Fisher steps down as campus pastor of Huntington University
FOR RELEASE: Sunday, October 24, 2010
Huntington, Ind. - The Rev. Bill Fisher, dean of Christian faith and life at Huntington University, is stepping down from his position at the end of the school year after 18 years of service. In his career at Huntington, Fisher has revised chapel programming to respond to the changing needs and interests of the campus community. He grew the number of campus ministries student leaders from one to a peak of 40 students. He developed "Faith-In-Action" teams to engage and to support local churches, established Joyful Noise as an ongoing chapel worship team, helped organize the first ACOC (All Campus Off Campus) retreats and developed the first faculty/staff worship services at the beginning of each semester. In addition to teaching throughout the years, Fisher also led and co-led numerous spring break and J-Term trips across the United States and around the world, including Brazil, China, Northern Ireland, Ukraine, Kenya and Uganda.
"Whether home or abroad or professionally or personally, Huntington University students are impacting their world for Christ," Fisher said, "and to think that I have made even a minor contribution to that is humbling and honoring."
Fisher has been recognized on and off campus for his service and leadership in ministry. In 2007, he received the Dana Walling Award for Excellence in Campus Ministry. He has also developed programs for the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), including the Leadership Development and Spiritual Formation Program which is funded by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. Through this grant, Fisher consults with other Christian colleges to improve their student-ministry outreach. He plans to continue this work after he leaves the university in June.
"It would be impossible to list all the ways that he has impacted the lives of our students - from the classes he has taught, to the personal and pre-marital counseling he has provided, to the example he has set through his involvement with area churches," said HU President G. Blair Dowden. "In so many ways, Bill has modeled a life dedicated to Christ. And he has done an incredible job representing Huntington University locally, nationally and internationally."
After he has completed his service at HU, Fisher says he will carry on with his work with the Murdock Charitable Trust and continue to pastor at First Baptist Church in Warren, Ind., while he discovers God's next plan for his life.
A national search is currently under way to find his successor. The search committee is led by Ron Coffey, vice president for student development.
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