Highest Potential with Steve Pettit

Bob Jones University is blessed with so many staff and faculty members who had an amazing career before God called them to minister at BJU. Mike Buiter is no exception.

Mike—who now serves as the Dean of the School of Business—began his career in business at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and God eventually allowed him to become the Vice President for Finance at Dr. Pepper. We’re very thankful to have Mike at BJU now and it was a thrill to hear his amazing story.

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November 3rd, 2020 is a big day in the United States as Americans will vote to elect the next president of the United States. To say that this is an anxious time for America would be an understatement. It’s also a very conflicting time for Christians because we’re living with a variety of emotions and thoughts about the future.

Friends, God is in control and we can trust that whatever happens, He will accomplish His will.

Today, I wanted to talk about the role of a Christian in our republic and how Christians can best communicate truth while discussing politics with others.

I first talk to Linda Abrams who is a history and political science professor here at Bob Jones University. Her expertise is in how conservative Christianity and the American political system interact. I then talk to Randy Page who serves as the director of public relations at BJU.

How many people do you know who have been positively impacted by the ministry of a Christian summer camp? I spent almost 30 years serving as the staff evangelist and the camp director at Northland Camp and Conference Center, and during that time, I saw God work powerfully in the lives of thousands of campers.

God saved our student host, Sarah Rumpf, at a Christian camp, so we discuss her experiences. And I’m very thankful that Dr. Rand Hummel stopped by my office to discuss the current state of camps and how The Wilds of New England is operating during COVID-19. I hope this episode gives you the burden to pray for Christian camps everywhere!

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Perseverance is a quality that the Bob Jones University students are learning and practicing as we crossed the mid-point of this semester. God has truly blessed us and has allowed the University family to remain mostly healthy. Please continue to pray for his protection for our students, faculty and staff.

In today’s episode, I talk with students about several events that have taken place on campus. One of those events was the Senior Picnic. We discuss what senior year means for students and the history of the Senior Picnic.

Additionally, this past week we celebrated Bruins Spirit Week and Virtual Homecoming. I welcome our men’s and women’s student body presidents to my office to discuss the events of the week. I also ask them for an update on how the students are handling the pressures of school life.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks here on the campus of Bob Jones University!

As most of you know, this September 11th was the 19th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that forever changed our country. That day, 2,977 people lost their lives. To commemorate this somber anniversary, BJU set up several memorials to honor and remember the victims of the attack.

In addition to those memorials, BJU hosted an ROTC contracting ceremony where several of our Army and Air Force cadets signed their contracts to serve those branches when they graduate from the program. I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to catch up with Joshua Bakr who became the first commissioned officer to graduate from BJU’s ROTC program.

Take a listen!

One of my favorite aspects of this podcast is the opportunity to get to know the students who helps me host the show.

In this short bonus episode, I’m happy to introduce you to our new host for this year—Sarah Rumpf, a senior communications major from Massachusetts.

Be sure to stay tuned to this podcast feed to get Sarah’s perspective on the important topics we discuss!

It’s good to be back! After a bit of a summer lull, I’m excited to more consistently talk to you through this podcast again. In this new episode, I have a great conversation with Dr. Neal Cushman, the new Dean of the Bob Jones University Seminary. In our conversation, Dr. Cushman and I discuss the history of the seminary, and its new and exciting initiatives.

This episode is also special because we introduce a new student host—Sarah Rumpf, a senior communications major. Sarah will join me each week to provide you with a student’s perspective, and to provide me with a little company! This week, Sarah shares with us how the students are handling the new health protocols BJU implemented this semester to combat COVID-19.

If you’d like to get to know Sarah a little better, you can listen to the bonus episode I recorded with her (which is also in this podcast feed). She’s a great student, and I couldn’t be more excited to have her co-host with me.

I look forward to welcoming the BJU community back to campus as we return to on-campus, in-person classes for fall 2020. As we begin the semester, the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and community continues to be our highest priority.

We’re making plans based upon the best and most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and local health officials – which includes physical distancing and other protective measures.

I sit down with Dr. Alan Benson in my office and discuss how BJU is working to make our campus safe for all our students for this fall semester.

Learn more here >> https://www.bju.edu/return-to-campus/

Dr. Steve Pettit welcomes to his office Dr. Neal Ring – the Bruins Athletic Director – to discuss the news that the BJU Bruins have been approved for provisional NCAA Division III membership.

What does this news mean and what will change within the Bruins athletic department? Dr. Pettit and Dr. Ring answer those questions and share some history of athletics at BJU.

Learn more about the announcement here >> https://bit.ly/BruinsDIII

Dr. Kevin Oberlin – Associate Dean of The School of Religion at BJU – joins me in my office to discuss how churches and pastors are continuing to shepherd their congregations even though many are unable to meet together. Dr. Oberlin also shares a ministry that he leads called the "Pastor's Prayer Huddle."

I hope this conversation encourages you to pray for your church's leadership as they make important decisions on when to return to in-person services and how to keep congregants connected to the Church Body during the coronavirus pandemic.