Seventeenth Graduation Week – Special Blessings
Joy abounded during the Seventeenth annual Alumni / Graduation Week at Heritage Baptist College. The theme this year was “No Secret What God Can Do.” And what blessings we experienced with the 12 different messages, the various events, and the special fellowship.
This was the fourteenth 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 eighth 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. The gymnasium was filled as Dr. Tom Wallace, Vice President of Sword of the Lord, Murfreesboro, TN delivered a special message. He detailed “following the Will of the Lord” which prepared us for the banquet offering.
The banquet goal of $10,000 for summer projects and expenses was introduced and the goal was reached by the end of the week.
Alumni Fish Fry
The Alumni Fish Fry for Wednesday lunch was a great success.
The special meal delighted everyone, while preachers and friends kept asking to eat more and for leftovers. This year we deep fried Pacific Cod, and it was a hit. We want to thank Brother Harvey Shilling who cooked the fish and to all those who helped with the fixings.
It was delicious!
Wednesday Combined Church Rally
For the eighteenth year, Heritage Baptist College sponsored the Wednesday night church rally. The preacher of the evening was Dr. Dave Martin of Milford, OH. Dr. Martin 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 1st, Heritage Baptist College saw many friends attend the Commencement Service. Friends and family enjoyed the Graduation ceremony and heard Pastor James Brown bring a walk down memory lane of God’s goodness over the years.
Also that evening, a Doctor of Divinity degree was awarded to Pastor James Brown for his faithfulness and diligence in pastoring. Dr. Brown has served the Lord in ministry for over 50 years, founding the Beanblossom Baptist Church in Brown County, IN in 1972.
The Words of a Wise Mother
Dr. W.E. Biederwolf became one of the great Evangelists during the early years of the 1900’s. From a modest beginning with Christian parents in Monticello, IN, he shook America with old-fashioned Gospel preaching. A fine education, a godly wife, and experience in the pastorate laid the foundation, but it took his duty as a chaplain during the Spanish-American War to show him the great need of evangelism. Later he held five and six week revivals in many of the smaller cities, and the Lord blessed: Piqua, OH – 1,244 saved: Jamestown, NY – 2,400 saved: York, PA – 3,742 conversions; Alton, IL - 2,500 decisions and many more. These revivals changed whole cities, and caused vice to diminish and the churches to grow. After a meeting in Hamilton, OH it is recorded that 923 joined the churches. Evangelist Biederwolf went on to write over twenty books and today his sermons are regularly republished.
Yet, if not for a wise-hearted mother, all of these spiritual victories may never have occurred. As an unsaved teenager, Biederwolf and a friend decided to run away from home. The pair hopped a freight train and headed toward the big cities of the East. Running out of food and hungry near Lima, OH, they got off the train and knocked on the door of a nearby house. Mrs. Wallace saw the boys with wrinkled clothes and disheveled hair, and invited them in for a good meal. As they ate, she spoke to the two about their sweet mothers and home. Her kind words caused the boys to back track to Indiana, and shortly thereafter William Biederwolf was saved. Thousands of souls are beholding to the wise words of that caring mother. (Garrett, Ray E. William Edward Biederwolf: A Biography. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI 1948)
Closing Thought
In the past year, I have traveled thousands of miles, and preached in many churches. I am more convinced than ever that America needs Revival! We have seen a blossoming of political conservatism, but what our country truly needs is a turning to God.
Thank you so much for your friendship, love, prayers, and for your support.