Honors alumni working for peace in California, Indonesia
Cara (Caudill) '06 and Joe Pfeiffer '06 pictured during their travels in Halmahera; Puao for the Evangelical Friends Church Southwest, where they teach intensive courses in Bible, peacemaking, history, mission, and theology - and especially partner with the Jakartan leadership to help them develop and implement a program that trains church leaders in Evangelical Friends theology and practice.
Honors graduates Joe ’06 and Cara (Caudill) Pfeiffer ’06 are living lives that exemplify Malone University’s mission to serve their church, community, and world.
The couple lives in California, where Joe pastors an Evangelical Friends church in Midway City, a predominately Vietnamese and Hispanic fellowship, as he also works toward a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary.
Cara is the Peace First coordinator at 186th St. Elementary School and the children’s and family minister at Long Beach Friends Church (LBFC). At the school, she trains peer mediators, and trains teachers and administrators in peacemaking and conflict resolution education, and restorative justice model for school discipline. At LBFC, much of her work is with at-risk children and youth and their families.
Together, they mentor youth as they lead youth Bible studies, directing youth camps, preach, teach, and develop young church leaders in both Midway City and Long Beach.
And on behalf of the Evangelical Friends Church Southwest, they are in a partnership with the Indonesian Friends churches (GSI) to establish Theological Training by Extension (TEE) centers in some of the outlying regions of Indonesia, specifically on the jungle island of Kalimantan, in remote areas of Halmahera, and in Banyuwangi, East Java. Their efforts specifically train leaders in a way that is consistent with Evangelical Friends theology and practice.
They feel their education - particularly in the Honors Program - prepared them for lives of service.
“Diane Chambers stands out as one of the most influential people in both of our lives,” said Cara. “In addition to forging young students into college savvy writers, she patiently navigates them towards a socially conscious, theologically-grounded, global outlook. I found her to be an incredibly gracious mentor and thought-partner. When we are facing major life changes we usually correspond with Diane as part of our discernment process because we have the highest regard for her wise counsel."
Joe especially appreciated the example set by the late Herb Dymale.
"His zeal and passion for the Gospel, combined with his sharp intellect, laid a foundational model for what it means to be a scholar-pastor," Joe said. "He showed me the value of keeping one foot in academia, where heart and mind can work together for God's Kingdom agenda."