THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 22, 1995 TAG: 9501190165
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS
LENGTH: Long : 167 lines
WHEN MELVIN PRIDDY leaves Roanoke Bible College this year, he will carry out much more than he came with.
``Being here, a desire to learn has come into my life,'' the tall, reflective senior said on his way to lunch in the school cafeteria recently. ``It's something I'm going to take with me: a great desire to always keep learning new things, and learning in all areas of life.''
Priddy is one of nearly 130 students enrolled at this riverfront college just north of downtown Elizabeth City.
The 47-year-old campus' tucked-away location and its small size give the college a lower profile than the other two institutions of higher learning in Elizabeth City.
But a few minutes with Priddy and his classmates are enough to demonstrate that the college is achieving its simply stated mission: ``To prepare and challenge men and women for career and volunteer work in Christian service.''
``I've really matured a lot as I've been here,'' said Priddy, who came from Virginia Beach after earning a GED. ``I've learned a lot about responsibility and how to be a more effective servant for the Lord.
``I've learned to better relate to others, and I'm a lot more prepared for the real world.''
Since its founding in 1948, Roanoke Bible College has trained more than 2,200 people for further service to their faith, and they have carried their knowledge around the world.
School materials say alumni are serving in 32 states and 11 foreign nations in such roles as missionaries, ministers, counselors and teachers. Former students have helped to establish 168 churches and make up about half of the Christian Church/Church of Christ preachers within a 150-mile radius of the school.
While at RBC, students take a core of Biblical courses that leads to a bachelor's in Bible, supplemented by general and professional studies. They choose minors or second majors in such topics as Christian education, counseling, cross-cultural ministry and preaching.
The school, accredited by the American Association of Bible Colleges, also has two-year programs in the Bible, deaf studies and early childhood. And it coordinates a state certification option through Elizabeth City State University and associates programs with the College of The Albemarle.
``We have a strong feeling that the Christian world view is the predominant Western view for nearly 2,000 years and that education should certainly have that approach,'' RBC President William A. Griffin said. ``It should be seen as a valid approach.''
The expansive green campus on the Pasquotank shore has two dormitories and space for a planned campus life center.
Across the street are half a dozen other buildings, including the multipurpose Heritage Hall and the beautifully decorated Wilkinson Hall, a converted residence named for the woman whose donation helped make it the first building owned by RBC.
A close-knit group attends and administers the college, an intimate family of people who know they share a common faith and purpose.
The family atmosphere has kept nearly 10 members of the staff on board for more than 25 years. Four members are in their 32nd year.
Among them is Griffin, who attended RBC from 1958-62, when the college had two buildings and 35 students. He returned to the college in 1963 and became its second president in April 1986.
``I guess it's a love for the school and its mission,'' said Griffin, who helped pay for his RBC education by working in founding President George W. BonDurant's office as a student.
``I determined during that time that I wanted to come back,'' he said. ``I have never thought of doing something else.''
Griffin knows every RBC student by name, and at the yearly visit by area church leaders, he introduces each freshman by name and hometown.
``By the first month I've got to have that down pretty pat,'' said Griffin, whose predecessor started the tradition of introducing each new student. ``But primarily everybody knows everybody on our campus.''
Standing in a hallway outside Heritage Hall's second-floor chapel, Griffin greeted one student, April, by name and said he was glad to see her. He even told her that a syllabus had been left in her mailbox that morning.
``Historically all of our faculty and staff have lived within three blocks of the college,'' Griffin said, although they're spreading somewhat now. ``And our homes are open at all times for our students.''
Faculty and staff also eat lunch daily with students in the college's cafeteria. ``It's a grand opportunity for education to be more than a classroom setting,'' Griffin said.
One of those faculty members is Bible-Theology Department Chairman Ronnie Woolard, who graduated from RBC in 1972 and has been teaching here for 21 years.
``There's always been a family atmosphere,'' Woolard said over the growing din in the small cafeteria. ``Predominantly, through the years, our staff and faculty have sort of been home grown.''
Students, too, often are connected with people who have passed through RBC before them. Junior Eddie Ewell of Virginia Beach said at least seven members of his family have attended RBC.
``Some of them turn out to be ministers and some of them don't,'' Ewell said. ``But for the most part, it's a foundation for the rest of your life. Helps you get things into perspective.''
Some of that perspective comes in the daily chapel service, where every student is required to speak once a year. On this day, sophomore Wendee Spruill took the podium to discuss vol unteer opportunities at the Hugh Cale Community Center.
The center runs an afternoon latchkey program for children, and last year about 26 RBC students helped out - giving the children nearly one-on-one attention. Program Director Shirley Simpson, introduced by Spruill, implored the students to beef up volunteer ranks again.
``RBC students had something to offer that our kids needed,'' Simpson told the group. ``We need people like you and your warmth, your personality and what you have to offer to the little kids in our community.''
That outreach is part of what makes RBC a quiet force in the Elizabeth City area, officials said. While the school does not directly take stands on local issues, its members are active in the community.
``The college does not make political statements,'' Griffin said. ``But we do encourage both students and staff to be involved in the political process.
``We like to think that what we teach and do on this campus does have a favorable influence on the town - morally, spiritually.''
Elizabeth City Mayor H. Rick Gardner agrees that it does.
``I think it has done an outstanding job of teaching young people the values of life and the values of Christianity,'' Gardner said. ``It has certainly been an asset to Elizabeth City.''
In recent years, the school has worked harder to become a presence in the area, Griffin said.
The city's three college leaders - Griffin, Jimmy Jenkins of ECSU and Larry Donnithorne of COA - meet almost monthly. ``I think that's done a lot for recognition of RBC,'' Griffin said.
``We talk about what's happening on our three campuses and enjoy a close personal friendship,'' Griffin said. ``We don't go in with an agenda, but basically let's just get together and promote a relationship.''
The school is counting on its community contacts, as well as a variety of other sources, to achieve its goals for expanding campus services.
On the 50-year anniversary of RBC, 1997-98, the college hopes that year's homecoming will be the time to dedicate a new campus life center that includes a chapel, gymnasium and library. The center is scheduled to be built on the college's vast tract of riverfront property, bought from Norfolk & Southern for $125,000 in the early 1970s.
The drive for funding that building is part of the school's ``Heritage Campaign,'' seeking $1.7 million over five years for the $1.3 million center, other construction and $250,000 in scholarship funds. RBC has already made great strides in meeting its goal of securing 10 percent of that money from the Elizabeth City area.
``The local money has come extremely well,'' Griffin said.
The school has just received an anonymous gift from a Virginia donor that will match up to $90,000 any funds raised by March 31. ``We're going to pull a few stops in the next three months to make sure we get that 90,'' Griffin said.
``There have been some real surprises'' in the campaign, Griffin said. But he also said he expected the local generosity and the support of individuals and churches throughout the region and country that give the school about $700,000 annually.
``Overall, I believe that the people in this area appreciate what we've done,'' Griffin said. ``I believed that the goal was attainable.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by DREW C. WILSON
Founded in 1948, Roanoke Bible College has trained more than 2,200
people. While at RBC, students take a core of biblical courses,
supplemented by general and professional studies.
Students socialize between classes in the student lounge at Roanoke
Bible College.
Professor Ronnie Woolard conducts a class on poets and prophets at
Roanoke Bible College.
by CNB