Atlanta Bible College
Box 100,000
Morrow, GA 30260

404-362-0052
800-347-4261
404-362-9307 (fax)

alumni

Newsletter

At various times during the history of the ABC/OBC Alumni Association, newsletters have been published to keep all members informed of happenings throughout the membership and also at the Bible College.  Current members have expressed an interest in seeing a newsletter started again.  So here we go.

We would like to send future newsletters by email to those who have email addresses.  Please send your address to Association Secretary-Treasurer David Krogh at dkrogh@abc-coggc.org

If you have information that you would like to share about yourself or another member of the Association, please send it to David by email or by regular mail to Box 100,000, Morrow, GA 30260.

Archived Newsletters

June 2007

May 2007

December 2006

History
Atlanta Bible College originated from the Bible Training School operated by the National Bible Institution from 1923 until 1932 and located in Oregon, IL.  During the economic depression of the 1930s the school was closed. In 1939 the school reopened and the reorganized school was named Oregon Bible College in 1942.  In 1991 the college relocated from Oregon, IL to Morrow, GA and was renamed Atlanta Bible College.

It is not clear when the Alumni Association was formed, but publications show that it was in existence in 1947.  The current version of the Constitution of the Association was first adopted in January 1962.

Purpose
According to the Constitution the Association exists:

1.   To maintain contacts with classmates and school and community;

2.   To preserve school traditions and build true school spirit;

3.   To improve the school plant and curriculum;

4.   To do everything possible to work with the General Conference and aid fellow association members and pastors in their local fields;

5.   To suggest and endeavor to set forth ways of personal spiritual development;

6.   To determine by survey of graduates the strengths and weaknesses of the curricular offering of the school, in the light of the educational and work experience of the graduates,

Membership
The Alumni Association consists of anyone who has graduated from Atlanta/Oregon Bible College or been granted an honorary degree, or has satisfied the requirements of the former Bible Training School, which, according to record, was the forerunner of Oregon Bible College, or one who has received credit for fifteen credit hours or more of work at either Atlanta Bible College or Oregon Bible College.  A non-graduate shall be considered an alumnus only when his class has been graduated.

Dues
The work of the Association is funded completely by members of the Association.  Members are asked to pay annual dues of $15 or $25 if both spouses are members.  The Association fiscal years is from July 1 to June 30, so dues become payable each July 1.

Projects
The Association is currently sponsoring two projects:

Scholarship Fund – several years ago a scholarship fund was started to provide scholarships to children of Alumni members.  The goal for the fund is $25,000.  Principle is to be preserved and only the interest on investment earnings will be awarded.  As of May 31, 2006 there was a balance of $12,686.74 in the fund.  Currently small scholarship gifts are being awarded to children of Alumni who are attending the college.

Matching Gifts – A donor contributed $40,000 to our organization and the Alumni Association was challenged to match this gift.  As of May 31, 2006, $19,029.00 has been contributed for this project.

Meetings
The Association traditionally meets each summer in conjunction with meetings of the Church of God General Conference (the association of churches that support the college) in July or August.  The last meeting was held August 11, 2006 at South Bend, Indiana.  Click here for a copy of the minutes of the meeting.

ABC/OBC Alumni Association Meeting - August 11, 2006
The Atlanta/Oregon Bible College Alumni Association met at 9:15 p.m. during the 86^th annual General Conference held at the Timberland Bible Church of God, South Bend, Indiana with 22 members present.  The meeting was called to order with prayer by the Association President Rob Bernheisel.

It was moved and seconded by Alan Cain and Daniel Smead that the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting be waived.  Motion carried.

A copy of the treasurer’s report was distributed showing a balance of $1,191.91 in the General Fund as of May 31, 2006.  The Scholarship Fund has a balance of $12,686.74.  It was also noted that $19,029.00 has been given to the Building our Future Campaign toward the matching gift challenge of $40,000.

It was mentioned that dues are now payable for the new fiscal year that began July 1.  The dues are $15 for an individual and $25 for a couple.

The President opened a general discussion about the Association and how we can adapt to our changing membership.  David Krogh shared thoughts that had been discussed at a meeting of the officers in February during the annual Ministers Conference.  He observed that we now have a sizeable number of alumni members who are not members of the Church of God, along with some who are not citizens of the United States and who do not speak English.  It was also noted that several provisions of the Constitution are not being observed such as having two meetings a year and a requirement for the association to vote on admitting new members.

David suggested that we should make our Association as inclusive as possible and that we continue to work closely with the College to determine ways to help strengthen ABC.

After considerable discussion it was determined that the officers should come up with a vision and plans for the association to be presented at the 2007 meeting for consideration by the membership.  Plans for the future will include a close working relationship with the new Director of Development who is to be hired by the ABC/General Conference Board of Directors.

The term of Chuck Jones as secretary-treasurer expired at this meeting.  David Krogh was nominated to fill this position.  When no further nominations were made, it was moved that the nominations be closed and that the secretary cast a unanimous ballot for David.  Motion carried.

There was further discussion on how to improve the Association.  It was suggested that the Alumni meeting be scheduled at a time other than following an evening service at the summer General Conference.  It was also suggested that an Alumni reunion or some special event be held for members of the Association.

The meeting was adjourned with prayer by Rob Bernheisel.

Respectfully submitted,
David Krogh, Acting Secretary

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