Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, England, Germany, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Switzerland, and Wales: I have had the privilege of traveling to and serving in each of these marvellous countries. You will find great diversity of language, culture, topography, politics, economy, natural resources, ecology, currency, and food between them. There was one thing each of them held in common. Each has a healthy representation of Andrews University (AU) alumni.

How could such a small, midwestern institution have such varied representation around the world? Very simply—it’s God’s school. I attended the Adventist Theological Seminary in 1973–74 under strange circumstances. My conference administration wanted me to meet the General Conference policy for those entering Adventist ministry. I was instructed, “We are not concerned with how much you learn, just don’t let them take away anything you already have.” It seems there was a gross misunderstanding of the AU mission and purpose. You see, it’s God’s school.

Many of my friends shared discouraging tales of racial bigotry at AU that even infected the faculty. Some of these stories seemed credible to me because of a very negative personal experience I had with the AU forerunner, Emmanuel Missionary College. But my mother reminded me, “It’s God’s school.”

I didn’t do very well in Greek. It wasn’t Dr. Leona Running’s fault. She was an excellent instructor. Looking back, I think that I simply missed my wife Jackie. I studied at Andrews all week, then commuted the 300 miles to Germantown, Ohio, on weekends to pastor my church, do visits, hold board or business meetings, share time with my little family, and return to classes on Monday. One of my conference’s stipulations was that I couldn’t bring my family with me.

The encounters with professors LaRondelle, Hasel, Maxwell, Wittschiebe, Dederen, and Blinco were inspiring and challenging. They were God’s men in God’s school, and I will never forget the blessing that each brought to me.

Maybe the real test of one’s belief in an institution comes in later life. I am pleased to have enrolled my third son and only daughter at AU. Harold has gone on to become a clinical psychologist in Philadelphia. Lisa earned the master of science degree in physical therapy at AU and is now director of therapies for a nursing home chain for the states of Ohio and West Virginia. We should expect no less than excellence and success for those who matriculate through God’s school.