ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR Zach Kemper Pastor Zach Kemper ’12 has selflessly served at Mountain View Bible Church in the Post Falls,Idaho community since 2020. Yes–he became the lead pastor just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Although he entered into this ministry...
The Journey Category
“That’s Just Jim”: In Remembrance of Jim Webb
In Remembrance of Jim Webb 1942 – 2022 Dr. Jim Webb was never known as a front-and-center guy. In board meetings, President Kemper said he’d be the one to speak last, summarizing the discussion to provide helpful clarity. “You always wanted to wait until he weighed...
Mulonge Kalumbula: A Passion for Students
Dr. Mulonge Kalumbula’s ’00 story begins in Africa, over 7,000 miles away from Grace Christian University. Born in Congo, Mulonge enjoyed his childhood. But when he was 12, he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his mother and three of his siblings to be near their...
Super Fan: Bev Wallace
The Beverly Wallace ’71, ’91 legacy began in 1968, when she arrived on campus as a student—only a few months after hearing about Grace Bible College for the first time. Born and raised in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Bev grew up going to church and believed the Gospel as a...
Registrar Extraordinaire: Linda Siler
Linda Siler ’67 tried to avoid going to Grace Christian University. Twice. She grew up in Grand Rapids and graduated from Grandville High School in 1964. As a student in the youth group at Berean Bible Church (now Rush Creek), where the youth leaders were students at...
Sandi Cooper’s Last Hangover
Sandi Cooper ’24 paces the floor with a Xanax® in her hand, talking herself out of the worst panic attack she’s ever had. And she’s too drunk to fall asleep.
She gets no help from her boyfriend, who is too drunk to wake up. Her brother, barely helpful, suggests a pill that might be dangerous with alcohol. After six hours of panic, desperate and exhausted, Sandi kneels.
“I’ve heard that you’re out there,” she prays. “I don’t know how any of this works, but I can’t live like this anymore.”
Dr. Sam’s Lifelong Purpose
It’s not unusual to see Dr. Samuel R. Vinton, Jr. ’55 jogging across campus—even in the middle of a cold Grand Rapids winter—or talking to students in the Commons and eating lunch with them in the cafeteria. Dr. Sam celebrates his 90th birthday this year, and while...
Rasheed Terry: From Physical Fitness to Spiritual Life
Rasheed Terry ‘22 says he wasn’t anti-God. “But I was a potty mouth. I listened to whatever I wanted to. I didn’t respect anybody. I just had no respect; I rejected Him in that way.” And he had no plans to change any of that. Around the World and Back Rasheed Terry...
Happy Anniversary, President Kemper!
In 2003, Ken '85 and Kathy Kemper '84 were happily serving as missionaries in Tanzania, Africa. “We viewed mission work as our life’s calling. It was very fulfilling,” President Kemper says. “We raised our kids in Africa, and my youngest daughter is still in Africa...