Western ChallengeNews and Information from Summit Christian College

September 2012 Vol. 58, No. 1

Is God Calling You?Page 4

Inspiring the next generation’s best and brightest to the highest calling on earth.

1. NominationParticipating Churches nominate one highly committed person they would like to encourage into full time ministry. Nominations will be accepted until November 30, 2012, and can be made online at www.ascendthesummit.org

2. Ambassador’s ForumSupporting Churches send a delegate to present the Church’s nominee, and an Ambassador to represent the church to the forum, where nominees are reviewed, defended by their advocates, and then voted upon. Several winners are selected. This year’s forum will be held on January 11, 2013

3. ScholarshipAll nominees automatically receive a 3-hour scholarship at Summit Christian College.Challenge winners receive a 1-year tuition and room scholarship for their first year at Summit Christian College.

For More Informationwww.ascendthesummit.org

ascend@summitcc.net(308) 632-6933

Brooke Eckerberg, Gering Central Church of Christ, Gering, Nebraska

Jeffry McKean, Cañon City Christian Church, Cañon City, Colorado

Shane Jones, Diamond Willow Ministries, Ft. Thompson, South Dakota

Lynée Keith, Alliance Christian Church, Alliance, Nebraska

Ryan Yates, Christ’s Church of the Valley, Montrose, Colorado

Emilie Jones, Alliance Christian Church, Alliance, Nebraska

Nate Bowen, First Christian Church, Wheatland, Wyoming

2012 Challenge Winners

In Memory of Rose McLaughlin Michelle Russell In Memory of Floretta Harter Edwin Harter In Memory of Ron Tate Wanda George In Memory of LeRoy Shaneman Anna Nielsen Dale & Saleta John V.F.W. Auxilliary Martha O’Connor Jerry & Barbara Tallmon

In Memory of Ernest Reed Wayne & Arrilla Ford In Memory of Yvonne Johnston The John Family Trust In Memory of Lois Kembel Wanda George In Memory of Jack Rutter Mary Rutter

In Memory of Jennifer Powell Meredith McClenahan Charley & Lois Matthaei D.E. & B.E. Seger Mike Clements Thomas & Patricia Gribble Ron & Sandy Cacek Larry and Phyllis Plummer Central Church of Christ

So he left all, rose up, and followed Him. (Luke 5:28 ASV)

The world today is ensnared in rapid transitions that are propelling whole societies around the globe into great clashes of erratic and unsettling changes. Global economists herald the advent of economic disaster. Climatologists fuel the fires of concern for the future viability of the planet. News broadcasts fill the airwaves with disturbing images of acts of brutality and civil unrest while political opportunists exploit public fear to expand power by offering safety and security in exchange for individual freedom. While most Americans manage to avoid living in the kind of grinding poverty that is experienced by millions around the world, an astounding number of Americans are enslaved by debt.

In recent news we learn that:

• Student loan debt in America is at $870 billion and climbing toward $1 trillion, easily surpassing the $693 billion credit card debt and the $730 billion auto loan debt that now burdens American citizens.

• Since 1978, the price of tuition at US colleges has increased over 900 percent, 650 points above inflation.

• The average college graduate student loan debt has now topped $25,000.

• Parents who took out loans in behalf of their children to help support their way through college have an average of $34,000 in student loans with a payback figure that rises to about $50,000 over a standard 10-year loan period.

• Approximately two-thirds of all college students today graduate with student loans.

• 23 percent of all college students actually use credit cards to pay for tuition or fees.

• Only 36 percent of the full-time students who began college in 2001 received a bachelor’s degree within four years. A rather large percentage of students discover within their sophomore or junior years that their loan accumulation has risen to such an unmanageable level that they dare not continue.

• Approximately 14 percent of all students that graduate with student loan debt end up defaulting within 3 years of making their first student loan payment.

• The growth in education costs continues to outpace increases in family incomes, grants, and federal loans.

In the midst of all of this anxiety and concern there remains a voice that offers another course. It is the voice that said to Levi, “Come, follow me.”

The world needs to hear the truth, the whole truth, spoken from the mouths of faithful Christian scholars and bold, God fearing preachers. The truth must be seen in the lives of faithful Christian families and in Godly leaders, and felt in the convictions of authentic Christian servants.

The world needs to see God’s people, standing free, unencumbered, well equipped and boldly living out their faith, free of anxiety and fear as they hold out God’s answer.

Here at Summit Christian College, students are taught to think for themselves, stand on the truth, rely upon God’s Word and speak from the heart. They are challenged to dig deep and apply what they learn. Graduates from this college are well prepared and yes, unburdened by student loan debt. Ready to follow.

2011 Memorial Gifts

Stand Free, Unencumbered, Well equipped, Bold

“The world needs to hear the truth,

the whole truth, spoken from

the mouths of faithful Christian

scholars and bold, God fearing

preachers.”

Is your heart on fire like travelers who had met face to face with Jesus on the road to Emmaus? After hearing his words and coming to know him for who he really is, asked, “Wasn’t our hearts burning within us?”

Are you filled with joy like the shepherds who, after hearing of the birth of Christ chose to go discover for themselves the truth, and then, after seeing the truth with there own eyes, could not help but carry the good news to all who would hear?

Have you been driven to your knees like Peter, who, after recognizing Jesus for who he really is as he stood before him in the boat, could not help but give up ev-erything to follow him, wherever he might lead?

