Upcoming Alumni Events

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Inspired for a lifetime of service - Mark Brown ('74)

After a 40-year career, Mark Brown is retiring from the job he began one week out of seminary. The 1974 alumnus of Geneva College went on to obtain an M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary, then planted Westminster Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Hollidaysburg, PA, where he has pastored for the last 40 years. Now he’s retiring, having watched what began as a Bible study in his parents’ house grow into a full-fledged congregation of about 150 worshipers. Along the way, Westminster OPC has completed three building expansions, collected a library of 5,000 books, and planted a daughter church in State College, PA.

Raised in the Lutheran tradition, Mark’s introduction to the Reformed faith came through a book he read in high school: Gordon Clark’s What Do Presbyterians Believe? At that point, Mark knew he wanted to be a minister. He also wanted to attend a Christian college with a Reformed perspective—a search that eventually led him to Geneva.

On the path to his Bible degree, Mark enjoyed the godly and humble instruction of professors J.G. Vos and Bob Tweed. Dr. John White (then Dean of Religious Services) and Dr. Dean Smith (then pastor of the College Hill Reformed Presbyterian Church) helped him grow in his faith and understanding. Mark particularly credits Dr. Vos with influencing him to go on to Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia for his M.Div.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Mark authored and edited a 1992 book, Order in the Offices, which is featured in McCartney Library’s Geneva Authors collection. He is proud to note that his son Luke (’12) and daughter-in-law Julie (’13) also graduated from his alma mater.

Looking back on his college days, Mark advises current students not to rush their college years, but to build deep relationships with professors and fellow students. Those relationships inspired him for his lifetime of service.

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New Class Notes

Rev. Robert McFarland ’55 wrote and published the book “Papa Got It Right!” detailing the life of his grandfather James Calvin McFarland and father Rev. A.J. McFarland as well as the history and family life of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Melanie (Graham) Barker ’81, ’07 MSOL is a French and English teacher at Beaver Area High School in Beaver, PA where she resides. Robert Bowers ’87 was promoted to Chief Claims Officer and National Customer Service Leader at Westfield Insurance where has been employed for 22 years. Rob serves on the board of Akron Canton Regional Foodbank as Chair of the HR committee. He also serves at Christ Community Chapel in Hudson, OH in Financial Ministries and CLM. Rob and wife Cindy are pleased to announce the engagement of their son Jack to Micaela Murano, with wedding date of June 2018. Jon Elvin ’98 has joined the advisory board of the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS). Jon is a financial crime prevention and anti-money laundering expert and currently leads the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Sanctions Department for PNC Bank. John Mackie ’03 MSOL, a Senior Vice President at Hefren-Tillotson, Inc., one of Western Pennsylvania’s largest investment advisory and financial planning firms, has been named a 2017 40 Under 40 Honoree by the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP) and Pittsburgh Magazine. Jeremiah Wilson ’08 married Anastasia Ealey on November 18, 2017 at Rose Point RPCNA in New Castle, PA. The couple resides in Hermitage, PA. Nick ’12 and Rachel (Kuegler ’12) Greenfield were married on July 1, 2017 in Lowell, MI. They currently reside in Hartsville, SC. Jessica Driscoll-Owens ’14 married husband Jacob on September 3, 2017.