College News
Posted: April 23rd, 2012
In Matthew 24:14, Jesus said “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” This fall, former students Kyle and Cindi Tumberg will be going to Thailand as missionaries with Adventist Frontier Missions. Their goal is to plant a church that is strong enough to support other church planting projects.
Ricardo and Alicia Palacios, the Tumberg’s teammates, are being used mightily in Thailand already. A third teammate, Danielle Koning, is currently fundraising and will join the group later.
Posted: March 11th, 2012
Staff Appreciation, an annual OHA and OHC event, occurred on February the 29th this year. It’s purpose is to appreciate our dedicated and hard working staff.
After the staff had been seated and the prelude started by the string ensemble, waiters appeared to serve the staff their meal. They wore white shirts, black pants, and many accessories to accent the Hawaiian theme.
The program itself included segments from both College and Academy.
Posted: March 4th, 2012
The Courtesy Banquet functions as the final test of Courtesy Week. It was a chance for us students and staff to practice newly learned etiquette rules and express courtesy to our peers in a more formal setting. “There’s some anxiety beforehand, but in the end everyone ends up having a good time,” said Chris, an academy senior. An appetizing Asian theme cuisine was prepared by the Foods and Nutrition class, who worked all afternoon to prepare it. In addition, the cafeteria was decorated to compliment the food theme. Eating, discussing, and picture-taking filled the time.
The Banquet is customarily followed by Open House. It’s a chance for all to explore the dorms on “the other side of campus.” Of course, no one is caught off guard, but all have cleaned and organized their things to prepare for this dorm presentation. “It’s interesting to see how everybody lives,” said Danica. “It says a lot about them.” The whole evening is one delightful surprise after another.
Posted: February 8th, 2012
“Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name.” The words are familiar to many, but do we really know what they mean? This semester’s week of prayer took us on an in-depth tour of the Lord’s prayer and what it really means. Each meeting was also packed with practical tips on enriching our prayer lives, as well as some faith-inspiring stories from the speakers’ own experiences. Pastor Pavel Goia shared with us from Monday through Thursday and Chester Clark III finished the week-long series.
On Friday evening, many students responded to the appeal for baptism. The highlight of the week came Sabbath evening with the rebaptism of ten students. Several more students are beginning Bible studies preparatory to baptism. We praise the Lord for each decision made and for the tremendous blessings received by all.
Posted: February 7th, 2012
“And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart and rest a while.” Every so often it is good to spend extra time in communion with the Lord away from the busyness of daily routine life. This semester’s retreat was held at beautiful Camp Yorktown Bay on the shores of Lake Ouachita in the Ouachita National Forest. The theme was “Prepare, Watch, and Pray.” Throughout the weekend, the students and staff were blessed by the messages, the testimonies, and the music shared.
On Friday evening, Elder Jeff Arthur shared several areas that specifically need preparation before the Lord comes. On Sabbath morning, David Machado expounded on proactive watchfulness. Sabbath afternoon was a time of sharing and testimonies regarding the practicality of true education from several students who had been in various mission fields before or during their time at Ouachita Hills College. Sabbath evening, Pastor Jorge Baute challenged us to pray deeper. The retreat concluded on Sunday morning with a panel discussion on Ellen White’s statements regarding how much time should be spent in preparation for mission work. It was a refreshing opportunity to connect with God and with each other at the beginning of the semester.
Posted: February 1st, 2012
At Thanksgiving a team of academy and college students, traveled from Ouachita Hills to the Dominican Republic, which is one of the two countries on the island of La Hispaniola. As there was no running water or electricity, the students had the opportunity to experience some of what Paul meant when he wrote, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18) The team spent 3 weeks doing evangelistic and health seminars for children and adults at 2 sites, Bayaguana and Rio Boya.
It took 22 hours to drive from the airport in Santo Domingo to Corozal, one of the mission sites. Several years ago, the ministry there was an Adventist training center for medical missionaries. Equipped with a bakery, agriculture program, wellness center, dorms, and staff housing, the now-empty campus provided the perfect place to house fourteen missionaries.
David Machado, Josh Baute, and Niccole Brinkley conducted the main meetings in Bayaguana. Lindsey House, Hannah Blade, Abby Long,, and Darlington Dah worked with the children. At the smaller church in Rio Boya, Jaimie Douville preached and Bradley Oti presented the health talks. Argentina Vanegas, Josh Yang, and Hailey Chalfant conducted the children’s program.
Between the two sites, over 80 adult visitors and over 90 children attended the evangelistic series. “It’s kind of wild,” said Josh Yang about working with the children. “I have never seen such a loud and wild group of kids. God is teaching me patience and giving me endurance.”
