Eight Year Reviewed

The 2015 Graduation exercises were held at the Hopewell campus with two students receiving their degrees. Many friends gathered enjoying the beautiful remodeling of the auditorium, and all went away praising the Lord for His goodness.

The completion of our eighth year saw many preachers present during Alumni Week, which encouraged the heart of the young people and the teachers. The alumni fish fry, the Wednesday rally, the golf scramble, the Alumni Banquet, and the Commencement service brought many of the friends of Heritage together.

As we reflect on the fourth year at the Hopewell campus, we are so grateful to all those who have partnered with us. Thank you for all the funds that were raised during Graduation Week, both towards summer expenses and the dormitory project which is progressing. Your support is richly appreciated for the vital ministry of training the next generation.

Meet Our Graduate

The first graduating class of Heritage Baptist College in 2008 saw several students finish their degrees and go on to serve the Lord. Among them was Russell Dennis, III who graduated Summa Cum Laude. While studying, he had served as a summer intern in Ohio, and also as a youth pastor during his senior year.

After college, Russ III moved to Iowa and took further education receiving a Master’s Degree. While in Iowa for six years, he helped develop a thriving children’s ministry at Heartland Baptist Church in Billy Sunday’s hometown, Ames, IA.

In the Spring of 2014, Russell received the opportunity to return to Indiana and direct the college and career ministry at Brownsburg Baptist Church. His class has grown, and he has been instrumental in directing students to Heritage.

Working in the ministry at Brownsburg, Russ III met Rachel Van Kleek, a pastor’s daughter from Michigan. They are to marry on Saturday, August 8, 2015.

Together, they plan to continue their work for the Lord.

The President’s Perspective

One hundred and fifty-four years ago our nation was plunged into a massive Civil War. At the start, the United States Army had only 16,000 soldiers. With the outbreak of fighting, President Abraham Lincoln asked for volunteers from each state to fill the ranks.

Indiana, led by Governor Oliver Morton, was the first state to mobilize to defend the Union. President Lincoln initially asked Indiana to provide 7,500 soldiers. Within three weeks of his request, over 22,000 Hoosiers had signed up for the cause. Some of these men came from our little community of Hopewell.

Before the war ended, over 200,000 Hoosiers, 15% of the states total population, would serve in the U.S. Army.

The Union Army began with only 16,000, but before the end of America’s deadliest war, over 2 million would serve. To handle that successful army, leadership was required at many levels.

Our generation faces a very serious, spiritual battle. We not only need recruits and volunteers, but we need trained officers. The American Bible college has been faithfully turning out this leadership since its inception in 1766. Our forefathers created an effective system of equipping preachers.

This spring, I wrote to our supporting churches that two of our landmark Bible colleges were no more. In the past month I have learned of two more Bible colleges that have closed. Four Bible colleges that trained literally hundreds of preachers are now gone. There are various reasons for the closures, but the underlying need was funding.

We are in a pivotal time for our future. We need more good Bible colleges, not less. We need more faithful preachers, not less.

Christ commanded us in Matthew 10:38 to "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."

We all need to pray, we need to encourage, and we need to give to train the next generation of Christian leaders.

Commitment

Webster gives the following as the definition for the word commitment as an act committing to a charge or trust.

We live in a day when few people are willing to make a commitment. Going through Dr. Tom Wallace’s preaching files that reside on campus, I found these thoughts:

• Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality.
• Commitment is the word that speaks boldly of your intentions.
• Commitment comes through time after time.

Let me share with you some of my thoughts

Committed to the Gospel

It was over 56 years ago that as a boy, I committed myself to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This truth of the Gospel is just as real to me, even after all these years.

Supporters Committed to HBC

What a wonderful group of pastors and individuals who give to the college. Their faithfulness and love to the college are a blessing to President Dennis and myself. Without them, our college could not exist.

Teachers with Commitment

Our teachers are the best. They are well qualified in the subjects that they teach. It goes beyond that - they have a love and concern for their students. Their goal is to train them so that when they have received their education, our students can fulfill their calling.

My wife, Shirley, made a statement during Graduation Week that summed it all up: "I am here because I love these young men and women."

50 Years Committed to Each Other

On June 4th, Shirley and I celebrated 50 years of marriage - committed to each other and committed to serving the Lord together.