Chapel 2016-17

Passionate about communicating the gospel in ways that engage both heart and mind, Margaret’s pastoral ministry grounds her speaking and writing in a relational and practical style. She seeks to address the critical intersections between the Christian faith and lived experience in order to engage Christians and non-Christians in conversations that count.

St. Cyr serves as the associate pastor of ministry and service at George Fox University. He is a grateful student of 20-plus years to Christ, a lucky husband to Stephanie, a stoked dad to Ella Sophia and Matea Frances, and owner of a Jack Russell Terrorist named "Woody" (a.k.a. "El Capitan"). Rusty came to the spiritual life team at George Fox in 2009 after 10 years of student ministry in Springfield, Mo., Inverness, Scotland, Santa Cruz, Calif., as well as serving as director for spiritual formation at Bethany University near Santa Cruz, Calif. Along with all of this, Rusty is also thankful to experience playing all kinds of drums to music, for stand-up paddling and surfing waves, for opportunities to love and learn from people of other cultures, for reconciliation, for the Shalom-growing principle that we are blessed in order TO BE a blessing, and, of course, for Spinach smoothies.

Dr. Michelle Loyd-Paige is the executive associate to the president for diversity and inclusion and also holds an appointment of professor of sociology at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Loyd-Paige joined the department of sociology and social work at Calvin College in 1985 having finished her graduate course work at Purdue University. Loyd-Paige served as chair of the department of sociology and social work from 1999-2001; the dean for multicultural affairs from 2006–2015; was appointed as interim executive associate to the president for diversity and inclusion in 2013; and began a regular appointment as the executive associate to the president in 2015.

Elsey joined the Office of Spiritual and Intercultural Life as the director of intercultural life last year. She came to George Fox from Azusa Pacific University, where she was director of mobilization in the Center for Student Action the previous two years. Prior to that, she spent six years as the associate director of Azusa’s Office of Ministry and Service. Elsey also gained higher education work experience at Life Pacific College as associate dean of students and director of student life (2006-07) and as a residence director at Azusa from 2003 to 2006. She holds both a bachelor’s degree in communications (2001) and a master’s degree in college student affairs (2003), both from Azusa Pacific. She lives in Newberg with her husband Erik and two boys, Kai and Rhys.

Clair serves as director of the William Penn Honors Program and as an assistant professor of religious studies. Before joining the George Fox faculty in 2013, he earned a PhD in the religion, ethics and politics program at Princeton University while also working as an assistant in instruction. His efforts were rewarded with a Department of Religion Teaching Award (2011-12) and a Graduate Prize Fellowship from Princeton’s Center for Human Values (2012-13).

Robin Baker has dedicated his career to the education of the whole person. As a professor, academic administrator and now as president of George Fox University, he has strived to make education not just the transfer of information, but also the transformation of the individual. Baker believes this is best accomplished within the context of Christian higher education, where students are encouraged to connect their faith to their studies and the rest of their lives. Before coming to George Fox in 1999 as chief academic officer, Baker worked at three Christian universities. Since he became president in 2007, George Fox has grown to become the second-largest private university in Oregon, but it still promises each student they will be known personally, academically and spiritually.

Lau is in his 16th year as vice president for student life at George Fox and has served in student life roles at a number of public and private universities (including George Fox) for almost 30 years. He is a past president of the Association for Christians in Student Development (ACSD) and past chair for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities’ Senior Student Development Officers Commission. Lau, a native of Colorado, earned a doctor of education in educational leadership and policy studies from Temple University in Philadelphia and a master’s degree in student affairs in higher education from Colorado State University. He did his undergraduate work at Liberty University in Virginia, receiving a bachelor of science in Christian thought as well as a master’s degree in religion from Liberty Theological Seminary. Brad is an avid Denver Broncos football fan who loves playing tennis, reading, theology and connecting with students. He is married to Pam, and they have three daughters (Gabrielle, 15; Annalise, 17; and Michaela, 19). They live in Newberg with their two dogs and a cat.

