Looking back, I can’t believe that I took off on a 1,000 mile journey to spend four years at a campus I had never seen. I attended a small Assembly of God church in Western Pennsylvania, where my pastor and his wife (Rev. and Mrs. D. Leroy Whiteman) were both graduates of CBC. After listening to their stories for several years, I had a great desire to go there.

I spent months looking over the CBC catalog. I practically memorized the faces of the faculty and felt that I (almost) knew my way around the campus. I was so sure I belonged there, that it was the only school to which I applied.

The big day finally came. My family helped pack me up for the long journey, and I said my good-byes. I confess to a few emotional ups and downs on the trip (which we tried to make into a vacation).

As we approached the campus and the famous water tower appeared, I could barely contain my excitement. All of the buildings I had studied in the catalog for months came into view. I confess that Bowie Hall was a bit more spartan than I had expected. We decided that I would request a transfer to the more modern “Flower Hall” as soon as possible. (Incidentally, Bowie soon became home, and there was no turning back. I ended up spending all four years there.)

After an emotional “good-bye,” I was left to get settled into my new room on the third floor of Bowie Hall. Homesickness began to set in as I realized that I would not see my family until Christmas vacation. I was especially lonely for the first few days, as my roommate had not yet arrived. I made friends with the other girls on the hall and did my best to become acclimated to my new surroundings.

The tradition among freshmen was for everyone to gather around the water tower, where, strangely, there was a small building with a piano in it. Someone would play, and we would crowd around and sing praises to the Lord. This fostered a sense of family and helped curb the homesickness.

Registration taken care of, I was ready to begin classes. The first order of the day, of course, was the chapel service. We headed to the old Tabernacle for our first official service. (This was the last year they would be held in this building, as construction of the new E.S. Williams Chapel was soon underway.)

I found a seat in the old building and looked around me. Everything seemed surreal, and I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Eventually the music started playing, and the faculty filed in and took their seats in what looked to be the choir area. One by one, I placed their faces: “That’s Bro. Harris! That looks like Bro. Henderson! That must be Sis. Armstrong! Dr. Stanley Horton! Brother Drake, the Registrar….Dr. Johns, the Dean of Students….Philip Crouch, the President.”

The music got louder, and we began to sing: “His name is Wonderful; His name is Wonderful; His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord….” I will never forget that moment or the feelings which enveloped me. I felt the warmth of His presence, the power of His Spirit, and the fellowship of my brothers and sisters. I was home!

The Rest of the Story:

As for the rest of the story: After graduation, I served in a rather large church in New Haven, CT (That was my key to New England.) Surprise: The Pastor of that church was the same one under whose ministry I was saved back in Western PA. While there, I got a job teaching nursery school in the Guilford A/G church. This sparked a love affair with early childhood education. I went back to PA and worked for Head Start for four years before returning to New England. This time I taught kindergarten in a day care center housed in the Clinton A/G, where I eventually became the Director. I also met my husband, Richard, in Clinton. We have been married for 27 years and have an 18 year old son, Matthew. I got my Master’s Degree in Psychology Counseling in 1988. I now work as an early childhood social worker in the Clinton Public Schools. My family is involved in CrossPoint Christian Church, N. Oxford, MA. (Yes, it really is spelled “CrossPoint.”) Richard is in charge of “First Touch” ministries. Matthew and I teach Sunday School together, and he is going into Early Childhood Education after graduation.