Academic Creativity and Excellence Day
The semi-annual research colloquium at Bushnell founded by Dr. Tim Bergquist.
CM 440 Integrative Project
Through community-engaged learning, students partnered with a transitional housing community and a local church to conduct needs assessments and facilitate grief support groups. This presentation highlights their implemented strategies and key learning outcomes from these real-world experiences.
CM 440, Grief and Loss
Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
Pomajevich 103
11 – 11:30 AM
BTM 213 Christian Doctrine Theology Projects
Theology Festival: An hour-long celebration showcasing student theology projects based on the doctrines in the Nicene Creed. Experience a diversity of theological expression through discussion series, visual journals, podcasts, experience diaries, music portfolios, and research papers. Each student will provide a brief overview of their chosen doctrine and its practical applications. Come and see how theological concepts are brought to life through formats that honor different learning styles and creative strengths.
BTM 213, Christian Doctrine
Agam Iheanyi-Igwe & Jared Dodson
L203
2 – 3 PM
Beyond Labels: Excavating Identity and Culture at Bushnell University
This interactive exhibit explores identity and belonging within the Bushnell University community through student-led cultural excavation. Inspired by Dr. Paul Metzger’s talk on insignia, impulse, iPhones, and industry, students interviewed key stakeholder groups—athletes, commuters, faculty/staff, and administrators—and created artifacts reflecting their findings. The exhibit features a bookshelf display of these artifacts with explanatory paragraphs, a polaroid photo collage, statistical data, and a short film compiling voices from the campus. This Living Cultural Museum invites viewers to consider what it means to be seen beyond labels and to celebrate the richness of our shared identity.
BTM/HIST 207/307, Back to the Future – Theologies of Culture
Stephen Andes & Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
11:30 – Noon
Pomajevich Lobby
Religious Belonging in Eugene, Oregon
Belonging is a blessing to the church that knows how to invite others into it well and a curse to the individual who does not feel as though they belong. Churches that practice and encourage belonging will not only be healthier but also will withstand the dechurching epidemic. There are many layers to understanding why this may be a hard practice for some of us, with important landmark events like the COVID-19 pandemic escalating what was only – at one point – boiling under the surface.
The purpose of this presentation is to highlight the impact of the pandemic on churches and emphasize the significance of belonging within a church community. To further explore these themes, I have conducted qualitative interviews with six local pastors to gain insight into what belonging in a church in Eugene, Oregon entails post-pandemic.
CM 499, Senior Capstone
Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
L204
2 – 2:30 PM
Persecution or Christian Nationalism: The Christian Way
This paper will examine how faith in the context of church persecution is meant to inform the understanding of Christianity in American Christian culture. Using sources from theologians, peer-reviewed research, testimonials, biblical passages, and other historical sources and articles, the essay explores what persecution for faith looks like in modern times and ancient times, followed by defining features of Christian nationalism, and how the persecuted expression of faith seems to be incongruent with the views of Christian Nationalism and nationalistic positions.
CM 499, Senior Capstone
Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
L204
2:30 – 3 PM
To be a Christian: What it Means to Have an Identity in Christ
Identity is an important topic of conversation for everyone, including Christians. A Christian’s core identity should be in Christ, and I will be explaining what this identity is. I will explore the created self which is made in the image of God, the crooked self which is our sinful nature, the resurrected self which is the new self we have in Christ, and the transfigured self which is who we are becoming through our faith.
BTM 499, Senior Capstone
Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
P103
10:30 – 11 AM
In God We Trust: Religious Trauma in the American Evangelical Church
I will begin by discussing what religious trauma is and what Conservative American Evangelical Christianity is. I will then look at causes of religious trauma in Conservative American Evangelical Christianity as seen through a literature review and personally conducted research. Then, it will be concluded with looking at how the Bible addresses the aforementioned causes, and discussing what this means for today.
BTM 499, Honors: Senior Thesis
Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
L203 (click here to view the live stream)
1:30 – 2:30 PM
Effective Pastoral Care for Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Multigenerational Communities
What is effective pastoral care for baby boomers, generation x, millennials, and multigenerational communities? This research question has been the focus of my capstone since the beginning of the semester. As a Christian ministries major with a focus in pastoral ministry, I know that most of my time throughout my career will be spent providing spiritual care to those around me. It is obvious that this is a topic that will help me prepare for this task, but what if I told you that this topic is relevant to every church-going Christian? Pastoral care is an overlooked area of mental health which has the potential to help anyone struggling with things like depression, anxiety, life transitions, meaning making, and more. Finding a working definition of this concept and applying it to different populations is essential for its effective practice. Once this is established, effective pastoral care can be applied to a broad sociological profile for each of the generations mentioned in the research question. Finally, all this research will be applied to a multigenerational community such as a church serving multiple age groups in relationship. The findings of this capstone will prepare me to be a more effective practitioner of pastoral care and allow anyone in the audience to better understand how pastoral care can help them, regardless of the generational cohort they belong to or the experiences they have had throughout their lives.
CM499- Senior Capstone
Dr. Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
3:30pm – Bucher Room
Worship: The Key to Spiritual Formation and the Heart of Discipleship
This project shows how an individual’s view of worship impacts their spiritual maturity. This paper will define the terms “worship” and “liturgy,” walk through transforming uses of liturgy to direct our worship in a congregational setting, and show how liturgy can form and point our individual worship to God in day-to-day life. In these things we will find the key to becoming like Christ for our personal spiritual formation and our discipleship of others.
