked in on December 19. While the plac-ards were in the same place the next morning,they had been altered, with the section notingthe Bethlehem concert having been cut away.

“You have to deal with this kind of thing allof the time,” said tour leader Rev. Sam Morris.“There are plenty of people who don’t likewhat we’re trying to do.”

On the group’s first foray into Bethlehemthe bus approached a security checkpoint.Jamil Nammour, a Palestinian Christian whohas worked as a tour guide for 40 years, rosefrom his jump seat at the front of the bus. Hestepped back to the first row of seats, leanedover to the C-N administrator sitting directlybehind him, and whispered, “Take that seat,please. It will be more easy.”

After days of considering theretoforeunthought-of political and philosophical ques-tions, and having gotten acquainted with PYOmembers, the combined choirs practiced Sundayevening in a chilly Manger Square. In the middleof rehearsal a new tension entered the plaza.Not halfway into “The Halleluiah Chorus,” theMaghrib, the Islamic sunset prayer, rang outfrom a minaret directly opposite the Church ofthe Nativity.


THE CHRISTMAS GIFT: John Russell, a sophomore, sings the Hallelujah Chorus

as part of the Manger Square performance.

CRYING IN THE CHAPEL: A twenty-something Palestinian man sits in tearfulprayer at the rear of the grotto in the Church of the Nativity.

Hope,and a Prayerfor Bethlehem

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“It was so loud that we could barely even hear our-selves,” recalls Asheville senior Merideth George.“What we could hear was painfully dissonant, makingit close to impossible to continue our song in theright key. It struck me how representative this was ofthe conflict of religions and cultures; the tension ofthe two melodies seems so similar to the tension ofreligions.”

A full day later, with everything ready, including ahost of camera crews from the major internationalnews outlets, and with Bethlehem event managersclamoring for Dr. Bob McBain to begin, the conduc-tor stalled. “I didn’t have any intention of startinguntil the prayer was over,” he said later. “Our folkshad worked too hard, and I wanted the crowd to hearevery note and every word of praise.”

After months of separate rehearsals, and just onepractice together with the orchestra, the final concertitself was rather amazing. For 90 minutes, whichincluded excerpts of Handel’s “Messiah,” John Rutterselections and a Stuart Neill/Sandra Lopez duet of

“O Holy Night,” the square’s 12,000 listeners werecaptivated.

The performance closed with presentations toBethlehem’s mayor, Dr. Victor Batarseh. Gifts includeda handmade cane flute like those presented at eachprevious concert; each one tuned to play the samenote in hopes that one day they may be playedtogether. Like the other concerts, the evening endedprayerfully with “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”

Quick and bittersweet goodbyes were made withhardly any time for C-N students and orchestra mem-bers to talk. The KCS and Louisiana contingents wentstraight to Tel Aviv for their flight and Christmas Dayarrival, while A Cappella returned to ready themselvesfor wee-hour departures.

In a week-and-a-half 160 Americans took in all theycould. They explored parts of two countries, as well asthe West Bank, coming home with at least as manyquestions as answers. Like Mary at the close of Luke’sNativity narrative, those who went to Bethlehem havemuch to ponder in their hearts.

A RARE OPPORTUNITY: The PYO was bolstered by professional musicians for whom the chance to travel to Bethlehem was extraordinary. They share a warmsmile on a cold evening during practice Sunday, December 23.


Since meeting as Arizona StateUniversity graduate studentsmore than 30 years ago, Drs.

Eric Thorson and Bob McBain havedeveloped a symbiotic relationship.

McBain, who directs adult choralmusic at Mandeville, Louisiana’s St.Timothy on the Northshore UnitedMethodist Church, says he thoughtof Thorson the minute Sam Morrisasked him to consider leading aconcert tour in the Holy Land.

“If I know that I am going into asituation where I need a core group,then Eric is the guy,” the conductorsaid during the hour-long bus ridefrom Ben Gurion Airport to theNetanya’s Blue Bay Resort on thefront end of the excursion.

Days later in a Jerusalem hotel lobby,McBain said he and other grad schoolcolleagues knew that Thorson was talented from earlyon, championing, “In college, you can tell who’s got itand who doesn’t. We all knew right away that Eric hadit. He can take the same group someone else hasbeen leading and make them better. He has alwayshad that, and a lot of people just do not have the earhe has for talent.”

Beyond an ear for talent, members of both the KCSand A Cappella say “Doc” possesses a rare ability tolead and teach.

“I can’t say enough about Eric Thorson,” com-mends Terryl Oliver, a KCS board member. “Of all ofthe directors – band, orchestral or choral – I’ve expe-rienced, Eric has taught me more about music thanany other. And it’s not just telling how things shouldbe sung, but why they should be sung that way.”

Shortly before the tour’s first concert in Nazareth,Thorson approached the young women of his A

Cappella choir. They were sitting in the bleachers ofthe frosty gymnasium on the Tewfic Zayad EducationalCampus minutes before they were to go on stage. Hecrossed his arms on the railing and leaned in toward hischarges.

