Grace Bible College is back in the full swing of things! We have been in classes all week, and at meal times, our Dining Room is full of happy students and good food! It is always such a joy to have students return from Christmas Break and reconnect with those friends they’ve only known since August but have come to appreciate and love. At Grace, we realize that this “community of friends” who also love the Lord and are engaged in their Bible-centered studies is a very unique and special environment.
Take two hundred young people with all their excitement, emotions, intellect, hormones, potential, and activity and put them on one campus to worship the Lord, do ministry, pray for one another, eat and enjoy recreation together, travel, sing and minister to others, play competitive athletics, interact with godly role models who teach and mentor, and serve in many ways….and you have a taste of Grace Bible College.
Just a few minutes ago, a former student walked into the office. He was so excited to be back on campus! He met his wife here at GBC; they both graduated, moved to another part of the country and have found work in areas they enjoy. They are faithfully serving in their church and expecting their first child in a couple of months! He laughed as he reminded me of a ministry trip we took together overseas and the memories of our experience. That is the success story of Grace Bible College! One student at a time, educated, prepared, and challenged — and now serving the Lord Jesus Christ! (Now, I will caution you, we don’t guarantee a spouse for each student, but what a wonderful place to find one’s counterpart while pursuing God’s calling in your life!)
Today in chapel we had the entire community praying in different parts of Baker Chapel in adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and petition. It was so inspiring to me to hear the genuine prayers of our students and to interact and pray with them in small groups
We continue with our theme of “Pursuing God Everyday” this semester, and ask for your prayers as we have a special series of DVDs in chapel next week by John Piper known as “Fighting for Joy: Desiring God When You Don’t Feel Like It.” I pray that our students, faculty, and staff will be moved to celebrate the position and identity we have in Christ, rather than fall prey to the enemy’s ploy to make us work for “appearance before others” as our prevalent culture would have us do.
The Grace Singers led by our Worship Arts Professor, Kayleen Bobbitt, just returned from a tour in Alabama and Florida last week. This ten member group was able to minister in churches along with a student speaker – Zach, and sound technician – Curtis. This group, facilitated by John Spooner, traveled and stayed in homes, and ministered to many different people. 
From each place they visited, I received some type of notice from individuals or leaders who expressed how impressed they were with the quality of student and the genuine hearts for ministry they observed! Praise the Lord for this – that is Grace Bible College!
Please lift up our students, faculty, and staff in prayer as we dig into a new semester of study here at Grace. Please also pray for our Vice Presidents as they work together with me to plan and carry out the progress of the College. Pray for our Board of Directors as they come together next week (Friday the 28th) and make decisions about the future of the College. Please pray for our “Beyond the Bricks” Capital Campaign and the decisions about potential construction dates in May of this year. We are 66% pledged for the full campaign and would love to give God the glory for 100% attainment.
God bless you, the faithful friends of Grace Bible College!
President Ken B. Kemper
Grace Bible College
