The space, located behind the sanctuary of Henry Pfeiffer Chapel, received extensive renovations over the summer, including new paint, d茅cor, furniture, games, and more. The lounge also has new amenities, including a refrigerator, a stocked snack bar, and a coffee bar. Commuter students are highly encouraged to use the space as a place to rest, grab a snack, and study between classes.

鈥淭he work of the Francis Center for Servant Leadership is an important part of our University鈥檚 identity, and we are so pleased to have this centralized location to support our Francis Scholars. The new space will also be a welcoming spot for our commuting students and a support for religious life on campus. We are thankful to the donors who made this transformation happen and thrilled to open the new space just as students return to campus. We look forward to seeing them enjoy it,鈥� said 黑料专区 President Scott Bullard.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, students, faculty, staff, and community members participated in the school year鈥檚 first service project, assembling Backpack Buddy food bags for school children in need. This initiative highlights the lounge鈥檚 purpose: to be a hub for servant leadership. 鈥淗aving a designated place like the Francis Center Lounge allows our community to come together in meaningful ways,鈥� said Rev. Kris Mares, University Chaplain and Director of Church Relations. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about more than just a room 鈥� it鈥檚 a place of Christian hospitality that encourages us to live out our mission every day.鈥�

Mason, who has worked in Belfast for almost 30 years, supports greater involvement by churches not only in high-profile international disputes but also in conflicts playing out in backyards.

鈥淚 thought that was a very interesting takeaway, which I personally agree with,鈥� Bradsher said. 鈥淚 think the church does have a role, if not a duty, to be involved in discussions, especially in local politics.鈥�

Bradsher was one of four Pfeiffer students who attended the peace conference, accompanied by Rev. Dr. Doug Hume, Professor of Religion at Pfeiffer and Chair of its Department of Humanities, and Reverend Kris Mares, Pfeiffer鈥檚 University Chaplain and Director of Church Relations. The other Pfeiffer students were Shania Haynes 鈥�25, a Strategic Communication and Social Media major; Renata Romero 鈥�26 (Business Management and Leadership); and Emma Snow 鈥�27 (Nursing and Psychology). Haynes, Bradsher, and Romero are all current Francis Scholars. Snow will be a Francis Scholar next year.

Francis Scholars participate in integrated service and academics, through the Francis Center for Servant Leadership & Faith Formation at Pfeiffer. Established in 1999 by Scott and Mary Liz Francis, committed Methodists  with a heart for Christian ministry, the Center鈥檚 mission reflects John Wesley鈥檚 charge to love God and one another.

At the conference, the students participated in worship, plenary sessions, and various workshops, all amplifying a theme of 鈥淏reaking Down the Dividing Walls.鈥� They heard expert speakers explore topics such as 鈥淐onfronting Historic Hostilities鈥�; 鈥淪trengthening Community Resilience鈥�; 鈥淪kills for Disagreeing Better鈥�; and 鈥淐reating Communities of Shalom.鈥�

Snow said that she gained several benefits from attending the conference, including 鈥渓earning how to lead with empathy, listening with intention, and making space for others to feel seen and valued.鈥�

鈥淚 realized how important it is to create an inclusive environment where every student feels like they belong,鈥� she added.

Mares knew the three days of fellowship, dialogue and learning would bear fruit when she encouraged the aforementioned Pfeiffer students to attend the peace conference.

鈥淚 thought the students would make some important connections at the peace conference — connections in their personal lives and connections with a larger community of people committed to peacemaking,鈥� she said. 鈥淔rancis Scholars are leaders on campus and in the community, so the information they learned about themselves and the world will help them develop as servant leaders.鈥�

Reverend Beth Crissman, a Pfeiffer trustee, serves as the Uwharrie District Superintendent and Director of Peace Building Ministries for the Western North Carolina Conference. She directed the 2025 peace conference, the first such event following a six-year hiatus.

She said that future conferences — the next will be held March 13-15, 2026 at Lake Junaluska — will happen annually and 鈥渉ave a renewed focus and commitment to prepare younger generations for sustainable peace building for generations to come.鈥� The presence of the Pfeiffer students, which she called 鈥済reat,鈥� has encouraged plans to expand the conference鈥檚 鈥渞each to more college campuses for next year in hopes that students across the Southeast and beyond will be active participants in future conferences.鈥�

Mares said that having the Pfeiffer students at the peace conference has filled her with 鈥渉ope and encouragement.鈥� 鈥淭hese students were engaged and reflective and really open to what they could learn,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e had deep, meaningful conversations at the end of each day, processing what they learned and considering how we might use what we learned on campus and in our lives. I hope I can bring some of the lessons – and speakers – to the Pfeiffer community during our next school year.鈥�

Thompson retired in 2011 after 43 years of service as pastor and District Superintendent of the Charlotte District of the North Carolia Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served many parishes in Western NC, including Providence United Methodist Church in Charlotte, before serving as District Superintendent. In 2014, Thompson wrote a moving exploration of God and the nature of human suffering entitled God Is Not Fair, Thank God: Biblical Paradox in the Life and Worship of the Parish. 

