Overcoming to you tonight
00:00:26.27\00:00:27.81
from the beautiful
campus of Oakwood University
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and we've been doing a special
"Anchors of Truth" series here.
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And we just are
really privileged
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to have this
opportunity to visit
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with some of the leaders here
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at the university
including the president,
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we're gonna speak
to in just a movement.
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And we're just really having
a good time. Aren't we, C.A.?
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It has been really grand.
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We had a wonderful meeting
on last night Dr. Carlton Byrd,
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pastor of this
church and the speaker
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for Breath of Life,
just a marvelous message,
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a great choir.
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We've got good choirs
every night and on Sabbath.
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We're gonna talk a
little bit about that.
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But it's good to be home.
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This is the school
from which I graduated
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some years ago, yeah.
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And we're always
excited to come back to Oakwood.
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Yes, we are.
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And by the way we've
had such a tremendous
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response to the free offer
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that we gave last
weekend--last week,
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last Thursday
night that we are going
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to repeat it
again by popular demand.
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Greg Marconi at the call center
tells us that this has been
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the most requested
document in a long time.
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And--so it's called
Keep About Your Work.
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And we're gonna
read some of it to you.
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It says "The Lord has
given to every man His work.
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It is His business to do it.
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And it's the devil's business
to hinder him if he can.
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So surely as God has
given you a work to do,
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Satan will try to hinder you.
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He may present other
things more promising.
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He may allure you
by worldly prospects.
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He may assault you with slander,
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torment you with
false accusations,
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set you to work
defending your character,
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employ pious
persons to lie about you,
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and excellent
men to slander you.
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You may have Pilate and Herod,
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Ananias and Caiaphas
all combined against you,
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and Judas standing by to sell
you for 30 pieces of silver.
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And you may wonder why all
those things have come upon you.
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Can you not see
that the whole thing
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is brought about
through the craft of the devil,
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to draw you off from your work
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and hinder your
obedience to God?"
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Now this is a tremendous thing.
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You may want to frame it
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and this is
suitable for framing.
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By the way, some people
who got them already this week,
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their friends
would see them and say,
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"Wow, I had no idea that
that was gonna be so nice.
00:03:02.11\00:03:04.79
I want one myself."
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And so they've called
and you can still call
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and we'll still
send them to you.
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It's absolutely free.
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It's our gift to
you and we do want
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to send it as one--
what is our phone number?
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618-627-4651. 618-627-4651.
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Or you can email us freeoffer
one word, freeoffer@3abn.org.
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And we'll get this
right in the mail to you.
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And if this takes a day
or too longer than usual,
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forgive us because this has been
just an incredibly popular item.
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We've talked to the
people at our call center
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and they are saying that this
has been one of the best items
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that has been requested in
many, many, many even years.
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So if it takes a
little bit longer,
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hold on, it's coming.
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But this has been
very, very popular.
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All right, well, listen,
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why don't you
introduce our guest tonight?
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Our guest is the
president of this fine school
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and I don't know how long
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or when I even first
met Dr. Leslie Pollard.
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Sometimes you
meet people you think
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to always have known them.
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But just 2 years, 3 years?
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May be. May be so.
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Yeah, yeah, that he has
come to this institution
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and has done a marvelous
job with a breath of fresh air,
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came in with ideas with vision.
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A consecrated
person, a powerful preacher.
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We've had him at 3ABN
and he's been well received.
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And just a nice
guy. We like nice guys.
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We like ability and
humility and he's got them both.
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Yes. He is a doctor.
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I was reading something,
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a theological
treatise sometime ago.
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And got to the
end of the reading
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and I saw by Dr. Leslie Pollard.
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I didn't know
he's such a scholar.
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But he wears many hats
and God has blessed him.
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He's with us tonight.
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We're gonna talk a
little about the school,
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little bit about his
history, and some of the burdens
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on his heart for this
very fine institution.
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Les, good to have you here, man.
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Thank you. It's my
pleasure to be here. Yeah.
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And welcome to
Oakwood University.
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Thank you, thank
you so very much.
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You're a graduate of
Oakwood yourself, aren't you?
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Yes, I did. I did.
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I graduated from
Oakwood in the 19...Yeah.
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I graduated in
19-- Back in the 1900s.
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Yeah, in the 1900s,
back in the 20th century.
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Yeah.
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But I graduated in
1978 actually. Okay.
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From Oakwood University
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and had some wonderful
teachers while I was here.
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E.E. Cleveland, Benjamin Reeves.
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All those people
were here. Calvin Rock.
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They were all our teachers.
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Yeah, yeah. I was just a
year or 2 ahead of him. Okay.
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But I came, yeah. All right.
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Yes, we'll hold
on to that story.
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You came here to
graduate in what degrees?
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I did a degree in
theology and history.
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And the minor I was working on,
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but I didn't have
the-- I ran out of money.
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I didn't have
the money to finish
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the internship part
with secondary education.
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Because I was always interested
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in how people learn
even as a young fellow.
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Now when you left
here, did you pastor some?
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Yes, I did. I did.
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As a matter of fact I left here,
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went to the Southern
California Conference
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under Dr. William DeShay.
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Dr. William DeShay was our
mentor and he hired me there.
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Elder Harold Calkins was
the president long time ago
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but those were
powerhouses in their day.
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And I went out to
Southern California
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worked out there as a pastor,
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then transferred over
to Southeastern Conference
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about 3 years
later-- after going
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to seminary about 3 years later.
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And then I worked
in the college campus.
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That's where the bug bit.
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I became an associate chaplain
at La Sierra University.
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And from there
went on to do schooling
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and some schooling and finished
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some degrees and that's that.
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Now where did
you meet your wife?
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I met my wife here at
Oakwood. Is that right?
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Here at Oakwood University.
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Right over and, well,
you're new to the campus
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but over in a place
called Peterson Hall,
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right on the campus. Oh, yeah.
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I went into worship one night.
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You know, the old
preachers used to say
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the best place to
meet a wife is in worship.
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Oh, yeah. So and there she was.
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She was standing
and she was reciting
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a poem called God's Trombones,
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the creation by
James Weldon Johnson. Well.
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And she was
doing it from memory,
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so it was so impressive
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and that's when
she caught my eye.
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I was a freshman
and she was a freshman.
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Okay. You have a
family, children?
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Yes, we were married after that.
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We're married for 33 years
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and we have two
daughters Kristin and Karin.
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Kristin is an
attorney. All right.
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Who is now
working with NASA. Okay.
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And doing very well.
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She would get, you
know, she's enjoying her work.
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She loves doing that.
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And my older daughter--
my younger daughter Karin
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is a fourth
year pharmacy student
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at Loma Linda
University, all right.
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So she's wrapping
that up and getting ready
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to get out and pay
her own bills, yeah.
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And that's always good
news for a parent. Oh, yeah.
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Get out and pay your own bills.
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Yeah. Now when you--
what is your doctorate?
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Okay. I actually
did two doctorates.
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I did one in
Preaching and Worship
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and then I did one in
New Testament Language
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and Literature with an emphasis
on the Book of Revelation.
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That's what I preached at 3ABN.
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I'd preached by
Revelation. Right.
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So that was why because,
man, that book is amazing.
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Oh, yes, it is. Yes, it
is. The book is amazing.
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When I met you some
years ago when I was working
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for the division on the
Loma Linda health study video,
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you were at Loma
Linda at that time?
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Yes, I was. I worked at
Loma Linda for 14 years.
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Yeah, Loma Linda is a fine--is--
was and is a fine institution.
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Yes. And doing a tremendous
amount for the church.
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Now what were your
responsibilities there?
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Okay, I was vice president
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for Community
Partnerships, Diversity.
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So I had the whole
Diversity education piece.
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Cultural competency education
what they call in healthcare
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and then I was
executive leader--
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director for
leadership development.
00:08:32.76\00:08:35.16
So within my
leadership development program,
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I had about 60 chairs
and training for leadership.
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How to be more
effective as a leader.
00:08:46.24\00:08:48.38
That was a lot of
fun. Yeah, yeah. A lot of--
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I love it, oh, my goodness,
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time to work, but lot of
fun because all of us are trying
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to get better in what we do
00:08:54.55\00:08:56.38
and I always say to people
that leadership is a journey.
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It's not a destination.
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And the goal is to get
better as we go along. Yes. Yes.
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And that never stops. So
it's a lifetime of learning.
00:09:03.73\00:09:06.74
God bless, I remember
when Jim was called to 3ABN,
00:09:06.77\00:09:10.92
he thought he was sort of gonna
put his foot up rocking chair
00:09:10.95\00:09:13.21
and kind of take it
easy till he got there
00:09:13.24\00:09:15.94
and realized that it
ain't necessarily so. No, no.
00:09:15.97\00:09:18.50
You were working
hard at Loma Linda
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and then you got the
call to come to Oakwood, yes.
00:09:20.83\00:09:23.74
Coming from the west coast
to the south--The east coast.
00:09:23.77\00:09:26.48
Yeah, the east
coast and the south.
00:09:26.51\00:09:27.88
Was that a major change?
00:09:27.91\00:09:29.28
Was that something you had to
really think about, pray about?
00:09:29.31\00:09:30.87
No, because first of all
I was born in New Orleans
00:09:30.90\00:09:33.34
and raised in the South.
00:09:33.37\00:09:34.74
Okay. So that's a big advantage.
00:09:34.77\00:09:36.24
Secondly, this would've
been my third tour to Oakwood.
00:09:36.27\00:09:39.65
Because I first came
as a student in the 70s
00:09:39.68\00:09:42.86
then I came back in the
90s to pastor this church.
00:09:42.89\00:09:45.78
I did that for 3
years and then went back
00:09:45.81\00:09:48.64
to the west coast
and worked on Loma Linda.
00:09:48.67\00:09:50.49
So this was
actually my third trip
00:09:50.52\00:09:52.86
and it wasn't a difficult
learning curve in the sense
00:09:52.89\00:09:55.34
that the culture I
was already familiar with.
00:09:55.37\00:09:57.75
I was already
familiar with the culture
00:09:57.78\00:09:59.15
and many of the people
who were just wonderful
00:09:59.18\00:10:01.30
and warm and
accepting and all those things.
00:10:01.33\00:10:03.47
So but--if your question
is do the different regions
00:10:03.50\00:10:07.65
of the country
operate differently? Yes.
00:10:07.68\00:10:10.22
Absolutely. Yes.
00:10:10.25\00:10:11.62
Yes, that was like hugely,
hugely different. Yeah, yeah.
00:10:11.65\00:10:14.10
Last week, we
talked with Dr. Beets]
00:10:14.13\00:10:15.75
and he pastored at Southern
then became president, yes.
00:10:15.78\00:10:19.73
And of course--two different
mantles, two different hats,
00:10:19.76\00:10:22.20
two different
areas of responsibility.
00:10:22.23\00:10:24.22
So now you've got a
whole different kind of
00:10:24.25\00:10:27.40
a thing you're
dealing with, yes, absolutely.
00:10:27.43\00:10:29.16
Yeah. Tell us about
some of the challenges.
00:10:29.19\00:10:32.23
Jim and I were talking
about some of the challenges
00:10:32.26\00:10:34.42
that attend a major
school in the south,
00:10:34.45\00:10:38.52
talk to us a little bit about
00:10:38.55\00:10:39.92
the kinds of
kids you're getting,
00:10:39.95\00:10:41.32
what you're
seeing on the campus,
00:10:41.35\00:10:42.72
what you're trying to do.
00:10:42.75\00:10:44.12
Okay, we've got a
lot of information
00:10:44.15\00:10:45.52
about our students first of all.
00:10:45.55\00:10:46.92
We just conducted a
major spiritual life study
00:10:46.95\00:10:49.52
on our students
called Life Core in which 852
00:10:49.55\00:10:53.54
of our students completed
a 52 item questionnaire
00:10:53.57\00:10:56.54
about their spiritual life
00:10:56.57\00:10:58.11
and what that
actually means to them.
