Tag: MVNU

Steve Michael Presented with the 2026 Chet Foraker Legacy Award at MVNU Homecoming

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talks with Steve Michael, class of 1976 and former member of the MVNC baseball team, who will be presented with the 2026 Chet Foraker Legacy Award at MVNU’s Homecoming Weekend.

Click HERE to listen to the entire conversation, or click the image link below!

Steve tells us more about himself and where he is at now. He also talks about where he is from and what brought him to MVNU all those years ago. His family had strong connections to the the Nazarene Church and on his visit, he met Coach Foraker who paved the way for him to attend and play baseball.

He graduated from MVNU in 19076 as a member of the first baccalaureate class of MVNU. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in History with a minor in Spanish.

Steve takes us through his journey post-graduation. He had dreams of becoming a college professor and he chased that dream by heading to Ohio State University to get his PHD.

He ended up back at MVNC where he became the Head Baseball Coach for one year before enrolling in his PHD program. After all of this, the academic doors didn’t open for him and he ended up enlisting in the US Air Force and spent 40 years in his profession of defending our country.

Steve talks about his love for baseball and when the romance started for him. It began when he was a child and he fell in love due to the competitive nature of the sport and the intense rivalry between hitter and pitcher.

He also talks about his collegiate career at MVNC. Steve was a primary pitcher for the Cougars but he also was able to hit consistently and play both sides of the ball. For his outstanding play he also received awards and became the first ever MVNU player to receive 1st-team all-conference recognition.

Steve goes into more detail about his coaching career here at MVNU. He was tasked with being the head coach for the 1978 season and he jumped at the opportunity.

He says that his biggest contribution to the baseball program was helping Sam Riggleman become the head coach following Steve’s departing to Ohio State for his PHD. Coach Riggleman set MVNU Baseball on the successful path it is today and Steve is thankful that it worked out.

Steve shares a couple of his favorite memories from when he was at MVNC. One comes from a big win over Kenyon College in the 1973 season, where his teammate hit a homerun in extra innings to win.

A second memory that stands out for him comes from the 1976 season where he played a pivotal role, pitching and hitting, in two huge wins over conference rivals. The wins gave them a berth in the NAIA District Playoffs.

Steve tells us what it means to him to be awarded the Chet Foraker Legacy Award. He is honored and deeply grateful top receive this recognition, and he hopes that this accolade will be viewed along with the great class of 1976.

He also views this award as a validation that his choice to come for MVNU was the best decision he could’ve made.

Steve gives his advice to current MVNU athletes. He also gives his two cents to the MVNU Baseball team. He urges the Cougar Baseball team to cherish every moment with the program.

The last time Steve was on campus was last year for Homecoming. He got to attend the dedication for the new baseball clubhouse.

Steve shares his greatest learning experience that MVNC gave him. He credits MVNC with giving him the opportunity to mature and break away from his home. Without coming to MVNC he most likely would never have left his hometown and his life would look completely different. He also mentions why he thinks it is so important for alumni to stay connected to MVNU. There is a lot that comes along with staying connected such as nurturing college friendships as well as supporting students who are on the same walk that you were on.

Click HERE for more info on MVNU’s Homecoming Weekend!

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The Morning Thing Hosts Share Their Favorite Way to Share Kindness to Celebrate World Kindness Day

Today on Friday, November 13th is World Kindness Day! To celebrate, The Morning Thing hosts share their favorite way to share kindness to others.

Click HERE to listen to this week’s Friday Favorites, or click the image link below!

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Former MVNU Softball Standout Stephanie (Johnson) Smith to Join Cougar Wall of Fame

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with former MVNU softball standout Stephanie Johnson Smith, who will be inducted into the Cougar Wall of Fame during Homecoming Weekend.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the picture link below.

Smith shares that she grew up in Tallmadge, Ohio, near Akron, and came to MVNU after learning about the university through friends and the opportunity to play softball. She earned degrees in Health and Physical Education and Exercise Studies and remained an additional semester to complete student teaching.

After graduation, Smith accepted a position at Worthington Christian School in Columbus and has remained there for 20 years. She teaches physical education, health, fitness, nutrition, and weight training classes and says she has enjoyed a long career helping students develop healthy habits and life skills.