Thebarge is a speaker and author who earned a master’s degree in medical science from Yale and was earning a master’s degree in journalism at Columbia University when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 27. After nearly dying, she sold everything she had and moved from New Haven, Connecticut, to Portland, Oregon, with just two suitcases of clothes and started over. It was at that point that she encountered a Somali refugee family on the train in Portland. Thebarge developed a relationship with them, and over the next few months, while she taught the single Somali mom and her five daughters how to live in America, they taught her how to love and be loved again. The details of Thebarge and the Somali girls’ story of survival, recovery and redemption are recorded in her memoir The Invisible Girls (Jericho Books, 2013). All of the proceeds from the book are going into a college fund for the Somali girls. Additionally, Thebarge’s blog was featured by MSNBC.com. Her writing has appeared in Everyday Health, Relevant Magazine, BurnsideWriters.com, Christianity Today, Sojo.net, Red Letter Christian and Huffington Post. Her writing for Christianity Today’s “This is Our City” project won first prize from the Evangelical Press Association in 2012. As a speaker, Thebarge is a regular at retreats, churches, colleges and conferences. She was recently featured at Donald Miller’s Storyline Conference and named one of 40 Women Under 40 who are challenging taboos of the Christian faith by the "I Speak For Myself" initiative. Her book was chosen as the First Year Experience book for incoming freshman at Mississippi State University, where she delivered the convocation in August 2014. She is a spokesperson for Vanity Fair Lingerie’s Women Who Do campaign, which features women who are making a positive difference in their communities. She is also a spokesperson for Compassion International. She currently lives in Southern California.

A group of strangers walked into a room in L.A. One by one they stood up, shared their most private thoughts, struggles, and desires. To many, this sounds terrifying but, after seeing a spoken-word open mic, Bournes was hooked. That day he decided to give spoken word poetry a try. It worked. Like most kids growing up in Long Beach, California, during the 1990s, Bournes was raised under the influence of hip hop. He regularly memorized rap lyrics from his favorite songs. It wasn’t until college when he started writing his own music, starting with hip hop and then venturing into blues. Micah is a creative man of faith. In addition to performing poetry and music, he often speaks and teaches on creative writing, justice, and the way of Jesus. In partnership with The Justice Conference & World Relief, Bournes has been able to share his passions and gifts worldwide.

"Pastah J" serves as senior pastor at Canaan Community Church in West Englewood, Illinois, and has taught elementary education and arts in inner-city Chicago for over a decade. As a firm believer in investing in the community you grew up in, Jonathan has a deep desire to impress this virtue on the students and young people in his congregation, classroom and community. Brooks is married to Miche'al Newman-Brooks and has two beautiful daughters, Jasmine and Jade. They reside in West Englewood a few blocks away from the church campus.

Nixon went to four colleges in four years to complete college in the quickest and cheapest way he could: Pasadena City College, Pacific Christian College, Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton College. He graduated with a BA in sociology in 2001. He has been married to Rachel since 2003, and they have three beautiful daughters. Nixon was born and raised in Pasadena, California, and currently resides in the Maple Neighborhood in Fullerton with his family. He is the executive director of Solidarity, a nonprofit in Fullerton, California, that exists to help churches transform their cities.

Bailey believes that the church should and can lead by example in diversity and reconciliation. He’s the founder of Arrabon and enjoys waking up every day to help the bride of Christ look more beautiful with her culturally diverse self! He is the author of Arrabon: Learning Reconciliation through Community and Worship Music. Bailey and his wife Joy live in Richmond, Virginia.

