After Emily Durbin ’23 graduated in May with a bachelor’s in business management, she embarked on one more opportunity to serve alongside her Azusa Pacific University friends on a three-week Global Engagement trip to Turkey.

Why did you choose Turkey?

We originally planned to go to Spain and Morocco, but something happened with the host there, so we were redirected. Turkey was an amazing experience, and I believe that change in location was from God.

Where did you travel to in Turkey?

We started in the capitol, Ankara. Then we went south to Antakya. In the Bible, it was called Antioch. We also went to Cappadocia, then to Istanbul and back to Ankara before we flew home.

How did you serve on the trip?

We visited the site of the big earthquake that happened a few months ago. The devastation there was really bad. We worked at a kitchen on an assembly line, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

What were the biggest highlights of the trip?

The people we served were so kind and a few of them invited us to their homes and gave us tea and Turkish delight. We’d talk for a long time through our translator because most of the people didn’t speak English.

We worked with an organization that serves refugees. Many were Iranian. At the end of our time, we hosted a testimony night and they shared their stories of coming to Turkey, how they met Jesus, and what they dream of doing when they leave Turkey. It was so powerful to hear their stories. We also taught them English, which was a cool experience.

I really enjoyed seeing some of the beautiful areas of Turkey. We visited mosques, including the famous Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

In Cappadocia, we stayed in a cave hotel. We’d wake up at 5:30 a.m., look out of the cave, and watch the sunrise with hundreds of hot air balloons flying up into the sky. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.

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What was the dynamic like on your team?

We all grew a lot closer over the course of the trip. Every night we’d get ice cream and do a debrief about our day. It was interesting hearing each person’s perceptions of Turkey. I’m from Colorado and it reminded me of home. Another girl said it reminded her of Korea and someone else thought it was like Ecuador. It was special that the Lord made this place remind us all of the places we loved. I loved serving as a leader of the team alongside my friend Deborah. The Lord blessed us with an amazing team.

What was a big takeaway from the trip?

Building relationships with people was a big one. The Turkish people were so kind. They would give so much, whether it was tea or food or rides wherever we needed. I learned how to love people more selflessly from their example.

How did you grow personally and spiritually?

Personally, I grew in my understanding of people. It was a very relational ministry. I also grew in my understanding of missions and how God can use you in the little things.

Spiritually, I learned to trust God more. There were a lot of days on the trip where we didn’t have much planned and we had to figure things out as we went. Looking back on the trip, trusting God was really transformational for me.

Would you recommend global engagement trips to other students? What advice would you give them?

I would 100 percent recommend the experience. This was my second global engagement trip. My first one was to Thailand last year. These trips inspired me to want to do missionary work long term. They’re literally life changing.

My biggest advice would be to have an open mind and heart. Don’t set expectations based on what you hear from friends’ experiences. Each trip is unique, so be open to how God is purposeful with your journey.

Where God places you and what He has you do on those trips will be transformational. If you’re open to what God has for you, it could change your life like it did mine.

One of our four cornerstones is service. What does service mean to you?

Service is not about you. Some of the work we were doing wasn’t the most exciting, like keeping watch over earthquake relief supplies, but it was what the people there asked us to do. Service is being aware of what others need and doing what you can to fulfill those needs.

All APU undergraduate students serve 120 hours over the course of four years. There are many opportunities during the school year and the summer to serve both locally and globally. Learn more about global engagement trips here or by emailing globalengagement@apu.edu.

As hundreds of audience members watched, Raphaela Lacerda, MM ’23, took the stage to conduct the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra (SBSO) for the first time. Lacerda was guest conducting Georges Bizet’s Farandole from L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2 after an invitation from renowned conductor Anthony Parnther for the SBSO’s final performance of 2022. Having only rehearsed with the orchestra for 20 minutes the day before the show, Lacerda remained confident and everything went smoothly as the audience burst into applause as the piece ended. “A lot of people came up to talk to me after the show, complimenting the performance and commenting on how young I was,” Lacerda said. “There were even a few kids who said they wanted to be like me when they grew up. That was a special moment, to think I could be a role model for them.”

Lacerda was remarkably young to be conducting a professional orchestra. In fact, this debut conducting performance at the SBSO happened six months before she graduated with her Master’s in Conducting from Azusa Pacific University. Yet Lacerda’s performance caused Parnther to immediately recognize her potential for greatness. Panther knows what it takes to succeed, having conducted for numerous blockbuster movies including Oppenheimer, Avatar, and Black Panther and at dozens of orchestras across the world.

“From the moment Lacerda stepped onto the SBSO podium at the California Theatre, she demonstrated a command and professionalism rare for a musician her age,” Panther said. “It was at this moment that I made the rare decision to take on an assistant conductor to mentor, and learn the ropes of what it really takes to run and grow a regional orchestra.”

After graduating in May, Lacerda began working as the assistant conductor of the SBSO, fully engaged with Parnther both on and off the stage, aiming to excel in her role. “His musicianship is amazing. I’m learning to listen like him, to hear what he hears. As his assistant, sometimes my job is to stay in the audience during rehearsals and talk about the performance and what I heard,” Lacerda said. However, the performance aspect is just one facet of her multifaceted role. She also actively participates in the behind-the-scenes operations that ensure the smooth functioning of the SBSO. This involves coordinating venue setup, assisting with brand sponsorships, and contributing to the orchestra’s website and social media. “I’m working on promoting the SBSO because although we are one of the oldest orchestras in Southern California, not many people know how much we’ve changed recently,” she said. “If you watch a video of us from five years ago, it’s nothing compared to now and it’s great to hear response from people noticing how much we’ve grown.”

