How Can You Shape the Next Generation?

Picture this: It’s 1975, and five college students are making one of the biggest decisions of their lives. Christie Moore and her friends from UNI are transferring to Faith Baptist Bible College for second semester. Bill Edmondson, Tom Harms, Joel DeSousa, Doug Halsne, and Christie all packed up and headed to Ankeny together.

What convinced them to make such a bold move mid-year? A man named Hal Miller, who was leading CBF meetings at UNI. Christie remembers it simply: “Hal Miller was my ‘influencer.'”

Fifty years later, the pattern continues. In July’s alumni newsletter, we asked alumni how God led them to Faith, and their answers revealed something beautiful: most of them came because someone else—a pastor, a friend, a missionary, or another alumnus—pointed them to Faith.

The Pastor’s Recommendation

For many alumni, their local pastors played the key role. Jared Loucks puts it perfectly: “My local pastors encouraged me to study at Faith. Other options were available but they knew the standard at FBBC and wanted that for me and my life.”

Jan Miller credits “my Pastor, Russ Farrell,” while Gerald J. Napper was influenced by reading the Baptist Bulletin in 1965-66, which led him to apply to what was then Omaha Baptist Bible College.

Cody Huber was influenced by his pastors, Miles Grismore and Derek Phillips, who are both alumni. But he also credits Jason Blunk, who was working in admissions during Cody’s senior year of high school. “Jason kept calling me, asking me to apply. I finally did and came to Faith for school. I’m so glad I did.”

The Professor’s Wisdom

Sonjia Smith remembers visiting Faith and attending a class by Dr. Newman. “I cannot recall what he was speaking on, but I knew that if I attended Faith and had professors like him, I would learn so much from their wisdom.”

Missionaries in Alaska—the Bloods—also encouraged Sonjia to attend Bible college because she “would always use anything I learned from that experience for the rest of my life.” Decades later, she confirms they were right: “Even though I am not in vocational ministry, I do use everything I learned at Faith in my life serving my church and my community.”

The Student Connection

Current students and recent graduates often become the most convincing ambassadors.

Regina Starkenburg discovered the school through the FBBC’s summer ministry team, the Contenders, at Sr. High Camp at IRBC. “They were talking about the Top 10 reasons to go to Faith. The one that stood out to me was that it was affordable. I never thought I could financially attend private college, but looking at the cost and scholarships, I was able to make it work!”

For Randi Folkerts, it was a personal connection that made all the difference. She wanted to study piano performance elsewhere—”not that college in my home state!” But during a special weekend retreat at Faith in her junior year of high school, she roomed with Mary (Strunk) Godwin. “By the end of the weekend, I was won over by Mary’s kindness, the classes I attended and the music dept. I made the right decision!”

Kellyann Wilkins simply says: “Music summer ministry teams.” Sometimes the most powerful influence happens when young people see Faith people serving.

The Family Influence

Sometimes the direction comes from the people closest to home. Morgan Reeves explains: “My father was one of the influences that I had to when it came to choosing to go to Faith. He had gone to Faith when he went to college and I was trying to find a small college to go to in order to work on gaining higher education and to learn more about God. Faith was the perfect fit for both of those.”

Eric Strattan credits “my wife, Marcia (Frier – ’80). The high-quality, gospel-centered education she received during her undergraduate studies, coupled with the newly launched M.A. program, provided a good fit for me.”

The Divine Connection

Perhaps the most remarkable story comes from Ida (Hanson) Henderson, whose path to Faith involved what she calls God’s miraculous timing. A pastoral student from Omaha Bible Institute named Don Bunge happened to be on the same bus to Omaha as the District Superintendent from Ida’s church in Red Oak, Iowa.

During their conversation, the superintendent asked if Don would be interested in filling a pulpit for a few months. Don accepted, and through his ministry, Ida was saved. Don then offered to pay her tuition for one semester if she would attend OBI for at least one year.

“One year turned into 3 and my graduation in ’53 plus the Lord gave me a wonderful husband who graduated in ’53 and became a Pastor! I thank God often for Don Bunge and for the wonderful grace of God and His faithfulness.”

The Encouragers

Some alumni remember the people who believed in them when they weren’t sure they belonged. Florence Jones Beard was 40 years old when she attended what was then DBBC. “The Students were my encouragers. Still echoing in my mind ‘You can do it Mrs. Jones’ ‘Good job Jonesie.'”

Now, almost 90 years old, Florence stays active in ministry with a Senior’s Ministry, visits an Acute Care Center every Tuesday, and serves as “the hugging Grandma in church.” The encouragement she received from the Class of 1975 shaped decades of faithful service.

Debra Napuunoa credits Dottie Vahoosier as “very instrumental in my entrance and graduation at Faith Baptist Bible College. I am so grateful for her and my time at FBBC.”

The Full Circle

Just like Christie Moore and those four friends who transferred together in 1975, today’s students are making life-changing decisions based on the influence of Faith people who crossed their paths. Whether it’s a pastor who knows Faith’s standards, a student who shares their excitement, or a missionary who sees the long-term value of Bible college education, the pattern remains the same.

You—Faith alumni—are perhaps the most influential people in bringing the next generation to Ankeny. Your recommendations carry weight because people see how Faith shaped your lives. Your stories matter because they show what God can do through a Bible college education. Your encouragement gives young people the confidence to take that step of faith.

So the next time a young person asks about college choices, remember: you might be their Hal Miller, their Jason Blunk, their Mary Godwin, or their Don Bunge.

You might be the influence God wants to use to bring the next Christie Moore and her four friends to Faith.

Do you know a student who would be a good fit for Faith? Please take 20 seconds to let us know!