

The excitement is building as the members of Ohio Christian University’s Chamber String Ensemble prepare for their musical ministry trip to Japan from August 11-29, 2016. “My wife and I have always had a love for the Japanese people and a strong desire to share the message of Jesus and salvation with them,” says Roger Stieg, the ensemble’s director and founder.
“The opportunity that the Chamber Strings have to perform in Japan is a wonderful new door that God is opening for the music students at Ohio Christian University”, commented Dr. John Anthony, the Music Department Chair.
“In the future, it is my dream to see more of our students traveling abroad, using their musical talents to spread the gospel.” For some of the students in the ensemble, like violinist Madeline Sifford, the opportunity to minister in Japan was an answer to prayer. “Lately I have been thinking and praying about being a missionary, commented Ms. Sifford. “I had been asking God to open the door for me to go on a summer missions trip when this opportunity presented itself.”
The Japanese have a great appreciation for classical music. Japanese people who would otherwise never enter a church will attend a classical concert. The Chamber String Ensemble will be performing sacred and classical music in various settings in the towns of Karuizawa and Matsumoto. In the concerts, the gospel and Christian literature will be presented. “The main goal of the trip,” says Mr. Steig,” is to connect the local churches with the people of their communities.” Please pray that God will prepare the hearts of the Japanese people, for safety in travel, and God’s blessing on the ministry of the ensemble.
Articles of Interest
Kids on Campus Returns to OCU
Published: June 7, 2019
Ohio Christian University welcomed Kids on Campus — a summer enrichment
program for first through fourth graders that allows them to experience
academic life on a college campus, while improving their math, science,
art, and technology skills — for the 13th consecutive.
The program is a partnership with Pickaway WORKS and Ohio Christian
University with generous support from others as well.
Campus rarely lacks youthful exuberance, but having Kids on Campus brought a
child-rich energy. It wasn’t just the adults who enjoyed having the kids
around; the kids had fun too.
Carley Derexson,
Ohio Christian University welcomed Kids on Campus — a summer enrichment
program for first through fourth graders that allows them to experience
academic life on a college campus, while improving their math, science,
art, and technology skills — for the 13th consecutive.
The program is a partnership with Pickaway WORKS and Ohio Christian
University with generous support from others as well.
Ohio Christian University welcomed Kids on Campus — a summer enrichment
program for first through fourth graders that allows them to experience
academic life on a college campus, while improving
Community Action Day - It was a GREAT Day!
Published: April 18, 2019
April 11th proved to not just be a nice day to be outside, but a great day to
serve the community of Circleville and surrounding areas. In its 20thyear,
Community Action Day brought out over 400 students to serve residents and
businesses who were in need. A tradition at Ohio Christian University,
classes were canceled, and students were able to go into the public and
implement the service attitude taught at OCU.
With help from Volunteer Economy and RPHF Solid Waste District, students were
equipped to effectively serve and feel prepared to do so. Students served in
various capacities
April 11th proved to not just be a nice day to be outside, but a great day to
serve the community of Circleville and surrounding areas. In its 20thyear,
Community Action Day brought out over 400 students to serve residents and
businesses who were in need. A tradition at Ohio Christian University,
classes were canceled, and students were able to go into the public and
implement the service
April 11th proved to not just be a nice day to be outside, but a great day to
serve the community of Circleville and surrounding areas. In its 20thyear,
Community Action Day brought out over 400
Archived Articles of Interest
Mother/Daughter “Duet” Win Selfie Contest
Published: June 19, 2015
OCU traditional student Abbie Ailes and her mother, Jill, are the winners of
the Sentimental Selfie Contest put on by The Lorenz Corporation – a
Dayton-based publishing company specializing in sacred and school music.Abbie
and her mom won the award for Most Sentimental Story and Creative Picture.
For winning they’ll receive $125 in Lorenz music and are featured in
Lorenz’s Fall 2015 Anthem promotion.We talked with Allie about her talent,
faith, relationship with her mom, and her walk with the Lord.Ohio Christian
University: How is your skill with violin related with your relationship
OCU traditional student Abbie Ailes and her mother, Jill, are the winners of
the Sentimental Selfie Contest put on by The Lorenz Corporation – a
Dayton-based publishing company specializing in sacred and school music.Abbie
and her mom won the award for Most Sentimental Story and Creative Picture.
