by David Melton
I remember the classic ketchup commercial with Carly Simon belting out Anticipation while ketchup slowly, tantalizingly, deliciously crept down the neck of its inverted bottle. Nearby, a little boy watched with wide eyes waiting for the ketchup to fall down on his hamburger (or whatever). It still makes me hungry!
It is a great thing to anticipate something good, but when you can just see it on the horizon, that’s a keeper. At Boston, even in these economically challenging times, we are anticipating more and more progress. I can already see it.
Take this new semester. Our enrollment actually went UP! In higher education, you build into your annual budget a five to eight percent tuition decline for the second semester as a standard practice. But we don’t fly by those rules in Boston. Half of the time we grow in the spring semester, and we did it again this year! We are anticipating much greater news next fall. I know, the economy is in the tank. But hard times never touch heaven’s hand. It’s going to be harder (and typically more expensive) than ever to use the overladen state college systems this fall. Their budgets are getting cut as their demands increase by default. Then, I just met with a group of college presidents in our city. They were all scared because enrollment for the fall of ’09 looks bad. The scenario is simple — many parents just can no longer arrange financing for typical private college tuition. Where do you go if the college is unaffordable because you can’t take out a home equity loan any longer? I know! Why not Boston Baptist College — where churches are helping more than ever to keep Christian education affordable, quality is never in question, and fundraising is to help students? Why not go to college where the cost is modest and the value is eternally incalculable?
I do expect more students. I also expect our campus to continue to expand. I don’t talk about new buildings much until they are done. I’ve learned that delays can come in almost any form, and here in Boston we’ve experienced just about every obstacle possible. But I am anticipating more construction in Boston, and for good reason. After our most recent neighborhood meeting, our most verbal opponent sent me an email that was practically cordial! Two men on our team, Randy Ward and Joe Sawyer, have worked tirelessly on community relations for our campus. All across the world God’s people have prayed. People have told me we would never develop more campus here in Boston. Let me put it this way…the ketchup is moving.
Boston is also anticipating its best year ever because we have a growing network of churches that believe in us and partner with us. I got to thinking — what a great team of churches we have…pastors who are leading their churches and sharing the vision of Boston Baptist College. I’m grateful that almost every pastor who visits here leaves surprised by our facilities, students, staff, and spirit. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of the energy, the passion, the commitment, the present, and the future that is Boston Baptist College? It is fun to see the future coming your way.
What we expect in Boston, though, is so much more than headcounts, building projects, and an expanding base. We expect to make a difference. As we say so often, Boston Baptist College is “to think Biblically, to discover globally, and to impact eternally.” That’s not just a marketing ploy. It IS us. That’s why we anticipate the progress that’s coming our way. We have something to do — something that must be done. We anticipate eternal impact. I got a letter from a recent graduate who is now a youth pastor. He’s making an impact. I received a Christmas card from another grad who is getting ready to start a new church — more impact. I just saw an update from a graduate of ten years ago who is leading his church into a new building — Long Island impact! And I walk down the halls with graduates-to-be every day, talking, dreaming, planning with them…works to be done for Jesus — future impact, eternal impact. That kind of stuff will widen your eyes for sure!
Anticipation is more than just wishful thinking. It’s faith, and common sense, and planning, and observation, and hard work. So to friends like John, and Tim, and Archie, and Tracy, and Dan, and Bruce, and Phil, and Ed, and Bill (and all the others), I say thanks and let’s hit it even harder. Boston is on the move. Good stuff is coming — I can see it for sure! And this is so much better than ketchup!