by Mark Milioni
Thanksgiving has passed. The feasting is done. All that remains is a heart of thankfulness and anticipation for Christmas. The Christmas season reminds me of the ultimate reason for thanks-giving, the precious gift God gave to us in His Son. The life, death, resurrection, and Jesus’ promise to return are strong reasons for us to give thanks each moment of every day. As I look back at 2014, I am reminded of the tremendous blessings we have experienced at Baptist Bible College for which we should all be thankful.
The year began with a great triumph. The Baptist Bible Fellowship churches, BBC alumni, and friends joined together to raise $600,000, which was matched by a gift from The Rawlings Foundation. This was a special time in our history and served to promote unity as we worked together to accomplish this great goal. This $1.2 million allowed us to catch up financially. Thank you!
The Matching Gift Opportunity allowed us to make a great stride toward financial health, but we realized that we could not stop there. Why? Because while our needs are great, our opportunities are greater. We still have major facility issues, a debt, and a desire to keep our tuition affordable for your students. Our needs are great. There has never been a more urgent need for people trained in ministry to share the Gospel. A glance at the headlines will demonstrate the desperate need in our country for strong pastors and ministry leaders who are not afraid to take a stand for Jesus Christ. Our opportunities are greater, so we continue to ask.
In July, we asked again, and The Rawlings Foundation agreed to another Matching Gift campaign of $600,000. Our Fellowship churches, alumni, and friends once again rose to the occasion, and we were able to complete this match two weeks early! the Owasso Outreach Foundation then offered an additional match of $75,000, and praise the Lord, we did it together! By the end of the campaign, we had raised over $1,350,000!
Christmas is a time of giving in order to bless others and also a time to say thanks. Thank you to the many who have blessed us this year — you have prayed, you have given, you have cheered us on. Thank you to the Owasso Foundation for your support and for believing in BBC. Thank you to The Rawlings Foundation for being a tremendous blessing to BBC. You blessed us when everything looked bleak and we did not know where to turn. Thank you to our pastors and parents for trusting us with your students. Thank you all for your love, support, and prayers. Thanks finally and ultimately to God! He has blessed BBC with a year that will be remembered for a long time. Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to be a part of your plan to reach this world and to have a part in sharing the most important story ever told.
Merry Christmas and may God bless you richly this Christmas.