Has your faith in God, turned your world up-side-down like Paul to the point that you now know that what you had chosen as a life’s purpose just is not good enough anymore?

Knowing God’s call is not at all difficult. You know it when you feel it. It is a conviction that burns, a joy that moves, and a recognition of truth that cannot be denied.

Perhaps, asking the question, “Is God Calling You?” is not asking the right question. Perhaps a better ques-tion that should be asked is, “Are you ready to heed the call?

Is GodCalling

You?

We’d Love to Talk With You!

Visit our campus and receive a 3 hour scholarship.www.summitcc.net/campusvisit

For more information, contactJohn States, Director of Recruitment Services

(308) 632-6933admissions@summitcc.net

The easiest 3

hourscholarshipyou’ll earn.

Coming Events

SCC’s annual Fall Fling High School Rally is scheduled for November 9-11. This Year’s Guest Speaker is James Shade with music from Northglenn Christian Church Band.

Visit summitcc.net/fallfling to get more details and registration forms.

October 6 Bible Bowl on Campus

November 9-11 Fall Fling www.summitcc.net/fallfling

November 15-18 International Conference on Missions (National Missionary Convention)

January 8 Spring Semester Begins

January 11 Ambassador’s Forum www.ascendthesummit.org

March 2-11 Spring Break

March 21-30 Fisherman’s Crew www.summitcc.net/fishcrew

May 12 Summit to Summit www.summitcc.net/s2s

Fisherman’s Crew 2013www.summitcc.net/fishcrew

Admissions from AdmissionsIn recognition of Summit Christian College’s 60th anniversary, SCC is offering a 60 % introductory tuition rate to everyone who holds a BS/BA or AA degree in any non-Biblical study and would like to apply it toward pursuing the new Bachelor of Science: Major in Ministries degree.

This is a $90 per credit-hour offer to those who would like to add Biblical studies to their education without having to go back to square one. If you have earned 48 transferable credit hours in the appropriate areas and desire a career or degree change so you can enter into ministry, missions or Christian Education this degree is for you. For qualifying students, this is an 80 credit hour degree.

If you have any questions be sure to contact me or check us out at www.summitcc.net.

Contact John States, Director of Recruitment Services Summit Christian College

2025 21st Street Gering, NE 69341

308-632-6933 admissions@summitcc.net

TWEN

TY-TW

ELVE

SUMMITCHRISTIAN COLLEGE

REVELATION3:15-16

All Aboard Alumni!Summit Christian College is on the move and having you on board makes the trip a lot more exciting.

Every great college has behind it a great Alumni Association. Now, more than ever, we are calling upon every one of our Alumni, old any young, who believe in the ministry of the college to come join us. Together we can make a very big difference.

This year the alumni association of Summit Christian College awarded Anna Shade and Riley Yates $500.00 scholarships for the 2012-2013 school year.

Bachelor of Science Scott A. Marsh -- summa cum laude, Melissa Dawn Prohs -- summa cum laude, Francois Ferdinand, Michael M. Fogle -- magna cum laude, Lura Jean Sedivy -- magna cum laude, Lacey Marie Fenner Rein -- cum laude. (Michelle Babette Gonzales graduated in absentia.)

Have you attended Platte Valley Bible College, now called Summit Christian College?

• If yes, then you know how remarkably affordable and how faithfully dedicated this college is to the cause of Christ.

• If yes, you also know how important a college like SCC is to those like you who rely upon great professors who are willing to make great sacrifices for the good of their students.

• If yes, then you too are an alumni of this great institution.

Step on board the Alumni Association. Become a participant and help us build the momentum.

After sixty years of ministry, Summit Christian College has plenty of Alumni to go around. Lets see how much we can accomplish together.

Email or call today to find out how to get involved with your Alumni Association: alumni@summitcc.net, (308) 632-6933

You have good reasons to get on board with your Alma mater and become an active member of the Alumni Association:

• Summit Christian College is on the right track!• SCC is geared for growth. The new campus allows for

more than double the expansion of it’s student body.• SCC offers a solid curriculum that is focused squarely

upon Bible and Ministry.• Serious academic study combined with practical

application gives SCC students an edge.• Summit Christian College is up to speed!

• SCC professors are actively engaged in practical ministries keeping their classroom interactions interesting and relevant for today’s world.

• SCC’s mentored ministry program continues to grow in effectiveness. as students learn to address the realities of ministry today.

• Summit Christian College gets you there!• The serious Bible student can take a bachelor’s

degree from SCC and move on to pursue a Master’s degree in a wide range of ministry applications at any of our sister Seminaries and Universities in the same way that they can from any one of our other great undergraduate colleges in the brotherhood.

• Ministry opportunities abound for those who hold a degree from Summit Christian College

Alumni Scholarship Recipients

All Aboard!

All Aboard!

2012 Bachelor Degrees

2025 21st StreetGering, NE 69341Return Service Requested

The Western Challenge

2012 New Students: Front Row: Brooke Eckerberg, Emilie Jones, Adya Gore, Andrea Olson 2nd Row: Isaac Leinen, Jennifer Leathermon, Jeffry McKean, Ryan Yates, Becca Lillie Last Row: Dakota Gulley, Micah Berkoff, Joe Cline, Lynée Keith, Shane Jones, Jane Kinberg, Gene Hill, Nate Bowen