00:10:58.14\00:11:00.20
And what we did with
our study on Life Core
00:11:00.23\00:11:02.75
was to really
reference it against
00:11:02.78\00:11:04.46
Seventh-day Adventist standards.
00:11:04.49\00:11:05.86
It's easy to--I think
it's easy to do a study
00:11:05.89\00:11:08.83
that's kind about
generic spirituality.
00:11:08.86\00:11:10.89
But we wanted to
know how they feel
00:11:10.92\00:11:12.29
about the actual Seventh-day
Adventist mission and message.
00:11:12.32\00:11:16.38
So that has given us
00:11:16.41\00:11:17.78
a lot of
information, lot of information.
00:11:17.81\00:11:20.29
First of all some of
the biggest challenges,
00:11:20.32\00:11:22.35
some of the things we discovered
00:11:22.38\00:11:23.75
that have come
out of that study.
00:11:23.78\00:11:26.28
Number one, that
many of our students
00:11:26.31\00:11:29.08
are amazingly committed
and dedicated to the church.
00:11:29.11\00:11:32.23
Praise God.
00:11:32.26\00:11:33.63
And for that we're grateful.
00:11:33.66\00:11:35.45
If you look at the Barna study,
00:11:35.48\00:11:36.85
I'll just give you a few stats.
00:11:36.88\00:11:38.25
Look at the Barna study.
00:11:38.28\00:11:39.65
When Barna studied in
2003, Americans who were--
00:11:39.68\00:11:44.34
said that they were born again
00:11:44.37\00:11:46.22
and when he asked them
about a biblical world view,
00:11:46.25\00:11:48.91
which means the Bible
holds absolute truths,
00:11:48.94\00:11:51.57
is a Guide for
life, all of those things
00:11:51.60\00:11:53.38
that we just
accept of the adults
00:11:53.41\00:11:55.59
who were born again
who said they believe
00:11:55.62\00:11:57.08
that the Bible actually
contains absolute truths
00:11:57.11\00:11:59.77
that are non-negotiable,
00:11:59.80\00:12:01.17
only 9% of
Americans said yes, well.
00:12:01.20\00:12:04.09
And teenagers who said they were
born again, only 2% said yes.
00:12:04.12\00:12:08.99
We took that question
and put it on our survey
00:12:09.02\00:12:12.36
and we asked our young people
that question, 95% said yes.
00:12:12.39\00:12:15.54
Praise God.
00:12:15.57\00:12:16.94
They believe that the
Bible is the word of God.
00:12:16.97\00:12:18.76
Now that's a shocking difference
00:12:18.79\00:12:21.55
from the general
population, huge difference.
00:12:21.58\00:12:23.49
Because somehow
America has gotten itself
00:12:23.52\00:12:26.32
to a point where
they say I believe in God
00:12:26.35\00:12:28.67
I don't believe in
His word. That's right.
00:12:28.70\00:12:30.31
Yeah, God is personal to me
00:12:30.34\00:12:32.76
but His word means
nothing to me, that's right.
00:12:32.79\00:12:34.32
So there's a dissidence there,
00:12:34.35\00:12:35.74
Jim, it's just there's
something wrong. That's right.
00:12:35.77\00:12:37.88
So to have our young people
say at the 95 percentile level,
00:12:37.91\00:12:42.37
we believe in God,
we also take His word.
00:12:42.40\00:12:45.13
That's powerful
and is affirming.
00:12:45.16\00:12:46.53
Amen, and we've got the
data to substantiate it,
00:12:46.56\00:12:48.99
a statistically validated
study of our young people.
00:12:49.02\00:12:52.64
So when people say boy,
00:12:52.67\00:12:54.23
the church is
lost in young people.
00:12:54.26\00:12:55.92
I say have you looked
at any of the data lately
00:12:55.95\00:12:58.78
'cause we've got a treasure
called young people, all right.
00:12:58.81\00:13:02.34
You know, the
creation, evolution question
00:13:02.37\00:13:06.82
has been big on many campuses
even Adventist campuses.
00:13:06.85\00:13:12.40
What has been the approach here
00:13:12.43\00:13:14.74
and have you had any
challenges in that area
00:13:14.77\00:13:17.86
from your staff
from students et cetera.
00:13:17.89\00:13:21.41
No, not at--frankly
not at all and it's not
00:13:21.44\00:13:24.32
because people are not
thinking about it, right.
00:13:24.35\00:13:25.81
See sometimes
when people believe,
00:13:25.84\00:13:27.89
some like to characterize
it as not being thoughtful.
00:13:27.92\00:13:30.75
But in fact many of
our people have thought
00:13:30.78\00:13:33.89
through these issues and
are very fluent on these issues.
00:13:33.92\00:13:36.05
I mean, we've got a board member
00:13:36.08\00:13:37.80
who is very fluent on the
issue and is yet a believer.
00:13:37.83\00:13:41.78
So part of what we see
here that's consistent when--
00:13:41.81\00:13:45.92
and it seemed
consistent when people say
00:13:45.95\00:13:47.62
they actually believe that
the Bible is a word of God,
00:13:47.65\00:13:50.87
then the creation
narrative Genesis 1 and 2
00:13:50.90\00:13:53.66
simply becomes an out flowing
in expression of their faith.
00:13:53.69\00:13:56.92
And, yes, we do
believe and, yes, we recognize.
00:13:56.95\00:14:00.43
Now what I've said
to people on campus
00:14:00.46\00:14:01.89
is this in a biology department.
00:14:01.92\00:14:04.76
If you don't
educate young people
00:14:04.79\00:14:06.79
and teach them about evolution
00:14:06.82\00:14:09.52
and why people believe that,
00:14:09.55\00:14:11.11
then you're not
educating them, yes.
00:14:11.14\00:14:13.23
Because we
could've left them at home
00:14:13.26\00:14:14.63
and given them a
Bible study, yeah.
00:14:14.66\00:14:16.49
Right, right.
They're biology majors.
00:14:16.52\00:14:18.63
They're gonna go
into graduate programs.
00:14:18.66\00:14:20.38
They need to be
fluent but you also need
00:14:20.41\00:14:22.88
to make sure
that they are steeply
00:14:22.91\00:14:25.01
and deeply versed in
all the creation science
00:14:25.04\00:14:28.05
that supports
Genesis 1 and 2, amen.
00:14:28.08\00:14:30.80
So that when they
get to a place like,
00:14:30.83\00:14:33.39
well, a major university,
they can defend themselves
00:14:33.42\00:14:36.96
and not get swept
away by the reasoning
00:14:36.99\00:14:39.54
of very
sophisticated minds who believe
00:14:39.57\00:14:42.26
that what we believe is actually
mythology or fable, yes.
00:14:42.29\00:14:45.32
So part of the
way we've done it,
00:14:45.35\00:14:47.06
Jim, is we've said do not,
00:14:47.09\00:14:49.37
not educate young
people expose them.
00:14:49.40\00:14:53.37
But exposure is
not advocacy. No.
00:14:53.40\00:14:55.99
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
And there's a line there.
00:14:56.02\00:14:58.67
And I want them to be exposed.
00:14:58.70\00:15:00.26
They need to be exposed.
00:15:00.29\00:15:01.66
That's what it means
to be an educated person.
00:15:01.69\00:15:03.85
But on the other hand make sure
00:15:03.88\00:15:05.62
that they understand
that there's this whole body
00:15:05.65\00:15:07.75
of creation
science that will support
00:15:07.78\00:15:11.17
what they believe
and then they can go out
00:15:11.20\00:15:12.94
and they can have conversations
in other institutions
00:15:12.97\00:15:16.19
and represent the
church, give--in other words,
00:15:16.22\00:15:18.18
be able to give a reason
for the hope and the faith.
00:15:18.21\00:15:22.28
Great. I want to just--because
you've really intrigued me
00:15:22.31\00:15:25.23
with this questionnaire that
you gave to the young people.
00:15:25.26\00:15:27.85
Who wrote the questions?
00:15:27.88\00:15:29.25
Where were they drawn from?
00:15:29.28\00:15:30.65
Okay. It was a
very deliberate process.
00:15:30.68\00:15:33.19
I'm happy, you
asked me about my wife
00:15:33.22\00:15:34.79
so I'll tell you a
little bit about her.
00:15:34.82\00:15:36.19
I married a
wonderful young woman from here
00:15:36.22\00:15:39.04
and she has a
Ph.D. in evaluation,
00:15:39.07\00:15:41.62
measurement,
and research design.
00:15:41.65\00:15:43.65
So what we did was when
we came on campus we said,
00:15:43.68\00:15:46.44
the way we're gonna plan
the spiritual life program
00:15:46.47\00:15:49.02
is we're gonna
have some evidence,
00:15:49.05\00:15:51.16
some data that we can now
begin to target our initiatives
00:15:51.19\00:15:54.97
so that our planning is
not simply impressionistic
00:15:55.00\00:15:57.82
but we're looking at
some targets here, okay.
00:15:57.85\00:16:00.95
So she did a
series of interviews
00:16:00.98\00:16:04.16
to build a questionnaire,
asked different people
00:16:04.19\00:16:06.18
in student services,
students, faculty staff,
00:16:06.21\00:16:10.03
what is it that you want to know
00:16:10.06\00:16:11.46
about the spiritual
life of our students?
00:16:11.49\00:16:13.63
And once you get
all of that information
00:16:13.66\00:16:15.58
now you can begin
to build the questions.
00:16:15.61\00:16:17.45
So give you good example.
00:16:17.48\00:16:19.11
Marshall Kelly
saying, we love Marshall Kelly
00:16:19.14\00:16:21.44
who is one of our chaplains.
00:16:21.47\00:16:22.84
He was talking with me.
00:16:22.87\00:16:24.24
He said prudence, be
sure to find out how--
00:16:24.27\00:16:27.47
what do our young people believe
about the Ten Commandments.
00:16:27.50\00:16:31.09
Now, that's an
Adventist question.
00:16:31.12\00:16:32.71
Yeah. Yes, yes, yes.
00:16:32.74\00:16:34.11
We put that in
the questionnaire.
00:16:34.14\00:16:35.51
I believe that
they are, you know,
00:16:35.54\00:16:36.91
Ten Commandments
are standards for life.
00:16:36.94\00:16:38.93
I believe that
they're, you know, binding,
00:16:38.96\00:16:42.15
that they are not mandatory,
whatever range of options.
00:16:42.18\00:16:46.18
And those kinds
of questions came out
00:16:46.21\00:16:48.52
of the
conversations of the community
00:16:48.55\00:16:50.82
because what we wanted to know
00:16:50.85\00:16:53.18
was how does
Seventh-day Adventist
00:16:53.21\00:16:55.11
spirituality look
within our student body.
00:16:55.14\00:16:57.93
It's easy to say do
you believe in Jesus.
00:16:57.96\00:17:00.65
I believe in Jesus,
will always believe in Jesus.
00:17:00.68\00:17:03.87
Adventism has a unique frame
00:17:03.90\00:17:07.52
in which Jesus
rests and is presented.
00:17:07.55\00:17:10.05
How do they feel
not only about Jesus
00:17:10.08\00:17:12.17
but about that frame and
that's what we were doing.
00:17:12.20\00:17:15.19
Wow, powerful.
00:17:15.22\00:17:16.61
There are so many
things popping on my mind.
00:17:16.64\00:17:18.02
One, how long was it--how
many questions were there?
00:17:18.05\00:17:21.01
Fifty two questions.
00:17:21.04\00:17:22.41
Fifty two questions? Yeah.
00:17:22.44\00:17:23.81
All right, are there
any others that pop out
00:17:23.84\00:17:25.60
in your mind that
would sort of sell in,
00:17:25.63\00:17:27.00
that sort of really gave you
some direction as to how to--
00:17:27.03\00:17:29.21
Yeah, absolutely.
