Faithful You Are, Faithful Forever You Will Be
It is with a heart of gratitude that I bring my 15th and final report as the President of Nazarene Bible College.
Forty-seven years of fulltime service to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church will come to an end with my retirement on June 30, 2021. In this report, allow me to reflect on this journey for a few moments.
During these years, I had the privilege of serving three churches as a staff member, three wonderful churches as lead pastor, the Northeast Oklahoma District as Superintendent, and Nazarene Bible College as President. Along the way, I have been honored to serve the Church in a variety of positions, boards, and as a Trustee at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Southern Nazarene University, and Nazarene Bible College. As I complete my time at NBC, I will have served as a member of the Board of Trustees for 28 years, 15 years as President, and the longest term by any president.
In preparation for my final report, I looked back on my journey as President of NBC.
LOOKING BACK
In my Inaugural Address offered, I accepted the challenge to keep the dream of a Nazarene Bible College alive with enthusiasm and passion, with commitment to our Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, and with confidence in our future as a Bible college for generations to come.
In the address, I outlined the principles which would guide my Presidency through the years.
We must cultivate and purposely strive to develop appropriate, strong, and collaborative relationships with the Church we have been called to serve.
Nazarene Bible College was birthed in the heart of the Church of the Nazarene at the 16th General Assembly of the Church in Portland, Oregon. The vision for a Bible College was eloquently articulated by General Superintendent G. B. Williamson as a deep conviction that there is now and will always be a need for a Bible College in the total educational structure of our Church.
Since 1967, Nazarene Bible College has embodied the dream for an undergraduate, professional school of Christian ministry committed to academic and practical programs designed to educate students for service and leadership in a diverse world.
Through the years, the college has been led by those deeply committed to the custody of this dream. Impassioned with the cause for which this college was raised up, the presidents chosen to lead, the dedicated faculty called to teach, the devoted staff called to serve, and the committed students called to prepare, have set before us a great legacy of faith.
Above all, I have given myself to building appropriate, strong, and collaborative relationships with the Church we have been called to serve.
I have faithfully represented the college in local churches, district gatherings, and General Church events. It has been the highest honor to tell the NBC story, meet our students, and greet our alumni. I found encouragement and gratification from the many conversations with our students and alumni. Their stories of the impact that NBC had on their lives, confirms the strong influence the college has had through the years.
During the past 15 years, 7,500 individuals have taken classes from NBC in preparation for ministry. The majority of these students are serving the Church of the Nazarene in some ministerial capacity. They are the reason we exist, to prepare God’s called ones for ministry in the Church.
We must guard our spiritual heritage and prevent any drift from our primary purpose of teaching the Holy Scriptures and integrating Biblical theology with the practice of ministry.
A Bible College education does not imply less in substance or significance. While the curriculum is purposeful for practice, it is not intended to be inferior in content or consequence. Our students receive an excellent education in preparation for a life of ministry and service to the Church. Our vision is not that we would turn out less in quality, rather that we would produce excellence in both precept and practice.
Nazarene Bible College has resisted any drift from a firm foundation of faith grounded in the Holy Scriptures. In an age of assault on Biblical orthodoxy, NBC has stayed true to the inspired Word of God.
In the days ahead, the attacks on Biblical orthodoxy will grow, undermining the truths found in God’s Word. The assaults will come from outside of the church and from within the church. There has never been a greater need for a Bible College that embraces the Holy Scriptures and Biblical theology than in this day of apostasy.
There are certain traditions or principles, if you will, that are non-negotiable. What the Word of God says is holy and righteous is right, if no one believes it, and evil is wrong, if everyone believes it to be right. I believe there is evil in the world, that God has called His servants to minister grace in this fallen world, that God is in control, that we can trust the God who called us as messengers of grace, and that the ultimate triumph of God is certain.
To that end, Nazarene Bible College will continue to light the torch, teach the Bible, call for commitment, and model service, by offering academic and practical programs designed to educate students for service and leadership in a diverse world.
We must remain committed to developing strategies, programs, and practices that are innovative, creative, and effective in substance and scope.
When I first wrote this, I had no idea what the future might hold. In the early days of my administration, I was committed to building both the campus and online enrollment.
