I am most thankful to have had the opportunity to get a college and seminary education. There was a time in my younger life when I had a hard time seeing how any of that could ever be a possibility. My parents encouraged me to do well in school, but I was not encouraged to pursue an education past high school. They didn’t discourage such, and they weren’t necessarily opposed to higher education; it simply wasn’t a matter of great importance. That might be explained by the fact that neither of them attended beyond grade school. I am quite proud of the fact that in spite of that, three of my parents’ four children completed college degrees. I am the youngest of the four.
My dad passed away during my sophomore year in high school. Things were tough financially for my mom and me after that, so I knew she would not be able to send me to college. I am so grateful for Alabama’s community college system, or junior college, as they called it back then. I could afford $67 per quarter, so I enrolled at Northeast Alabama Junior College. At that same time, I also enrolled in Samford University’s Extension Program, which offered classes at DeKalb Baptist Association, in my hometown of Rainsville. My first two classes there were with two of Samford’s best professors: Drs. Gilbert Guffin and Sigurd Bryan. Those two godly men encouraged me to apply for admission to Samford when I finished my basics at Northeast. They told me about scholarships and grants that were available to help students like myself. By the time I was ready to attend Samford, I had a wife. You might think that only made it harder to go, but actually it made it easier. She and I took turns going to school. With those scholarships, grants, God’s grace and Jean’s tireless help and support, I was a member of Samford University’s graduating class of 1978, with a B.A. degree in religion. Then with the help of the Cooperative Program of Southern Baptist, I was able to complete a master’s degree through New Orleans Baptist Seminary. Twelve years later, I went back to school again at that seminary and earned a doctorate. When I wasn’t going to school, Jean was, and she earned three degrees of her own in elementary education and administration.
Please don’t get the idea that I am bragging. Honestly, I am quite humbled by the fact that I was afforded such opportunities to get a wonderful education. That only happened by the grace and power of God, and with much prayer and assistance from others. I am eternally grateful to Southern Baptist, Alabama Baptist, to all who endowed scholarships and especially to my wife and soulmate of almost 50 years.
When I completed my last degree, 25 years ago, I thought that would be my last time to be in school. Then, last week, after all those years, I went back to college one more time. This time, I am standing behind the podium, rather than sitting in a desk in front of it. And, of all places, I have the privilege of teaching a class for my alma mater, Samford University, in one of its extension programs. It is almost like I am right back where I first started in those classes in Rainsville, Alabama, more than 50 years ago. This quarter, I am teaching a class on the Pauline Epistles of the New Testament. Who knows, perhaps I will have the joy of encouraging some student’s further education, much like Dr. Guffin and Dr. Bryan did for me!
Bill King can be reached at bkpreach@yahoo.com or 334-728-5514 (office).
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