“Let this audience see your faith through your eyesand in your faces,” he intoned. “They are going tounderstand that much, much more than any wordsyou sing.”

Just as he got out of earshot, Janice Berry, a sopho-more from Luttrell, said to those around her, “Ooh, Ijust love daddy Doc!”

While Thorson can indeed use gentle tones to coaxhis singers, he also has an impassioned flare reservedfor rehearsals when he is not getting the desired sound.“C’mon, sopranos!” he snapped during a November ACappella practice session. “That’s not it! You’ve got tohit that just right!”

RRiigghhttoonnKKeeyy

NIGHT TO REMEMBER: Senior Hannah Beth Muelder (center) and fellow choir members perform in Amman’s Al Hussein Cultural Center.


An Iowa native, Thorson joined C-N’s faculty in1981 and in 2003 won the College’s DistinguishedFaculty Award. He has also earned a reputation asone of the hardest working men in the choir busi-ness, leading the KCS since 1995 and as longtimeminister of music at Knoxville’s West Hills BaptistChurch. And he has found ways to incorporate hisgroups. Students Katie Puckett and Nathan Martinwork as West Hills music interns, and he has longcombined A Cappella with the KCS for specialevents and concerts.

“Singing with the Choral Society helps my kidsrealize how good they really are,” he noted while sit-ting in the lobby of Nazareth’s Golden Crown Hotel.“They (students) have their vision of what theythink they can do, but all of these people who aregood musicians saying, ‘You’ve got a great voice andgreat talent....’ That means something to them.”

Sitting next to Thorson, KCS soprano Peggy Bastienwas asked what she thought the more mature groupaffords the younger singers.

“I am not at all sure,” she said. “But, I can sure tellyou what they bring to us. They just anchor our spirits.I mean, they make us feel like we’ve got to sing as wellas they do. Let’s put it this way, they make us feel likewe’ve got to try.”

In turn, Katie Puckett is one of several who canarticulate what singing with the Choral Society doesfor A Cappella members: it offers buoyancy andinspiration.

“It’s so nice to see people who sing well and whostill feel that way about music. They sing and arepart of a musical group just for the joy, for the funof it,” affirmed the Chattanooga senior who admitsto getting “lost” sometimes by the constant work ofbeing a music/occupational therapy major.

“They give me hope. They remind me why I do it.”

ENJOYING HIS WORK: Thorson smiles as he leads choir in a light-heartedperformance of “Here Comes the Light,” or “leih-ei-ght” as they sang it, at akibbutz gift shop near Ginnosar, the site of biblical Gennesseret.

w choir members perform in Amman’s Al Hussein Cultural Center.

In college, you can tell who’s got it and who doesn’t.

We all knew right away that Eric had it.

- Dr. Bob McBain


WHAT MOSES SAW: Sophomores Kaysi Knight and Joelle Leiferman look acrossthe Jordan Valley from Mount Nebo, the peak from which God let Moses see the landthat had been his goal.

TTrraaddiittiioonnaall SSiitteess,,HHiissttoorriicc SSiitteess,,

aannddRRoocckk SSoolliidd FFaaiitthh

In Nazareth, there are two churches of the Annun-ciation. Roman Catholics claim the site whereMary is said to have lived. The Greek Orthodox

Church dismisses that idea, holding that the virgin wasvisited by Gabriel where she drew water for her family,so the Greek Church is at Mary’s well, or at leastwhere they thought it was located two millennia ago.

In Bethlehem, while there is one site for theNativity, it is highly unlikely that we celebrate Christ’sbirth on the day he was actually born. There are atleast two Shepherds’ Fields; one complete with a cavechapel just minutes from the birth site and anothermore than 30 miles east – on the other side of theDead Sea in what is now Jordan.

In Jerusalem – hold onto your faith hat – there aretwo crucifixion sites, two tombs, two places for theascension of Christ and conflicting locations wherePilate is said to have tried Jesus. There is even a place

on Mount Zion where tourists are routed by guides whosay, “Now we are going to an upper room.” The savviesttravelers develop keen ears for tour industry subtleties.

Jared Ferguson, a freshman from Huddleston,Virginia, says given his pre-trip expectations, that ittook some adjustment to rise above confusion.

“I haven’t liked going somewhere expecting to seesomething that’s real and then, after, they (guides)tell us, ‘Oh well, it’s not really that…’” he said as anexample. “You know, the traditional sites.”

The Mount of Beatitudes is one such traditionalsite. Rising above the northwestern shore of the Seaof Galilee, near Tabgha, there is a lovely hillside fromwhich much of the surrounding area can been seen.It has drawn the faithful since a mid-4th CenturySpanish writer made reference to it as the placewhere Christ delivered history’s most famous sermon.

