Jim Adcock Ken Baker Don Brewer Mark Clairday Tim Fowler Pi class prepares to preach Harding University has always had a visible commitment to the preaching of God's word. The Harding School of Biblical Studies (HSBS) was just another way of fulfilling that commitment. Established in 1974 as the Christian Communications Program, HSBS trained men to serve in churches and mission fields through a twoyear intensive study program. Besides textual studies, students practiced preaching in front of television cameras that recorded their style and delivery. A missionary training laboratory helped students master Bible material and learn modern foreign languages needed by missionaries. The HSBS curriculum consisted of 10 eight-week terms, with five terms scheduled each year. Four courses were completed during each term, with a recess of at least one week scheduled between terms. The school year was from August to July, and courses were taken in a planned, prescribed sequence. Ricardo Maia Dagorberto Martinez John F. Nerswick Yaw Buo Nkansah Masanobu Nonogaki 214 Endless Faces A new class was admitted annually in August, and a class graduated annually during the latter part of July or the first week of August. Two classes, a first-year class and a second-year class, were constantly enrolled. Each class was permanently and sequentially named for a letter of the Greek alphabet. The first -year class for the 1989-1990 school year , named the Pi class, was a potpourri of older and younger students, single men and married men with families; however, they all came with the single desire to serve God. Jim Adcock, 40, had been in the radio business for 25 years when he decided to return to school at HSBS. "I had heard about the program from friends who were former students," said Adcock. "My wife and I thought about what to do and we decided to come in August." Debbie Waller, 27, was one of two husband and wife teams in the Pi class enrolled at HSBS. "Preaching was something my husband always wanted to do," said Waller," so we both decided to come here and enroll. I figured this was the best way for me to learn the Bible. I also wanted to know what he was going through." For many of the older students in the Pi class, the transition from the work world to a strenuous school environment was difficult. "I had been out of school for 23 years , so it was a real adjustment for me, " said Adcock. "You go from an unrestricted job to being in a classroom situation from 8:00 to 4:00. But I'm making it. It's fun . I really enjoy it." For Waller, the change allowed her to see her husband more, since they took the same classes. "It has really helped our marriage because I'm around my husband more, " said Waller. "The work load is tough, but we can do it together. God has re all) blessed us, and we just wan1 to devote our lives to what· ever he wants us to do." --: Kathleen Eymar
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