Al Henrion my Mentor and Friend!

The summer of Al was not at all what I thought it would be. A year and a half ago I heard Al Henrion, the stained glass teacher at Central, say that he had a glass business of his own. He said sometimes he got behind on the orders he received because it was just him working. He was not advertising, just talking, but a little switch went on in the back of my head. I asked Al later that same day if I could intern with him over the summer in a years time. The short answer is that he said yes and I learned many things I did not know before.

At first I thought the summer would mostly be consumed with stained glasswork at Al’s studio in Pinconning, Michigan. It was not. The first five weeks of summer where spent finishing up Central Christian College’s new Art Lab, that I affectionately call “The AL”. This was my favorite part of the summer. Al is essentially a jack-of-all- trades and he taught me a plethora of skills involved in construction and the finishing of a building.

            I learned how to wire outlets and switches, cut/put up dry wall, plaster walls, and lay carpet. I cut trim for doorways, windows, floors and ceilings and painted a cement floor. I also became a true master of painting walls and staining wood. The entire experience was rewarding and taught me more than I could have imagined. Al is a great tutor. He would patiently show me how to, efficiently, do a job and then would leave me to my work. It was exactly the kind of work environment I like to be in.

            It was a blessing to have a mentor who took pride in the work being done. Al would always make sure a job was done to the best possible measure and he really enjoyed doing a good job. That sort of example rubbed off on me. Working with Al on that building gave me more Central pride than the previous two school years put together. I love that I can now say I helped finish that building, that even when I graduate I can come back and see my handiwork put to good use. One of the main factors that pushed me to be careful and precise was thinking of students, like Mayuko Shono, using the building. I really wanted it to be nice for her and others. Central has a cool history of its students and alumni continuing to support the school and I am really glad I could continue that history.

            The rest of the summer was devoted to glass projects, both warm and cool, in Michigan. Warm glass being glass that is fused in a kiln and cool being normal stained glass. I had the privilege of taking my best friend Jessica Massie (an alumnus of Central) with me. Al and Jody, his wife, treated us like royalty. We had full run of the glass studio and it was a blast making projects. Glass can be tedious sometimes, but the finished product is worth it. The most useful part of the summer, to me, was going to the art shows were Al and Jody sell their glass. Watching and helping with that process helped me to realize that glass will probably not be a career for me. I love it, but I am not a savvy enough businessperson to make it a career.

            The summer was exceedingly interesting, fun, and challenging. Al is interested in making this same sort of experience open to future Central students who are looking for an art internship. I would recommend it. There are few opportunities that will be as much fun and instructive as a summer with Al and Jody Henrion.

By Kathryn Lott

Central Students Get Down and Dirty

Starting this year Central students are experiencing the art of getting dirty in the newly remodeled warehouse thanks to the new ceramics class the school is now offering. The students are being taught the fundamentals of ceramics by Shane Dawson. Dawson is excited about having the opportunity to start the new program and sees it as a start to three dimensional arts at the school. He hopes to see it spread to a sculpture class, or other arts that create larger projects.  

    In recent years Central made the decision to expand the art department. This past year the school renovated a Morton building across the street to be a hands on art studio.  Thanks to a Grant from the Windgate Foundation, Al Henron, and many other volunteers, it is now ready for students. It is currently geared for a ceramics studio, and will have the ability to host stained glass classes this Interterm. The ceramics students have access to a table to wedge clay, wheels to throw on, kilns to fire their work, and other tools as well. The studio is still in progress but has the ability to fully function as it is.

    Having a ceramics studio gives students the ability to make three dimensional art. Ceramics is unique because the Bible talks about God being the potter and us being the clay. It gives students the opportunity to see their work the way God sees them. There is investment that goes into every piece. There is no such thing as perfection. The things that the onlookers may see as flaws, are what make the art beautiful in the eyes of the artist. God sees His people the same way. Ceramics class has given students a reason to get their hands dirty, a way to release stress, and put a visual to God’s word.

The Boys are Back in Town!

            Coach Tony Romero is the head men’s basketball coach here at Central Christian College. He is a father of three and fulfills every part of the words husband and dad. Coach T, Tony Romero’s most common nickname, has been coaching for 12 years. He’s served as an assistant coach for 5 years, and has been head coach for the past 7 years. I use “serve” specifically because that is part of Coach Romero’s philosophy- having a servant attitude.

            Coaching is more business oriented than one might think, and preparations for each season can be time consuming, stressful, and nonetheless each decision is extremely vital. When it comes to being a college basketball coach, recruiting comes first. “I felt like our returners are pretty solid,” was his response when asked about the recruiting for the upcoming season. Returners are those players that have experience with the program from past years or semesters, and Coach T expressed his confidence in such players. Acquiring/keeping other coaches for assistance is also a part of the recruiting process, and unfortunately Coach Romero is no longer accompanied by either of the assistant coaches from last year. He says it is “kind of stressful” trying to find an assistant coach. However, he has added former teammate Guy Gardner to the coaching staff and says he is “confident in the guy we hired.”