In 1938 a small Catholic church in the Byzantinestyle was erected on the site, making it a highly-traf-ficked stop for Holy Land travelers. But, the exact loca-tion of the Sermon on the Mount remains unknown. Itcan be confusing, aggravating even for those who wantgeographical precision. Nonetheless, many say thewonder of it all is that despite such incertitude theyfound their faith bolstered and deepened.

Senior Meredith George says she realized in thecourse of the trip that stories from the scriptures hadnot been actually real in her mind, but rather,“blurred into a sort of fantasy story or myth.”

“It was something that I was completely unaware ofin my own life,” she admitted. “The first time that I feltthis shock was when we went to the beautiful Mount ofthe Beatitudes. The place was quiet, the surroundingswere beautiful, and the weather was perfect. How natu-ral it would be for any man to want to escape the tur-moil of Jerusalem and come to a place like this. In thatmoment I saw Jesus as a man. I stood there lookingdown over the sparkling Sea of Galilee with a sense of

A TEACHING MOMENT: Dean of Fine Arts Dr. Clark Measels explainsan artist’s representation of the Virgin Mary at the Basilica of theAnnunciation to freshman Adam Zacher, sophomore Laura Peper andjunior Annaley Robertson. Behind Measels is Stephen Boyce, KCS tenorand husband of C-N’s Dr. Patsy Boyce.


utmost peace and could imagine Jesus standing therebeside me with a similar expression of tranquility onhis careworn face. In that moment my religion took onthe reality of time and space.”

KCS alto Gretchen Beal cherishes the communionservice held there, calling it, “the most meaningfuland spiritual part of the trip.”

“Sitting there,” she smiled, “I imagined listening toJesus teach, as the natural landscape must be similarto (it) during Jesus’ time. I asked myself what I mighthave thought or how I might have responded whenhearing Him for the first time. Would I have followedhim? Am I faithful in following him now?”

For others, that vivid sense of worship and devotioncame during a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee earlierthat morning. And for others still, it happened whena host of A Cappella members chose to be baptizedthat same afternoon in the Jordan River, yet some 50or so miles from the wilderness location scholars saywas the more likely historic site. For those commemo-rating their faith experience, it did not matter.

“After hearing that I would have the opportunity tobe baptized in the same river where Jesus was, Ijumped at the chance,” said Laura Taliaferro, whosaid she had a brief second thought, but out of com-fort, not historicity.

“The song says, ‘Jordan River is chilly and cold/Itchills the body, but not the soul.’ That’s very true!” she laughed. “I was freezing, but the symbolism of the eventand the opportunity was worth the Arctic-like feel.”

Though an ordained youth pastor at Knoxville’sRogers Memorial Baptist, senior James Mathis hadnot baptized anyone before the trip. By the end ofthe service, he had helped 20 classmates celebratetheir belief in Christ.

“That in itself made the baptism experience evenmore meaningful,” noted Laura.

Six days after taking communion above the Sea ofGalilee, another such service was held for the threebusloads of travelers in what is considered a morehistoric site – meaning actual, or at least close. Cele-brating the Eucharist in the Garden of Gethsemane

on a Sunday morning is simultaneously uplifting andburdensome. The gift of Christ’s sacrifice and theseriousness of it – the weight of it – undulate on dis-parate frequencies in the communicant’s heart andacross his or her mind.

In the company of olive trees whose ancestors aresaid by some to have witnessed Christ’s agony, stoodor sat Baptists (Southern, Cooperative and Free Will),Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Pentecostals,Catholics, Episcopalians and other denominationaladherents. Freshman Julia Kindy reached in the pocketof her coat and withdrew the olivewood communioncup she had received at the previous service earlier inthe week. As the speaker called attention to Jesus andHis request to have the cup of suffering pass Him by,Julia’s gloved fingers rubbed the cup that was by thenmuch, much more than a souvenir. Her tears werecontagious.

Mid-morning Christmas Eve, just 22 hours beforeflying home, Blake Ramsey, a sophomore fromRutledge, sat on a rock wall at the Mount of Olives.Behind him lay the Kidron Valley, the Old City of

TOUCHING FAITH: In the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Adam Baumgartner,a junior from Long Island, New York, kneels beneath the altar to touch the placewhere tradition holds the cross stood.

I stood there looking down over the sparkling Sea of

Galilee with a sense of utmost peace and could imagine

Jesus standing there beside me with a similar expression

of tranquility on his careworn face.

- Meredith George

Jerusalem and many of the hills that make up the restof the metropolitan area. He took a moment to reflecton the impact of what he had seen, and ultimately, whathe learned about himself. He admitted that early in theitinerary he had been disturbed when he did not seemto have the emotional experience he saw others having.

“Then I realized that I don’t need a location tostrengthen my faith,” he said with a hint of a nod. “Idon’t need a building or a speck of ground because myfaith is firm in Jesus. I don’t need to be in a certainplace to praise God. I can be at home, or in my (resi-dence hall) room, or I could be a million miles awayfrom here and still praise Him.”

