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"So
he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,
And guided them with his skillful hands." - Psalm
78:72 |
The
Christian Challenge staff is as diverse as any group on
campus.
They come from different backgrounds, have different interests,
are at different stages of life and have enjoyed a wide
variety of differing experiences.
One thing they share in common is their deep love for
Christ and their heart-felt commitment to see students
know Him intimately and walk with Him for a lifetime.
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| Neil
& Melinda Walker |
Hospitable
and hilarious, the Walker family has been impacting
lives at USC for 19 years. Providing a home
away from home in a safe family environment,
their home has served as a place where students
can experience first hand the balanced integration
of real life and ministry, which encourages
them to walk with God long-term.
Neil has served as Director of USC Christian
Challenge since 1988. He and Melinda live in
Monterey Park. They have four grown children,
Jennifer, Micah, Jeremy & Samuel. |
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| Chris
& Amy Hines |
Chris and Amy are both USC grads and just got married
last June. By day Chris works at Leavey Library and
Amy works at a Biomedical engineering company, but
at night and on weekends they love hosting people
in their home and perfecting the art of grilling delicious
BBQ. You can also catch them at 'SC football games,
and on long bike rides.
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Kiri Thomas |
After
spending a couple years abroad, Kiri has returned
to her alma mater in order to invest in the lives
of college students fulltime. She loves hanging out
with students, hosting "hot pot" parties, and learning
different languages. She's excited to be at 'SC again
and she hopes to make some friends who can help her
practice Chinese.
This
year Kiri is working with her twin sister, Anya, to
continue growing a new ministry at Santa Monica Community
College.
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 E-Mail Kiri |
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| Courtney Churukian |
Friendly and energetic, Courtney is a graduate from
'SC and a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
During her days as a Trojan she studied Communications
and French, and now in her second year on staff she
is eager to continue her old friendships and build
a lot of new relationships.
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| Erin
Gillum |
Sooner
born and Sooner bred, Erin graduated from the University
of Oklahoma in Norman with a degree in journalism. She
joined the Challenge staff at USC in 2001 and works
full-time as a major encourager
in ministry to gals.
Erin
spent this past summer teaching English overseas. |
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E-Mail
Erin |
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| Jon Richert |
The newest edition to staff, Jon, is not only a recent graduate from USC but also a former member of the top-ranked football team! He's quick to make friends and is always ready for a spontaneous road trip. He enjoys studying God's Word with others and has a passion for helping guys apply Truth to their lives.
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| Anya Thomas |
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Anya
loves to learn about different cultures and enjoys
the friendships she has made during her 8 years at
'SC. While she uses some of her 'SC filmmaking skills
to make videos for Challenge, she finds more fulfillment
in sharing meals with students, discovering life's
purpose in small group Bible studies, and watching
lives change over time.
This
year Anya is working with her twin sister, Kiri, to
continue growing a new ministry at Santa Monica Community
College.
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| Cliff Cohu |
A world traveler who has never met a stranger, Cliff uses the skills he learned at USC's engineering school to answer his client's urgent technical questions. However, after-hours he devotes his time to building relationships and helping students find answers to urgent questions they have about life, purpose, and God. Cliff also loves trying new foods and playing basketball.
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| David
& Sandra Ritz
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An
avid sports fan—named athlete of the decade
in his home town of Medina, Ohio—David grew
up playing soccer and baseball. He graduated from
USC with a degree in chemical engineering and is currently
working for the university. David has been on staff
since 2000 and is recently married to fellow 'SC alum
Sandra, now pursuing a Ph.D. in mathematics. |
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E-Mail
David & Sandra |
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| Jeep
& Cate Underwood
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With
his love for story-telling, Jeep's jovial nature brings
a light-hearted atmosphere to Challenge. He graduated
from Fresno State University and currently works for
the Army Corps of Engineers. Jeep has been part of
the Challenge staff since 1995, and after completing
an intensive year-long Masters Degree program at USC
he is officially a Trojan!
Cate
graduated from USC with a degree in vocal performance,
but for now, she does most of her performing at home
with Patrick (8), Molly (7) and their newest addition
Donovan Jeep (DJ).
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