PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Transcription

1 PAST PRESENT FUTURE

2 OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE PAST by KEN IDLEMAN At the writing of this my final annual President s Report, I can identify with the life passage and mood of Moses as I read between the lines in Deuteronomy 34. There are some similarities and, of course, some differences. Similarities would include Moses concluding his 40-year leadership tenure of Israel I am concluding my 27-year presidency at OCC at the end of this fiscal year (June 30, 2006). Moses had the satisfaction of knowing that his successor, Joshua, was a strong spiritual leader that God had providentially raised up I have the pleasure of knowing President- Elect Matt Proctor is God s man for the leadership future of OCC. Moses had the excitement of seeing God s people move into a God-honoring future I am convinced that the future of this Bible College is very bright and that we are on the threshold of many victories. Differences would be, I am no Moses. Secondly, I am not being disciplined by God for anything in particular, that I know of. And, I am not going to die soon, that I know of. Another difference is that Moses was in better shape at 120 than I am at 58. He climbed solo to the top of Mount Pisgah I fell and sustained a knee injury this past summer trying to jump over a 4-foot fence! I wonder what Moses was thinking as he climbed up Pisgah. I wonder what he was seeing in his mind s eye as he ascended. I think he must have been reflecting. I am sure he had many good memories: 1. God s providential intervention in preserving his life in the bulrushes and then allowing for his mother to rear him in the palace. 2. His calling by God in the burning bush on Mt. Horeb. 3. His administration of the power of God in the plagues that broke the will of Pharaoh. 4. His partnership with God in providing the law. 5. Being an eyewitness to many signs and wonders as God preserved the nation. As I reflect in my last year as President of Ozark Christian College, I have many great memories: THE PRESERVATION/VITALITY OF THE MISSION After 64 years we are still doing what we said we intended to do back in 1942 in Bentonville, Arkansas. We have faithfully equipped and graduated the vocational and international Christian leaders the church needs most, in the 90+% range year after year. A documented 98% of the student body is presently involved in weekly Christian service. Between 100 and 149 students have been on the foreign mission field each summer for the past 4 years. I love it that these vital signs have seemed to become stronger through the passing years. ACCREDITATION It has elevated our organizational infrastructure. It has blessed our stewardship of human and material resources at the college. It has enhanced our relationships and credibility with our peer colleges. It has provided a forum for us to promote the classic Bible College. It has improved our performance in the accomplishment of our mission. It has motivated and equipped us to do strategic planning. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING We undertook a $1.5 million project in a period of severe economic downturn. Interest rates were through the roof. Gasoline was being rationed. Enrollments at colleges were plunging. But, the wisdom of the decision has been demonstrated. The MPB now houses all of our basketball and volleyball games, major food functions, major teen events, major conventions, our ministry fair, our student enrollment process, etc. If we were building it today, it would cost $5 million. THE CONSOLIDATION WITH MIDWEST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE It opened the door for a demonstration of kingdom cooperation, the first model of a college consolidation in our fellowship. It protected the assets and alumni of a sister Bible College and it provided $2.3 million for the work at Ozark, having a positive financial impact for the next 10 years. Being debt-free in our 50th year (1992) would not have been possible without this development. 2 THE EXPANSION OF THE RADIO MINISTRY IN THE 4-STATE AREA Because of a $305,000 grant from a generous partner we were able to acquire an AM broadcast license, build a new broadcast tower and relocate the AM and FM stations to their own broadcast facility off campus. KOBC-FM has been, for years, in the top three radio stations in the area in listenership unheard of for a non-commercial station.