00:17:29.24\00:17:30.61
For instance, one of the
things we asked the students
00:17:30.64\00:17:32.86
what of all the camp-- all
the services that take place
00:17:32.89\00:17:36.48
on the university
campus, which service is the one
00:17:36.51\00:17:39.51
that means the most to you?
00:17:39.54\00:17:41.68
I'll give you two
or three examples.
00:17:41.71\00:17:43.18
And the student said,
"A.Y. on Friday night."
00:17:43.21\00:17:47.60
Now you get to see
this on Friday night,
00:17:47.63\00:17:49.50
'cause on any
Friday night in A.Y.,
00:17:49.53\00:17:51.24
you have 1800 students in here.
00:17:51.27\00:17:53.64
At--you know what
is dead in some places,
00:17:53.67\00:17:56.10
A.Y., you have
1800 students in here.
00:17:56.13\00:17:58.95
And you to get to
meet the A.Y. leader.
00:17:58.98\00:18:00.42
He'll be on the
broadcast on Friday evening
00:18:00.45\00:18:03.15
for the Battle is the
Lord, Anchors of Truth.
00:18:03.18\00:18:05.39
Now that's what they were asked.
00:18:05.42\00:18:07.53
Then when we
asked how meaningful
00:18:07.56\00:18:10.65
is your personal worship?
00:18:10.68\00:18:12.88
Only 39% said
it's very meaningful.
00:18:12.91\00:18:15.75
So now here's what we got.
00:18:15.78\00:18:17.37
We've got 73, three
quarters of the student body
00:18:17.40\00:18:20.36
says the public worship
in A.Y. is most meaningful
00:18:20.39\00:18:25.92
but my personal worship in not.
00:18:25.95\00:18:27.32
So what happens, the
office of spiritual life now
00:18:27.35\00:18:30.44
as we start the
school year a big emphasis
00:18:30.47\00:18:33.12
on Bible study
and personal worship
00:18:33.15\00:18:35.51
that grows out of the data
because we want personal worship
00:18:35.54\00:18:39.57
to be as meaningful
as public worship, yeah.
00:18:39.60\00:18:42.26
'Cause you and I all of
us have lived a little bit.
00:18:42.29\00:18:45.16
You know what's gonna anchor us
00:18:45.19\00:18:46.56
is what we've done with
God often, that's right.
00:18:46.59\00:18:48.58
In our quiet place. Yeah.
00:18:48.61\00:18:49.98
So that's a good example.
00:18:50.01\00:18:51.38
Here's another
example, another example
00:18:51.41\00:18:54.50
of something that we
learned as we were studying.
00:18:54.53\00:18:57.48
When we asked
students which classes
00:18:57.51\00:19:01.54
are the most meaningful
to you in the curriculum?
00:19:01.57\00:19:04.32
Now the question
we're really getting at
00:19:04.35\00:19:06.13
the faith integration question.
00:19:06.16\00:19:08.63
The students said in
overwhelming numbers 80, 90%,
00:19:08.66\00:19:13.10
the classes where
faculty members integrate
00:19:13.13\00:19:16.34
the content of
Seventh-day Adventist faith
00:19:16.37\00:19:18.77
into the teaching of the class.
00:19:18.80\00:19:20.66
That's what the
students said. Wow.
00:19:20.69\00:19:22.64
So yes, so now we can
go back to the teachers,
00:19:22.67\00:19:25.36
Jim and Glenn, we can
go back to the teachers now
00:19:25.39\00:19:28.54
and we can say would you like
00:19:28.57\00:19:30.33
to be highly valued
as a faculty member?
00:19:30.36\00:19:33.88
Would you like
to get good evals?
00:19:33.91\00:19:35.79
Here is--the
students are telling you
00:19:35.82\00:19:37.79
that what they want to hear
00:19:37.82\00:19:39.92
is how this
relates to their faith.
00:19:39.95\00:19:42.50
And if you think about
it, it is all consistent. Yes.
00:19:42.53\00:19:44.79
The Bible is the word of God.
00:19:44.82\00:19:47.05
Public worship is very
meaningful or Ten Commandments.
00:19:47.08\00:19:52.48
So young people come here
00:19:52.51\00:19:54.35
because they're
deeply committed to the faith
00:19:54.38\00:19:56.75
and they don't want
classes where the teachers
00:19:56.78\00:19:59.18
don't integrate that
into the course content.
00:19:59.21\00:20:03.01
The teachers who
didn't integrate it,
00:20:03.04\00:20:04.65
they say, those
classes were the least
00:20:04.68\00:20:06.22
meaningful to them. Well.
00:20:06.25\00:20:07.62
If they're not really
involved with the faith,
00:20:07.65\00:20:11.62
they won't come to
Oakwood. They wouldn't come.
00:20:11.65\00:20:14.75
Or any other
Adventist university
00:20:14.78\00:20:16.89
because they can go
to a public university,
00:20:16.92\00:20:19.77
a whole lot cheaper,
whole lot more convenient.
00:20:19.80\00:20:22.64
It'd be at home for most of them
00:20:22.67\00:20:24.39
and they'd find a place there.
00:20:24.42\00:20:26.41
But when they come here,
00:20:26.44\00:20:29.60
they do so, it
costs a little more money
00:20:29.63\00:20:31.82
than public
education does and they come
00:20:31.85\00:20:33.65
because they are
committed in most cases.
00:20:33.68\00:20:36.80
Now there are some who come
00:20:36.83\00:20:38.47
because they were
packed up in the car
00:20:38.50\00:20:40.63
and brought here by
parents who said, "You will go."
00:20:40.66\00:20:43.63
You do get still some of those.
00:20:43.66\00:20:45.82
But this is to me
extremely encouraging
00:20:45.85\00:20:50.30
to hear this kind of response
from the students. Yeah.
00:20:50.33\00:20:55.51
I mean... It's amazing.
00:20:55.54\00:20:57.71
The questions
weren't loaded so that
00:20:57.74\00:20:59.89
they would come up with
this type of a response.
00:20:59.92\00:21:02.73
No, not at all. No.
00:21:02.76\00:21:04.13
We wanted to honestly know
00:21:04.16\00:21:06.55
because if we
were missing something,
00:21:06.58\00:21:08.30
we need to know that, yeah.
00:21:08.33\00:21:09.70
So that we can better
attune what we were doing
00:21:09.73\00:21:12.54
in terms of the
delivery of what education
00:21:12.57\00:21:15.77
should be in the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:21:15.80\00:21:17.21
What are some of the
real difficult challenges
00:21:17.24\00:21:20.53
that you are facing right now?
00:21:20.56\00:21:21.93
Okay. A perennial challenge
is for many of our students
00:21:21.96\00:21:25.92
are first generation
college students in some cases.
00:21:25.95\00:21:28.96
So the actual
funding, as you know,
00:21:28.99\00:21:31.59
Seventh-day Adventist
education is private education.
00:21:31.62\00:21:34.56
And many students could go
to other institutions for free
00:21:34.59\00:21:38.13
or certainly for
a smaller percentage
00:21:38.16\00:21:40.50
of what we, we charge.
00:21:40.53\00:21:42.53
So one of the challenges
is always having scholarships
00:21:42.56\00:21:45.95
available to help our students
00:21:45.98\00:21:47.37
matriculate
through the institution.
00:21:47.40\00:21:49.26
So scholarship
support for students
00:21:49.29\00:21:52.06
and these are not
students who are wasting money,
00:21:52.09\00:21:54.01
I mean, I just
heard a story of a student
00:21:54.04\00:21:56.36
who was living off
campus to keep their cost down
00:21:56.39\00:21:59.65
and that the student mentioned
to our student services VP
00:21:59.68\00:22:02.55
that they weren't,
they weren't eating
00:22:02.58\00:22:03.95
'cause they just
didn't have the money.
00:22:03.98\00:22:06.15
So we have
those kinds of things.
00:22:06.18\00:22:07.56
We have these marvelously
dedicated young people
00:22:07.59\00:22:10.43
who simply need some assistance
00:22:10.46\00:22:12.51
in matriculating
through the institution.
00:22:12.54\00:22:14.39
What I say to them is always,
00:22:14.42\00:22:16.64
"What I'd like you to do though
00:22:16.67\00:22:18.04
is just remember
that someone helped you.
00:22:18.07\00:22:20.66
Now when you go
forward and you make it,
00:22:20.69\00:22:22.90
reach back and
help someone else."
00:22:22.93\00:22:25.46
So student
scholarships is always
00:22:25.49\00:22:27.13
an ongoing, ongoing issue. Well.
00:22:27.16\00:22:28.96
So it appears though
despite the hand wringing
00:22:28.99\00:22:31.21
that you're getting
a pretty high caliber
00:22:31.24\00:22:33.61
committed level of
student coming to Oakwood.
00:22:33.64\00:22:37.43
That's what our
data tells us. Yeah.
00:22:37.46\00:22:38.90
Our data tells us all the time
00:22:38.93\00:22:40.45
that these are some of
the most dedicated students.
00:22:40.48\00:22:42.39
Now part of the
reason, the other thing
00:22:42.42\00:22:44.86
I've learned from this now--
00:22:44.89\00:22:46.26
the other thing
I've learnt from this
00:22:46.29\00:22:47.66
and has been a
good learning for me
00:22:47.69\00:22:49.68
is that we can't judge
them by the style of worship.
00:22:49.71\00:22:54.09
I know that's a
kind of sensitive issue
00:22:54.12\00:22:57.48
but if you listen
to what they tell us
00:22:57.51\00:23:00.41
about the faith you say wow.
00:23:00.44\00:23:04.44
And then I do
something once a week called
00:23:04.47\00:23:06.60
"Walk Up
Wednesday" with our students
00:23:06.63\00:23:08.24
since we're focusing
on students right now.
00:23:08.27\00:23:10.41
I do something
called Walk Up Wednesday.
00:23:10.44\00:23:11.81
I have other things that
I do with faculty and staff
00:23:11.84\00:23:13.97
but with students
Walk Up Wednesday.
00:23:14.00\00:23:15.54
So any student can come,
00:23:15.57\00:23:16.94
they can talk to
me about anything.
00:23:16.97\00:23:18.34
They set the agenda and
you get to hear their stories.
00:23:18.37\00:23:20.82
And some of the stories you say,
00:23:20.85\00:23:22.26
"Wow, I don't even
know if I could've survived
00:23:22.29\00:23:25.18
if I had experienced
what that child experienced
00:23:25.21\00:23:28.29
and yet God is good.
00:23:28.32\00:23:29.69
God's grace has
brought them to this point."
00:23:29.72\00:23:31.57
And one of the
things that we see is that
00:23:31.60\00:23:33.30
as we listen to them
talk about their stories,
00:23:33.33\00:23:37.09
all they want is
for the church to be
00:23:37.12\00:23:39.38
what God has called it to be.
00:23:39.41\00:23:41.71
And they're looking for
people who love the church
00:23:41.74\00:23:44.06
and who can point
them in the right direction
00:23:44.09\00:23:47.00
so that they can walk in it.
00:23:47.03\00:23:48.40
And we are
blessed like--as our--
00:23:48.43\00:23:50.99
many of the
other college campuses,
00:23:51.02\00:23:53.73
we are blessed with
a wonderful treasure
00:23:53.76\00:23:57.34
called the Seventh-day
Adventist young person
00:23:57.37\00:23:59.58
who wants to be
educated for God to go out.
00:23:59.61\00:24:01.83
And our motto, as you know,
00:24:01.86\00:24:03.23
enter to learn depart to serve.
00:24:03.26\00:24:06.51
That's what they want to do.
00:24:06.54\00:24:07.91
Powerful, powerful, powerful.
00:24:07.94\00:24:09.31
Talk to us a little bit
about Seventh-day--you know,
00:24:09.34\00:24:11.23
we've talked about the spiritual
life of those students.
00:24:11.26\00:24:14.63
Obviously you got
some economic challenges
00:24:14.66\00:24:16.55
that some of the
campuses may not have, yeah.
