Terry McGonigal (1994-present) dean of the chapel
This has been a year of transition in our campus ministry. After six great years of ministry leadership, Andi Saccoccio left last summer to take a position with International Justice Mission. We are fortunate to have Mindy (Beard) Smith, '98, as our new campus pastor, coordinating our small-group ministry. Mindy knows Whitworth well, bringing joy and vision to us every day. Ron Pyle (Communication) and Jerry Sittser (Theology) have joined Mindy and me in preaching in chapel every Tuesday. This spring we walked through Luke's gospel, using the theme "On the Road with Jesus." It seems that Jesus is always meeting people on the move and taking them to places they could not have imagined. May it be so for us as well as we follow Jesus.

We have also welcomed two alums back as campus ministry interns. Melanie Smith, '05, small group ministry, and Keith Peterson, '07, worship, have added energy and enthusiasm to our work. Ben Brody, '98, worship, and Stephy Beans, prayer, round out the team. We have been blessed with a vision and unity that has made this year a great delight for me.  

In January I had the privilege of traveling with 19 students, along with Dayna Coleman-Jones and Nicole Boymook, from student life, on the Prejudice Across America course. Visits to New York City, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Chicago stretched us in amazing ways as we examined the history of race relations in the U.S. We met some of the great leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including Andrew Young, Bernice King and Jesse Jackson. Worship at Abyssinian Baptist Church (Harlem), Ebenezer Baptist Church (Dr. King's home church in Atlanta), and Trinity United Church of Christ (President Obama's home church in Chicago) were also highlights. And yes, we were on the mall in D.C. for the inauguration, an experience we will always treasure.

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