The opening chapel service for the Fall Semester at Heritage Baptist College was held on Wednesday, September 2, 2020.
Dr. Wayne Scott brought a special message from Matthew 28 encouraging the students and pastors to be faithful in evangelism. Besides the preaching, there was also special music and testimonies.
What a wonderful start to the new semester!
Calbraith Perry Rodgers came from a lineage of famous men. His grandfather, John Rodgers, had been a senior naval officer and Secretary of the Navy, his maternal great grandfather, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, had been the “Hero of Lake Erie” during the naval battle of Put in Bay (9/13/1813), and his great uncle, Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, became the “Father of the Steam Navy” that would open up Japan to trade.
For 32 years Cal looked for a way to make his name in the family. Then in the spring of 1911, he and his cousin, Lt. John Rodgers, visited the Wright Brothers factory in Dayton, Ohio, and saw an early Type B aircraft. The Wright Brothers were only seven years from their initial Kitty Hawk flight, and planes of that era were hardly more than an engine mounted on sticks and fabric.
On August 7th of that year, after his training at the Wright Flying School in Dayton, Ohio, Cal Rodgers received the 49th FAI pilot certificate in the world.
Less than a year before, millionaire newspaperman William Randolph Hearst, had presented a one year challenge with a $50,000 prize for any person that could fly the United States from coast to coast in 30 days. One hundred and ten years ago, this seemed an impossible feat, since there were no airports, maps, or current weather radar to aid these flimsy aircraft. Even the Wright Brothers did not believe their aircraft could traverse the United States…except if eight men carried the plane.
Still, barely a month after being sanctioned to fly, Cal Rodgers began his quest to become the first person to fly across the United States. With sponsorship from the Armour Co. for their new grape drink, Vin Fiz, he made plans to follow the railroad tracks from New York to Chicago, to San Antonio, to Los Angeles.
At 4:30 p.m. on September 17, 1911, Cal Rodgers took off in his Wright Model EX from Long Island, New York. Just before he departed, a reporter asked Rodgers why this flight was so important. His answer summed up his motivation: “It’s important…because everything else I’ve done was not important.” (Stein, E.P. Flight of the Vin Fiz. New York: Arbor House. 1985 p. 21).
Cal Rodgers did not win the $50,000, but despite the many delays, he completed the trip in 49 days, landing in Pasadena, CA on November 5th. During the 4231 mile journey, he crashed 16 times, including once in Huntington, Indiana on October 2, 1911. By the time he had finished the first nationwide flight, he had replaced 18 wings, 8 propellers, and 20 skids, besides lots of fabric and hand tooled pieces.
His trip caught the imagination of the country, and thousands would attend his westward landings (and crashes). Cal Rodgers never quit until he had arrived at his destination.
The most important final destination for every person is to make it to heaven. Compared to heaven, nothing is so important. We may have many ups and downs, but with Christ as our Saviour, we can make a perfect arrival to our eternal destination.
My grandfather, Dr. D.W. Crankshaw, was born on September 8, 1887. He graduated from medical school, and began his practice in Michigan. When the United States entered WWI, he volunteered and he saw duty as a doctor on the front lines. After the war, he returned to his practice, just in time to deal with the Spanish Flu pandemic that devastated our country.
When WWII broke out, Dr. Crankshaw was 54 years old. With the shortage of trained officers, the Army came to him and asked if he would serve once again. For a second time he volunteered, but asked that wherever he was stationed that his family could join him. At his age, Dr. Crankshaw’s body was not battlefield equipped, but he could still contribute to the cause. And so, he served as the doctor in Army bases in the South.
I have known many wonderful preachers in my lifetime that retired from their churches. Yet, when they found another congregation in need, they stepped forward to fill the gap, or take the pulpit. Others have gone forward to lead in different phases of ministry.
We are in a war for the souls of men. The Lord is looking for us as volunteers to serve Him.
You are invited to attend the fall meeting of the Heritage Baptist Bible Fellowship. Pastor Sam Gabbard will host the meeting on October 11-13, 2020 at Bible Baptist Church in Goshen, OH, down by Cincinnati. On the Sunday, the scheduled preachers are Pastor Sam Gabbard and Dr. David Halcomb. On Monday morning Evangelist Larry Clayton and his son Pastor Phil Clayton are scheduled, while on Monday night Al Braley and Pastor Dennis Hankins will be speaking. On Tuesday morning Pastor Justin Surface and Pastor Bill Rains will preach, and that evening, Dr. Harry Strachan, and Pastor Bill Duttry will round out the preaching. There will be lots of special music and meals will be provided. Please be in prayer and join us for some wonderful preaching, music, and fellowship.
We would love to see you there
Contact an Admissions Counselor TODAY and plan to visit Heritage. You can reach us at 317-738-3791