Bible institute looks to future, reflects on past
SLATE LICK, Armstrong County — Seventy-five years ago, 927 Freeport Road in Slate Lick was sheltered by white oaks. It still is, despite the addition of Exit 18 of Route 28, the Northpointe complex a stone's throw north of the property and other changes in the surrounding Armstrong County neighborhood.
On Oct. 12, the Biblical Life Institute, formerly Transylvania Bible School, standing under those white oaks will celebrate its 75th anniversary. It is one of only a handful of Bible schools founded early in the last century still in existence.
In 1936, the spot was the White Oak Camp, a service station, dance hall and tourist camp.
Then Henry Shilling, a Methodist minister, bought the camp for a school and church and named it Transylvania Bible School. The first class began in September 1938.
“Dr. Shilling's dream was to have a church. His second dream was to have a college or a seminary,” said the Rev. Lucille Shilling, daughter-in-law of the founder.
“Because of 75 years of Christian education, successful missionaries, pastors and Christian workers are scattered throughout the U.S. and some foreign countries due to the affordable opportunity they obtained at a solid Bible-based institution. That's what we're all about,” said Shilling.
“The heyday of the school was in the late '50s and early '60s with more than 60 students,” said the Rev. Gary Bailey, the sixth and current president of Biblical Life Institute.
According to Shilling, students at the school have a call to serve.
Beginning in 1940, that service included working on the school grounds up to five hours a day and spending one summer working on the campus. Through the work-study program, students built much of the handsome stone and wood school building themselves.
The students used local materials from a nearby quarry and forests to build what now houses the classrooms, chapel, library, administrative offices, dorm rooms, dining room, kitchen and student lounge.
The work-study concept is still an important part of student life and education every Friday.“Last week we helped the Freeport Rennaisance Association,” said Bailey. “We can work in parks and municipal buildings. We want to get back into the community more. It helps the students and the community. It builds bridges.”“I think it's good discipline,” said Joe Jewart, a student from Natrona Heights.“It keeps us humble,” said Roger Trudgen, a student from Kittanning.Both students are Bible majors.“They get a fabulous Bible education for ministry,” said Shilling. “They are equipped. We don't teach a denomination, we accept students from all denominations. Some come just for the basic injection in spiritual things and more knowledge of the Bible.”The school's five full-time students are Baptist, Christian Missionary Alliance, Anglican, Presbyterian and Free Methodist. Four part-time students and eight auditors also take classes.“Conservative evangelical is probably what we are,” said Bailey.Bailey, formerly a pastor in the Beaver Falls area, came to the school to teach Greek while he was working on his doctoral degree. Then, while serving on the school's board of directors, he had the opportunity to become the school's president in January.“I've dreamed of a place that would combine academics and Christian community. To combine these two things has been a dream I never thought I would do,” said Bailey. “I was called here to lead the school.”“In the past two decades the school has worked to survive with nontraditional students — older students, part-time students and auditing students,” said Bailey.The school offers a diploma and two certificate programs. Because of its size, the school cannot grant degrees or call the school a college. However, work toward Pennsylvania accreditation is in progress.“This year my focus is on traditional students. That is, young, full-time students living on campus. This year, we have five traditional students. We have not had that for years,” said Bailey.“There are three things that would bring our students. One, our academics are challenging. Second, and part of our uniqueness, is that we are faith-based in everything we do. We try to have an intentionally Christian community. We have prayer three times a day. We talk about theology over the dinner table. We're trying to help our students live in the Christian life, not just learn about it. Third, scholarship incentives,” said Bailey.Henry Shilling started the school's general endowment with his mother's Civil War pension. Strengthening the school's endowments with donations but without denominational support, makes revitalizing the school possible. Bailey and Shilling have faith in God's provision.“I'm excited about the future,” said Shilling. “It is fresh and new and younger thinking. The generation today is different from what it was 50 years ago.”Shilling has been on campus for 53 years. She graduated from the school in 1965, married Henry Clay Shilling, son of founder Henry Shilling and worked at the institute as a full-time business manager.Today's 164-acre wooded campus includes the main building, five rental homes, leased farm land and a lake. Gracepoint Community Church on the campus, where Shilling is the pastor, operates independently.“It's very peaceful,” said Trudgen.BLI is not a closed community. The school's lake is available for fishing and the school rents its facilities for meetings and retreats.Bailey's vision builds on Henry Shilling's dream as BLI moves beyond its 75th anniversary.“We need to know how to live the life,” said Bailey. “How do I be accountable to another in spiritual formation? How do I have regular times of prayer? How do I work with other people? How does that relate to my faith?”“I like the God-centeredness of it,” said Jewart.“What the school is becoming is a dream of mine,” said Bailey.
<b>Where: </b>Biblical Life Institute, 927 Freeport Road, Freeport<b>When: </b>October 11 and 12<b>Special events:<b>Oct. 11</b>• 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. — Community leader breakfast. RSVP by Monday to 724-295-2464. (There will be no financial solicitation.)• 7 p.m. — Concert by Brian Campbell, graduate of Knoch High School and Grove City College, and nationally recognized contemporary Christian musician. Call 724-295-2464 for ticket reservations.<b>Oct. 12</B>• 9 a.m. — Prayer walk around campus to rededicate the school• 10 a.m. — Homecoming for former students and friends• 11 a.m. — Anniversary celebration• Noon — School and community picnic
