The Compelling Story of the College

that Refused to Die

It is no secret that Vennard College has gone through a period of deep darkness. In mid-December of 1995, the midnight hour arrived for Vennard. The lights went out! The heat went off. The darkness and cold enveloped the campus like a shroud. There was an awesome and eerie emptiness in the buildings which spelled the end of a grand old institution.

However, in the midst of that darkness and cold and emptiness, there were the stirrings of new life. There was the hope of a resurrection. There was evidence of a determined faith that God was not yet finished with Vennard College.

Even as the doors were being closed for what was to be the last time, there were many constituents of Vennard who were desperately and doggedly holding on to God for a means whereby this school could be saved from extinction. There was only one organization that appeared to have any potential for rescuing the campus, and that was the Vennard College Alumni Association.

The Alumni Association Board, with a great deal of outside encouragement, made the awesome decision to put their faith on the line and offer to purchase the Campus with the hope of reopening the College. In March 1996, the Alumni Association Board made the offer of purchase for $400,000 believing that God would somehow provide a means to accomplish this task.

On April 3, the offer was accepted, the agreement was signed, and the closing date was set for June 3, 1996. After many long, cold and dark nights, a bit of light was beginning to dispel the darkness.

A loan application for $400,000 was submitted to a foundation, knowing that the Lord alone could get approval for such a loan. That loan was approved on April 29, 1996. That was a miracle!

Finally, on June 3, 1996, the transaction was completed. The Campus now belonged to the Vennard College Alumni Association.

Meanwhile, following the purchase agreement, the Alumni Association called a meeting in which the Alumni Board and 13 potential Board of Trustees members met. During that meeting, a Management Board was appointed to start the process of bringing Vennard College back into existence. At that point, reorganization started seriously with the primary focus of fund raising to pay toward campus acquisition and stratum operations.

Until the campus sale was completed on June 3, 1996, there were limitations on what could be accomplished. However, after June 3, the Board began to gear up for renewed operations. The first appointment included an Academic Dean, an Admissions Director, a Business Officer, and a Maintenance Supervisor. There were only ten weeks left to recruit students, yet not all of the faculty and staff had been recruited. There were only ten weeks left to make preparations for school to open September 3, 1996. It was a very small and frightening beginning - but it was a beginning! That was the break of dawn!

The best way to describe the current state of the College is to enumerate some of what has happened in the months since June 3, 1996. Now, keep in mind that we gained access to this Campus on June 1996!!

1. In the Fall of 1996, the College opened with 24 students. There has been consistent growth every semester with a total of 76 students in the Spring of 2000 and a total of 114 students in the Fall of 2002. God has honored this Institution with quality students.
2. The infrastructure of the College was a major challenge. However, God has provided the resources and the personnel to make unbelievable improve-ments and refurbishing of all the 7 major buildings on the Campus, excluding the unusable Music Building. Installation of fire alarms and other required safety features has been accomplished in every building.
3. The Library has been restored and is now electronically cataloged as well as being electronically networked with numerous major libraries. This gives our students almost unlimited access to library materials.
4. We have gone from one usable computer on Campus to over 50 computers, with a state-of-the-art Computer Lab.
5. The central heating plant has been modernized with high-efficiency boilers and burners.
6. The Administration Building, containing all of the classrooms, is now completely air conditioned.
7. Even the gynmasium has been fitted with forced air heating and central air conditioning!

The list could be expanded almost endlessly. But, the bottom line is that God has performed a miracle on the campus of Vennard. And He isn't finished yet!! Anyone visiting the campus is witness to the continuing miracle of the life and prosperity of Vennard College.

We are absolutely delighted that God has been so gracious in performing these miracles during the past few years. When the re-founding President, Dr. W. Edward Rickman, retired in June 2002, Dr. Bruce E. Moyer moved from being Academic Dean to assume the Presidency of Vennard College. We recognize that there is a new day dawning for Vennard College!!

In retrospect, we would probably agree with the old saying that 'the darkest time is just before the dawn.' We would also say that the dawning of this new day has been beautiful to behold.

The new day has produced academic excellence!

Vennard College now exists as a viable Bible College with a program in place that is second to none. We have developed a balanced curriculum designed to prepare students with a strong Biblical base, a thorough theological understanding, and an academically challenging general education. That is our heritage; that is our future!

The new day is expanding our horizons!

The College now enjoys AABC Accreditation with all the rights and responsibilities that entails. As such, our students qualify for Federal Financial Aid funding and state assistance programs.

The new day is bringing a growing student population!

Today more than 100 students attend classes, worship in chapel and enjoy the camaraderie of our Campus. As months become years and students become graduates, our Alumni support is also expanding. Pastors and parents are starting to send their high school graduates to Vennard again! God continues to call young and not-so-young alike to prepare for life and ministry at Vennard College!

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