00:24:16.58\00:24:19.08
Talk to us a little bit
about those kind of challenges
00:24:19.11\00:24:20.53
as you're a regular part
of, you face it everyday.
00:24:20.56\00:24:22.55
Yeah, everyday, of course.
00:24:22.58\00:24:24.06
You know, working within
the African-American community
00:24:24.09\00:24:26.92
--we have some people
who've done very, very well.
00:24:26.95\00:24:28.93
We have other people who
are financially challenged.
00:24:28.96\00:24:31.73
Historically
for those, you know,
00:24:31.76\00:24:33.52
I used to teach a class
on church life in America.
00:24:33.55\00:24:36.30
And we look at all
the different churches
00:24:36.33\00:24:37.78
and how the churches
relate to immigrant groups
00:24:37.81\00:24:39.61
and when they
come in to the country
00:24:39.64\00:24:41.01
at turn of the
century et cetera.
00:24:41.04\00:24:42.64
So when you look
at, when you look at
00:24:42.67\00:24:45.59
what the black church has
been, it's always been a place
00:24:45.62\00:24:48.69
where the ground
was kind of level,
00:24:48.72\00:24:50.36
where the
professional, the Ph.D.
00:24:50.39\00:24:52.58
and the janitor
would all gather together
00:24:52.61\00:24:54.67
and worship and be one family.
00:24:54.70\00:24:56.81
One of the
tremendous economic challenges
00:24:56.84\00:24:58.76
we have is growing
our basic philanthropy.
00:24:58.79\00:25:01.00
There are some buildings
that we want to put up.
00:25:01.03\00:25:03.21
We've got an award
winning singing group
00:25:03.24\00:25:05.86
called the Aeolians who
just this past summer entered
00:25:05.89\00:25:09.32
into the World
Olympics for Choirs in July
00:25:09.35\00:25:14.08
and won gold medals in three
categories, their first entry.
00:25:14.11\00:25:17.67
One was in popular music,
00:25:17.70\00:25:19.19
one was in the
music of religions
00:25:19.22\00:25:20.84
and the other was in the
Negro spiritual category.
00:25:20.87\00:25:23.05
That's amazing. It is.
00:25:23.08\00:25:24.78
One of our dreams
is to build for them
00:25:24.81\00:25:27.56
a performing art
center 'cause music
00:25:27.59\00:25:29.17
is such a ministry
here as you will see
00:25:29.20\00:25:30.87
across the Anchors
of Truth series, yeah.
00:25:30.90\00:25:32.88
I mean, last night there
were what 100 young people
00:25:32.91\00:25:34.63
singing with us? Oh, yes.
00:25:34.66\00:25:36.03
You know, we got
about four choirs like that?
00:25:36.06\00:25:37.43
What kind of group is that?
00:25:37.46\00:25:38.83
We got about four
or five, you know?
00:25:38.86\00:25:40.23
That's just
a... That's a--group.
00:25:40.26\00:25:42.66
That's one of our famous groups.
00:25:42.69\00:25:44.06
It's called
Dynamic Praise. Yeah.
00:25:44.09\00:25:47.23
And you had what
about 100 of them? Oh, yeah.
00:25:47.26\00:25:48.98
We've got another one
called Voices of Triumph
00:25:49.01\00:25:50.74
that you're gonna hear.
That's about another 100.
00:25:50.77\00:25:53.33
You're gonna hear
the Aeolians on Sabbath.
00:25:53.36\00:25:55.69
And then that's not even all
of the smaller groups the 25,
00:25:55.72\00:25:58.70
the 30 member groups, right.
00:25:58.73\00:26:00.31
So--one of the
gifts that God has given
00:26:00.34\00:26:03.80
to Oakwood is the gift of music.
00:26:03.83\00:26:05.38
For whatever reason,
God has given that gift.
00:26:05.41\00:26:07.55
He gives every
institution something.
00:26:07.58\00:26:09.27
One of His gifts to us
is the gift of music. Yeah.
00:26:09.30\00:26:11.64
So to build out that
building, to build out--
00:26:11.67\00:26:14.44
And that historically
goes back to its beginning.
00:26:14.47\00:26:17.17
Oh, that goes back.
00:26:17.20\00:26:18.57
Because I remember
when I was a young man,
00:26:18.60\00:26:20.29
a choir from Oakwood, pardon me,
00:26:20.32\00:26:22.50
a quartet from Oakwood of
which there were some fellows
00:26:22.53\00:26:26.86
who I got to know a
little later on coming
00:26:26.89\00:26:29.86
through East Texas where I
was growing up in Tyler, Texas
00:26:29.89\00:26:33.44
and doing a concert
one night in our church.
00:26:33.47\00:26:37.14
And it was at that
time I really developed
00:26:37.17\00:26:39.78
a love for spirituals. Yes, yes.
00:26:39.81\00:26:42.20
And I got a hold of their album
00:26:42.23\00:26:44.77
and I learned every song that
they sang on that album. Well.
00:26:44.80\00:26:49.18
So that later on when
I-- with HMS Richards Junior
00:26:49.21\00:26:52.17
and some others I was
able to sing all those songs
00:26:52.20\00:26:55.40
that we get together at camp
meetings so forth and so on.
00:26:55.43\00:26:57.46
Do you remember the name of it?
Was it the Cathedral Quartet?
00:26:57.49\00:26:59.39
Absolutely.
Cathedral. That was Ben Reaves.
00:26:59.42\00:27:01.70
Ben Reaves was in it?
00:27:01.73\00:27:03.10
That was that group. Ben
Reaves, William Scale...Yes.
00:27:03.13\00:27:05.38
Uh, probably Wayne, Shepherd.
00:27:05.41\00:27:08.42
Wayne was in it?
00:27:08.45\00:27:09.89
Yeah. I forgot the
name. Edcombe, Edgecombe--
00:27:09.92\00:27:12.16
Yes, Jason
Edgecombe, that's right.
00:27:12.19\00:27:13.68
Yeah, yeah. That's right.
00:27:13.71\00:27:15.08
Yeah. And there
are many, many groups.
00:27:15.11\00:27:16.48
I mean Marshall Kelly has
sung in that group. Oh, yeah.
00:27:16.51\00:27:18.36
Now he used to sing
with out of Cleveland.
00:27:18.39\00:27:20.14
But music in--and
what you're pointing to Jim
00:27:20.17\00:27:23.26
is the idea that music is
one of the tremendous gifts
00:27:23.29\00:27:26.90
through this institution.
00:27:26.93\00:27:28.30
We want to cultivate that
00:27:28.33\00:27:29.70
and to make it
more widely known.
00:27:29.73\00:27:31.69
Ellen White talks
about music as a ministry
00:27:31.72\00:27:33.93
and right now we
got a wonderful group
00:27:33.96\00:27:35.59
the Aeolians are just
doing-- they were ranked
00:27:35.62\00:27:38.54
as one of the number one
choirs in the world, wow.
00:27:38.57\00:27:40.84
Just last week the
rankings were announced.
00:27:40.87\00:27:42.82
Well, we're gonna the director
here in just a little bit.
00:27:42.85\00:27:44.70
We'll talk about
that a little bit
00:27:44.73\00:27:46.10
to Jason Ferdinand, nice guy.
00:27:46.13\00:27:47.50
I got a chance to meet
with him and talk with him.
00:27:47.53\00:27:49.04
a little bit. He's
a wonderful person.
00:27:49.07\00:27:50.44
I know he's doing a
really fine job with that group.
00:27:50.47\00:27:53.33
So you've got
that gift and it's--
00:27:53.36\00:27:55.98
and when I was in four groups
00:27:56.01\00:27:57.49
and I had my own quartet.
00:27:57.52\00:27:59.19
Mostly male
choirs back in the day
00:27:59.22\00:28:00.84
and other forms of pinnacle
with the Cleveland Wilson guys.
00:28:00.87\00:28:03.80
So if you have
any musical ability,
00:28:03.83\00:28:05.82
it will come out
here, yes, absolutely.
00:28:05.85\00:28:07.36
And if you can't sing
at Oakwood, don't sing.
00:28:07.39\00:28:09.44
Yeah, right.
Yeah, don't try to sing.
00:28:09.47\00:28:11.62
It is not the
place to try to sing.
00:28:11.65\00:28:13.37
No, don't try it here.
00:28:13.40\00:28:15.22
You know, you
have another group--
00:28:15.25\00:28:16.62
But buildings. We want
to build buildings. Okay.
00:28:16.65\00:28:18.24
There are some
buildings that we need.
00:28:18.27\00:28:19.64
We've got an aging
infrastructure at some places.
00:28:19.67\00:28:22.29
So we think a
health and wellness center
00:28:22.32\00:28:25.10
could be a tremendous
gift to this community.
00:28:25.13\00:28:28.36
To have something
that state of the art.
00:28:28.39\00:28:29.76
Right now we're
still using Ashby.
00:28:29.79\00:28:31.16
Remember, old Ashby Auditorium,
the old gym. Oh, yes.
00:28:31.19\00:28:33.66
We used to worship there before
we had this beautiful church.
00:28:33.69\00:28:37.49
But those are some
of the biggest needs,
00:28:37.52\00:28:39.64
scholarships, some
of the infrastructure
00:28:39.67\00:28:41.54
needs of the institution.
00:28:41.57\00:28:42.94
So we're looking for partners.
00:28:42.97\00:28:44.34
We're looking for partners. Yes.
00:28:44.37\00:28:45.74
Now we've become
very well acquainted
00:28:45.77\00:28:47.14
with the group called NAPS. Yes.
00:28:47.17\00:28:49.42
And they are
students from here...
00:28:49.45\00:28:51.43
Yes, they are, who go out
00:28:51.46\00:28:52.91
and tell us a little
bit about the NAPS group
00:28:52.94\00:28:54.85
and their
interaction with the university.
00:28:54.88\00:28:57.78
Okay, yeah, the NAPS
group is an independent ministry
00:28:57.81\00:29:00.11
that has grown up on the campus
00:29:00.14\00:29:01.51
and they go out
and they do many,
00:29:01.54\00:29:02.91
many mission activities. Okay.
00:29:02.94\00:29:04.95
And one of the
things that they do
00:29:04.98\00:29:07.16
is they say that
their mission is to deliver
00:29:07.19\00:29:11.11
what do you call it to deliver,
00:29:11.14\00:29:13.02
hand deliver care
and to prevent starvation
00:29:13.05\00:29:16.61
and those kinds of things.
00:29:16.64\00:29:18.01
Right. First time I
saw them was on 9/11,
00:29:18.04\00:29:20.78
right after 9/11,
a day or two later.
00:29:20.81\00:29:25.87
And I looked it
on television live
00:29:25.90\00:29:28.71
and here're these young people
00:29:28.74\00:29:30.60
going down the street
there and they were singing.
00:29:30.63\00:29:34.18
And the minute I saw
that they were from Oakwood,
00:29:34.21\00:29:39.81
we were still in
Washington DC at that time.
00:29:39.84\00:29:42.52
But my wife and
I broke into tears
00:29:42.55\00:29:44.85
because they would
immediately head for New York
00:29:44.88\00:29:50.01
and be there to
help and to encourage
00:29:50.04\00:29:53.21
and to just hug people.
00:29:53.24\00:29:54.86
They were
sometimes just hugging people
00:29:54.89\00:29:57.08
and people needed hugs.
00:29:57.11\00:29:59.52
You know, we forget
what happened in 9/11.
00:29:59.55\00:30:02.10
How traumatic it
was. It's unbelievable.
00:30:02.13\00:30:04.26
And actually how the
nation came together.
00:30:04.29\00:30:07.28
Yes, we came
together as a people
00:30:07.31\00:30:10.21
and groups like
them encourage that.
00:30:10.24\00:30:14.08
Yeah, and when you think
about the Oakwood students
00:30:14.11\00:30:16.40
again is this level of
dedication, commitment.