The splendor of Holy Land travel for a group ofbelievers is rich on a number of levels. They learnabout their traditional faith while seeing historicgrowth in their personal belief.

CAPTURING TESTIMONY: Glenn Cragwall, associate professor of com-munication, puts a microphone on sophomore Blake Ramsey, one of severalstudents who shared their experiences as part of a video journal of the trip.

In the midst of semesterexams, final musical preparationand packing for our upcomingtrip to Israel and Jordan, Ireceived a phone call from aCarson-Newman alum and closefriend, Bryan Hair. In our briefconversation, he said he wantedto give me something before wedeparted to the Holy Land. Ok,I thought, Bryan has a Christmaspresent to give me. But when hedropped by, he handed me a sin-gle dollar bill and explained something that broughtme great comfort, single-handedly calming all of myanxieties about A Cappella’s approaching trip.

“It is Jewish tradition,” he said, “that if one who ismaking a long journey is sent on a mission, that theywill have safe travels to their destination, during theirstay, and on their return home. I am here to give youa mission for your trip.” I was instructed to take thedollar bill to the Wailing Wall in the old city ofBethlehem. “There, someone will be holding theirhand out and will say the word “tzedakah”, translatedas ‘charity.’ Give that person this dollar bill and youwill be granted safety.”

I put the dollar bill aside in my wallet and forgotabout it until the day we went to the Wailing Wall.When I was paying for a snack that morning, I saw thebill and put it in my pocket, as not to forget the missionI was given. As we approached the Wailing Wall, Igrasped the physical embodiment of our safety for thetrip that was in my pocket. I entered the gates, covered

my head, and wrote a simpleprayer on a tattered receipt Ifound.

Walking up to the wall, Ibegan to pray. I prayed forthe peace of Israel and of allnations. I prayed that allwould know the saving graceof Jesus Christ. I prayed formy family and my friends. Iprayed for the safety of ourgroup during our travels tothe Holy Land. I took the

piece of paper with my prayer scribbled on it andplaced it in between the stones of the wall. At thatmoment, the Western Wall became an altar for me tolay all of my prayers at the feet of Christ. The simple actof placing my written prayer into that wall brought megreat comfort and lifted a great burden that I had beencarrying. Many come to the wall daily to pray. Theyoffer prayers that may be unheard. Many of them donot know the Messiah that I know. I finished my prayer,touched the wall a final time and turned to walk away.

As I turned around, an aged Jewish man approachedme, held out his hand and said only one word: tzedakah.Tears began to stream down my face as I reached intomy pocket and handed the man the single dollar I wastold to give him. At that defining moment, I realizedthat I was miniscule in God’s grand plan. We were inthis land to bring hope, love, joy, and peace during thisAdvent season. We did this not only through our song,but also our presence. May all we do bring glory andhonor to His name.

Cam

eron

Wils

on

A Mission in Jerusalem by Garrett Martin


Like most engaged couples, Jacob Phillips andCarmen Smith had their upcoming nuptialsannounced in their local newspaper.

Unlike most every other couple, it made the front page.Placed up top and in the middle of Page 1A on the

Christmas Day issue of The Kingsport Times-News was thenews that the South Sullivan High School graduates hadgotten engaged. That’s what happens when the proposalis made standing knee-deep in the Jordan River.Having dated four years, the couple began talking aboutthe possibility of marriage last year. When the prospect oftraveling to Israel arose, each began thinking about theunique opportunity to have their engagement happenthere.

“I knew he wanted to (propose),” says Carmen, whothought there’d be no better place than somewhere dur-ing the trip. “But I didn’t want to tell him what to do andruin it for him.”

Meanwhile, Jacob was already busy doing his own plan-ning. “When Doc told us we were going to the Holy Land,I knew that was the place to do it because – Hey, whereelse?!”

He had the stone; it was his maternal grandmother’s.Around Thanksgiving he decided on a setting and pickedup the ring a week before departure with two things atthe top of his mind, not losing it and keeping the secretfrom her. His dad came up with the idea of keeping itwith him throughout the trip by sewing a pouch in asweatband that Jacob wore on his leg.

And wear it, he did. Through airport security, on planesand buses for the first four days of the trip. As the tourprogressed, Jacob scanned the upcoming schedule for theideal location. On Monday, December 17, he had decidedto pop the question on the Sea of Galilee.

Several choir members knew to be on the lookout andpassed the word to those recording the trip in words,photography and video. Jacob says that’s what he wasplanning about the time the two boats stopped in mid-dle of the lake. A worship and praise service postponedthe proposal.

“It was so reverent, so wonderful, that I decided towait,” he notes.

The next stop included a communion service at thetraditional site of The Beatitudes, and his sense ofappropriateness thwarted those plans as well.

