I just thought of it this morning. The weather is no longer the main topic of idle conversation.

IT'S MASKS. 

We argue and complain about them, they have replaced bumper-stickers and yard-signs as political statements, and they have become an unexpected fashion statement. On a recent trip to the US Mainland, my wife made sure that we had a couple of face-coverings that showed our "Guam-ness." 

Perhaps you have gotten so used to breathing through a fiber barrier that you have forgotten that there was a time before masks, and, dare I hope, there will be a time after. Here on Guam, the COVID darkness is beginning to lighten. We are praying for those of you who are still experiencing the worst. Without making light of the continued difficulties of those you in places where the numbers are still bad--in some cases awful--and where each of those numbers represents one more tragedy, can I offer a word of hope and purpose? If you are OK with that, keep on reading.

One of our major prayer requests at PIU, over the past ten months, has been, "Lord, let us get back into the classroom. Many of our students don't do well in this online-only environment." As we started our semester on January 18, we saw that prayer answered. My hope, and I think it is a realistic hope, is that we'll get back to a time when we can really see people smile, shake hands, sit next to one another, and even give a hug to those we care about.

What will we talk about, then?

More imortantly, what will we DO then?

In 2019, when we began the Dr. Dave Owen Memorial Fund (DDOMF), we did so not only to honor a worthy servant, but to take modest steps to move into a new decade with new purpose and effectiveness. Who knew that this new decade would begin as it did? 

You can read more about this fund in other posts on this blog, but let me give you a summary, here.

• DDOMF will remind future generations of the real source of our well-being. My
  
  hope is that Alumni participation will fund the erection of the Prayer Spot. (See this booklet with lot's of information or click here for a brief summary.)
• DDOMF will address much-needed maintenance and upgrades to PIU's main building. In honor of our third President, we'll name the building the "Ezra 7:10 Building." Even though our fundraising efforts were mostly stopped by the Pandemic, three sources of giving to DDOMF continued, along with a few one-time gifts. I'll post an update ASAP, but our fund reached about the 25% point. This enabled us to sign a contract to address the biggest need on the building that will be named "The "Ezra 7:10 Building,"  THE ROOF. (Watch for a report in a future post.)
• The third part of DDOMF will be a beginning on stabilizing the future of PIU's financial foundation.

Again, See this booklet with lot's of information or click here for a brief summary.

Before COVID became the chief topic of conversation, the transformative, Bible-oriented, God-honoring education offered by PIU was needed. 

Since the arrival of the Novel-Coronavirus, PIU as kept on offering that kind of education. Grants from the US Government helped a lot, but it hasn't been easy. We wore our masks, worked from home,
delayed trips to see family, and provided refuge for students who couldn't get home. We hired a new Chief Academic Officer, Rhonda Haynes (pictured with husband Ron, who is teaching for us), and continued to push forward wherever we could. Our launch of PIU Online, a greater outreach of Distance Education, was a timely venture, and we are learning more of the benefits of our new Learning Management System (LMS), Populi. It was introduced about the same time Corona landed. Even without the pandemic, we've been busy.

After COVID--What then?

• When we can once again receive students from our Micronesian Island neighbors,
• When we can put away the temperature checking machines, and take off our masks,
• When "normal" isn't hyphenated with "New."

What then?

We want to be ready. By God's grace we will be ready. Please help us be ready. Your gift to DDOMF will help us be prepared for the next phase of PIU's ministry.

We are dusting off some digital machinery. It hasn't been used for a while, because of the COVID obstacles we have all encountered. At this point, the best route for donating to the DDOMF is to go to https://piu.edu/resources/contribute/ and use one of the options to donate. Please note, if the option to give the information that this gift is for DDOMF doesn't show up in the process, please send a note to catoigue@piu.edu. Celia will send back a nice note.

I start with the picture on the left, not only because it is a "Praise the Lord" moment, but also because it is a visual reminder of the time we find ourselves in. One of the nick-names of Guam is the End-of-the Spear. Our island is called that because Guam is the western-most reach of the United States--closer to Asia than the the rest of the USA--and it contains a large military presence. This group is from the Guam Naval Base, Big Navy, as the locals call it.

