Father, daughter make college family affair

GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Father and daughter duo Olan Strickland and Jessica Foster walked the stage in the May 13 graduation ceremony in a fitting end to their academic journey at The Baptist College of Florida (BCF). The poignant ceremony was a far cry from the beginning of their journey just four years ago.

It wasn’t exactly what might be called kicking and screaming, but it’s fair to say that the Strickland family’s first visit to The Baptist College of Florida in January, 2001 was not one of pure delight. Olan had recently surrendered to a call to ministry when he made the first trip to Graceville with his wife, Rosie, 18-year-old daughter, Jessica, and 15-year old son, Justin.

Their Claxton, Ga., home was all the family had ever known and the strong-willed high-school freshman, Justin, was quick to point out that he had no plans to even change churches to follow his dad’s ministry, much less re-locate to a small town over 300 miles away. Jessica, too, had her own plans. Already accepted at another college, she planned to begin in the fall with her best friend as a roommate. Rosie was supportive of her husband, but equally apprehensive about the possibility of a move.

Despite objections, the family piled in the car for a road trip to visit the college recommended by their pastor and BCF alum. The trip proved not only a confirmation for Olan, but a revelation by God to the entire family that would result in a truly life-changing experience.

Jessica remembers the trip vividly as the family sat in on two classes. Then after a quick lunch in the college’s dining hall she and her mom stopped by the restroom before heading home. That’s where she says the realization was just too great.

“I just started bawling my eyes out,” remembers Jessica. “I just knew God was telling me this was the place I was supposed to be.” Even before leaving the campus she had decided that no matter what her family decided, she would attend BCF in the fall.

It was the same realization for each member of the family. For Olan, the confirmation came through the scripture being studied during the visit to Mark Rathel’s class. Olan says while it took him a little longer, wife Rosie knew this was the right move all along. “She knew before I knew,” explains Olan. “But we were born and raised in Claxton, so it was pretty tough for us.”

The biggest shock came on the drive home when Justin asked, “Daddy, when can we tell everybody we’re moving?” Olan couldn’t believe the turn around in just a few hours time from total rebellion to the idea of moving to total submission. “We knew after that God had worked in all of our hearts,” explains Olan. “And this is where we were supposed to be.” Jessica has a different outlook on the experience, good-naturedly joking with a twinkle in her eye as she looks at her dad, “I tell everyone Dad didn’t want to let me go, so he followed me to college.”

Father and daughter enrolled inclasses the next fall, but the move proved only the beginning of the changes in the family’s life. Jessica quickly joined BCF’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries where she traveled with other students to minister to youth and children’s groups in the tri-state area. On the way home from a ministry trip that September she was in an accident that resulted in the death of three of her classmates.

While it was a difficult time for the college freshman, Jessica used the experience to deepen both her walk with God and to minister to others. “God got me through it,” she explains, “and it has been a way to talk to others about God’s protection and God’s love for us.”

With the crisis behind them, the father and daughter continued their full-time studies. Olan was called as bi-vocational pastor of Devco Baptist Church in Geneva, Alabama, where he still serves today. Rosie began to work outside of the home for the first time in her life. First in the college’s daycare and later as secretary to the director of student services, she was greatly expanding her horizons and making the college experience truly a family affair. Justin did his part completing his education through home-school and also working part-time at the college.

Jessica was married in June, 2003 to fellow student Ryan Foster whom she met in J.W. Lee’s Old Testament class.

“He made eyes at me,” Jessica explained giggling as dad looked on, beaming, “but he didn’t know my dad was in the same class.” Dad quickly came around and welcomed Ryan to the family. Ryan now serves as youth pastor under his father-in-law’s leadership at Devco Baptist Church.

As siblings often prove not to be outdone, Justin, now 19, is working full-time at a local business in Graceville and has found a sweetheart of his own at BCF to whom he recently proposed.

Now that the entire family is all grown up with father and daughter graduated with degrees in theology and Christian education respectively, they say they would “do it again in a heartbeat.” And, apparently they liked Graceville so much that they plan to stay. Olan says now he “couldn’t drag Rosie away” from the job she loves at BCF. He will continue as pastor of Devco and continue his studies at BCF’s graduate school scheduled to begin offering classes in the fall of 2006. Jessica has a job lined up at a local drugstore where she will work while waiting for her husband to finish his degree.

The pair says the move to BCF has been a life changing experience. “Now I can look back and see that education is what I needed to answer the call to God,” said Olan. Just as important is the spiritual growth the whole family has experienced. “It’s been a good exercise of faith. We’ve watched God open doors only God could open. We’ve watched God provide in only ways God could provide. We’ve all grown,” he said.

The father and daughter pair were two of 47 graduates in the college’s spring graduation ceremony held recently.

Continuing the family tradition also were two husband and wife duos.