Trisha is passionate about investing in leaders to see them become all God has created them to be. Growing up in Salem, Ore., Trisha was called to ministry while in high school. She was invested in by mentors and youth pastors who gave her the opportunity to explore practical ministry as an intern while in college. After finishing a degree in youth ministry and biblical studies from Corban University, Trisha moved to Los Angeles to attend graduate school at Azusa Pacific University. She received an MDiv from the Haggard School of Theology and was ordained as an elder in the Free Methodist Church in 2006. While in Southern California, Trisha served as a pastor within the local college community of Azusa, the pastor of youth and spiritual development at Marina Christian Fellowship in Los Angeles, and as co-pastor to Rose City Church in Pasadena. Since moving to Southeast Portland in 2011, Trisha has promoted a growing partnership between George Fox and the Free Methodist and Wesleyan Holiness Churches in the area through her service as the director of The Leadership Center. The Leadership Center is a network facilitating the development of new and current Wesleyan leaders, churches and disciples through internships, equipping, mentoring and scholarship. Trisha enjoys pastoring among her community in Portland, throwing parties, growing food and plants, listening to audio books and the latest musical creations by Troy Welstad. Trisha is also a guest blogger on evangel-vision.com.

Doreen is a person (who happens to have a doctorate and 22 years of experience working with individuals and groups). She is a reluctant “geek,” spending inordinate amounts of time interacting with scholarly research, technology and pop culture around the topic of how the new digital landscape is shaping us. She is passionate (truly...passionate) about engaging people around this topic. Physicians, school districts, mental health workers, middle schoolers, attorneys, high schoolers, educators and steel workers (among many others) have all invited her to their gatherings. Her talks are fast paced, packed with illuminative video, stimulating audio, and lots and lots of kinesthetic ideas. Far from being technology phobic or averse, she works to bring a balanced view of the new norms and inspire people to become moderate (not abstinent) in their tech engagement. Doreen loves going barefoot, black coffee, the color red, dancing, documentaries, and people – especially people.

Sandra Van Opstal, a second-generation Latina, is the executive pastor at Grace and Peace Community on the west side of Chicago. She is a liturgist and activist who is passionate about re-imagining worship that mobilizes for reconciliation and justice. In her 15 years with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Sandra mobilized thousands of college students for God’s mission of reconciliation and justice in the world. Sandra served as director of worship for the Urbana Missions Conference, Chicago Urban Program Director, Latino National Leadership Team (LaFe), and Northwestern University team leader (Multiethnic fellowship). Sandra’s influence has also reached many others through her leadership and preaching on topics such of justice, poverty, racism, racial identity, reconciliation and global mission.

A 21-year youth ministry veteran, Amy follows her passion to minister to teens involved in gangs, youth on probation/parole and those lost in the criminal justice system – at the core of which life-on-life mentoring is her key strategy. As a certified gang intervention specialist, she heard God’s call to move into a Latino gang neighborhood in Chicago’s Humboldt Park community to be a “hope dealer” doing street outreach and walking life with young people on her block.

Gail and her family relocated to Seattle in 2009 from Durham, N.C. Her passion is to prophetically call people, groups and organizations to become all that God says they are, through the lens of identity, leadership development and discipleship. As a second-generation Korean American, formed in the Korean immigrant and Black Pentecostal traditions, Gail considers it a privilege to serve as the president of her denomination’s Asian Pastor’s Association. She seeks to faithfully embody advocacy and justice surrounding issues of race and gender within the life of the church. Gail is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church and earned an MDiv from Duke Divinity School and a bachelor's degree in music from The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. Gail, her husband Brian, and their three sons reside in Seattle.

Jamie Noling-Auth is the university pastor and dean of spiritual life, inclusion and leadership at George Fox. Before her move to Oregon, Jamie served as one of Azusa Pacific University's associate campus pastors for nine years and as an adjunct professor for APU's School of Theology. She earned a Doctor of Ministry degree at Gordon-Conwell Seminary, an MA in theology at Fuller Seminary, and a BA in communication at Pepperdine. Her areas of academic interest are discipleship, spiritual formation, women's studies and the gospels. Jamie and her husband, John, are parents to two little boys – Andrew and Luke. In her free time, Jamie loves to travel, swim, read and have great conversation over a good cup of coffee.