In 2022, he wrote his memoir, which included his pursuit of an education at Pfeiffer College and the transformative relationships found during that experience. He majored in History and worked in the library during his student years, and he wrote extensively about tough but caring professors, evening dinners in professors鈥� homes, and a unified student body.  

“George Thompson was a friend and advisor to many Pfeiffer presidents, and I am fortunate to have been in leadership alongside him. He was a wise and gentle spirit who cared deeply for his parishioners, friends, colleagues and family. He will be deeply missed,” said Dr. Scott Bullard, 黑料专区 president.

A Celebration of Life will be held on March 1, 2025, at Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC, at 2 pm.  Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is serving the family: .

Green now works to persuade a growing, diverse list of clients that forgiveness is the best, healthiest way forward. He鈥檚 even enlisted Marshall as an ally in his pro-forgiveness cause: In 2016, the two started , a nonprofit in which, among other things, forgiveness informs their work with young people to curtail violence on the streets of Baltimore, where an eye-for-an-eye ethos too often prevails. 

Green describes himself as 鈥渁 staunch proponent for libertarian reconciliation and forgiveness鈥� and 鈥渁n innovative change agent on mental health, healing, social welfare, and restorative justice.鈥� He especially wants to reach people who are 鈥渄ying of unforgiveness鈥� — people who are just like he was for 25 years until he decided that forgiveness was the only thing that would set him free from an inner rage. He links that rage to everything from high blood pressure to an anxiety-fueled need to never let his guard down in crowds. 

鈥淔orgiveness is a process,鈥� he often says when he speaks to groups, stressing that it鈥檚 often the most challenging we can undertake.

Green鈥檚 speaking engagements, which he does in addition to in the School of Social Work at Morgan State University, are taking him far and wide. He was in Israel this past February, where he made a at at . The presentation featured Green and Marshall in an oft-screened 鈥淧rison Dialogue鈥� film that goes into depth about the murder, its fallout, and how the two found their way to reconciliation.

As many of Green鈥檚 student and faculty friends at Pfeiffer will recall, the story of his forgiveness process began on the University鈥檚 Misenheimer campus. He was pulled out of class and told that Cotton was in critical condition after Marshall had stabbed him following an argument over some sneakers at a bowling alley. Cotton would succumb to his wounds four days later.

Green鈥檚 world was turned upside down. At Pfeiffer, for example, he had been thriving as a student-athlete: In addition to wrestling for the Falcons in 1984, he became the first African American to play for the men鈥檚 lacrosse team (1984-1986), and he was the first male student to win an MVP award for cheerleading, which he did from 1984 to 1988. 

But after Cotton died, all that seemed to matter very little. Green fell into a quiet rage he wouldn鈥檛 get past for more than two decades. He now says, though, that his forgiveness process began at Pfeiffer. He credits students and faculty there with showing him the kind of support that kept him focused on his studies — and not retaliating against Marshall.

Although Marshall was 14 when he killed Cotton, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. (Cotton was 17 when he died.) Marshall seemed destined to remain in prison, and Green seemed destined to remain in his own prison of hatred toward Marshall.

However, in 2012, the Supreme Court that sentencing minors to mandatory terms of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole violated the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution. This paved the way for a sentence modification hearing in 2013 that ultimately led to Marshall鈥檚 release a short time later.

At the hearing, Marshall read a letter of apology he鈥檇 once tried to send to Green and other members of his family. (Mysteriously, the letter never reached Green, having ended up in an attorney鈥檚 files.)

Green testified in support of Marshall鈥檚 release, having concluded that keeping him locked up for another 30 or 40 years wasn鈥檛 going to bring Cotton back. Although Marshall was dressed in a 鈥渢hree-piece suit鈥� of handcuffs and shackles, he was able to shake the hand that Green had extended to him.   

鈥淗e was crying, I was crying,鈥� Green told people.com. 鈥淚 said to him, 鈥榊ou鈥檝e been known for taking a life, now let鈥檚 go save some lives together.’鈥�

They are doing just that — and more, with Green now pursuing a mission to 鈥淐hange the World鈥� through his pro-forgiveness message. 

To learn more about Green鈥檚 journey, visit .   

The free event on Pfeiffer鈥檚 campus runs from 9 am to 4 pm and includes lunch. Youth leaders at area churches are encouraged to attend; please register .

