A Right Start
William Jennings Bryan, the great American statesman of the last century emphasized the need for Christian training: He said: “It is just at this time when the parental authority is weakening that usually the student begins in the study of the physical sciences. If he is fortunate enough to have teachers who are themselves Christians with a spiritual vision of life, the effect is to strengthen his faith and he advances to a normal religious life. If he is unfortunate enough to fall under the influence of mind worshipers, he may be led step by step away from faith into unbelief.” (p. 51) W.J. Bryan. The Memoirs of William Jennings Bryan. John C. Winston Co.: Philadelphia, PA 1925.
Dr. Harry Strachan to Speak at Banquet
Every year, one of the special events of Graduation Week is the Alumni/Graduation Banquet. Dr. Harry Strachan, pastor of the thriving Calvary Baptist Church of Ashland, Ohio is scheduled to speak at the Tuesday night, May 5th event. President Dennis and Dr. Strachan have been friends since they were teenagers, when their Dads worked together in training preachers to reach Canada. Dr. Strachan was born in Ontario, Canada, but now has pastored in the U.S. most of his ministry. His wit and enthusiasm bring a delightful combination to this year’s program. Brother Strachan and his church are a blessing.
This year, we will again host the Alumni/Graduation Banquet on the Hopewell Campus. With Gray Brothers Cafeteria closed, we are pleased to begin a new friendship with Sgt. Pepper’s Catering. We look forward to a delicious meal.
Come and enjoy Dr. Harry Strachan’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.
Dr. Tom Wallace to Preach During Graduation Week
On May 5 –7 we will hold the Graduation Week activities for Heritage Baptist College. A great line up of 12 preachers is planned, and one of the week’s highlights will be the combined meeting of local churches on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Dr. Tom Wallace, author, evangelist, and Vice President of the Sword of the Lord is scheduled to speak at the Wednesday night, May 6th 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.
It is always a joy to have Dr. Wallace at Heritage. He is a friend to Christians and his messages are relevant and helpful. We look forward to a special evening filled with great enthusiasm, kindness, and Christian fellowship among the churches.
Leadership Attitude
In the spring of 1944, four-star General Dwight D. Eisenhower diligently studied the strategy for the upcoming invasion of Europe. The “top secret” plans of Operation Overlord would become known in history as D-Day - June 6, 1944.
None of the military leaders knew if the great battle would be a success, or if Nazi Germany would repel the expected invasion.
Still, General Eisenhower kept an optimistic outlook, and as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe he knew the importance of leadership. Writing his wife he reflected: “When pressure mounts and strain increases everyone begins to show the weaknesses in his makeup. It is up to the Commander to conceal his: above all to conceal doubt, fear and distrust.”
Eisenhower believed that leadership was a skill that could be learned, and he constantly studied. He declared: “the one quality that can be developed by studious reflection and practice is the leadership of men.” Eisenhower insisted that no matter how bad things got, the commander had to “preserve optimism in himself and in his command. Without confidence, enthusiasm and optimism in the command, victory is scarcely obtainable.”
On the eve of that great battle, Eisenhower visited his men. He realized that “optimism and pessimism are infectious and they spread more rapidly from the head downward than in any other direction.” Eisenhower understood that a commander’s optimism “has a most extraordinary effect upon all with whom he comes in contact. With this clear realization, I firmly determined that my mannerisms and speech in public would always reflect the cheerful certainty of victory – that any pessimism and discouragement I might ever feel would be reserved for my pillow.” (Ambrose, Stephen. D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climatic Battle of World War II. Simon & Schuster. New York: 1994. [ p. 61]).
The Christian can go forward with an even stronger confidence. He has a God, a Savior, a Bible, and an unchanging Faith.
Worth the Effort
George Covert was a young enlisted, Civil War soldier from Hopewell, Indiana. One spring day, he got into a debate over the picture of a Miss Wiley, a girl from back home. The picture of Miss Wiley was a daguerreotype photo, which had a metal plate, much like that pictured. In the friendly exchanged, Covert insisted that he was more entitled to the picture because of his friendship to Miss Wiley.
After a scuffle, George Covert finally acquired the picture. He placed her picture in the left breast coat pocket of his uniform, right behind his New Testament, and next to his heart.
The following day, March 23, 1862 in the Battle of Kernstown, Virginia, a bullet struck George Covert in the same left breast pocket. The bullet went through the New Testament, and struck the picture glancing off the metal plate. Covert escaped with a severe bruise that was tender for several weeks. (Davis, William. edit. Richard Skidmore. The Civil War Journal of Billy Davis. Nugget Publishers. Greencastle, IN: 1989[p116-117])
God’s Word, the photo, and a little timely persistence had saved his life.