00:30:16.43\00:30:19.42
And again, we have
the other group though
00:30:19.45\00:30:21.28
that we're working with,
I always say to teachers,
00:30:21.31\00:30:23.36
I say, "You know, Oakwood
exists for three purposes.
00:30:23.39\00:30:25.65
Number one, to
save the law student.
00:30:25.68\00:30:28.35
Number two, to
educate the saved student.
00:30:28.38\00:30:31.12
And number three, to
graduate the educated students."
00:30:31.15\00:30:34.26
That's what we're trying to do.
00:30:34.29\00:30:36.21
Praise the Lord,
And on any given day,
00:30:36.24\00:30:37.71
we're doing all
three of those things.
00:30:37.74\00:30:39.19
All three of those.
Saving the law student.
00:30:39.22\00:30:40.94
Yeah, educating
the saved student
00:30:40.97\00:30:42.55
and graduating
the educated student.
00:30:42.58\00:30:43.99
All right, and on any given day,
00:30:44.02\00:30:45.39
we're doing all three
of those things, yeah.
00:30:45.42\00:30:47.40
Les, when I was in
school, you were in school, too.
00:30:47.43\00:30:49.23
Oakwood College
was some 15, 20 miles
00:30:49.26\00:30:51.75
outside of the
limits of Huntsville.
00:30:51.78\00:30:53.87
In the intervening
years, Huntsville has come out
00:30:53.90\00:30:56.05
and surrounded you and
really gone beyond you.
00:30:56.08\00:30:58.28
Has that presented
any particular challenges
00:30:58.31\00:31:00.20
to the school or opportunities?
00:31:00.23\00:31:01.71
We welcome the--opportunities.
00:31:01.74\00:31:03.11
We welcome that.
Let me tell you why.
00:31:03.14\00:31:04.51
Not 300 feet from here,
we've got a housing project.
00:31:04.54\00:31:08.49
Not 300 feet from here.
00:31:08.52\00:31:10.90
And what we've done
is, we've adapted it.
00:31:10.93\00:31:12.61
Oh, praise the
Lord. We go into that,
00:31:12.64\00:31:14.46
we give Christmas
parties for little children.
00:31:14.49\00:31:16.39
We bring them to the campus.
00:31:16.42\00:31:17.79
As a matter of fact, we're
into planning season right now.
00:31:17.82\00:31:20.21
Some of our students went
on to the Huntsville community
00:31:20.24\00:31:23.08
when they did their USM Banquet.
00:31:23.11\00:31:24.79
They gave the banquet, USM,
United Student Movement Banquet,
00:31:24.82\00:31:28.49
a princess theme and in
walk these eight little girls
00:31:28.52\00:31:32.36
from the community,
they're not Adventist.
00:31:32.39\00:31:34.99
They bought them dresses,
you know, like Cinderella style.
00:31:35.02\00:31:38.48
Their families, the people
were so touched. It was amazing.
00:31:38.51\00:31:42.65
So what I'm saying is we cannot
afford to run from the city.
00:31:42.68\00:31:48.44
Oh, yes. Yes.
The cities are there.
00:31:48.47\00:31:50.80
People are in the
cities. God loves the cities.
00:31:50.83\00:31:53.37
He loves the
people in the cities.
00:31:53.40\00:31:55.72
And so I'm not one, now
this might break a little bit
00:31:55.75\00:31:58.93
with some of the
historic Adventist philosophy.
00:31:58.96\00:32:01.77
I understand maybe
there will be a time
00:32:01.80\00:32:04.25
where we need to
get out of the cities.
00:32:04.28\00:32:05.65
Okay, I get that.
But right now the people,
00:32:05.68\00:32:09.27
80% of the world's
population is in the cities.
00:32:09.30\00:32:12.36
Right, so we either
figure out how to get
00:32:12.39\00:32:14.62
to those persons with
the gospel of Jesus Christ
00:32:14.65\00:32:17.76
and how to love these cities.
00:32:17.79\00:32:19.16
And as He said in
the Book of Jeremiah,
00:32:19.19\00:32:21.28
"Seek the peace
of Babylon." Yes.
00:32:21.31\00:32:22.84
Because in Babylon's
peace you'll have peace.
00:32:22.87\00:32:25.07
You know, recently,
Danny Shelton and I talked
00:32:25.10\00:32:28.42
to some folks about, they
were starting a little college.
00:32:28.45\00:32:31.18
And they were
in our neighborhood
00:32:31.21\00:32:33.16
and we had some
criticism because we were
00:32:33.19\00:32:36.39
kind of encouraging their sports
program from the standpoint,
00:32:36.42\00:32:40.49
Danny knew their coach
and so forth and I think
00:32:40.52\00:32:44.44
they only have a dozen
students in this college.
00:32:44.47\00:32:46.78
It's just a barely
getting started thing.
00:32:46.81\00:32:48.68
But I began to think about this.
00:32:48.71\00:32:51.65
You know, there
was a time, I believe
00:32:51.68\00:32:54.76
wholeheartedly in
the spirit of prophecy--
00:32:54.79\00:32:57.46
Amen, I do, too. But we
cannot always look at things
00:32:57.49\00:33:01.41
and live with things
as they were in the 1800s.
00:33:01.44\00:33:04.23
Nowadays, you
know, we talked about
00:33:04.26\00:33:07.95
the dangers of
sports and so forth.
00:33:07.98\00:33:10.23
Nowadays, we hope we
can get kids into sports
00:33:10.26\00:33:14.24
and get them
away from videogames.
00:33:14.27\00:33:16.47
That's right. Get them active--
00:33:16.50\00:33:17.87
Because--active,
they're sitting.
00:33:17.90\00:33:19.40
They are doing nothing or
they're playing videogames
00:33:19.43\00:33:22.45
and involved with
things that are highly
00:33:22.48\00:33:25.16
detrimental to their minds.
00:33:25.19\00:33:28.15
If we can just get them
out and get them playing
00:33:28.18\00:33:30.24
some tennis or get
them playing some basketball
00:33:30.27\00:33:32.46
or get them throwing a football
around or doing anything.
00:33:32.49\00:33:35.15
And we're not
talking about professionally.
00:33:35.18\00:33:37.13
No, no, no. We're
talking about as just--
00:33:37.16\00:33:39.25
Activity.
Activity-- That's true.
00:33:39.28\00:33:41.35
And exercise. Then
it's a different world.
00:33:41.38\00:33:45.16
It's a world in which
at one point we were warned
00:33:45.19\00:33:48.45
not to buy bicycles now if we
can get somebody on a bicycle--
00:33:48.48\00:33:51.81
It's a wonderful
thing. It's a great victory.
00:33:51.84\00:33:53.75
It's a wonderful
thing, And so things do change
00:33:53.78\00:33:57.71
and if our
prophet was still here--
00:33:57.74\00:33:59.50
She'd say go to the cities.
00:33:59.53\00:34:00.96
Our prophet would say
change the things that change.
00:34:00.99\00:34:03.28
Go get these people. Exactly.
00:34:03.31\00:34:04.68
Go get these
people. Exactly. You know--
00:34:04.71\00:34:06.12
And our prophet always
encouraged the use of the mind.
00:34:06.15\00:34:08.86
She did. Use your judgment.
God has given you judgment.
00:34:08.89\00:34:12.43
He has. And so
you're dealing with a whole
00:34:12.46\00:34:15.18
different set of
problems as an educator
00:34:15.21\00:34:17.93
than educators did
a few years ago even.
00:34:17.96\00:34:20.87
Well, absolutely--well, you
think about our school, Jim,
00:34:20.90\00:34:22.62
I mean, 80% of our student
body comes from the cities.
00:34:22.65\00:34:27.55
Yeah. Chicago, New
York, Los Angeles, Dallas--
00:34:27.58\00:34:30.58
Right. 80% of our
students, Miami, you name it.
00:34:30.61\00:34:33.87
I tell, you know, I
tell some of my friends.
00:34:33.90\00:34:36.44
I said, "I love everybody."
00:34:36.47\00:34:37.84
You know, I taught
diversity for many years.
00:34:37.87\00:34:39.24
I love everybody.
I really, really do.
00:34:39.27\00:34:41.40
I want everybody to love me.
00:34:41.43\00:34:42.80
But let me tell
you urban ministry
00:34:42.83\00:34:45.19
is something
that-- that's all I know.
00:34:45.22\00:34:46.81
Yes, right. But
what I don't know
00:34:46.84\00:34:48.21
is probably Iowa
Ministry or something.
00:34:48.24\00:34:51.39
And even there're
cities even in Iowa.
00:34:51.42\00:34:52.88
I don't want to make
the people from Iowa mad.
00:34:52.91\00:34:54.42
No, no. But what I don't know--
00:34:54.45\00:34:57.30
but all I know, I
grew up in New Orleans.
00:34:57.33\00:35:00.56
Yes. All I know is
the life of the city.
00:35:00.59\00:35:02.66
Yes, right. One day I was out
00:35:02.69\00:35:05.38
over at Loma Linda, I
was talking to a person
00:35:05.41\00:35:06.91
who was working for me.
00:35:06.94\00:35:08.45
She was an older lady
just filling in the gap
00:35:08.48\00:35:10.49
because someone had left.
00:35:10.52\00:35:11.89
And I said to her,
"I've got to go down to LA."
00:35:11.92\00:35:14.61
And she said, "You're
going to Los Angeles?"
00:35:14.64\00:35:17.57
I said, "Yeah." Now she'd lived
in Loma Linda probably 40 years.
00:35:17.60\00:35:21.61
Oh, yeah. She said,
"I've never been to that city.
00:35:21.64\00:35:24.79
I haven't been
there in like 40 years."
00:35:24.82\00:35:27.65
I said, "Why?" She
said, "Isn't it dangerous?"
00:35:27.68\00:35:31.36
Yeah. I said, "Well, I
guess, it can be. It can be.
00:35:31.39\00:35:35.04
But, you know, you
got 8 million people
00:35:35.07\00:35:38.70
who live in Los--
somebody's got to go."
00:35:38.73\00:35:41.02
Right. "And minister to
them and along with that
00:35:41.05\00:35:44.18
you've got Christians,
Seventh-day Adventists
00:35:44.21\00:35:47.61
who live right in
the heart of Los Angeles
00:35:47.64\00:35:49.73
and they're doing
God's ministry." Right.
00:35:49.76\00:35:51.39
And we can't forget about them,
00:35:51.42\00:35:52.79
because we need to
equip and empower them.
00:35:52.82\00:35:54.82
Yeah, yeah.
Professor, I'm gonna give you
00:35:54.85\00:35:56.73
a chance to crow
just a little bit.
00:35:56.76\00:35:58.13
Put you on the
spot, because two things
00:35:58.16\00:36:01.30
since we've been here
this time, we have heard
00:36:01.33\00:36:04.08
that when nursing
students come out of here,
00:36:04.11\00:36:06.52
they are accepted
anywhere in the country.
00:36:06.55\00:36:08.88
And there are institutions
that look for nursing students,
00:36:08.91\00:36:13.44
because you're
trying out a good product.
00:36:13.47\00:36:15.32
And I also happen to
know, you were at Loma Linda
00:36:15.35\00:36:17.66
that when medical
students, premed students,
00:36:17.69\00:36:20.64
finish here, Loma
Linda is very ready, willing,
00:36:20.67\00:36:23.33
and able to take them because
the training base is so good.
00:36:23.36\00:36:26.27
You talk a little bit
about those kinds of things.
00:36:26.30\00:36:28.08
That's another gift
that God has planted
00:36:28.11\00:36:29.48
sort of on this
campus. Amen, amen. Yes.
00:36:29.51\00:36:30.88
'Cause I mentioned
music but the issue
00:36:30.91\00:36:32.28
of academic quality
is always a big issue.
00:36:32.31\00:36:34.41
Yes. And I'll
say just in summary,
00:36:34.44\00:36:35.97
we just had a visit from
our SACS accreditation group.