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Lacerda’s impact on the SBSO has already received recognition. In July, Lacerda was named the recipient of the Emerging Professional Award from the Association of California Symphony Orchestras. “Raphaela’s work distinguished her as a true emerging professional from the day we met her,” said Anne Viricel, executive director of the SBSO. “We quickly received phone calls from community members and local music teachers asking when she would be back on the podium!” This award is the culmination of years of practice and rehearsal on Lacerda’s journey to becoming a great conductor.

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Lacerda began her musical journey as a young child in her hometown of Sao Paulo, Brazil. After years of playing the violin, she began studying music seriously at a conservatorium and performing in youth orchestras. It was in one of these orchestras that she discovered her passion for conducting. “Each season, we would have a new person leading us. I grew curious because each conductor had a different style,” she said. “The good conductors could identify things and say, trumpet two, play it this way. It was magical seeing how talented their ears were and how they could communicate to help us play better as a whole.”

As Lacerda watched her conductors, she began to come up with ideas on how to improve her orchestra’s performance and realized she wanted to become a conductor one day.

After years of musical experience in Brazil, Lacerda decided to pursue a master’s degree in America. She researched more than 100 universities and began narrowing the list down until there were only 20. APU stood out among these institutions because of its close proximity to Los Angeles, scholarship opportunities, and great reviews from other Brazilians who had attended the university to study music. Perhaps the most important reason Lacerda chose APU was because of the professor she would be mentored by, Chris Russell, MM, an accomplished conductor who was still active in the industry. Lacerda contacted Russell and sent videos of her performances. “Immediately, I was impressed and I thought she had quite a bit of potential,” Russell said.

Although Lacerda’s APU journey was delayed by two years because of the pandemic, she was not deterred, moving to Azusa in fall 2021. “I noticed quickly that she had a very natural feel for conducting, she was a born leader, and she was always curious about how to get better at her craft,” Russell said. Lacerda had a strong rehearsal technique, diagnosing issues in the orchestra and helping them improve before performances. “The orchestra really liked performing with her. Whenever she was conducting, they were in good hands,” he said. “With each piece I gave her, she continued to get better.”

The pinnacle of Lacerda’s time at APU came during her master’s recital in March. Wanting to give her a challenge, Russell tasked her with conducting the New World Symphony by Antonín Dvořák, one of the most beloved symphonies ever written. She had four rehearsals to put together a program before the recital. As Russell sat in the audience, he was in awe of Lacerda’s conducting performance. “With the orchestra in her command, I didn’t feel like I was hearing a student production, I felt like I was in a professional concert,” he said. Soon after her master’s recital, Lacerda received the 2023 Dennis Royce Graduate Achievement and Academic Excellence Award from APU.

“Raphaela is one of the most gifted students I’ve ever had the pleasure to teach. She will make her mark in the conducting world. I’m excited to see what God has planned for her.”

Lacerda is excited to continue learning from Parnther at the SBSO, building her conducting resume. While a return home to Brazil may be coming in the future, that would be a long ways away and for now, she is focusing on refining her craft. “I’m very grateful for my experience at APU and I’m blessed to be conducting here in San Bernardino,” she said. “God opened the right doors for me and I trust He will continue to do so. I’m open to whatever God has planned for me.”

Jill Lincoln, MA, loves training the next generation of great storytellers. As the head of Azusa Pacific University’s Department of Theater Arts, Lincoln is passionate about helping students become experts at their craft, sharing impactful stories through the art of acting. “Stories matter. They’re the way in which Christ communicated and if we equip students to become exceptional storytellers, that is success, especially when we’re 20 minutes from the largest entertainment industry in the world,” Lincoln said.

This close proximity to Hollywood led Lincoln and APU theater arts faculty to develop the first Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting for the Stage and Screen program in the country. Unlike most traditional acting programs which focus solely on classical theater training, APU’s innovative BFA equips students with skills for on-camera work too. “Our faculty knew that in order to make a living as an actor, you’ve got to understand different genres,” Lincoln said. “The entertainment industry is always reinventing itself. We want to train our students to be flexible and know how to work in both areas.” The BFA in acting begins training students in theater so they can learn acting fundamentals, script analysis, and character development, before moving on to on-camera work. “I’ve done both. I love theater and the thrill of performing in front of a full house on opening night. I’m always equally excited to connect with another actor in front of the camera and then witness it on the big screen.”

Lincoln uses her firsthand knowledge from professional acting experience in her instruction. Originally from Dallas, Lincoln was fortunate to attend one of the top theater programs in the country at Southern Methodist University on a full ride. After graduating from SMU, she interned at The Alley, a professional theater in Houston, before deciding to take the leap to New York City. For several years, Lincoln struggled to land major roles, doing mostly free and non-equity theater. It was while she was acting at a charity event at Fifth Presbyterian Church that Lincoln had a life changing realization from the Holy Spirit. Although she grew up in a Christian household, Lincoln’s faith took a backseat to her ambition during her early career. She had been separating her faith from her acting.

