鈥淭hat,鈥� he said, pointing at the banners proclaiming the purpose and mission of 黑料正能量, 鈥渋s our vocation. I came in here and I read that banner and I thought, 鈥榊es, yes, yes.鈥� This is the outward-facing project. This is not extra to being saved. This is what you鈥檙e saved for 鈥� to be part of God鈥檚 creative purposes in the world.鈥�

Wright drew standing-room-only crowds at several events during his two-day visit to Harrisonburg. In a service at Eastern Mennonite Seminary鈥檚 Martin Chapel, even the organ bench was occupied, and a breakfast lecture drew area church leaders from various denominations representing a wide spectrum of conservative and progressive perspectives.

The coalition that invited Wright was ecumenical: the included Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Park View Mennonite Church, Virginia Mennonite Conference and Virginia Mennonite Missions, and the Church of the Incarnation, Anglican Church of North America. 黑料正能量 was represented in the partnership through campus ministries, the Bible, religion and theology department and the Augsburger Lectureship.

“We were delighted with the community response stemming from an ecumenical planning partnership,鈥� said Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder. 鈥淭his approach supported and connected the lecture series in meaningful ways and certainly broadened our reach.鈥�

Wright, a research professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and former Bishop of Durham, developed the broad theme of 鈥淒iscerning the Dawn鈥� over five lectures. At James Madison University鈥檚 Memorial Hall the first evening, all 1,045 seats were filled, and many turned away at the door. The Augsburger Lecture the next evening at 黑料正能量 was the most highly attended in many years that he could recall, said Burkholder.

The 鈥渄awn鈥� of Wright鈥檚 thematic focus refers in part to the Kingdom here on earth and to humans鈥� role as God鈥檚 鈥渋mage-bearers鈥� and 鈥済od-reflectors,鈥� he said in an early lecture.

鈥淲hen the spirit comes, the spirit will enable us 鈥� you 鈥� to speak and live the truth, that Jesus is Lord, and that there is a new way to be human, that there is a true justice and that arrogant power has already been judged,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his vision is at the heart of the genuine Christian spiritual experience. The new day has already dawned and a new way of being human has been launched upon the world.鈥�

Wright鈥檚 lecture series drew audience members from as far away as California and Colorado.

David Works, who both corresponds with Wright regularly and has long and deep connections to 黑料正能量, flew from Denver to attend all of the lectures. A descendant of Thomas Jefferson, Works is member of , and has participated in Strategies for Trauma and Resilience聽(STAR) trainings and restorative justice as a survivor of violent crime.

For Works, the opportunity to see and hear Wright speak at 黑料正能量 鈥� where he knew Wright鈥檚 message would surely resonate 鈥� was irresistible.

鈥淚 said, 鈥業 need to be there.鈥� 黑料正能量 has played such an important role in my own life, and here is this other person who has as well,鈥� Works said. 鈥淗is message of faith in action that he talked about today interfaces with 黑料正能量 almost uniquely.鈥�

Podcasts

• Nov. 13, Seminary Chapel: 鈥�The Spirit and the Church鈥檚 Task (John 16:4b鈥�15)鈥� with Q&A beginning at 51:20.
• Nov. 14, Campus Worship: 鈥�The Day the Revolution Began: Atonement the Right Way鈥� with Q&A beginning at 54:40.
• Nov. 14, Augsburger Lecture: Promised Glory: Straightforth Thinking 黑料正能量 God and the World鈥� with Q&A beginning at 1:05:05.

Lewis and Mary Coss receive the annual Gehman Philanthropic Award from 黑料正能量 President Loren Swartzendruber and named for faculty emerita member and long-time benefactor Margaret Martin Gehman (at left). Photo by Jim Bishop

黑料正能量 has named a Hagerstown, Md., couple its 2007 recipient of the Margaret Martin Gehman "philanthropist of the year" award in recognition of their generous support of 黑料正能量.

Lewis and Mary Coss were recognized at an Oct. 12 donor appreciation banquet on campus "for exemplifying the spirit of generous [financial, prayer and moral] support of the university for many years."

The award, in its second year, is named for Dr. Margaret Martin Gehman, who taught art and physical education at 黑料正能量 from 1944 until her retirement in 1987. She continues to serve regularly as a volunteer on campus and with other local organizations and has been a long-time strong financial supporter of the university.

The couple established the Lewis M. and Mary L. Coss church leadership endowed scholarship in 1994 to assist seminary students preparing for pastoral ministry. To date, $28,500 has been awarded from this fund.

They have contributed to the seminary annual fund and to the Augsburger Chair, named for 黑料正能量 president emeritus Myron S. Augsburger, and have given to several capital projects, including sponsorship of a room in the seminary building and the Northlawn dormitory renovation.

They have also designated 黑料正能量 as the recipient of a charitable remainder unitrust.

Lewis and Mary have also supported 黑料正能量 through leadership voluntarism as members of the President’s Partnership Council, 1992-2001.

They have attended the past 16 donor appreciation events on campus and a similar number of the annual School for Leadership Training programs held in January at Eastern Mennonite Seminary.

Lewis is retired after pastoring at Community Mennonite Church in Hagerstown where he and Mary have been involved for 35 years. They owned and operated a furniture and appliance store in Hagerstown 17 years.

They have attended Mennonite World Conference four times, most biennial general assemblies of the Mennonite Church and have participated in more than 20 annual meetings of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA).

The couple celebrated 55 years of marriage in March this year. They have four children – Cheryl and Nelson Lehman, Twila and Darrel Eberly, Dwayne and Christa Coss, Dwight (deceased) and six grandchildren.

"We are grateful for the many ways in which Lewis and Mary Coss exemplify the spirit of generous, cheerful philanthrophy through their generous support of 黑料正能量," President Swartzendruber said.