Greetings from Bryan College.

What an exciting start to Bryan’s 76^th academic year! Record enrollment, homecoming just around the corner, and an outstanding line-up of speakers all tell us this is going to be a great year.

We hope you will plan to be with us for the “Defining Worldview” seminar presented by the Bryan Center for Critical Thought and Practice Sept. 25-27, and for Homecoming Sept. 30 – Oct. 2.

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School opens with record enrollment

The largest incoming class in more than 20 years, and the fifth-largest ever, helped boost Bryan’s enrollment to a record 775 this fall, college records show.

Among the new students are 183 freshmen, an increase of 50 from the 133 freshmen who entered in 2004.

Bryan President Dr. Stephen D. Livesay said, “I believe it is very significant that we are beginning our second 75 years with a strong statement of both record enrollment and one of our sharpest student bodies both academically and spiritually. The freshman class has an average ACT of over 24 with an average high school gpa of 3.6. They come from 36 states and 3 foreign countries.”

Convocation on Aug. 24, featured an address by Michael Cromartie, chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and vice president at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. He challenged the Bryan community to recognize that everything we do should be done as to the Lord, and that there are no insignificant people or vocations in His sight.

The Rev. Dean Ropp, ’81, used his talks during the Spiritual Life Conference to reminder that we should use our brief – in the light of eternity – lives for the Glory of God.

Worldview seminar, homecoming coming soon

“Defining Worldview” and the 75^th anniversary Homecoming celebration are the next big events on the Bryan schedule for this fall.

While “worldview” has become a signature concept for Bryan College, the “Defining Worldview” seminar, sponsored by the Bryan Center for Critical Thought and Practice Sept. 25-27, will attempt to dig a little deeper into the idea.

Center Director Dr. Charles Van Eaton said five speakers, including Nancy Pearcey, Dr. James Olthuis, Dr. David Noebel, Dr. David Naugel, and Bryan’s own Dr. Paul Boling, will explore various aspects of the topic.

“What is ‘True Truth,’ not just in the realm of faith but in all things? Facing this issue is the aim of this seminar. Several perspectives, not all in agreement, will be offered and debated. We invite you to be with us and join in the discussion,” he said.

For information about the seminar, call 423-775-7201 at the college.

Homecoming Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, will offer alumni a chance to reconnect with each other and with their alma mater.

Alumni Coordinator Warren Cole said the weekend is packed with activities, ranging from an alumni golf tournament to class reunions to a worship service on Sunday, with a message from Dr. John Oliver, professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, N.C.

A highlight of the weekend will be the dedication of a life-sized statue of a young William Jennings Bryan on Oct. 1. The statue, a gift from the college to the community, will be located on the Rhea County Courthouse lawn. Festivities planned include remarks by sculptor Cessna Decosimo as well as college and community leaders.

For more information about Homecoming, contact the Alumni office at 423-775-7323.

Students volunteer for hurricane relief

More than 90 Bryan students plan to spend their fall break in October in hurricane-ravaged Mississippi doing something to help a community recover.

Practical Christian Involvement Director Dr. Travis Ricketts grinned when he explained that that is about all he knows right now.

“David Beisner (a sophomore from Pembroke Pines, Fla.) is working on finding a location, and he’s been in contact with a number of churches, but we don’t have anything finalized yet,” Dr. Ricketts said. “Making contact is difficult since so many communities don’t have phone service.

“We know we want to go and that we want to help, but we just don’t know any details yet.” He said the team could be doing repairs to a building, clean-up, or even providing a Bible school for children to give parents some free time. “We probably won’t know until we get there.”

Student response to the trip idea “just exploded,” he said. Even though the team will have to carry its own food and water, and will plan to sleep in tents, “this has outgrown me,” Dr. Ricketts said. “The Lord took it and just exploded it.” Even students who can’t go have expressed support by volunteering funds for the project.

Washington gathering

Some 20 Bryan alumni gathered for dessert and fellowship in Washington, D.C., early in September, a program organized by Alumni Coordinator Warren Cole.

“We all had a great time, the cheesecake was great, and the company was better,” Warren said. Bryan alumni from different decades mingled, and some classmates found out they were living in the D.C. area without realizing it. "It was fun watching people tell stories and laugh about the good ole days."

Warren said the 20 alumni who attended represent about a third of the alums in the area. One friend of the college who didn’t make it was Congressman Zach Wamp, who represents the district that includes Bryan College in the House of Representatives. Rep. Wamp said he had planned to be there and wants to come to another alumni gathering in the area.