HOMECOMING 2012

Plan to join us on Saturday, October 20 for all of the festivities. Highlights include:

• The Alumni Brunch at 10 a.m., where we will honor our reunion classes and six new recipients of the Distinguished Service Award.
• The annual street fair, with food and festivities for adults and children.
• A Genevans mini-concert at noon, featuring new director Dr. David Smith, and kicking off the 75^th season of the Genevans.
• Reunions for Baseball, Volleyball, Young Life, Band and the classes of 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, and 2007.
• Geneva men′s and women′s soccer vs. Grove City and Geneva football vs. Waynesburg.

Building in God's Kingdom

When you consider Geneva graduates building God′s kingdom, maybe you envision pastors in pulpits or missionaries in jungles. But do you ever imagine a young man operating a small business for the glory of God and the good of his customers? Might he serve God′s kingdom, by building in God′s kingdom?

Matt McCune ′08 graduated from Geneva with a degree in communications and a focus on public relations. He loved working with people, but he also loved working with his hands, so he wondered, “What should I do with my life?” With his wife-to-be, Tressa (Cashdollar ′07) McCune, Matt decided to start a construction company. He picked a name, developed stationery and began advertising.

God has blessed this labor of love, but like any kingdom worker, Matt has faced obstacles. One year ago, Matt was working on a second-story roof in Midland, Pennsylvania, when he fell from the roof and onto concrete. He suffered a small break in his neck, a broken and dislocated wrist, and a shattered knee cap. He was rushed to Pittsburgh for emergency surgery. His knee cap was removed, pins and screws were inserted into his wrist, and he awaited the effects of his broken neck.

After five days in the hospital, Matt spent two weeks in bed, followed by six weeks in a wheelchair. He and Tressa describe the recovery process as “brutal.” But after four months, Matt was able to return to work with few physical restrictions.

During his recovery, Matt was blessed with great family support, but he is also thankful for the encouragement of the Geneva community. “Geneva was there for me when I fell,” he says. “The letters and prayers meant very much to me. It reminded me to be thankful for the personal and closely knit community that is Geneva College.”

Now, Matt is striving to grow his small business, and he is thankful for how Geneva prepared him for this kingdom work. Tressa says Geneva built Matt′s confidence in areas like client relations, communication, advertising and branding. He adds, “My college degree has helped to sculpt my professionalism and give me an edge that many contractors do not have.”

Martin Luther famously wrote that a maid in a kitchen can glorify God in her work, not because she sings hymns while she toils, but because she works hard and well at the work God called her to do. We rejoice in Geneva graduates who serve as pastors in pulpits and missionaries in jungles, but we also celebrate alumni like Matt McCune, who, in days of plenty and times of pain, glorify God by building in God′s kingdom.

Tom Stein '86, Director of Alumni Relations HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU? Share your prayer requests

ALUMNI COUNCIL UPDATE

The Geneva College Alumni Council has started the new academic year with two new members: Crystal (Harris ′86) Arrington and Holly (Paine ′02) Magnuson. Learn more about the Alumni Council and its members here: http://www.geneva.edu/page/alumni_council.