Smith discusses her experiences coaching after college, including nearly a decade coaching high school soccer and softball. After stepping away from coaching to focus on raising her family, she recently returned to the sidelines through girls flag football and youth softball.

She also updates listeners on her family life. Smith and her husband Brad have been married for 16 years and have two children, Brinley and Beckett, who attend Worthington Christian School. She says their family stays busy traveling to sports and activities, with both children actively involved in athletics.

Smith reflects on her softball career, which began in tee ball as a young child. She credits her father, who coached her through much of her youth and high school career, for helping develop her love for the game and teaching her the importance of hard work and preparation.

She also looks back on her four seasons as the Cougars’ shortstop. While she enjoyed many successes on the field, Smith says her favorite memories center on the friendships she built with teammates and coaches. She recalls team trips, bus rides, and time spent together as some of the most meaningful parts of her college experience.

Smith reacts to the many honors and records she earned during her Cougar career, including several all-conference and academic recognitions as well as numerous places in the MVNU softball record book. She says she had not thought much about those accomplishments in recent years and views them as a reflection of the teammates and coaches who helped her succeed.

She also discusses learning that she would be inducted into the Cougar Wall of Fame. Smith says she was surprised when she received the phone call and was especially excited to learn she would be inducted alongside former teammate and close friend Heather. She describes the recognition as both humbling and meaningful.

Click HERE for more information on MVNU’s Homecoming events!

Stephanie (Johnson) Smith played for the softball team from 2003-2006 as a shortstop.


She holds MVNU records for:

– Most career at bats with 550
– Most career doubles with 57
– 5th in most games played with 163
– 4th in highest career batting average with an average of .400
– 3rd in career hits with 220
– 2nd in career RBI’s with 141
– 2nd most career in assists with 403.

As a freshman in 2003, Johnson was named:

– American Mideast Conference Honorable Mention
– American Mideast Conference Freshman of the Year
– NCCAA East Region Team
– NCCAA Honorable Mention All-American
– Cougar Sports Associates’ “Freshman of the Year,” and
– the 2003 Team Most Valuable Player as a Freshman!

In 2004 as a sophomore, she batted .359, had a team best 14 doubles, five triples, two home runs, 29 runs scored, and 34 RBIs. She was also named to:

– the AMC South Division Second Team
– NCCAA East Region Team, and
– NCCAA Honorable Mention All-American Team.

In 2005 as a junior, Johnson was named:

– American Mideast Conference South Division Second Team
– NCCAA East Region Team
– NFCA Great Lakes Region Second Team
– NCCAA All-American First Team
– American Mideast Conference All-Academic Team
– NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete
– NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete, and
– ESPN The Magazine© Academic All-District IV First Team. In 2006, as a senior, she was named:
– American Mideast Conference South Division First Team
– NAIA Region IX Team
– NCCAA East Region Team
– NCCAA East Region Player of the Year
– NCCAA All-American First Team
– American Mideast Conference All-Academic Team
– NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete and
– NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete

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Friday Favorites: The Morning Thing’s Favorite Basketball Memory

Friday, November 6th is National Basketball Day and the MVNU Men’s Basketball Team has their home opener on this night! For this week’s Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts will share their favorite basketball memory.

Click HERE to listen to this week’s Friday Favorites, or click the image link below!

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P.O.D.’s Sonny Sandoval Shares a Story of Faith, Redemption, and Restoration

WNZR’s Xander Devault speaks with Sonny Sandoval, lead singer of the metal band P.O.D., ahead of Sonny’s appearance at Tragedy Into Triumph on Wednesday, November 4.

Click HERE to listen to the entire conversation, or click the image link below!

Sonny reflects on his 35 years with P.O.D. and the many different musical genres the band has been part of throughout its career. He shares how he encountered God at an early age and eventually recognized an opportunity to use music as a way to share God’s love with others. Sonny also explains what P.O.D. means when describing themselves as “too Christian for the world and too secular for the church,” and how the band has remained committed to its message while reaching people from all walks of life.

When reflecting on the meaning of Tragedy Into Triumph, Sonny describes it as a picture of redemption and restoration, representing the journey from being lost to being found. Looking back on his own life, he recognizes the ways God rescued him from where he was headed and gave him a new purpose.

