I had the privilege of attending and then teaching at
Florida Bible College in Hollywood, Florida, from 1972 through 1979. While I
was there several things impressed me. For one thing the Gospel was
always presented clearly and boldly. "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel
of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that
believeth...” (Romans 1:16). The students also impressed me with their
zeal and joy in serving the Lord, by sharing the Gospel with others. (I Thessalonians
2:4, "But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel,
even so we speak; not as pleasing men but God which trieth our hearts.")
It was a sacred trust which they took very seriously. I had never heard
the Gospel given so clear and so boldly before.
In 1979 God lead me to Colorado Bible College. There I
found the same Gospel being preached, with the same clarity and the same
boldness that I experienced at Florida Bible College. The students actively
gave the Gospel using the hand gesture Dr. Arnold had learned when he attended
Florida Bible College in the sixties. The same power of God was surely
present in that student body as they carried out Acts 1:8, "But ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses
unto me...."
The opportunity arose to teach and
serve as Registrar at Tampa Bay Bible College, under Dr. Hank Lindstrom. Once again, the gospel was crystal clear, and
boldly presented; the students were doing the work of the ministry.
For a while I was in other, different ministries but it just did
not seem to be the same. Then I heard Florida Bible College of Tampa was
going to open its doors. I believe that God was opening the same door he did
for me at Florida Bible College in Hollywood, Colorado Bible College, and Tampa
Bay Bible College. I joined the board and began to pray for Florida Bible
College of Tampa. When Florida Bible College of Tampa opened its doors in
the fall of 2013, I called Dr. Arnold to see if they could use me as a teacher.
God sold our house in Texas in one day and we moved to Tampa in the fall of
2014.
When I began teaching I knew I was in the right place. The
same gospel, the same clarity, the same boldness, and the same Joy. The
students are excited because they get opportunities speak and witness in Ranch,
AWANA, camps, prison ministries, Friday night soul winning and other
ministries. They get to see how God works in our world today. Some
things never change, like the gospel (Galatians 1:8). Other things, God may
change every day. At Florida Bible College of Tampa we are seeing
change every day as our students are being trained in God's Word and their
lives are changed forever.
Come and join us at Florida Bible College of Tampa and be a part
of the change.
Bob Brookes
BA, Hollywood, Class of 1974
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