Mr. Chairman, and members of the Board of Trustees; Colleagues on the Administration; Faculty, and Staff; ASB Officers; Bethany Students, and Alumni; Presidents and Delegates from Institutions of Higher Education; Dignitaries from the Community; Church Pastors; Leaders and Delegates; Family and Friends, welcome to Bethany College, and thank you for being here today at this inaugural event. What a joy to see so many familiar faces and meeting so many new friends. Thank you, one and all for being here today!

Ladies and gentlemen, let me welcome you today to a Pentecostal College! Please feel free to clap your hands and praise the Lord as often as you wish!

In 1997, when Dr. Everett Wilson became President of Bethany College, Bethany faced a very uncertain future. The challenges before the new President would seem insurmountable to a common man. But Everett Wilson is not a common man.

With his characteristic enthusiasm and exceptional optimism, Dr. Wilson rebuilt the trust between the College and its constituent churches and alumni; he stabilized the finances, began improving the conditions of the facilities, and led a successful effort to achieve reaffirmation of the College’s academic accreditation.

Dr. Wilson wrote and published the history of Bethany College on the occasion of the College’s 75th Anniversary.

And today, I am overjoyed to announce that the Board of Trustees of Bethany College has unanimously and enthusiastically voted to confer the title of President Emeritus to Dr. Everett Wilson, with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto.

Dr. Everett and Lois Wilson, please come forward. (Pause)

I am thankful that today I am following in the footsteps of a most excellent President, Dr. Everett Wilson. I am delighted to present this beautiful award to President Emeritus Dr. Everett Wilson, and the award reads: “In Recognition of a Lifetime of Dedicated Service Culminating in the College Presidency 1997-2003.” [Bouquet of roses presented to Mrs. Wilson.]

Will you join me in extending our heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Everett Wilson? (Applause)

I am going to ask you now to hold your applause until I name a few more individuals. Thank you.

I want to extend my gratitude and appreciation to the Board of Trustees of Bethany College. Let me tell you: these 30 men and women are true Christian heroes. They serve and labor on behalf of the College endlessly, often giving sacrificially of their time, their energy, and their resources.

I have called on this Board of Trustees at all hours of the day, night, and on holidays, and have always found encouragement, support, and assistance. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our District Superintendent, Reverend Glen Cole; our District Secretary-Treasurer and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Reverend Richard Hopping; and our Assistant Superintendent, Reverend James Braddy. Thank you!

I am eternally indebted to Mr. Tom Balch, past Chairman of the President’s Committee, and Rev. Sammy Vasquez new Chairman of the President’s Committee; to Reverend Tene Shake, Chairman of the College Advancement Committee;

Mr. Barrie Laing, Chairman of the Polity Committee; Reverend Dr. Jay Herndon, Chairman of the Academic Life Committee; Reverend Peter Vossler, Chairman of the Finance Committee;

Mr. Warren McNely, Chairman of the Campus Development Committee; and, Reverend Dean Sanner, Chairman of the Student Life Committee. Thank you, my dear friends. It is a true joy to serve with you.

Everyone here today stands on someone else’s shoulders. I am certainly no exception. To my father, Máximo Rossi, Sr., who flew here recently, from the Dominican Republic, my uncle Pascual Dario Rossi from Queens, New York, my sister and niece Dr. Jacqueline Rossi-Tabares and Alexa from Connecticut, my sister Maritza from Florida, thank you all for being here today!

Rev. Graziano Michael Sanzo, Rev. Mark Eccher, and Sister Mary Grace Eccher, spiritual mentors who invested in me, trained me, and discipled me, when I was just a heady, brash and impatient teenager. [Hello Joshua!]

Time fails me to say thank you adequately to all of these pillars on whose shoulders I am standing today. May the Lord reward you and grant you His choicest blessings on this earth, and in the life to come!

Will you now join me in acknowledging and in thanking these magnificent people today? (Applause) Thank you!

My wonderful wife and helpmeet, Olympia, who has been faithfully by my side through thick and thin, for nearly 23 years, and who will make a grand First Lady at Bethany College (Honey, will you please join me on the platform?);

My five children Joshua, Rachel, Joy, Becky and Melissa (Please, will you also come to the platform?). Thank you guys! I love you all very much! Will you now join me in welcoming the rest of the family to Bethany College? (Applause)

Yes, yes, we are standing tall today because we are standing on the shoulders of our founders and forebears: Robert and Mary Craig whose extraordinary vision nearly one hundred years ago, in 1919, led them to create a training school in San Francisco which came to be known as Glad Tidings Bible Institute.