Sonny also opens up about his personal faith journey and the lasting impact his mother had on his relationship with God. He remembers how she continued to praise and thank God throughout her battle with leukemia, even as her health declined and she eventually passed away. Her example encouraged Sonny to make his own faith a priority by spending time in prayer and reading his Bible. As his relationship with Christ grew, he began to understand how God could use his life experiences and the platform he had through P.O.D. to reach others with the message of Jesus.

Although Sonny admits that being in the spotlight is not always comfortable, he recognizes the responsibility that comes with the opportunity to influence others, even if it means reaching just one person. He encourages people to bring all their emotions to God, whether they are experiencing anger, hurt, or disappointment, and reminds them that difficult past experiences do not disqualify anyone from being used by Him.

Sonny points to the many people in the Bible who were far from perfect but were still called by God, emphasizing that it is His goodness, grace, love, and Spirit that qualify us for His purposes. Having been involved in some of the first Tragedy Into Triumph events, Sonny has maintained a connection with founder Wendell Brown and hopes to encourage those who may want nothing to do with God to experience a change of heart. Above all, he wants people to understand their identity in Christ, discover the freedom that comes through knowing Jesus, and recognize that God can use their stories, including their tragedies, to bring hope and encouragement to others.

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Wendell Brown Highlights Tragedy Intro Triumph 2026!

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Wendell Brown, District Superintendent of the North Central Ohio Church of the Nazarene and founder of Tragedy Into Triumph.

Click HERE to listen to the entire conversation!

Wendell shares about his journey into ministry, serving as a pastor from 1994 to 2017 before being appointed District Superintendent 10 years ago and he explains the process of selecting and maintaining the role ass District Superintendent.

He explains the large footprint of the North Central Ohio Nazarene District, which includes communities from Delaware and Mount Vernon to Port Clinton, Ashtabula, Wooster, and Holmes County.

Wendell shares how the idea for Tragedy Into Triumph began while he was serving in Tennessee. Inspired by the story of former NFL player Siran Stacy, who lost his wife and four children in a tragic accident, Wendell felt God calling him to create an event focused on stories of hope and transformation through Christ.

Wendell shares how God has worked through Tragedy Into Triumph over the years, highlighting stories of people who have overcome addiction, loss, and difficult life circumstances through faith in Jesus Christ.

He tells the story of a woman whose life was transformed after attending an event. Through her faith journey, she found hope, recovery from addiction, and restoration with her children. Wendell explains the ministry’s message that no matter the tragedy, whether caused by personal choices or circumstances beyond our control, God can bring healing and transformation.

Wendell shares details about the 2026 Tragedy Into Triumph event happening November 2-4 at R.R. Hodges Chapel on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m. with services beginning at 7 p.m. each night. The event will also be streamed worldwide through a nationwide simulcast.

He shares that last year’s event reached more than 1,000 churches and approximately 1.5 million viewers, with over 12,000 making the decision to follow Christ.

Wendell introduces the first featured speakers:

Former Victoria’s Secret model Kylie Bisutti, who will share her testimony about identity, purpose, and finding true worth in Christ.

Carey Nieuwhof, one of the world’s top podcasters and church leadership voices, will share his personal struggle with anxiety, depression, and burnout, and how God brought healing and restoration.

The final night will feature Sonny Sandoval, lead singer of P.O.D., who will share how God transformed his life despite growing up in difficult circumstances surrounded by drugs and violence and how he overcame it.

Wendell explains how this year’s topics were chosen to address struggles many people face, including identity, mental health, and overcoming obstacles in life.

Wendell reminds us that the services are on November 2, 3, 4 at the R.R. Hodges Chapel/auditorium at MVNU and he shares the mission of Tragedy Into Triumph: to share real-life stories of transformation so people can find hope, believe in Christ, and overcome life’s struggles.

He emphasizes that everyone faces difficult seasons and that hearing authentic stories of God’s work in people’s lives can provide encouragement and direction.

Wendell explains that while people may debate theology or religion, personal testimonies of changed lives provide powerful evidence of God’s transforming work.

Wendell highlights additional resources available through Tragedy Into Triumph, including the book Living in Triumph, podcasts, free Bible studies, and ministry curriculum for churches, youth, and children.