At the end of the meetings, 12 people were baptized, and approximately 50 people signed up for Bible studies. God truly blessed and brought many spiritually hungry people to the meetings.
View the full report.
Posted: September 20th, 2011
A hundred kneeling students buried their faces in the auditorium seats to pray. A low murmur filled the room as they paired off and communed quietly with God. “Lord, take my heart!” the fervent plea was heard from one weeping student. “For I cannot give it.” I It was the student-led Week of Prayer at Ouachita Hills Academy and College, and hearts were being touched—not by eloquent orations, but by the Spirit of God. The theme, Reflecting Christ, was revealed in many aspects: through the commandments, through physical and mental development, through justification and sanctification, through outreach, and many other ways. As we saw, reflecting Christ is not just a theoretical idea, but an attainable reality. Jarrell Bell, a second-year Education major, says that the thing that impacted him the most about week of Prayer was “the practicality of the talks.” Indeed, our desire is that a relationship with Christ becomes much more than a mere theory. Week of Prayer has been an earnest attempt to facilitate such a goal. 
“They gave me more practical ways that I can experience the more abstract truths,” says Raquel Soler, a first-year Education major.
At the end of the week, a call was made for baptism or rebaptism, in which a number of students came forward. It is our prayer that the spirit of reflecting Christ will not end here but will continue, in many practical ways, throughout the school year.
Posted: September 6th, 2011
A friendly, green-clad server offers a sample of creamy golden spread. “Would you like to try some sandwich spread?” Servers further down the hall are offering other entrees, side dishes, and a variety of desserts. It is Dr. MargiAnne Isaia’s “Try It” Expo, held in Hot Springs on September 2. The purpose was to expose local community members to healthy, vegan foods. 
Fifty volunteers from Ouachita Hills Academy and College joined Dr. MariAnne to man booths, pass out samples, and welcome visitors, an experience that benefited everyone.
“Getting to know the people and getting to know the food—that’s what it was all about,” says Ross Vukshich, a second-year media student. “We spoke with the people about the food samples, what was in them, and how it would benefit their health. I hope it will help them.”
We see health evangelism as an important aspect in reaching the felt needs of our community. We are told that the health message is the right arm of the gospel, and we are excited for the chance to get some exercise in that area. The Try It Expo will be followed up by cooking schools and eventually other seminars.
To find out more about the Try It Expo, visit EnthusiasticLife.net.
Posted: August 24th, 2011
A million glints of the setting sun reflect from the surface of Lake Ouachita. Ikemba, lost in a moment of solitude, enjoys from the well-beloved dock a view appreciated for years by OHC students. Here, away from the bustle of school life and appointments and class schedules, he communes with God in the serene peacefulness of nature.
“In nature, you learn lessons from the throne of grace,” Ikemba Balogu, a new theology student, later says. “You have the opportunity to learn, not indirectly, but directly from God—time spent in nature has a lasting and profound impact.”
This past weekend the entire student body and faculty of Ouachita Hills College journeyed to Camp Yorktown Bay for the bi-annual Spiritual Retreat. Various faculty and students delivered the messages, which were based upon the theme, “Education, Redemption, and Restoration.” One main thrust behind the messages brought out the need for forgiveness and healing as a step in restoration—some of the students took action that very weekend, speaking with others that they had wronged and asking for forgiveness.
“The message on forgiveness and true Christian education was life-changing,” says Calwyn Bernard, a new media student. “It was one of the best spiritual emphasis retreats I’ve ever attended.”
Perhaps as you take time in solitude to consider how Christ desires your education, redemption, and restoration, you can experience a little something of the wonderful weekend with which we were blessed. Nature, fellowship, worship, solitude—our cup overflows with rejuvenation, a joy we’d like to share. Join us next semester for an even greater blessing! 
Posted: August 24th, 2011
There’s a lot of newness at Ouachita Hills College this year. Brand-new Macintosh computers have taken the place of outdated desktops. Several new staff members fill desks that were empty not too long ago. Near the entrance to the school, a noticeable plot of land is being cleared for a new building project. Even a new level of enrolled students has been reached—60, the majority of majors being in Theology/Biblical Studies or in Education. Many things are new, but our foundations remain the same—and for the students at OHC, that is exactly what we’re wanting: that old time religion. 
“This school is so unique and ideal,” says David Pano Mena, a new media student. “God is in every single class and topic!”
Indeed, as we begin our new school year, we’re constantly laboring towards new and improved methods, facilities, and curriculum—but only as a means of reviving that primitive godliness in the heart of each student. We hope you will join us this year in striving towards and praying for true revival and reformation. We are confident, as in the words of Samantha Roybal, a new education student, “It’s going to be a blessing!”
