Jubilate Alumni Connections Spring 2007 Page 1 2 3 4
Alumni Profiles
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1976-77 Melinda Tabler Stone
Jubilate was the most worthwhile thing I did in college. It was that acknowledgement that compelled me to want to serve on the Jubilate Alumni Board. I don’t know, maybe it’s this time of life that makes me look back and reflect on where I came from and value anew my old friends.

I almost didn’t join Jubilate. It was late when I auditioned and the choir was full. But someone dropped out and Carl called me the Wednesday before fall retreat and said if I could go and if I didn’t mind singing second alto (I was a first soprano) there was a place for me. Three wonderful years later I graduated and went on to an international business graduate school in Arizona. And from there into the Peace Corps in Paraguay and then, in 1988, into the Foreign Service.

So I haven’t made it to any Jubilate reunions. I’ve been away. Mexico, Pakistan, Tanzania, India and 		Botswana. I’ve been back since 2003, first teaching at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington and then over to the Department of State itself for a tour handling our relations with South Africa.

All that moving took a toll on my singing. There just were no opportunities most of the places I lived. But in Botswana I joined a small choir and it was like I had rediscovered a lost part of myself. An alto part of myself, it turns out. Since returning to D.C., I have been singing with the New Dominion Chorale, a large choir in Northern Virginia.

I’ll probably be going overseas again in the summer of 2008, but I hope to see many of you at the reunion next April!

Peace,
Melinda Tabler Stone
College ‘78
1986-87 Todd and Judi Withers
Todd Withers ('85-'88, Engineering’88) and Judi (Porter) Withers ('84-'87, Commerce ’88) currently live in Shanghai, China. We met in Jubilate during our 2nd year at UVA and began dating 2nd semester of our 4th year. We both have many great memories of our time in Jubilate, especially singing Lessons & Carols in the UVA Chapel, playing lots of card games (Spades and Rook) on choir tour, and eating Jim Sivley’s Caramel Chocolate brownies on retreats!

After graduation in 1988, Todd moved to Atlanta, GA, to begin a consulting career with Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting). Judi worked in Roanoke, VA, and northern Virginia at a couple of different jobs before moving to Atlanta, GA, in 1989 to begin working in the IT department of Norfolk Southern. We were married in the summer of 1991 in Roanoke, VA, with many of our Jubilate friends in attendance.

Todd’s consulting career led to work assignments in several different cities, including Chicago, Raleigh, Houston, Detroit, Midland, and Vancouver, as well 		as several lengthy assignments in Atlanta. His most recent focus has been in the deal shaping and implementation of large outsourcing deals. Judi worked fulltime at Norfolk Southern as an IT developer and network engineer until the summer of 2004, when she quit working outside the home to focus on raising our two children.

Our daughter, Gillian (age 11), loves music and singing while Price (age 7) enjoys playing sports, reading, and doing Lego’s. They both share their parents’ love for all-things UVA, and understand that their college education is paid for as long as it doesn’t involve Blacksburg or Chapel Hill! The 2 most special days for us as parents were the days that they both asked Jesus to come into their hearts and be the Lord of their lives...what a blessing!

We’ll be in China for a few years so if your travels ever take you to this part of the world, please look us up!! You can read more about our experience here on our blog (http://withersinchina.blogspot.com/) or contact us at this address.
1996-97 Hunter and Blaire Ruch
How grateful are we for Jubilate! Through it, God brought together a Yankee from New Canaan, Connecticut and a southern belle from Mechanicsville, Virginia some nine years ago. In fact, I (Hunter) asked Blaire out following a Jubilate rehearsal in January of 1998. In March of 1999 while we were traveling on Jubilate’s Spring Break Tour (which was to the South that year), I proposed to Blaire during our free day in New Orleans. It was Saint Patrick’s Day – and we had many reasons to celebrate. When we caught up with the rest of our Jubilate friends that night, you can imagine how excited they were for us. It was so special to share in that moment with those friends. Our time at The University was incredibly rich and we have Jubilate to thank for that!

After graduation from UVA in 1999, Blaire headed to Ireland for two months with World Harvest Mission to work with Irish Christians, equipping and encouraging them in their ministry. I sought God’s direction for a career, only to come up short. After several frustrating weeks of searching and interviewing, I took my own opportunity to serve overseas in the Dominican Republic on a short-term missions trip. Much to my delight, upon returning from that trip, I was presented an offer to work for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Fraud Section (whew, imagine what our business cards looked like!).