00:36:36.00\00:36:40.00
We talk about academic
quality so you said to share it,
00:36:40.03\00:36:43.91
so here it is, 99 standards--
00:36:43.94\00:36:46.57
they tested us
against 99 standards.
00:36:46.60\00:36:49.49
Now you try to make this real
to people so they'll understand
00:36:49.52\00:36:54.27
what it's like when they're
looking at your finances,
00:36:54.30\00:36:56.81
your academic
program, your credentialing,
00:36:56.84\00:36:59.03
the people who are teaching,
00:36:59.06\00:37:00.43
the
qualifications of your faculty.
00:37:00.46\00:37:02.20
They are looking
at your processes,
00:37:02.23\00:37:04.75
your academic
process and all of that.
00:37:04.78\00:37:06.34
99 standards,
Oakwood scored a 98.9.
00:37:06.37\00:37:13.29
We had one recommendation
against 99 standards.
00:37:13.32\00:37:16.55
That's a 98.9. Yes.
00:37:16.58\00:37:18.28
We give God the
glory. Praise God. Amen.
00:37:18.31\00:37:20.32
We give lot of hard
working people and God
00:37:20.35\00:37:22.71
is blessing the institution
in terms of academic quality.
00:37:22.74\00:37:25.24
In terms of this specific
question you just asked.
00:37:25.27\00:37:28.07
Our medical, our
biology and science departments
00:37:28.10\00:37:31.66
continue to be one of the
top ranked in the country.
00:37:31.69\00:37:33.79
We've got documents and all
that to kind of verify that.
00:37:33.82\00:37:36.21
So that when
students graduate from here,
00:37:36.24\00:37:38.38
they have a tremendously
solid base in the sciences
00:37:38.41\00:37:42.61
and are ready to use
that as a launching pad
00:37:42.64\00:37:44.55
for med schools, dental school.
00:37:44.58\00:37:46.41
I always mention
dentistry 'cause sometimes
00:37:46.44\00:37:48.26
we only think about medicine.
00:37:48.29\00:37:49.66
And I've spent many
years on the dental school
00:37:49.69\00:37:51.45
admissions
committee at Loma Linda.
00:37:51.48\00:37:53.25
So I always promised
him I'd say something
00:37:53.28\00:37:54.80
about dentistry,
nursing, pharmacy etcetera.
00:37:54.83\00:37:58.28
Our--last year,
our nursing students,
00:37:58.31\00:38:02.15
we had a 100% pass
rate on the national exams.
00:38:02.18\00:38:05.48
Wow. These young people
are working their tongues off.
00:38:05.51\00:38:09.11
They're working hard.
And they make you proud.
00:38:09.14\00:38:12.31
You say, "Wow, God
has so many young people
00:38:12.34\00:38:15.72
that He's blessing and
they're doing such great work."
00:38:15.75\00:38:17.95
So Oakwood is a blessed place
00:38:17.98\00:38:20.00
and we are very
grateful for the faculty.
00:38:20.03\00:38:22.70
I just finished
meeting with them.
00:38:22.73\00:38:24.10
That's why I
was little bit late.
00:38:24.13\00:38:25.50
I have a luncheon
that I do with the faculty
00:38:25.53\00:38:27.84
and I go through every
department across the year
00:38:27.87\00:38:30.38
and we get a chance to talking.
00:38:30.41\00:38:31.78
They can ask me whatever
questions they want to ask
00:38:31.81\00:38:33.74
'cause today a key in
leadership is transparency.
00:38:33.77\00:38:37.23
Oh, yes.
There's nothing to hide.
00:38:37.26\00:38:38.71
It's public institution,
all the records are public
00:38:38.74\00:38:41.50
and let's talk, and I
find when we do it that way,
00:38:41.53\00:38:46.39
it's easier to build
trust for mission sake
00:38:46.42\00:38:49.25
'cause what we want to
do is finish the mission.
00:38:49.28\00:38:50.96
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I
think--and Jim and I
00:38:50.99\00:38:52.93
were talking
about this last week.
00:38:52.96\00:38:54.33
It's important because
when our parent works two jobs
00:38:54.36\00:38:56.61
or sacrifices to put their
child in a school like Oakwood,
00:38:56.64\00:39:00.34
one, you want to know that
you're putting them in a place
00:39:00.37\00:39:02.50
where their
spirituality can be nurtured,
00:39:02.53\00:39:04.74
cultured, and grown, yes.
00:39:04.77\00:39:06.46
But two, and most important
when they come out of school,
00:39:06.49\00:39:09.06
they got to have a
skill that will allow them
00:39:09.09\00:39:11.87
to support themselves,
so if they come out praising
00:39:11.90\00:39:14.58
the Lord but can't
work, it's not gonna fly.
00:39:14.61\00:39:16.78
That's right. If they
come out with a lot of,
00:39:16.81\00:39:18.93
a lot of skills but have left
the faith that's not gonna fly.
00:39:18.96\00:39:22.23
So there's got to be
the integration of both.
00:39:22.26\00:39:24.34
And they've got to be
both very, very important.
00:39:24.37\00:39:25.92
I know that's
something you wrestle with
00:39:25.95\00:39:27.32
as part of your
lexicon every single day.
00:39:27.35\00:39:29.16
Every single day and
that's what we live for,
00:39:29.19\00:39:31.46
the purpose of a Seventh-day
Adventist Institution.
00:39:31.49\00:39:34.08
I tell people, the
purpose of a Seventh-day
00:39:34.11\00:39:37.15
Adventist Institution
is to transform lives.
00:39:37.18\00:39:39.87
That's what we're
about, what business are we in.
00:39:39.90\00:39:42.05
Yes, education is our platform,
00:39:42.08\00:39:44.09
but we are into
life transformation.
00:39:44.12\00:39:46.33
Amen, amen. That's what I
just told the teachers I left.
00:39:46.36\00:39:48.56
"You are ministers. I know
you have technical expertise.
00:39:48.59\00:39:51.84
You wouldn't have a Ph.D.
in mathematics, if you didn't."
00:39:51.87\00:39:53.99
Right. "Part of my
burden for you is also
00:39:54.02\00:39:56.93
that you are
using that platform."
00:39:56.96\00:39:59.33
I just told them that,
just before coming over here.
00:39:59.36\00:40:01.25
"As a ministry tool
to reach young lives
00:40:01.28\00:40:04.38
and to build relationships
that are gonna last
00:40:04.41\00:40:06.72
not just 4 years
but 40 years 'cause
00:40:06.75\00:40:09.85
guess what, they
come back to you.
00:40:09.88\00:40:11.67
When they have life crises,
00:40:11.70\00:40:13.15
they need advise,
they need council."
00:40:13.18\00:40:15.10
Yes. "They come
back, and they remember
00:40:15.13\00:40:17.04
how you treated them.
00:40:17.07\00:40:18.44
People may forget a
lot about what you say
00:40:18.47\00:40:20.13
but they will always remember
how you made them feel."
00:40:20.16\00:40:23.06
That's right.
Right? Exactly. Always.
00:40:23.09\00:40:24.91
Yes, yeah. Now
you've got to run.
00:40:24.94\00:40:27.70
We're coming down to the
end of your time with us.
00:40:27.73\00:40:29.66
There's a camera over there,
If you can look to that camera
00:40:29.69\00:40:31.83
and tell our viewing
audience how they can help you,
00:40:31.86\00:40:34.35
how they can
help Oakwood College.
00:40:34.38\00:40:35.81
What they can do to support
00:40:35.84\00:40:37.21
what you're trying
to do. Take a shot.
00:40:37.24\00:40:39.46
Okay, thank you. Certainly
what you can do to help
00:40:39.49\00:40:42.93
Oakwood University
is to go to our website
00:40:42.96\00:40:45.52
www.Oakwood.edu and there
you will find a donor button.
00:40:45.55\00:40:50.87
And if you'd like to
join us and be a partner
00:40:50.90\00:40:52.95
in this mission of
transforming lives,
00:40:52.98\00:40:55.35
we would certainly invite you.
00:40:55.38\00:40:56.93
And believe me
no sum is too small.
00:40:56.96\00:40:59.39
We acknowledge every
gift as we seek to help
00:40:59.42\00:41:02.19
our young people and your money
00:41:02.22\00:41:03.59
will be used to help
educate young people.
00:41:03.62\00:41:06.16
Some of whom face
shortfalls when they have--
00:41:06.19\00:41:08.86
when it's time to register.
00:41:08.89\00:41:10.48
Your dollars will
be used to help them
00:41:10.51\00:41:12.50
matriculate
through Oakwood University.
00:41:12.53\00:41:14.68
So we're driving and
you'll be able to see it.
00:41:14.71\00:41:16.83
There's a tab called the
president scholarship fund.
00:41:16.86\00:41:20.17
So if you would
help us, www.Oakwood.edu,
00:41:20.20\00:41:23.53
we will certainly welcome it and
God will certainly bless you.
00:41:23.56\00:41:27.17
So thank you
again for listening.
00:41:27.20\00:41:28.57
And I'm gonna
thank you in advance
00:41:28.60\00:41:29.97
for the help that you will give.
00:41:30.00\00:41:31.37
Amen. All right. Well, thank
you so much, Dr. Pollard for--
00:41:31.40\00:41:35.05
My pleasure. Being with us.
00:41:35.08\00:41:36.52
And we are certainly impressed
with Oakwood University
00:41:36.55\00:41:40.41
with your students,
with this beautiful campus.
00:41:40.44\00:41:44.69
This beautiful campus.
00:41:44.72\00:41:46.09
Very fine place and we
are very impressed with it.
00:41:46.12\00:41:49.00
May God bless
you. Thank you so much.
00:41:49.03\00:41:50.62
Thanks 3ABN and
welcome to Oakwood again.
00:41:50.65\00:41:52.34
All right, thanks
again. Thank you so much.
00:41:52.37\00:41:54.64
All the best. Our
free offer. Yeah. Yeah.
00:41:54.67\00:41:58.36
And I wanted to read
just another part of it here.
00:41:58.39\00:42:01.85
It says, "Keep about your work.
00:42:01.88\00:42:04.93
Do not flinch
because the lion roars.
00:42:04.96\00:42:08.66
Do not stop to
stone the devil's dogs.
00:42:08.69\00:42:12.41
Do not fool away your time
chasing the devil's rabbits."
00:42:12.44\00:42:18.18
And that's a part that,
this is by the way often
00:42:18.21\00:42:21.85
quoted by H.M.S.
Richards, although my copy
00:42:21.88\00:42:24.68
was given to me by E.E.Cleveland
right here on this campus.
00:42:24.71\00:42:28.19
But it says, "Do your work.
00:42:28.22\00:42:29.99
Let liars lie, let
sectarians quarrel,
00:42:30.02\00:42:33.46
let corporations
resolve, let editors publish,
00:42:33.49\00:42:37.18
let the devil do his worst.
00:42:37.21\00:42:40.41
But see to it that
nothing hinders you
00:42:40.44\00:42:44.28
from fulfilling the
work that God has given you."
00:42:44.31\00:42:48.75
And we want to send this to
you. "Keep about your work."
00:42:48.78\00:42:52.14
All you have to do is
call us at 618-627-4651
00:42:52.17\00:42:58.48
or the email address
is freeoffer@3abn.org.
00:42:58.51\00:43:04.22
So give us a call, give
us a ring on the internet,
00:43:04.25\00:43:09.77
however, and we'll
be happy to get this
00:43:09.80\00:43:12.63
in the mail to you just
as soon as we possibly can.
00:43:12.66\00:43:15.20
And again as we
mentioned in the first half,
00:43:15.23\00:43:18.51
this has been one of
our more popular offerings.
00:43:18.54\00:43:21.32
So if takes a little bit
longer, won't be very long.
00:43:21.35\00:43:23.94
But it will be in the mail.
We'll get it right out to you.
00:43:23.97\00:43:26.60
So if you have to wait a
day or two more, just hold on.
