Multnomah Biblical Seminary is offering two new master's degrees. Students can earn a master of arts in pastoral studies with an emphasis in evangelism, or a master of arts in pastoral studies with an emphasis in urban ministries. Outside organizations are paying for the new programs. The Luis Palau Evangelistic Association is funding the evangelism degree, and the Pew Charitable Trust will fund the urban ministries degree.

According to seminary dean John Wecks, the master's in evangelism degree will equip students to work in churches or parachurch organizations. Students will take some of the classes for this degree at the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association headquarters. Some of the courses specific to the Evangelism degree are Bible Theology of Evangelism, Corporate Evangelism and Mass Media and Evangelism. Students with a master's in urban ministries will be prepared to help the homeless and poor living in the cities.

As with the evangelism degree, some of the courses must be taken off campus. Western Evangelical Seminary and Warner Pacific College offer some of the required courses. The urban ministries degree requires such courses as Church and Culture, Conflicted Families, Spiritual Warfare and Theology of the City.



--Beth Coleman

Multnomah Bible College's used book sale in September raised more than $900. Approximately 200 students attended the sale, purchasing nearly 1,500 books. The proceeds went to the Missions Endowment Fund, which supports faculty, staff and students participating in short-term missions trips. Interest from the fund, not the principle, supports the trips. The Missions Endowment Fund, started in 1989 by faculty dean Garry Friesen, amounts to $53,000.

Randy Alcorn, this year's Christian Life Conference speaker, also contributed to the fund. Students purchased his new book, "The Edge of Eternity," for a discount price of $10 at the book sale. Alcorn donated $5 to the Missions Endowment Fund for each book purchased.

Dr. Friesen said the book sale was a success in more ways than one. "Students get the benefits of good books at great prices," he said. Any student interested in coordinating book donations from local churches should contact Dr. Friesen. at ext. 356.



--Cherie Rainwater

Former student and Student World Outreach Team chairman Philip Lamar is in remission from Hodgkin's disease. Lamar is living with his mother in Little Rock, Ark. His last chemotherapy treatment will be in October. Then he will undergo radiation treatments every day for a month, finishing his treatment by early December. If the cancer doesn't return in the next five years, the doctors will consider him cured.

Lamar asked that Multnomah students pray "for my supernatural strength." The chemotherapy treatments and medicine make him sick and uncomfortable. Despite pain, he said he hasn't been depressed. Lamar said he feels his trust in God has grown because of the cancer. He is convinced the cancer won't return and hopes to continue at Multnomah next semester.



--Lanaia Sutton

Plans for a new seminary building are being considered, according to vice president of finances Paul Griffin. The new, two-story, 18,000-square-foot building will provide office space and classrooms for the seminary and the college. The building will be located near Glisan Street between the library and the Journalism House.

The administration is unsure of when the groundbreaking will commence. The city of Portland has established new building codes, putting MBC's plans in jeopardy. Mr. Griffin hopes groundbreaking will begin next year, despite difficulties. The administration has not approved a set of blueprints for the new building and is still evaluating the cost of the building. About $725,000 has already been raised. Alumni and friends of Multnomah will contribute the remainder of the funds.



--Rachel Porter

Last month, the president's council unanimously voted to name Multnomah's radio studio after Con Robinson who retired in June after serving on Multnomah's staff for more than 25 years. Mr. Robinson worked with MBC founder Dr. John G. Mitchell for 19 years, producing "The Know Your Bible Hour" radio program. He also built the radio studio.

Mr. Robinson, who introduced Dr. Michell on the program, "was the behind-the-scenes voice of 'The Know Your Bible Hour,' said Marian O'Connor, Dr. Mitchell's former secretary. The dedication ceremony will take place during homecoming.



--Suzanne Hadley

This year's fall banquet will be on Nov. 14. The banquet's theme is masquerade. Students may dress up however they want and wear masks. Possible ideas are to dress like the characters in the masquerade scene of the Phantom of the Opera or like someone from the Renaissance era. Stugo will hold a mask-making party sometime before the banquet. The time, cost and location will be announced as soon as the details are finalized.



--Lanaia Sutton