As we looked at the enrollment trends on campus, I commissioned a committee of administrators, faculty, and staff to develop a strategy to increase campus enrollment. We engaged two highly recommended enrollment consultants, and we implemented their recommendations in all areas. By 2016, we recognized that the campus had become a burdensome hindrance to our mission and that the college was unsustainable if a campus program was continued.
Throughout the years, the college has embraced creative approaches to education that have served the Church well. Through extension centers, district centers, online education, and the institute for ministry enrichment, the college has extended its reach beyond the campus in Colorado Springs.
In my 11th report to the Board of Trustees in 2016, I wrote:
Once again, we faced the challenge of choosing innovative change or simply accepting the conditions as they exist. The trends of a declining campus enrollment and growing operational costs of an aging campus forced us to be innovative in our approach to preparing adults for ministry or see Nazarene Bible College fade into the sunset.
I’m not ready for the sun to set on NBC. It is our mission that compels us. We do not exist for a place; we are driven by a purpose. Today, our mission takes place primarily in coffee shops, libraries, offices, under a shade tree, on a picnic table, and in homes. The classroom is found on computers, tablets, and smart phones. Anywhere a student can find an internet connection, our mission takes place.
While we faced logistical challenges that required change, our mission of preparing men and women for ministry remained unchanged.
Our proposal to the Board of Trustees was for a “New NBC” – one that reflected that the college was an online institution with a leaner organizational structure, with a relocated center of operations, with outsourced support services, and with a full-time faculty that served the college from remote locations.
The decision to phase out the campus program and sell the campus was not without complications. We recognized this as an opportunity to outsource some of our practices. We outsourced financial aid, the bookstore, and the library. Outsourcing financial aid was an unexpected obstacle to overcome, requiring a significant change in the academic calendar and the manner in which we disbursed financial aid to our students. This was a painful experience that took months to regulate and stabilize.
I’m not sure any of us realized the challenges we would face in selling the campus. We learned that the campus was in a Federal Opportunity Zone which complicated the usage and the value. I will never forget the final hearing before the Colorado Springs City Council. As the meeting progressed, it looked as if the sale would fall through. In the end, the affirmative vote to rezone the property and approve the buyers plan prevailed. After the meeting, an attorney for the buyer said to me, “Well, God was on your side today.” Today, affordable homes are being built in the shadow of the Bell Tower. Families will be gathering in Strickland Chapel for socials and activities. These significant markers will remain a reminder of the place NBC called home for 50 years.
Despite these setbacks, we continued to move forward in faith that God would give us hope and a future. Overall, the results have moved the college from a place of unsustainability to a manageable position for the future.
Since 2006, we have reduced personnel and property expenses. These changes reduced operational costs. The defined pension plan liability, once insurmountable, is now manageable.
While we continue to face challenges, the college is in a position to continue developing strategies, programs, and practices that are innovative, creative, and effective in substance and scope.
We must continue to nurture a culture of trust, encouragement, and mutual service as we fervently strive for academic excellence and professional development.
The college is committed to a strong program of academic excellence with an emphasis on practical application.
Our strong commitment to academic excellence is recognized by dual accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission, a commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education.
During these 15 years, the college has successfully reviewed and maintained accreditation status 10 times. Including regional (Higher Learning Commission), national (Commission on Accreditation of the Association of Biblical Higher Education), Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), and denominational (Regional Course of Study Advisory Committee, RCOSAC and the International Course of Study Advisory Committee, ICOSAC).
The Higher Learning Commission summarized its findings: “Empowered by its mission documents to educate non-traditional second career students, the school deals effectively with the diversity of these students in their educational backgrounds, ethnic background, and family responsibilities. As a result, the school both accomplishes its mission and serves the needs of its various constituencies.”
NBC has a distinguished and dedicated faculty who are scholars in their discipline and sincere in their devotion to Christ and the Church. The administrators serve the college with distinction and have led with decisiveness. The staff displays a servant spirit in representing the college and its interests.
The number of years of service to the college is an indicator of the commitment to our mission. The 8 faculty members have collectively served the college for 140 years and the cabinet has served for 89 years. That represents 229 years of faithful service to the college.
The best gift I will leave for the new president are these who serve the mission of the college so faithfully and effectively.