Oestreicher鈥檚 presentation at Pfeiffer will focus on two topics. One area of discussion will be Changes in Youth Culture, specifically the rise of belonging as the primary need for today鈥檚 teenagers. The second will be How Prayer Makes You a Better Leader, which will look at neuroscience discoveries about the role of prayer in shaping our experience of God and our ability to exercise compassion.

Oestreicher, who lives in San Diego, is a founding partner for , which provides resources, training, and coaching for church youth workers. He has also written several books, including , , and .

He has been involved in church ministry for 40 years, particularly with teenagers and youth workers. He has had broad experience working in churches in roles ranging from Junior High Pastor to Executive Pastor. For 11 years, he worked at in San Diego, which trains and equips church youth workers, serving as the organization鈥檚 President for eight years.

鈥淲e are thrilled to engage Marko as a guest speaker,鈥� said Reverend Maegan Daigle Habich, 黑料专区鈥檚 Chaplain and Director of Church Relations. 鈥淗e centers his training around youth belonging and identity and how we as youth leaders and youth workers can help youth find their identity and discover their purpose as children of God.鈥�

Vera Smith 鈥�14, Assistant Director of YeTI and the Interim Women鈥檚 Swimming Coach at Pfeiffer, has participated in training provided by The Youth Cartel. As the result of training, 鈥測ou dig deeper into how you鈥檙e doing ministry,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou also do a lot of self-discovery about your strengths as a leader and how to cultivate that in challenging settings. I am an introvert, and I learned much about how that can be a tremendous strength.鈥�

Two other workshops will take place as a part of 鈥淵outh Worker Training and Appreciation鈥�: Rethinking Youth Ministry with Reverend Shannon LeMaster-Smith 鈥�06, the Youth Ministry Strategist for the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, and Teen Mental Health with of Natalie Atwell Counseling in Concord, N.C.

Habich and Smith stressed that they want the participants in 鈥淵outh Worker Training and Appreciation鈥� to network, feel appreciated and grow in their ministries.

Smith said she would also use the March 18 event to introduce the popular YeTI summer program (June 18-24, 2023). Primarily, YeTI is a residential experience on the Misenheimer campus for high school students to explore how their faith intersects with vocational call. Next summer鈥檚 program will also include 鈥渁 track for youth workers to gain skills,鈥� she said.

鈥淲e are thrilled to be able to bring YeTI back in such a big way!鈥� said Reverend Maegan Daigle Habich, 黑料专区鈥檚 Chaplain and Director of Church Relations. 鈥淭o bring Alexander Pappas to campus after YeTI鈥檚 hiatus from in-person programming truly kicks off the year with a big bang, as we work to revitalize the program.鈥�

American made, Australian raised, Pappas reimagines inspirational music with his unique infusion of alt-rock and pop influences.

Growing up in the small town of Coeur d鈥橝lene, Idaho, Pappas drew inspiration from pioneering bands The Killers, Switchfoot, and The 1975. His pursuit of music eventually led him to Sydney, Australia, where he gained renown as co-frontman of twice GRAMMY-nominated Hillsong Young & Free.

Pappas has led some of the biggest cries of praise and worship for the next generation, penning iconic, genre-defining youth anthems such as 鈥淎live,鈥� 鈥淲ake,鈥� 鈥淩eal Love,鈥� and 鈥淓cho (Elevation Worship)鈥� 鈥� songs that have literally changed the world.

On the heels of his debut EP IDAHO, Pappas is due to release his sophomore EP in September 2022, preceded by a string of hit singles.  鈥�,鈥� his latest hit, can be streamed now.

As a part of the University鈥檚 outreach to church youth groups in the region, the YeTI Fall Festival will feature food trucks, games, and tours of Pfeiffer鈥檚 campus for prospective students.  It will be the Institute鈥檚 first on-campus event in the 2022-23 academic year, and it will coincide with the opening of the application process for YeTI鈥檚 core summer program, which has been on hold since 2019 because of COVID.

YeTI鈥檚 popular summer program 鈥� next scheduled for June 2023 鈥� is a one-week residential experience on campus for high school students to explore how their faith intersects with vocational call.

鈥淵eTI is really for anyone who鈥檚 interested in learning more about themselves and how they can relate their faith to the world,鈥� said Vera Smith 鈥�14, Assistant Director of the Institute. 鈥淭he week includes interaction with University faculty in various fields, worship and small group time, and off-site field trips to explore faith in action.鈥�

鈥淭he Institute seeks to support our young people as they discern their calling to become servant leaders, no matter what their vocation may be,鈥� Habich said. 鈥淲hile there is a cost for the summer experience, the Fall Festival launches a series of free events and activities in the upcoming year for youth groups and their leaders, including a Pfeiffer basketball game, leadership training, and a service project.鈥�

Want to go?

