2007 Alumni Awards/Honors

American Bible Society -- Biblical Studies Award

Katherine Selby Knoke enjoys a rich heritage as a third generation Pentecostal. She was born in Fall River Mills, California, to Brad and Valerie Selby, who served as pastors in the Assembly of God for 20 years. Her parents have instilled tenderness toward God and have unwaveringly supported and believed in her. She has an older sister, Elizabeth, who is her best friend and has been a longtime inspiration.

In November 2003 Katherine married Derek Knoke and was blessed to gain more family. Her father-in-law and mother-in-law are Rollie and Sheila Knoke, whose organic lifestyles have impacted her spiritually and physically. Katherine and Derek witnessed the greatest miracle of their lives in March 2006 with the birth of their beautiful, little girl, Caroline Elizabeth.

Katherine received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Lee University in 2003. She entered the Church of God Theological Seminary in the same year, with the intention of pursuing a degree in Counseling, but fell in love with Old Testament studies and felt God prompting her in a different direction. Katherine is applying to doctoral programs to further her studies in the Old Testament with the aspiration of teaching at a college level.

She currently resides in Canton, Georgia where she is the Principal at Rehoboth Christian Academy. Her husband, Derek, serves as Student Minister at New Life Worship Center, pastored by Clint Claypoole. Derek has recently signed a contract to publish a book that will be released later this year.

Leslie Jean (Carpenter) Holmes is originally from Grand Rapids, MI. Leslie is the eldest daughter of Thomas and Miriam Carpenter and the sister of Brian and Kelly Jo Carpenter.

Leslie received her call to ministry in 2002, shortly after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Her heart is for evangelizing and discipling youth, as well as for Christian higher education. During her time at The Church of God Theological Seminary, she met and married her best friend Matthew Spencer Holmes (2006 COGTS graduate).

Leslie currently works as an admissions counselor at Lee University. She enjoys the theater, music, cooking, entertaining in her home and exploring the outdoors with Matthew. She and Matthew attend Westmore Church of God and are involved with the Young Married Class and Student Ministries Department.

Leslie aspires to work with students of all ages and to teach them what it means to be a radical disciples of Christ. Although she used to think she was a ‘preacher’ by nature, she now knows she is called to be a ‘teacher’ of the word. Leslie and Matthew have a variety of mutual ministerial interests including missions, associate pastoring and working in higher education. They are excited about walking out their shared callings together.

Counseling Award

Schaunelle Cox was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1979 to Reverend William and Barbara Cox. She graduated from Lee University in 2003 with a degree in Human Development with an emphasis in Business.

She has been a member of Mt. Olive East Church of God for five years. At Mt. Olive East, she has helped in children's ministries, evangelism outreach, and in mentoring youth. She also enjoys going on short term mission trips.

Upon graduation, she plans to work in Chattanooga as a substance abuse counselor and to pursue licensure as a marriage and family therapist. She will also be working with churches to assist in seminars; bringing a God-centered approach and awareness to social issues such as child abuse prevention and domestic violence. Her dream is to work as a child therapist in Uganda with children who have been rescued from abduction.

Care Ministries Award

Rachel Ann Lamley was born and raised in the small village of Blissfield, Michigan not realizing where God was going to lead her through the years. As a young child she wanted to be in church and would even go alone to be around those that loved God. Her prayer since youth was two-fold; she wanted a heart after God like David and wisdom and knowledge like Solomon. She has lived her life in pursuit and in fulfillment of these two blessings in order to be a good and faithful servant of the Lord.

She graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelors and Masters degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and went to work in a shipyard where she managed the engineering department, was a master scheduler, and a project manager that traveled around the country and the world. Though active in the church she felt a greater call that persisted until she finally found her way to the Church of God Seminary where God worked to transform her and her future as only He and His anointed can.

Her caring nature has become more focused and grounded as she reaches out to others, in healthier ways, to show them God’s holy love through forming wholistic relationships. Her future plans include continuing to develop and expand a ministry of care that was begun last year as a way of fulfilling the Great Commission thru application of the Great Commandment. She desires to continue at the Seminary to acquire her Doctor of Ministry degree as well as to pursue her ministerial credentials.

