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Through the Swaziland Partnership, a collaborative effort of Bethany First Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma, Southern Nazarene University and the Swaziland Church of the Nazarene, the LaVignes recently spent over a year in Swaziland helping in the battle against HIV/AIDS. They served as on-site coordinators while in Africa. When asked what they learned while in Swaziland, they said the single most important lesson they learned was the truth that compassion is a lifestyle.

The LaVignes are both alumni of MVNU and are currently living and working in Bethany, Oklahoma. Michaele serves as pastor of equipping ministries at the Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, which exist to help individuals find a ministry that utilizes their talents and gifts. Previously Michaele served as an associate pastor for the West Side Church of the Nazarene in Mount Vernon, Ohio. She holds a Master of Divinity from Ashland Theological Seminary.

Brent currently works at Southern Nazarene University as the director of the SNU Fund and Advancement Programs, where he develops, implements and oversees fundraising activities. He graduated from SNU with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and received his master’s from MVNU in 2007.

Dr. and Mrs. William Griffin founded the Griffin Missions Conference. Griffin was an early leader in and helped found the concept of Work and Witness trips in the Church of the Nazarene. Serving as assistant to the president for Church Relations at MVNU in the 1990s, Griffin had a desire to bring missionary couples to campus to share with the community. He offered to cover the expenses, and the tradition continues today.

For more information about the event or about MVNU, visit www.mvnu.edu/news or call (740) 397-9000, ext. 4341.

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 Regional Colleges (Midwest) for the seventh year in a row. With a 400-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and eight additional satellite Graduate and Professional Studies sites throughout the state, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education to more than 2,600 students from 26 states and seven countries/U.S. territories.