KNOXVILLE – Johnson University Founder’s Day provided the students with a day off from classes to celebrate their educational institution.
The morning began with the Founder’s Day chapel service where a video celebrating the university was presented. President Tommy Smith and Ashton Merriman, the Student Body President, spoke. The main focus of the morning was the new Athletic and Recreation Complex which is almost complete.
President Smith led the students to tour the ARC for the first time since the interior of the building has developed further. He requested students walk to the ARC two-by-two in a parade fashion.
The building will officially open within a month or two and the building dedication will be held in August, after the new semester starts.
The winners of the Preacher Grand Prix with President Smith.
Many students participated in the Founder’s Day events which included a dodge ball tournament, a frisbee tournament, kickball, and a cookout lunch which was accompanied with Fried Oreos and Lemon Shakeups.
The Preacher Grand Prix was held in the evening. The senior class one the event.
The evening held more events, with a A Bar-b-Que dinner held outside of the ARC.
A few months ago I woke up on a Sunday morning and went to church. While I was parking my car and walking into the building, I saw a couple having what seemed to me like a somewhat heated argument. However, not even one minute later when I saw that same couple walk into church they were fine and were as joyous as anyone else.
For the past few months, something about that hasn’t really set well with me. I find it hard to believe that they settled their argument that quickly. Even if they did, I would still be surprised that they would be so happy and joyous so quickly afterwards. This piece is not a critique of what that couple did. Rather, this is a call to the Church to be more accepting of the brokenness that walks through its doors every Sunday morning.
The Church should be a place where the broken feel they can walk in, take their masks of “being okay” off and say “here is my problem will you help me?”. Instead, the Church has become a place where we feel we must look our best and pretend like everything is fine. Of course, this does not apply to everyone or all churches, but from my experiences and from experiences I’ve heard from others, this is an epidemic that has been spreading throughout the Church for years.
Galatians 6:2 says “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Paul got it when instructing the early Church. “Carry each other’s burdens.” It’s a simple command to understand but harder to practice. The Church should be a place where we can walk in and get help or be encouraged to keep fighting the good fight. It shouldn’t be a place where we feel we have to be all dressed up and put on masks of “being okay.”
I even remember times in my own life where I was going through hard times and yet I didn’t feel like church was a place where I could be real and be vulnerable. At times when I was at an all time low and going through the worst of my depression and anxiety, I didn’t feel like I could get any relief at church. In fact, I felt like I had to be ashamed and hide my problems. I fully admit part of that is on me and not be willing to be open, but part of that also lies on how we have been behaving in the Church for years now. It wasn’t any one person’s fault, but rather the culture of having to be “okay” or be better than somebody else that has been permeating for years now that caused this problem. I eventually did open up and the church was actually where I got a lot of the help I needed and the relief I sought so desperately, but I should have been able to walk right in and get that help instead of feeling like I had to jump through a hundred social hoops before I could.
It would be easy to make this statement about how the Church needs to be better at being for the broken people and then leave it at that but that doesn’t solve the problem. So, here are a few things I think the Church can do better.
First, let’s create cultures of trust and openness. If somebody needs help to get through something, they need to know that they can confide in people in 100% confidence. They need to know that what they tell them won’t be spread outside of the church. People need to know they can be vulnerable without being gossiped about five minutes later. It also means that we cannot judge others for things they are going through or things they have done. This change will not happen overnight. It will take time.
That actually brings us to the second thing we must do: be willing to invest in others. If this is going to work and if the Church is truly going to become a place for the broken, it is going to require time from people. Not just from those on the church staff but also those in the congregation. 2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” We have to sow generously into others but we shouldn’t do this because we feel like we have to. We need to work on reorienting our hearts so that we want to be there for others. If we’re able to do this, we will be able to build a community of people who want to be there for the broken. One of the best ways we can do this is by creating and actively and consistently participating in small groups. Not only does this help stimulate the culture of belonging in the Church but it also creates specific, dedicated time to be open with others and to engage with one another in healthy ways.
It also means though that thirdly we must be genuine. If we are feeling great and life is going well, then let’s be honest about that and celebrate together. If we are feeling down and life isn’t going so well, then let’s be honest and support one another together. The only way this is going to work is if we take off our masks and say, “here I am.” This will only work if we are fully open with one another and the only way that will happen is if we create cultures of trust and are willing to invest our time.
