If making acquaintances in Arizona was a first step, becoming involved in starting a church was the next. Gene, who graduated from Bethel Junior College with an A.A. in 1944, earned a V.D. from Bethel Seminary in 1948, and eventually completed an M.F.A., has found the Lord making use of his earlier training and experience. In Arizona, I've been more involved in the local church. I've had a part in the formation of an Evangelical Free church, serving as the chairman of the steering committee and leading services. Today, that church has grown to a congregation of 300 and is presently in the midst of a second building program that will provide classroom space and a social center.
Gene is an involved member of the congregation.
During his Bethel days, besides teaching and serving as the chairman of the art department, Gene worked as the campus planner for four years and was responsible for overseeing the campus master plan and the design of the seminary building and complex. Knowledge gleaned from that time is useful now. As long as I was at Bethel, my focus was ministry on the campus. I never had time to do that before. Gene noticed that his granddaughter, and art major, is currently finishing her senior year at Bethel.