CIU Today Fall 2017

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ALUMNIClass Notes
Miriam Wheeler (’47) went to France after
graduation under the European Evangelical
Crusade. For the next 36 years she was loaned
to the French mission, Scripture Union, where
she served at summer camps and evangelism
meetings throughout Europe. In all, she visited
55 countries. When she retired to Canada, she
taught Bible in home groups. Now, at age 95,
she is living in a seniors’ residence.
Dick and Ruth (McDaniel) (’57) Heldenbrand
live in a retirement village in Indiana after
serving in France for 25 years. They encourage
and witness to other seniors in their village, as
well as residents of independent living condos
and assisted living facilities.
Herb (’67) and Carolyn (Van
Kampen) (’67) Samworth served in Peru
for 23 years. They now reside in Tennessee
where Herb is the dean of the seminary at
Crown College and teaches both seminary
classes and an undergraduate class. Carolyn
is his teaching assistant for the undergraduate
class and has a home embroidery and sewing
business. She also tutors students in Spanish
and leads a neighborhood Bible study.
Joel (’67) and Nancy (Duncan) (’71) Martinez have
retired to the Atlanta area after serving as missionary church
planters in Spain for 37 years. They are actively involved
in family counseling with the Hispanic ministry Renacer.
Sharon (Rathe) Kemp (’68) has lived and worked in Delaware,
Wisconsin, Maryland, Iowa and Texas. In 1983, she married Cal
Kemp, and they have been blessed with two sons. Throughout
most of Sharon’s career she served deaf and hard-of-hearing
students. After 40 years of teaching, she retired in 2008. In 2011,
the Kemps moved to Oviedo, Florida. Besides being active in
their church, they enjoy Bible study groups and weather free of
frigid winters and icy roads.
Larrie and Carol (Goodrich) (’77) Bunyan
have served as church planters on the
Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana
since 1985. They have three children.
Rod Culbertson (’80) recently published a book titled The
“Disciple Investing” Life. The book is a practical guide for
any Christian who wants to help another believer or group of
believers grow in their relationship with Christ.
Steve (’84) and Joy (’81) Myers continue
to serve in Pennsylvania at Immanuel
Leidy’s Church. They have been married 35
years.
Debbie Maxwell
Allen (’87) serves
as an editor and
project manager for Good Catch
Publishing, creating books of testimonies
for individual churches to use as an
evangelistic tool. She published a
biography of a wheelchair-bound
Rwandan pastor in 2015, titled “Unlimited:
Conquering On My Knees.” Debbie also writes young adult
fiction, teaches at several writing conferences each year, and
is a freelance editor. Her husband, Matt (’93), has worked as a
teacher for over 30 years, much of that in special education.
They have five children and live in the mountains outside of
Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Tom Rea (’87) is an ordained minister with
the Evangelical Free Church of America
(EFCA). Following graduation from CIU,
Tom and his wife Diana served for 12 years
as missionaries to France with the EFCA.
From 2000-2015, they planted a new EFCA
church in Hermann, Missouri. In 2013,
Diana went to be with the Lord following
a six-year battle with cancer. Today, Tom is
replanting Crossroads Community Church
in southwestern Missouri. He has eight children and two
grandsons.
Keith Clayton (’97) has 11 children (five biological, three
adopted and three step-children), seven grandchildren, and
three more on the way this year! He will turn 50 this year! Keith
started DOT Painting in January 2000 after the Lord closed the
door to missions. DOT stands for “Dreaming of Orphanages
in Thailand.” He has used the resources from DOT Painting to
aid an orphanage in Guatemala where he has also personally
worked, and from where he adopted three children. Resources
from the business have also helped missionaries in Cambodia,
Thailand and Ethiopia. After Keith’s first wife Debi died in 2003,
he married Crystal in 2005. His daughter Karis is a current CIU
student!
David (’01) and Ksenija Simmons have two
children and live in Irmo, South Carolina.
For seven years David has owned and
operated Soccer Shots, a national franchise
introducing soccer to young children, and
developing their soccer skills and character.
He was drawn to Soccer Shots because
of his love of the game and his desire to
positively impact children through the sport. David and Ksenija
thank God for the opportunity to impact so many children in the
Columbia, South Carolina area.
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ALUMNI
CIU Today