CCM Prof Scores Film Credit

The CCM program director, Dr. Michael Johnson, recently had three of his original songs featured in the short film Night Becomes Day. The film, written and directed by Jacob Hinmon, was featured at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January and the San Francisco Independent Film Festival in mid-February.

This is the first time Johnson’s music has been featured in a film. “It’s something I’ve been trying to break into for a while,” he said. The star of the film, Clay McCraw, was a college chum of his. A recent reconnection between the two sparked the collaboration. “[McCraw] knew the director hadn’t chosen any music beyond two or three John Vanderslice songs, so he gave him my number,” Johnson explained.

With his first foray into film scoring neatly tucked away, Johnson CCM Prof Scores Film Credit is pursuing additional projects, starting as soon as this summer. He comments, “I’m excited that the film was featured in two festivals. I hope this leads to further opportunities for the director.”

GC Faculty/Staff Pulpit Outreach 

From the classroom to the pulpit, many of GC’s faculty and staff members are serving in area churches. Even with full work weeks and teaching schedules, these dedicated ministers see their pastoral duties as essential. Dr. Pepper Dill, vice president for Enrollment Management, puts it well, “Whether as church staff or administration staff, it’s all ministry. I simply get to exercise and develop a different muscle, so to speak.”

Other GC faculty and staff preaching in the community include:

• Dr. Greg Sanders, pastor at Pittsburg Free Methodist Church.
• Dr. Brian Hartley, Dr. Rick McPeak and John Massena, pastors of St. Paul’s Free Methodist Church in Greenville.
• Dr. Joe Culumber, supply pastor at two Free Methodist churches in Pana and Taylorville, IL.
• Dr. Eugene Dunkley, supply pastor at Coffeen Free Methodist Church.
• Marcos Gilmore and Greg Pennington, serve as fill-in preachers.
• Will Krause, pastor at Grace Church in Highland, IL.
• Dr. Pepper Dill, interim pastor at Smith Grove Baptist Church in Greenville.

Dr. Bergen Confirmed as Academic VP

After serving for 18 months as an interim vice president, Dr. Randy Bergen has officially been appointed vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the College. He returned to GC in 2001, serving as associate academic dean and interim vice president, and began actively participating in improving faculty-administration relations, policy revisions and two major reaccredidation reviews, ISBE and Higher Learning Commission. He plans to push forward with initiatives to develop new offcampus programs, encourage innovation in the college’s traditional program, and support professional development for faculty members.

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