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“In that moment, I was convicted that I wasn’t going to be able to act anymore unless I was willing to do it for the right reasons, not for fame or accolades, but to serve God with the characters I was creating and through the stories I was telling,” she said. “That was a game changer for me. It empowered me to worry less about pleasing others and to tell the story from an authentic place of truth.”

After this realization, Lincoln saw her career blossom. She got her big break as an understudy in a John Patrick Shanley Broadway production. This led Lincoln to land major roles in a couple of Broadway national tours, including Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo. “But right as I was breaking into Broadway, my agent called and said I needed to go to LA, so I did and I got my very first on camera job with Paul Giamatti and Vanessa Redgrave, two of the greats of the acting world,” Lincoln said. “Because I was on camera with them for 12 hours, I learned how to adjust from theater to film acting.” Lincoln continued landing roles on major shows including starring as “Crazy Carrie” in Gilmore Girls, Tish Atherton in Desperate Housewives, and Gracie Jane in Boston Legal.

While pursuing her acting career, Lincoln founded the Brennan Gould Acting Studio with colleagues who had trained at Yale. Here, she began to develop courses that would later influence the APU’s BFA in acting curriculum. Soon after starting the studio, Lincoln received an invite from a friend to lead a workshop on auditioning at APU. “I loved it. I instantly fell in love with the students and I was thrilled that it led to me getting to teach a class as an adjunct instructor at APU,” she said. Lincoln enjoyed teaching while still pursuing her acting career for a few years, but after having two kids, she decided to become a full-time educator. “I didn’t train to be a professor, but I realized pretty early in my acting career that I wanted to teach. I learned a lot at SMU, but there were so many things they didn’t teach that I learned through experience on Broadway and in LA that I wanted to share with my students.”

Lincoln’s faith played a major role in her choosing to teach at APU. When looking at colleges for herself, Lincoln didn’t seriously consider any Christian universities because their theater programs weren’t nearly as strong as their secular counterparts. “Even years later after I had kids, I thought it was a shame that there wasn’t a Christian university with an acting program that I’d want to send my kids to one day,” she said.

“Looking back, I saw APU as a great place to develop a premier Christian theater arts program. I think our incredible faculty, staff, and students have made that happen. I believe we are one of the leading Christian acting programs in the country.”

APU Theater Arts has received numerous accolades in the last two decades, including having the West Coast premiere of Aaron Sorkin’s To Kill a Mockingbird in 2019, before the show even launched a national tour. APU was also selected as one of only five universities in the nation to receive the rights to perform Andrew Lloyd Weber’s The Phantom of the Opera after the Broadway production closed in 2022. “I have friends from other top acting schools across the country who ask me how we got these shows at a private Christian school,” Lincoln said. “All of us in our department know that it’s God using our proximity to LA and this particular group of people to create exceptionalism in His name.”

Perhaps the accomplishment that Lincoln is most proud of is the development of the Industry Showcase at Warner Bros. Studios. Held in April each year, the BFA Showcase allows graduating APU seniors to perform in front of dozens of talent representatives and industry agents. Students share monologues and present a web series so agents can get a sense of their acting skills on the stage and screen. “We were one of the first programs in the country to create a unique BFA industry showcase like that. Most schools only highlight their MFA students. We had 50 talent representatives sign up for the Showcase last year, which is incredible,” Lincoln said. “It led to 70 percent of our students getting called to meet with an agent, and 50 percent of them got signed.”

APU alumni have gone on to star in numerous TV shows, movies, and even Super Bowl commercials. Lincoln loves seeing her students succeed in the industry, testifying to the training they received at APU. “It is exciting to see our students using their talents to be difference makers for Christ.”

When it comes to heavy workloads, study sessions, and never-ending to-do lists, spending a few hours at a local coffee shop offers a space outside of school to buckle down on work, alone or with friends, all while sipping a delicious drink. Here are some of the best coffee shops within a 10 minute drive from Azusa Pacific University’s campus.

Classic Coffee

Located in quaint downtown Glendora, Classic Coffee, only a 10 minute drive from campus, stays true to its name, providing customers a traditional coffee shop experience through its variety of coffee and tea options, soft, upbeat music, and a wide space for groups to combine tables if needed. Their lattes will satisfy your sweet tooth, as their menu offers honey lavender, hazelnut, irish cream, french toast, cookie butter, maple, and honey cinnamon to name a few. Outdoor seating is also available, and perfect for soaking up the sun and admiring downtown Glendora. Treat yourself to one of their delicious pastries, while enjoying the cozy, calm ambiance.

Hours: Monday-Friday: 6 a.m.- 7 p.m. Saturday: 6 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sunday: 7 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Address: 148 N Glendora Ave, Glendora CA

Pressed+Flower

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This café is for all the flower lovers out there. Whether you are a garden enthusiast or not, Pressed+Flower, just five minutes away from APU, offers a wide selection of drinks, often topped with flower petals, that any coffee drinker will love. I especially love the Rose Cold Brew. The shop itself is as cute as the drinks are flavorful. Their pastries never cease to delight customers; I highly recommend the chocolate croissants, as they offer the perfect combination of crunchy, flaky sweetness. The shop’s aesthetic is perfect for gathering a group of friends to take pictures with. Be sure to check out their items for sale, including unique water bottle stickers, postcards, hair accessories, and more.

