So, what kind of a HAC student were you?

[RAIDER]

Let's turn back the clock.  Let's go back to your days as a HAC student.  Let's start with your freshman year and work our way to graduation (if you made it that far). 

I'm not just asking about grades.  I'm not just asking about ministries.  Feel free to add that information if you like.  I'm wondering how you behaved.  I'm wondering about your adherence to the rules.  I'm asking about your attitude.  I'm asking about your perspective of HAC/FBCH while you were there.  What were you like as a student?

I realize this will probably take a few posts from most.  It will take some thinking.  Remember, you must throw away your current feelings about HAC/FBCH and put yourself back as a college student.  Let's go back, have some fun, and find out who you were.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

Going in, gung-ho loyalist who absorbed everything. When at HB, I was ignorant about some of the stuff going on or turned a blind eyd.

On graduation, I was cynical, distrusting, confused and hurt.

In between, I believe I developed a sense of observation and a bit of discernment.

 

[RAIDER]

The first post I will do will dwell on my freshman year.  I came from a dead GARBC church.  We sent many a student to Christian college.  Most attended Bob Jones, Pensacola, or Tennessee Temple.  I was the first student from our church to attend HAC.  Dr. Hyles' preaching and ads in the Sword were our starting point.

My first day at HAC I knew no one.  I was excited, yet very nervous.  I lived at Baptist City and did not have a car.  Attending the services at FBCH was like being in heaven.  The excitement level was tremendous.  The preaching was exciting and motivating.  The place was alive!  I would sit in the balcony on Sunday morning and evening.  I would sit in the front row on the bottom level on Wednesday evening.

Other students were friendly and helpful.  I was given some advice by an upperclassmen on who were the best teachers.  Several of my classes were enjoyable.  A couple were boring.  Church Ed was fantastic.  This was the first time that I had heard teaching on many of these practical topics.

I did my best to obey the rules.  Yes, I had an ornery streak, but I kept it under control.  I played intramural sports and enjoyed them very much.  I was in awe of some of the "high profile Hackers" as well as several of the staff members.

I knew FBCH was known for the bus ministry.  I signed up for draft day.  I was drafted by a bus captain who was bus ministry from head to toe - get out of HAC as early as possible on Saturday morning, don't return to HAC until 10:30 Saturday evening, get up and to the bus barn before daylight on Sunday, ride the night bus on Sunday night and return back to the dorm at 2:00 on Monday morning.  Our route was on the far side of Chicago and we had no car.  We were dropped off and stayed on foot all day.

I followed my bus captain's routine my complete freshman year.  Youth workers were deadbeats!  Those in other ministries were soft.  We were in the bus ministry of FBCH!!

I passed my classes, received few demerits, worked my bus route, took in all of the preaching and teaching that I could.  I was a bit like a hungry little bird.  I was a part of the greatest church and was privileged to call Dr. Hyles "my pastor".

I wasn't a Hacker by the true definition of the word, but I was developing Hacker tendencies. 

 

[kaba]

A scared 17 year old. But so excited to be in a Christian College!! I missed my family so much, my stomach was in knots. EVERYTHING was foreign to me. I watched people/events so I knew what was expected of me so not to make mistakes. Had two awesome roommates that were returning students. (Dorinda Vaugh and Sherry Nelson) They helped me and the other freshman so much that people thought we were returning students because we knew what to do!! Had never gone soul winning before was scared to death!! My sister and brother in law told me to get in division 5, but I had no clue what Division 5 meant! So I joined the phoster club because my freshman roommate did. Then by chance I found Division 5 and rode the Bus on Sunday. Loved all the people, but did not want to be noticed. Loved working in the kitchen, kept my mind busy. Hardly ate the first semester and lost a lot of weight. I had never heard preaching like Jack Hyles, he was easy to listen to and held my attention. I enjoyed the classes, easy but had hardly any time to study or do homework because I worked so many hours, did soul winning bus (sometimes), church, phoster club, bus on Sunday! In Mrs. Evans class I would silently say, not me not me when they were picking people to do devotions in front of the whole class!! Never got picked!! I felt very inadequate because I came from a public school not a Christian school. I did not have very much clothes-the summer before I went to school I had to start buying dresses and skirts. When my parents would come pick me up for a visit or for a holiday they would have my jeans in the car to put on!! I had good friends, enjoyed my work-scholarship job and loved the bus route but I just wish I could have had a better education.

 

[RAIDER]

When my parents would come pick me up for a visit or for a holiday they would have my jeans in the car to put on!!

Ah, ha!!!!  I knew you were a stinkin' (I love that word) rebel!

