Thelma Postel is with our Lord

Thelma Postel, 87, wife of Don Postel, former director of Business Affairs for Fort Wayne Bible College from 1979 to 1986 passed away after three years of hospice care due to a disease known as Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB).  The Postels had been married for 62 years.  Their daughter Pamela (Postel) Werling g86 survives along with their son, Greg.  Condolences can be sent to his email at Don at d2post@frontier.com, or to Pam at pamwerling@gmail.com.

Joy Gerig is with our Lord

Posted March 12, 2:30 p.m. Joy Gerig, g52 & 66, 85, former director of the Christian Service Department at Fort Wayne Bible College and Summit Christian College, is now in the presence of Jesus. Her life reflected a strong faith; a deeply committed daily walk with the Lord; skillful vision and leadership; an ongoing prayer ministry; a commitment to mentoring disciples of Christ; and, as her name reflected, a joy for life. Joy was a pioneering woman at FWBC heading up the Christian Service Department relating to as many as 96 church and community agencies, and in an era when the administration was dominated by men, yet she did it with humility, vision and a Christ-like spirit. She has impacted many of our lives. "...and for all of this we have Jesus." Here is the link to Joy's Life Celebation (click)

Mary Carolyn Gerig, home with the Lord

Posted April 13, 2012 at 7:35 p.m.

Monday evening, February 6, Mary Carolyn (Steiner) Gerig g52, 80, wife of Dr. Wes Gerig g51, went home to be with her Lord after a long illness.

Mary Carolyn was a Loyal Servant of Jesus Christ as pastor and professor's wife, prayer warrior, encourager, Sunday School worker, and a Loyal Servant in the Bookstore for Fort Wayne Bible College, Summit Christian College, and Taylor University Fort Wayne. She is survived by her husband of over 59 years, Dr. Wes Gerig g51, their four children, Jeanne g78 (Tim TUU81) Johnson, John g81 (Julie) Gerig, Jeff g84 (Jean g84) Gerig, and Jerry TUU89 (Laura TUU91) Gerig, and multiple grandchildren.

A video of The Celebration of the Life of Mary Carolyn Gerig is available.  Click Here.

Darrell Gerig, with the Lord

Darrell Gerig g50 passed away January 24, at Swiss Village, Berne IN. He was a very active band & choir director, a guidance counselor, and a Minister of Music in churches for 48 years. Please pray for his wife Marilyn (Amstutz) fs50.Their children are Darrell, Duane, & Dawn and their families. Kathleen (Gerig) Henkel fs53 is his sister.

Ted Nickel, with the Lord

Ted Nickel , 93, passed away Sunday, January 15, 2012. He was born in Mountain Lake, MN August 1, 1918. 

He taught at the Berean Academy, Elbing, KS; the Meade Academy, Meade, KS and was principal at Central Christian High School, Hutchinson, KS; He was professor & Chair of Department of Teacher Education at Fort Wayne Bible College for 25 years retiring in 1987. After his retirement he worked as a part-time associate for D.O. McComb & Sons Foster Park Funeral Home for 15 years. He was an active member of First Missionary Church

Surviving are his loving wife of 64 1/2 years, Rose Ann Nickel of Fort Wayne, IN ; daughter, Janet E. Nickel of Freetown Sierra Leone West Africa son, David B. (Rev. Rebecca) Nickel of Indianapolis, IN; Granddaughters Austin and Emma, son, Gordon D. (Ann Marie) Nickel of Grand Rapids, MI; Granddaughters Rebecca ,Christina and grandson Landon. He was preceded in death by parents David and Maria Nickel and brother Walter Nickel. 

Fort Wayne Campus Update

Information regarding Reynolds and Founders Halls (6/13/11):

1. Taylor University discovered contaminated soil in, around, and under Reynolds Hall and Founders Hall on the north campus during normal due diligence investigations in preparation for the sale of the property.
2. The contamination is believed to be the result of a leaking underground storage tank formerly containing fuel oil.  The storage tank was not in service on the property for many years and was long ago removed from the property.
3. In order to remediate the soil contamination to a level that will allow the property to be used for residential purposes the contaminated soil must be removed from underneath the foundations of both Founders Hall and Reynolds Hall.
4. The act of removing the soil from underneath the foundation makes necessary the removal of the two buildings.
5. The contamination has been reported to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
6. Taylor is pursuing this course in satisfaction of its obligations to address the soil contamination.
7. Taylor has provided notice to the neighborhood leadership to avoid surprise and to let the neighborhood know what is happening and why.
8. Taylor has come to this decision after great consideration. 

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Press Release from Ambassador Enterprises (5/19/11):

Ambassador Enterprises Purchases Rudisill Property:  Opening New Concept in Community Service
 
FORT WAYNE, IND, May 19, 2011— Ambassador Enterprises has purchased the former campus of Fort Wayne Bible College which has been operated the past few years by Taylor University. The purchase includes the land and buildings of the campus south of Rudisill, a total of 22 acres and 11 buildings with approximately 244,000 square feet of space.  Not included in the purchase are the property north of Rudisill and the WBCL radio station.
 
Ambassador Enterprises envisions using the campus to provide a collaboration initiative with area organizations. The location provides an ideal setting for a new concept in community engagement where educational, philanthropic and faith-based organizations will work together and share resources. Ultimately, the goal is for organizations to accomplish more collectively than they could alone.
 
Ambassador Enterprises and other partnering organizations plan initially to address educational needs of high school and college students in nearby areas, providing new and additional learning and training opportunities in financial literacy, physical fitness and spiritual vitality.  Eventually the campus will house nonprofit service providers with plans to expand to include preschoolers as well as graduate programs. The collaborative community will also serve the needs of others involved in innovative ventures to serve the public good.
 
“When the former Fort Wayne Bible College campus became available to purchase, we saw an opportunity to continue the wonderful legacy of this school by serving the community in a new, innovative way. We strongly believe that cooperation between the public and private sectors is key to community growth and transformation.” said Daryle Doden, President and CEO of Ambassador Enterprises. “We maintain an active commitment to global causes that serve children and communities. Now we are excited to have this opportunity to share that same commitment here at home in Fort Wayne.”
 
Ambassador Enterprises saw an opportunity for continuing the original educational purpose of the property by combining resources with other organizations. Ambassador has been working with several organizations and will be releasing more details in the coming weeks. Initial activities are expected to be launched this autumn.
 
“We believe this community collaborative has the potential to bring great value to Fort Wayne and could serve as a model for other communities,” said Garrett Cooper, COO of Ambassador. “This is an opportunity for us to engage with the city and impact the future in a positive way. We have appreciated the positive response and enthusiasm from the Fort Wayne community and are pleased to see support for this new idea emerging.”
 
About Ambassador Enterprises
Established in 2008, Ambassador Enterprises is a for-profit, philanthropic, equity firm investing in leaders and the organizations they lead.  This approach is purposely built around people because of the belief that an investment in people and teams will pay returns in the form of healthy relationships and healthy communities.  Ambassador’s clients include businesses, individuals, and nonprofits. To learn more, call 260.487.4000 or visit www.ambassador-enterprises.com.

Poorman Heating and Air Matching Grant

Poorman Heating and Air has graciously provided matching funds in support of the Fort Wayne Alumni and Friends Resource Center.