An occasional compilation of events from around the religious world. To suggest items for inclusion, email assistant editor Jeff Brumley at [email protected].
Koinonia, one of the most popular Greek words in the English-speaking evangelical world, made a splashy return to the limelight during the 2018 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The biblical word denoting fellowship or community has been used by intentional communities, Christian rock bands and all sorts of ministries.
Karthik Nemmani, 14, of McKinney, Texas, won the contest by spelling the word correctly. He won more than $42,000 in prize money, plus a trophy and reference library.
It’s likely a lot of Christians in the U.S. know how to spell that word, too.
“I’m just really happy,” Nemmani said in a story by The Washington Post. “This has just been a dream come true.”
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Gardner-Webb University launches search for next president
Gardner-Webb University has announced an ongoing search for its next president.
The school located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, issued a statement June 4 saying a presidential search committee had been formed and has already begun its work.
The school’s next president will replace Frank Bonner, who has been GWU president almost 14 years.
Bonner, 70, is scheduled to retire in early 2019, the university said. He has served the university in other capacities for more than three decades.
His replacement will be the 13th president in the school’s 113-year history.
Highlights in Bonner’s GWU tenure include leading the university’s largest capital campaign, which raised $46 million. He also was instrumental in developing academic enhancement programs and building state-of-the-art athletic facilities, the university said.
The university will keep the public informed as the search process unfolds, David Royster III, search committee chairman and a member of the GWU board, said in the university announcement.
The committee includes board, faculty, staff and student members.
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MACBF event to raise funds, awareness for Ugandan refugees
Raising awareness about the plight of refugees entering Uganda is the focus of the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s third Great Obstacle Race, which will be held 8 a.m. to noon Saturday in Fairfax, Virginia.
The event is a fundraiser for Refuge and Hope International, a faith-based organization that serves refugees in Kampala, Uganda. The group provides educational, professional and personal development services to rebuild the lives of displaced persons. The organization serves refugees who remain in Uganda and those who have been resettled in other countries.
The race will be held at Calvary Hill Baptist Church, 9301 Little River Turnpike. Visit the MACBF website for registration information.