Short Circuit Vol 2 Num 6

Short Circuit

Volume 2

Number 6

November 2001

CAMPUS BIBLE FELLOWSHIP - FAIRBORN, OHIO

Campus Bible Fellowship has had an active ministry in the Dayton/Fairborn area of Southwestern Ohio since 1975. In April of that year, Baptist Mid-Missions/CBF missionaries Larry and Carolyn Abbott arrived in Fairborn to assist the Grand Avenue Baptist Church and several area churches in an effort to reach over 150,000 students on campuses within an hour's drive. The Abbotts were "on loan" from their home base in Ankeny, Iowa, for one year and returned to Iowa in the Spring of 1976, leaving the ministry in the hands of the Xenia Area Liaison Committee.

During the year the Abbotts spent in establishing the work in Fairborn, Gary Holtz, on active duty with the United States Air Force and serving as chairman of the XALC, along with his wife, Betty, were sensing God's direction into full-time ministry with CBF. The Holtzs were appointed as CBF missionaries with Baptist Mid-Missions in July of 1976 and continued to develop the Fairborn/Dayton work even during their time of deputation. Kay Lamb joined CBF Team Fairborn in the Summer of 1987 after serving with BMM in Chad, Africa (until being evacuated in 1973), and then with CBF at the University of Northern Iowa and at Indiana University/Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Over the past 26 years, CBF has ministered on a number of campuses in the Miami Valley. The current ministry is focused on Wright State University in Fairborn and Sinclair Community College in Dayton. Wright State University serves 15,000 students, approximately 80% of whom are commuters. 12,000 students drive to campus each day; as a result, parking is a major issue with WSU students. Located adjacent to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, the student body includes a number of active duty military and civilian employees. Base resources provide adjunct professors, joint research facilities and unique internship opportunities. In addition, Wright State is recognized nationally for its accessibility to students who are physically challenged. An underground tunnel system connects all of the academic buildings with one of the campus residence halls, and special accommodations are made throughout the campus for physically challenged students who come from across the country.

Sinclair Community College, located in the heart of downtown Dayton, is home to over 22,000 students, all of whom commute. Traditional, full-time students are outnumbered by part-time students who include career workers improving their skills, senior citizens fulfilling life-long educational goals, and those taking short-term enrichment courses. This two year school has a strong emphasis on technical and medical skills but also provides a full menu of academic opportunities.

The fact that over 85% of the students from these two schools commute daily to campus, some from as far away as 40-50 miles, dictates that CBF activities must be adapted to meet their schedules. As a result, weekly Bible studies are held on campus during and around the noon hour. Discipleship studies must also be scheduled around busy class and work schedules. A number of activities during the year bring together students from both schools for fellowship and encouragement. One such major activity is the annual International Thanksgiving dinner which this year hosted 112 people, including 61 international students and family members representing 12 different nations. A strong host family program participation, in conjunction with Wright State University, allows many of the local church families to interact with the international students and to share Christ's love with this mission field at our doorstep.

While Fairborn/Dayton has a significant history with CBF, there remain many unmet challenges. In the immediate area and without CBF presence of any kind, are the University of Dayton, Central State University, Wilberforce University and Antioch University. An hour's drive to the west is Miami University; within an hour and a half to the south are the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, Thomas More University and the University of Northern Kentucky. An hour to the north is Wittenberg University, Clark State College and Urbana University, and a one hour drive east would take one past the Ohio State University, Capital University and several smaller schools. The mission fields of Southwestern Ohio are truly white unto harvest - but the laborers are few. We are praying that God will provide 3-4 additional staff workers for this area in the very near future.

Click on the pictures to zoom in.

Staff worker Kay Lamb (right) and student officer Holly Henderson (left) represent CBF at the Fall Club Fair at Sinclair Community College.


With 22,000 commuter students on campus at Sinclair daily, parking is always an issue.