What: Alexander Pappas Headlines the Youth Theological Institute (YeTi) Fall Festival

When: Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. (The festival itself begins at 3 p.m.)

Where: Henry Pfeiffer Chapel on Pfeiffer鈥檚 Misenheimer, N.C. campus

Cost: Free, but please let us know you are coming at

What happens when some of the best thinking on theology and science coalesce in one person鈥檚 exploration of the universe and God鈥檚 role in it?

Hundreds of students, faculty and staff found out in November when Dr. David Wilkinson, of the United Kingdom, presented a fascinating multimedia lecture in Henry Pfeiffer Chapel.

The lecture 鈥� titled 鈥淗awking, the Big Bang, and the Goldilocks Enigma: The Search for God in Modern Cosmology鈥� 鈥� reflected Wilkinson鈥檚 highly unusual background. He holds doctorates in systematic theology and in astrophysics. After training for the Methodist ministry at Cambridge University, he pastored a church in Liverpool, England, and he served as the chaplain of Liverpool University. He鈥檚 now the Principal of St. John鈥檚 College, Durham University, where he鈥檚 also a Professor in the Department of Theology and Religion.

Wilkinson鈥檚 doctoral research in theology explored Christian eschatology, a part of theology defined as 鈥渄eath, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of mankind.鈥� His doctoral research in theoretical astrophysics focused on star formation, the chemical evolution of galaxies, and terrestrial mass extinctions, including the event that wiped out the dinosaurs. He has authored several books on the relationship between science and religion, and he has also written on the relationship of theology to contemporary culture.

After delivering his lecture, Wilkinson conversed with The Falcon Connection on a range of topics, from the role that Methodism plays in his Christian faith to the ways in which he integrates science with theology.   

Dr. Wilkinson, thank you for granting us an interview. I understand that you became a Christian when you were 17. Do you imagine that your life as a Christian would have turned out the way it did if you had not been Methodist? Did Methodism fuel your Christianity?

I owe the Methodist tradition a great deal in terms of my development as a Christian. I worship every week at a Methodist church. And that鈥檚 where a great deal of my spiritual life is formed and developed, both in worship and in small groups. I think there are one or two features of the Wesleyan tradition that have been important to me.

What features are those?

One is the way of doing theology. Wesley was never keen on the end point of theology — by which I mean doctrinal statements that some other traditions value. His way of doing theology was to say, 鈥業t鈥檚 more important how you do theology.鈥� He talked about how you read the scriptures, how you use tradition, how you interpret spiritual experience, how you use reason. Now, those things have been important to me, particularly in integrating science with theology.

What else about the Wesleyan tradition has resonated with you?

Wesley was also fascinated with the future of physical creation. He talked about a new creation, a new heaven, and a new earth. He preached a sermon in 1791, called 鈥淭he General Deliverance,鈥� in which he talked about the future of cats and dogs and whether they would be in the new creation. That鈥檚 an odd sermon to preach, but he did it because he believed in a God who wouldn鈥檛 simply throw this universe away, but wanted to transform every part of this universe, not just liberate our souls to heaven, but actually transform the whole of creation — spiritual, physical, all of it — into a new creation. Now, as a scientist, that has been very important for me.

How so?

It means that what is to come is not simply a non-physical thing, not gray, soulless spirits all floating around in clouds, but actually something really exciting. It means that this creation that I study as a scientist is not simply going to be rolled up and destroyed by God at the end of the day; on the contrary, God still has purposes for it. That is key to the Wesleyan tradition, and it affirms the scientific work that I do as well.

Let鈥檚 compare the Genesis account of creation with the generally accepted view that the universe is billions of years old. How do you reconcile those two notions as a scientist of faith?

Science and the Bible are different kinds of truth. When I come to the first chapter of Genesis, what I want to do is listen to what that form of literature is, what the writer intended us to take from the text. And for me, the first chapter of Genesis isn鈥檛 about the writer setting out a scientific picture. What the writer is doing, I think, is setting forth a hymn of worship. It鈥檚 describing who God is. And once I accept that that鈥檚 the genre, then I can bring it into dialogue with science.

How might that dialogue play out?

For instance, my science, when I look at galaxies, encourages me to think about the awesomeness of the universe and, therefore, a sense of awe at God. Now that resonates with the writer of Genesis, who is talking about just how awesome the universe is. There鈥檚 that lovely phrase in Genesis 1, the understatement of the Bible: 鈥楬e made the stars also.鈥� God is so powerful that he made a hundred billion stars in each of a hundred billion galaxies! Again, if I鈥檓 clear about the nature of scientific description and language and truth, and the nature of the language and truth of Genesis 1, I think I can begin to form a dialogue that comes out of that.

The dialogue never really ends, does it?