00:43:26.63\00:43:29.00
It's on the way,
but this has been very,
00:43:29.03\00:43:31.65
very positively
responded to you and it may take
00:43:31.68\00:43:34.33
just a little
bit longer than usual
00:43:34.36\00:43:35.96
but it's on the
way, we guarantee you.
00:43:35.99\00:43:37.59
And by the way most
people that asked for them
00:43:37.62\00:43:39.77
last week have
already received them.
00:43:39.80\00:43:41.46
So it won't be too
long. You just give us a call.
00:43:41.49\00:43:44.80
And we'll get them headed your
way just as soon as possible.
00:43:44.83\00:43:47.76
All right. While we
were going to our free offer
00:43:47.79\00:43:51.25
and talking about
that, we had the director
00:43:51.28\00:43:53.65
of the Aeolian flip in on us.
00:43:53.68\00:43:56.17
Good to have Dr. Ferdinand
come on in. Good to be here.
00:43:56.20\00:43:59.53
And we want to talk
to you just a little bit.
00:43:59.56\00:44:01.52
Tuck on in here a
little bit closer.
00:44:01.55\00:44:02.92
We wanna draw close to
you. Good to have you here.
00:44:02.95\00:44:06.45
Nice to be here.
00:44:06.48\00:44:07.85
And how long have you
been here with the Aeolians?
00:44:07.88\00:44:09.36
This is my fifth year
at Oakwood University.
00:44:09.39\00:44:11.28
All right, very, very good.
Let's get a little history.
00:44:11.31\00:44:14.72
Where're you from? Originally,
I'm from Trinidad and Tobago.
00:44:14.75\00:44:18.35
I can hear it.
Yeah. Isn't that right?
00:44:18.38\00:44:20.31
Adventist home? Adventist home,
00:44:20.34\00:44:22.33
my parents are
Adventist educators.
00:44:22.36\00:44:24.49
You know, my dad
actually was a president
00:44:24.52\00:44:26.53
of the university
there in Trinidad.
00:44:26.56\00:44:28.42
Caribbean Union
College as it was known then.
00:44:28.45\00:44:30.94
Oh, yes. University of
the Southern Caribbean now.
00:44:30.97\00:44:33.24
My mother was an
elementary school teacher.
00:44:33.27\00:44:35.60
So education is in
your background. It is.
00:44:35.63\00:44:37.61
Yes, yes indeed.
Now your degree is in?
00:44:37.64\00:44:41.03
My undergrad is in
piano and then all my
00:44:41.06\00:44:44.31
other grad degrees
are in choral conducting.
00:44:44.34\00:44:46.48
Bless your heart.
00:44:46.51\00:44:48.21
Now what did you do
prior to coming to Oakwood?
00:44:48.24\00:44:50.60
Prior to Oakwood, I
was at Pine Forge Academy,
00:44:50.63\00:44:53.68
for seven glorious
years. I had a great time.
00:44:53.71\00:44:57.65
I was young, very young.
Well, you're still young.
00:44:57.68\00:45:00.96
I was younger but those were
formative years of my career.
00:45:02.77\00:45:07.03
And it's a privilege to
come to Oakwood and kind of met
00:45:07.06\00:45:10.29
some of my old
students all over again.
00:45:10.32\00:45:12.65
So some kids have
literally sang with me for--
00:45:12.68\00:45:15.58
Yeah. 8 years. 8 years or so.
00:45:15.61\00:45:18.75
How big is the Aeolians number?
It varies from about 50 to 55.
00:45:18.78\00:45:24.47
Good size for a
choir. Yeah. Yeah.
00:45:24.50\00:45:26.35
Try not to go
too much over that.
00:45:26.38\00:45:28.52
Our university choir,
which is an integral part
00:45:28.55\00:45:30.90
of the education process
here too is about 100 voices.
00:45:30.93\00:45:34.74
And we have a lot of crossing
over as the years go on.
00:45:34.77\00:45:38.79
So you heard
university choir tonight.
00:45:38.82\00:45:40.70
Aeolians is more or
less your traveling group.
00:45:40.73\00:45:43.22
Exactly. So you try to keep
it where it'll fit on one bus.
00:45:43.25\00:45:45.57
Exactly. He's old
conference president.
00:45:45.60\00:45:49.37
Right. And part of some
choral groups in the past.
00:45:49.40\00:45:54.33
Usually that was the cut
off spot, just enough for,
00:45:54.36\00:45:58.66
to put the stuff
underneath the bus
00:45:58.69\00:46:00.57
for the different things
and getting everybody on.
00:46:00.60\00:46:04.11
Yeah, yeah. And
some of the great times
00:46:04.14\00:46:06.66
for a student
are on choir trips.
00:46:06.69\00:46:09.15
Yeah, yeah. Definitely.
No question about that.
00:46:09.18\00:46:11.52
Coming from Pine
Forge of course which has
00:46:13.32\00:46:14.92
its own long
legacy of great music,
00:46:14.95\00:46:17.50
was it sort of
daunting when you got call?
00:46:17.53\00:46:19.94
I mean, the Aeolians
has a history going back,
00:46:19.97\00:46:22.95
oh, I don't know how many years.
00:46:22.98\00:46:25.81
About 63 years. 63 years,
little over half a century.
00:46:25.84\00:46:28.87
Yeah. Was that kind of
a daunting kind of thing
00:46:28.90\00:46:30.59
being asked to take
charge of that choir with such,
00:46:30.62\00:46:32.40
Alma Blackmon and
other people, you know who?
00:46:32.43\00:46:34.23
You know what, it is
if you think about it.
00:46:34.26\00:46:37.51
I think it probably hit
me once I got started but,
00:46:39.74\00:46:42.52
you know, you just
get the call and you come
00:46:42.55\00:46:44.20
and start working and, you know,
things kind of fell in place.
00:46:44.23\00:46:47.83
So now because I didn't
really dwell and luckily
00:46:47.86\00:46:51.71
I had the
support of Alma Blackmon
00:46:51.74\00:46:53.20
before she died and
she wants me to be here.
00:46:53.23\00:46:56.53
Yes. And so that was comforting.
00:46:56.56\00:46:58.56
And, I guess, I should
take this time to mention,
00:46:58.59\00:47:01.35
there were 13
directors before me.
00:47:01.38\00:47:03.25
Yes. You know, we just,
we praise them everyday.
00:47:03.28\00:47:07.84
They hang in our choir
room and we see them everyday
00:47:07.87\00:47:10.45
and you know that we rest
squarely on their shoulders
00:47:10.48\00:47:13.52
and all their hard
work that they did.
00:47:13.55\00:47:14.96
When you think
about the ministry
00:47:16.44\00:47:18.83
as provided by this
group, which is world renowned,
00:47:18.86\00:47:22.42
what is your reason
for being, you know,
00:47:22.45\00:47:27.00
when you were saying, well
this is what we're here to do,
00:47:27.03\00:47:29.13
how would you summarize
and answer that question?
00:47:29.16\00:47:30.95
You know, that's an
interesting question because
00:47:30.98\00:47:33.50
I believe that answer can change
00:47:33.53\00:47:36.34
and take different forms
as we grow. Let me explain.
00:47:36.37\00:47:40.47
I think now we're at the stage
where we don't want to just
00:47:40.50\00:47:44.24
get too comfortable and sit
back and minister to our own.
00:47:44.27\00:47:48.75
In the last 2
years, we made efforts
00:47:48.78\00:47:50.84
and intentional decisions
to minister to people outside
00:47:50.87\00:47:54.85
of our usual demographic,
government officials.
00:47:54.88\00:47:59.29
We once went to
Russia, which was not
00:47:59.32\00:48:02.49
Seventh-day
Adventist related at all.
00:48:02.52\00:48:04.94
The government in
Russia invited us.
00:48:04.97\00:48:07.10
So we're gonna
try to reach people
00:48:07.13\00:48:08.69
who wouldn't
normally hear the Aeolians.
00:48:08.72\00:48:10.77
So that's been our goal of
ministry for the last 2 years
00:48:10.80\00:48:15.13
to try and target
some different audiences.
00:48:15.16\00:48:18.10
All right. Now you
got involved with this,
00:48:18.13\00:48:21.42
I don't call it a contest but
this is where you were named--
00:48:21.45\00:48:26.54
World Choir Games.
Right. How does that happen?
00:48:26.57\00:48:29.71
How do you--It's
called the World Choir Games?
00:48:29.74\00:48:31.97
World Choir Games, and
where does this take place
00:48:32.00\00:48:34.72
and what's the process?
00:48:34.75\00:48:36.12
World Choir Games is
hosted by a parent company
00:48:36.15\00:48:38.86
out of Germany, Interkultur.
00:48:38.89\00:48:40.67
They've been doing it
for the last 14 years.
00:48:40.70\00:48:43.55
They have it every two
years in different countries
00:48:43.58\00:48:46.63
in the world, the last
one, it was in China, Austria.
00:48:46.66\00:48:50.13
Okay. The next one will
be in Latvia. All right.
00:48:50.16\00:48:53.09
This was a first time
they in canceled United States
00:48:53.12\00:48:55.65
to host this competition,
and to be quite honest,
00:48:55.68\00:48:58.87
the mail kept coming
in and we were so busy
00:48:58.90\00:49:01.60
during the school
year to even address it.
00:49:01.63\00:49:03.61
Deadline passed but some kind of
in April, they kept calling us.
00:49:03.64\00:49:08.13
The organizers kept calling,
sir, we further you guys
00:49:08.16\00:49:11.43
and you have to be here.
00:49:11.46\00:49:13.87
That's how it
happened literally.
00:49:13.90\00:49:15.27
Praise the Lord. And,
you know, it took some
00:49:15.30\00:49:18.39
massaging 'cause
April, May, I'm tired
00:49:18.42\00:49:20.74
and the kids are
tired, right? Oh, yeah.
00:49:20.77\00:49:22.36
We don't want to do
anything else. Right.
00:49:22.39\00:49:23.76
But our manager kind of
convinced us and Dr. Pollard
00:49:23.79\00:49:27.27
got excited and
we ended up going.
00:49:27.30\00:49:29.81
So where was the
competition? Cincinnati, Ohio.
00:49:29.84\00:49:32.50
Cincinnati. How many
days did it takes place?
00:49:32.53\00:49:35.34
The competition
itself lasted for 2 weeks.
00:49:35.37\00:49:37.52
We were there
for the second week.
00:49:37.55\00:49:39.37
So you don't have to be
there for the whole thing.
00:49:39.40\00:49:41.21
So we were
involved in the second half.
00:49:41.24\00:49:43.05
So this kind of
like the Olympics.
00:49:43.08\00:49:44.96
It literally is
a choir Olympics,
00:49:44.99\00:49:47.06
400 choirs from
around the world.
00:49:47.09\00:49:49.30
That was strictly
college or they're also academy,
00:49:49.33\00:49:53.10
different age
groups? It could be--
00:49:53.13\00:49:54.66
there were 23
different categories.
00:49:54.69\00:49:56.69
For example,
children's choir, youth choirs,
00:49:56.72\00:49:59.30
mixed choirs, male
choirs, barbershop choirs,
00:49:59.33\00:50:01.70
jazz choirs, 23 categories.
00:50:01.73\00:50:03.74
So people from
all across the world.
00:50:03.77\00:50:05.87
A lot of, you know,
Asian groups were there,
00:50:05.90\00:50:09.49
I mean, tons of
very, very talented
00:50:09.52\00:50:12.10
Chinese children's
choir, they were amazing.
00:50:12.13\00:50:14.83
Oh, yeah. So it was
literally Olympics of choirs.
00:50:14.86\00:50:18.83
Now who were the
judges, who judged the--
00:50:18.86\00:50:20.51
Judges were from
all over the world.
00:50:20.54\00:50:22.42
Some of the most
distinguished choral musicians
00:50:22.45\00:50:25.11
we find anywhere in the world.