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sunday: 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Address: 523 N Azusa Ave, Azusa CA

Mantra

If you’re looking for something modern, hip, and cozy, Mantra is the place to go, located off East Foothill Boulevard and San Gabriel Avenue. Its serene outdoor space is great for catching up with a friend over a warm latte, while its spacious indoors allow for study groups to lay out their books, notes, and laptops. Mantra is perfect for completing big assignments or taking some time to chill back, relax, and sip a scrumptious cup of coffee.

Hours: Monday-Sunday: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Address: 615 N San Gabriel Ave, Azusa, CA

Café Cultura

Between the Spanish music playing, Día de los Muertos decor, and authentically inspired cuisine, Café Cultura, only one-mile away from APU, is definitely worth an outing. Embracing Mexican culture, the contemporary café contains a menu full of decadent waffles and pancakes, served simply with syrup or with flavor combinations of your choosing. Savory food lovers might want to try their chilaquiles, breakfast burritos, and tortas. Whether you are stopping for a quick Mexican coffee, or decide to sit and enjoy a meal, Café Cultura offers a taste of Latin culture.

Hours: Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday: 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Address: 709 N Azusa Ave, Azusa, CA

Cafe Bungalow

Bubble tea fans will especially love this spot across the street from East Campus. The shop offers a selection of 18 milk teas to choose from, and a plethora of Taiwanese specialities to munch on. From their famous popcorn chicken, to s’mores toast, Cafe Bungalow is the perfect lunch, dinner, dessert, and study spot.

Hours: Monday-Sunday: 12-9 p.m.

Address: 992 E Alosta Ave, Azusa, CA

TRO Coffee Co.

Take a drive down Route 66 to find this hidden gem. Grab a cup of coffee brewed with beans from Brazil, Ethiopia, and Indonesia, featuring flavor notes such as chocolate, hazelnut, rose, and more. Their menu is full of every tea lover’s favorites as well, including green tea, my favorite, with notes of white flowers and grapes, and oolong with a touch of rose water and fruit punch. TRO donates all the company’s proceeds to Moon Rock Bouldering Co., which helps veterans and tribal members have access to athletic opportunities. A trip to TRO will satisfy any coffee and tea craving in a space that is earthy, modern, and cozy.

Hours: Monday-Sunday: 7 a.m.-4 p.m.

Address: 440 E Rte 66, Glendora, CA

Dave Blomquist, MA, is living out his mission as the head coach of Azusa Pacific University’s men’s soccer team. Although his teams have had many triumphant seasons, including going undefeated during regular season play and being ranked No. 1 in all of NCAA Division II in 2019, Blomquist doesn’t measure success through traditional metrics. “I have no idea how many wins I have in my coaching career. As much as I love when our team wins, that’s not nearly as important to me,” he said. “Tell me how many players I’ve coached because that’s the number of opportunities I’ve had to help a young man grow, develop, and be transformed.”

Transformation is central to what Blomquist aims to achieve in his coaching. This happens in a number of ways. While he wants to help his players develop their soccer skills on the field, it’s the growth that occurs off the field that matters most. Most of Blomquist’s players will become professionals in a different field than the soccer pitch, so he advises them to focus on building integrity and character. “There’s a saying that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” he said. “There’s some truth to that, but I would add a third part: Most importantly, it’s who you are. I think that is going to give them the greatest success in whatever they do.”

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Building athletes of character is rooted in Blomquist’s faith. He draws parallels between soccer and faith on a daily basis with his players. “There are so many lessons we can learn through the sport that we read about in the Bible,” he said. One of Blomquist’s favorite memories is watching a player who didn’t know God at all when he started at APU give his life to Christ before he graduated. His faith journey began on the soccer field and is now guiding his life.

“I really try to talk to the guys about the perspective we need to have about soccer and about life and eternity,” Blomquist said. “We all think soccer is really important, or else we wouldn’t devote so much time to it. But if we step back, we can see how soccer is such a small part of your life when you’re talking about vocation, family, and eternity.”

For Blomquist, his love for soccer began as a child. Born and raised in Branby, Conn., Blomquist played a number of sports growing up, but as he matured, baseball, basketball, and tennis fell by the wayside and he focused on soccer. After high school, he decided to attend Wheaton College, like many members of his family had previously. Although he wasn’t recruited, he walked on to the soccer team his freshman year. “I loved playing soccer in college. I have so many good memories from those days,” he said. After graduating, Blomquist briefly pursued a professional soccer career, playing for one season with the Chicago Stingers. “It was a cool experience to be a part of that type of environment at the next level, but after one year, I knew it wasn’t for me,” he said. “That’s when I started doing more coaching. That’s what got me up in the morning, what I was really passionate about and enjoyed.”

