by Mark Milioni
Christmas is coming! BBC students have decorated, worn their ugliest sweaters, eaten every cookie their grandmas have sent, and quoted their favorite Christmas movies — “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear” (Elf).
One of my favorite Christmas movies is It’s a Wonderful Life. It shows the profound difference one man can make in the world. The angel Clarence sums it up: “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”
I began to think, what would our world be like if there was no Baptist Bible College? The purpose of BBC is to proclaim the true meaning of Christmas — the baby born in the manger became the savior on the cross. Our students are trained to share the Gospel message with the world.
If BBC weren’t around, it would leave an awful hole. There would be fewer churches. There would be no church planters like John Rawlings, Ron Taylor, and Brandt Liech. If not for BBC, would you have a church? A pastor?
There would be no missionaries like Jack Baskin, Chad Braymer, or Ali Alexander.
There would be no Boston Baptist College, Liberty University, BBC Asia, Baptist Bible College Japan, and several others — all founded by BBC graduates.
There would be no Camp Chautauqua, no MANNA, and no New Hope Initiative.
Every student has touched so many other lives. If there were no BBC, it would leave an awful hole, wouldn’t it? As you prepare to celebrate Christmas, let me ask you, what would your life be like without BBC? Only heaven will reveal the profound difference BBC has made in the world.