3 OUR SUSTAINED NUMERICAL GROWTH OVER THE PAST TWENTY YEARS It has not been dramatic, but it has been consistent. We have grown without broadening our curriculum or diversifying our degrees. We have not taken a single intentional step toward becoming a Christian liberal arts college to attract more students. TWO SUCCESSIVE/SUCCESSFUL CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS Vital Difference and Building Leaders-Changing Lives have enabled us to be debt free for over a decade and, at the same time, move forward with an aggressive campus expansion project. Although our projects have been modest by today s standards ($2.0 million and $3.5 million) you must realize we face stiff challenges in fund raising as one of three Bible Colleges in the state, as a college that has raised up nearly 20 other gift-dependent ministries right in the Joplin area, as a college that has graduates who are predominantly missionaries and ministry leaders not able to give large gifts to their alma mater, and as a college that is not located in the geographical strength of our Christian churches. THE CAMPUS EXPANSION PROJECT Since 1995 we have been under construction, most of the work done without even bridge indebtedness, in our quest to provide a campus that will serve a student body of 1200 by or before the year In the past three years we have finished six major projects. I have such good memories from the past three years alone. THE ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY AND STAFF GOD HAS CALLED TO SERVE HERE I don t think we have ever been stronger overall in and out of the classroom. The primary leadership God has raised up for the future of this Bible College is unparalleled. I know that you just cannot improve on the likes of Academic Dean, Mark Scott; Executive Vice-President, Greg Hafer; and President-Elect Matt Proctor. PRESENT There are three developments in the life of the Bible College that are both current and significant: RECORD ENROLLMENT Once again this year we have had a record enrollment at Ozark Christian College. What is significant about our record student body size is that we have had continued growth while sending out record graduating classes in recent years. The result is more workers in the harvest and more in training than ever before. DINING HALL EXPANSION/RENOVATION COMPLETED With the beginning of the new school year we are enjoying another new/like-new facility. The dining hall has undergone a complete remodeling/building addition resulting in the doubling of our seating and serving space in what has been one of our most overcrowded facilities. This project was actually a part of phase II of our ongoing campus expansion program. However, we became convinced that we should go ahead and complete it ahead of schedule to serve the needs of our growing student body. The debt on this construction is approximately $1.1 million. We are hopeful that this cost will be underwritten by many of our partners and partner churches that were not able to participate in the Building Leaders-Changing Lives campaign to underwrite the phase I campus expansion. PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION President-elect Matt Proctor and I meet each Friday morning to progress with the smoothest leadership transition possible between now and July 1, We are committed to passing the baton of leadership in a God-honoring way, preserving the positive momentum at the college, as this plan is fully executed. I look forward to being able to focus full time on the external executive work of the college as Chancellor. Events related to the transition are a Celebration of Service during the week of June at the North American Christian Convention and the Convocation/Inauguration of Matt Proctor as president on August 21,

4 FUTURE The future will likely include, but not be limited to, the following priorities: UPDATING THE MASTER PLAN FOR CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT As we move into the next phase of campus expansion, the projects on the drawing board are a new residence hall to house 90 students, a new maintenance facility, the conversion of the present maintenance building into a church leadership retreat center and the construction of a new seminar/classroom building. Before moving forward, we will need to conduct a thoughtful and prayerful reevaluation of priorities, funding and timing. COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING LEADERS-CHANGING LIVES CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Future progress on the campus expansion will depend on the faithfulness of those individuals and churches that have made commitments to the BL-CL campaign. We are just 9 months from the finish line on the fulfillment of committed gifts. We are optimistic about the success of the final totals on the campaign because of the history we have had with the dollars given meeting or exceeding our goals/expectations. TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE/INTEGRATION One of the areas that must be addressed college-wide in the future is technology. It is important that colleges, especially Bible Colleges that specialize in producing communicators, be able to expose students to the present and future in processing/managing information. As technology advances, this becomes more and more of a challenge from the standpoint of both cost and logistics. OCC is overdue to both upgrade and integrate our information systems between departments and with our students. EAST LAND ACQUISITION In order to insure the long-term future productivity of the college, the acquisition of more developable land is a necessity. This land (approximately 85 acres) exists and abuts the college on the east boundary of the existing campus. We have a generous partner who is praying and working with us to secure this land. Presently, there is no movement toward the realization of this need. We covet the prayers of our supportive friends and churches to see this come together in the near future. ADDRESSING GIVING PATTERNS OF CHURCHES/INDIVIDUALS In recent years giving patterns have changed, causing contributions to Christian Colleges and church leadership training centers, like OCC, to flatten out or decline. Recently one church transferred their total support of the college ($300/month) to one of their Timothy s going to the mission field. That young man is a recent graduate of Ozark. Another of our best supporting churches for many years suspended their regular monthly support of the college in order to transfer the money to the several OCC students from their church in the form of financial grants. Still another church has supported the college faithfully, but has not updated their support for over a decade, resulting in what has become a gradual cut in support over the years. New church planting has become a front burner concern. I understand... it is with this college and me as well. However, what will we do to find the new church planters without classic Bible Colleges to supply them? Unreached people groups are a focus in many mission programs. But, what if there are no new missionaries to heed the call and go to open these fields? Benevolence has captured the attention of the nation s churches in the wake of 9/11 and the tsunamis/hurricanes. Generous offerings have been received in churches from coast to coast to provide relief and reconstruction funding. I have participated in such efforts and offerings. The college has sent money and people to assist. However, if there is a subtle shift toward benevolence and away from producing evangelistic leaders to make the Word of God fully known in the years ahead, what will we gain? 4 The need for a balanced missionary program in the local church and the need to provide Christian leadership as a foundation for global evangelism cannot be overstated. Jesus made it the frontline of His strategy for establishing and expanding the witness of the church. He taught and trained the twelve first. Together, we must do the same in this generation. Thank you for believing in us and for demonstrating that confidence in your prayers and financial partnership.