LOOKING FORWARD
It has been said, if you are looking at the past, you have your back to the future. In 14 reports, I have endeavored to cast a vision for the future. This is a peculiar place to be as a retiring president. This board will have the task of electing a new president, with a fresh vision and new priorities. With this in mind, I prefer to leave you with a challenge.
KEEP FOCUSED ON THE MISSION – MISSION MUST DRIVE EVERYTHING.
We live in a changing world. We live in a changing culture. In The Shaping of Things to Come, authors Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch write, “A church that is Missional makes mission its priority and perpetually asks itself what has God called us to be and do in our current cultural context.”
Henry Ford was quoted as saying “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”[1]
I would be less than honest if I did not admit there have been many obstacles we have had to work through and overcome during these 15 years. We have experienced highs and lows, disappointments and victories, sadness and joy, goodbyes and hellos, long days and short nights, criticism and commendation, but through it all, we have kept our eyes on the goal of fulfilling our mission.
“If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”[2] Seneca
We know our mission: “to prepare God’s called ones to evangelize, disciple, and minister to our world.” I remain optimistic that the need for a Bible college will grow greater not less in the changing culture in which we live. Stay focused on our God ordained mission.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON GOD – THE CHALLENGES YOU WILL FACE ARE NOT BIGGER THAN THE GOD IN WHOM YOU TRUST.
During 47 years of ministry, I have faced challenges too many to count in this short time. There have been times I did not know what to do, where to turn, or whom to trust. Godly counsel brought comfort and perspective, but it was trust in God that gave me the victory.
Throughout the Bible, we read of those who faced seemingly insurmountable challenges with faith in God. The writer of Hebrews 11:1-2 put it this way, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” The author follows these words by recounting a Biblical hall of faith, those ancients who did not succumb to the challenges they faced.
In verse 6, he drives the point home of trusting in God, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
It was by faith that Joshua and Caleb gave the minority report of the men sent to explore the Promised Land. They saw everything the majority saw, a fertile land flowing with milk and honey. They also witnessed the challenge of well-fortified cities guarded by large and well-equipped armies. The majority report said it was a suicide mission. I find the words of the majority in Numbers 13:33 informative, “We seemed like grasshoppers in OUR OWN EYES, and we looked the same to them.” But Caleb spoke for the minority opinion in verse 30, “We should go up and take possession of the land for we can certainly do it.”
The result of wandering in the wilderness for a generation just might be attributed to these words, “in OUR OWN EYES.” They had taken their eyes off the God who had miraculously delivered them from slavery in Egypt. They measured their challenge against their own ability and took their eyes off of God.
Following the death of Moses, Joshua was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel. God said to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
In the days ahead, NBC will face challenges that seem insurmountable at times. We live in a culture that is increasingly hostile to Biblical Christianity. We are experiencing Federal legislative moves that could have a profound impact on Christian Higher Education and the Church. Time will tell what this all means – but we must remember to always trust in the God who is bigger than our challenges.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Stay focused on the mission – the mission drives everything.
Keep your eyes on God, the challenges you will face are not bigger than the God in whom you trust. And finally,
KEEP BELIEVING – ALWAYS ALLOW ROOM FOR THE “GOD FACTOR.”
A lesson learned through years of experience is allowing room for God to act. I refer to it as the “God factor.” What does this mean to me? I give my best and trust God with the rest.
My call to ministry was not an instantaneous experience. I was the firstborn of a successful and much-loved pastor. As a child I was often asked, “Are you going to be a preacher like your daddy?” My reaction to that question was always “No.” As a teenager I sensed God speaking to me, but my response was always a negotiation. I will serve you Lord, just not as a preacher. I went to college determined to follow my dream to be a teacher and a football coach.
My spiritual walk often wavered, and I found myself wandering in a wilderness of confusion. By my sophomore year, I had decided against college and was accepted into the carpenter apprentice program at US Steel in Gary, Indiana. Before I attended one class, I was one of hundreds of workers laid off by US Steel. I was lost. What now?
I recall a Wednesday night service at the Glen Park Church of the Nazarene in Gary. The hymns chosen for that service grabbed my heart. I got up and made my way to the prayer room. That night I had a crisis moment with God.
