Executive Editor’s Note: See related article on page 1 of this issue to understand the cause of this emergency need. This article and the related article on page 1 of this issue were submitted as one article, but to highlight the need that is caused by the attack covered in the other article, this portion of the article has been separated into a second article.
An Emergency Need
The cyber incident brought all activities to an abrupt halt for five weeks during the prime student recruiting period for all 2022-23 students. Without access to our systems, recruiters could not effectively do their jobs. That was even more pronounced in the PACE/Online program where most of the application process is completed virtually. The initial loss of not being able to recruit new students for an extended period was estimated at $450,000 in terms of a sharp decline in enrollment resulting in tuition and other revenue not collected. Now that enrollment figures have been finalized for the fall, that number could easily reach the $1 million mark.
Walking With Me
As I struggled with the seemingly insurmountable task of raising an additional $1 million, this passage kept coming to me: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Eccl. 4:9-10 ESV). I realized that this is a burden I could not bear alone, so I gathered pastors and leaders from seven churches to come alongside me — trusted friends I could pour my heart out to without reservation, knowing they would do whatever they could to help me. We met in the CBC Board Room, and for the first time, I shared the details of the ransomware attack with someone outside the institution. My goal for this group was three-fold:
• Ask them to help me bear this burden and remind me that God can and will supply the need,
• Boldly challenge them to go back to their respective churches and share this need (or let me come and share it personally) and
• Encourage them to help me get others on board to help meet this need.
Better Together
I want to publicly thank these men for helping me bear this burden. That very day — June 13, 2022 — they said, yes, we will accept this challenge; yes, we will walk with you; yes, we will present this to our churches; and yes, we will share this with our church and with our pastor friends. These men said, “Yes, we are in!” They are Dr. Clif Johnson, Garrett Memorial, Hope; Daniel Williams, First, Damascus; Dr. Mark Livingston, Broadview, Memphis, Tenn.; Dustin Wisely and Roger Dunlap, First, Magnolia; Don Chandler, Central, Conway; Dr. Jason Aultman and Shawn Hammontree, Antioch, Conway; and Ed Stephenson, Springhill, Greenbrier.
Will You Help?
Now, I am boldly calling on the churches of the BMAA, alumni and friends of CBC, and I am asking you to give now, give generously and, in some cases, give sacrificially. We have a critical and emergency financial need brought on by these evil players. If ever there was a personification of John 10:10 (NIV) — “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” — this is it. They operate with a single goal and that is to extort money and bring harm to institutions like Central Baptist College. One pastor said, “When our family is attacked, we need to act, and do so quickly.”
Ways to Give
Please send your tax-deductible contribution to: Central Baptist College, 1501 College Ave., Conway, Ark. 72034 or give online at cbc.edu/give. Mark your check or online donation “cyber.” You may want to give appreciated securities and bypass paying capital gains, or you can donate your IRA’s required minimum (RMD). We have several donors who do so. A young couple who heard me share at my church about this need set up a recurring credit card donation; we can also draft your bank account if you prefer. If your company has a matching gifts program, it is a simple process to have it match your contribution. Thousands of businesses and corporations have matching gift programs. Check to see if your employer will match your donation to CBC at cbc.edu/giftmatch. For more ways to give, or to discuss your contribution, contact us by e-mail or phone:
Individuals, Businesses and Alumni: Director of Development Amy Reed at areed@cbc.edu or (501) 205-8934.
Churches and Church Groups: Director of Church Relations Duffy Guyton at dguyton@cbc.edu or (501) 205-8920.
Or feel free to contact me personally at tkimbrow@cbc.edu or (501) 205-8818.