James Choung has been in campus ministry for more than 20 years. He currently serves as InterVarsity’s national director of evangelism and is ordained with the Association of Vineyard Churches. He has written True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In and its follow-up, Real Life: A Christianity Worth Living Out, and he has taught at Bethel Seminary San Diego on culture, leadership development and evangelism. He speaks frequently at campuses, churches and conferences, and his work has been featured in many publications, including Christianity Today, Leadership Journal, and Outreach Magazine.

Dr. A. J. Swoboda is a professor, author, and pastor of Theophilus in urban Portland, Oregon. He teaches theology, biblical studies, and Christian history at George Fox Evangelical and Fuller Seminaries, including a number of other universities and Bible colleges. Previous to this, A.J. served as a campus pastor at the University of Oregon. His doctoral research at the University of Birmingham (U.K.) explored the never-ending relationship between the Holy Spirit and ecology. He is a member of the American Academy of Religion and the Society for Pentecostal Studies. A.J. is the author of The Dusty Ones: Why Wandering Deepens Your Faith (Baker), A Glorious Dark: Finding Hope in the Tension between Belief and Experience (Baker), Messy: God Likes It That Way (Kregel), Tongues and Trees: Toward a Pentecostal Ecological Theology (JPTSup, Deo), Introducing Evangelical Ecotheology (Baker Academic), and Scripting Pentecost: A Study of Pentecostals, Worship and Liturgy (Routledge). You can find his website and blog at www.ajswoboda.com, or follow him on Twitter @mrajswoboda.

Jamie Johnson is the associate pastor of chapel programs, director of the Friends Leadership Program and an adjunct professor in the College of Christian Studies. A George Fox graduate, he has studied church history (MA) and Christian education (PhD) and hungers to learn more about what it means for individuals and communities to follow Jesus in every aspect of life. He is married to Erin, a professor in the social work program, and together they spend much of their energy chasing around their three children -- and loving it! In his spare time, Jamie enjoys leading worship, running, reading and watching, coaching and playing sports. He is a huge fan of the Portland Timbers, the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots.

As a teacher, Leah Payne is passionate about creating a learning environment that encourages students to learn about and to do history, theology and spiritual formation. She wants them to know the basics, and also wants them to draw upon their own denominational histories and their personal contexts and experiences. She invokes history, theory, popular culture and current events to involve students in the learning process. As a member of the Foursquare Church, she is especially committed to mentoring ministers and ministers-to-be in Pentecostal-Charismatic movements. Before entering the academy, Payne worked in the music business for Grammy-award-winning producer and artist Charlie Peacock, and she appreciates music of all sorts (right now she is loving singer-songwriters like Hozier and Portlanders Portugal. the Man. And, as a child of the ’90s, she loves Dave Grohl and Lauryn Hill. In her spare time, she enjoys chatting with friends and family, reading good fiction, watching great TV (she’s a HUGE sci-fi/fantasy fan), and sipping delicious coffee.

Jamie Noling-Auth is the university pastor and dean of spiritual life, inclusion and leadership at George Fox. Before her move to Oregon, Jamie served as one of Azusa Pacific University's associate campus pastors for nine years and as an adjunct professor for APU's School of Theology. She earned a Doctor of Ministry degree at Gordon-Conwell Seminary, an MA in theology at Fuller Seminary, and a BA in communication at Pepperdine. Her areas of academic interest are discipleship, spiritual formation, women's studies and the gospels. Jamie and her husband, John, are parents to two little boys – Andrew and Luke. In her free time, Jamie loves to travel, swim, read and have great conversation over a good cup of coffee.

Celebrating 125 years When George Fox was founded in 1891, its creators envisioned two things: a challenging educational experience and a community where students could deepen their faith in Christ. This focus on the whole person – what we describe today as our “Be Known” promise – remains as vibrant and relevant now as it was 125 years ago. It’s a promise that compels us to focus on the individual to ignite faith, empower a vision for the future, and prepare students for a world of diverse and ever-changing vocational opportunities. As the oldest Christian university in Oregon, we strive to be leaders and innovators as we move forward into a new era of higher education. But the core of who we are remains unchanged: At George Fox, you aren’t a number. You are Known.