This training school became Bethany Bible College, relocating to the mountains of Santa Cruz in 1950, and gaining full accreditation in 1966 through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. In 1990 the name was changed to Bethany College of the Assemblies of God.

Now, nearly one hundred years later, the College has had 13 Presidents. Nearly one hundred years later, many, many excellent Soldiers of Christ have served, labored, and given to keep the founders’ vision going and growing, and today, you are inaugurating the 14th President of Bethany College. We must not disappoint this great cloud of witnesses.

The heart is strong! The Calling is palpable! The mind is focused! The vision is clear! The arm is ready! And God’s work continues!

Somebody say Praise the Lord!

We are not a perfect denomination. We are not a perfect people. But we are called to a perfect mission by a perfect God.

Like Jesus, we can state “The Spirit of the Lord is upon us, because He has anointed us, to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent us to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of our Lord.”

Firmly anchored in our Pentecostal tradition, we are called to preach, to teach, to baptize, to feed, to heal, to make disciples, to train leaders, and to provide leadership for the Church and for our society.

Bethany College is irrevocably committed to being an outstanding Bible college, which gives Christ preeminence in all things, while providing side by side exceptional courses of study in the Arts and Humanities, the Sciences, and the Professional Fields, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Our students will be marked by the ongoing development of their Character, Leadership, Ministry, Intercultural awareness, and Professional excellence!

Let me be perfectly clear today: On this, our sacred calling, on this hallowed mission, there will be no compromise!

Some today are asking, “How did you get here, Max Rossi?” Like many of you, and many before us, I too know abandonment, fear, struggle, disappointment, despair, and embarrassment because some thought you were never good enough.

Like Jesus, I was born with several strikes against me. On a sad Dominican morning in November of 1959, a young, unwed, frightened, and starving mother dropped a 9-month old baby on a grandmother’s lap and ran away because she knew that she and the baby would starve otherwise.

Amidst bitter and desperate tears, on that dismal morning, my heartbroken mother left without me, as quickly as she had arrived. Thank the Lord for a grandmother who took me in, and taught me the fear of God, and the value of prayer. My paternal grandmother planted the seed of godliness in my life, and convinced me that as a son of God, I was privileged, and the Almighty Heavenly Father always heard the prayers of a child first.

She persuaded me to believe that because of God I was destined for greatness. She made every effort to convince everybody else that this child, although unexpectedly arrived, had a divine purpose.

You see, to my grandmother it did not matter where you came from, what mattered to her was where you were going! To her, it was never if you get there, it was always when you get there!

The other kid was usually bruised and bleeding, but according to my grandmother, it was always his fault!

Detention after school? We’ll just have to go see this teacher about that! My grandmother never looked at things as they were. She always saw things as they could be! She, in fact, saw things as they should be, and as they ought to be!

On June 20th 2002, at 5:00 AM I received the telephone call that my grandmother had passed away in her sleep. She was 92 years old. I immediately flew to the Dominican Republic to assist with the funeral and to give the eulogy.

Family and friends came from everywhere for her home going. Were she alive today, I can just picture her standing tall, with her chest sticking out, shouting to people passing by in the streets of Santo Domingo, “My boy is the president of Bethany College in California! See?? I told you so!”

This journey has taught me many things: I have learned that we must love people and use things; that we must hold on to earthly things with a very light grip as it is certain that they will pass away; that we must live with the light of eternity in mind;

That we should surround ourselves and listen to godly people; that if one lacks wisdom, he should ask of God; that leaders should be swift to hear, but slow to speak; that it is good to cry with those who cry, and rejoice with those who have cause to rejoice;

That we must encourage one another, build up each other, and forgive one another because our battle is not against flesh and blood; that Christians must seek to serve, and not to be served; that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning!

Now, I am told of a young man who had grown up in the church. He attended the local assembly, sang in the choir, and was involved in all aspects of the music ministry of his church. As he came of age he decided to strike out on his own and pursue a career singing professionally in the big city.

He met with failure after failure, and profound disappointment. One day, deeply disillusioned he had a spiritual awakening. It is as though the very scales fell from his eyes, and for the first time in a long time his vision became clear again.

He was once again filled with hope for a brighter tomorrow. Clear spiritual vision can lead us to greater heights and unhindered success. As with Elisha’s servant in Second Kings Chapter 6, clarity of vision can help you see that those with you are greater and more powerful than those against you.

How many here today can see clearly now? How clear is your vision today?

