Begin the Year with a Good Outlook

I recall a memory, one cold, snowy evening, while I was a student at Heritage. My father, Dr. Russell Dennis, Sr., came in the door from work with a big smile on his face. He walked over to my brother and me and said: “I’ve got good news and bad news, which do you want first?”

I thought a moment and replied: “Give me the bad news first.”

My Dad smiled and said: “As I was pulling into the drive, I slid on the ice and put the car in the ditch.”

I immediately went to the front door and looked out toward the road. There sat Dad’s Maroon, 1978 Oldsmobile 98 sticking almost straight up in the snow covered ditch.

I shut the door and then turned to my Dad. “Okay” I said, “What’s the good news?”

Dad smiled again and said: “The good news is: we can eat supper before we push the car out of the ditch.”

Well, I saw the car’s plight, and I knew no one would be able to push that car out of that ditch. I casually mentioned that fact to my father. The Lord knew that also, and only a few minutes later a neighboring farmer happened by on his tractor and pulled the car out of the ditch. We sat down to supper with good news all the way around.

My friend, you may have found yourself in the ditch a few times in 2022. Trust God, have a good attitude in 2023, and the Lord will help you through each trial.

Music Makes a Difference

Music is an important part of the worship service. In our English speaking, Baptist churches, music did not become an active part until Benjamin Keach introduced hymn-singing in the late 1600’s. Since that time preachers have come to learn the importance of music in preparing the individual to worship God. Some preachers have gone so far as to state that next to the Bible, many Christians learn most of their doctrine from the hymnbook.

Homer Rodeheaver (1880-1955), directed the music for Evangelist Billy Sunday for twenty years. He saw thousands walk down the sawdust trail, and he often opened up with 45 minutes of music before Billy Sunday would ever come to the pulpit. In later life, Rodeheaver would teach a two week course every summer at Winona Lake Conference to stimulate laymen to develop their music abilities for the local church. He instilled this phrase in the young men that he taught: Sing to Save.

The music program can be one of the greatest assets to your services.

This semester, on Tuesday mornings, Heritage Baptist College will teach evangelistic songleading.

Wonderful Christmas Offering

In a struggling economy, the staff and students at Heritage Baptist College are so appreciative of all those who took part in the Christmas offering. The need for training the next generation in the Word of God is great, and it costs money to give a quality education. The sacrifice of many folks was needed to help in the completion of this goal.

We are happy to report that the Christmas offering goal of $5,000 to help in the repair of the college boiler and heating system was reached. The subzero storm just before Christmas revealed a couple more problems in our heating system, and we plan to get those repaired.

Thank you so much for all those who took part in this special offering!

Classes Resume on January 18, 2023

Second semester classes begin on Wednesday, January 28, 2023. There is still time for those interested in taking classes to sign up for the Spring term. A full listing of both day and evening classes, along with a special student registration form is available on our website (www.hbcindiana.com), or by contacting the office.

We look forward to a fine schedule of chapel preachers and other special events planned for this year. The speaker for our first chapel on January 18th at 11:30 a.m. is Dr. Dave Martin from Cincinnati, OH.

You are cordially invited to attend.

Prayer and Preaching

Over the years, we have noticed that a number of our local pastors and friends love to occasionally visit chapel and stay for lunch.

So for the second semester, we are scheduling in each month a special day and a special speaker - calling it Prayer and Preaching. (Feb. 22, March 22, & April 19)

We will meet at 11:00 a.m. to share prayer requests and hear a message, followed by a meal. What a wonderful way to be recharged during lunchtime.

Please mark February 22, 2023 on your calendar. Dr. Wayne Scott, pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Morristown, IN is the scheduled preacher for that morning.

2023 Dates to Remember

The second semester at Heritage Baptist College includes many special events that are designed to help strengthen the churches:

Have a Blessed New Year!