Reverend Bill Jones is a veteran World Partners’ missionary and has been involved in evangelism and discipleship for over 50 years. Prior to serving overseas, he was involved in outreach to college students at Marshall University and Ball State University. He served as the Head Men’s Resident Adviser at Fort Wayne Bible College and as Assistant Pastor at Grace Church in Mooresville, Indiana. He is an ordained minister in The Missionary Church which he has served faithfully full-time since 1974. He has ministered on four continents – North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
After serving in France for 15 years in evangelism, discipleship, and leadership training, Bill and his wife Debbie, have been on special assignment at Bethel University for the last 21 years as Missionaries-in-Residence. At Bethel they have overseen the Missions-Discipleship House, the Student Mission Fellowship, and past Missions Conferences. They have directed the Summer International Institute and set up Student Summer International Internships on World Partners’ fields.
You will often find them discipling, mentoring, and counseling one-on-one with Bethel students and grads. Over the last ten years, they have seen over 1,500 faculty, staff, and students find freedom in Christ through the Breaking Free 101 series which they developed. They also aid Bethel MKs (Missionary Kids) in their cross-cultural adaptation to America, and they reach out personally to students on the campus of Indiana University South Bend.
Stephen Love was born in South Bend, Indiana, and came to know his Savior Jesus Christ at his father’s South Bend church plant as a young boy.
Stephen and his wife, Mandy, have been married since 2010 (they first met in 7th grade) and have been blessed with four beautiful children: Stephen Jedidiah Jr. (b. 2012), Elias Nathanael (b. 2014), Jade Ruth (b. 2015), and Simeon Joseph (b. 2017).
Stephen received a B.A. in Pastoral Studies from Moody Bible Institute, a M.A. in Theological Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, and a certificate in history from The University of Oxford, England.
He accepted the call to preach the gospel in 2002 and served the body of Christ at New Life Fellowship Church in Waukegan, IL as Assistant Pastor and Elder.
In 2019, Stephen and his family accepted the call to plant Redemption City Church in South Bend, IN. RCC was launched on September 13, 2020.
Stephen is the self-proclaimed biggest Notre Dame and Denzel Washington fan!
Dr. Don Bartlette is a Native American who speaks all over North America sharing his testimony of being a child overcome by hate and becoming a man overwhelmed by the love of God.
He shares how one Christian women helped him during a difficult childhood and how that later helped him to become a Christian.
Dr. Bartlette lives in Ohio, is married, and is the father of seven daughters and one son. His son Seth attended Bethel College and is now serving in ministry in California.
Each year one student from the Homiletics class is selected by his or her peers to preach in chapel. The goal is to choose someone with a capacity to study and rightly interpret a passage of Scripture and then deliver a biblical message in a compelling way. It is a recognition that, even while they are preparing for ministry beyond their university studies, our Christian ministries students are effectively in ministry to those of us on campus now.
Today we are blessed to hear from Skyler French. Skyler is a Senior Christian Min major. During his years at Bethel, he has served as an FYE Block mentor, a member of the Summer LEAD team, executive treasurer of the Student Council, and a member of the Campus Activities team. Last summer he participated in a SOAR Internship at Nappanee MC.
Like Waldo, Skyler can be spotted all over campus – playing Spikeball, sipping coffee with Religion & Philosophy professors, and hanging out with friends.
This week is our modified GO Series, a week when we focus on God’s work and mission in our world, whether it’s across the street or around the globe.
We are privileged to hear from a veteran Bethel professor and missionary, Dr. Kent Eby.
Dr. Eby completed a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University (1988), a master of ministry from Bethel University and a Ph.D. from Trinity International University.
Kent, and his wife Linda, served as missionaries in Russia before returning to the states, where Kent has been a faculty member at Bethel since 2007. He teaches in the areas of Intercultural Studies, with a primary focus in the theology of mission, cultural learning and engagement, and critical reflection and interaction with issues related to community development and international ministry.
Kent serves the athletic department Faculty Representative, and has led a number of University Task Force tams.
Outside of Bethel, Kent enjoys teaching in the local church, and at various camp meetings across the country.
Joan is an accomplished educator, transformational speaker, author, coach, and entrepreneur. She is passionate about empowering and inspiring women. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Experiential Learning and Leadership Development for Specialize Masters Programs at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. Recently, she launched the BRITE Women Project to lead the charge in increasing the representation of women on nonprofit boards.
Prior to joining Notre Dame, she served as the Director of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative at Saint Mary’s College for three years where she launched the THRIVE Engaging Women Conference. She co-authored Life on the Fringe: Testimonies of Women Moving Beyond Desperation to Faith, a book of inspiring stories about women overcoming challenging times in their lives through their faith. The book has traveled to several countries including, China, India, and countries throughout the Middle East. She also founded Trinity Commercial Cleaning Services, serving the Michiana community for over five years.
Joan serves on the board of directors for Downtown South Bend, Cultivate Rescue, and Bethel University Board of Trustees. She serves on the Diversity and Inclusion committee for South Bend | Elkhart Regional Partnership.
Joan holds a bachelor’s in natural science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania as well as a master’s in ministry and a master’s in theological studies from Bethel University. She was featured in the spring 2016 issue of Michiana Life Magazine as one of the Top Twenty “Game Changers” in Michiana and was nominated in 2017 for the Athena Award.
Spiritual Life Director and Assistant Director for Community Life
After graduating from Bethel University in 2006, Trace has spent the last 14 years in both full time vocational ministry as well as within the marketplace. His journey has taken him from working and leading within some of the most innovative and influential churches and parachurch organizations and events in America to executive leadership, consulting, and training on organizational health and performance with and within numerous multibillion dollar organizations. He’s married to his wife of 13 years, Stephanie (who also graduated from Bethel), with three incredible children.
Terry Linhart has served in a number of capacities since coming to Bethel 20 years ago. He was the Director of the Youth Ministry and Adolescent Studies degree programs and Chair of the Religion and Philosophy Department. He served for two years as Dean of Adult and Graduate Studies before shifting to his current role as executive direct of Extension Studies.
Before coming to Bethel, Terry served for 15 years in full-time youth ministry, including eight years in Youth for Christ and seven years as youth pastor at Hope Missionary Church in Bluffton.
Terry has had a long writing career, having published eight books and contributed chapters to over 20 others.
He is an avid coffee drinker, wanna-be golfer, and sports fan. Terry and his wife, Kelly, are the proud parents of three adult children, and just recently became grandparents to their first grandson.
