August 22, 2005
Nearly $2,800 has been added
to the Pastoral Ministries Endowment Fund at Hesston College following
a golf benefit Saturday, August 13. The fund provides scholarships
to Pastoral Ministries students.
Fifty-eight people participated
in the 19th annual event, featuring a four-player scramble with handicaps,
at The Hesston Golf Park.
Tournament director Charles Hostetler,
Hesston College assistant director of admissions, admitted he was
worried that the event might have to be postponed because of rain.
"But the rain stopped as we got started at 7:30 in the morning,"
he said. "It turned out to be a beautiful day for golf in Kansas
in August."
Palmer Becker, director of the
Pastoral Ministries program, said the joy, generosity, and energy
of the golfers was an encouragement to the Pastoral Ministries students.
"They felt that people were coming alongside of them in this
venture," he said.
Dennis Hostetler, a sophomore
Pastoral Ministries student from Strasburg, Ohio, told the golfers
in the golf scramble, "We couldn't do this [enter pastoral ministry]
if it were not for people like you who support us."
The two-year Pastoral Ministries
program began 20 years ago in 1985. It helps meet an ongoing critical
need for qualified pastoral leaders in Mennonite congregations and
beyond. At least eight full-time and six part-time students are expected
to enroll in the program this fall.
The winning team in Flight A was
comprised of Don Weaver, Joe Brenneman, Doug Brenneman, and Jim Brenneman,
all of Hesston. The first-place three-some in Flight B were Leon Greaser,
and Rod and Charla Kremer, all from Wichita.
During the awards ceremony, Palmer
Becker was presented with a wooden desk clock in recognition of his
seven years of leadership for the Pastoral Ministries program. This
is his last year, since he plans to retire next June.