#fast forward to 17 hours left before the english exam

[weirdlizard26]

well well well if it isnt the exam i didnt study for

[inthehillswithamission]

I Miss Citadel (A feeble attempt at a love letter for an old friend.)

It is still hard for me to comprehend that it has now been over 40 years since I first arrived at Citadel. I had only known the Lord for just a few months and only after two weeks after I was born from above, the Lord had called me to the ministry. I was planning on going into a career that would involve drama but then and even now, I am so glad He called me into the ministry.

 I was so young in my faith, that I will never forget my old buddies did not know what to do with me. I made it clear to them that the old mike had died, and that God was doing a work on my heart.  They, in turn, took me down to the local grocery store, at 11:00 that night, unplugged a coke machine, plugged in my stereo and in the parking lot ,only 16-17 hours before I went to Citadel, we had a dance for Mikey, because he was going to be a preacher and go to a bible college. I know this is not your typical testimony, but I was just a baby in Christ. Excited about Him and surrounded by a lot of unsaved friends, who meant well, on my behalf. We danced until 2 that morning.

 I can only imagine what some of the staff must have thought of me, as my father was driving me up the mountain and I was listening to Elton John’s, “Love lies bleeding in my hands.” I had not really looked over the dress code as I jumped out of the station wagon, with my pair of overalls and Ringo Starr T-shirt , along with matching sandals and a crucifix so big, it was a good 10-11 inches long. All I knew was, I loved Jesus and I wanted to know Him better. I ran up, dressed like this, to one of the faculty members, hugged him for all I could and he must have been in shock, as all he could say was, “Son, you need to put a tie on.” Within an hour, my family and I were back at the school, with my one black tie, which was all that I wore for the first six weeks of school.

 The following morning, I felt out of place and awkward in this new place that God had called me to. I even questioned, is this really where You want me, Lord?  I felt like a spiritual midget, as one of the first things that the school wanted me to do, was take a test over my biblical knowledge. Yeah, right, let me see, John 3:16, John 14:1-3, which I had not really memorized. There was, of course, Genesis and Exodus, in the Old Testament and Matthew-John and, of course, Revelation. That was about it.  Okay, I thought, I am doomed. I was so broken-hearted, because I thought this was like an entrance exam and I had just failed it. Better get ready to call dad and tell him, “Your son is a moron, come and get me.” The disappointment must have shown, as one of the couples at Citadel was a young man, named Tim Willoughby, and his future wife, Joellen Holsinger. I could see their compassion and concern for me, as they asked me if I was okay. Of course, I lied, and they must have known it because Tim said, “Mike, this is not an entrance exam. All the school is trying to do is find out how much you know about the Bible.” I looked up at them and remember saying, “Well, they are going to find out, not much.’ Knowing just the right words to say, Tim replied, “You know, we all got to start someplace and Mike, you will be okay.” Joellen just smiled, and for the rest of the day we played some field games, as a way for us to get to know each other. Tim and Joellen picked me early to be on their team. All these years later, I never forgot their act of kindness to such a messed-up infant in the faith. I would read about their kind of Christianity, when I read about the Son of Consolation, Barnabas, and discover what a true gift that is, for some believers.

Like many of you, my favorite place was Kline Hall, the main and beautiful building which was the center of our campus and life. It became my very favorite place in the world, as it overlooked the valley and the Arkansas River. I remember doing something stupid, which led to one of the longest times of being sent to your room, in the school’s history, as I was told later by one of the faculty members. My room had now felt like a prison, but it was for something that I had truly deserved punishment for. I longed to be around people and still do, to this day. I am one of those guys who hates to admit, that he has separation anxiety. As soon as my punishment was over, I grabbed my books and sat on the wrap around porch, for the next three years, as much as I could. I loved the view, and, at night, I would look down and see the lights of houses and they became reminders to me, of how we were to be lights in the midst of darkness. As many of you know, it was stunning.

 Oh, for the hours of studying. The hearing of God’s Word, the privilege of sitting under the teaching of people who not only taught us His Word, but who lived it before us. The missionary challenges and how missions were so emphasized. Just to hear Daryl Champlin say the word “Glory” and how we trembled in the presence of a holy God.

I came at the best of times, Dr. Brownback taught me how to think and see God in a true world view, by dealing with philosophical issues of the Word, rather than through the world’s wisdom. Mr. Glasser introduced me to this God, who I am to pursue but would never fully know till we see Him face to face. Jerry Smith was the preacher and mentor, who made ministry practical. Mr. Ruchti was a giant. Think about it, we had a man of God who was a missionary, during World War II, to Brazil. How we loved getting him off subject and the joy of his tales of being a missionary, during that time. Mrs. Brownback gave me a love for the hymns of our faith. I found out why I did so bad, the first time I took Greek, by realizing my main issue was English Grammar, not Greek. Mrs. Ruchti would have us diagram sentences for hours. Mr. Willoughby, who gave me more practical tools for how to study the Bible, more than any man has ever done. I tell you brothers, what joy it was to sit under their feet, watch them grow and live it before us. We were among giants and did not even know it.

The friends that were made and those who I keep in touch with, still influence my life to this day.  My times with Dave Drake and Tracy Wilson, as we went into Oklahoma for our Christian Workers assignments. Then, having Tracy with me, as we would teach the youngest of children for the next two years. I learned more about preaching there than anywhere else.

Saturdays became special to me, as Scott Ingvaldsen, Doug Tucker and Sonya would sit down for about 2 hours together and talk about our spiritual journeys and the ministry. We never said it, but I thought we believed we had all the answers to reach the world and what sweet times of prayer.

These were friendships forged in steel and through the years, have been a source of refreshment and encouragement. I cannot list all the bonds that have been, and always will be, precious to me. Even now, I am still so grateful for so many who impacted my life and ministry.

Now, with the joy of working with Rock Haven, I have many of those old classmates working alongside of me, for the glory of His kingdom. The Barlow’s, The Boyd’s, Kermit Lowery and The Allen’s from OBI.

I will never forget when I first heard of how the school had closed, I was with Angela Morgan (Stone), at camp, for Moody Bible Church. I remember feeling devastated and became teary eyed. It was like I had just buried my friend. We were in shock for days.

Now, fast forward about a little over a year. Julie Hunter, who I had met during my Citadel days, and I were dating. Mr. and Mrs. Brownback invited us up to their house to celebrate New Years Day, they also had as their guest, Mr. Newell. Julie and I went on up to visit and would walk around the old campus. It felt a little odd as we strolled hand in hand around the campus, feeling like I would get written up for P.C violations and especially, that night before we left, as I kissed Julie and we held each other tight. Crying, praying, and being flooded with memories of our lives there, as we walked around the wrap around porch one last time. Little did I know, I was with my wife to- be, for over the next thirty years plus. It would also be the last time we would see the building, as it burned down shortly thereafter.

You know, I have been on the campus a few times since, through the years at a reunion, but in all honesty, its like the old saying, that you never really get to go back to the home you once knew. Just below, the old rock wall that Glen had built, it has been overtaken by the woods and shrubbery, so the view to me is not the same. The buildings are largely gone, over the decades of time, and it is not the same.

Yet, here is the beautiful thing. Citadel was not just Kline Hall or the other buildings that were on the grounds. It is now, forever seared, upon our memories. The teachings of Jesus, the wise words of our instructors and their lives. The friendships, but also for me, it will always be how all these things helped to disciple us, in being soldiers and becoming lovers of Jesus, who gave us His all. God bless and use you as you serve Him.