This is our clear directional vision today, for Bethany College, to be accomplished by the year 2012. Bethany 2012 grew out of prayer, internal conversations and discussions between the president, the trustees, the faculty, the staff, and the students.

The vision took shape and was sharpened though wide meetings and dialogue across the campus both electronically and through Chapel. We presented the Vision at the Ministers Retreat, at the Retreat of the Board of Trustees, and at the District Presbytery meetings.

We brought the vision to the churches of the District and invited input from pastors and congregations.

The reactions were overwhelmingly supportive and enthusiastic. At the Presbytery Meeting of November 24th, there was a unanimous resolution to endorse Bethany 2012, and right on the spot one hundred percent of the Presbyters made significant personal financial contributions to help kick off, and make this vision a reality.

That was a great spot to Praise the Lord!

Together, with a clear and shared vision, we can achieve the future that can be; indeed, together, we can achieve the future that must be.

Praise the Lord Somebody!

When is a College great?
1) A College is great when its students and graduates are more concerned with servanthood than moneymaking.

When is a College great?
2) A College is great when it is more concerned with the size of its character than the size of its budget.

When is a College great?
3) A College is great when it is more mindful of being true to its mission than making the headlines of US News Report magazine.

When is a College great?
4) A College is truly great when it is more concerned with eternal souls than the size of its endowment.

When is a College great?
5) A College is great when it chooses to stand as the Shining City on a hill that cannot be hidden!

When is a College great?
6) A College becomes greater still when it has the courage to embrace responsibility for its own legacy.

When is a College great?
7) A College becomes even greater still when it recognizes the urgency of the times and rejects complacency.

However, the greatness of a College diminishes when it focuses on the present obstacles rather than new long-term vision, and God’s promises.

Bethany College is great, and it will be greater still, with God’s help, and with your support!

So, then, let us embrace a sense of urgency, but let us never rush ahead of God!

Let us embrace a sense of expectation, but let us never lag behind God!

Let us fine tune our timing to walk with God, and work with God, to be partners with God!

1) God’s gracious hand of blessing has already provided us with the Lead Gift of $1 Million toward the construction of the new Residence Hall! The total amount raised to date for the new Residence Hall now stands at $1 Million 37 Thousand dollars.

2) Earlier this month, the College acquired new additional real estate property in excess of $1.5 Million.

3) Many of our Endowed Scholarship Funds now stand at tens of thousands of dollars.

4) Gifts and grants are arriving daily, and God has shown us His faithfulness.

5) Just two and a half weeks ago, on January 21st, 2004, Bethany College had the distinct privilege of welcoming Ms. Yolanda King, the eldest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, as the Memorial Chapel speaker at a glorious standing-room-only event.

Afterwards, Yolanda embraced me and said to me: “I love the complexion of Bethany College, and I can see that God will bless your tenure here!”

As I prepare to conclude now, the vision for Bethany College for the next nine years has been cast!

Let us now come together and link arms as one!

Let us roll up our sleeves, and roll out to action!

Let us put our hands to the plow, and forge ahead!

Let us embrace the day, and reach up and out for a brighter tomorrow, filled with hope, harmony and holiness!

Let us seek divine understanding and clarity of mind through our Lord Jesus Christ. Together we will leave the woodpile a little higher than we found it!

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Praise the Lord Somebody!

Brightly beams our Father's mercy from His lighthouse evermore, But to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore. Dark the night of sin has settled, loud the angry billows roar; Eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights, along the shore. Let the lower lights be burning! Let the lower lights be burning!

Thank you and God Bless You! (Dr. Rossi paused at the podium)

Will you now stand with me and offer the Lord a big hand of praise!

Please remain standing and turn in your program or to the screens in the front and recite the following Charge of Dedication with me:

Charge of Dedication

President: With God’s help, I dedicate myself, my energies, my time, my office, and every resource available to me to pray, to lead, to serve, to love, to nurture, to support, and to affirm the faculty, the staff, the students, the trustees, the churches, the District, and the entire constituency of Bethany College.

Trustees: With God’s help, I dedicate myself, my time, my energy, and my resources to support the ministry of Bethany College.

Faculty: With God’s help, I dedicate myself to teach, to encourage, to model, to love, to nurture, and to instruct my students competently, adeptly, and professionally.

Staff and Administrators: With God’s help, I dedicate myself to discharge my duties and responsibilities conscientiously, capably, and efficiently.

Students: With God’s help, I dedicate myself to study, to learn, to use my time effectively, and to honestly and actively pursue truth and knowledge.

Everyone: With God’s help, we dedicate ourselves to pray, to support, and to assist the Kingdom-building work of Bethany College.