MVNU recognizes three honorary degree recipients at commencement
Dr. David Cubie began teaching at MVNU in 1971 and continued until his retirement in 2002. He served as chairperson of the Division of Religion and Philosophy from 1971 to 1994. Working with President John Allen Knight, Cubie was a chief architect of the Adult Studies program (now known as the Certificate of Ministry Preparation Program), a program to help bi-vocational pastors in the region complete the educational requirements for ordination. Even after his retirement, he continued to teach courses in the undergraduate and Certificate of Ministry Preparation programs. Cubie has been a consummate churchman, active in Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene as Sunday School teacher, and a consultant to the North Central District Church of the Nazarene and its Ministerial Studies Board.
Cubie earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Nazarene College in 1951, the Bachelor of Divinity (now known as the Master of Divinity) degree from Nazarene Theological Seminar in 1954, and the Ph.D. degree from Boston University in 1965. Prior to his teaching assignments at Eastern Nazarene College and MVNU, he held pastoral positions in West Newberry and Malden, Mass., and in Erlanger and Corbin, Ky. He is married to Dr. Genevieve Cubie, who taught English at MVNU from 1971 until 1990. They have four grown children, all of whom are graduates of Nazarene institutions.
As a 22-year member of MVNU’s Board of Trustees, Don Estep has been a faithful supporter of the University and of the Church of the Nazarene. Through his work as a project manager for Union Carbide Corporation, Estep’s skills and expertise were honed and perfected. He has often used his knowledge in his local church and on ministry teams. He has served the West Virginia North District of the Church of the Nazarene for 35 years as a district advisory board member and for 34 years as a finance committee member. In recent years, he led the joint district camp effort as project manager for a $1.2 million tabernacle in Summersville, W.Va.
on is a gracious Christian man with impeccable integrity, a warm heart, a sensitive nature, a positive attitude and a humble spirit,” said Dr. Harold Custer, senior pastor of Broadway Church of the Nazarene in Parkersburg, W.Va. “Don brings us keen business sense, profound financial guidance, strong administrative direction, wise people skills and a deep spiritual commitment to his Savior and to the Church of the Nazarene.” Estep and his wife Joyce have four children, all MVNU alumni.
Rev. Keven Wentworth has served in ministry for 23 years, pastoring churches from Texas to Ohio. Currently senior pastor at Beavercreek (Ohio) Church of the Nazarene, he has expanded the church both physically and spiritually during his ten years there. Since joining the staff, the church has experienced a 114 percent increase in attendance, has completed several facility expansions in order to reach out to the surrounding community, including Wright State University.
Wentworth graduated from Olivet Nazarene University (Kankakee, Ill.) with a degree in business administration and accounting. He completed his Master of Ministry degree at Southern Nazarene University (Bethany, Okla.) before accepting his first ministerial position in Lombard, Ill. For several years, he served as pastor in the areas of youth and music. He began his senior pastorate service in Conroe, Texas, where he served until 1997 when he moved to Beavercreek, Ohio. Wentworth, an MVNU board of trustees member, is married to Pamela, and they have three children.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students and working adults. U.S. News & World Report ranks MVNU in the Top 50 Best in the Midwest (Bachelor’s). With a 400-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio and satellite Adult and Graduate Studies campuses in Columbus, Cincinnati, Lima and Newark, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education to more than 2,450 students from 24 states and 11 countries.