5 A VERY GOOD YEAR The school year was A Very Good Year for Ozark Christian College. There were major accomplishments in several areas around campus as highlighted in the list below: OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION 1 Largest Graduating Class in OCC history 142 Graduates 159 Degrees/Certificates 2 Second Highest Enrollment 841 KEN IDLEMAN PRESIDENT MATT PROCTOR PRESIDENT-ELECT 3 Professor Matt Proctor Announced as President-Elect 4 The Mabee Student Center Opens 5 Dining Hall Expansion Phase II Proceeds GREG HAFER EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT MARK SCOTT ACADEMIC DEAN 6 Requirements for New Degree Finished Bachelor of Christian Ministry 7 Dr. Bob Arnce Selected for Trustee Board DAVID McMILLIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS OPERATIONS TROY NELSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS 8 New School Logo Introduced 9 Students Vote for New Mascot Icon MONTE SHOEMAKE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT MARK WILLIAMS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE RELATIONS 10 Ozark World Changers Fund Gets Underway Students/Faculty Travel to the Mission Field during the summer 12 Building Leaders Changing Lives Campaign Continued BOARD OF TRUSTEES DR. BOB ARNCE Joplin, Missouri B. A. AUSTIN Springfield, Missouri DR. ORVILLE BRILL Pittsburg, Kansas DAVID BYCROFT Tyro, Kansas PAUL CROSBY Tulsa, Oklahoma CHARLES GREER Joplin, Missouri BEN KILLION Nowata, Oklahoma GLEN LISTON Houston, Texas DOUG OAKES Lamar, Missouri TOM RICKEY Chickasha, Okalahoma JOE SIMMONS Bixby, Oklahoma DON STEEN Eldon, Missouri DALE STORMS Joplin, Missouri CHAIRMAN CLIFFORD WERT Webb City, Missouri 5

6 OZARK ADVOCATE $5,000-9,999 per year (July 1 June 30) Bible Christian Church Garden City, KS Broadway Christian Church Mesa, AZ Cedar Ridge Christian Church.... Broken Arrow, OK Christ s Church of Oronogo Oronogo, MO Christ s Church of the Valley Peoria, AZ College Heights Christian Church Joplin, MO Countryside Christian Church Nixa, MO Crossroads Christian Church..... Grand Prairie, TX First Christian Church Carthage, MO First Christian Church Derby, KS First Christian Church Grove, OK First Christian Church Hugoton, KS First Christian Church Lamar, MO First Christian Church Owasso, OK First Christian Church Unionville, MO First Christian Church Washington, MO Forest Hill Christian Church..... Oklahoma City, OK Forum Blvd Christian Church Columbia, MO Glendale Christian Church Springfield, MO Hillside Christian Church Nowata, OK Northside Christian Church Clovis, CA Riverlawn Christian Church Wichita, KS Shepherd of the Hills Church..... Porter Ranch, CA Sunnybrook Christian Church Stillwater, OK Valley View Christian Church Dallas, TX Western Hills Christian Church Lawton, OK Westridge Christian Church Raytown, MO York Street Christian Church Muskogee, OK OZARK ANGEL $10,000-19,999 per year (July 1 June 30) CHURCH PARTNERS HELPING TO BRIDGE THE GAP Since Ozark World Changers was launched this past year, thirty-five churches have qualified during the fiscal year for the top three levels of partnership Ozark Ambassador, Ozark Angel or Ozark Advocate. Many other church partners who gave up to $4,999 have qualified as an Ozark Associate. Ozark World Changers is the new name of the general or undesignated fund that underwrites the education of every student at Ozark Christian College. Gifts to Ozark World Changers bridge the gap between other income and the actual cost of an OCC education. For fiscal year (July 1st - June 30th) that amount is $2,000 per student. The amount needed during the fiscal year to Bridge the Gap is $1,698,000. Many more churches need to come on board this year for us to meet our goal. Thanks to all who have helped or will be helping Ozark students receive a quality Christian education. OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2005 Operational Income $ 9,717,734 Operational Expenses ,431,855 Net Operational Income ,879 Equipment and Capital Expenses (paid by operational income) ,832 Net Increase from Operations $ 91,047 NOTE An independent audit is performed annually and is available upon receipt of a written request. GENERAL FUND INCOME TUITION & FEES 50.9% AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES 23.3% REGULAR GIFTS 21.1% MISCELLANEOUS 4.0% WORK STUDY 0.3% SERVICE CHARGES 0.4% Bella Vista Christian Church Bella Vista, AR First Christian Church Dodge City, KS Ninth Street Christian Church Eldon, MO 6 Paramount Terrace Christian Church... Amarillo, TX Real Life Christian Church Santa Clarita, CA OZARK AMBASSADOR $20,000 per year (July 1 June 30) Central Christian Church Saint Joseph, MO Chapel Rock Christian Church..... Indianapolis, IN GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES INSTRUCTION 27.6% STUDENT & GENERAL ACTIVITIES 19.5% AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES 18.9% MAINTENANCE 11.7% ADMINISTRATION 9.1% RESOURCE ENTERPRISES 4.9% ENROLLMENT GROWTH 5.8% PLANT FACILITIES 2.0% MAIL CENTER 0.5%