Once you begin a conversation of this kind, it鈥檚 open-ended; there鈥檚 never quite an end to it. You鈥檙e always left with questions. You鈥檙e always left with insights. For me, that鈥檚 what science and theology is all about.

When most people think of faith and science, they think that each is locked in its own silo. What is the future of faith-based interest in science? Is it becoming more popular? If it鈥檚 becoming less popular, what can be done to foster a greater conversation between faith and science?

I think the first thing to say is that a siloed model between faith and science is a very recent invention. It only traces back historically to the 19th century. I think we鈥檙e beginning to move past that. There are many scientists who are people of faith. There are lots of them who, when they look at the universe, see questions (like) where do the laws of physics themselves come from? Why is the universe so finely tuned for life? They ponder these questions now, even if it might not lead them to become members of their local Methodist church.

What can people of faith do to foster a more meaningful dialogue with people of science?

We people of faith need to be ready to encounter science with humility, joy, and a degree of confidence that we can talk about these things. Our project in the UK, called , allows pastors of large churches and heads of denominations to encounter science in a number of different forms. What we think will break down the silo thing is not something that people outside the church need to do because I think that鈥檚 happening. I think that, sometimes, there are people inside the church who need to be attentive and listen to what science is actually saying. And if we do that, we鈥檒l find that, actually, there鈥檚 an awful lot to talk about. 

To view the lecture in its entirety, go to . The password is 鈥渘=mr2Wzc.鈥�

黑料专区 is extremely grateful to Paul R. Ervin, Jr. for arranging Dr. Wilkinson鈥檚 lecture. Ervin is the son of the late Paul R. Ervin Sr., for whom a dormitory on Pfeiffer鈥檚 Misenheimer, N.C. campus is named. The elder Ervin also chaired Pfeiffer鈥檚 Board of Trustees from 1960 until 1970.

For example, interfaith programming enables undergraduate students to learn about different faith traditions by meeting and talking with faith leaders from a variety of backgrounds and by visiting such religious sites as a Sikh temple, a synagogue and a Christian Orthodox church.

Other examples include 鈥淚ntersections鈥� and XOK. The former happens on Wednesday mornings in Henry Pfeiffer Chapel, offering a combination of lectures, conversations, contemplation, and traditional worship services. These experiences explore the crossroads of faith and learning. Past topics in the 鈥淚ntersections鈥� series have included mental health, faith and social action, COVID and grief as well as other contemporary issues related to the common good.

XOK, an ecumenical program begun at Pfeiffer in 2019, has evolved from a student club into a pass-fail academic offering that enables its students to earn a certificate in Christian leadership. (XOK is the abbreviation of the Greek words for 鈥淐hristian Ecumenical Community.鈥�)

The most recent additions to Pfeiffer鈥檚 religious life include 鈥淐alm Your Zoomies,鈥漚 weekly practice in mindfulness conducted over Zoom, and 鈥淐onnections: Student-led Worship,鈥� a weekly modern worship servicethat is planned and produced entirely by students.

Habich is a Commissioned Deacon in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. She came to Pfeiffer from Centenary College of Louisiana, also her undergraduate alma mater, where she served as the Chaplain of the College and the Associate Director of Christian Leadership.

During a recent interview, Habich addressed some big-picture questions in what she called her non-proselytizing 鈥渕inistry of presence鈥� for all students, whether they are Christian, practice another tradition, are atheist or something in between.

Reverend Habich, thank you very much for granting us an interview.  Before we talk about the programs of your chaplaincy, could you tell us a bit more about the faith journeys of the Pfeiffer students whom you serve? What are they telling you in counseling sessions?

They talk to me about all sorts of things. Often, they鈥檙e questioning their faith. Before you attend college, your beliefs and values tend to be those of your family. When you come to college, though, you have to make your own faith identity; you have to figure out your beliefs and values yourself. You get a lot of new views and ideas thrown at you, which you end up deconstructing and reconstructing. That鈥檚 what I help students with in those one-on-one meetings.

How do the programs of your chaplaincy complement this work?

In general, they give students the space and the tools to question their faith, so that hopefully, instead of just losing their faith, as many students do, they actually are able to create and form a stronger and more robust faith. We want Pfeiffer students to stay in the local church and have a faith that helps them lead. That鈥檚 especially important now because the church is in a hard place.

How so?

The church is seeing a decline in membership, particularly among young people. It鈥檚 struggling, having lost the kind of influence that made it the center of society in the 1950s. I think a lot of young people want a church that鈥檚 authentic and more inclusive.

So, what does that mean for the religious culture that Pfeiffer students will encounter after they graduate and in which they may well serve as leaders?