For winning they’ll receive $125 in Lorenz music and are featured in
Lorenz’s Fall 2015 Anthem
OCU traditional student Abbie Ailes and her mother, Jill, are the winners of
the Sentimental Selfie Contest put on by The Lorenz Corporation – a
Dayton-based publishing company specializing in
Battle Over Books Hosted at Maxwell Center
Published: June 8, 2015
There is rarely a lack of youthful exuberance on OCU’s
campus, especially once warmer temperatures arrive, but this spring the mood
heightened even more as OCU hosted Battle Over Books for the first time in
the event’s six-year history. Battle Over Books is a fierce, yet friendly,
set of competitions among local middle and high school student teams:
complete with buzzers and lighting rounds Nearly 60 high school
students participated in the April 10th competition, representing
Circleville, Logan, Logan Elm, Teays Valley and Westfall schools. The May
11th middle
There is rarely a lack of youthful exuberance on OCU’s
campus, especially once warmer temperatures arrive, but this spring the mood
heightened even more as OCU hosted Battle Over Books for the first time in
the event’s six-year history. Battle Over Books is a fierce, yet friendly,
set of competitions among local middle and high school student teams:
complete with buzzers and
There is rarely a lack of youthful exuberance on OCU’s
campus, especially once warmer temperatures arrive, but this spring the mood
heightened even more as OCU hosted Battle Over Books
OCU Professor Leads Student Research Teams in Ghana, West Africa
Published: June 26, 2014
Teams of students led by Prof. Matt Decker, Assistant Professor of Psychology
and Counseling, are gaining valuable experience in the field. Last year nine
OCU students joined Prof. Decker on a research trip to Ghana, West Africa.
Their goal was to research rates of mental health symptoms among West
Africans and to assess the level of Psychological Flexibility among
Ghanaians. In May 2014, Decker and 12 OCU undergraduates returned to Ghana to
continue the research and practice the skills they’ve learned in the
classroom.
Prof. Decker uses the research trips to teach students interview
Teams of students led by Prof. Matt Decker, Assistant Professor of Psychology
and Counseling, are gaining valuable experience in the field. Last year nine
OCU students joined Prof. Decker on a research trip to Ghana, West Africa.
Their goal was to research rates of mental health symptoms among West
Africans and to assess the level of Psychological Flexibility among
Ghanaians. In May 2014,
Teams of students led by Prof. Matt Decker, Assistant Professor of Psychology
and Counseling, are gaining valuable experience in the field. Last year nine
OCU students joined Prof. Decker on a
OCU held surprise commencement for hospitalized student
Published: April 22, 2014
Amanda Grooms, a now mom of four, expected to walk across the stage and
graduate with her bachelor’s degree from Ohio Christian University last
weekend. However, complications resulted in her being hospitalized on
bed-rest for the duration of her pregnancy, so she was unable to realize her
dream of walking at graduation.
Knowing how important it was to her, a group of Ohio Christian University
officials secretly planned a surprise mini-commencement at Grant Medical
Center on Friday, April 22.
A teary-eyed Amanda entered a packed-room full of her family, friends, and
co-workers. She
Amanda Grooms, a now mom of four, expected to walk across the stage and
graduate with her bachelor’s degree from Ohio Christian University last
weekend. However, complications resulted in her being hospitalized on
bed-rest for the duration of her pregnancy, so she was unable to realize her
dream of walking at graduation.
Knowing how important it was to her, a group of Ohio Christian
Amanda Grooms, a now mom of four, expected to walk across the stage and
graduate with her bachelor’s degree from Ohio Christian University last
weekend. However, complications resulted in her being
OCU Small Group Ministry Packs Shoeboxes for Children
Published: December 16, 2013
Let’s take a moment to leave our white Christmas behind and picture
ourselves on the firm warm dirt of India. Just imagine the many eager hands
reaching out, wide smiles, bright expectant eyes, and laughter filling the
humid air. This is where Natasha Hudnell (pictured below), a Junior and
Intercultural Ministries major at OCU, bore witness to a surprise delivery of
Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. She told of how one young teenage boy
pored tears of joy with a tightly clasped first raised holding a small
sucker. It was the first candy he had ever received.Many of us think
“bigger
Let’s take a moment to leave our white Christmas behind and picture
ourselves on the firm warm dirt of India. Just imagine the many eager hands
reaching out, wide smiles, bright expectant eyes, and laughter filling the
humid air. This is where Natasha Hudnell (pictured below), a Junior and
Intercultural Ministries major at OCU, bore witness to a surprise delivery of
Operation Christmas Child
Let’s take a moment to leave our white Christmas behind and picture
ourselves on the firm warm dirt of India. Just imagine the many eager hands
reaching out, wide smiles, bright expectant eyes, and