After lunch, it was announced that there was time to goto the Jordan, which had been scheduled for the next day.Youth is indeed a wonderful thing. Out of the 160-persongroup, the 20 who chose to commemorate their belief inChrist were all college students and all under 25.

The symbolism of new life made the choice clear toJacob, and later his sacrifice to stand in the river foralmost ten minutes waiting on Carmen confirmed hislove. She didn’t need confirmation, but she sure won-dered what he was waiting on since she was at the end ofthe women’s line.

Those who haven’t traveled or studied the region tendto think Israel is in the desert, rather than realizing thereis desert in Israel, but much of the country is green, fer-tile and cool in winter. Therefore, the water was frigid.Given time constraints to make it back to Nazareth for thefirst tour performance that evening, guys changed andwent first while the women changed. Jacob waited so hecould be baptized just before the co-eds. The he left theriver, retrieved the ring box, hid it and went back to wait.

Moving forward bit-by-bit with each baptism, Carmenfinally decided her boyfriend wanted to ensure that hewas there to celebrate the moment with her. “I thought hewas going to give me a hug, but then I also thought Imight pass out because it was so cold!”

As she made her way toward the shore, she was shockedto hear fellow senior Rev. James Mathis direct the congre-gation’s attention her way. And then Jacob produced thebox, took to one knee and asked.

She said “yes.” They hugged and left the frigid waterswarmed by the ceremony and the expectation of lifetogether.

Holy Land leads toward HHoollyy MMaattrriimmoonnyy


BETHLEHEM, NOT SAN FRANCISCO

Within 48 hours of her Christmas Dayreturn, Sarah Bennett was making plans togo back to the West Bank. And not some-day-out-there plans, but rather two-months-this-summer plans. She intends to enroll inthe Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies,work with orphaned refugees on the out-skirts of Bethlehem and stay in the city eachevening. It makes perfect sense to theyoung woman with plans to be a doctorwho specializes in music therapy. She lefther heart there; she figures she’ll have togo back to get it.

$RESERVATIONS FOR TWO

“Hey, Nate!”

A dozen Air France passengers jumped atthe sound, but not Nathan Martin. Seated afull three rows ahead, and on the far side ofthe 747 that had just landed back at JFK,the music education major couldn’t hearhis name.

“Hey, Nate!”

Nothing.

“H-e-e-e-y, NATE!”

After rising as much as his seatbelt wouldallow, Nathan picked out the shouter. Anoticeable aura of cool was evident whenhe realized that his shouter was the Met’sStuart Neill. It’s not everyday “America’sPavarotti,” yells for you across a transat-lantic flight.

“Hey,” Nathan said in return.

“When’s your recital,” said, Neill, who in1992 won a competition named for the lateItalian superstar and got to study with him.“Is it this spring?”

“Huh?” Nathan said, bewildered. He knewhe had mentioned it but didn’t really thinkthe internationally-known tenor wouldremember it.

“Isn’t your recital this spring?” Neill queried.“We want to come,” he said, waving his fin-ger toward his fiancée Sandra Lopez, herselfa Met award winner and noted soprano.

“No,” corrected Nathan, who seemed to berecouping his faculties. “I’m a junior, so Kat(Angle) and I will have our senior recitaltogether in the fall.”

“Okay,” said Neill, as the plane continued itstaxi toward the terminal. “Make sure to letus know when because we want to come.”

$

AND JACOB THOUGHT 14 YEARSWAS SOMETHING

As trip documentarian, Glenn Cragwallshot 14 hours of videotape. Oh that hecould, he would trade an hour or more forjust a couple of minutes that happened inJerash.

The C-N associate professor of communica-tion happened upon a teenage boy tryingto sell postcards to Allison Hill, a freshmanfrom Huntsville, Alabama.

“Here’s this kid trying to make a buck ortwo, and he is relentless in his pursuit ofAllison,” recalled Cragwall later that after-noon. “Allison politely declined each of his

appeals. Then he stops his sales pitch tomake her another offer, telling her, “Wouldyou like me to be your Jordanian husband?I will give 50 camels for you - you are fine!”

Asked about it the next day, Allison blushedand said it was a nice compliment.

Cragwall says it was one of those real-lifemoments you wish you could TIVO.

Just in case she ever needs to mention it toher future husband, research reveals theambitious adolescent’s offer was worth alittle more than 250,000 American dollars,or, at the average Jordanian wage, the equiv-alent of a 60-year career.

$THE DUTIFUL HUSBAND

According to Deuteronomy 34:1-4, it musthave been some kind of cloudless day whenGod led Moses up Mount Nebo. Not that theview is bad when it’s hazy, but you sure can’tsee all the way up north to Dan, or theMediterranean that lies almost 60 miles east.

Even so, it takes a lot of soaking in, which isexactly what bass-baritone soloist HoraceEnglish wanted to do when he heard hiswife, Joyce, calling him.

