JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—When James McCall was in his mid-teens, two men whom he had never met were laying the foundation for something that would make a world of difference in McCall’s life and in countless other lives.

The two men, Frank Faris, associational missionary for South Florida Association, and T.S. Boehm, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lakeland, envisioned offering theological education for God-called individuals who had only high school training. In 1943, the first classes for Florida Bible Institute were held in classrooms at Boehm’s church.

While the school was developing, McCall was also maturing. He had graduated from high school, served in the military, married and found employment. He seemed to have everything—except Christ. At 28 years old, through the urging of his wife to attend church, McCall made his profession of faith in Jesus at First Baptist Church in Pompano Beach.

A year later, McCall sensed a call from God into the pastoral ministry. Yet, at age 29, with a wife, two children and no college degree, McCall was unsure how to prepare for ministry.

By 1959, Faris and Boehm’s vision had become reality. The school, renamed Baptist Bible Institute, had moved to Graceville in 1953 and come under the ownership and direction of the Florida Baptist State Convention.

McCall and his family turned to BBI for the education he badly needed, moving to the Panhandle town.

“We had the best year of our life, to that point, because we were in God’s will and living on the campus of His school,” recalled McCall. “We were going to school all week learning theology, preaching, church history and religious education and then putting them into practice in the evenings and on weekends,” he said. He served as pastor of West Pittman Baptist Church in Westville from 1959 until 1963.

McCall invested time and energy in his studies at BBI and then continued his theological education at William Carey College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Still, BBI has held a fond place in his heart. “I wouldn’t give anything for my studies there,” he said.

After serving as pastor of three churches in Mississippi, McCall and his family returned to Florida in 1975, where he served as pastor First Baptist Church of Bonifay and First Baptist Church of Sebring, until he retired in 1993.

In his retirement, McCall stays busy, having served as chaplain for his alma mater in 1993-94; as interim for six Florida Baptist churches, and as pastor emeritus for the Sebring church.

“Jay McCall represents the epitome of what any school could hope for its alumni,” observed Thomas A. Kinchen, president of The Baptist College of Florida (formerly BBI). “Throughout his ministry in a county-seat Panhandle town to growing a thriving church in Sebring, Jay has kept his Lord first, his family dear to him and his loyalty to his alma mater as a focal point.”

Now in his mid-70’s, McCall is grateful for the two men who followed their hearts to establish and to others who nurtured the school.

“As the school has remained faithful to its purpose, it has grown to meet the needs of God-called people,” he reflected. “I can think of hundreds of graduates of the school all over our country and other parts of the world, faithfully making a difference in the lives of people.”