Biola University
John Hutchison, 32 Years of Service
John Hutchison gave exemplary service to Biola University and the broader Christian community in a number of capacities over the 32 years of his tenure here. Though he has also served on several important university committees, John’s primary responsibilities were to chair the Bible Exposition department, a position he held since he first arrived at Biola. Hutchison has also been an extremely popular teacher over the course of his career. He combines scholarly expertise, real-life application and an eminently likeable personality in a way that students constantly find compelling. As such, Hutchison has served as a teaching mentor to a number of other Biola faculty and touched even more students than those who have taken his classes.
Outside the university Hutchison pastors and speaks at churches and other Christian organizations as well as at scholarly conferences. His recent publications span from scholarly articles to books aimed to help the average Christian. They include: Thinking Right When Things Go Wrong: Biblical Wisdom for Facing Tough Times; “ Vine in John 15 and Old Testament Imagery in the ‘I AM’ Statements”; “Significance of the Vine Motif in John 15 — An Interpretive Model for Jesus’ Messianic ‘I Am’ Statements”; and “Servanthood: Jesus’ Counter-Cultural Call to Christian Leaders.” Hutchison has been the model of a Christian scholar, teacher and shepherd during his 32 years of service.
Don Sunukjian, 23 Years of Service
Donald Sunukjian, professor of Christian ministry and leadership, came to Talbot in 1996 after serving the Lord in pastorates in Texas and Arizona, and teaching in the Department of Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. In his 23 years of service, Sunukjian’s specialty has been teaching the art of preaching, and he is largely responsible for the outstanding reputation Talbot graduates enjoy around the globe for accurate, clear, interesting and relevant preaching. As department chair since 2000, he oversaw a dynamic and growing master’s-level program during a period of rapid growth. Sunukjian enjoys an active schedule of conference speaking, teaching and preaching — both in the United States and overseas — and enjoyed a season as senior pastor of the Armenian Fellowship in Costa Mesa from 2005 to 2013.
Dr. Sunukjian’s publications are extensive, including several books, commentaries and professional articles focused on how the disciplines of homiletics and careful biblical textual interpretation can intersect to ensure the faithful, effective, and powerful presentation of God’s word. Some of his more recent publications include: Invitation to James: Persevering Through Trials to Win the Crown; Invitation to the Life of Jacob: Winning Through Losing; and Invitation to Philippians: Building a Great Church Through Humility. His preaching manual, Invitation to Biblical Preaching, has been translated into French, Korean and Spanish. Sunukjian has been a treasure to Biola, and we bless him in his retirement.
Outside the university Hutchison pastors and speaks at churches and other Christian organizations as well as at scholarly conferences. His recent publications span from scholarly articles to books aimed to help the average Christian. They include: Thinking Right When Things Go Wrong: Biblical Wisdom for Facing Tough Times; “ Vine in John 15 and Old Testament Imagery in the ‘I AM’ Statements”; “Significance of the Vine Motif in John 15 — An Interpretive Model for Jesus’ Messianic ‘I Am’ Statements”; and “Servanthood: Jesus’ Counter-Cultural Call to Christian Leaders.” Hutchison has been the model of a Christian scholar, teacher and shepherd during his 32 years of service.
Mike Wilkins, 37 Years of Service
It has been said that the measure of an individual is their impact on others, and by this standard few individuals in Biola’s history stand as tall as Dr. Mike Wilkins. Over his 37 years of service to the university and Talbot School of Theology, Mike has “written the book” — Following the Master — on discipleship, literally and practically. As significant as Wilkins’ scholarship on this theme is, even more significant is how he modelled this New Testament mandate with faculty and students of Talbot School of Theology. Wilkins’ teaching, mentorship, scholarship and service commend him as a professor par excellence.
