Richard Cizik, '73
In 1980, seven years after graduating from Whitworth with a political studies degree, Richard Cizik made his first venture into Washington, D.C., as a foot soldier for the Moral Majority. He then attended George Washington University School of Public and International Affairs, studied in Asia, and graduated from Denver Seminary.
Today, Cizik serves as the Washington-based vice president of governmental affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals, a lobbying group that represents 30 million American Christians and more than 50 denominations. In addition to editing the NAE's publications and directing key conferences, he sets the NAE's policy direction on national issues before Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court.
In the past several years, Newsweek, Vanity Fair, Congressional Quarterly, and many other magazines have devoted articles to Cizik, his faith-based politics, and his role in the biblically inspired environmental movement known as creation care. Cizik considers it his Christian duty to help the evangelical world broaden its political scope to to what he sees as a more comprehensive and biblical picture of activism. In addition to addressing family values, he believes that Christians have an obligation to deal with issues of hunger, disease, sexual trafficking and being God's stewards of the earth.
Cizik says, "I speak with a voice that is authentically evangelical on all the issues, from religious freedom around the world to compassion for the poor and putting an end to oppression in Darfur. And yes, creation care is one of those issues.
Ruth Gothenquist, '44
Ruth Gothenquist has used her talent and experience in architectural and technical illustration to serve her alma mater for more than 20 years. She has provided the university with beautiful drawings of prominent campus buildings for use as notecards, donor thank-yous and even as T-shirt and sweatshirt designs. Several pieces of her art are also featured in Whitworth's permanent collection.
Unfortunately, Gothenquist's failing eyesight makes it difficult for her to draw the detailed technical illustrations in which she has specialized. Nevertheless, she continues to pursue her love of art in the form of large, impressionistic murals.
Gothenquist keeps in touch with Whitworth and her former classmates by regularly attending events on campus and in Western Washington, where she lives. She has also joined with Whitworth alumni and friends on Core 650 tours to Germany and, last June, to Paris.
John Owen, '83
John Owen has authentically lived out the Whitworth mission to "honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity." He says that Whitworth, and especially former chaplain Ron Frase (who happens to be his father-in-law), laid the groundwork for his faith development and the path he has taken since graduation.
Owen served in the Coast Guard for 10 years and then attended Louisville Seminary, in Kentucky, where he eventually became a Navy chaplain. More recently, Owen served on the U.S. Navy hospital ship "Mercy," as it assisted with recovery efforts in Indonesia following the 2004 earthquake and tsunami. As the onboard chaplain, Owen says he felt privileged to minister to and pray for the Indonesian people being helped and for the service men and women involved in the effort.
Owen is now using his ministry experience in his role as 3rd Battalion chaplain at the U.S. Naval Academy, in Annapolis, Md. As chaplain, Owen's primary job is to take care of the spiritual needs of the midshipmen and faculty. He says he loves his position because he gets to counsel and interact with men and women who have been called to do incredible and dangerous things. He calls it a surprising and amazing privilege to be a Navy chaplain.
Jena Lee, '04
During her years at Whitworth, Jena Lee focused on issues of poverty, social stratification, global health and the psychology of prejudice. Since graduating from Whitworth, she has used her political studies degree and interest in social justice to serve as the executive director of Blood:Water Mission. The nonprofit organization was founded by members of the band Jars of Clay and provides wells and clean blood to villages in HIV/AIDS-stricken Africa; the organization also seeks to address underlying issues of poverty, injustice and oppression. Beginning with her time at Whitworth, Lee has taken those issues to heart. As executive director, she has helped shape and maintain the overall vision of Blood:Water Mission. Each quarter she travels to rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa to visit project sites and build relationships with community members. For Lee, the most significant aspect of her work at Blood:Water Mission is putting vision into action.
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