Discover inspiring stories from the Indiana Wesleyan University community—where alumni reflect on their journeys, faculty share their passions and callings, and students offer personal insights shaped by faith and purpose. These testimonials highlight lives of service, leadership, and transformation in their communities and professions.
MARION, IND. (Dec. 23) – Dr. Jerry Pattengale, a distinguished Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) professor and administrator, has been named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb for his lifetime achievements and commitment to the Hoosier state. The award is the highest honor the Governor of Indiana
Jenn Petersen has over twenty years of pastoral ministry experience serving in a variety of areas. In 2017, Jenn and her husband Branden planted Resurrection Life NYC, a multi-ethnic congregation on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Together the Petersens co-pastor the church, guiding the congregation towards Christ in all
Stephanie Goggin came to Indiana Wesleyan University as an Intercultural Studies major with a minor in Spanish. During her time at IWU, she experienced a great deal of spiritual growth, but also a season of spiritual drought. Throughout her college career, Stephanie was able to give her faith deep roots
In 2020, Chantel Stringer transferred from her community college to Indiana Wesleyan University on the suggestion of a colleague. Since then, she believes IWU has consistently strengthened her conviction that the path she is on is God’s will for her. “I’ve been able to gain confidence in myself,
Growing at IWU Christy White arrived at Indiana Wesleyan University as a second-generation student. Both of her parents graduated from Marion College, and so she was proud to be following in their footsteps. Although the Lord had already been working in her heart prior to arriving at IWU, it was
Born on May 15, 1948, in a small village in Sierra Leone, Francis Kemba Mustapha was the eighth child in his family and one of two twins. Due to sickness, however, Francis was the only one of the eight to survive past the age of five. Indeed, Francis himself was
Born in Marion, Indiana, Ronald Morrell Jr. started to work for his grandfather’s company, Morrell Floor Covering, at a very young age. Morrell Floor Covering has been in Marion for sixty-two years, making it the oldest black-owned business in town, and helping to instill Morrell with essential qualities of
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Born on February 12, 1979 to two bi-vocational pastors, Blessing “Yemi” Mobolade grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Mobolade’s early days were spent engrossed in Yoruba culture as his father worked in finance for ExxonMobil—a job that often took him far from home—while his mother worked as a
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Lewis A. Jackson was born in Angola, Indiana on December 29, 1912. Just three years later he had constructed his first model airplane—only twelve years after the Wright Brothers’ historic flight. Jackson was only eight years old when he began to work to help support his family, and the
Although not nearly as prominent as civil rights era figures like Martin Luther King Jr or Rosa Parks, Nevada Pate was an influential civil rights activist and African American teacher within her community during both the civil rights movement and beyond. While her passion was education, her experiences with racial
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Learn about alumni who have made a difference for the Kingdom of God
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On August 20th, IWU faculty member Dr. Miranda Cruz’s book Faithful Politics: Ten Approaches to Christian Citizenship and Why It Matters will be published by InterVarsity Press. Dr. Cruz has followed and studied the intersection of faith and politics for twenty years and received countless questions from students about