7 DOUG ALDRIDGE HERMENEUTICS, APOLOGETICS KENNY BOLES GREEK, DR. TERRY BOWLAND, MINISTRY DR. BRIAN BRUBAKER, MINISTRY PETER BUCKLAND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION, FAMILY MINISTRY TERRY CHANEY CHURCH HISTORY, CHRIS DeWELT DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS, JAY ENGELBRECHT ENGLISH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION DAVID FISH DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC COMPUTING LAB, OLD TESTAMENT, LANGUAGE MARY ALICE GARDNER DEAF COMMUNICATIONS DOUG GIBSON YOUTH MINISTRY GERALD GRIFFIN SPEECH, MINISTRY, OLD & SCOTT HANDLEY DIRECTOR OF MUSIC DEPARTMENT CHRIS LAHM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, COACH LINDA LAWSON CHRISTIAN EDUCATION, WOMEN S AND CHILDREN S MINISTRY DR. TOM LAWSON WORSHIP, OLD & TIM LIMKEMAN DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY SERVICES TIM MAHN MUSIC DR. DOUG MARKS DIRECTOR OF LEARNING CENTER, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION LAURIE McDANIEL MISSIONARY-ON-CAMPUS (FALL) JENNIFER McMILLIN REGISTRAR MARK MOORE, HERMENEUTICS KEVIN MORROW OLD TESTAMENT, ARCHAEOLOGY, WORLD GEOGRAPHY CINDY NORTH MUSIC SHERRY PARROTT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION, CHILD CARE EDUCATION DR. LARRY PECHAWER OLD TESTAMENT, HEBREW MATT PROCTOR PREACHING, CHAD RAGSDALE, HERMENEUTICS MARSHA RELYEA MISSIONARY-ON-CAMPUS (SPRING) JEFF ROBERTSON APOLOGETICS, MARK SLONEKER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY SERVICES, CHURCH HISTORY DAVID SMITH CHURCH PLANTING, MINISTRY DAMIEN SPIKEREIT PREACHING, MATT STAFFORD WORSHIP, CAMPUS MINISTRY, FRONTLINE DIRECTOR JACKINA STARK ENGLISH DOUG WELCH DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE AND INTERNSHIPS, PREACHING WOODY WILKINSON PHILOSOPHY, OLD AND STAN WOHLENHAUS OLD TESTAMENT, MISSIONS OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE FULL-TIME FACULTY 7

8 MISSION The immediate mission is to train men and women for Christian service through an undergraduate Bible college education. The ultimate mission is to glorify God by seeking the evangelization of the lost and edification of Christians worldwide. ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Four and five year degrees are offered along with associate degrees, certificates, TESOL Certification and distance learning courses. ACCREDITATION OCC is accredited, along with nearly 100 other Christian colleges and universities across the United States, by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). CAMPUS OCC s beautiful campus is located at 1111 North Main Street in Joplin, Missouri and includes sixteen buildings on ninety-five acres. LEADERSHIP Stable leadership has been a hallmark of OCC throughout its history. The college has had only two Presidents in the last 54 years and only four Academic Deans in 64 years. ATHLETICS OCC offers intercollegiate sports programs for men (soccer and basketball) and women (volleyball and basketball). It is a member of the National Christian College Association of Athletics (NCCAA). Ozark holds four national championships. HISTORY Ozark Bible College began in 1942 in Bentonville, Arkansas, and relocated to Joplin, Missouri, in Consolidating with Midwest Christian College in 1985, Ozark Bible College became Ozark Christian College. FINANCIAL STABILITY The school is committed to fiscal responsibility operating with the budget set by the Board of Trustees. An independent audit is conducted annually and OCC is a member in good standing with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.