PART OF OUR HISTORY

DR. BOB WILSON ('62), FORMER DEAN AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

In September 1957, I arrived at the “Bible School” as Bobby Wilson, having turned 14 in July, to begin grade 10. Thirty-four years later, I left as “Dr. Bob,” Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs. I was privileged to study under or serve with the first seven principals/presidents of the University. “Daddy Brinton,” founding Principal, told of how the college motto “That in all things He might have the pre-eminence” and the College hymn, "Crown Him with Many Crowns," were chosen with the input of the first class of 12 in 1949. The motto and hymn have become part of the DNA of generations of both faculty and students.

The opportunities to attend chapel and the Wednesday night prayer meetings, sing in the choir, be part of gospel teams, and go out to preach in churches meant that we learned to minister very early. The much-overworked faculty members led by example and challenged us to grow both intellectually and spiritually.

Living in community allowed us to develop deep friendships. Roommates and those with whom we shared classes, or ministered with in gospel teams became close friends. Some were “very special” like the girl who arrived in January 1959 in grade 11 and in June, Myrna ('61) and I shared a bus seat on the end of term visit to Fundy Park. Five and a half years later, when I taught high school science, Bible, and history at UBBTS, Myrna Secord and I were married in the chapel, and we moved into the tiny apartment in the boy’s dorm. Our long-time teacher and friend, Rev. Les Wilton was master of ceremonies at our wedding.

Those years as a student shaped my life. I did not know where God was leading but He kept opening doors. Faculty members like Earl Morrison challenged me to grow academically. Summer ministries became available to provide funds. In 1961-1962, as I took courses, I taught grade 9 arithmetic and grade 13 algebra. I therefore had a free year of university before transferring into my third year at Gordon College. I was the first to do that. Little did I know that I would become a historian, and much of my scholarly writing would center on what became Crandall University.

In 1965, Myrna and I went to the University of Guelph and I received the first Master of Arts degree as the new University introduced an Arts program. In 1970, as I neared completion of a PhD in British Evangelicalism, Stuart Murray wrote and asked us to consider coming back to Atlantic Baptist College. We agreed and I came as the history professor and Academic Dean. For the next twenty years I chaired faculty (except when Sam Mikolaski was President) and created the College class timetable.

The year 1971 was significant in the life of the College as Ralph Richardson, Gary LeBlanc and I joined the faculty. Chris MacDormand and Mike Kaye were on staff and four of us were Gordon graduates. It became our unofficial ministry model with which President Murray concurred. We built the academic reputation of the College in the seventies by developing strong courses with lots of work and then taught our students how to carry the load. If students were going to fail, we wanted it to be at the College, for our graduates carried our reputation. The Junior College aspect of the program developed well and, by 1982, Sam Mikolaski led the move to have ABC become a degree granting institution.

Christian community was an important part of the educational philosophy of the College. The staff and faculty laboured for long hours to develop a community of Christian Scholars in which the students were an integral part. We rewrote the Student Handbook with input from the students. The disciplinary process now involved students at each level so that they learned leadership skills and took responsibility for themselves. The faculty and staff spent many hours each week working and interacting with the students to develop the sense of shared community. We also were out in the churches and active in denominational structures. Our spouses were very patient for they often gave up a lot of their personal expectations so that the College could grow.

Weekly faculty meetings were special times as we dreamed, debated (sometimes with heat), laughed, and prayed together. Working on the Administrative team with Ralph Richardson, Gary LeBlanc, Ken MacLeod, and Seth Crowell is one of my fondest memories. We were dependent on the community to make ends meet for we were always one month from bankruptcy. By the late eighties, lack of resources and aging facilities on Salisbury Road meant that some new approach was needed.

That all changed when Mrs. Ruth Colburne made her generous offer of a property on the Gorge Road if the College would use it for a new campus. The possibilities then were limited only by the vision and the practical application of resources. The administrative team recommended to the Board that we should dream big and trust God. While I strongly endorsed the dream, I went to Acadia Divinity College in 1991 to succeed Jerry Zeman and hopefully bring more integration into our denomination’s educational ministries. We were pleased when our children, Jonathan and Rachel attended ABC for their Associate in Arts. In 1996-1998, Rachel and her husband, John Dickinson, were adjunct faculty members and she was editor of The Growing Edge.

The University over its seventy five years has had a major impact on both church and community. Ultimately the success is reflected in the lives of alumni who are Christian workers and educators, and leaders in every part of society. Many tell of the friendships formed, and the experiences shared which helped shape generations of Christian young people. For some, it was the place of first-time commitment to Christ and for others it was the place of rededication and the setting of life’s direction. They experienced Christian community where the values were drawn, not from the culture, but from a commitment to Christ.

God’s hand of blessing is on Crandall University. God used it to equip us to take our place in the work of the Kingdom of God. In the past few years, visionary leadership by Bruce Fawcett and the Board, a well-trained faculty and staff, and modern facilities have increased its potential for good. With increasing numbers of students coming from other parts of the world, its role as a change agent in the Kingdom of God is greatly enhanced.

If God has done all this from such small beginnings and imperfect instruments like us, what blessings does He have ahead?