Back in the day, when I was a student at Philadelphia College of Bible (now Cairn University), we used to play a school from Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania called Baptist Bible College (BBC). The BBC Defenders basketball team dominated the now-defunct North Atlantic Christian Conference of the National Christian College Athletic Association–Division II. The Defenders were coached by a Tim LaHaye look-a-like named Jim Huckaby. He and his successor Russ Howard coached some great players. I remember some of them well–Rick Harrison, Paul Sorber, Scott Huckaby, and Dan Seeley come immediately to mind. We beat BBC only one time during my years at Philadelphia College of Bible. It was a last second-thriller that ignited a massive on-court celebration at our home gym.
Baptist Bible College was affiliated with a fundamentalist denomination called the General Association of Regular Baptists (GARB). I am not sure if it is still a GARB school or if it went the way of Cornerstone University and Cedarville University and broke ties with the denomination. Whatever the case, today the school is called Clarks Summit University. (The university still plays Cairn twice a year as part of the United East Conference).
Like many small Christian schools, Clark Summit University is in financial trouble. Here is Sarah Hofius Hall of WVIA News:
On probation from its accrediting agency and facing serious financial troubles, Clarks Summit University turns to faith and volunteers.
As colleges nationwide respond to shrinking enrollment and rising costs, the Lackawanna County school furloughed all employees this month.
More than 50 of those employees have volunteered to keep the Baptist college open through the summer, preparing to welcome an incoming class in the fall.
“Obviously you can’t make anybody volunteer, and they’re doing it anyway… We want the furlough to be absolutely as short as it could possibly be,” said James Lytle, university president. “As Christians, we’re committed to prayer, and we’re committed to trusting God, and I really do believe that ultimately, he’s the one who provides everything good.”
The volunteers answer questions from students, maintain facilities and plan for new courses and curriculum. Last week, volunteers prepared to submit a plan required by the school’s accrediting agency in case of closure.
They also pray.
Mike Show accepted Christ as his savior as a 19-year-old student at the school. He played basketball for the Defenders and spent two decades coaching the team. He now works as athletic director. For the summer, he’s a volunteer.
“It’s a call that I feel that God has asked me to be here,” he said. “It’s a privilege to sacrifice and to work.”
Read the rest here.
BTW, of all the schools in the old North Atlantic Christian Conference, I think only Cairn, Clark Summit, Lancaster Bible College, and the University of Valley Forge still remain. Washington Bible College (which merged with Lancaster Bible College), Berkshire Christian College, Northeastern Bible College, and United Wesleyan College are long closed.