I definitely don鈥檛 think the church is going away by any means, but I do think that it will look different in the future. It is 鈥渕oving out of the building.鈥� By that, I mean that it is still doing God鈥檚 work in the world — but maybe looking more like a nonprofit and less like a church traditionally looks on Sunday morning. Because of a movement in United Methodism and other denominations called , church may entail going on hikes and talking about God. Or, it may mean young couples meeting up and talking about God on a weekday instead of a Sunday. Or, it may mean combining dinner with a service. The pandemic has forced people to be creative with how church is done.

This all sounds pretty revolutionary.

Yes, but this kind of thing has happened in the church before. Phyllis Tickle, an author of theology and spirituality, once said that the church goes through a rummage sale every 500 years, resulting in such developments as the Protestant Reformation or the split of the church into two branches: the Western Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Can you talk about how your programs are helping students to develop leadership skills that will enable them to respond to these realities on the ground?

Sure. Let鈥檚 consider XOK. XOK is a weekly meeting of students to discuss such big theological issues as Christian formation, the current church, and the changing church. The kids in the group are asking themselves what God is asking them to do with their lives and who God is asking them to be in the world. They have to be really committed to it. At the start of the current academic year, XOK became a pass-fail class that students can take alongside their major. If they take the class for six semesters, along with three religion courses, they can receive an endorsement in Christian Leadership upon graduation. So, that鈥檚 a really exciting thing.

You also lead the Francis Center for Service Leadership & Faith Formation, established by Pfeiffer benefactor Mary Liz Francis in 1999. How has that entity evolved during your tenure at Pfeiffer?

The Francis Center for Servant Leadership & Faith Formation was established in 1999 to reflect John Wesley鈥檚 charge to love God and one another. Traditionally, Francis Scholars, students who receive scholarships for their dedication to service work, engaged in different types of service and civic-related learning to promote the values of servant leadership.  Before I arrived, The Francis Center really focused only on the impact of leadership through service. We now focus on both faith formation and servant leadership; each Francis Scholar鈥檚 principal assignment is related to one of these areas. The faith areas include worship and beliefs and values, while a Francis Scholar involved in service might get area churches to help with our new Good Neighbor Pantry, organize service projects involving Pfeiffer and local churches, work with Stanly County Christian Ministry in Albemarle, or with Stanly County鈥檚 Habitat for Humanity Chapter. 

Finally, what are your hopes for the next five years?

I hope that our current programs continue to expand to meet the needs of our students and that our students are empowered to create innovative programming and experiences that can help them grow in their leadership and deepen their faith. I鈥檇 like students to participate in more innovative experiences off-campus; this would help them gain even more perspective to process their faiths and create change in their communities. I also hope we can accommodate an even more diverse array of beliefs and values, so that all students can think critically about who they are, their purpose, and how they can make a difference in our world.

Hanlon earned a Bachelor of Arts in religion and applied practical theology from 黑料专区. Since January, she鈥檚 been working for AmeriCorps as part of its partnership with the Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity, for which she serves as a construction crew leader on a project aimed at building 10 twin homes over several years.

For the families that move into them, these homes will likely be the first houses they live in, the first that they own, and the first that offers a separate bedroom for each of their children. Hanlon knew these perks growing up in a house in Summerfield. Now, she鈥檚 helping make them a reality for others.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the appeal of doing this work 鈥� just knowing that I have played a small part in giving that to someone,鈥� Hanlon said.   

As part of her Habitat responsibilities, Hanlon teaches volunteers to tackle such tasks as painting, putting in roofs, and erecting walls. She acquired this know-how over several summer breaks as a project director for the home repair missions of Carolina Cross Connection鈥檚 summer camps in western North Carolina. She has also participated in Carolina Cross Connection鈥檚 mission program in Honduras.

Along the way, Hanlon discovered many reasons to give back through mission work. One such reason emerged a few years before she enrolled at Pfeiffer:

Hanlon鈥檚 father Bobby, who would die of cancer during her junior year in high school, had recently undergone surgery that confined him to a wheelchair. The Hanlons鈥� home had no wheelchair ramp. So, members of Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, where Bobby was a member, stepped in to build one.   

鈥淔rom that moment forward, the only thing I wanted to do with my life was to repay people like that and pass on the gift they had given my family,鈥� Hanlon said. 鈥淚 knew that I wanted to build stuff for people. I wanted to be able to use my two hands and put things together that would make somebody鈥檚 life better.鈥�

In time, Habit for Humanity would emerge as the best way for Hanlon to do that, but the fact that her path to that organization ran through Pfeiffer means that she can bring additional insights and savvy to the job. For example, Rev. Dana McKim 鈥�82, Pfeiffer鈥檚 chaplain during Hanlon鈥檚 freshman and sophomore years inspired her to embrace the idea that to love the people we serve through mission work, we must first endeavor to know them better. Hanlon鈥檚 efforts to know people better manifested themselves in courses she took outside her major, including ones on psychology and sociology.

