Alumni News

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Alumni Updates Fall 2013

Duc Xuan Nguyen (1969) is President of Vietnamese World Christian Fellowship, a mission to the Vietnamese. His ministry takes him to Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Korea, and Russia where thousands of Vietnamese guest workers labor to support their families. He is also involved in the struggle for human rights and religious freedom for Vietnam.

Ren B. Adams (1973) retired from chaplaincy with Kaiser Permanente and is now serving as part-time pastor of Easterby Presbyterian, Fresno, CA.

Darryl B. Newhouse (1973) is a retired CA State Prison Chaplain who now resides in Monterey, CA. with his wife of 55 years, Edna.

Phillip Smart (1981) wrote of his travels in his new memoir: By Any Means - a Travel Memoir of Wild Rides and Adventures, published by Schuler Books.

Robert Peters (1982) serves in Worcester, MA as a member of the “Catholic Workers,” a group which provides free shelter and food to people in transition, publishes a newsletter “Catholic Radical,” as well as engaging people in social justice issues. He lives and works in voluntary poverty, in a community called “St. Francis and St. Therese House.” In addition, he serves as a substitute teacher (kindergarten through 12th grade) and teaches ESL to refugees and immigrants.

Charles E. Reynolds (1982, 1989) was promoted to Colonel and assigned as Command Chaplain for U.S. Army Africa. Part of his responsibilities will be training and equipping chaplains from African National Armies.

Jacob O. Gurley, III (1988) wrote his first book, Is Mormonism Christian? co-authored by former Mormon Elder, Ernest E. Dean, and published by WestBow Press.

Makito Watanabe (1988) serves as the Japanese Language Pastor of Olivet Baptist Church in Honolulu, HI.

J. Samuel White (1989) was elected to the Biblical Studies Department at Morthland College, West Frankfort, IL, where he teaches Church History, Ethics, and Basic Doctrine.

Jonathan Jarboe (1990) graduated in May 2013 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Educational Ministry Degree. He currently serves as Senior Pastor of Pathway Church in Redlands, CA, where he marked 20 years of service this past March. He and his wife, Tammy, reside in Redlands, CA.

Don Brackbill, Jr. (1993, 2011)  wrote Surviving the Shadow: Coping with the Crisis of Life, published by WestBow Press.

Evan Lauer (1993) serves as Lead Pastor at Arbor Christian Fellowship in Lake Forest, California.

Richard “Rick” Patterson , (1993) pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Hemet, celebrated with his congregation the final payment of the church’s mortgages on June 2, 2013.

Garry Ross Thornton (1994) is a Lieutenant Commander serving as a Chaplain in the United States Navy. He is currently assigned to Marine Corps Air Facility, Quantico, Virginia where he also serves Marine Helicopter Squadron One, the Presidential Helicopter Squadron.

Jonathan Harvey Wade (1994) is currently serving as the Chaplain Candidate Program Manager for the Air Force.

Dennis Scoles (1996) retired in 2006 after serving as Director of Missions (North American Mission Board) for Mendo-Lake Baptist Assn. He also served as interim DOM Redwood Empire Baptist Association, and as pastor of First Baptist Church, Graton. He is currently a member of and consulting with First Baptist Ukiah concerning Elders & Deacons.

Quentin P. Kinnison (1998) received the 2013 Nickel Excellence in Teaching Award (NETA) at Fresno Pacific University, for his work in teaching Christian Ministry.

Dixon B. Smith (2000) was called to the pastoral staff at Marin Covenant Church in San Rafael after graduating from GGBTS in 2000. In January 2010, he began serving as Adult Ministry Pastor at New Life Community Church in Pismo Beach, CA.

Ronald Allen Michelson (2005) is currently serving as a Field Missionary with Chosen People Ministries.

Tobin Lee Perry (2006) serves as a writer and editor with the North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, GA.

Joseph “Joe” Atinsky (2007) married June Forrest on June 7, 2013 in Modesto, CA, where they will be serving by reaching neighbors with the gospel, teaching them to study the Bible, and encouraging them to reach others for Jesus Christ.

Michael Atinsky (2012) has served as a Chaplain for the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department for five years. After developing a comprehensive transitional program, he was promoted to Director of Inmate Programs and Volunteers where he oversees the Chaplain Program plus all programs which come into the jail.

Michael Dale Gilbert (2012) serves as Phoenix Area Coordinator for Promise Keepers International Men's Ministry.

Frederick James Slunt (2012) is currently serving as pastor of Beatty Baptist Church, Beatty, NV.

Randolph “Randy” Michael Garcia 2013) is serving as Resource Development Director for Ethné Global Services’ project, The Dream Center in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

John Lake (2013) has served as pastor of Church on Randall Place, Pine AZ, for 12.5 years. This fall semester he is teaching Christian Theology as an adjunct professor at Golden Gate’s Arizona campus.

In Memoriam

Joe Lockhart Morris (1949)
Winston E. Neal (1952)
Elvis Preston Bennett (1956)
Max Nolen Alexander (1958)
Jacob Abram Froese (1961)
Edward Sterling Shugart (1963, 1964, 1972)
Mary Evagene Stafford (1963)
John B. Nunn (1964)
Sara M. Wisdom (1967)
Kenneth Wayne Dorsey (1968)
Harrison B. Kenney (1970)
Charles Alden Russell (1973)
Leonard Thomas Frederick (1973)
Dale Aycock (1976)
Daniel D. Cookson (1982, 1986, 1996)
Orville “O.V.” Verdayne Dodson (1983)
Jerry R. Whiddon (1983)
Mitchell D. Flowers (1984)
David D. Lewis (1985)
Thomas C. Moore (1985)
Edwin G. Holton, Sr. (1992)
Martha F. Chapman (1993)