Coaching had a snowball effect for Blomquist; once he got started, he just wanted to spend more time doing it. Coaching opportunities took him from Chicago to Minneapolis, then to San Diego. He spent several years coaching at the high school level while pursuing his Master’s of Sports Psychology at San Diego State. Then one day he got a call from Phil Wolf, an old friend he had played with at Wheaton and on the Stingers. Wolf was the head coach of APU’s men’s soccer team at the time and needed an assistant coach. “I took some time to pray about it to see if it was the right next step in my life,” Blomquist said. “God told me to take the opportunity at APU. In hindsight, it was 100 percent the right decision. It led me to discover my mission and live it out each day.” Three years later, Wolf left to pursue a NCAA Division I coaching opportunity, and Blomquist took the reins as head coach.

The men’s soccer team has a motto unlike any other team at APU. The motto, takwaba, a Bemba word, stems from a mission trip the team went on to Zambia in 2005. On the trip, the team heard people worshiping, singing “Takwaba Uwaba Nga Yesu” (There’s No One Like Jesus), and saw the happiness the song brought them. “They brought the song back because they believe it enveloped APU soccer in that we want to have joy together in what we do,” Blomquist said.

“We want to have joy when we’re playing on the field, working out at the gym, just hanging out, or whatever we’re doing. Our joy is rooted in being a team and the love of Jesus.”

This togetherness aspect is what makes the team special. Blomquist is intentional about cultivating a strong community. He’ll have the players over to his house for barbecues and cornhole tournaments. They’ll grab meals together and go cheer on other APU sports teams together. “We really invest in each other’s lives outside of soccer. It’s important for guys to be there for each other when things aren’t going well,” he said. “They’re there for each other through the low moments, after tough losses and when guys are going through rough patches off the field. That’s where brotherhood kicks in and those relationships continue down the line long after graduation.”

Blomquist recalled going to a former player’s wedding a few years ago. He didn’t know who else was attending, but he was happy to see more than 20 APU soccer alumni there to celebrate their teammate. “This is the culture we created, guys who not only love playing and hanging out together, but who also want to see each other become better men and develop spiritually,” he said. “That’s transformation. That’s the impact I want to have as a coach.”

Elisa Marchetti (Rohlwing) ‘04, MBA ‘09, encounters superheroes everyday, and she is one herself. While she does not wear a cape or fight villains, she has faithfully fought a much tougher foe—cancer—as a caretaker. Marchetti shares her story in her debut book “,” serving as a testament to hope and spreading the joy of God’s healing.

A few years after moving to Texas in 2014, Marchetti’s son, Sal, was diagnosed with childhood leukemia at just six-years-old, and about 18 months later, her husband, Alex, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Marchetti recalled the elevator ride up to the oncology floor for the first time and being in a numb state. All her life she had used prayer as her lifeline, but in that moment, she could not find the words to pray. She highlighted how the people God placed in her life, along with gentle reminders of His love from the Bible, helped hold up her faith.

“That is why God has given us each other, to reach out and support and pray for each other. God can’t help but listen to His people,” she said.

In addition to her family, Marchetti turned to a few lifelong friends she had made at APU for support. “APU gave me incredible lifelong relationships with people,” she said. After nearly 20 years, she and her three best friends, who she was roommates with, are still close and have gotten to walk alongside each other through each milestone, watching each other raise children, and being a light for one another even while living far apart.

During the years when her son was receiving chemotherapy, Marchetti had multiple outlets and sources that strengthened her faith. “I found I would calm my mind through prayer and journaling,” she said. She found much of her hope through lamenting and was able to come to God with her broken heart, knowing that He would be her refuge in all circumstances. “You don’t have to be perfect, or put together and smiling for God. You can come exactly how you are.”

Marchetti often references Psalm 13, which taught her that even in anger and sadness, God is not afraid of our emotions and we can pour out our heart knowing He’s our authority. “Through lamenting to God and through my prayers, I found my hope. Hope is one of my favorite words in the whole world,” she said with a smile. Marchetti frequently read Psalm 71:14 and 20:4-6 as well, in order to renew her trust throughout the journey.

Even through darkness, Marchetti is a strong believer in seeking light.

“There is joy in every single day,” she said.

She recalled a day in the middle of June, when Sal was receiving music therapy and requested Christmas songs. “Some of our greatest family memories were in the hospital. Even through painful circumstances, there is a joy and a peace that is really only given through God.”

Marchetti also noted a time when it was superhero day at Sal’s school, and he decided to dress up in scrubs to represent the nurses and doctors who were the superheroes in his life. “Superheroes are people who carry our burdens. It’s somebody who walked with you through a hard time. It’s one-on-one. It’s relational. It’s not always the flashy and the glamorous ways that we see a superhero. It’s our parents. It’s our moms. It’s our dads. It’s people who have walked alongside us when we needed help. Those are our superheroes. Those people matter to God, and therefore they should matter to you.”

Thanks to the superheroes at Dallas Children’s Hospital, Baylor, Scott, and White Hospital, both Sal and Alex have been cancer-free for two years now. The Marchettis enjoy spending time together as a family, while Sal explores new activities. He loves playing basketball, video games, and practicing piano. He has grown to love music ever since he started playing during his cancer treatment, which is a skill that Marchetti thanks God for instilling in his life.

Writing her book was a journey that ultimately started before she even knew it began. After Sal and Alex were cancer-free, Marchetti returned to her journals and reflected on the ways God had answered her prayers. She was later connected with a publisher, and decided to share her story in order to uplift people enduring similar situations.

