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Calvary student releases EP album

Calvary student releases EP album

by | Aug 17, 2020

This summer, Calvary music student Martin Maharas released an EP album with his band, Blood and Hyssop. The album, titled First Fruits, has six songs all based in Scripture. Maharas described the mission of Blood and Hyssop, saying, “In a world where contemporary Christian music often follows culture more than Scripture, my music springs forth from the Bible and guides the hearts of believers for the glory of God.”

Maharas has been writing and performing music for years, playing in Calvary’s praise band and in Calvary’s music team, lux voces. He said his experience with lux voces especially developed his desire for excellence in the field of music. The work of being in a band, “it’s not like being on a praise and worship group… Lux voces made me crave the real thing.” He had wanted to produce an album for several years, but ran into obstacles of time, money, and opportunity. When he met Sean Lea of Shadow Scape Records, he decided to pursue it, and began the process of producing his first album.

The band name Blood and Hyssop comes from the hyssop used in the Old Testament for sprinkling with blood. Maharas said, “The hyssop was the applicator, and I want the band to be the applicator of truth.” Collaborators on the album include bassist Jacob Claxton and two Calvary alums: Chris Stolberg on piano and Jordan Hoffman on drums.

Maharas’ time at Calvary has given him a chance to hone in on the Scriptures behind his lyrics. He said, “[at Calvary], I got biblical classes to ground me in how you interpret the Scriptures… Scripture says what it says, and you discover its meaning.” Speaking at this year’s OnRamp event, Maharas described the role Calvary had played, both in his personal growth and in the production of this album. “I can’t say that it’s only because I came to Calvary, but I can say that it wouldn’t be what it is without Calvary.”

The EP, First Fruits, can be found on Spotify, Amazon, and iTunes, or physical copies can be bought through Blood and Hyssop’s Facebook page. As Maharas starts work on producing a full length album, he encouraged other Christian artists, “Make great Christian art. Just make it. Make something that Christ would be proud of, that really brings glory and honor to him. Don’t settle for anything less.”

The album artwork features a painting by Calvary student Hannah LePage.

Faculty and Staff Attend OnRamp

Faculty and Staff Attend OnRamp

by | Aug 8, 2020

Calvary’s faculty and staff attended the annual OnRamp on Thursday to recenter on Calvary’s mission and distinctives before the start of the busiest season of the academic calendar. This year, to ensure space for social distancing and a safe environment for the meeting, OnRamp was held at the Student Life Center.

The meeting focused on Calvary’s mission, and President Jeff Campa presented on the “what” and the “how” of Calvary University. Campa drew these points from Calvary’s mission statement, pointing to “preparing Christians to live and serve in the church and the world according to the biblical worldview” as Calvary’s goal. He emphasized that equal importance of how Calvary achieves its mission, “providing appropriate educational curricula and a climate that fosters the development of intellectual and spiritual maturity, leadership potential, servanthood, and a sense of mission.”

Attending faculty and staff, as well as those watching via live stream, heard testimonies from students about the ways Calvary has impacted their lives, as well as presentations by Doug Driskell, head of maintenance, and Glenn Williams, head of security, on Calvary’s preparations for the schoolyear in light of COVID-19 conditions. As Campa closed the meeting, he encouraged faculty and staff to attend faithfully at “the work God has put in our hands.”

Glenn Williams presents on Calvary’s safety measures.

Kent Shader demonstrates Calvary’s new disinfectant fogging machine.

Calvary’s Feast & Fund Auction is Coming This Friday!

Calvary’s Feast & Fund Auction is Coming This Friday!

by | Aug 4, 2020

Patrick Lewis enjoyed bidding on a item at the 2019 Feast & Fund.

This week, Calvary holds its third annual Feast & Fund Auction. The event is scheduled for August 7 at the Student Life Center, with doors open at 5:30 pm, dinner at 6:30 pm, and the auction at 7:15. Attendees will enjoy a prime rib dinner before a fun-filled evening featuring a silent and live auction.

