by Jim Edge
I have heard a lot said about the need to have a moral compass to provide an anchor for the soul. You only have to scan your local paper or listen to five minutes of a news broadcast to understand that American society at large needs this important tool.
If you have ever experienced the backlash of sin in your life, you will have an even more personal understanding of how a moral compass can provide needed guidance when you lose your way. Just a brief glance at a compass will allow any traveler to know where his true north lies. For millions, the magnetic field of the North Pole has provided guidance for proper direction. By finding true north, a traveler can regain his direction and move toward his destination.
This year at Baptist Bible College we have rediscovered and enhanced our Mission and Vision Statement as well as our Core Values and Goals. These reconstituted statements will enable us to move forward with precision based upon God’s calling in our lives and the truths in scripture. They are our compass, enabling us to advance toward our goals. We arrived at these statements by examining the historical calling of our founders, our understanding of the scriptural basis for ministry, and the unique ministry Baptist Bible College has historically enjoyed.
In our recent meeting, the college trustees determined our Mission and Vision to be: Baptist Bible College is an institution of biblical higher education that exists to provide a Christ-centered curriculum that fosters a biblical worldview, empowering students to engage and impact their global society.
Surely our society needs a new generation of pastors and Christian workers. We are committed to training young people from our churches in the best methods for reaching their contemporaries with the gospel. Their history and background in many cases is far different from those that previous generations experienced. According to a recent article in USA Today, a 2007 study by LifeWay Christian Resources found that most young adults, even those who profess Christ, don’t pray, don’t worship, and don’t read their Bibles regularly. According to Thom Rainer, if current trends continue “The Millennial generation will see churches closing as quickly as GM dealerships.”
At BBC, we are dedicated to becoming the very best educational institution for training the next generation of BBFI leaders. In today’s difficult economic times, and with American culture in freefall, our task is not easy. But we serve a God who deeply loves this generation as much as He has any generation in history. He is able to supply the resources, personnel, and skills to accomplish the impossible. The journey to reclaim our effectiveness is not an easy one, but God’s calling is sure. We are thankful for all who will join with us