After 37 years of teaching and writing, Dr. Wilkins still labors to bring new research and fresh perspectives to his courses. His forthcoming publications speak to his ongoing life as a scholar: First Peter: An Exegetical Commentary (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary), The Theology of Matthew (The Biblical Theology of the New Testament Series), and Gospel of Luke (Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation Series). Wilkins embodies the truth of Jesus’ words in Matthew 13:52: “Every scribe who has been discipled for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
Bruce Seymour, 10 Years of Service
Following years of successful pastoring on the East Coast and upper Midwest, Bruce Seymour joined Talbot’s Doctor of Ministry program in 2010, first as an administrator, and then as Director. Bruce has supervised countless three-year cohorts, focusing on such topics as Advanced Biblical Preaching, Asian American Ministry, Engaging Mind and Culture, Growing and Multiplying Churches, Korean Language Track, Urban Ministry, Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, and others. These cohorts, taught by top-flight Talbot faculty, draw pastors, educators and denominational executives from all over the world to our campus for two weeks of 8–5 classes, followed by post-residency assignments, and eventually a doctoral project.
At the center of this immense logistical task, Bruce has remained unflappable, organized and continually encouraging to both faculty and students. Beyond his capable oversight of these wide-ranging doctoral programs, those with offices near Bruce in Feinberg’s lower hallway are blessed everyday by his gentle goodness, infectious smile and wry humor. Every interaction with him is a delight! He will be missed.
Klaus Issler, 29 Years of Service
Klaus Issler is a first-rate scholar with a pastor’s heart. Issler taught primarily in the Ph.D. and Ed.D. in educational studies program. As a doctoral faculty member in discipleship and theology, he held his students to the highest standards of academic research and writing, but he also counseled them for hours over the phone and prayed for them at length. It is this blend of academic rigor coupled with a pastoral and approachable heart that marked his career.
Issler holds degrees in education, theology and philosophy, and specializes in Christian formation and discipleship, Christian spirituality and relationship with God. He has authored, co-edited or contributed chapters to 12 books, including Living Into the Life of Jesus: The Formation of Christian Character, Trinitarian Perspective: An Introductory Christology and Wasting Time with God: A Christian Spirituality of Friendship with God. He has published many dictionary articles and articles in journals such as Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care and the Christian Education Journal. Through his years at Talbot he has been a top-flight scholar, pastor and administrator, and a true gift to the Biola community.
Mick Boersma, 34 Years of Service
Mick Boersma, as director of field education and internships, connected with the majority of Talbot students at enrollment. Who else has that much contact and knowledge of each student! And the contact continued after they graduated — Mick and his wife Rolane stayed in touch with over 1,200 graduates through emails, phone calls and newsletters. And every year they made trips to various geographical areas to encourage them and lend a safe ear. Mick’s warm presence also pervaded many of Talbot’s public activities — no one hosts a chapel, baccalaureate service or student dinner better than Mick! As the Talbot faculty has grown, with many young men and women joining, Mick has become one of the “respected fathers,” modeling stability, wisdom and genuine care.
Dr. Boersma’s publications speak to his gifts and passion to encourage and equip generations of pastors and church leaders: Supervising and Supporting Ministry Staff: A Guide to Thriving Together; and Associate Staff Ministry: Thriving Personally, Professionally, and Relationally; both co-authored with Dr. Kevin Lawson. Dr. Boersma’s retirement leaves a gaping hole in the Talbot community, he will be sorely missed.
Rolane Boersma, 29 Years of Service
Rolane Boersma has served as the associate director of Talbot Support Ministries for 29 years. Talbot Support Ministries is a donor-funded service to Talbot students, graduates and their spouses who serve in church or parachurch settings. There are over 1,000 alumni in the TSM network. Rolane has faithfully and diligently served these Talbot graduates and their spouses as mentor, teacher and friend. Rolane and her husband, Mick, traveled annually to various places in the U.S. and abroad to visit Talbot alumni and encourage them in their work. The Boersmas frequently met with local alumni to listen and help in difficult situations. Rolane also produced an alumni newsletter complete with personal updates from hundreds of graduates.