The planning committee for the event has worked to ensure a safe, entertaining environment for the auction. Guests will be socially distanced with plenty of hand sanitizer available and staggered serving to ensure safe distancing measures. Attendees are encouraged to wear masks. For those who would rather stay at home or prefer bidding from the comfort of their couch, Calvary is excited to offer an online bidding option.

This year’s auction lineup holds a Caribbean getaway, an African safari, signed Kansas City Chiefs jerseys from Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, smoked pork, buffalo meat, and much more. Registration for online attendance is still open, and you can sign up below.

REGISTER NOW!
Calvary Uses Sprayer to Keep Campus Germ-Free

Calvary Uses Sprayer to Keep Campus Germ-Free

by | Jul 31, 2020

Housekeeping Coordinator Kent Shader disinfects the Student Life Center.

Calvary’s Maintenance Department recently acquired an electrostatic disinfecting and sanitizing sprayer for use on Calvary’s campus. The disinfecting tool, affectionately referred to as the “Fogger Machine,” is being used to sanitize hard surfaces across all of the University’s buildings. Doug Driskell, head of maintenance, and Housekeeping Coordinator Kent Shader researched the most effective ways to keep the Calvary community safe, in addition to having disinfectant wipes in every classroom and hand sanitizer stations in all common areas. Driskell said, “We wanted a user friendly portable electrostatic sprayer, with versatility to meet all our of needs, and purchase a product that was easy to dispense without error.”

The fogger machine comes with a backpack tank and battery powered electrostatic sprayer that creates a safe, touchless system and nuanced user control to spray even hard-to-reach surfaces like the undersides of tables. QT-3, the chemical used as a hard surface disinfectant, is optimal for its demonstrated effectiveness on viruses similar to the novel coronavirus, as well as its harmlessness for those who come in contact with it.

“Most entities in the Education, Health, Government and the Corporate fields are using similar equipment to disinfect large areas,” Driskell said. Maintenance has created a schedule to disinfect all common areas weekly, implementing the sprayer during low-traffic times to ensure the disinfectant has maximum dwell time to eliminate germs.  

2020 Grad Joins Calvary’s International Student Services

2020 Grad Joins Calvary’s International Student Services

by | Jul 28, 2020

Talitha Jones is stepping into the role of Director of International Services.

“I think that when you start to cross different cultural bridges you find a lot of beauty… our Creator shines through each culture in a new way.”

 

Talitha Jones graduated this spring with her bachelor’s degree in Bible and Theology and a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Prior to graduation, Jones worked with Calvary’s International Student Services department, “doing a lot of the campus life, English help [and] everyday support for our international students.” Now, as Director of International Services, Jones will work with admissions and international students, “overseeing the visa processes and providing support needed to receive and maintain valid visas, as well as supporting our international students with their needs and with their campus life.”

Jones understands the culture shock of studying in a foreign country from her own time studying overseas. She said, “It’s a big step and, even though each journey is different, there is a level of understanding that I think I am able to use when working alongside our students while they adjust to their new life at Calvary.” Her studies in TESOL also prepared her for her new position. Jones said her minor is especially useful “because I hold conversation groups with our international students, where we discuss grammar, read articles, talk about phrasal verbs, and just practice speaking English.”

Working with International Services originally attracted Jones with the beauty of its diversity, and how “In every culture there is something to learn.” As she prepares for the coming school-year, Jones is excited to learn and grow as she helps Calvary’s students with the logistics of a new culture. “I think that when you start to cross different cultural bridges you find a lot of beauty. I think that our Creator shines through each culture in a new way, so as you begin to learn about different ones, you begin to see God in a new and awesome light.”

Jones graduated with her bachelor’s degree this spring.

Jones and Ai Matsueda prepare a meal at Calvary’s International Club.

Graduating with Highest Honors, Jones was recognized for Excellence in Missions and the Bible and Theology Award, among others.