Making solid relationships and adapting to change can make or break ministry, the pastor of a church of 8,000 told more than 400 pastors, lay leaders and parachurch staff during Fresno Pacific University’s 2011 Central Valley Ministry Forum.

Larry Osborne, senior pastor at North Coast Church, Vista, California, was the speaker at the February 17 event in the Special Events Center on the main FPU campus. His title was “Ministry in a Hyperchange World: Staying Focused When Everything is a Blur.”

Life moves fast and so does ministry. FPU’s 2011 Central Valley Ministry Forum looks at how pastors, lay leaders, members of faith-based organizations—anyone who wants to grow in Christian leadership—can not just survive but thrive.

“Ministry in a Hyperchange World: Staying Focused When Everything is a Blur” takes place Thursday, February 17, in the Special Events Center on the main university campus, on Winery south of the intersection with Butler Avenue. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. and the last session is scheduled to end at 2:30 p.m.

The first graduates of the RN-BSN program graduated December 11. The degree is a bachelor of science in nursing with a focus on leadership.

The group, known as a cohort, began February 2009 at the North Fresno Center. There are currently two cohorts at North Fresno and one in Visalia, with one cohort at each location scheduled to begin in January.

Some people take distance learning very seriously.

This December 11 eight members of the online master’s in kinesiology attended ommencement from out of state—way out of state: three from Guam, two from Seattle and one each from Boston, Denver and Chicago.

The kinesiology master's degree, one of four online M.A. programs at FPU, prepares professionals in physical education, athletic training and sports administration. Depending on when students start, the program can be completed in 14 or 17 months. Jim Ave, Ph.D., is the program director.

Mary said “yes” despite apparent odds—and so should you, FPU’s newest graduates were told at commencement December 11.

Answer as Mary did in Luke 1:38: “Here am I, servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word,’” urged speaker Sharon Stanley.

Among the 284 new graduates December 11 were a dozen representing the first cohort of the global MBA program.

The first cohort of students began the 16-month, 41-unit program in August 2009 at the North Fresno Center. The program consists of weekly evening classes and online component. In all, three cohorts are now going in Visalia and Bakersfield as well as North Fresno.

There was a catch in more than one throat when FPU bid Herma Williams Godspeed December 9.

Children in Fresno and Visalia got early Christmas presents courtesy of FPU and friends.

Volunteers distributed more than 700 pairs of shoes and socks December 13 at Bakman Elementary, Fresno, and 626 pair December 8 at Houston Elementary, Visalia. “We call it Soled Out for Kids,” said Joan Minasian, director of community development at FPU and “shoe drop” organizer.

Other partners were KDUV 88.9 Christian radio, Neighborhood Church and The Word Community Church.

Community Food Bank and FPU are talking turkey this Christmas.

The university gave 325 frozen turkeys to its faculty and staff, and donated another 325 to Community Food Bank. The turkeys, from J&D Distributors, were given to CFB December 10 in the Steinert Campus Center parking area at the main FPU campus.

   “Looking back at 2010, Fresno Pacific University has been richly blessed despite the economic issues that have challenged so many businesses, organizations and institutions,” said President D. Merrill Ewert. “We want to share the bounty.” 

A new scholarship at Fresno Pacific University encourages academic achievement and public service.

The Leon S. Peters Foundation Honors Scholarships for Undergraduate and Graduate Students assist Central Valley students attending FPU who have a record of academic excellence and a desire to help their community.