by Mark Milioni
This past May, during my Wednesday night presentation, I shared some significant five-year goals for Baptist Bible College. These included: growing financial health, increasing student enrollment, developing an online degree program, enhancing the college environment, and communicating the spirit and experience of BBC. During the discussion of this last goal we shared a new initiative for the college, Life Change U. This is a description, a theme, a motto. Something that describes us and what we do.
During my many miles of travels I have the privilege of meeting a lot of “seasoned” BBC alumni as well as some of our newer graduates, and one thing I hear consistently — “BBC changed my life.”
Each fall we welcome a new group of freshmen. They are a little scared, a little homesick, and very wide-eyed, not knowing what to expect, where to go, or what to do. In just a short time, this group from all over the nation becomes a special family. As alumni know, there is a special spirit here on campus that is unique to BBC and who we are. Through the process of doing life together there is a purpose behind everything we do — from academics, to rules, to student life, to chapel, to involvement in local churches. Everything is part of affecting and influencing a student’s life. I can say, as can thousands of others — BBC changed my life. The love of the leadership, the care of the professors, the help of pastors, the forging of lifelong friendships all make BBC a place of life change.
Now please do not misunderstand — we know and believe God the Holy Spirit is responsible for changing a life, we simply try to provide the environment in which this can take place.
While students are on campus their lives are changed. Then, as they go, they take with them what has been learned in the classroom, modeled in churches, and emphasized in chapel — use your life to help others find life. It is our prayer — it is our purpose — to educate and to train students who will be world changers by sharing the Gospel and by giving their lives to see lives changed in others by the Gospel. Our job is to introduce people to Jesus so their lives can be changed too.
Life Change U is a description of who we are here on campus and what we learn to do with our lives when we leave. This is not a new official name; it is just a theme. Life Change U is about joy, surrender, study, application, fun, family, challenge, learning, serving, and loving. It describes us and what we do.
We are excited about this fall as we welcome our largest freshman class in many years. This is our 66th year of seeing lives changed and of learning how to lead people into life change. Please pray for us at BBC | Life Change U.