She also undertook a critical examination of the impact of international mission work. This study, which would become the basis for her senior thesis, concluded that in many instances the people doing mission work end up harming the communities that they鈥檙e trying to help.

鈥淚s the impact that the individual group of mission workers is leaving on a community bigger than the impact that the community can have on itself,鈥� Hanlon said. 鈥淚f the answer is yes, then you鈥檝e done it wrong.鈥�

To illustrate what she meant, Hanlon cited an example of mission workers who build a well and leave for home. When the well breaks, nobody in the community knows how to fix it and everyone resumes walking five miles to get the water they need until mission workers return to fix the well. The better, more sustainable solution is to teach the community how to fix the well.

While Hanlon lauds Pfeiffer for its role in her development as a mission advocate, she is equally appreciative of the many ways that the university helped her surmount some challenges of her own.

While at Pfeiffer, Hanlon was not only grieving the loss of a parent but also dealing with both a disease and an injury. The disease, a likely precursor to lupus, is rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis; it would flare up several times during her time at Pfeiffer and often force her to travel to Greensboro for treatments. The injury, which affects Hanlon鈥檚 back, happened between her junior and senior years of high school when she was playing softball. It prevented her from attending another university on a softball scholarship.

None of these issues would stop Hanlon from building and enjoying a full life, which included stints as a resident assistant, a student ambassador, a DJ, and a dealer for casino nights. That鈥檚 because she 鈥渂enefited from our high-touch philosophy during her time at Pfeiffer,鈥� said Paula Morris, Pfeiffer鈥檚 director of student involvement. 鈥淪he definitely experienced support and accommodations that helped her succeed while she was here.鈥�

A major part of that support was the Paul Ervin Annual Scholarship, which memorializes the former Pfeiffer trustee and board chairman for whom a residence hall at Pfeiffer is also named. The Ervin scholarship 鈥� which is funded by the Providence United Methodist Church Wesley Fellowship Class, whose members include trustee Al Rose 鈥�63 鈥� supports pre-ministerial students at Pfeiffer who are Methodist. Each scholarship recipient (along with Pfeiffer鈥檚 president) attends an annual prayer breakfast in December at Providence UMC in Charlotte and gets an opportunity to preach there.

Pfeiffer鈥檚 high-touch philosophy would touch Hanlon in many ways. When her meds made her really ill, for example, she could deal with that in the privacy of an on-campus apartment that Regina Simmons, Pfeiffer鈥檚 director of residence life, made available for her. Also, asked how the university might improve her student experience, Hanlon lobbied successfully for having her dog live with her on campus. This paved the way for other students to live with their dogs on campus 鈥� as long as such arrangements are in line with the terms of a dog policy, which Hanlon helped write.

Finally, although Hanlon couldn鈥檛 play softball at Pfeiffer, the nature of her injury did not keep her out of athletics altogether. She took up lacrosse as a sophomore and, remarkably, ended up playing goalie for three seasons on Pfeiffer鈥檚 women鈥檚 lacrosse team, which seldom lost. (Hanlon鈥檚 sister Aly 鈥�23, a criminal justice major, now plays on the team.) Hanlon found that the sport helped her counteract the effects of her arthritis because it made her more limber. She credited Pfeiffer鈥檚 training staff with providing her the kind of treatments that enabled her to perform at 100 percent.

Best off all, the lacrosse team 鈥渂ecame a second family for me,鈥� Hanlon said. 鈥淚t gave me lifelong friends, including the coach (Jenn Flaherty). It gave me an outlet and a community I craved.鈥�

Hanlon, then, has a great story to tell about the impact of Pfeiffer on her life. For her, though, the story is a lot longer (and inspiring) than it initially appears. It begins not in her freshman year but in 2000, when her mother, Dana, earned a dual master鈥檚 degree from Pfeiffer in Christian Education and Children鈥檚 Ministries.  

鈥淧feiffer has been a massive part of our education,鈥� Hanlon said. 鈥淲e owe where we are today to what Pfeiffer did for us.鈥�Ken Keuffel, who authored this article, has served as Pfeiffer鈥檚 Assistant Director of Communications since December 2019. He welcomes story ideas from Pfeiffer鈥檚 faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends. The form for submitting story ideas is Story Idea/News Item Request Form.

It can be a bit difficult to connect with 黑料专区 alumna Alyssa Queen.

That鈥檚 because Queen, who graduated in May with a degree in religion and practical theology and a minor in history, is currently in Jerusalem 鈥� a city seven hours ahead of Eastern standard time, with an international calling code 鈥� studying Hebrew.

