Message from Dr. Brian Priest

A little more than twenty years ago, after accepting Jesus Christ as my personal savior, I transferred from a secular college to Bob Jones University. Since my graduation from BJU in 1980, I matriculated at New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey; finished a general surgery residency at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; completed two years of immunology and transplant research at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota; finished a residency in cardiac surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio; and in 1994 began the practice of cardiac surgery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Of all the places I have trained, of all the places I have lived, of all the people of reputation I have met over the last twenty years, no place can compare with Bob Jones University and the effect that it has had on this physician's life. Medical school trained my mind, residency trained my hands, and research sharpened my thinking, but only BJU trained my heart to love, honor, and serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am grateful to Bob Jones University for many things. Having transferred from a secular school known for its great "premed" training, I found my course work at BJU to be thorough and more comprehensive than its secular counterpart. I was well prepared by my teachers at BJU for medical school and for my research work that followed. BJU taught me how to budget my time and set priorities, necessary skills in every field of work. BJU even provided me with my wife and loving companion of 19 years, Marianne (Dietrich) Priest.

However, the most outstanding and memorable attribute of Bob Jones University was not its buildings, rules, or course work, but rather its people. Many classrooms in America allowed one to discuss the laws of physics, but only at BJU did I have teachers, classmates, and friends who would discuss the God Who created those laws. I remembered preachers, committed to the Lord, who would exhort us daily at chapel to trust God, to seek His will for our lives, and to "do right."

How could anyone forget Bob Jones Jr., Ian Paisley, Bob Jones III, Bob Wood, Rod Bell, (and the list goes on)?

How could I forget those teachers and mentors in biology, chemistry, and physics who passed up lucrative salaries in the private sector so that they could teach the student body at Bob Jones University. During those years at BJU, I saw the sacrifices that many preachers and teachers made to sustain the University. At that time, the Lord burdened my heart to help the University in some capacity; but after 20 years, would the mission and attitude of BJU still be the same?

One of the most uplifting events I've ever attended was my 20-year class reunion. The faces and smiles were just as I remembered them (albeit the waistlines needed some improving). The most enjoyable part of that gathering, though, was an evening I spent at dinner with several of the faculty: George Matzko and Brian Vogt of the science faculty, Kris Martin from the business school, and Bruce Cox from the music faculty.

I was very blunt when I questioned each of these men about the University: How are the attitudes of the faculty, and how are the attitudes of the new students?

The answers to these questions came back with equal force, delivered with a smile from each of the men: Bob Jones University is firmly devoted to training God's young men and women for careers and ministries, the attitudes of the teachers are great, and the men and women that attend this university have willing spirits and servants hearts. Twenty years later, the mission of BJU has not changed, and the students of BJU still seek to serve God.

Over the years, countless graduates from the science and engineering departments have moved on to great jobs in medicine, research, and industry. Until now, we have been the "quiet beneficiaries" of the sacrifice that our teachers made for us at BJU.

In this context, God has burdened my heart to help the science and engineering departments at BJU by establishing an endowment fund. This fund would be used to endow chairs in biology, chemistry and physics, and engineering and would provide funding for buildings, classroom improvements, new equipment, scholarships, and faculty development.

At a time when our country has become the technological backbone of the world, what university would be better positioned to send Christian graduates into these industries? Silicon Valley, medical schools, and biomedical research firms eventually become our mission fields in life.

Seldom has God chosen the mightiest or richest of men to accomplish his goals. God chose the second-born Jacob over his brother Esau. God chose the lowly shepherd boy, David, over the tall and mighty Saul to lead Israel.

I believe that God will bless Bob Jones University, not through the generosity of some anonymous industrial giant, but rather through the faithful giving and determination of its many alumni and friends who share the same God-given beliefs and goals of BJU. By God's grace, I believe that we can impact the science and engineering departments at BJU, making them the undisputed best among Christian colleges.

There is much we can do to help Bob Jones University to remain the number one training ground for Christian doctors, researchers, engineers, and other professionals.

I believe that the time has come for the "quiet beneficiaries" of Bob Jones University to step forward and help our school become the best in science, leaving a legacy for our children and our friend's children in a way that honors our Lord. Please join me in helping BJU achieve this goal through the Science and Engineering Endowment.

Dr. Brian Priest