Alumni Updates
Staying Connected
Dallas Theological Seminary is not the only one turning one hundred years old this year. Don (Donald) Peterson (ThM, 1957) will be celebrating his one hundredth birthday too! He will celebrate his birthday on April 16. Fun fact! Don and Prof Hendricks (ThM, 1950) were born in the same year and even in the same month! Don’s birthday falls on April 16, while Prof Hendricks was born on April 5. We are delighted to wish Don a happy one hundredth birthday! Just last month, Don led someone to saving faith in the Lord. Even at one hundred years old, the Lord is still using Don to grow the family of believers and build his kingdom.
(Left) Dale Burke (ThM, 1979) enjoyed spending time with seven other Dallas Theological Seminary alumni at a global strategic planning meeting in Mexico City. The alumni (left to right)—Greg Parsons (ThM, 1982), Dale Burke, Andy Moyes (MBTS, 2023), Lisa Samra (MABS, 2001), Tim Hawks (ThM, 1986), Cindy Hawks (MACE, 1984), David Rofkahr (ThM, 1995), Andy Wileman (ThM, 1982)—are serving Via, an organization that turns the traditional mission field into a mission force. All seven alumni function as staff or board members or their spouses who are mobilizing others to reach the unreached through churches and mission organizations.
(Above) Executive Director David Rofkahr (ThM, 1995) spoke at the mobilization conference in Mexico City.
An impromptu Dallas Theological Seminary reunion took place in Tolamas, Hungary: (left to right) Sten-Erik Armitage (MABS, 2012; DMin, 2021), Laci Kadar (ThM, 2007), Stephen Bramer (PhD, 1997), and Jeff VanGoethem (ThM, 1982; DMin, 1998).
David Moore’s (MABS, 1984) interviews with leading thinkers and his short commentary can now be found on his YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@MOOREENGAGING).
(Right) Ethan Collins (MACM, 2013) is the new Executive Director for Frontier Fellowship. Collins most recently served as Global Outreach Pastor at Scottsdale Bible Church in Arizona—overseeing a large staff and working with more than fifty-five global workers and missionaries. Married since 1999, Ethan and Amber Collins have three children: Emmett (19), Ava (16), and Sawyer (12). With a deep love for and commitment to Christ, Collins is passionate about the global church and particularly passionate about reaching the least reached. Ethan will bring new energy to Frontier Fellowship through his connections with like-minded organizations and people. Board Chair Douglas Dye stated, “We urge you to pray for this transition, for Richard and Ethan, and for Ethan as he leads Frontier Fellowship into the future God has planned for us.
Matthew McCullar (ThM, 2017)—after serving for seven wonderful years at Countryside Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma—has taken a new job with Sky Ranch Camps. He is serving as the Executive Director of Sky Ranch Ute Trail in Powderhorn, Colorado.
James Foster (ThM, 2021) is now the lead pastor at Taylor Bible Church. He and his family were sent out by Hutto Bible Church to start this new church in October of 2023.
In Memory
Sharon Lunak, wife to Russ Lunak (ThM, 1964), went to be with the Lord on February 24, 2024, after a battle with cancer and Alzheimer’s. Sharon and Russ married during Russ’s seminary years. Sharon worked in Doctor Walvoord’s office alongside Dewey Duncan for two years while her husband wrapped up his degree. Russ and Sharon have two children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren whom they love. Sharon lived a life deeply rooted in her faith in Christ, and she relied on the Bible’s guidance. She served within both the ministry and corporate worlds, ministering for fifteen years in Japan and working for twenty years in the business realm. Sharon enjoyed traveling stateside as well as making treks to Asia and Europe. The best trips, however, were the trips she took with her grandchildren.
Ronald (Ron) Sanders (ThM, 1965) entered glory on October 11, 2023. Ron was born and raised in Nebraska—a lifelong Cornhuskers football fan. He graduated from the South Dakota School of Mining with an engineering degree before earning his degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. Ron was the Dean of Men at Emmaus Bible School, which is where he met and married his wife of fifty-seven years, Susan. The couple had three children whom they loved. Ron was very dedicated to studying God’s Word. He enjoyed teaching the Bible whatever the context. His family writes that there is no doubt he is now involved I some heavenly Bible study in the presence of Jesus.