00:50:25.14\00:50:26.51
So during anyone
of our competitions,
00:50:26.54\00:50:29.05
there'll be seven judges.
00:50:29.08\00:50:30.45
And, I mean, you
see different colors,
00:50:30.48\00:50:32.24
different types of faces,
00:50:32.27\00:50:33.98
it's just
really, really amazing.
00:50:34.01\00:50:35.80
So you just, you sang in
these different categories.
00:50:35.83\00:50:38.04
Now did you enter a
number of categories and then?
00:50:38.07\00:50:40.49
The maximum you can
enter with three categories.
00:50:40.52\00:50:42.59
So we did the Negro spiritual,
00:50:42.62\00:50:45.36
which being from
Oakwood you just have to do.
00:50:45.39\00:50:47.93
Yeah. There's a category
called music of the religions
00:50:47.96\00:50:51.50
and then another category
called Musica Contemporanea,
00:50:51.53\00:50:54.91
which is basically a
contemporary music from--
00:50:54.94\00:50:58.30
I forget the year from, a
certain year to this point.
00:50:58.33\00:51:00.96
So we did all of
those, all three.
00:51:00.99\00:51:03.79
So the three you
entered in, you did how well?
00:51:03.82\00:51:06.84
We got gold medals in
all three. Praise God.
00:51:06.87\00:51:09.77
And in the Negro
Spiritual category,
00:51:09.80\00:51:11.48
we were declared
champions of that category.
00:51:11.51\00:51:13.98
Just in the last week, my
students informed me this--
00:51:14.01\00:51:16.66
they have world rankings just
like in each sporting event.
00:51:16.69\00:51:20.60
So right now we're number one.
00:51:20.63\00:51:22.95
They kind of mixed
the spiritual, gospel,
00:51:22.98\00:51:25.29
pop all in one, so
we're number one in that.
00:51:25.32\00:51:27.68
And overall number, is it
16? Number 16 in the world.
00:51:27.71\00:51:31.57
Wow. That's very good.
Yeah. So very humbled--
00:51:31.60\00:51:34.98
Very, very much. So
what impresses you as far as
00:51:35.01\00:51:41.83
the kinds of music
that you want to teach,
00:51:41.86\00:51:44.53
that you want to sing?
00:51:44.56\00:51:45.93
How do you select a song
what moves you when you find
00:51:45.96\00:51:48.30
a particular piece
of music, you know,
00:51:48.33\00:51:50.03
how do you go
about that process?
00:51:50.06\00:51:51.43
You know, one thing
I've always tried to do
00:51:51.46\00:51:52.83
in my entire career is
to find a lot of new things.
00:51:52.86\00:51:55.95
That's what I am.
I get bored quickly.
00:51:57.85\00:51:59.49
Yeah. So I look
for text settings.
00:52:01.87\00:52:04.56
Text that'll mean--
will mean a lot to me
00:52:04.59\00:52:07.99
and hopefully mean
a lot to other people.
00:52:08.02\00:52:09.66
I'm not trying to
stray too far away from some
00:52:09.69\00:52:12.91
traditional things as
well that people could hang on
00:52:12.94\00:52:15.44
to maybe in a different
setting, different arrangement.
00:52:15.47\00:52:18.12
But definitely we want to
always challenge our students
00:52:18.15\00:52:20.89
and challenge them over
a broad range of genres.
00:52:20.92\00:52:23.89
So any Aeolian concert
will take you from some
00:52:23.92\00:52:27.39
renaissance music all the way
up to contemporary gospel music
00:52:27.42\00:52:31.41
and everything in between.
00:52:31.44\00:52:32.81
So that's always my
goal to have academic portion
00:52:32.84\00:52:37.07
met for students have
that ministry component met
00:52:37.10\00:52:41.41
and have that, just
wanna have the kids connect to
00:52:41.44\00:52:45.30
some material
that they'll come back
00:52:45.33\00:52:47.90
and sing 20 years from now.
00:52:47.93\00:52:49.33
Yes. Right. Praise God.
00:52:49.36\00:52:52.22
You know, we've--at 3ABN,
00:52:52.25\00:52:55.45
we hired a
gentleman Dave Huntsinger.
00:52:55.48\00:52:59.88
Yeah, I know Dave.
You know, Dave? Okay.
00:52:59.91\00:53:02.44
We hired him to do a series
for us and it kind of came about
00:53:02.47\00:53:08.51
from a meeting that
he was having with Danny
00:53:08.54\00:53:11.10
when he began to talk
about our doctrines and Dave
00:53:11.13\00:53:14.40
wrote this song, "Remember
the Sabbath," and then what--
00:53:14.43\00:53:19.01
"I fix my
mind." "I fix my mind,"
00:53:19.04\00:53:21.74
which they sang at
general conference.
00:53:21.77\00:53:23.26
And we're hearing now
from choirs all over the world
00:53:23.29\00:53:28.46
who are wanting
to do that material.
00:53:28.49\00:53:30.73
And we've got that in
choral arrangements now.
00:53:30.76\00:53:32.72
So I really firmly believe
that some of that is going
00:53:32.75\00:53:38.78
to really make an impact in
some of the Adventist schools
00:53:38.81\00:53:41.91
particularly but some
other schools that are getting
00:53:41.94\00:53:45.98
in touch with us and saying,
00:53:46.01\00:53:47.54
"You know, we've heard
this. We really like it."
00:53:47.57\00:53:50.11
Takes a while
sometimes for music to catch on.
00:53:50.14\00:53:52.59
Yeah. Yeah. "And
with some choir groups."
00:53:52.62\00:53:54.64
So we would love for you
guys to take some of that music
00:53:54.67\00:53:58.63
and really do us a great job.
00:53:58.66\00:54:00.76
We'll bring cameras down
here or I'll bring you up there.
00:54:00.79\00:54:03.57
Yeah, we'll do it.
00:54:03.60\00:54:08.28
All right. Because it
is-- Andrews University
00:54:08.31\00:54:12.20
has done it and they've done
the music and it is just really-
00:54:12.23\00:54:17.45
we feel thrilling
and exciting music to us.
00:54:17.48\00:54:20.87
And you met Dave, he is
out of Natural of course.
00:54:20.90\00:54:25.65
I met Dave, we did
a concert in Natural,
00:54:25.68\00:54:27.88
couple of years
ago and he came--
00:54:27.91\00:54:29.58
Right. And sat
through the whole concert--
00:54:29.61\00:54:31.65
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, he's
a very remarkable individual
00:54:31.68\00:54:36.46
and we enjoy working with him.
We certainly do, very talented.
00:54:36.49\00:54:40.12
Very, very much. So
when you--a young person
00:54:40.15\00:54:44.22
comes to sing with a
choir that you're directing,
00:54:44.25\00:54:46.45
what kind of technical
skills, I mean, they can sing,
00:54:46.48\00:54:49.13
can they--do they have
to be able to read music?
00:54:49.16\00:54:50.95
Do you teach that? Do you
have the time to incorporate
00:54:50.98\00:54:52.95
that in what
you're doing with your--
00:54:52.98\00:54:56.17
Typically--I mentioned
before having two choirs
00:54:56.20\00:54:59.61
housed in our music department.
00:54:59.64\00:55:01.04
Typically, it's more ideal
Aeolians could come and excite
00:55:01.07\00:55:05.50
read because of the pace in
that group is very, very fast.
00:55:05.53\00:55:09.25
The University choir is where
I could take a little more time
00:55:09.28\00:55:13.00
and during the warm-up
times introduce sight singing
00:55:13.03\00:55:15.51
and vocal skills
and proper breathing.
00:55:15.54\00:55:17.76
So I'll be a little
slow in that group to just
00:55:17.79\00:55:20.47
kind of build the
skills and then we'll able to
00:55:20.50\00:55:22.95
kind of switch over
so-- so we do take time.
00:55:22.98\00:55:26.27
Yeah, yeah. Even
though they do Sabbath,
00:55:26.30\00:55:28.59
I've noticed that you don't have
your choir with music in hand.
00:55:28.62\00:55:34.13
When I was growing up
in Emmanuel Temple Colorado
00:55:34.16\00:55:36.59
Buffalo, New York
with Fred Willis, he said,
00:55:36.62\00:55:39.27
"You can't look at that page
00:55:39.30\00:55:40.67
and look at me
at the same time."
00:55:40.70\00:55:42.07
No. So even the messiah
we had to have it in here.
00:55:42.10\00:55:44.29
So we are always
looking at him and said,
00:55:44.32\00:55:46.21
I want you on me
not on that page.
00:55:46.24\00:55:47.65
So is that something that
you strive towards to have them,
00:55:47.68\00:55:50.84
have the music really in
their head and in their heart?
00:55:50.87\00:55:53.08
It's been years since I've
had any of my choirs use music.
00:55:53.11\00:55:56.97
Yes. They're just so
much free to express.
00:55:57.00\00:55:59.88
Yes. And people
looking, you know,
00:55:59.91\00:56:01.93
you don't want to fool this.
00:56:01.96\00:56:03.38
I haven't used music to
conduct in years either.
00:56:03.41\00:56:06.08
I think as if
they could memorize it,
00:56:06.11\00:56:08.05
I can't understand or
memorize-- And you don't, yeah.
00:56:08.08\00:56:10.81
So it just looks
better, it sounds better.
00:56:10.84\00:56:13.96
You know, they could really
connect with things a lot more
00:56:13.99\00:56:18.11
without having to
turn pages and all this
00:56:18.14\00:56:20.52
so that's my reason
for it. Yes, yes, yes.
00:56:20.55\00:56:23.67
As a traveling group, give
us a little bit of the idea
00:56:23.70\00:56:27.43
of your schedule that
you have this coming year.
00:56:27.46\00:56:31.36
I guess you're out on
the road kind of a lot.
00:56:31.39\00:56:34.16
During the first
semester, the fall semesters,
00:56:34.19\00:56:36.98
we tend to stay
kind of local and places
00:56:37.01\00:56:39.54
we could get to within a day.
00:56:39.57\00:56:41.18
Yes. Second semester
in the spring is when
00:56:41.21\00:56:43.80
we kind of branch out
little more and typically
00:56:43.83\00:56:46.27
we're gone twice a month,
so like in this next spring,
00:56:46.30\00:56:51.11
I know we have,
we'll be in California
00:56:51.14\00:56:52.82
in March, Atlanta, Charlotte.
00:56:52.85\00:56:56.64
So we kind of get around
more so in the second semester.
00:56:56.67\00:56:59.97
It could get
gruelsome and you know,
00:57:00.00\00:57:03.28
lot of people
think it is easy work.
00:57:03.31\00:57:04.90
That's a miss that people have,
00:57:06.90\00:57:09.02
traveling is fun
but there is work.
00:57:09.05\00:57:11.62
Yeah, there is work. Yeah.
00:57:11.65\00:57:13.02
Well, listen we want
to thank you for coming by
00:57:13.05\00:57:15.22
and sharing with
us and we're gonna be
00:57:15.25\00:57:17.82
anxious to hear you on Sabbath.
00:57:17.85\00:57:19.86
Oh, yeah, and we're encouraging
00:57:19.89\00:57:21.55
everybody to be
watching on Sabbath.
00:57:21.58\00:57:23.48
Oh, yeah. For, is it hour and
half or two hours, our sermons?
00:57:23.51\00:57:27.94
Hour and half, all right.
00:57:27.97\00:57:29.34
Well, listen, we're coming down
here to the end of this hour.
00:57:29.37\00:57:32.85
And we got a lot of
things for a few minutes
00:57:32.88\00:57:35.38
that will be coming up.
00:57:35.41\00:57:37.56
So you just plan to be with
us and we'll be looking forward
00:57:37.59\00:57:42.70
to the second
half of this program.
00:57:42.73\00:57:45.66
Ain't that right, C.A.?
00:57:45.69\00:57:47.06
We'll be back in
just a few moments.
00:57:47.09\00:57:48.46