Updated 5/20/1
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Coming this summer:
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| Letter to the Alumni -- , below |
Meet our 2013 Scholarship Recipients |
Video message on Esther by Dr. Harris, 1999 Day at Vennard video,
Choir photos, SoCal mtg. photos -- on the Memories page
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Photos from the Minnesota Alumni rally |
| In Memory page updated |
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May 2013
Letter to Family and Friends of Vennard College, from Howard Ledford |
| Dear Vennardians,
I first heard about Vennard College some 40+ years ago. My church invited some students who were traveling on the Vennard "deputation" team to stop at our church and hold a service. I don't remember much about the service but some of the students stayed in our home....... THAT was memorable. I remember we laughed and laughed and I thought "wow, what a great way to live." |
| Four or five years later I traveled over 1000 miles from my home to University Park, Iowa to attend Vennard College. I met Brad, Tom, Gary, Chester, Jim, Randy, Ted, Bill, Leroy, Dan, David, Dennis, Dave, Curtis, Robert, Bob, Steve, Tim, Mark, Stanley, Larry, Dale, Jeff and more. Then across the "great divide" on the other side of the tulips there was Paige, Kathy, Deb, Debra, Debbie, Jan, Joan, Jean, Joyce, Karen, Kim, Linda, Minda, Melinda, Janice, Sharon, Kim, Wanda, Sue, Arlene, Vivian, Nancy, Wendy, Sandy, Cher, Cheryl, Sherry, Sherri and many, many more..... These are just a few of the people who have become lifetime friends and with whom I share many wonderful memories........memories that have circled the world. |
Then there were the professors, classes, Christian Service, practical service, the tabernacle, the music, Maundy Thursday service, chapels, prayer meetings, Convocation, atmosphere and prayer...... or prayer that set the atmosphere.!? Either way, over time I discovered ownership of my faith. I learned that salvation meant more than an escape from a hopeless end but a new way to live and investing in others. I learned the truth about God's love.....
Yes, He loves me. |
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| My story and memories are not much different than yours. The names are different and the experiences may be dissimilar but the results for hundreds of us was the same. We were changed; life took on a new meaning all because of our experiences and memories of Vennard College. We learned about investing in others. We became servants and carried the message of salvation and God's love around the world. |
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In 2008 Vennard College buildings and campus closed, however, the ministry continues to thrive. It lives on in the efforts of hundreds of family and friends of Vennard College who invest their lives in others every day. There is a great network of Vennardians working who believe investing in others is our calling and proves the love of God. The Vennard College Alumni Association believes there are a few things we can all do to strengthen this network of ministry. |
First and foremost we can pray for Vennardians around the world. If you need to be reminded who they are, visit the VCAA website at www.vcaa.net. Or search "Vennard" at Facebook. You will find the people to pray for in all types of ministry. Missionaries, preachers, educators, business leaders, those serving in the military, consultants, many who have retired -- all have in common the hundreds of opportunities for ministry every day. We can pray for our network of Vennardians.
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| Second, you can let us know you are willing to serve the alumni association. Perhaps you would like to serve on the alumni board or lead or attend a local or regional Vennard rally. Time and financial restraints may keep us from gathering in a single location but we can join together in groups of 5 or 10 or 50. |
| Take pictures of the meeting and share them on the web site. Let us know what you and others around you are doing. This could be an e-Prayer and Praise service much like the ones we shared once a week at Vennard. As the alumni association grows so will the opportunities for involvement. We, the current alumni board, would like to hear from you that you arewilling to join with us in this endeavor. I know we are asking a commitment of time in the lives of many busy people. The commitment we are seeking is vital to keep the network dynamic and strong. |
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The third commitment we are asking is for those who can, make a donation to the Vennard College Alumni Association college scholarship fund. Since 1910, 103 years ago, Dr. Iva Durham Vennard's vision for training in ministry continues today. Countless lives have been changed because of Dr. Vennard's vision. We can still be part of that vision by investing in the lives of those who want to attend a Christian college. I see students every day who are able to stay in college because someone or some business made a donation toward education. The donation, no matter how small, helped that student complete the semester and then to graduate. I watch them as they cross the stage at graduation often not knowing who invested in their lives. I hear them say they want to invest in others to pay back what was paid for them.
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| 2008 was by no means the end of the Ministry of Vennard College nor the dimming of the vision of Dr. Vennard. We face the challenge of discovering a different way to develop opportunities to train servants for ministry and enhance the vision. Will you please join us in this endeavor?
Below, click on "View The Form" which you can complete and return to the Vennard College Alumni Board. We need to know you will support the efforts of Vennardians in your prayers as prompted by the Holy Spirit. We ask that you will be willing to commit to service either on the Board, rally attendance, or in other ways as the alumni association opportunities grow. And finally we ask that you continue to invest in the vision of Dr. Vennard and donate towards the Vennard College Alumni Association Scholarship fund.
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| View The Form |
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