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Marchetti reflected on how APU shaped her: “APU continues putting God First in a culture and in a world that is asking for everything else to be first in your life. The university continues to cultivate and strengthen the faith in students,” she said. “I’m grateful for the incredible professors and academics that fostered and shaped who I am.”

Looking back on her college days, Marchetti shared advice she would offer students. “God welcomes our laments. Trust God. Do your best, you’re very best you can that day. If it’s a bad day, lament to God. If it’s a good day, rejoice with God,” she said.

Marchetti spends much of her time sharing her testimony at churches and women’s ministries, as well as providing webinars for people battling cancer in quarantine. She advocates for funding in children’s cancer research, which only receives four percent of all cancer research funds in the U.S., through Wipe Out Kids Cancer, a nonprofit. Marchetti also collaborates with Hope Kids, a nonprofit which supports families battling cancer and other diseases.

Marchetti recently published a workbook to go along with “Victory is Ahead,” so that Bible studies and book clubs can have an additional resource. She ultimately strives to enjoy each day, savor this time with her family, and share her story with others in order to show that with Christ, victory is possible.

As Chuck Grieb, MFA, was eating breakfast with his wife one morning a few years ago, he witnessed two hummingbirds jousting like knights, and began creating illustrations for what would become his self-published book “The Goblin Twins- A Garden Clan Tale.” The book contains more than 100 illustrations, featuring inspiration from creatures he noticed in real life, such as rabbits in his yard and a bobcat on the street. Grieb’s creative initiative began long before his career in animation and storytelling. He has created art for as long as he can remember.

At around three-years-old, Grieb was watching Jason and the Argonauts with his dad, and asked how the skeletons on screen came to life. “They’ve got skinny actors,” his father replied. Grieb was determined to discover the real answer, and by age seven he started building his first stop motion animation armatures in his grandparents’ basement using wooden dowel rods and erector sets.

It was not until he started studying cinema at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania, where he was born and raised, that he had the opportunity to start shooting animation. Before then, “it was all just dreams.” Grieb then went to USC for graduate school, where he found other aspiring animation artists and worked on films with renown animators. Throughout his undergraduate and graduate studies, Grieb navigated most of the animation world on his own, exploring the field during a time when resources in film schools were more limited than they are today. When asked what advice he would give to his college self, Grieb offered a simple answer: “just draw more.”

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Grieb’s first professional work in animation was as a storyboard artist for Disney Television Animation, where his wife, Wendy, a former elementary school art teacher, began working as an animator as well. He completed storyboards, character designs, and digital animation for shows such as 101 Dalmatians, Genie’s Great Minds, Pepper Ann, Timon and Pumba, and My Friends Tigger and Pooh.

One day in 1996, Grieb received a phone call from Dave Brain, an animator and director, asking if he would be interested in teaching an animation drawing class at Glendale Community College. When Grieb went home and told his wife, she encouraged him to give teaching a shot. He had often helped her create lesson plans for her art classes, and when Grieb started teaching, he fell in love with creating a positive impact on the students he taught. It was not until nearly 20 years into his teaching career that Grieb’s wife admitted that Brain had called her first about the job.

For nine years Grieb taught one night a week while working as a full time animator. He developed a curriculum over the years and at one point even taught four classes simultaneously, bouncing back and forth between adjoining rooms, covering fundamentals, pre-production, and one-on-one workshopping with advanced students. The “dramatic change” that he began to notice in students ultimately led him to pursue teaching full time.

Grieb has animated films of his own that have been shown in more than 90 film festivals. His first independent film was called Roland’s Trouble. Grieb recalled a little boy shouting out “I liked that one!” when the film premiered in front of an audience for the first time at Newport Beach Film Festival. Grieb’s other independent films are Exact Change Only and Oliver’s Treasures.

Grieb’s faith plays a major role in the art he creates, although it’s not always seen at the surface level.

“As storytellers, it’s important that we consider the power of storytelling to embed themes, and to communicate those ideas, but we must also realize, it’s not going to show on the top, it’s going to be through the subtext more often than not if it’s going to truly be effective,” he said.

Grieb often thinks of themes that connect to Christ’s redemptive story, how people interact with one another, and the decisions they make that reflect Christian values.

After Animation and Visual Effect program director Tony Bancroft left APU in 2022 to move with his family to Tennessee, Grieb was invited to fulfill the role. Reflecting on why he loves teaching at APU, Grieb expressed how the school has wonderful faculty, staff, students, and facilities. “What’s happening in our program is special. Teaching APU students has been a wonderful privilege,” he said. Grieb commented on how rewarding the Industry Spotlight at Warner Bros. Studios was last year. He is proud of the exceptional work the students showed in front of a number of industry professionals who were thoroughly impressed with their creativity.

Grieb continues to foster creative and personal growth in his students everyday, offering one-on-one attention and serving as an example of pursuing one’s artistic passions.

Diana Pavlac Glyer’s earliest childhood memories include sneaking a book with her whenever her mother would tell her to go outside and play. Her early love for literature established the roots of her outstanding career as a writer and professor, whose goal is to cultivate creativity in collaboration among every student who enters her classroom.