International Student Leadership Award

Assen Christov was born on August 22, 1963 in the town of Razlog, Bulgaria during the time of communism. Assen became an orphan at the age of four. He spent his childhood and school years in orphanages in Bulgaria. His stay in orphanages formed his communist worldview later in life. He graduated from High School in his home town and became a student in Information Technologies and Communications. He has an Engineering degree - first level of Communications. Later he obtained a Bachelors degree in Economic Management and finished Russian Seminary Grace in Moscow.
Assen became actively involved with the local communist party, but God changed his life after a serious accident, and he become a Christian at the age of 26.
Today he is a National Leader of the Church of God in Bulgaria and is Overseer and Founder of the Roma/Gypsy Communities. He is married to Vilie and they have two daughters.

Mandla Thembinkosi Mlotsa was born on March 29, 1973, in Malindza in the Kingdom of Swaziland, as the third of six boys, to Nehemiah and Angelina Mlotsa. Before graduating from high school he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in May 25, 1993, at a Siteki Nazarene High School chapel service. In 1994 he joined the Full Gospel Church of God.

Mandla accepted God’s call into ministry in August 1996 after a serious asthmatic attack. He then gave his life as a living sacrifice only to serve God. In 1997- 1999 he enrolled at Bethesda Bible College in Durban, South Africa for his Bachelor in Theology degree (B.Th). Upon Mandla’s return from Bethesda Bible College he furthered his studies at the University of Zululand, Durban, South Africa from 2000-2001 for a Bachelor in Theology honors degree majoring in Biblical studies (B.Th honors). In the fall of 2005 he enrolled in the Church of God Theological Seminary for a Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Studies.

During his studies at the University of Zululand, he met Snegugu Mkhize, whom he married on March 24, 2001. God has blessed them with a son, Sibonakaliso.

Upon returning to Swaziland, he will assume the pastorate of Malindza Full Gospel Church of God and will oversee the completion of a Bible College which has been under construction since 2003. He would also like to plant churches through purposeful prayer cells. Mandla strongly believes that his church will be a sending church and that Swaziland will be the pulpit of Africa.

F. J. May Excellence in Preaching Award

Zdenek Sykora was born in Ostraca, in the Czech Republic. For seven years he has been happily married to the love of his life and fellow classmate, Barbara Sykorova.

After graduation, Zdenek desires to return to the Czech Republic. In the city of Prague he will be a part of a vision that has already been established by his pastor, mentor and friend, Jonathan Augustine and his wife, Daniela. Prague is a bastion of postmodern culture and the reason he would like to present the gospel to the younger generation, but in a new theological framework. In doing so, he hopes to establish an institute of health with an emphasis on wholistic healing. He and his wife will also be part of a discipleship program by acting as translators into the Czech and Polish language.

Zdenek will also be involved in teaching and preaching in the Central European region. He has a heart for the pastors who are in need of theological education and ministerial training in the turbulent, postmodern environment that exists in Europe today.

Pentecostal Ministry Award

Patricia Gail Nichols was born in Boone, NC and was born again in Mountain City, Tennessee at the age of 5. This second event she recalls vividly. She credits her parents, Russell and Naomi Ward, for teaching her the ways of the Lord and for encouraging the call of God on her life.

When she was nine years old, Patricia’s family moved to Germany for her father to direct a Christian Servicemen’s Center with the Church of God Ministry to the Military. For the next 10 years as her family ministered in this capacity, they were blessed with many opportunities to show hospitality to a great many preachers, teachers, chaplains, missionaries, singers, soldiers, nationals, refugees, and homeless individuals. The Ward home was often a pit stop for people on their travels, and Patricia, her sister, Valarie, and her brother, Russell Dean, loved listening to their stories. Each person who came through their home made an impact on Patricia—especially one young soldier, Jimmy Nichols.

The two married and came to Lee University in 1989. Patricia graduated magna cum laude from Lee University with a B.A. in English, received the English Department Award, and taught for two years at Bradley Central High School while her husband completed seminary.

Jimmy and Patricia have been married for almost 20 years and are the parents of four fine sons, Wesley, Nathan, John Christopher, and Jeffrey. Jimmy has served as a Church of God Army chaplain for the past 11 years. This ministry has taken them to many places where they have had opportunities to share the love of Christ.

Patricia is currently a 2LT in the U.S Army chaplain candidate program. She is excited about joining her husband in this ministry. She trusts in the absolute faithfulness of God to accomplish His will in her life and in the life of her family.

Peter Thomas was born in Germany on November 24, 1953. He is married to Deborah and they have one daughter, Sarah. He accepted the Lord as his savior in August 1972 during a tent revival. After being filled with the Holy Spirit a month later, he enrolled in the European Bible School; at which time he felt called to Missions. Following Bible College, he served two years as a pastoral assistant in Germany before departing for Ghana, West Africa to serve as a Bible School teacher at Ghana Bible Institute. From 1981-1983, he served as the interim overseer of Ghana.