There was a large open Bible at the altar in the prayer room. I recall crying from my innermost self for answers. I have never recommended what happened next, I can only testify to my experience.
The Bible was open to Psalm 32. Each cry of my heart was answered as I read through that Psalm. Following a time of repentance and forgiveness, I read these words: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalms 32:8 (NIV)
It was a transformative night for me. When I left that room of prayer, my life and my will was surrendered to God. I was willing to be and do whatever God wanted from me. My life was totally in his hands. I went back to college determined to follow God’s will for my life, as long as it did not involve preaching.
After graduation, I was serving as a staff member in a church in the suburbs of Chicago. A pastor of a nearby church invited me to speak at a youth revival. I told him I wasn’t a preacher. He said, come anyway. I said, I’ve never preached. He said, come anyway. I said, call my brother. He said, no, I want you to come. The morning after the first service I sensed the gentle voice of God saying to me, “Harold, this is what I want you to do.” This time I knew it wasn’t well-meaning people in the church calling me. I knew it wasn’t anyone but God calling me, and the “God factor” made all the difference.
Henry Blackaby wrote: “One does not choose the ministry! A pastor is chosen. He is chosen by God for God’s purposes, in God’s time and place, and serves Him in God’s ways.”[3]
As I have served Him in various roles and responsibilities, God has always proven to be faithful. Recently, we sang a song in church with these lyrics:
I will rest in your promises; my confidence is your faithfulness.
Faithful you are, faithful forever you will be.
All your promises, are yes and amen.
I want to encourage you to never stop believing. Always leave room for the “God factor.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, I want to thank the Cabinet for their hard work, leadership, and commitment to the mission of Nazarene Bible College. They mean more to me than they know. They are my friends. Thank you, Shirley, Alan, David, and Fred.
I also want to thank the faculty, whom I have the highest respect and love for. Their commitment to the Word of God and preparing our students for ministry is exceptional.
Thank you to our staff who faithfully serve our students with patience, persistence, and guidance. Some have served the college for years, and we are indebted to their devotion.
I have been blessed to work with 3 wonderful, administrative assistants, but none better than Susan McKeithen. As an Ordained Elder, Susan has a keen interest in evangelism and discipleship. As we downsized our staff, Susan willingly accepted new assignments and has excelled at it. She has kept me on schedule and alert to the tasks before us.
To the Board of Trustees, thank you for your confidence in me. You have been supportive with your prayers, words of encouragement, and love. I count you as faithful friends. I will miss all of you. I pray with you as you choose the next president. I am confident that God has guided you in the process.
I wish to acknowledge my wife. Cheryl has been my encouragement, my partner, and my best friend. I could not do what I have been called to do without her. She graciously followed wherever God led us. As we finish 47 years of ministry together, I realize how fortunate I have been to have Cheryl by my side. You have loved me in my failures and my victories, my lows and highs. You have always been there for me. I am the person I am because of you.
Colorado Springs sits in the shadows of America’s mountain known as Pikes Peak. Each morning as I would gaze out the window, the mountain majestically rose against the bright blue Colorado skies. But there were days that the storm clouds rolled in and the mountain was covered. When that happened, I never once doubted that the mountain was still there. I recall picking visitors up at the airport on those cloudy days, and they would ask, “Where is the mountain?” I would point west and say, “Behind those clouds - Soon the clouds will roll out and you will see the mountain with a fresh covering of snow.” I never doubted the mountain was going to be there when the storm clouds went away.
Through the years, I have had sunny days, cloudy days, and downright, stormy days. I have never doubted that God was still there. I have had questions, troublesome days, and sleepless nights, but in the end, I never doubted that God would instruct and teach me the way to go and that he would counsel and watch over me.
Stay focused on the mission, for the mission drives everything. Keep your eyes on God, for the challenges you will face are not bigger than the God in whom you trust. Keep believing, always allowing room for the “God factor.”
Respectfully submitted,
Harold B. Graves Jr.
President
Nazarene Bible College
April 7, 2021
[1] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henryford101486.html?src=t_goal
[2] ― Seneca https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/goals?page=2
[3] Blackaby, Henry T and Brandt, Henry. The Power of the Call. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1997 (pages 26-27).
Published: 04/13/2021
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