I fully and freely admit I am not the best at this. I fully admit my flaws and how I have fed into this culture of needing to be “okay” on Sunday mornings. However, this doesn’t me that I or anyone else who has been a part of this culture can’t change. Imagine how much better the Church could be at fulfilling its role as a house of worship and a place for believers to love one another if we were able to accomplish this.
The church should be there for the broken. So let us here and now start making progress towards that goal. Let us not only do it for ourselves but also for the millions of people out there who are broken and need our love.
KNOXVILLE – Johnson University’s Public and Global Health majors and the JU Health services office’s Health and Wellness Fair and Medic Blood Drive had mixed results this past Tuesday.
The Health and Wellness Fair had quite a few spectators in attendance, however, the blood drive’s numbers were lower than hoped for.
Cindi Norton, a professor of Health Education at Johnson, was very pleased with how many people supported the Health and Wellness Fair.
“It was very successful, a good turnout,” Norton said. “We were encouraged by the participation of faculty, staff, and students.”
She stated that they were very grateful for the items that were given for door prizes by various local businesses and individuals.
The blood drive was not as successful this year. Only 30 blood donations were made. 10 additional people attempted to donate but could not due to various reasons.
“I had hoped for at least twice this number and will need to do a better job educating our community on the importance of blood donating,” Kealy Mead, Health Services Coordinator at Johnson, said.
Mead stated that the Medic employees said they believe something in the culture may be changing, especially with the younger generation, leading them to have a lower number of donations everywhere.
KNOXVILLE – Johnson University’s Founder’s Day, which will be held April 11, is a tradition of Johnson University, during which the campus community celebrates the day Johnson was founded.
For means of celebration, students, as well as faculty and staff and their families, and other friends of the JU community will join together for a day of no classes and a full schedule of planned activities, with the goal of providing fun for all.
Some of the plans for the day include, but are not limited to, a cookout on the patio of the Gally Commons, recess time, which includes a mixture of stations that participants can visit in order to participate in some of the fun, Fried Oreos and Lemon Shakeups, several athletic tournaments, the Preacher Grand Prix, as well as many other activities.
The day’s affairs will begin with a 9 a.m. chapel session, which has been altered in accordance with the day’s plans, and will continue throughout the entire day, until approximately 11 p.m.
Everyone is encouraged to participate in the activities for this year’s Founder’s Day. A full schedule can be viewed below.
KISSIMMEE— Kayla Bowman works as Choir Director and Elementary Music Teacher at Mountain Missions School (MMS) in Virginia.
Bowman graduated from Johnson University Florida May 2017 with a Musical Arts degree. She and her husband, Eddy Bowman, married shortly after graduation and started working at Mountain Missions school. Eddy serves as a Bible teacher and campus minister.
Mountain Missions School is located in Grundy, Virginia. Founded by Sam Hurley in 1921, MMS is a private, residential school whose mission is to provide care and refuge for children in need. Their story is one of sacrifice and compassion. Over 200,000 children have attended the school with nearly 95% of them continuing their education through college.
The Bowmans were unsure of their future when God provided this unique opportunity. Bowman’s great aunt had worked at MMS for several years when she informed her about the choir director’s resignation. Bowman always wanted to teach music but her imagination had not featured ministry in this way.
According to Bowman, working at MMS has been a unique experience. “The big defining word [for MSS]”, Bowman said, “is different.” Children from different cultures and worship traditions attend to gain an education and a better future.
As Bowman became more involved in leading songs during chapel, she quickly realized the difference. Children are energetic and participative, but not in the same ways.
“The beauty of MMS is being able to connect with students individually,” She said. “Everything is communal here.”
One memorable moment for the couple was when an 8th grader approached Eddy after Bible class concerning baptism. Her guardians had continually removed her from school when she tried to be baptized. She no longer knew what to do. Eddy has been counseling her through this struggle.
When asked who or what from her time at Johnson was most influential in preparing her, Bowman had her answer right away.
The music program faculty,” Bowman said. “They prepared me for everything I needed for this job.”
As Bowman has reflected on her education at Johnson, her main message to current students is “everything you do now matters; it’s all useful even if you don’t see it right now.” She wants students to trust in their professors and build healthy habits before leaving. She has seen all of her studies help her in her full-time job.
