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Lewis Schoettle

Major Biblical Studies
Lewis with his wife, Charlotte,
whom he met at Bryan

Class
1958

Favorite Professor
Kermit Zopfi


Favorite Memory
The social life at Bryan.  There were ample friendly students.

Bryan College was a very different place when Lewis Schoettle arrived on campus in January of 1955. Lewis was only one week out of his tour with the Air Force when he first encountered what he described as the “friendly, homey environment” at Bryan. At that time the college had only about 250 students and a much smaller campus. Lewis had been introduced to the school through a friend who highly recommended that he attend. Before Lewis joined the military he had attended both Moody Bible Institute and the University of Florida. However, after being led to the Lord while in service, Lewis decided to complete his degree at Bryan.

Upon arriving at Bryan, Lewis immediately was taken with the atmosphere of the school. He said, “The personal attention I got from both professors and students was great.” Having to make the transition from the military to a small Christian school was not easy, but the community at Bryan made it easier. Lewis said, “They all helped me adjust.” For him, the experience could be summed up as “a very good family situation.”

When Lewis recalled the education he received at Bryan, he said he appreciated the investment the professors made in the students’ lives. “The instructors gave me the extra effort you needed to succeed.” One instructor in particular left a lasting impact on Lewis. Professor Kermit Zopfi stands out in his mind as one who went above and beyond to encourage students. Lewis said, “He invested in a lot of folks.”

At Bryan he met Charlotte Wilde, and they were married during his senior year. Charlotte not only changed his life by agreeing to be his wife, she also had a strong influence in his decision to enter the education field. During his senior year, Charlotte was teaching in Dayton. One day, being too sick to teach, she convinced Lewis to substitute for her. All it took was one day for Lewis to realize his desire to teach as well.

That first day was the start of a 32-year career as an educator. Lewis began by teaching elementary school, but soon decided to pursue his doctorate at the University of Denver. He began his studies there, but was interrupted by an advertisement his wife had stumbled upon. The advertisement brought to their attention a need for teachers on Quadraline Island in the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific. Together they decided to pack up and move. He said, “It was a wonderful time!” They lived there for two years, during which time they had the opportunity to travel extensively. Upon returning to North America, Lewis finished his degree at South Eastern Nova University in Florida. Throughout his career he served in several different positions, eventually filling the role of principal at many schools throughout Miami.

Lewis and Charlotte have one daughter, Grace, who also attended Bryan College. Following in her parents’ footsteps, she met her husband at Bryan. That tradition was also carried on by Lewis and Charlotte’s granddaughter, Tori Whistoff Rodgers, who graduated in 2010. Needless to say, Bryan has provided fertile soil for Lewis Schoettle’s family tree!

In addition to his career as an educator, for more than 30 years Lewis has also been publishing Christian books. He said this interest is “all because of Bryan. Bryan was an awesome beginning. It gave me spiritual roots.” It was these spiritual roots, as well as influential chapel speaker A. E. Wilson, that gave Lewis the passion to publish theological books. His company, which can be found at www.schoettlepublishing.com, has now published 100 titles.

Examples of some of the Schoettle Publishing Company titles.

When Lewis thinks back to his time at Bryan, he has many fond memories. He said, “Bryan gave me a marvelous education in theological areas.” Even though he did not directly use his degree in Biblical studies in his vocation, he found the lessons he learned ultimately priceless. “After vocation comes avocation, and Bryan gave me my avocation,” he said. Not only did Bryan College lead him to his wife Charlotte, it also fully prepared him to succeed as an educator and to funnel his passion for theology into his publishing company.