Give to DDOMF at the End, Beginning, or Middle of the Year, but GIVE.

Like you, I receive a lot of end of year giving appeals. I suspect we also have this in common: I'm not particularly impressed with "Give because the year is almost over," appeals.

Yet, here I am at the end of the year, asking you to consider making a gift to DDOMF. I'd ask you to keep three words in mind.

1. Consider, as in "consider making a gift." 1 Corinthians 16:2 and 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 give a great example of how giving to the Lord's work should work. These passages are full of the idea of consideration (Especially 2 Cor. 9:7).
2. Believe, this word isn't in my statement, but clearly, it underlies everything about the Dr. Dave Owen Memorial Fund. Why does someone like Dave Owen invest himself in a tiny ministry like PIU? Why does our current staff continue to do so? Why have the Board of PIU, the administration, and staff gotten behind this effort to raise a financial base that will help PIU move into the next decade with great effectiveness? The answer is because we believe in this ministry. Do you? It is one thing to say, I believe this ministry should remain and go forward. It is something far greater to contribute to that forward momentum in a tangible, meaningful way. This is similar to the point Paul made to the Corinthian Christians in 2 Cor. 8:8-12.
3. Do, clearly Paul's desire for the saints at Corinth was that they, out of joyful gratitude, do something (2 Corinthians 9:7, & 15).
   Do something to honor the sacrificial service of those who have given so much, but more--far more--do your part to see PIU Move ahead. You can read an example of why PIU should continue in the latest "Tide's Currents."

Just about a year ago, Dave Owen wrote this on his blog. He was commenting on Matthew 6, part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

Giving is Jesus first example of true worship. (6:3-4) Instead of giving to impress people, true worshippers give the way God gives. They understand that everything was made for God’s pleasure. We recognize that it all belongs to God and we manage his resources to honor him. What does that look like? We should give without expecting anything back because we know our gracious God will meet all our needs. We give proportionately according to how God has blessed us. We should give willingly, joyfully, generously, and sacrificially, with our time and efforts following our money. Our prayers should include asking God and planning for where and how he would like us to give. Our generous giving in church, at home and in every part of our lives should reflect the generosity of our God who has given us His greatest gift. His Son, to reach out to us to meet our every need.

I'm not saying that giving at the end of the year is any different than giving at the beginning or middle of the year. 
I don't have any 2 for 1 deals. 
I'm certainly not promising that if you give to DDOMF all your problems will vanish.
I am saying that the need for the kind of education PIU is offering in this region is real. If we are going to continue making this kind of education available we need to build a stronger financial base, restore our main building, and build all of that on a solid footing of prayer. DDOMF won't solve everything, but it will be a huge step in the right direction. The links in the right-hand column of this blog will take you to more information about DDOMF and PIU
I encourage you to consider--think and pray about it. When you are ready go to our CROWDRISE PAGE and make a generous donation. 
While there is nothing special about the last couple of days of the year, it is as good a time as any. 

Happy New Year from  DDOMF Secretary, Kathy, & .PIU President, Howard.

A Brief Update and Some Thoughts About the Season:

The DDOMF has gone over the $17,000 mark. Praise the Lord.
We have also had the opportunity to be involved in several good conversations that may very well move our project forward. That is reason to pray.

Some of you may have seen some of these thoughts in another context, but I thought I'd edit something I wrote just after Black Friday and include it as an encouragement.

Giving Thanks, Black Friday, & PIU

Yesterday was a lovely day of offering thanks.

Back in Guam, Progress

(This was written 11/27)

The DDOMF has reached almost $15,000

Progress Report--More than $8K. Why should you consider giving to the DDOMF?

(This post was written 10/23/19
I'm "on the road" right now. This is by far the biggest trip I have ever taken in my life.
Mostly, the trip is business. The main reason I am on this trip is to meet with our accrediting agency, at their conference in California. When you travel across the big pond, however, you might as well get as much out of your trip as possible, so I'm recruiting--students and staff--building and renewing relationships, meeting supporters and partners, and visiting family along the way.
I'll be on both coasts of the continental USA get that picture in your mind.