CM 499 – Senior Capstone
Dr. Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
4pm – Bucher Room
How Can Church Based Youth Groups Address the Social Impacts of the Pandemic on Young People (6th-12th Grade)
Abstract- This essay will be exploring how church based youth groups can address the social impacts of the pandemic on young people (6th-12th grade). COVID-19 undoubtedly had lasting affects on everyone, but young people specifically suffered in major ways. Young people’s lives were drastically changed forever. With that said, there must be a way that church based youth groups can come alongside young people, and better meet them where they are at with their struggles.
BTM499- Senior Capstone
Dr. Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
2pm – L203
Remember and the Bible
Remembering is a major theme of the Hebrew Bible from altars to Israelites forgetting, and this theme persists into the New Testament. What can we learn about God through seeing how the word remember is used in the New Testament and how does that affect our walk with God? The words remember remind and forget come up eighty different times in the New Testament making them a central piece of these letters therefore christians should pay attention to how they are used. Some lessons that can be learned from examining how these themes are used are, praying for the persecuted church, dwelling on scripture, using physical reminders, having mentors/mentees, and more.
CM 499 – Senior Capstone
Dr. Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
3pm – Bucher Room
What Moses Can Teach Leaders About Grief in Ministry
Moses had a deep desire to enter the Promised Land with the Israelites, but the fulfillment of this desire was taken away from him by God. Moses had to continue doing ministry, knowing that his desires were never to be fulfilled. Many ministry leaders’ dreams and hopes for their church are being crushed during this post-pandemic time. They are in the time of decreased church attendance, deaths from the pandemic, increased political division, and more. They are in a state of grief and when that grief is ignored it results in consequences that are detrimental to a leader. These consequences can result in pastors burning out or can even result in pastors having to leave their churches. The story of Moses shows that these leaders are in good company, for Moses experienced these same pains of lost desire and deep grief. His response to this grief was to continue being faithful to his calling and to the people he was serving. Showing that ministry is hard and painful work but calls for awareness of the pain, and commitment to the calling ones received.
CM 499 – Senior Capstone
Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
4:00pm – 4:30pm L203
The God We Fear: The Leonine Imagery in Hosea and Amos
“The God We Fear: The Leonine Imagery in Hosea and Amos” is a capstone research project that solely focuses on the God that we as Christians should not only love, but fear just as much. In the Old Testament, Hosea and Amos present God as a roaring lion that not only warns the rebellious Israelites of their coming destruction brought upon them because of their sin with his roar, but also demonstrates his justice, majesty, power, boldness and patience as the alleged “king of beasts” that doesn’t hesitate to hunt down His prey. Leonine Imagery such as this resonated with the Ancient Israelites due to their experiences with lions terrorizing them as the incredible predators they are. Therefore, having God being depicted as a roaring lion that shows no mercy once provoked instills an even greater terror in those that broke their covenant promise with Him and worshipped others but Himself. With Israelites repeatedly turning to sin and their own destruction, God knew that the only way to rescue Israel from dooming themselves was to secure the nation’s heart through force, which is exactly how a lion deals with its prey. This grotesque imagery shocks and reminds the readers of any era that God is not only known for His love and forgiveness, but for His justice and righteousness. However, even after demonstrating His omnipotence and punishing Israel for their crimes, this is not the end of the story. Both books speak of a rising hope that will deliver Israel from certain death at God’s hands, because God cannot resist loving His people despite their glaring flaws. For those who repent, God portrays Himself as a loving father who always has His arms open in acceptance. God, as the lion, allowed Himself to be tamed by humanity due to His unfailing love. The “king of beasts” will make Himself gentle for those who submit to Him, since the reason He is a roaring lion was to win us back to Himself. This was accomplished through righteous fear from us and divine love from Him working in tandem, which should remind Christians that God is not only to be loved but to be feared and revered as the roaring lion He is. After all, as C.S. Lewis simply puts it, “He isn’t safe…But He’s good” (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”, p.146).
CM 499 – Senior Capstone
Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
3:00pm – 3:30pm P103
The Darkest Nights Have the Brightest Stars: Reevaluating Light and Darkness in Johannine Literature
The imagery of light and darkness has always connoted very strong ideas through many diverse cultures. So too is light and darkness a key theme in Johannine literature. St. John of Patmos consistently uses the theme of light and darkness to demonstrate realities concerning the nature of God and those who follow him. The task presented here is to reevaluate traditional understandings of John’s use of light and darkness in light of the broader narrative of scripture. This paper will seek to envision the theme of light and darkness in Johannine literature as a continuation of this theme as found in the Hebrew scriptures. This project will also explore the interpretations of the theme utilized by the early church fathers Origen and Gregory of Nyssa, and will explore how their contrasting perspectives both portray distinct aspects of light and darkness as used by John. Distilling each of these sources into a coherent understanding of John’s imagery and use of light and darkness, this paper will demonstrate how God can be experienced and is present in both light and darkness.
CM 499, Senior Capstone
Agametochukwu Iheanyi-Igwe
L203
Click here to view the live stream
10 – 10:30 AM
Click here to view the convocation at noon!
Welcome & Devotion: Dennis R. Lindsay
Arts & Sciences
Library
Music & Performing Arts
Christian Ministry
Teacher Education
Student Development
Closing Words and Benediction: President Womack
Noon – 1 PM
Contemporary Parable Project
Jesus often communicated spiritual or theological truth through parables. The details of the parables were contemporary to the original hearers in 1st Century Palestine. Students have created modern-day parables that teach similar spiritual or theological truth to the parables of Jesus. The following parables will be on display: “The 10 Virgins,” “The Good Samaritan,” “The Pearl,” “The Banquet,” “The Sower,” “The Prodigal Son,” and “The Lost Sheep.”
BTM 102, Engaging with the Bible: How to Read the Bible in the 21st Century, “Into the Text, Out to Serve in the World”
Agametochukwu Iheanyi-Igwe
Banquet Room
10 AM – 3:30 PM