In any event, by the Fall of 1999, we had both moved to the Northern Virginia area to begin our lives as young professionals. In April of 2000, we were married at the Chapel on the Grounds of The University (it rained like crazy, but we didn’t care). Even though we enjoyed our jobs thoroughly (Hunter with the DOJ and Blaire with McLean Bible Church), we knew that God was ultimately leading us to pursue further training for ministry at seminary. So in the Summer of 2002, after nearly three years in the Northern Virginia/D.C. area, we hit the road (25 foot Penske truck and all) and traversed our country’s excellent interstate system until we stopped in Dallas, Texas. It was here that I began a four-year master’s program at Dallas Theological Seminary.

Our years at DTS were so foundational for us as a couple. Without family close by, we learned to rely heavily on God and our new-found community of friends. During these years we recognized that God’s desire for followers of Christ is that they live their lives authentically with others (Hebrew 10:24-25). Too many pastors and other ministry leaders isolate themselves from real relationships. This grieves our Heavenly Father and stifles our ability to grow in Christ.

Right before our final year of seminary, God blessed us in an amazing way with the birth of our first child – Courtlyn Mallory Ruch in July of 2005. Wow, can anyone be more precious than her? We think not, but forgive us for our failure to be objective. She’s been such an incredible joy to us, our families, and friends.

Shortly after Courtlyn’s birth, we had the privilege of meeting with Jim Congdon, Senior Pastor of Topeka Bible Church in Topeka, Kansas. He was in Dallas visiting his son and we scheduled time to talk with him about TBC as well as the new pastoral position that they were seeking to fill. The position focused 		on the development of the already existing Small Groups Ministry. What we didn’t know at the time was that God would ultimately direct our path north on I-35 to Topeka in the Summer of 2006 following graduation from DTS.

Kansas, you say? Yes, the Sunflower State (think wheat fields and Jayhawk basketball). While we wouldn’t have picked it, we’re glad that God picked it for us. Since we arrived in Topeka almost a year ago, we’ve been nothing but encouraged by the incredible folks of TBC. They truly model what the body of Christ is meant to be: a genuine, servant-minded, gospel-centered church.

As the Pastor of Community, my primary responsibility is to facilitate the operation and development of Community Groups (i.e. Small Groups) within the body of TBC. This includes caring for and equipping the existing Group Leaders so that they can make a lasting impact on the lives of those they lead. I am convinced that true life-change to the glory of God can only happen in the context of biblical community. For this reason, I am passionate about what I get to do!

I also oversee the Men’s Ministry at TBC. My primarily tasks include co-teaching our Men’s Fraternity Study in the Fall and Spring as well as a new ministry initiative which seeks to help men pursue lives of sexual purity and freedom from the dangerous bondage of pornography. I am living out my dream at TBC because I’m able to encourage others to lovingly pursue the Savior as I point people towards Him.

Blaire has also taken on significant ministry responsibilities of her own. In addition to building into other women at TBC through several Bible studies that she has attended, Blaire has gotten involved with the local chapter of M.O.P.S. (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers). She serves on the M.O.P.S. Steering Team, handling the ministry’s finances.

Her primary area of ministry during this season of life is to Courtlyn. I can honestly say that our daughter is blessed to spend her days with Blaire. She is an excellent wife and mother and I’m so grateful for her partnership in ministry. It’s obvious to me why God brought a Yankee and a southern belle together those many years ago!

Finally, the latest news in our household involves more kids – well at least one more. Yes, we’re excited to say that in December of this year, we will join the ranks of parents who have two children. We’re grateful again to God for His provision and goodness and we pray that Baby Ruch #2 will be just as healthy and vibrant as Courtlyn was.

Our word of encouragement for current members of Jubilate is to stay humble as you serve the Lord. Make the most of every opportunity you have to reflect the character of Jesus Christ and share Him with your fellow Wahoos who don’t know Him. Also, in addition to spending quality time talking with friends on the Lawn in the evenings, attending games at Scott Stadium and the John Paul Jones Arena (we’re so envious … have you seen U-Hall?), and partaking of the variety of eateries that are The Corner, give thanks to God for the fact that you know Him and have a chance to grow in your relationship with Him at our great University!
2006-07 Jordan Redman
Hi there!

I joined the group my second year at UVa, and now it's hard to imagine my college experience without Jubilate! I'm incredibly thankful for the all the fellowship, friendship, and fun times spent ministering through music over the past three years.

I also can't believe that our Homecoming Concert has already come and gone this spring, meaning my last semester is almost over! Hopefully I'll be putting my Economics degree to work somewhere besides Virginia... Although I'd like to eventually end up back in the South, I've applied to various accounting
and finance positions in California and Colorado and am also praying about spending a couple years doing mission work overseas before I join the real world (and life gets too complicated!)

Although my post-graduation plans are still uncertain, I do know that I'm excited about being a Jubilate alumnus! Thank you all so much for your dedication to the group even though it might have been awhile since you were Jubos yourselves. We love meeting you at retreats and the beauty your voices add to Beautiful Savior at our concerts. Hope y'all have a blessed summer; keep singing!