BETHANY, O.K. – Southwestern Christian University will present “The Music Man” February 25-27. Performances will be at 7:00 p.m. each night with an additional matinee performance at 2:00 p.m. February 27. All performances take place in the Minchew Auditorium on the west end of the Bethany campus, located at 7210 NW 39th Expressway.

The musical tells the story of traveling salesman Harold Hill’s visit to a small Iowa town in 1912. While there, he meets and falls in love with the willful, spinster librarian, Marian Paroo. With his fast-talking style, "Professor" Harold Hill convinces the town that unless they adopt his revolutionary music program, the youngsters of River City will be forever doomed. He cons the town parents into buying instruments and expensive uniforms to form the River City Boys Band. Chaos ensues as Hill's credentials are questioned and he is called upon to prove himself to the citizens of River City.

The production features several well-known songs, including Ya Got Trouble and Till There Was You.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for senior adults or students with ID. Children 12 and under are free. Group discounts are also available. For reservations or more information, email tickets@swcu.edu.

^{Southwestern Christian University is a private, four-year Christian university located on a beautifully wooded campus in the Bethany area of metropolitan Oklahoma City. SCU was founded in 1946 by the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and embraces the Holiness, Pentecostal, and Charismatic traditions. A growing Christian liberal arts university, Southwestern currently offers an Associate of Arts degree, eighteen Bachelors degree options, and a Master of Ministry degree with five areas of concentration.}

Emmanuel College student Lauren Peeples recently interviewed Chris Maxwell.  In addition to serving as campus pastor at Emmanuel, Maxwell is a well-known advocate for epilepsy.  Here is Lauren's story of how Chris is making an impact all over the world.

(FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga.)—He is a pastor, spokesperson, writer, editor, husband, and father. He is a man of many talents and titles. He is a man who wears many hats.

As Campus Pastor and Director of Spiritual Life at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga., Chris Maxwell speaks in churches, schools and conferences, while mentoring and ministering to a college campus community. Maxwell also serves as Editor of Epilepsy Advocate Magazine and is the author of two books. He has written more than 1,000 articles, reviews, and curriculum lessons.

An active and personable individual, Maxwell finds time to fulfill all the obligations that follow his many titles, while also actively pursuing a desire to reach out and help others. Always wearing a contagious smile, those he encounters find his enthusiasm and personality encouraging and uplifting.

Maxwell is an avid supporter of those things he believes in. For example, his inspiration to promote Emmanuel College is the student body. “Writing, speaking, and caring for people are three areas I function best in,” Maxwell says. “Since I spend time with students who are the key leaders globally for our future, I am deeply inspired to discuss their accomplishments, hopes, goals and victories through tough times.”

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Over 100 men and boys attended the IPHC's first FUSE Conference, a joint event hosted by Men's Ministires and Royal Rangers.  The goal of FUSE is to bring men and boys together for ministry training and relationship building.  The first event took place in the Upper South Carolina Conference.

Over 100 attendees turned out to hear two-time Super Bowl Champion Mickey Marvin ayer Matt LeCroy. 

Marvin spoke in the opening service Friday night. Several boys gave their hearts to Christ during the altar service! 

There was also an autograph session with Marvin on Friday night. 

LeCroy brought the Saturday morning devotion and hosted a baseball clinic on Saturday afternoon. Forty-two boys attended the clinic. 

National Men's Ministries Director Bill Terry also led a training session for the men who attended FUSE. Terry said he is overwhelmed by the results of the first FUSE conference. 

To see photos, go here.

^{Earlier this year, we shared that Emmanuel College experienced a revolution during its 2009 Alpha Weekend Services.  Here is Sarah's story of her experience that weekend. Sarah is currently a student at EC.}

I stand at the altar, tears falling down my face, hands trembling as I hold my cardboard sign.  This sign is not merely made up of cardboard but my confession, my story of who I was before Jesus touched my life. The side facing the crowd screams my mistakes, yells to everyone that this woman is a sinner. Three simple words ruin the image that I have tried to maintain while here at college.

"I cut myself."

Three simple words that haunt my past and constantly threaten my future.  I stand in a row next to other "sinners" with their confessions, standing there, helpless, not able to escape the looks.

"What will people think of me?  What will they say?"

These judgemental thoughts race through my mind as I hear the pastor pray these words and ask us to turn our signs around.  Forgiveness.  I was not bound by these three words anymore because of three words my Father spoke: I love you.

I turn my sign around, and the other side reads:

"By His stripes, I am healed."

Yes, I cut myself, but He was also cut and suffered to forgive me for that. My Jesus died on the cross so I wouldn't be condemned. He suffered, he bled, so I wouldn't  have to. I watch as the "sinners" in the crowd start to come to the altar, others just like me who have suffered through some kind of pain or addiction. They come, praying, crying, worshipping, ready to leave their baggage at the foot of the cross.

One girl walks toward me and puts her hand on my sign.  She holds on to it.  She holds on to my confession, holds on to my pain, holds on to my miracle, and doesn't let go.  I star at her through tear-filled eyes.  Maybe I'm not alone; maybe she has dealt with the same thing.

I drop my sign and take her hand as we cry and hug together. Together, we embrace what we have done. Together, we embrace what Jesus has done. Together we embrace who we are.  Together, we embrace the Love Revolution.

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Board of Regents of Southwestern Christian University in Bethany has announced the appointment of Dr. Ed Huckeby as the 11^th President of SCU.  Huckeby, who currently serves as the Chief Academic and Operating Officer at Northeastern State University’s Broken Arrow campus, is an Oklahoma native with degrees from East Central University and  The University of Oklahoma.  He received his Doctor of Education Degree in Administration from Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Dan Beller, chair of the Southwestern Christian University Board of Regents, said that the Presidential Search Committee had worked diligently over the past 8 months to find a visionary leader best suited for SCU’s historic faith tradition and its quest for academic excellence and expansion.

"Huckeby was elected from a pool of highly qualified applicants because of his stellar academic credentials, history of proven academic community leadership, and Christian standards compatible with those of our founding denomination,” said Bellar.  “We are excited to have a person of his caliber and experience to lead SCU into the next decade.”

Accredited by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Southwestern Christian University continues its transition from its historical role as a bible college to that of a Christian liberal arts university.  Although a primary mission of the institution continues to be that of educating students in a Christian environment, its curriculum is expanding to include an array of business, education, social sciences and arts offerings. 

"I am pleased to have the opportunity to serve the students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Southwestern Christian University and be involved in the exciting future which lies ahead for the institution,” said Huckeby.  “It is indeed an honor to have been chosen as Southwestern’s visionary leader, and I look forward to the next decade as the capstone experience of my career.”

Huckeby has held several significant state higher education positions including serving as the first director of the Enid Higher Education Program, Dean of the Graduate School at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, and, for the past decade, as the chief academic administrator of the NSU-Broken Arrow campus.  He is the current president-elect of the National Association of Branch Campus Administrators and serves as president of the Broken Arrow Arts and Humanities Council and vice-chairman of the Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation. 

Often recognized as a “renaissance man,” Huckeby is a member of the DiVinci Institute Board of Directors, has served as the Executive Director of Tulsa Ballet and is recognized internationally as a conductor and composer of over 170 published and recorded works of symphonic band and wind ensemble music.

For more information or to schedule an interview with the new president, contact Jon Chasteen, VP for University Advancement, at (405) 789-7661 or jon.chasteen@swcu.edu.