We are a local-church college. Hyles-Anderson College is owned and operated by the First Baptist Church of Hammond. That perhaps in itself is one of the greatest blessings of attending Hyles-Anderson College-to be a vital active part of this fine church. Such is true about each of the Christian colleges that are operated by a local New Testament Church. I believe in the LOCAL CHURCH.
That very fact is why I tell students that I may send to other colleges than ours that they should immediately introduce themselves to the pastor of the church where they attend, and they should join that church and become an active member.
I have found two main concerns of pastors who think it unwise for their college students to transfer their membership. One is a matter of control and influence. There is definitely a trust issue when one sends a student off to a Bible college.
I certainly am honored and humbled that a pastor or parent would send us a member or child. I also think it is a great honor to send a member or child to Hyles-Anderson College. I would never seek to replace either a pastor or a parent in our students’ lives; yet, I would ask to have the authority of the local church to direct and influence our students. I don’t think it wise or practical to pastor your members, nor do I think it wise or practical for you to co-pastor a student in our college which is under my pastoral care and leadership.
I do not seek the students’ money, but I do desire to have their heart and you and I both know that “where you treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Many students never give us their heart, and forfeit a great learning experience. Many students are constantly relaying back home to their pastors what I am preaching while I am preaching, and they are sitting in judgment of what our college is doing. I believe that is a most undesirable situation.
I feel that if a student does not want to be under the pastoral care and leadership of our church he should not pretend to be under the authority of the college, for the college authority is that of the local church and pastor.
If you were the pastor overseeing a college, I would insist that my students who attend your college would place themselves under your authority and join your church. It only fits with our philosophy of the local church.
I certainly respect your right to disagree with me on this matter; however, I am not trying to build a college enrollment; I am trying to build men and woman with a passion for God and His work! I want our students to be active members and participants in this church, not casual observers of this operation.
If you think we are using this college to build our church, then you have never run a church-operated college. It simply does not work that way. First Baptist Church was declared the largest Sunday school in the world BEFORE Hyles-Anderson College was started. Ever since that day, it has been a fight to keep the church growing. Colleges do not build churches, but a growing church can provide a wonderful opportunity to teach and train your pastoral candidates.
I would like too have my hands untied with the students you send us. I will exalt you and endorse you, and your students will love and honor you more for having been here; however I want to be the pastor of our students and not simply a figurehead puppet leader whose strings are pulled by the “home pastor.” Our college is boot camp, and we don’t need “Daddy” overriding the drill instructor’s direction. If we are good enough for you to send us your students, then send all of the student, including his heart and mind!!
In closing, let me thank those of you who support us and have loved us through the years. Many of you are graduates of our college, and your alma mater is certainly proud to have had a part in your ministry.
Others of you are tied to us through Pastor’s School. You also are dear to us as fellow laborers in the work of Christ.
Our world has never needed an institution like Hyles-Anderson College as it does now. Colleges and Christian ministries are compromising quickly. Many Bible colleges are graduating nice, polite, decent Christians, but fewer and fewer red-hot, passionate, holy, church builders are coming out of the Bible college movement.
This nation and this world will never be influenced by the large number of above-average, good, decent Christians we graduate; it will be changed by the few great men who have learned to walk with God, work for God, and live for God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength!
To that end, Hyles-Anderson College is dedicated! Everything else ultimately really does not matter!
For Christ’s sake,
Jack Schaap
Pastor
If Schapp really believed all that, seems like he would not look to educate anyone except students from HIS local church.
ReplyDelete