Four new members for 2009-10.

Jim Alvarez

Jim Alvarez, senior vice president at Mennonite Mutual Aid, values Christian education for “helping youth grow into successful servants and community members.” As a product of Christian education (Goshen College 1984), he finds it fulfilling to help sustain Bethany and to encourage others to benefit from this experience.

Jim and his wife Diane Beam, along with daughters Sara (’08) and Corine (’10) attend Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship, where he is chair of the Stewardship and Finance Committee.

Marsha Busenitz King

Marsha Busenitz King graduated from Goshen College (1987) with a degree in nursing and works as a territory manager for a medical device company in Minnesota. She attends Yellow Creek Mennonite Church where she has held various leadership positions. She and her husband Tony (’82) have two children: Ana (age 7) and Reyna (age 5).

She says, “Our family has certainly been blessed by the effects and mission of Bethany. As a parent of young children, my concern is not only for the day-to-day function of the school, but the longterm thriving of Bethany!”

John Troyer

John Troyer (’88), pastor of youth and young adults at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, is Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference’s represenative on the Bethany board. He recently served on the conference’s Transition Team and is currently on its Missional Leadership Team.   

Following his graduation from Bethany he studied at Hesston and Goshen colleges and then earned an M.A. in theology and ethics from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

He says, “I am grateful for a church school that supports the vision and values of its constituency. I also appreciate that at Bethany a win is to focus on the well-being of each student and athlete rather than just focusing on accumulating wins for a particular program.”

John and his wife Sheila have one daughter, Mandy, who is in kindergarten.

Sharon Yoder

A former Mennonite Mission Network worker in Kenya and co-pastor of Olive Mennonite Church with her husband Kevin (’80), Sharon is eager to reflect with the board and administration on how the church’s missional focus affects decisions about Mennonite education.

As a student in Mennonite schools from kindergarten through seminary (Lancaster Mennonite Schools, Eastern Mennonite,  University and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary) she treasures the life-shaping relationships she developed with teachers and desires that Bethany likewise will continue to “impact the spiritual formation of our youth while inviting them to grow emotionally, socially, and academically.”
Sharon and Kevin have three children: Ana, Alita (’09), and Alena (’12).

Entire Board

For a listing of all board members, see www.bethanycs.net/board.