After earning his Master of Arts degree from the Church of God Theological Seminary in 1985, Peter received an appointment as the C.E. Coordinator of Southeastern Africa. During that time, he organized and coordinated the Ministerial Training program and served in hunger relief efforts in Zimbabwe and Mozambique while engaging in evangelistic outreaches and overseeing church building projects.

He has served as a Board Member of the National Executive Council for the Church of God in Germany (1997-2005), a Board Member for the School of Ministry (2000), and a CIMS Field Representative in Northern Africa (2002).

Today, Peter is fulfilling his 2006 appointment as the Regional Superintendent for the Central African Region, as well as a previous appointment as the C.E. Coordinator of West, Central, and Eastern Africa while pursuing his Doctor of Ministry degree (subsequent to the receipt of his Master of Divinity degree) from the Church of God Theological Seminary.

Donna (Valenzuela) Knowles is the daughter of Simon and Isidora Valenzuela and elder sister to her only sibling Lois. Born and raised as a pastor’s daughter in the Philippines, she received the rich heritage of growing up in a Christian home.

Through the years, God provided for her studies through “Compassion,” the Winters Family, and World Missions. Though she received a degree in Special Education at Lee University, it was not until her time at the seminary that Donna fully realized her calling to be a missionary teacher. She wants to invest in others through discipleship and education just as others did for her.

Recently married to Geoffery Justin Knowles, Donna and her husband are preparing to work as missionary teachers in Cambodia next year with People for Care and Learning. Presently they are engaged in ministry to the Hispanic congregation at New Covenant Church of God.

Alumnus of the Year

Chaplain (Colonel) Richard L. Pace currently serves as the Director of Personnel and Ecclesiastical Relations in the Army Chief of Chaplains Office, Pentagon, Washington, DC. He has been a Church of God Army Chaplain for the past 25 years. Prior to his chaplaincy endorsement, he served as the Pastor of the Northeast Minneapolis Church of God, Minneapolis, MN (1980-1982), and also as the Associate Pastor of the East Calhoun Church of God, Calhoun, GA (1978-1980).

He attended Lee University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1976. The following year he entered the Church of God Graduate School of Christian Ministries where he earned the Master of Arts degree in 1978. He graduated from the Church of God Theological Seminary in 1981 with the Master of Divinity degree. A year later he became the first graduate of the Seminary to become a military chaplain. Additionally, he earned a Master of Science Degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2004.

Chaplain Pace's military education includes the Chaplain Officer Basic Course (1982), Chaplain Advanced Course (1988), Combined Arms Services Staff School (1989), Command and General Staff College (1995), and the Army War College (2004).

Chaplain Pace has served in numerous assignments to include two combat tours. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and to Iraq in 2003 in support of Operation Iraq Freedom.

Chaplain Pace's previous assignments include: Installation Chaplain at Carlisle Barracks, PA (2004-2006), Division Chaplain for the 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC (2001-2003) Chaplain Career Manager, Pentagon (1998-2001); Brigade Chaplain, 35th Signal Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (1997-1998), Deputy Division Chaplain, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (1996-1997), Brigade Chaplain, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (1995-1996), Director, Eighth United States Army Religious Retreat Center, Seoul Korea (1992-1994), Regimental Chaplain, 11th Infantry Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia (1991-1992), Battalion Chaplain, 4/30th Infantry Battalion, Fort Benning, Georgia (1989-1991), Battalion Chaplain 1/333rd Field Artillery Battalion (Lance), Wiesbaden, Germany (1985-1988), Battalion Chaplain 2/69th Armor Battalion, Fort Benning, Georgia 1984-1985), Battalion Chaplain 2d Battalion, 2d Infantry Training Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia (1982-1984).

Among the awards and decorations Chaplain Pace has received two Bronze Star Medals; six Meritorious Service Medals; three Army Commendation Medals; six Army Achievement Medals; the Master Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and German Jump Wings.

Chaplain Pace is married to the former Brenda Christenbury of Cleveland, Tennessee. Brenda has served at all levels of leadership in the military chapel's women's ministry, Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC), to include PWOC USA National President. She actively speaks to military and civilian women's groups around the world. She is co-author of Medals Above Mv Heart (Broadman-Holman), and soon will publish a military devotional book for Tyndale House. The Paces have two married sons and two grandchildren.