Being part of a community
Living a life of faith focused through service to others FOR KATIE BRAY, going to church and being part of a religious community – namely, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in her hometown of Spokane, Wash. – has always been an integral part of her life.…
Rebuilding
Celebrating Shabbat with the PLU family Why would Lauren Eaton rebuild the Jewish club at a Lutheran college? WHEN SHE ARRIVED on campus as a first-year student, Lauren Eaton set out looking for the Alijah Jewish Club that she had read about. She didn’t find…
Knowing God through openness
Building a relationship with God based on openness When Mycal Ford discusses his faith, his story is that of a classic Christian conversion. He was an all-star athlete. He was, and remains, handsome and popular. In high school, success came easy. And with it, so…
Finding ways to help
Helping those in need is a moral imperative, not necessarily a religious one How did Harold Lerass come to believe self-sacrifice is a moral imperative, not just a religious one? In this world, there are many people who need help, and for PLU student Harold…
Multifaith family
Finding the space to breathe – and to ask the big questions Jake K.M. Paikai knows a thing or two about multifaith families. He grew up in Hawaii with grandparents that are Jewish. His mother converted to Christianity. Despite his mother’s conversion, she left it…
Asking questions
Surviving ‘and thriving’ when bad things happen to good people Sunbeams massaged their way over Allison Parks’ shoulders, as she savored her coffee and perused her copy of “The Shack.”The book, which details a conversation a man has with God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost…
Finding something bigger
Embracing the ‘bigger questions’ and living with a true sense of joy CALLING ANY UNDERGRADUATE an expert in spirituality might be an overstatement. But in speaking with Timothy Siburg, it is abundantly clear that he has done some deep thinking about the nature of spirituality…
Flying high
Tilden flies high as Alaska Airlines’ new CEO By Barbara Clements As a boy, Brad Tilden ’83 would look up from the yard at his home and see airplanes launch into the sky from the nearby Seattle- Tacoma International Airport. Someday, he wanted to fly.…
Off to China
Off to China Blending the Chinese tale of Monkey with an original musical composition comes natural for PLU Music Professor Greg Youtz. The guy is not only a well-respected composer, but learning about and engaging the Chinese culture is a passion of his. “My head…
Grads ready to embark on next adventure
Commencement 2009 This year more than 650 students will make up the graduating Class of 2009 at PLU on May 24 at the Tacoma Dome. Here in their own words are a few insights from graduating students about their time at PLU and the next…
The finish line
The finish line The call came from Japan as Masahide Nishimura was finishing up his degree in Chinese Studies at Pacific Lutheran University a decade ago. His grandfather, Jisaburo Nishimura, 92, had had a stroke. Masahide felt he needed to come home and support his…
New endowed chair created
New endowed chair created A new endowed chair has been created in the School of Education and Movement Studies – The Jolita Hylland Benson Endowed Chair in Elementary Education honors Jolita Benson. It has been funded by Dale and Jolita Benson through The Benson Family…