Sixteenth Graduation Week – Great Blessings

Joy abounded during the Sixteenth annual Alumni / Graduation Week at Heritage Baptist College. The theme this year was “Settled in the Hope of the Gospel.” And what hope we saw with the 12 different messages, the various events, and the special fellowship.

This was the thirteenth year that the Graduation Week was held on the campus at Hopewell. All in attendance experienced the Lord doing a special work.

The Highlights:

Graduation / Alumni Banquet

Gray Brother’s Cafeteria catered the Spring Banquet for Heritage Baptist College. For the seventh time, we held this banquet on a Tuesday evening, and we were pleased at the good attendance.

The Alumni Banquet featured the music of President Russell Dennis accompanied by Dr. Dave Martin, plus a song by our speaker. The gymnasium was spaced out and filled as Dr. Harry Strachan, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Ashland, OH delivered a special message entitled “The Disciples Learned and so Should We” which prepared the meeting for the banquet offering.

The banquet goal of $15,000 for student scholarship was introduced and over 2⁄3 of the funds in gifts and pledges were received.

Alumni Fish Fry

The Alumni Fish Fry for Wednesday lunch was a great success.

The special meal delighted everyone, so much so, that we ate, and forgot to take photos. But it was Brother Harvey Shilling who caught most of the Crappie and Rainbow Trout, as he is seen here bringing in a 151⁄2” trout. Thank you also to Gary Walden, Becca Norris, and Rhonda Dennis who helped cook the fish and the fixings.

It was delicious!

Wednesday Combined Church Rally

For the seventeenth year, Heritage Baptist College sponsored the Wednesday night church rally. The preacher of the evening was Dr. Tom Wallace of Murfreesboro, TN. Dr. Wallace brought a wonderful Bible-centered message that fed the congregation.

We had wonderful special music that evening, and folks drove from many miles to attend.

Graduation

On Thursday night, May 2nd, Heritage Baptist College saw many friends attend the Commencement Service. Friends and family enjoyed the Graduation ceremony and heard Pastor Rick Stone bring an outstanding challenge to the graduates and to the audience.

Also that evening, a Doctor of Divinity degree was awarded to Pastor Rick Stone for his faithfulness and diligence in church planting. Dr. Stone has served the Lord in ministry for over 50 years, founding the Maranatha Baptist Church (now Grace Baptist Church) in Indianapolis, IN over 24 years ago.

A Task Complete!

For several years, we have looked at increasing the light and adding fans to the auditorium. Before Covid we had a company approach us to change the room to LED lighting, but the costs were high.

Then last Graduation, there was a push among the alumni to get it done, and I am happy to report that in April the lights and fans were installed at a funded cost of less than $1,000. Anyone attending the Graduation Week saw the difference.

Thank you to the many who participated in getting this project completed: Butch Bailey, Cleve Cross, Seth Tunis, Dink, Leon, Temple Rent, and the Heritage Baptist Church (Ellsworth, OH). Everyone was so needed in this task.

Closing Thought

Thinking back over the last year, God has blessed Heritage Baptist College in so many ways. During the past year we have seen a new roof put on our large building, the complete property paid off for the Glory of God, and important renovations completed.

We have participated in outreach during a “once in a lifetime” Solar Eclipse, besides preaching in churches across the country.

What I clearly see, is that America needs Revival! Revival in our country would be a great blessing. Not only would the churches again be filled, sin in the life of believer’s stifled, but the moral compass of our country would make a dramatic shift. Another result of Revival is that young men would heed the call to ministry.

The Lord has often sent Revival in very difficult days – days even worse than 2024. Sin appears today to be everywhere, but so is the Holy Spirit. I love this phrase found in Romans 5:20: But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Two things I invite you to pray for everyday: 1) Pray for the peace of Jerusalem Psalm 122:6 & 2) Pray for Revival in America.

Thank you so much for your friendship, love, prayers, and for your support.