Terry McGonigal
(1994-present)
Dean of the Chapel

What a joy to watch more than 500 graduates walk across the stage at Commencement this past Sunday. Included in that group were 1) five seniors who provided tremendous leadership in the small-group ministry program, several for two years; 2) students I traveled with in Nicaragua as a part of the Central America Study Program, and 3) the first cadre of Act Six students, our cooperative program with Northwest Leadership Foundation in Tacoma. These students in particular have blessed my life tremendously, as I have watched their tenacity and courage bear great fruit in their lives and in the Whitworth community. I am more deeply committed to Jesus Christ because of the influence of these students on my own life. What a privilege to be Whitworth's dean of the chapel these past 13 years.

My work on the biblical theme of shalom continues to go well. I will be completing a book proposal this summer. The preliminary response by one publisher has been very positive. My daily reading and study continue to deepen my sense of the grandeur of God's design for the creation and the depth of Christ's work in redeeming and restoring our fallen world. I find students and adults in the community very receptive to these biblical themes, as they long for and work for Christ's lasting peace in our world.

Regarding family, within a few weeks of each other our son Brandan and our daughter Shannon announced their engagements this spring. Brandan will marry Shawnda Butterfield ('06 alum in psychology, now enrolled in the master's in marriage and family therapy program at Seattle Pacific University) on Aug. 24, here in Spokane. They will live in the greater Seattle area, where Brandan will continue his recruiting job with Apex. Shannon will marry Dan Vandewarker on Dec. 15. Both Shannon and Dan are interns at Emmanuel Faith Community Church, in Escondido, Calif., and that is where they will be married. They are both planning to enroll in Bethel Seminary in San Diego (Dan in the M.Div. Program, Shannon in the master's in marriage and family therapy program). Keats and April continue to live in Whitworth's new dorm, Duvall Hall, where April is the resident director. She also is pursuing an master's degree in counseling here. Keats is enrolled in the master's program at Eastern Washington University, hoping that degree will lead to a coaching/ training job. Suzette and I continue to cherish our marriage. Our common call to serve Christ in education, through both kindergarteners and collegians, brings us daily challenges and deep joy. May the peace of Christ be upon you, upon those you love, and upon our troubled world!