She wanted a photo with Israel’s panoramabehind them. That’s what she wanted, butthe Centenary College professor was reluc-tant.

“Nah,” he said when she asked a secondtime.

“Why not?”

“Well,” he reasoned, “it just seems that it’llkind of muddy up the Promised Land.”

Then he walked over, stood next to her andsmiled for the camera.

TWO MINUTES, MR. NEILL: MetropolitanOpera tenor Stuart Neill waits in the wings of St.George Cathedral. The evening featured a GarrettMartin recital on the sanctuary’s tracker organand several selections by the tour’s soloists.

JERASH JIVE: Paul Watson and Allison Hilldance to bagpipe and drums provided by the ArabLegion in Jerash’s Roman Theater. The celebrationfollowed a moving rendition of “Amazing Grace”when the three legionnaires accompanied ACappella in the acoustically ideal structure.

Mark Brown joined C-N in 1994 and has worked in several capacities since then. He now serves asdirector of News and Media Relations. Though most of the uncredited photography in this issue ishis, he says he would rather collect and tell stories more than most anything else. Before this tripto the Middle East, Mark says he knew the word falafel, but, he thought chickpeas were boring andhe ate lamb about twice a year. Since returning, he’s thought about a chain of food stands but wor-ries that Brown Hummus Hut just won’t draw huge crowds.


Passings

Dr. Renee’ Gravitt Leake, 51, d.December 20, 2007. She served as vicepresident for Student Affairs from 2002to 2007. Prior to C-N, she served as deanof Residence Life and Housing for theCollege of Charleston before beingtapped to serve as vice president forStudent Affairs and dean of Students atWesleyan College. Along with helpingcreate C-N’s FLIGHT program, shesought to provide greater empowermentand encouragement to student organiza-tions seeking to provide students a voicein decisions affecting them. She is sur-vived by her husband, Parker.

In Memory Of...

Classes of 1920-29’27 E.L. Robinette

Classes of 1930-39’33 Gladys Livesay Delozier’35 Anne Wharton Smith Tillett’36 Phyllis Underwood Coker’36 Mary Katherine Scarbrough’38 Stokely Gray’38 Lester Smith

Classes of 1940-49’40 Rheba Reynolds Maupin’41 Alma Rose Stout Long’42 Joe E. Burnette’42 Sibyl Jennings Green’43 Lucy Renfro Hoskins’43 Robert W. Sharp ’45 Paul Creasman’45 Alla Atchley Dawson’47 Mary Blanc Comer’49 Jack R. Brasher’49 Frank Britton

Classes of 1950-59 ’51 William Howard Culbert, Sr.’51 Robert (Elmer) Doak, Sr.’52 John E. (Buddy) Jennings’54 Doris Miller Bowman’55 Dudley D. Cockrum, Sr.’57 Peggy Kenley Lingerfelt’58 Clara Nix Norwood’59 James T. Northern

Classes of 1960-69’60 W. Wayne Price’61 Thomas (Tom) Evans’61 Martha Prevost Pethel’63 Peter (Pete) S. Rogers’64 Judith McKelsey Walker’65 Judith R. MacMillan

Classes of 1970-79’78 Richard S. Cope

Classes of 1980-89’83 Mark Oksa

1950s

’58, ’58 Dorothy (Bausum) Evans’ book,He Led All the Way, was published in June2007 by Xulon Press. She and husband,Bob, reside in Independence, MO wherethey continue their work in missions.

’58 Mickey Evans is the founder ofDunklin Memorial Camp, known for itswork in drug and alcohol rehabilitation.His work with the camp was recentlyfeatured in an article by Stuart News,Stuart, FL. He resides in Okeechobee, FLwith his wife, Laura.

’59 Palmer Fletcher, retired church musi-cian, completed another NAMB MSCVassignment in Ellijay, GA as a minister ofmusic in September. He and his wife,Donna, live in Dawsonville, GA.

1960s

’62 Ted Russell and his wife, Drama,were honored as the 2007 OutstandingPhilanthropists at the Association ofFundraising Professionals’ annualPhilanthropy Day in November 2007 inKnoxville.

’65 James C. Coomer’s book, (Possibly) TheBest (Golf) Vacation Ever and A Waste of GoodFarmland, about a golfing holiday inScotland was published by PeachMoonPublishing.

’68 Albert Bell’s recently published book,The Secret of the Lonely Grave, won the inau-gural Evelyn Thurman Young ReadersAward, given by Western Kentucky Univer-sity. This is his sixth book for publication.

1970s

’73 Robert M. Randolph is in his twelfthyear as a chaplain with the NC Depart-ment of Juvenile Justice and DelinquencyPrevention. Robert was recently promotedfrom Clinical Chaplain I to ClinicalChaplain II, while continuing to workfrom the Western Area office in theAsheville area. Robert was published inthe fall 2007 newsletter of the NCChaplains’ Association in the “Day in theLife of a Chaplain” series.

