CCO Campus MinistryStudents

Where God and video games meet

Alicia Vaughn — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:00:34 +0000

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 recent article featured in Gamesauce. The article, called Conflict and Call, is about being a Christian in the video game industry and the purpose and value of video games in God’s created order.

“Working in an extremely secular industry provides no end of opportunities to start conversations about meaning, faith and God,” says Bill. “I continue to wrestle (internally and externally) with what it means for God to be Lord of the industry I’m in, the job I have, and the people he puts in my life.”

Bill works for FireSky in Arizona. Before moving out west, Bill’s life was transformed by a CCO ministry at Carnegie Mellon University as an engineering major. He went on to work for the CCO after college.

“One of the best ways to learn anything is to try to teach it to others,” comments Bill. “My time with the CCO deepened and solidified my faith and gave me a basis to try to work out what a normative view of video games might be.”

To read more about Bill’s story, click here.

To view his article in Gamesauce, click here.

Former CCO student Curt Thompson publishes new book

Alicia Vaughn — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:36:31 +0000

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 is to show the genuine change and transformation that can take place in people’s lives when they understand the connection in their relationships between neurobiology and Christian spirituality.

To read more about how Curt his applying his faith in his career, click here.

To order Anatomy of the Soul, click here.

Leah Farr

Amy Maczuzak — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:38:48 +0000

After spending a few years in the corporate world, I have taken a position of Editor of Message Magazine. This is the main publication (circ. 130,000) for a non-profit missions organization based in Harrisburg, PA, called the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. I get to spend my days tell stories of how God is moving across the world. I will also be married in May 2009.

Leah Farr (Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, 2004)

Alan Hager

Amy Maczuzak — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:43:19 +0000

Katherine and I celebrated our 25th anniversary this year. We live in Spotsylvania, Virginia, where I serve Spotsylvania Presbyterian Church, yes, PCUSA, 14 years in November. I am also a part time “farmer” on 10 acres, with 3 horses, 3 cats, 3 dogs and a tractor. Come visit. We love drop-ins!

Alan Hager
Grove City College, Class of 1980
CCO staff at Baldwin-Wallace College and CCO Regional Director, 1981-90

Katherine Hager

Amy Maczuzak — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:42:02 +0000

Alan and I celebrated our 25th anniversary this year. We currently live in Spotsylvania, Virginia, 50 miles south of DC in the Wilderness Battleground area. Our children, Kristen, 18 is at Germanna Community College) and Michael, 16, is at Riverbend High School.

I am the Director of Institutional Development for the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, a legal advocacy group for pregnancy help centers.

Katherine Hager
Baldwin-Wallace College, Class of 1982
CCO staff at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1989-90

Matthew Lococo

Amy Maczuzak — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:00:52 +0000

I am living in North Carolina working in an Educational Reform Program. I am married and have a wonderful 8-month-old daughter named Sara Elizabeth.

Matthew Lococo (Robert Morris University, BA 2004, MS 2005)

Sharon Green

Amy Maczuzak — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:16:25 +0000

While at Malone College, on several occasions I attended the Jubilee conferences in Pittsburgh. I thoroughly enjoyed the keynote speakers,workshop presenters, and the overall fellowship and worship that took place. God had begun to do a deep work in me while in college. The conferences helped encourage and challenge me to think biblically. Even more so, I was fortunate to have developed a friendship with CCO staffer Renee (Dayan) Suhr that had impacted my relationships with God and others. Renee was kind and challenging. She really did embrace me. Coming from a place of utter brokenness and devastation, God surely does place people in our path to minister to us. Renee was that person for me at Malone. The work, impact, and the people of CCO are so important to the Kingdom of God. It is a great reminder to me that God really does know us and has a plan for our lives. CCO, continue to faithfully serve the Lord.

Sharon Green (Malone College, 1996)

Sara Sackville

Amy Maczuzak — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:42:39 +0000

Hi CCO People!

I am currently living in Odenton, MD, working as a licensed therapist at a residential treatment center for adolescents. I love it, and I definitely recognize how my time in the CCO uniquely prepared me for this position. Working with kids in this setting gives the word “holistic” a whole new meaning!!! Some days I feel like an RD, other times like a therapist, but most days I feel like a frustrated parent!!! If I had a penny for each time I heard the words “You just don\’t understand”… But somehow every week manages to surprise me with something beautiful, and the kids are just plain hilarious, too!

I would love to catch up with anybody in the DC area. My e-mail is sarasackville789 {at} hotmail(.)com.

Sara Sackville
Geneva College, Class of 2000
CCO staff at Case Western Reserve University, 2000-03

Ben Robbins

Amy Maczuzak — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:14:32 +0000

I went to the Ocean City Beach Project (OCBP) in the summer of 2001, the summer before my junior year. My life has never been the same since that time. I could not have had a more wonderful and formative experience. I made wonderful friends and learned a lot about leadership and the impact I can have on those around me. After college, I went to seminary and now work in ministry professionally. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about this program and the dedicated individuals that ensure its success. My prayers and good wishes go out to all of you who have gone and are there now. For those of you thinking about going, I promise you won’t regret it.

Ben Robbins (Westminster College, Class of 2003)

Andrew Hartley

Amy Maczuzak — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:28:16 +0000

Hello, I am finishing writing a book about integrating Christian belief and my academic field of mathematical statistics. It takes a Dooyeweerdian perspective. If the book is published by the time of Jubilee 2008, I would like sample copies available for viewing at the conference.
My wife & kids are in Wilmington, North Carolina, where we’ve lived for about a year. Most of the time I am a statistician with a drug company there. However, I’ve been recalled to Navy active duty for 18 months in Afghanistan, where I am a supply officer.

Andrew Hartley [Allegheny College, Class of 1986]