Glyer grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and spent a significant amount of her life in the midwest, earning a PhD in English at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1993. Soon after, she moved to Southern California and started teaching at Azusa Pacific University. She began in the English department, and gradually transitioned into the Honors College. The opportunity to teach great books and a broad range of literature sparked a joy like no other. Glyer is especially passionate about helping writers develop their God-given skills in community. She now works in the Honors College full time, teaching one English graduate class a year related to her favorite lifelong topic: The Inklings, a writing group composed of some of the most renowned authors of the 20th century.

Anyone who has attended an Honors College lecture or colloquy with Glyer knows that C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien are her favorite authors, and she has devoted a substantial amount of her research and writing about their friendship. Glyer’s interest in the authors began in the 1970s, The Lord of the Rings series grew in popularity. As a high schooler, she struggled to understand Tolkien’s world, and even created character lists and charts. “Tolkien’s writing is truly about immersion in the atmosphere. It’s beautiful, wholesome, holy, and profound,” she said. Similarly, Lewis’ science fiction novels offered Glyer the same emphasis on joy, goodness, and holiness, which she admired as a new Christian seeking to understand Christ-like life.

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Glyer published her first book, The Company They Keep, in 2008. The book offers a detailed glimpse into the lives of Lewis and Tolkien, and how the Inklings influenced their artistry. Glyer later released Bandersnatch as a resource for readers who want more real-life application of the concepts the Inklings reveal.

“All creative people need other people around them to resonate with, to encourage, to challenge, and to offer practical help,” she said.

Glyer also published The Clay in the Potter’s Hands series which offers insight into the spiritual lessons she’s gained by viewing God as the potter and humans as the clay. She has also edited seven Oxbridge books with the senior Honors College students, two of which have been published by conventional publishers. Oxbridge books are yearlong capstone projects that the seniors in the Honors College produce in order to present an in-depth analysis of a chosen text.

Glyer’s latest book, The Major and the Missionary: The Letters of Warren Hamilton Lewis and Blanche Biggs, tells the story of C.S. Lewis’ brother and Blanche Biggs, a missionary serving in Papua New Guinea. Glyer has also written a play based on the book. The Major and the Missionary: A Love Story was recently performed at North Wind Manor in Nashville, Tenn. One viewer described the play as “funny, affectionate, clever, incisive, and in the end, profoundly moving.”

While her publications include a variety of different texts, Glyer said they share a universal theme. “The common thread in my writing is the idea that we are better together. If we want to be all that God intends for us, we really need to make connections and collaborate,” she said with a smile. “The more we connect, the more we trust and support one another, the more we can bring out the best in each other.”

For more than 20 years, Glyer has met with a prayer group consisting of various kinds of artists, who have encouraged her in times of despair, proving her motto to be true: “Creativity thrives in community.”

As a writer, Glyer values the opportunity to commit to what God has called her to do. “Any time I make something, I feel like I’m participating in the nature of God. If I’m prayerful and intentional, I feel a sense of collaboration with the Holy Spirit, which gives me the courage and strength to do what I do.”

Through her work as a professor, Glyer strives to share the joy of writing with her students, so that they too can learn and grow with one another as creatives. “To me, the life of a writer facilitates a level of intellectual and moral virtue,” she said. In the Honors College especially, she admires the combination of learning from classic authors, developing ideas, and answering big life questions in class. “The Honors College is truly a special place. It has the most dedicated faculty I’ve ever known, the students are here to learn, and the cohort model is designed to bring people together in lots of remarkable ways.” She loves getting to know students over the course of the four year program and is delighted to be a part of their spiritual and academic development.

Glyer’s lifelong dedication to writing, teaching, and inspiring others allows her to spread Christ’s light on APU’s campus. Every student who meets her is given the opportunity to expand their creative insights, broaden their understanding of writing, and ultimately find joy in what Glyer loves the most: creativity in community.

World renowned artist, author, scholar, educator, and theologian Makoto Fujimura presented Azusa Pacific University’s 2023 James L. Hedges Lecture on Oct. 18 in Munson Chapel, introducing students to an exceptionally enriching, engaging, and captivating perspective when it comes to viewing and creating art.

In honor of the late professor and former English department chair, James L. Hedges, APU invites artists from varying backgrounds to deliver a lecture, in order to expand students’ learning beyond the textbook and into real world experiences. “According to Fujimura, we are called to cooperate with God in sowing seeds of beauty and mercy both through our own creative work and our responses to the creative work of others,”said Windy Counsell Petrie, PhD, current chair of the English department. “Fujimura reminds us that ‘It is up to Christians to interpret artists’ dreams and visions with grace.’ This is exactly what we train our English students to do.”

Students were thrilled to hear from Fujimura, with many having recently read his book Art and Faith: A Theology of Making, in their English classes. He titled his lecture “The Shock of the New New,” teaching students across various majors that art, including writing, performing, and visual art, transcends time and place when artists seek to redefine what we consider new. He often referred to the Greek word kainos, meaning “new newness,” expressing art as an extension of Christ’s regeneration in humanity.

Fujimura elaborated on the meaning of kainos, drawing inspiration from Bible verses that direct Jesus’ followers to seek newness. The New Testament refers to “new wine” in Mark 2:22, “new creation” in 2 Corinthians 5:17, and “new earth” in 2 Peter 3:13. Overall, kainos is written 44 times in the New Testament.