He shares details about the ministry’s growing documentary series, including an upcoming episode featuring Brian “Head” Welch of the band Korn and a future release featuring former football coach Mark Richt.

The Tragedy Into Triumph event is free and open to the public November 2-4 at R.R. Hodges Chapel on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Wendell asks you to pray that people who need hope will attend and that lives will be transformed through the stories shared during the event.

Livestream information, event details, and ministry resources are available at tragedyintotriumph.com.

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Dr. Henry Smith Recalls the History of WNZR Over 40 Years!

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart and Olivia Skillings got to talk with Dr. Henry Smith, who was the original WNZR Communication Professor and Station Manager!

Click HERE to listen to the entire conversation, or click the image below!

Henry shares with us what he is doing today! He is in Zambia, Africa, helping to start a Wesleyan University in Zambia. Henry shares a funny story with us about a former student of his that has been helping him. He also talks about the dream that he and others had for the radio station at WNZR. There was a nucleus of people who had already started raising money for the station and he helped them to get it started.

Henry tells how the initial planning was a learning opportunity for him because he didn’t because he really wasn’t a radio guy at that time. There was a lot of learning that was done from other stations and even the FCC!

Henry explains to us what his prayer was at the beginning of WNZR. They had an unexpected obstacle when starting up, which was a local TV station petitioning to deny them starting WNZR due to their conflicting dial positions. The supporters of the radio station prayed for the barriers to be removed so they could make a difference with their radio station.

Henry talks about the 4 year waiting period that they experienced while trying to get an FCC license. The TV station in Columbus was the primary cause of that. The students tried to keep the quality of the station high even though they weren’t on the air yet.

He explains his biggest challenge in it was trying to keep the dream alive for the students.

Henry also explains that the things he remembers most is the people from that time. He has always enjoyed working with students the most and recalls how excited they were when they finally received the permission that they needed from the FCC.

Here are pictures from Dr. Smith’s trip to the top of our radio tower. He talked about taking pictures of the MVNC campus in 1986!

Marcy also shares a funny story that current MVNU Professor Alan Reed has about Dr. Smith on that day!

Dr. Smith details the process of what it took to get 90.9FM WNZR on the air! He talks about what he learned about himself throughout those years. Impact has always been his greatest motivator as a person whether that be as a professor, a university president, or a missionary.

Henry talks about the importance of waiting and being patient. The lessons that he and the students learned while waiting were so important and have stayed with him throughout his life.

Dr. Smith explains how important community support was in starting WNZR. Starting the radio station was something that rallied people in the area and the share-a-thons that they did played a huge role in the station’s birth.

Henry and Marcy joke about a potential trip to Zambia so MVNU Communication students can help with the radio station that he is starting there.

Henry speaks on the importance of students learning about broadcasting while studying Communication. The more experiences you can have will lead to students being better communicators. He says that it helps sharpen your communication skills in ways that you don’t even realize.

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Brook Abella Returns To The Sonfest Stage

WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger talks with Brook Abella, senior at MVNU and her band, who are one of the artists performing at Sonfest 2026.

Click HERE to hear the entire conversation, or click the image below!

Brook Abella’s band is made up of Elijah Yoder, guitarist and vocalist, Robert Eggebrect, drummer, and Luke Tibbe, pianist.

Brook Abella grew up in Bellefontaine, Ohio, and found many opportunities to worship in different places in her town.

Luke Tibbe, pianist, is from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has been participating in music for about 6 years. Since then, he has really enjoyed being on worship teams and praising Jesus.

Robbert Eggebrect, drummer, is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and an engineer student from Cedarville University. Elijah Yoder, guitarist and vocalist, has been leading worship at his church for about a year and has been playing guitar for about 4 years.

Brook Abella’s music influence has come from sources like Christian radio and artists like TobyMac and Mandisa. She enjoys listening to the messages of inspiration and hope and putting that same message into the songs she makes. When writing and making music, her inspiration comes from God’s Word and the quiet, still moments she has with God.

Brook Abella is looking forward to seeing this year’s Sonfest headliner, Chris Renzema, at MVNU. She is a fan of his musicianship and his songwriting. In her band’s set, they normally perform a song written by Chris Renzema called “Adoni”.