Joseph (Jack) McConaghie (ThM, 1967) passed away on February 12, 2024, surrounded by his family. Jack and his wife Carol celebrated sixty years of marriage before Carol’s passing in 2021. Together, they had four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Jack pastored two churches in the Chicagoland area—Immanuel Baptist Church in Chicago Heights and Oglesby Union Church. He made sure people felt loved and accepted, and that priority left a lasting imprint on the many lives Jack touched in over more than forty years of ministry. Jack’s favorite verse was John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”
(Right) Arthur (Art) Temmesfeld (ThM, 1974) passed away on December 20, 2023. Art was a member of the ROTC and eventually the United States Air Force, and he also enjoyed singing. He came to know Jesus in 1965 at a Campus Crusade for Christ event at UCLA. Art married Barbara on July 5, 1969. He noted the date as “un-independence day” on his calendar. Art and Barbara have four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandsons whom they love. Art left the Air Force in 1970 to enroll at Dallas Theological Seminary. After graduation, Art and his family moved to Nigeria, where Art worked as a professor until the family moved back to the States. When they returned, Art returned to the Air Force too, working in the Research Lab Materials and Manufacturing Directorate until he retired in 2014. He served his church, Patterson Park Church in Beavercreek, Ohio, teaching Sunday school, Bible studies, and small groups and serving as a deacon, missions committee member, and elder. Art always loved studying and teaching God’s Word.
(Right) Larry Pettegrew (ThD, 1976) entered his Savior’s eternal presence on January 30, 2024. Larry grew up in a loving, Christian home and met his wife, Linda Ann, at their local youth group. Larry and Linda Ann were married for fifty-seven years. They have three children and eight grandchildren whom they love. After seminary, Larry became a professor and later a dean at Central Baptist Theological Seminary, where he taught for twelve years before becoming the Dean and Executive Vice President of Shepherds Theological Seminary. He recently left his post there to focus on writing. Larry wrote multiple books and dozens of articles, and he taught thousands of students. He was marked by wisdom, kindness, humility, and a persistent sweet tooth.
(Right) William H. Lyons (ThM, 1976) passed away on January 31, 2024. He was a loving husband, father, and grandpa, as well as a brilliant thinker, genuine and kind leader, talented musician, and enthusiastic adventurer. Bill joined the Air Force at eighteen. On a fateful evening at a college-age mixer, his singing voice and guitar skills caught the ear and eye of Arline Gillett. Bill and Arline were married in 1967. After graduating from the University of Nebraska, Bill and Arline and their children moved to Dallas for Bill to attend seminary. After graduation, they moved to Montana where Bill pastored his first church, and he and his family enjoyed the outdoors. Bill pastored several independent churches in the Great Basin where he also studied archeology. The son of a professor, Bill loved to study, and that never changed. Bill also earned a PhD from Washington State University in anthropology. He melded together a life of study and adventure. He loved his wife deeply and their children and grandchildren who nicknamed him Papa Bill. His faith remained strong throughout his life.
(Right) Thomas Clark (ThM, 1982) went to be with the Lord on February 25, 2024. Tom loved his Lord and served his God and others well throughout his various roles. He came to know Jesus at the age of seventeen and enrolled at Wheaton College before transferring to the University of Texas. Tom loved learning no matter the context—the classroom, books, conversations, nature, and most importantly God’s Word. He used the knowledge he gained to serve others. Tom was an exceptionally good listener and ministered to many through that gift. Tom loved his wife and his family faithfully, including their two children and ten grandchildren.
Richard Taylor [CTH//Theology (Historical Theology), 1984] went to be with the Lord after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sybil.
(Left) Martin Domokos (MACM, 2000), husband to Carma, enrolled at Dallas Theological Seminary at the age of sixty-five and became an ordained Methodist minister at the age of sixty-seven. He ministered as the senior pastor at Shiloh Methodist Church in Calera, Alabama. He also served the Lord as a missionary and teacher in Mozambique. He was also a chaplain. Marty was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Alabaster, where he led an adult Sunday school class. He also served as a deacon throughout his life. Marty and Carma have seven children, seventeen grandchildren, and twenty-two great-grandchildren whom they love.
Mathew Mathews (MACS, 2019) passed away on March 6, 2024, due to heart failure. He was in his fifties and left behind a wife and three children. Please pray for the Mathews family.