BLUEFIELD—Bluefield College celebrated its history Oct. 3 with an annual Baptist Heritage Day ceremony on campus, featuring a keynote address from an authority on Baptist life, Boyce Brannock, president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.
For the eighth consecutive year, Bluefield College students set aside time in the midst of their busy academic schedules to celebrate the school's heritage. The occasion, according to BC organizers, is designed to “help students, faculty, staff and the community remember that Bluefield College is a Baptist college,” and as a Baptist-affiliated institution there are “certain ideals the college cherishes and celebrates.”
BGAV President Boyce Brannock (second from right) with Bluefield College Christian Studies professors (from left) Scott Shauf, Tim Crawford and Tracey Stout during the school's Baptist Heritage Day.
Each year during the celebration, the college presents a guest lecturer to speak to students, faculty, staff and friends. The lecturers are typically state or nationally known guests who speak about the principles that are important to Baptists.
This year, Brannock, who is an attorney, encouraged the BC students to explore their heritage, which he added, is more than just history.
“History, while important, is a record of facts,” Brannock said, “but heritage is an accumulation of traditions passed on to individuals — traditions that are internalized and made possible by the sacrifices of others before us.”
Brannock also challenged the students to consider not only the heritage that has been left to them, but also the heritage or legacy they hope to leave for others.
“Will you leave a legacy for others?” he asked the students. “I encourage you to go and explore your heritage, but to leave one for others, as well.”
Brannock said he was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the college's Baptist Heritage Day, because of the value of the relationship between BC and the BGAV.
“Bluefield College is a partner in ministry with the BGAV,” Brannock said. “We do things together that we couldn't do on our own. Our partnership began in the early 1920s when the BGAV planted the Bluefield College seed in southwest Virginia. It has continued productively for more than 80 years.”