An Overview of the Dr. Dave Owen Memorial Fund (DDOMF), Click to Read.

“Hold men like him in high regard” (Php 2:29) could have been written for Dr. Dave Owen, longest-serving President of PIU. Dave was stricken with cancer just before New Year 2017. He graduated to heaven last March. Not only is Dr. Owen’s life worthy of honor, but his course isn’t finished and should be continued.

A favorite line of Dave’s provides an outline, “Context, context, context.”





The Historical Context:

A Memorial of our Ruby/Silver Celebration

Forty-three years ago the Micronesian Institute of Biblical Studies began in Chuuk. A move to Guam, accreditation, and added offerings made Pacific Islands University what it is today. The constants in PIU’s history are the quality, Bible-based education it offers and the distinction with which PIU alumni have served, throughout Micronesia and beyond.

The Current Context:

Since the fall of 2017 the student body has grown. Donor giving has increased. The foundation that Drs. Owen, Wood, and Raucholtz laid is strong. 

Though Micronesia and the world beyond have changed, the need for “men and
women with a biblical worldview for leadership and service” is as great today as ever, maybe greater. (The quotation is from PIU’s mission. Dave Owen was the chief writer.)

The Future Context:

This fund is in honor of Dave, but it’s not about the past. It’s about a vision for the
future. This vision has been part of the DNA of this school from day one. Dr. Owen
articulated and pursued that vision. The commitment to make a difference in these islands, and beyond, one life at a time, continues in the current PIU Family.

The Dr. Dave Owen Memorial Fund will
allow Pacific Islands University to continue providing “accessible, excellent,
transformational, Christian higher education in the Pacific,” (PIU Mission) for the next decade and beyond.

The Dr. Dave Owen Memorial Fund 

will provide for PIU’s future in three important ways:

The Prayer Spot:  Clearly, if PIU is going to go forward it must be with God’s blessing. The

PIU Prayer Spot will help us maintain Dave’s dedication to prayer and focus on where God is leading.

The Ezra 7:10 Building: 

Dave said, “Don’t name a building after me,” He never said, “Don’t name a building after my verse.”  :)
The building where Dave worked has served PIU well but is in great need of an overhaul. This fund will make critical repairs and upgrades possible.

The Presidential Endowment: 

PIU is a mission venture. All four Presidents have been missionaries. $100,000 conservatively invested will only yield a modest yearly dividend, but will provide a legacy contribution. Combined with future gifts, it will help assure that Godly, capable leadership, like that provided by Dr. Owen, continues at PIU.

A total of $200,000 in honor of Dr. Dave Owen, PIU’s third and longest-serving President.

• $10,000 to construct the campus Prayer Spot.
  
  
• $90,000 to remodel PIU’s main building to be named the        
  “Ezra 7:10 Building.”
• $100,000 Presidential Endowment, a legacy contribution, toward continuing excellent servant-leadership.

 

  Join those, who like Dave Owen, are investing in lives in Micronesia. Here are three ways you can invest through the 

Dr. Dave Owen Memorial Fund:

 Use credit card or Paypal at our PIU Donate page:

1.      Go to https://piu.edu. 
2.      Click on “DONATE”.
3.      Follow the on-screen instructions.

 Give by check:
      Make check to “PIU.”
      Write “DDOMF” on the memo line.
      Send to: PIU, 172 Kinney’s Road,

           Mangilao Guam 96913   
      (If you are “on-island” we’ll gladly stop by and pick-up your investment.)

 Give through the DDOMF CrowdRise page:

         

1.      Go to https://www.crowdrise.com/dr-dave-owen-memorial-fund
2.      Follow the on-screen instructions.

If you have questions, write Kathy Merrell at 

kmerrell@ piu.edu, or call (671) 734-1812

(This post is an adaptation of a printed brocure. 
If you would like printed copies, contact Kathy.)