As I walk the campus of Central Baptist College each morning, I am reminded that I am surrounded by the work and faithfulness of those who came before me. Every building and every story of a student’s life changed for the glory of God is a testament to generations of pastors, laypeople and churches within the Baptist Missionary Association of Arkansas who believed in the mission of Christ-centered higher education. I am profoundly grateful for those who laid the foundation upon which CBC stands today.
From its earliest days, Central Baptist College has existed because our churches dreamed of a place where young men and women could grow both academically and spiritually. Those early founders sacrificed time, resources and energy to establish a college where the Bible would be at the center of learning and Christ would be exalted in every classroom. Their faithfulness built more than a campus; it built a legacy of Christian education that continues to shape lives and ministries across Arkansas and beyond.
That legacy has been strengthened through the leadership of those who have served as president before me. A. R. Reddin, Harold Cooper, Wassell Burgess, James Ray Raines, Charles Attebery, Terry Kimbrow and others guided the college through their own seasons of challenge and opportunity. I am thankful for their faithfulness and for the way God used each one to prepare the path we now walk.
This week, the churches of the BMA of Arkansas will gather for their annual meeting on our campus. What a joy it is to host the very people who have sustained this college through their prayers, giving and encouragement. Every time our campus welcomes pastors, messengers and church members from across the state, I am reminded that we are not alone in this work. We are part of a family, a cooperative fellowship of believers who value education that stands firmly on the truth of God’s Word.
As president, I have the privilege of seeing firsthand how God continues to bless CBC. Enrollment is growing, finances are stabilizing and students are being equipped to serve the Lord in every walk of life. Yet even as we celebrate these blessings, I know we are standing on a foundation we did not build alone. We are reaping the harvest planted by those who came before us, and it is our sacred duty to continue building for those who will follow.
My prayer this week, as the BMA of Arkansas gathers on our campus, is one of thanksgiving. I thank God for the pastors who have faithfully preached His Word, for the churches that have stood with this college through good times and hard times, and for every person who has prayed, given or served so that CBC could thrive. Together, we carry forward a legacy of faith and learning that began decades ago, and by God’s grace, that legacy will continue for generations to come.
