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.
Gil Michel is the founding pastor of That Church Downtown, a multi-racial inner-city church in South Bend, IN. That Church Downtown was planted to reach an unchurched population and created to be a place of authenticity and transparency and growth for those who seek to know Christ and be known.
As an ordained minister, Gil’s missionary work in Ghana, West Africa is considered one of his life’s highlights. With helping to spearhead initiatives such as PURE Assembly & National Day of Prayer, which focuses on city-wide renewal and prayer, Gil has availed himself to seeing widespread revival in his region.
Currently, Gil is the co-host of a re-launched podcast called HisStories, which has been featured on WHME-FM and listened to, nationwide. HisStories is a show that highlights the testimonies of ordinary people experiencing an extraordinary God.
Gil Michel is the CEO and President of The Caleb Group, Inc., a small business solutions firm located in South Bend, IN. As a 2 nd generation accountant and entrepreneur, Gil has had a sense of financial stewardship ingrained into him from his father, who started Gil working in his NY accounting firm arranging tax returns since he was 10 years old. Gil’s experience has evolved from working in the top ten CPA firms to working one-on-one with small business owners in developing realistic budgets to create wealth for their families.
Gil is cherished as a valuable member of his community but most importantly by his wife, Marketo, daughter, Jolai, and son, Christian.
Laura Bulgrien grew up in Pure Michigan and graduated from Bethel in 2009. She spent a number of years traveling internationally and across the U.S. as a speaker with Forge Ministries. She currently lives in West Michigan and is serving as the student pastor at Watermark Church.
Through speaking, ministry travels, small groups, and one-on-one discipleship, Laura hopes to help others know Christ and live with greater confidence in His power at work within and through them.
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