KNOXVILLE – Johnson University’s Public Health and Global Community Majors and Health Services Offices are holding a Health and Wellness Fair and Blood Drive on Tuesday.
The Health and Wellness Fair will take place inside the Gally Commons in Private Dining Rooms 1, 2, and 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event will feature presentations from students in the areas of essential oils, skin cancer, vision health, and more. The JU Counseling Center, local nutritionists, chiropractors, and other health and wellness providers will be there to provide support and resources.
“The purpose of the fair is just to provide faculty, staff, and students information on health and wellness issues to try to encourage them to have more healthy lifestyles,” Cindi Norton, a professor of Health Education at Johnson, said.
The Medic Blood Drive will be held in the Philips-Welshimer Gym from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This provides people the opportunity to donate blood to help others in the area. According to Medic, a non-profit blood center and only blood collector and supplier for 27 local hospitals, a single blood donation can help up to three people.
“You can honestly save lives…” Kealy Mead, Health Services Coordinator at Johnson, said. “It really is a direct way where you can impact somebody.”
Medic takes various measures to ensure the safety of both donors and blood recipients.
“Each donor receives what amounts to a mini-physical – blood pressure, temperature, and iron level checks, to make sure you can donate safely,” an article written by Medic states. “The donation needle is only used once, only on you. And every unit of blood is tested for the AIDS virus, hepatitis, and other potentially harmful conditions.”
All donors receive a free Medic gift and a coupon for a free appetizer at Texas Roadhouse. On that day only, donors will also be able to purchase coffee for half price in the Underground with paper showing proof of donation.
Anyone interested in helping with the JU Health and Wellness Fair or Blood Drive in the future may contact Kealy Mead at kmead@johnsonu.edu or Cindi Norton at cnorton@johnsonu.edu. Any questions about donating blood may be directed to Kealy Mead.
Sophomore Hannah Mattson laughs at a photo that she just took, admiring the personality that she captured in the photo. Photo Courtesy of Sarah Moser Photography
Knoxville- JUTN sophomore Hannah Mattson has transformed her passion for photography into a job and part-time business.
Mattson is currently pursuing a degree in human services with a focus in psychology at JUTN. She is exploring various ways in which she could use this degree in the future but is still unsure of what she would like to do. However, Mattson has been able to express her passion for photography through her job in the JUTN graphics department as well as her own business, Hannah Mattson Photography.
Mattson’s love for photography started when she was a young girl and continues to grow.
“Anytime I had the chance to get a camera and take pictures I have loved to do that,” She said. “I remember from when I was little I have loved to take pictures and take detailed pictures and pictures of people or whatever it might be. I’ve always had a passion for it.”
Mattson began working in Johnson’s graphics department as one of the two student photographers in September. She works alongside the graphic designer each week. The graphic designer will share with Mattson and the other student photographer what her vision is for the week and then the photographers have the freedom to plan and execute photography sessions.
“We get pictures for sporting events, chapel, any type of Founders Day, Homecoming, basically any big event the graphics department – the other photographer and I – try to get as many pictures as we can for that,” Mattson said.
Currently Mattson is working on a project to photograph each of the majors offered at Johnson.
“We are trying to get more pictures for every different major so that we can market the majors better and so that people can see really hands-on what we do (at JUTN) through pictures,” She said. “We are giving students that are possibly going to come here a perspective of what it is like to come here.”
Once the photographs are taken and edited, the graphics department along with the director of communications may feature the content in the Johnson Magazine, the annual report, marketing brochures for prospective students, or social media content for the university. Mattson’s work has been featured in many of the publications that Johnson produces.
While Mattson has always had a love for photography, it was not until she began working for the graphics department that she began to make great strides in work as a photographer.
“I kept falling more in love with (photography) as I was able to use the camera that we have here and so after that I started thinking ‘maybe I could make a business out of this or potentially do something more apart from school,’” Mattson said.
After some brainstorming, Mattson decided to begin building her business. Last semester she did this primarily through building her portfolio and getting more pictures so that future clients would have past work to view before choosing her as their photographer. This semester Mattson decided to launch her Instagram, which can be found at @hannahmattsonphoto, in order to get her name out more.
“It has kind of been a slow and gradual process of starting my business and I don’t really know where I want it to go or where I am taking it, but I am taking it slow right now since I am in college,” Mattson said.
