FACULTY
Ge£ iif' fCfuuer
John Ellington: Interim Chaplain
My story begins a long time ago in south Georgia where I was
born and grew up in a nominally Christian home. I came to a per
sonal faith in Christ toward the end of high school and was active
in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship in college at Emory University. I
attended the Intervarsity missions conference in Urbana, Illinois in
w ere I felt called to missionary service in another country. I
later met my wife who had also been called to Africa and had been
corresponding with the same mission board. So we asked them to
put our dossiers together and off we went to Congo after a year of
renc study in Belgium in 1965. We served in various places in
Africa until our retirement in December 2003
, u ^ t It I Montreat, as soon as I retired from mission ser
vice, I was asked to teach a cross-cultural ministry course at Montreat College A year later I was asked to
serve for a year as Interim Chair of the Bible and Religion Department. After that I tauqht various courses
in that department. For three years I taught French before moving back to teaching Bible courses When
Chaplain Woodworth left the Chaplain’s position vacant. Dr. Struble called me in during the summer to ask
that I become Interim Chaplain until a permanent replacement could be found. After praver and consulta
tion with my wife, I agreed to take the position. ^ ^
' "'f been connected with the college for several years, I have learned a lot since tak
ing this job. I have been a bit surprised at the number of meetings I have to attend. And for the most part
I have enjoyed the counseling that I have done. But most of all I enjoy just hanging out with students - in
the cafeteria, at sports events and just seeing them as I walk through the campus
My primary goal is to be available to students. I want everyone to know that they can come and talk
with me at any time about any subject. I also hope to continue the traditions of Montreat Colleoe insofar
as chapel is concerned. I do not expect to have the opportunity to preach in chapel very often^because
the schedule was rnoshy set before I was named to the job. But I do hope that students will find the chapel
services worshipful and meaningful.
I don't have any special plans or dramatic changes In mind for the new school year I lust want to
fulfill my duties to the best of my ability and help our students be drawn closer to Christ so thit they will
serve Him by serving others. ^
I am looking forward to paving the way for a new, permanent chaplain. And I also look forward to be
ing a fnend of as many students as possible^ If there ,s anything that I can do to make the college experi-
ence more meaningful and helpful, that is what I want most. ^
page 8 I Septembr 25, 20121