A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear alumni and friends,

As we look forward to the upcoming academic year and reflect on this past year, it has certainly been a fascinating and tremendously historical year. From the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting challenges to race riots and a heated presidential election, this past year has been referred to as “unprecedented” by many. Yet, this year hasn’t been quite as unique as some may think. The year 1968 presented many similar challenges—President Richard Nixon narrowly won a politically charged presidential election, riots erupted across the country following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and the Hong Kong flu pandemic spread quickly across the globe, targeting the elderly and killing between 1 and 4 million people. As Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes, “there is nothing new under the sun” (ESV Ecc. 1:9). Earth is a fallen place, and we’ll continue to face the same challenges until God makes all things new.

Times of crisis cause each of us to ask questions. As I complete my first year as president of Bryan College, I’ve found myself asking what I value most in life and what drives me as a leader. As I reflect, I’m humbled by the tension that develops between what I desire in my heart and what God desires. Selfishly, I want the circumstances of the world to be back to “normal,” whatever that might be. I want the financial resources to build academic programs and extend the opportunity of a great education to as many students as possible, without worrying about funding. While these are not bad desires, when they come from my own selfish motivation and desires rather than a reliance on God’s provision, there is a problem. When my values spring from a desire to know God and make Him known, I can step out in faith and allow God to use me as He sees fit here at Bryan College.

We have amazing alumni across the nation and around the world who are making a difference in their families, communities, and vocations. It has truly been a joy for Susi and me to connect with many of you and answer questions through our Roast & Roar Zoom calls. Events such as Homecoming and the Golden Grad celebration have provided us the opportunity to meet many of you face to face. One of the reasons I returned to Bryan was the opportunity to again be with students. It has been a special privilege to connect with students in the halls, cafeteria, Triangle, and at the President’s house. Engaging students with the knowledge, values, and skills they will need to be successful is the reason I do what I do. We also have an amazingly gifted team here on Bryan Hill. Covid prevented us from gathering together as a team, but since November, I’ve made it a priority to meet with faculty and staff on a monthly basis in order to celebrate achievements and to provide updates on what is happening around campus.

I value the transformative power of education. It’s an incredible opportunity to lead an organization that equips students with the knowledge and skills to make a difference in the world. I recently had the chance to sit down with many of our 2021 seniors at the Senior BBQ and discuss what they are planning to do after graduation. I’m continually amazed by the creativity and courage of our students to work hard and tackle problems facing today’s world.

Most importantly, I value the transformative power of the Gospel. When I was a student from 1988 to 1992, I continually saw our motto of Christ Above All emphasized and lived out by faculty, staff, and my peers. Today, I continue to see that motto lived out across campus. I never get tired of hearing students tell stories of how God brought them to Bryan and then changed their lives through the work of faculty and staff. At a Presidential Briefing at the beginning of the semester, senior Anna Owens thanked faculty and staff for creating a safe place for students where she could grow, sometimes through failure, spiritually and academically. At the Bryan Opportunity Scholarship Program dinner in April, junior Carlos Portillo shared how he has fallen in love with Scriptures and found who he is in Christ while at Bryan. Stories like these do not happen simply because of our hard work and good intentions. The Gospel of Christ transforms lives. Bryan exists at this intersection between the transformative power of Christ and the transformative power of education. For more than 90 years, Bryan College has sought to provide students with an education that is grounded in scripture and promotes a life given to Christ Above All.

Our verse of the past year has been 1 Peter 4:10: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (ESV). My prayer for myself and for Bryan College is that we will use the skills we have been given to serve one another in order to bring glory to Christ Above All. I ask you to join me in this prayer.

Grace & Peace,

Doug Mann