鈥淪ince I was a little girl, I have wanted to study the Bible in its original language,鈥� Queen said. 鈥淚 love studying Hebrew.鈥�

The seed for her sojourn in one of Israel鈥檚 holiest cities was planted when she was young: Queen said she 鈥済rew up with church.鈥� She felt a strong call to ministry as a junior in high school and pursued that call at Pfeiffer, where she appreciated the university鈥檚 integration of academia with practical knowledge.

Queen originally planned to graduate from Pfeiffer in December, work for 9 months, then attend graduate school.  She credits Douglas Hume, an associate professor of religion at Pfeiffer, for her ultimate decision to attend Hebrew University in Jerusalem. 

Hume oversaw her junior research project 鈥� about the archaeological support, or lack thereof, of the Israeli conquest of Jericho, as told in the book of Joshua 鈥�  and encouraged her to pursue her interests in research and Hebrew scriptures.

鈥淗e saw my passion for the subject,鈥� Queen said. 鈥淚 would not be in Israel studying if it was not for the mentorship and support of all my professors at Pfeiffer.鈥�

For the first three weeks of her program, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, Queen attends an intensive Hebrew class where she learns the Hebrew language.

In the first week, Queen learned how to write, 鈥淧feiffer is home.鈥� She also counts as a 鈥渓anguage milestone鈥� the first day she signed her name in Hebrew on a grocery store receipt.

But Queen admitted her Hebrew skills have a long way to go.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to give you the wrong idea,鈥� she said with a laugh. 鈥淢y Hebrew levels are that of a 7-year-old right now. Here, with 5 hours of class a day, it took us a week to learn the alphabet.鈥�

But, she added, she鈥檚 now proficient enough in the Hebrew alphabet that she can follow along when the synagogue鈥檚 members sing from the Torah 鈥�  an experience she described as both 鈥減owerful鈥� and 鈥渟urreal.鈥�

鈥淭hat has been a dream of mine for literally as long as I can remember,鈥� Queen said. 鈥淚t has been amazing to begin to understand more and more as I am in synagogue or while I read the Hebrew scriptures or prayer books.鈥�

Queen also has picked up some new habits from her time in Jerusalem, including the observance of Shabbat. 

鈥淧art of the Jewish tradition is to not use any technology or do any work from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday,鈥� Queen explained. 鈥淚 have done that since I have been here, and it has been incredibly restful and rejuvenating.鈥�

Though enjoying the light-hearted fun of learning a new language and culture, Queen is not one to shy away from depth or darkness. Early into her ministry experiences, she decided that speaking about faith with others required safe space and an 鈥渙pen door policy.鈥�

鈥淚 love entering into difficult conversations about faith,鈥� she said. 鈥淣othing should be off the table for conversation. I believe that growth happens and God can be experienced when you allow people to ask the questions that they are already thinking.鈥�

During her religious studies at Pfeiffer, Queen also found herself increasingly drawn to what she termed 鈥減roblematic鈥� passages in the Bible, such as Joshua 6, a passage that details the raid and destruction of Jericho, which she described as 鈥減retty violent.鈥�

鈥淧eople tend to avoid the violent texts that make them uncomfortable,鈥� Queen said, 鈥渁nd to me that poses an interesting question.鈥�

The question, for her, has been how to use the texts in a 鈥渉elpful and healthy way鈥� instead of the texts 鈥渂eing abused鈥� to justify violence or to otherwise be ignored when they make people uncomfortable.

During her time at 黑料专区, Queen also served as a facilitator and trip leader for the Center for Outdoor Leadership, as a tutor at the Wick Sharp Learning Center, and president of Pfeiffer鈥檚 chapter of 鈥淚t鈥檚 On Us鈥�- a national campus sexual assault awareness campaign. She also belonged to the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honors Society and the Phi Delta Sigma Scholastic Honors Society and ran for the university鈥檚 NCAA Division II cross country, track and field teams.

Immediate plans for the world traveler include finishing up her studies at Hebrew University, visiting friends and family in Ireland and Germany, then helping facilitate the summer session of Pfeiffer鈥檚 Youth Theological Institute.

In September, Queen plans to pursue dual master鈥檚 degrees in divinity and Christian education at Princeton Theological Seminary, where she was awarded a full-tuition scholarship.

After that?

鈥淚鈥檓 not entirely certain about the future, but the next 4.5 years I have planned,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 know I somehow want to merge education and religion.鈥�

But first, she returned to Misenheimer to accept her 黑料专区 diploma in person.

鈥淓ven though it would certainly have been easier to finish the semester in Jerusalem, I don鈥檛 want to miss that seminal moment in my life,鈥� Queen said. 鈥淚 want to celebrate the time I spent at Pfeiffer, with that community.鈥