125th Anniversary Celebration

 

A momentous occasion in Berkshire’s storied history took place on August 11-12. After a year-long delay due to lingering Coronavirus concerns, close to 120 alumni and friends gathered together at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, North Carolina to celebrate God’s faithfulness over twelve decades of ministry. From the wonderful music, moving testimonies, and extended times of fellowship, this celebration of BCC will be remembered for many years to come!

The afternoon began with extended fellowship as many Berkshire alums could be seen hugging and greeting one another on arrival. A specially prepared slideshow featuring many familiar buildings and faces brought people together in the auditorium, just prior to the opening afternoon session. After a welcome by planning team leader Arlene Barbour, Berkshire President Glenn Rice presented a walk through BCC’s history from its beginnings in Boston, Massachusetts to the suspension of campus operations in the mid-1980’s. Photographs accompanied this presentation as this intriguing and interesting history was shared with those gathered together.

After dinner, a fabulous worship team under the leadership of Don Plummer led alumni and friends in a robust time of singing, interspersed with special music and testimonies. Don served as emcee for the evening and played his trumpet throughout. He was accompanied on the keyboard by Tim McLendon. Other worship team members included Lana Jernigan, Robin Buchanan, Dave Buchanan, and Trev Moore. Lana, Rob, and Trev also played their guitars. The highlight of the night was special music by Coach and Sandy Peters, with people joining in on the singing of familiar songs from their BCC days. As special guests of honor Coach and Sandy were presented a monetary gift as a ‘Thank you’ for many years of faithful service from BCC alumni and friends across the country. Dave Ross offered a prayer of thanksgiving for Coach and Sandy. After several hours of celebrating the program concluded with a delighted but exhausted group of people ready for sleep!

After a night’s rest the celebration continued on Saturday morning by replaying the slideshow from the previous afternoon. Then Don and the worship team led in a time of singing, followed by a devotional from Coach. His powerfully moving words stirred the hearts of all in attendance who were reminded of Jesus’ presence and power. Coach’s encouragement to everyone stressed that a great reunion is coming one day soon when Jesus returns, which was met with praise and acclamation!

As the focus of the morning shifted to the future, Berkshire board Chair Hazel Blackstone brought greetings and thanks on behalf of the Board of Trustees. She also shared about the board’s time spent in self-reflection, describing how the Holy Spirit illuminated areas that needed the board’s attention related to the “messy times” in Berkshire’s history and the unattended wounds that fester. This time concluded with an earnest request for forgiveness if the hurts and aches of the past have been passed on to anyone present. Hazel’s remarks ended with a reminder that “Berkshire Christian doesn’t belong to us” and that the Trustees, with hearts “laid bare” and with “opened unclenched hands” affirm that Berkshire’s primary focus on Kingdom work.

President Glenn Rice followed this with remarks about Berkshire’s future direction, indicating that the Board of Trustees has affirmed the Lord’s leading to pursue relocation of Berkshire Christian’s base of operations to a more favorable location from which the ministry of equipping gospel workers can continue forward. The morning ended with the singing of God Be With You ‘Til We Meet Again. After lunch, those remaining said their final ‘Goodbye’ and left the cool mountain air for their return trips home or to other places.