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In three March 7 programs at Pacific Union College, U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black spoke for the Heubach Lecture and two church services. Faculty and staff, students, and visitors from far and wide packed the building for all three services and the book-signing that followed the lecture. In his presentations and interactions, Black impressed people from a wide range of ages and backgrounds with his energy, sincerity, and message. At the first church service, Black presented "Gather the Fragments," a call to gather and put to use the leftovers, fragments, or things that seem not to matter to us - including fragments of blessings, time, and compassion. All these pieces, he said, still count. They all add up. "We've got to not waste the leftovers of our faith," he said. We have to believe that God can use his people "above all that we can ask or imagine." In the second service, titled "Comfort in Tough Times," Black shared ways to have courage in these times, including learning how to wait on the Lord, permitting God to dispel the shadows in one's life, and developing an unshakable confidence in Jesus. At the Heubach Lecture, a biennial lecture provided by...

When you first meet Karen Ong you quickly become aware that she is someone going places. What you don't know is that she's getting to those places in a beat-up old trailer packed to the brim with toilet paper, toothpaste, groceries, and clothes. She sits in the passenger seat, maybe fiddles with the radio, the driver revs up the engine and it is the start of another typical day as the first full-time volunteer coordinator for JPPM. JPPM is Jail, Prison, and Program Ministries, an organization based in California's Napa Valley that ministers to prisoners and their families. Three years ago, Karen was at PUC finishing up her senior year as a bio-chemistry major and heading the ministry KidzReach, JPPM's children's program. KidzReach takes children from unstable homes and gives them a weekly day of fun filled with loving adults and activities. Then Karen received a diploma and said a sad goodbye to KidzReach. She had wanted to keep working with JPPM, but the lack of a real position and funds made it impossible. She moved to Washington, D.C., and became a fellow with the National Institute of Health (NIH), where she spent the next two years doing medical research....

While "Lance-mania" was sweeping through Angwin, Pacific Union College's very own Lindsay Myers competed in the women's criterium of the Amgen Tour of California cycling race. Lindsay, a sophomore communication major, finished 47th in a field that featured some of the top women's cyclists in the nation. She stars as a member of SugarCRM's "elite team," meaning she has established herself as an amateur racer in regional as well as national racing circuits. Although still relatively new to the racing scene, Lindsay is heading to France later this year to train with the USA Cycling Development Program. Lindsay's entry into competitive cycling was quick. After her first race in 2007 (which she won), she was fortunate to make connections with people who facilitated the transition to the next level. She credits the Team Swift Junior Development program and director Laura Charmeda for jumpstarting her career with the necessary coaching and equipment. By 2008, Lindsay was ready for a full season. As a full-time student, Lindsay knows that juggling a passion for competitive cycling with the academia is a struggle. When most students relax or catch up with schoolwork on the weekends, Lindsay is racing. However, she thrives on the focus...

Motivated by the continued focus on service at Pacific Union College and on the national stage, the PUC chapter of Amnesty International (AI-PUC) has developed an ambitious program for 2009. Through continued use of awareness campaigns, guest speakers and a new program being pioneered at PUC that mixes music and social awareness, they are tackling the major issues of international justice and violence against women, as well as the inevitable human rights issues that pass across the world stage during the year. As a creative and compelling way to call attention to areas of human rights concern, AI-PUC has developed a series of concerts called "Jamnesty." Jamnesty events feature information on current human rights campaigns intermingled with live music from local musicians. The combination of music and activism is not unusual. The club's faculty sponsor, Gregory Schneider, professor of religion and social science, points out that the two have often gone hand in hand. "There has long been a synergy between Amnesty International and popular music groups," he notes. "Yoko Ono famously gave them the rights to the song 'Imagine,' and other musicians, from Tracy Chapman to Rage Against the Machine, have performed benefit concerts for the organization and the...

PUC has long been a campus of sports enthusiasts. A record number for intramural participation during this winter quarter testifies to this enthusiasm. Each week, around 400 students (and some faculty and staff) remove themselves from their studies, significant others and daily social rituals to play basketball, futsal and floor hockey. There are 42 teams total. However, Coach Bob Paulson - associate professor in the exercise science department, coach of the cross-country team and head of the intramurals department - is not satisfied. Four hundred is great, but this still means many students are not participating. "The degree of intramural participation tells us we have great, active students, but I will not be satisfied with the participation until we find something for everyone," he says. "We want to create a place to play for each and every student." The official intramural website, www.recradio.org, features schedules, extensive photo galleries and a weekly podcast devoted to intramural conversation. Hosted by Coach Paulson, the podcast usually consists of student interviews and a summary of the week in intramurals. Students who listen in may be surprised to hear their team critiqued by coaches, fellow students and even a dean! The spirit of fellowship and...