Heavenly music
Monday, June 09, 2008
Brothers Ray ‘41 and Gerald Moore ‘49 both had a heart, and voice, for music. They used their gifts to bring joy and God’s Word to others all around the globe. Both men majored in music at Olivet and both served at various Nazarene churches and universities as music directors and teachers. The brothers also served at Nazarene Radio League for many years.
Among other roles at Olivet, Ray was instrumental in increasing the wattage of the Olivet radio station then named WKOC. Thanks to Ray’s influence, the station began broadcasting beyond the borders of the Olivet campus and into the greater Kankakee area.
Gerald shared God’s Word by traveling with Youth for Christ and World Vision organizations, singing at conferences and crusades, circling the world twice. He sang in roughly 13 countries. Both brothers sang fluently in a number of languages, a gift God equipped them with in order to share His truths across language barriers.
Gerald remembers his days at Olivet fondly, and his past friendship with music professor Dr. Walter Larsen is one he still cherishes today.
“Dr. Larsen was like a second father to me … He had great patience. I was drafted at age 18 for World War II. I loved to sing in Orpheus Choir. On my last day in choir, Dr. Larsen told the choir this would be my last that year,” Gerald remembers.
“He had [the choir] sing Lutkin’s ‘The Lord Bless You and Keep You’, I just about came unglued. Olivet is like family. I am still rubbing shoulders with classmates after all of these years,” he shares.
Marketplace ministry
Wes ’67 and Dean Jetter ’71 both graduated from Olivet with bachelor’s degrees in business administration. Their mother, Esther (Moore) Jetter ’41 attended Olivet herself and has been committed to supporting mission work through Christian education and overseas.
Wes is currently the chairman and CEO, and Dean is the COO, of Fort Recovery Industries in Fort Recovery, Ohio — a manufacture and assembly company of die cast hardware that their father began.
In their current positions, the Jetters try to instill Christian values, integrity and work ethic into the company he and his family run — a mindset carried over from their time at Olivet.
“I developed relationships with a number of professors [while at Olivet.] It was a protective and nurturing environment that offered a range of activities to be involved in: intramurals, life-guarding and mission trips,” Wes recalls.
Wes believes Olivet has been set apart from similar evangelical institutions and respects what it stands for. “I think Olivet is somewhat unique, there aren’t too many schools that have the critical mass to receive the recognition it does. I think it is a leader in the evangelical community of universities.”