            Coach Romero is “excited” and “very confident” in this year’s team. “I feel like we’ve been building up each of the last couple years and improving in some ways, and physically maturing;” as a player it’s obvious to see Coach Romero’s high anticipation of the group ready to accept the challenge of protecting our home floor, Dr. Jerry E. Alexander Arena.

            A well-known player and role model on and off the court, Brandon Glynn states, “I feel like I’ve gotten better under this program… and regardless of the budget that we’re on compared to other bigger schools, we  have great opportunities to grow as players and look nice while doing it.” We’re all undoubtedly excited to be represented by not only the basketball program, but all sports teams holding up the reputation of the CCC Tigers!

By: Kendric Warren

Does Jesus Change Everything?

            This year at Central Christian College the chapel theme is “This changes everything” proposed by Pastor Justin Mourn. But the real question around is, Does Jesus Change Everything? When observing the situations going on in the world of a college students everyday life, the real mental and spiritual fight is questioning Jesus’ existence or if God is even real.

Every four years at this institution there is a theme that is developed and followed around the campus. This quadrennial the theme is called the “C.O.R.E.” beliefs. Last year was the “c” meaning, connect, this year the focus is on the “o” meaning, open yourself to the life changing work of the gospel. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2 NIV). Pastor Justin’s goal is hopefully to reach to the students so that they will learn who God is. He stated that he wants to “connect to the students on a level right where they are at.”

To make sure that there is a way for students to have tighter community and not feel alone, there are small groups or HBC’s (Healthy Biblical Communities) and Mourn feels these are important. Small groups are a way for students to build a community and learn how to overcome spiritual battles that they are having within themselves. They are a way of conquering that feeling of being alone in a new place without being alone. He believes that the small groups help share life and build a tighter community by making relationships stronger. Pastor Justin will be making a landing page on the schools website to help the small group leaders who are stuck and do not have an idea on what to talk about that week in HBC. He will make a video on Tuesday chapels only that will give the leaders games, video clips, scriptures, and give one tip on how to be a great small group leader. It is free and optional help that would be a great way to start off the small groups, and to have continuing series for the remainder of the HBC.

The real question is not “Does Jesus Change Everything?”  The real question is are you open to letting Him change everything?  So, get involved, join a group, attend and listen in chapel, and keep yourself open to the changes that will come.

By: Olivia Richard

Hoxie's Plan for Success!

            During offseason, Coach Aaron Hoxie of the men’s Soccer team at Central Christian College did a lot of work to prepare for this upcoming year. His team did fairly well last season ending in a post season against Tabor College. The players and coaches are excited to be back and shake off last season. Coach Hoxie said “I’m excited to bring back all of my starters from last season and welcome in the new recruits as well.”  

            Hoxie’s preparations for this year include “a lot of hard work,”  recruiting, figuring out which players were staying and leaving, which students were prepared for the year, and who he thought had most improved over the summer break. He also did a lot of scouting of other teams; including going to the schools or watching film. He also spent a lot of time figuring out game plans, substitutions, and who were the best players on the team.

When asked “what has Coach Hoxie done differently this year compared to last year?” Oscar Gudino, one of his senior players said, “He’s more of a player coach, has higher expectations and he cares more about his players on and off the field.”

            Hoxie thinks that his players are more prepared after the recent preseason games; which exposed some flaws, and believes that the team will be better than last year. Hoxie ended with, “The team is headed in the right direction and this will be an exciting year.”

By Alonzo Stafford

Larry Dethroned

Central Christian College has started a new tradition of awarding a teacher with “The Teacher of The Year” award at the end of each academic year. The Teacher of the Year Award is given based upon votes from peers, faculty and students. The recent winner of the award is Dr. Robin Jackson. Dr. Jackson has worked 15 years at Central as an academics, mathematics and natural science instructor.

I asked Dr. Jackson how it felt to dethrone Larry Anderson as the second recipient of this award and she replied, “ I don’t think of it as a dethroning, but the joining of exemplary company.” She said that she was both stunned at receiving the award and appreciative of the vote of confidence from both her peers and her students. Dr. Jackson also expressed pleasure in receiving this award because teaching is her second job, for 20 years she was a professional analytical chemist and this award is a wonderful recognition that she is “on the right track” and the students are actually learning from her.

Dr. Jackson’s drive and passion is to live out her testimony to Christ and show that God’s Word and science “absolutely fit together.” She tells all her classes that chemistry and math are just a front for showing that God’s Word is literally true. I inquired what her advice to other teachers might be. Her enthusiastic reply was, “ Never be afraid to make your teaching hallmark that you will teach the truth of the Bible.” She said that in any subject the goal of teaching is to point to truth so in the end “there is only one subject and that subject is The Truth.”

Her favorite aspect of teaching is “helping students acquire the tools they need to teach themselves… a successful teacher is someone who has taught a student to no longer need them. You hope that spiritually and emotionally they still want you around, but they can think for themselves.” Central is honored to have Dr. Jackson as teacher of the year. We greatly anticipate what her reign will bring!

by: Kathryn Lott