College of the Ozarks hosts the annual Spring Forum, A Conversation on Israel, with Dr. Jim Denison, cultural theologian and founder and CEO of Denison Ministries, and The Honorable Mike Huckabee, the 44th governor of Arkansas.

College of the Ozarks hosted the annual Spring Forum, A Conversation on Israel, on April 4. The event featured Dr. Jim Denison, cultural theologian and founder and CEO of Denison Ministries, and The Honorable Mike Huckabee, the 44^th governor of Arkansas.

Denison has taught the philosophy of religion and apologetics at several seminaries. He serves as Resident Scholar for Ethics with Baylor Scott & White Health, where he addresses issues such as genetic medicine and reproductive science. He is a Senior Fellow with CEO Forum, 21^st Century Wilberforce Initiative, International Alliance of Christian Education, and Dallas Baptist University’s Institute for Global Engagement.

The Forum was held in The Howell W. Keeter Gymnasium and started with a prelude by the College of the Ozarks Concert Band, directed by Dr. Kevin Powers, assistant professor of music. After an introduction by Dr. Sue Head, vice president for cultural affairs and dean of character education, and presentation of colors, College of the Ozarks President Brad Johnson honored several individuals.

Herschend’s award includes a student-made, stained-glass piece, depicting the Emblem of Israel.

The Friend of Israel Award

Johnson, along with Chairman of the Board Shawn McKenzie and Huckabee, presented the Friend of Israel Award to Sherry Herschend, alumna of The School of the Ozarks and friend of Israel. Herschend’s passion for Jesus and Israel is contagious, and she shared those passions with over 2,700 people who have traveled with her on 55 journeys to Israel, walking in Jesus’ footsteps throughout the country.

“We celebrate Mrs. Sherry Herschend tonight because of her love for Israel and the Israeli people,” Johnson said. “Her infectious enthusiasm for supporting God’s work in our world is evident, as is the investment she has made so that others can experience the land in Israel.”

Herschend grew up in the Ozarks and came from humble beginnings. Her family taught her the value of serving and giving, which created a passion for meeting the needs of others. She married her husband, Jack, 70 years ago. During the early years of marriage, the Herschends, including Jack’s brother, Pete, worked together to rebuild the 19^th-century mining town into a family attraction now known worldwide as Silver Dollar City. Sherry and Jack had three sons, and are now enjoying 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

College of the Ozarks honors Ken and Barbara Larson who gifted a 250-year-old Torah Scroll to C of O. The Honorable Mike Huckabee, College President Brad Johnson, and C of O Board Chairman Shawn McKenzie present the couple with a student-made, stained-glass piece.

Unveiling the Torah Scroll

Johnson, along with McKenzie, also honored Ken and Barbara Larson. The Larsons founded God’s Ancient Library, a collection of rare Torah Scrolls from around the world. To date, they have given 80 Torahs to seminaries, museums, and other organizations for teaching, research, and public engagement. Today, they donated a German Torah, estimated to be 250 years old, to the College.

“This Torah Scroll includes the first five books of the Bible on animal skin that were carefully copied from another Torah Scroll,” Larson said. “This Torah is approximately the same age as our country, around 250 years old. This Torah Scroll was written and used in a synagogue in Germany. No doubt, this Scroll survived the Holocaust. We are delighted that we can give it to the school.”

The forum features a fireside-chat style, where The Honorable Mike Huckabee and Dr. Jim Denison discuss the current crisis in light of Israel’s history.

Discussing Israel

Following these awards, the concert band, chapel choir, and chorale joined together to perform “Is He Worthy?,” directed by Gregg Busch, associate professor of music and theater. More than 75 students were a part of the special performance.

The Forum featured a fireside-chat style, where Huckabee and Denison discussed the current crisis in light of Israel’s history. Some of the topics they addressed were the October 7^th attack on Israel, the larger narrative of the Hamas hatred against the Jewish people, and why public sentiment has turned against Israel in the United States, especially on college campuses.

“Last summer, my family and I had the privilege of visiting Israel, and it was a life-changing experience,” Johnson said. “After the event on October 7, 2023, I began to feel the Lord move in my heart and recognized the importance of having a conversation about Israel on campus.”

“I think every Christian must go to Israel,” Denison said. “There is just something about being where stories from Scripture took place that you really can’t put into words. Visiting Israel turns the Bible from black and white to color and turns the 2D to 3D.”

“I’ve been to Israel close to 100 times,” Huckabee said. “I go several times a year, and I started taking groups there in 1981. My goal is to encourage other Christians to experience Israel for themselves. When these believers encounter Israel in person, I no longer have to tell them how to embrace the Holy Land.”

Huckabee and Denison receive a College of the Ozarks sweatshirt, presented by senior Christian studies major Kailey Hollmann. College of the Ozarks also presented the guests with unique stained-glass pieces and a variety of student-made products.

More about the speakers

Mike Huckabee was the 44^th governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007, becoming one of the longest serving governors in his state’s history. He left a legacy of tax cuts, job creation, the reconstruction of his state’s road system, k-16 education reform, and a nationally heralded and duplicated health initiative that focused on prevention. His administration fought long-standing corruption in the state’s political machine, resulting in numerous indictments and convictions of powerful legislators and other elected officials. He ran in 2008 and 2016 for President, finishing second in the Republican primary in 2008.

Denison holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Dallas Baptist University. Denison is the Theologian in Residence for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Prior to launching Denison Forum in 2009, he pastored churches in Texas and Georgia.

Jim and his wife, Janet, have two married sons and four grandchildren.