At this stage, Mattson views her business as a “side gig” and an extra way to make money. If someone asks her to take their photos, she is happy about it, but if someone does not ask her to take their photos, she could not care less about it.
Balancing college and a photography business present itself with some unique challenges for Mattson.
“A lot of times photo shoots are done on the weekends and a lot of times I want my weekends to be kind of chilling and not doing anything,” Mattson said. “I think it is hard because I have to sacrifice my time that I want to go out and take pictures or whatever that might be.”
Along with school and photography, Mattson also works at Starbucks, so with an increase of people asking her to do photo shoots she has had to find a balance in managing her time, but she has found a way to make it work.
Not only has finding a balance between her jobs brought about challenges but learning how to edit her photos in a way that makes them original has been a learning process. Mattson had help from a few people, including her sister who started her own photography business when she was in college, but she has mostly been learning how to photograph and edit on her own.
“I think in a technical sense, getting my editing styles the way that I like them is one of the greatest challenges that I have faced,” Mattson said. “It can be really hard, and you can find a lot of easy imperfections in those and a lot of times it’s hard to not get discouraged about those things.”
Finding an editing style that worked for her was an important feature, to stay on track with one of her main goals.
“My goal is to get natural looking photos, so I guess that is one of the bigger challenges,” she said.
While running a business brings about many challenges, there are many aspects that bring Mattson joy as well. One of the most exciting parts for her is the marketing and social media aspect of her business.
“I did a giveaway a few weeks ago that was a lot of fun that I was able to make a few posts about and then it was cool to see all of the people that entered into the contest,” Mattson said.
She has enjoyed seeing how marketing works, especially seeing how influential social media sites like Facebook and Instagram can be for an individual and a business. Alongside the media, Mattson enjoys getting to know different people.
“I’ve enjoyed learning different ways to pose people and bring the natural side of each person out because obviously when you are in front of the camera it can be intimidating so and seeing the people and their personalities coming out in the pictures,” Mattson said.
Mattson would love to travel to a beach and take pictures of people with the sunset. Taking photos at the Grand Canyon would also be a dream photo shoot session for her. No matter where she is taking the photos, Mattson enjoys photo shoots with multiple people because she loves capturing the way that people interact with one another.
While being a photographer has its challenges, the joy that Mattson receives from it inspires her to continue doing what she does.
MARYVILLE – A Johnson University graduate (’98) and STEM teacher, Renee Powell, won a $25,000 makeover for her classroom at Lanier Elementary School from Oak Ridge Associated Universities.
Powell’s class submitted a video to ORAU’s 11th Extreme Classroom Makeover and on March 25, as students were mixing ingredients together to produce slime, special guests walked in with cupcakes, balloons, and the grand prize check.
The money can go towards upgrading the classroom, equipment, and purchasing much needed items to help further the students education.
KNOXVILLE – Johnson University will host the 18th annual Stone-Campbell Journal Conference April 5-6. The theme for the event will be “Acts and Paul: Another Look”. The three speakers will be Craig Keener, Jerry Sumney, and David Fiensy.
Keener, F.M. Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, will present “Interpreting Acts: The Value of Cultural Background” and “Interpreting Romans: The Mind of the Spirit”.
Sumney, a professor of biblical studies at the Lexington Theological Seminary will be presenting “Interpreting First Corinthians: The Value of Tradition”.
Emeritus professor of biblical studies at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Fiensy will present “Interpreting Acts: The Value of Archaeology”.
There will be more than 50 parallel papers about biblical, theological, and historical topics presented.
The event will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 5, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 6.
KNOXVILLE —The Johnson University baseball team hosted Oakland City with a double header March 26 at 4 p.m. at Ridley Helton Field.
The first game was a battle with both teams scoring two runs in different innings, but the Royals fell short of a run finishing with a score of 5-4.
Johnson took an early 2-0 lead, but Oakland came back and tied the score at 2-2. The Royals would later make two more runs.
Oakland struck again in the top of the 7th and made the score 5-4. In the bottom of the 7th, which would be the final inning due to the double header, Johnson came close to loading up the bases. However, Oakland would take Game 1 with a 5-4 final score.
Oakland went on to take game 2 as well with a final score of 11-2.
The Royals will travel to Pippa Passes, Ky. on Saturday, March 30th. They will face off against the Eagles in another double header starting at 1 p.m.