’76 David Bluford is a chaplain atParkwest Medical Center in Knoxville. Heand his wife, Mary, reside in Lenoir City,and have two sons, Jeff and Kevin.

’77 Carol (Bibb) Jamison retired fromteaching piano at Middle Tennessee StateUniversity after nearly 20 years of service.She resides in Murfreesboro with her hus-band Benjamin where she teaches pianoin her home and serves as the pianist forCalvary Baptist Church, Murfreesboro.They have two children, Benjamin, Jr. andAudrey.

CCllaassssnotes

’78 Shirley (Denney) Humphries’ husband,Jack, passed away on November 13, 2007.

’78 Robin (Ramsey) Roberts serves on theCommunity Investment Advisory Committeeof the Community Foundation of CentralFlorida.

’79 Debbie (Bright) Buchanan was promotedto budget formation and execution manag-er for Babcock and Wilcox Y-12 financialservices division in Oak Ridge, TN.

1980s

’83 Daniel Dunn is in his second year asdirector of personnel for Murray CountySchools in Chatsworth, GA.

’84 Michael T. Ingram is a professor atWhitworth College in Spokane, WA.

’85 Anthony “Tony” Ivey and his wife,Debbie, reside in Spartanburg, SC with theirthree children, Amanda, Aimee and Kristie.

’87 Nancy (Collins) Eastridge is the newassociate pastor and minister of adult dis-cipleship at Munsey Memorial UnitedMethodist Church, Johnson City, TN,where she and husband Michael reside.

1990s

’90 Rachel Inman was the 2007 recipientof the Carson-Newman Division ofBusiness Distinguished Alumna Award.

’91, ’89 Charles and Carole (Tyner) Crispreside in Lexington, KY with their twochildren, Elizabeth Marie and CharlesAllen, Jr.

’91 Brent Lee Gass is employed as anautomobile claims representative for FarmBureau Insurance of Tennessee. He andhis wife, Susannah, reside in Gallatin, TN.

’91 Candi Rhena Sellers is working on herdoctoral degree in human services admin-istration. She is also working on severalwriting projects which include handlingthe press for a few independent filmprojects, serving as section editor for Wineand Music magazine, working as a free-lance writer for The El Segundo Herald, andwriting the weekly Political Beat columnfor a number of the South Bay area news-papers owned by Herald Publications inCA. She resides in El Segundo, CA.

’92 Carrie (Owen) McConkey receivedher M.S. in human resource developmentfrom UT, Knoxville. She accepted theposition of director of placement at Mary-ville College’s Center for Calling andCareer. She and husband, John, reside inKnoxville.

’92 David Ownby was the 2007 recipientof the Carson-Newman Division ofBusiness Distinguished Young AlumnusAward.

’93 Alice (Coomer) Moon is the author ofa new children’s series featuring a lizardnamed “Lucky”. The first two books of thesix-book series, The Lizard in the Mailboxand Lucky Goes to School, were printed inMay and July 2007.

’93 Michael Joseph Ray graduated fromthe George Washington University Schoolof Medicine in Washington, D.C. in May2007. He is currently serving a 4-year resi-dency in anesthesiology at Cornell-WeillUniversity Hospital in New York City, NY.

’94 Christopher Jones received his mastersdegree in Plant Pathology from UT,Knoxville. He and his wife, Randi, residein Seabeck, WA where Christopher ownsand operates a pest control company.

’97 Susan (Painter) Eubanks began work-ing for Johnson & Johnson as a pharma-ceutical sales representative in April 2007.

’97 Toby Scott Harner and wife Rebeccareside in Snellville, GA with their two chil-dren, Madison and Toby.

’97 Ann J. (Roberts) Keener is currentlyemployed as a customer counselor by theKnoxville Utilities Board. She and hus-band, Michael, reside in Knoxville.

’97 Barrett Klausman/Leigh is living inLos Angeles and working in the filmindustry. He was recently hired by SonyStudios to supervise and produce a filmcalled Year One starring Jack Black.

’97, ’97 Christopher Randolph is a specialeducation teacher at Lyman Hall Elemen-tary School in Gainesville, GA. He andwife, Shannon (Horton), have threechildren, Cassie Suzanne, WilliamChristopher and Eliana Selah.

’97, ’97 Brian and Melissa (Neumann)Volner reside in Bradenton, FL withtheir children, Kendall Elizabeth,Allison Renee, Nathan Andrew andDelaney Grace.

’98 Jodi Haynes received her M.Ed. inadministration and supervision fromMiddle Tennessee State University. She isemployed as a library media specialist atNolensville Elementary School inNolensville, TN.

’98 Jodie Moser is the director of admis-sions at Hiwassee College in Sweetwater,TN. He and his wife, Tabitha, have twochildren, Caleb and Hannah.

