Notes for Harry Farra: Professor: Harry Farra (1962) Professor of Speech; BA, Northwestern College; M. Div., Bethel Theological Seminary; MA, University of Minnesota; Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University; University of Pittsburgh.
BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — The life, preaching and impact of Dr. Clarence Edward Macartney will be presented at an upcoming Geneva College seminar on Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. Most appropriately, the seminar will be held on Geneva's campus in the McCartney (sic) Library, which was named in honor of this influential man of God and his family. Macartney, who grew up living on the campus of Geneva College, eventually became the pastor of the historic First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh and moderator of the Presbyterian Church, USA, in 1924.
The seminar — entitled "Shall Unbelief Win?" — will be presented by Dr. Harry Farra, chairman of Geneva's Speech and Visual Communications Department who wrote his doctoral dissertation on Dr. Macartney.
Geneva College Revamps Speech Program to Meet Today's Communications Careers BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — With the start of the 2000-01 academic year in August at Geneva College, the school will launch an updated communications program. The Department of Speech and Visual Communication will now be simply called the Department of Communication. The name change also includes new majors and concentrations of study.
The new majors are communication disorders (formerly speech pathology) and communication. The communication major offers students six areas of concentration: electronic media & broadcasting, general communication, public relations, theatre, visual communication, and writing.
Besides additional course offerings to accommodate the new concentrations, students will also be more involved in receiving academic credit for practical experience in their field of interest. This may include hands-on participation in the campus newspaper, radio and television stations, as well as internships, where students can apply the lessons learned in the classroom to situations with local businesses and organizations.
Leading Geneva's communication department is Dr. Elaine Hockenberger, who was named chair after Dr. Harry Farra resigned from the position after 28 years. Professor Farra will continue to teach courses in the department. "We're grateful to Dr. Farra for spearheading the changes in the program to meet the changing demands of the communications field," said Hockenberger. "Our students will be better prepared for employment in these growing professions."
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PROFESSOR HARRY FARRA'S LATEST BOOK IS RELEASED Readers Get a Look at The Early Days of the Little Monk BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — People may be surprised what the innocence and simplicity of a little monk can do to humble and help them examine their lives.
Dr. Harry Farra, chair of the department of communication at Geneva College, has penned another book in the "little monk" series published by Paulist Press (New York, $11.95, 214 pages). This newest book of timeless parables for today's spiritual pilgrims is called The Early Days of the Little Monk, a prequel to Farra's 1994 book, The Little Monk.
"This current fable helps people realize that in the battles, struggles and temptations that strike us all in life, God is only a prayer away," notes Farra.
Both of his books bring forth the little monk as "a metaphor of the spiritual thirst that everyone has" inside of them for a stronger relationship with the Lord, as stated by Farra. While these books may appear to have been written by someone whose faith never runs dry, in fact Farra was inspired to create this character after a time of "feeling spiritually low."
During a visit to Geneva's McCartney Library, he contemplated the images of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, which are depicted in a set of stained-glass windows in the Gothic structure. Bunyan's well-known story is one that Farra ended up using in a chapter in the second book.
After scanning over the devotional literature available in the library, Farra realized that having a "successful devotional life" is not as simple as some modern best-selling books claim. Instead, he found himself exploring books pertaining to the lives and writings of such classic figures as St. John of the Cross, St. Benedict, Martin Luther, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila, John Calvin, George Fox, St. Ignatius, and others.
The ancient and enduring spirituality articulated in the works of these Christians fascinated Farra. He was especially interested in studying the lives of monks in monasteries, and he continued his research for over a year. Eventually, Farra became inspired to write about all he had learned, but he could not come up with a suitable story to express his enlightenment.
One day, while driving to the nearest mall, he saw in his mind the figure of a little monk, and was so struck by the image that he stopped his car and jotted down a few words to describe the character. Five days later, the process of creating the first book began.
The Little Monk, which is still in print, is basically a rundown of the high points of the little monk's life as he "is commissioned by the bishop to learn the hidden secrets of prayer." The bishop tells him, "one lesson a year, no more, no less." He is assigned to a monastery in the mythical land of Maloo. While there, he becomes the monastery's leader as a result of his "wisdom, innocence, and silence."
The story is entertaining but significantly more than that. It leads one to seeking a deeper prayer life anchored to a walk with Christ.
The Early Days of the Little Monk, Farra's prequel to the first book of the series, returns to the little monk's first year at the mythical monastery of Maloo. The focus is more on the battle between good and evil as the little monk fights temptation and a man, Gorbon Kreeg, who practices his faith, like the Pharisees of the Bible, by running a school for religious fanatics who want to excel in showing their devotional practices.
Through the little monk's struggles, a theme is introduced as he encounters "the gifts that God is always giving us [including both those] that we recognize and those that we don't." The best gift he discovers is a good friend, and the little monk finds one in the shepherd, who Farra likens to the good shepherd in the Bible.
This book consistently reminds the reader of God's continual presence, especially during the darkest struggles of life, through poetry, proverbs, stories and enlightening incidents. As with Farra's first book about the little monk, all ages can read The Early Days of the Little Monk and enjoy it, since the book itself gives hope and provides an engaging story line. The book may also enrich a person's spirituality and reveal the processes of spiritual formation.
A reassuring simplicity comes through in the language of the book: "Then a questioning prayer stirred: ‘Lord Jesus, will I find you here? I've crossed an ocean to find you. Where are you? Where will I find you? Are you in the chapel?…If I can't find you, will you find me? When will you come? Where?'…The little monk yielded himself to the serenity of the day" (The Early Days of the Little Monk, page 1).
Farra explained, "I found early on that people responded positively and identified with the character of a little monk for one reason, at least: we all have a ‘monk' in our hearts—that part of us deep within that reaches out for God in simple ways.
Tony Campolo, a leading evangelical scholar and spiritual counselor to President Bill Clinton, wrote this on Farra's latest book: "This little book about a little monk will enable us to understand the profundity of childlike faith without becoming childish. If we must become like little children to enter God's Kingdom, then this book can be a big help."
The Early Days of the Little Monk is illustrated by Christopher Fay, a New York artist and a former professor at Geneva College. It is available at Barnes & Noble Bookstores, Borders, Waldenbooks, and on the Internet at Amazon.com.
Farra has taught speech and drama at Geneva College for 37 years. He and his wife, Vonnie, live in Beaver Falls, Pa. They have two adult children.
Caryn McClain, a junior at Geneva College majoring in writing, contributed to this release.
Harry & Vonnie Whitten Farra
More About Harry Farra and Vonnie F Whitten: Single: August 17, 1957
Harry Farra (b. February 29, 1936)
Notes for Harry Farra:
