First Sermon

Many of the churches of the Midwest and distant West were started in the 1800’s by preachers trained in the East. Sometimes it took a little while for recent graduates to adapt from the classroom to the world of the adventurous American frontier.

Such a story was recorded of a young Bible college graduate who delivered his first sermon at a pioneer church that had recently called him to be their pastor. The young preacher studied diligently, and on that Sunday he read from a carefully prepared manuscript.

Eager to know the reaction to his initial efforts, the new pastor asked one of the local brethren what he thought of the sermon.

“Well,” replied this pillar of the church, “as I see it, your sermon had just three faults.”

The young preacher, taken back at such directness, muttered: “And what were they?”

The man replied, “In the first place, you read your sermon. In the second place, you read it badly (no passion or fire), and in the third place, it wasn’t worth reading.” (Phares, Ross. Bible in Pocket, Gun in Hand. New York: Doubleday, 1964. p. 21)

When the Safety Net Fails

With a thumbs-up gesture, stuntman Matt Cranch lowered himself into his barrel. He was the human cannonball. The afternoon was sunny on April 25, 2011, especially nice for the stunt show in Kent, England.

Led by the announcer, two thousand spectators, counted down...5,4,3,2,1, and then a boom as the truck mounted cannon sent the stuntman hurling 40 feet into the air.

But that day something tragically went wrong. With the movement of the truck, the safety net collapsed. Moments later the stuntman was dead.

Many folks look at the afterlife in much the same way. They believe that when they are finally launched into eternity, the safety net they have placed will save them. Some call those “safety nets” religion, church, good works, etc. However, they will fail, and this time the stakes are for eternity.

Only Jesus Saves!

Graduation Week Events

On May 2 - May 4, 2023, we will hold our fifteenth Graduation Week for Heritage Baptist College. The Lord blessed with another good year, and we are looking forward to sharing the blessings with you. We are excited to see you again, and to have you participate in the events that will take place this week. The schedule of the 12 speakers from various states can be found in the Spring Edition of the Heritage News or at our website. Please note the several event times:

Dr. Tom Wallace to Speak at Banquet

Every year, one of the special events of Graduation Week is the Alumni/Graduation Banquet. Dr. Tom Wallace, author, evangelist, and Vice President of the Sword of the Lord is scheduled to speak at the Tuesday night, May 2nd event. Dr. Wallace has pastored three great churches, where the Lord blessed with many souls saved. Dr. Wallace will spiritually feed your heart and soul.

This year, we will again host the Alumni/Graduation Banquet on the Hopewell Campus, and the food will be catered by Gray Brother’s Cafeteria.

Come and enjoy Dr. Wallace’s message, along with a night of good food, Christian music, and great fellowship. Please call Heritage Baptist College to make a reservation. (317) 738-3791 or (317) 833-0172.

Graduation Week Fish Fry

Following the morning service on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, we will enjoy our Annual Fish Fry. For several years, Brother Harvey Shilling and the men from Waverly Baptist Church have come to Heritage to fry a wonderful meal of fresh fish. Our hats also go off to Brother Harvey, who catches and cleans the crappie fillets.

Dr. Clyde Billingsley began the Fish Fry almost 3 decades ago.

Dr. Dave Martin to Preach During Graduation Week

One of the week’s highlights will be the combined meeting of local churches on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Dr. Dave Martin of Milford, OH will be speaking that night. We will have special singing, and numbers of churches will be in attendance.

Brother Martin has been in Gospel ministry for over 50 years, with 38 years being a senior pastor. After many years shepherding the Lighthouse Baptist Church of Winchester, VA, Dr. Martin now serves as a representative for First Bible in Milford, OH. He also taught this year at Heritage.

This is our sixteenth year to host this combined service, and we look forward to a special evening filled with great enthusiasm, kindness, and Christian unity among the churches.

Closing Service

The final activity of the week is the Commencement Service, on Thursday, May 4th at 7:00 p.m. Pastor Sam Gentile, founding pastor of the Heritage Baptist Church in Ellsworth, OH will close out the week with the Commencement address. Pastor Gentile has been a faithful Man of God in northeastern Ohio, pastoring his church for over three decades.

Come celebrate with students and faculty the completion of our sixteenth year.