“Kainos is not simply transformation, but transfiguration,” Fujimura said. “In order to transfigure our lives, we must invite Jesus as the creator into our hearts.”

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Allowing Jesus to transform our hearts causes a newness to flourish, revealing itself in the art we create. Excellent creativity comes down to knowing and being transformed by the creator Himself.

In order to cultivate transformation as an artist, Fujimura taught that we must allow Jesus to mend our brokenness. Fujimura spoke about kintsugi, a Japanese tradition that involves mending broken dishes with lacquer and gold, creating something even more beautiful than it was before. This, Fujimura believes, is what makes art great. Fujimura’s current justice project is using kintsugi in peace-making around the world. By embracing imperfection, letting God mend our broken selves, we become God’s art, and are able to implement the same outlook in any sort of art. “If our goal is to love, we can pour gold into the fractures of the world,” Fujimura said. He acknowledged the courage it takes to accept the brokenness of the world, but by seeking beauty in the fissures, we can create art that transforms not only ourselves, but the world.

After Fujimura’s outstanding lecture, students and faculty gathered for a dessert reception. Fujimura answered questions about art, faith, and kintsugi. Students enjoyed taking photos with him, having their books signed, and getting an up close look at a kintsugi bowl.

The opportunity to hear from someone as talented and inspirational as Fujimura, as well as engaging in conversation with one another about his profound teaching, broadened students’ perspectives about art, theology, and community. Attentively listening to artists like Fujimura and putting his teachings into practice reminds us that putting God First in any endeavor is as beautiful as mending a broken bowl with gold.

Ta’Tyana Leonard, MDiv, is a familiar face at Azusa Pacific University as one of the school’s campus pastors. Although she stands on stage giving messages at APU chapels, shepherds students through pastoral counseling, and leads the Kaleo SALT (Service and Leadership Team) program, ministry wasn’t always part of Leonard’s plan for herself. As a business administration major who also played softball at Oregon State University, Leonard once believed her future was in sports.

Talented and experienced, softball was Leonard’s life growing up. At the height of her success, she often drew the letter “T” in the sand when her time came to pitch. One day, an umpire approached her, commending Leonard for drawing a cross in the sand — a moment the Lord used to convict her of pride, self-reliance, and a misplaced identity. “Softball, in a positive way, really showed me what it looks like to have a platform and to be effective and real and not hypocritical with the influence that you have,” she said. “It truly helped me realize my intentions for following Jesus. It shouldn’t just be about playing well and winning, but about worshiping your Creator and living for your Creator.”

After college, Leonard found a job working with the NBA for the Sacramento Kings. But after a few years into her work, Leonard realized she felt unfulfilled. These feelings intensified after she took a mission trip to Ghana and was reminded of her love for ministry. Upon her return back to work, Leonard sat down in her cubicle and cried. Amidst her tears, the phrase “missions every day” popped into her mind — a message she believes was from God. Although she was unsure of exactly what this would look like for her, Leonard knew it was time to move on and pursue full-time ministry. “So many doors opened once I was honest that ministry was what I was called to do,” she said. “I experienced so much joy and didn’t feel like I was wasting time because I was able to do legitimate, direct ministry.”

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Now, as a pastor at APU, not only does Leonard speak at morning chapels, but she is also the lead pastor of Kaleo, a chapel with a rich tradition of teaching and open-ended worship. Though Leonard is thriving in this role, her time serving with Kaleo was first met with anxiety, questioning, and discomfort. After a tough year in her personal life, taking on a beloved chapel felt like too much responsibility. However, Leonard testifies that God was faithful to her during that time. “In my own strength I felt like I was going to completely fail when it came to Kaleo,” she said. “In that season, God completely taught me that I can’t do it in my own power. I knew early on that I couldn’t, so I leaned into God more than I ever have in my life because of what I was facing.”

Along with learning to rely more fully on God, Leonard’s first semester leading Kaleo also helped her become more comfortable with being herself. She first opened up to the Kaleo SALT team, and with time, she became more vulnerable with the rest of APU as she spoke on stage. “That first year leading Kaleo taught me to be more human. I pray this helps our students know they can be that human too,” she said.

After leading Kaleo for four years, Leonard is seeing the Holy Spirit accomplish wonderful things both in and through her. In the fall semester of 2022, the Kaleo SALT team chose the book of Ecclesiastes for Leonard to teach from — a decision she was hesitant about. Nevertheless, she trusted the Lord and her team. Weeks later, Leonard had a front row seat to all God accomplished through the book of Ecclesiastes as she and her colleagues baptized 31 students — the most she had ever witnessed during a semester at APU. She even recalled being physically sore after the baptisms. “Trusting the student discernment [on the SALT team] and then being able to see the fruit of that was life-giving,” she said.

As she continues in her work at APU, Leonard hopes students continue to grow in their relationship with Christ so that they may shine during and after their time on campus. “Success to me is knowing that APU is not only going to graduate a bunch of pastors,” she said, “But also people who will be going into secular vocational spaces where they’re going to minister and be sources of comfort and deep, long-lasting support because they’ve been shaped really well by their APU experience.”