’99 Adam Feldman is the lead pastor atMetanoia Church in Ellicott City, MD.Adam and his wife, Kimberly, reside inCatonsville, MD with their daughterAbigail Leigh.


CCllaassssnotes

aTo submit Classnotes

information, contact theAlumni Relations Officeby calling 865/471-3415,

or email [email protected],or mail to

C-N Box #71988,1646 Russell Ave. South,Jefferson City, TN 37760.

b

2000s

’01 Amy “Lizza” (Connor) Bowen per-formed at C-N’s Appalachian Center inOctober. She is currently a recordingartist in Nashville, where she lives with herhusband, Michael. She is also the recentwinner of the MerleFest songwriting com-petition.

’01, ’02 Deidra (Hopkins) Mountainreceived her Ph.D. in biomedical sciencesin 2006 from James H. Quillen College ofMedicine at ETSU. She is currently work-ing in the department of surgery at UT’sGraduate School of Medicine as a post-doctoral research associate. She residesin Knoxville with her husband, Brian,who is a student nurse anesthetist at theAnesthesia Medical Alliance of East TN.

’03 Erin (Collins) Card is a special educa-tion teacher for Roanoke County Schoolsin Salem, VA. She and husband Rexfordreside in Christiansburg, VA.

’03, ’99 Jeremy “Kirk” Yates is the minis-ter of worship at Lincoln Avenue BaptistChurch in Newport, TN. He and his wife,Sunny “Dawn” (Mackey), reside in WhitePine, TN.

’04 Sarah Carver completed her M.Div.degree from Wake Forest University’sDivinity School in December 2007.

’04 Kimberly Kay Gregg is employed bythe Cocke County Board of Education asa teacher.

Marriages

’91 Brent Lee Gass and Susannah EnglishShumate5/27/07

’97 Ann J. Roberts and Michael LeeKeener9/22/07

’02 Tamara CeLynn Reeves and JamesEdward Polick, Jr.10/5/07

’03 Erin E. Collins and Rexford JosephCard7/22/06

’03 Sara Noel DeGenaro and Ray McClure6/17/06

’03 Betsy Short and Curt Waskey11/17/07

Births

’92 David Needs and wife MelissaKeely Ann on 10/3/07

’93, ’93 Ginger (Douglass) Hubbard andhusband James Arthur “Artie”Timothy Roman on 12/18/07

’95, ’91 Sheila (Goins) Tarwater andhusband JohnDavid Josiah on 2/1/07

’96 Michelle (Mathis) Gray and husbandMichaelJonathan Michael on 10/29/07

’96, ’96 Angela (Anderson) McKenzieand husband DavidLaura Ann on 10/12/07

’97 Jill (Watson) Belue and husbandBrandon Hannah Grace on 7/31/07

’97, ’95 Karen (Burnette) Fultz andhusband Brian Clayton Patrick on 5/21/07

’97 Anne (Johnston) Pierce and husbandJonathanAnna-Claire on 11/30/06

’97, ’97 Melissa (Neumann) Volner andhusband BrianDelaney Grace on 5/15/07

’97 Jason Bryan Williams and wife TammySarah Elizabeth on 1/12/06

’98 Tia (Overbay) Babcock and husbandJonathanClaire McTeer on 3/19/07

’98 Michelle (Reese) Johnson andhusband MichaelMollie Leanne on 7/14/06

’99 Adam Feldman and wife KimberlyAbigail Leigh on 10/25/07

’99 Amy (Harrison) Reed and husbandTroyLydia Rayanna on 7/17/07

’01 Dave McNeely and wife MandyChristopher Eiren on 6/24/07

’01 Rebecca (Williams) Sardella andhusband JeffMarianne Ruth on 11/17/06

’03 Sarah Noel (DeGenaro) McClure andhusband RayJonah Alexander on 7/26/07

’04, ’05 Amber (Ferguson) Cook andhusband JamesKayleigh Nicole on 6/15/05Ashleigh Marie on 3/27/07

Our records reflect Classnote informationas of 12/31/07


CCllaassssnotes

For more photos

from the

Prepare The Way Tour 2007,

visit:

www.cn.edu/journey/israel

our journey

Charles “’Fessor” Jones (1915-2007). Shortly after the A Cappella Choir returned to Tennessee they learned that beloved choir director,’Fessor, had passed away on Christmas day. During his 38-year tenure that began in 1946, he oversaw more than 600 A Cappella per-formances. Throughout his career, he was devoted to keeping C-N’s choir worship-centered. He is also championed by former students foralways striving for excellence. He is survived by Associate Professor of Music Ann Jones.

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P A I DPulp

CARSON-NEWMAN COLLEGEOFFICE OF NEWS & PUBLICATIONSC-N Box 71986Jefferson City, Tennessee 37760

A Cappella’s Matthew Mimbs, Connie Mack, Hannah Beth Muelder, Katie Mason and Katie Puckett with architectural relics ofancient Jerash.

Documents

Asst. Vice President for