CHICAGO, IL (August 8, 2011) – Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, will present the 11th Annual Kermit Zarley Lecture at North Park University on October 11.

His lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in Anderson Chapel. The Department of Biblical and Theological Studies sponsors the lecture. Admission is free, but seating space is limited.

Pairing Families, College Students for Support

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A new ministry at Thornapple Covenant Church will pair families in the congregation with college students to provide support and friendship for the students.

“Many of the college students who attend Thornapple every week are from out of state and far from their families,” explains Laurie Guikema. “We would love to give them a place to belong not only at church, but also in the Grand Rapids community.”

Guikema says the ministry will look different in different situations, depending on the family. “Activities might include a shared meal after church, a Super Bowl party invite, a washing machine and dryer that is available, a quick cup of coffee mid-week, or just a friendly face to see every Sunday at church.”

Middle School Students Assist Reservation Following Fire

SAMMAMISH, WA – Middle school youth groups at Pine Lake Covenant Church and Sammamish Presbyterian Church recently partnered to send about 100 young people to assist the Yakima Indian Reservation, where a devastating fire destroyed 20 homes and damaged others last February.

Prior to the trip (July 10-15), the youth collected hundreds of household items – microwave ovens, cleaning supplies, bedding, kitchen and bath accessories – to distribute to fire victims, which would help many of them in the transition to new housing, said Carmanita Pimms, manager of Campbell Farm, a local mission organization that cultivates produce for residents near Wapato, White Swan and Toppenish.

The groups also helped various organizations feed about 200 hungry families, maintain a farm and work with children at a camp.

NPU Graduate Headed for LSU Hall Of Fame

CHICAGO, IL – Former Chicago Bears standout receiver Wendell Davis, who completed his bachelor’s degree through North Park University’s Gains of Adult Learning

(GOAL) program in 2007, will be inducted into the Louisiana State University (LSU) Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Chicago Bears drafted Davis in the first round before he had accumulated enough credits to complete his undergraduate degree at LSU. Davis played football at LSU from 1984-87 and was named All-American in his junior and sophomore seasons. He led the Tigers to the Southeastern Conference championship in 1986 before earning SEC Most Valuable Player honors in 1987.

He retired from football in 1998. He later enrolled in North Park’s program. In a 2007 interview, Davis said the GOAL program, renamed the School of Adult Learning (SAL), benefited him in many ways beyond getting a degree. “It has shown me I can finish what I started. I have kids now, and it helps me to show they can finish what they start.”

Davis says he didn’t complete a general studies degree during his four years at Louisiana State University before being drafted, in part because he didn’t have his priorities in the right order. The SAL program enables students with incomplete college credits to continue on and earn bachelor’s degrees.

Davis will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during ceremonies on the LSU campus September 9.