NTS receives $2.4 million estate gift, the largest in the institution's history

Kansas City-Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) recently announced receipt of the largest bequest in the institution's 61 year history. Zelin and Catherine Baber, a lay couple in Michigan, gifted NTS their estate of just over $2.4 million. Added to previous contributions, the Babers have donated a total of more than $2.5 million to NTS over their lifetime.

NTS was first introduced to the Babers, a farming couple who were long-time members of the Flint, Michigan Central Church of the Nazarene, just over 10 years ago. In 1994, the Babers approached their pastor, James Spruce (now superintendent of the Illinois District), expressing interest in including a broad-reaching ministry of the Church of the Nazarene in their will. Spruce, a graduate of the NTS Class of 1971, recommended they consider Nazarene Theological Seminary.

Soon after this conversation took place, then NTS President Gordon Wetmore and Ron Galloway, then assistant to the president for finance and development, met in Flint with the Babers and introduced them to NTS and its mission to prepare faithful and effective ministers of the gospel and to serve as a theological resource to the Church of the Nazarene. As a result of this visit, the Babers made an initial gift of $20,000 for NTS student scholarships. Over the past 11 years, the Baber Scholarship has been awarded to more than 12 different students preparing for full-time Christian ministry.

Earlier this year, NTS received word that at the passing of Mrs. Baber, the entire Baber estate had been willed to NTS. The gift was recently transferred to NTS and, at the direction of the Board of Trustees, will be held in investment until such time that the Board and Administration have time to prayerfully determine how this gift can best be used to further the mission of NTS.

In reflecting on the significance of this gift, NTS President Ron Benefiel shared the following: "This is truly an incredible gift, not only to the seminary, but to the future of the church. This gift will make a significant difference in the ongoing ability of NTS to carry out its mission of preparing men and women for ministry. It is also a lasting tribute to the memory of a dedicated Nazarene couple and their vision for the work of the Church of the Nazarene across the nation and around the world. Students preparing for ministry at NTS from now until Jesus comes again will benefit from this gift. We are forever indebted to the Babers for their gracious gift."

NTS wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the Babers and Spruce, and to Wetmore and his team for their foresight and efforts in procuring such a significant gift that will truly impact the future of NTS and its ministry alongside and to the church.

For information on making a planned gift to NTS, please contact the NTS Development Office at 800.831.3011, ext. 238 or at development@nts.edu.

Note: All funds expressed in U.S. dollars.
--NTS

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Arlene Young, widow of Samuel Young, passes away at age 100

Alexandria, Virginia-Arlene Leavitt Young, widow of former General Superintendent Samuel Young, passed away on Monday, June 19 in Alexandria, Virginia. She was 100.

Young was born on December 21, 1905 to Frank and Abigail Leavitt in Eliot, Maine. She graduated from Deaconess Hospital in Boston as a registered nurse in 1928 and from Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1930.

She was married for 52 years to Samuel Young, who was a minister in the Church of the Nazarene. Samuel Young served as pastor, district superintendent, college president, and general superintendent. He served as general superintendent from 1948 to 1972.

Young was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Young, her brothers Hollis and Harris Leavitt, and her sister Alma Spinney.

She is survived by her brother Howard Leavitt of Eliot, Maine, her sons Donald Young of Quincy, Massachusetts, Roger Young of Lakewood, Colorado, Gordon Young of Pawley's Island, South Carolina, her daughter Lois Parrish of Alexandria, Virginia, seven grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at Newcomer's Mortuary, 11200 South Metcalf Road, Overland Park, Kansas on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 2:00 P.M. A viewing time with the family will be held at 1:00 P.M.
--Roger Young (1951 photo courtesy of Nazarene Archives)

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District Assembly season underway in Canada

Brampton, Ontario-The Canada Church of the Nazarene's 2006 district assembly season is officially underway as two of the five Canadian districts recently held their annual assemblies. According to Canada Church of the Nazarene National Director Clair MacMillan, Canada Atlantic and Canada Central both enjoyed successful assemblies, with a highlight being the ordination of eight individuals in Canada Central.

In assembly news, MacMillan was reelected as district superintendent in Canada Atlantic. Also, Ian Fitzpatrick was reelected last week by the Canada Central District in what MacMillan called "a very strong vote of support and affirmation."

The Canada Quebec, Canada West, and Canada Pacific districts will hold their respective assemblies in the coming weeks.
--Nazarene News Canada

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Nazarene women prepare to "Come to the Fire"

Kansas City-On June 1, nearly 80 women from at least 20 different churches attended a pre-conference reception for "Come to the Fire," a holiness women's conference to be held in October. This pre-conference gathering was held at the Heritage Center at Nazarene Headquarters in Kansas City. The women represented both the black and white communities, as well as a large variety of denominations.

Kim McLean, Dove Award winning songwriter and 2006 Trevecca Nazarene University graduate, sang the conference theme song she wrote. Aletha Hinthorn, founder of Women Alive Ministries, presented the vision of the conference, and Beth Kinlaw Coppedge, founder of Titus Women's Ministry, spoke. Publicity Director Charme Fletcher offered the guests a variety of ways they could participate. Women left with handfuls of promotional materials and promises to promote the event.

College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas, will host the Come to the Fire conference, October 12 to 14, 2006. Speakers will include: Beth Kinlaw Coppedge; Nina Gunter, general superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene; Carolyn Johnson, founder of Firm Foundation Ministries; Patsy Lewis, founder of Potter's Clay Ministries; Carla Sunberg, former missionary and current pastor of evangelism in Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Susie Shellenberger, founding editor of Brio magazine. Women from 24 states as well as outside of the U.S. have already registered. This event is sponsored by Women Alive and endorsed by the Church of the Nazarene's Adult Ministries and Women's Ministries.

All women are invited to register for this free event at cometothefire.com.
--Women Alive Ministries

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SNU's Larikah Russell named ITA Senior Player of the Year

Bethany, Oklahoma-Southern Nazarene University (SNU) senior tennis player Larikah Russell was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Senior Player of the Year on Monday, June 19. Russell was undefeated in singles competition during the 2005-06 season and was named SNU's Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year.

The five-foot, seven-inch senior from Freeport, Bahamas won the ITA individual championship for small colleges three years in a row. She is only the fifth woman in NAIA history to win the title in consecutive years. Russell is also a three-time NAIA First Team All-American (2003-2005) and was the 2004 NAIA national tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
--SNU, NAIA

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Other Stories

NTS Professor Emeritus Richard S. Taylor passes away
Upland, California-Richard S. Taylor, professor emeritus of theology and missions at Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) from 1961 to 1976, passed away Wednesday, June 21. read more

Marjorie Stockwell, 1919-2006
Springfield, Massachusetts-E. Marjorie (Whispel) Stockwell, a former missionary with the Church of the Nazarene, passed away on the morning of Friday, June 16. She was 86. read more

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