SEMINARY IN THE CITY

Most people would want to escape the gritty world of gangs and drug abuse. But Rogelio Antonio Ovalle is staying put.

“God has called me back to the city of Oakland to work in the inner city,” says the ABSW senior. “God has called me to work with kids from oppressed backgrounds and give opportunities for them to continue their studies.”

Ovalle currently serves as district evangelist director of the Northern Pacific Latin District of the Assemblies of God. He is also dean of student ministries at the School of Urban Missions in Oakland, a two-year accredited Bible college affiliated with the Assemblies of God.

Ovalle grew up on “the streets,” he says, with relatives who dealt drugs and several who overdosed. But hope intruded when an ex-addict shared the Gospel with Ovalle and took him to a church camp. “Some of us kids from the streets got into a fight with the church kids,” he recalls. “They were ready to send us home, but waited. That night I heard about Jesus and gave my heart to Jesus.”

His experience has shaped his vocation. “I am called to do outreach with kids who are involved in gangs and substance abuse, (who) can be offered the Gospel of Jesus Christ, see changes in their lives, and be plugged into local churches.”

Dr. LeAnn Flesher, associate professor of Old Testament, has been elected chair of Women in Professional Ministry for American Baptist Churches of the West. She is chairing the planning committee for a cross-regional event in November to discuss issues of ordination and placement for women.

In January Flesher will be on sabbatical and spend three months in Costa Rica, where she will teach two courses at the Caribbean Theological Center in Limon.

Dr. Marian Ronan, assistant professor of contemporary theology and religion, published an essay titled “Holiness as Speaking Out” in the July/September edition of The Living Pulpit.

In October Ronan spoke to an adult group at First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco on “In Memory of Her: Multiple Perspectives on One Woman in the New Testament.”

Also at First Chinese Baptist Church, Dr. James Chuck is teaching a 13-week course for 35 adults that involves a guided reading through the entire New Testament.

Chuck, professor of theology and church ministry, is editing a volume titled “Tell Us Your Stories,” a project to preserve and share the life stories of about 60 people connected with First Chinese Baptist, where he was pastor for 40 years.

Following the tragedies of Sept. 11, President Keith Russell helped plan a special session for pastors on “Pastoral Care and Preaching in A Time of Terror,” held at the Graduate Theological Union. Professor of Preaching Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr. also participated in the session, presenting a lecture on “Preaching in Times of Crisis.”

As editor-in-chief of The Living Pulpit, Russell is preparing a special edition of the journal to focus on pastoral and preaching resources for priests, ministers, and religious leaders in light of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The special issue is due out in November.

In early November Russell spoke at the annual meeting of the American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Dr. Smith was the keynote speaker for the annual meeting of the American Baptist Churches of Oregon in October. The theme was “Celebrate!… Making A Difference.”

Dr. Nancy Hall, director and associate professor of supervised field education, led music for the opening session of the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin’s annual meeting in October.

The Rev. Katie Choy-Wong, instructor in ministry and director of admissions and recruitment, will present a workshop on “Answering Your Call” at the Women in Ministry Conference at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland Nov. 30-Dec. 1.

Dr. Tim Tseng, associate professor of American religious history, spoke in early November at a conference on Chinese American Christianity at the Alliance Seminary in Nyack, N.Y. His topic was “History and the Chinese Christian Church in America.”

Also in November, Tseng will present a paper at the American Academy of Religion meeting on “Stirring up the Evangelical Melting Pot: The Impact of Asian Americans on InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.”