Meet the New CCO Staff

Click here to find out about the CCO Class of 2010!

Mourning CCO alumnus, Rod Kirby

It is with great sadness that we share with you the news that our friend and former colleague, Rod Kirby [1998-2001], died on July 10. Rod came on staff with the CCO in 1998 to minister to athletes at the University of Pittsburgh. His memorial service will take place this coming Thursday in Monroeville, PA, [...]

Where God and video games meet

Male college students are notorious for playing video games. Many of them spend hours sitting in front of their television or computer screens toying with the latest development in the gaming world. What can playing video games teach someone about God?
Bill Slease, a former CCO student and CCO staff alum, answers this question in a [...]

Former CCO student Curt Thompson publishes new book

Curt Thompson, CCO student alumnus, recently published a book called Anatomy of the Soul. Curt, a psychiatrist practicing in Falls Church, Virginia, writes about how insights from interpersonal neurobiology resonate with biblical truths about God and creation—validating the deep human need for meaningful relationships as a key to a life of hope and fulfillment.
Curt’s desire [...]

Never underestimate the power of food in campus ministry

Twenty three. This is the number of years CCO staff member Sandie Starr Everhart has been serving students as a campus minister. After a vast amount of conversations, hundreds of sporting events and thousands of text messages, one of the many things Sandie has learned about college students is that they love food, especially the [...]

Paul Smeltzer

My wife and I and our two children live just outside of Lancaster, Pennsyvlania. Laura and I just celebrated our 10-year anniversary. We adopted two children four years ago, and they are now 17 and 14. I am teaching in an alternative education program and loving the diversity and opportunity to reach kids at a [...]

Kenn Hermann

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Kenneth Hermann (1980-81; Kent State University) passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2009, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was 64. His Celebration of Life Service took place on Saturday, November 7, 2009 in Kent.
Click here to read his obituary. Our prayers [...]

Miriam (Ippel) Barnes

I was ordained as a Minister of Word & Sacrament in the Reformed Church in America (RCA) on July 26, 2009. My husband, Eric, and I moved to Canajoharie, New York in August 2009, where I have been called to serve as pastor for the Reformed Church of Canajoharie.
Miriam (Ippel) Barnes (Messiah College, 2000-03)

Dayton Castleman

In the fall of 2008, I joined the faculty of Trinity Christian College near Chicago as Assistant Professor of Art and Design, heading up the sculpture division. Karen, my wife, is dancing full-time with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Anna is enjoying pre-school. We’re enjoying Chicago, and I’m looking forward to participating in Jubilee 2009!
Dayton [...]

Jill (Hedden) Terpstra

In May, I graduated with a Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work. My husband and I moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, which is where I spent my first year on staff. I am coordinating a foster care program for a United Methodist agency and hope to be ordained in the next few months.
Jill [...]