Luke Tibbe, pianist, is also looking forward to seeing Chris Renzema at this year’s Sonfest. He really enjoys Renzema’s music and lyrics, which have played a big influence on Luke.

Elijah Yoder, guitarist and vocalist, is excited to worship at Sonfest this year. With all the preparation the band has done, he is excited to worship with everyone. Robbert Eggebrect, drummer, is excited to meet gio., who is another artist at Sonfest 2026.

Brook Abella hopes that while she and the band are onstage, the audience will experience the presence of God. She and the band invite the Holy Spirit into any atmosphere they are in and hope that people who may not know Jesus will begin to ask who He is and start to learn more about Him.

Luke Tibbe, pianist, wants the audience to know “how livable” The Gospel message is through worship.

Elijah Yoder, guitarist and vocalist, is looking forward for the band and audience to be unashamed in worship. Robbert Eggebrect, drummer, is hoping that the Sonfest artist arrives with an open mind and worship with no limits.

Click HERE for ticket information and more about Sonfest 2026!

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Rock City Worship Returns To The SonFest Stage!

WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger talks with Nathan Montgomery, worship leader for Rock City Worship, one of the headlining artists of Sonfest 2026.

Listen to the entire conversation HERE or click the image below!

Nathan serves as the Central Worship Pastor at Rock City and oversees the worship teams across all of the church’s campuses. He is married, has two children, with another one on the way!

Rock City Church was founded in 2011 by Lead Pastor Chad Fisher and his wife. The church’s primary broadcast location is in Polaris, with additional campuses in Hilliard, Columbus’ Short North district, and Saint Mary’s, Ohio.

While Rock City Worship does not frequently tour outside of the church, the group enjoys taking opportunities to serve its mission of “making Heaven full.” Touring is part of that mission, but their primary focus is equipping and serving their local church. When writing and recording music, the group is intentional about considering what the Lord wants to communicate to their congregation. Their songs are designed to teach people about God through lyrics rooted in Scripture and help listeners develop a deeper understanding of who He is.

Rock City Worship is excited to lead worship at Sonfest this year. The group began writing and recording music with the goal of equipping their congregation with a greater understanding of God through His Word. Their desire is to help people see God more clearly so they can worship Him more completely.

Rock City Worship recently completed recording their new live album, “Rehearsing For Heaven”. The project is inspired by Romans 12:1, which calls believers to offer themselves as “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God”. The album reflects the idea that, as children of God, believers are already living in eternity and we can live with that perspective every moment of our lives—not just on Sundays.

Many of the songs on the new album are centered on what the group describes as “straight vertical” worship, focusing entirely on giving God undivided praise. Songs include themes of declaring God’s holiness, such as singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” The first single from the project is scheduled to be released January 8, with the full album expected to arrive around March.

Nathan and Rock City Worship are looking forward to returning to the Sonfest stage this year. They enjoyed being part of last year’s event, which Nathan described as a time when people could encounter the tangible presence of God. He remembers the Sonfest audience being ready and prepared to worship the Lord and is excited to return, reconnect with familiar faces, and meet new friends.

This year, Nathan hopes the group’s time at Sonfest will help people see God more clearly and, as a result, worship Him more completely. He hopes that each person who sings along with the songs will walk away having learned something new or gain a deeper understanding of who God is.

Nathan also encourages listeners not to miss this year’s Sonfest. Last year marked his first experience at the festival, and he was amazed by the way he saw the Lord move throughout the event. He also appreciated the wide variety of musical genres represented by the many artists who participated.

If Nathan had to choose his favorite Rock City Worship song, he would select “Renew My Mind,” which will be featured on the new live album. The song focuses on the daily decision to choose praise over worry and to intentionally renew our minds each day. Rock City Worship will bring “Renew My Mind” with them to the Sonfest stage this year.

You can purchase tickets to SonFest 2026 HERE and find more information about this year’s schedule and lineup!

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The Morning Thing Co-Hosts Share Their Favorite School Spirit Memories!

Today on The Morning Thing, the co-hosts talk about their favorite school spirit memory in honor of September First Friday!

You can listen to this week’s Friday Favorites HERE!

September First Friday’s theme is School Spirit Night! The Big Blue Crew is excited to broadcast in Downtown Mount Vernon!

Check out our blog! themorningthing.com

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