In a press conference held on campus on Thursday, January 25, 2024, Mark Milioni, president of Baptist Bible College, announced the college’s plan to change its name to Mission University, effective immediately. Milioni shared, “The Bible says, ‘To everything there is a season’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1). This is true for families. This is true for countries. This is true for businesses, and we also believe it is true for colleges. We believe a new season is at hand.”
There were several special guests in attendance, including the mayor of Springfield, Ken McClure, and a Greene County Commissioner. There were also several local pastors and local business leaders in attendance. Four representatives from the Trustee Board, chairman Lonnie Lehrman, and vice-chairman Matt Lowry, Derald Gautier, and Nathan Burch were on the stage with the president. Others making presentations during the press conference were Academic Dean Shannon Mulford, Athletic Director Darin Meinders, Vice-President of Finance Jason Todd, Student Life assistant Makala Finks, Student Body President Gracie Jones, and senior Pastoral Studies student Isak Slayden.
Milioni shared, “The decision to change our name wasn’t taken lightly. It was the result of deep prayer, much discussion, and a focus on the future.” He added that this has been a matter of discussion with the trustee board for several years and that there has not been a single decision with more unity than this one.
Additionally, during the press conference, Milioni shared some architectural drawings of potential updates to various campus facilities, including the W.E. Dowell Fieldhouse, the John Rawlings Administrative Building, and the Fred and Effie Donnelson BBFI Mission Building.
Milioni emphasized that even though some things are changing, many things will remain the same. Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary will remain the name of the ministry and Bible department. He stated emphatically, “Our doctrine is not changing. Our mission is not changing. Our commitment to the Bible is not changing. Our culture on campus is not changing.” “To be honest,” he said, “There is far more not changing than there is that is changing.”
The mission statement now reads, “Mission University educates, inspires, and equips students to serve as effective Christian Leaders.”
To watch an interview with Randy Harp and Mark Milioni, click here.
To watch the official Announcement Video, click here.
To download a PDF copy of the Mission University Announcement Brochure, click here.
To visit the Mission University website, click here.
To read a news article from the Springfield Newsleader (the local newspaper), click here.
To watch the report from local news station KY3, click here.
To watch the report from local news station KOLR10, click here.