 

[Binaca Chugger]

Freshman: Regretfully attended
Sophomore: Headed into ministry - Desire for knowledge
Junior: Academic student disdained by most of the staff
Senior: Ready to leave and head into ministry

I was never a HACker.  I was never a ministry nut.  I kept the majority of the rules (noone could keep them all), studied hard, counseled with the few I trusted and ignored the rest of the whole culture.

 

[SwampHag]

I was a very strange student.  Most people thought I was way out there.  I didn't make many real friends.

I will say, I did and still do love the bus ministry and threw myself into it whole-heartedly.

I was *not* very good at hero worship so I never fit in.  Plus CF hated me from the first minute so...

.

 

[kaba]

When my parents would come pick me up for a visit or for a holiday they would have my jeans in the car to put on!!

Ah, ha!!!!  I knew you were a stinkin' (I love that word) rebel!

My freshman year I did not go out there to break the rules, but I got little demerits here and there that would cause me to get campused!! no dusting ( to their standards), no vacuuming (to their standards), forgetting to sign out or sign in. I think I failed dress check a couple times. I remember once on the bus I tapped a male bus workers shoulder and he jumped out of his skin!!!  Saw a lot of double standards that really bugged me, and gave me an attitude.

 

[RAIDER]

When my parents would come pick me up for a visit or for a holiday they would have my jeans in the car to put on!!

Ah, ha!!!!  I knew you were a stinkin' (I love that word) rebel!

My freshman year I did not go out there to break the rules, but I got little demerits here and there that would cause me to get campused!! no dusting ( to their standards), no vacuuming (to their standards), forgetting to sign out or sign in. I think I failed dress check a couple times. I remember once on the bus I tapped a male bus workers shoulder and he jumped out of his skin!!!  Saw a lot of double standards that really bugged me, and gave me an attitude.

And then you started dating the Hacker of Hackers. 

 

[kaba]

When my parents would come pick me up for a visit or for a holiday they would have my jeans in the car to put on!!

Ah, ha!!!!  I knew you were a stinkin' (I love that word) rebel!

My freshman year I did not go out there to break the rules, but I got little demerits here and there that would cause me to get campused!! no dusting ( to their standards), no vacuuming (to their standards), forgetting to sign out or sign in. I think I failed dress check a couple times. I remember once on the bus I tapped a male bus workers shoulder and he jumped out of his skin!!!  Saw a lot of double standards that really bugged me, and gave me an attitude.

And then you started dating the Hacker of Hackers. 

He was/is a closet liberal!!!

 

[RAIDER]

When my parents would come pick me up for a visit or for a holiday they would have my jeans in the car to put on!!

Ah, ha!!!!  I knew you were a stinkin' (I love that word) rebel!

My freshman year I did not go out there to break the rules, but I got little demerits here and there that would cause me to get campused!! no dusting ( to their standards), no vacuuming (to their standards), forgetting to sign out or sign in. I think I failed dress check a couple times. I remember once on the bus I tapped a male bus workers shoulder and he jumped out of his skin!!!  Saw a lot of double standards that really bugged me, and gave me an attitude.

And then you started dating the Hacker of Hackers. 

He was/is a closet liberal!!!

I had heard that he came out of the closet. 

 

[Sherryh]

I went to public school so I was so excited to attend a Christian College...I loved it!!! I was involved with bus ministry from day one...I worked on Bucket & Bows cleaning bathrooms and classrooms. I was a shy, quite girl that followed the rules. I haven't changed I still believe the same as I did before I went to college. I had some great youth pastors who loved us and taught us well. I met my future husband we dated for a year and married in 1977. I'm still married to my best friend...he has had health challenges with losing his vision. God has been faithful through it all!!

 

[Smellin Coffee]

When my parents would come pick me up for a visit or for a holiday they would have my jeans in the car to put on!!

Ah, ha!!!!  I knew you were a stinkin' (I love that word) rebel!

My freshman year I did not go out there to break the rules, but I got little demerits here and there that would cause me to get campused!! no dusting ( to their standards), no vacuuming (to their standards), forgetting to sign out or sign in. I think I failed dress check a couple times. I remember once on the bus I tapped a male bus workers shoulder and he jumped out of his skin!!!  Saw a lot of double standards that really bugged me, and gave me an attitude.

And then you started dating the Hacker of Hackers. 

He was/is a closet liberal!!!

I had heard that he came out of the closet. 

He came out of the TUNNEL. 

 

[kaba]

When my parents would come pick me up for a visit or for a holiday they would have my jeans in the car to put on!!

Ah, ha!!!!  I knew you were a stinkin' (I love that word) rebel!

My freshman year I did not go out there to break the rules, but I got little demerits here and there that would cause me to get campused!! no dusting ( to their standards), no vacuuming (to their standards), forgetting to sign out or sign in. I think I failed dress check a couple times. I remember once on the bus I tapped a male bus workers shoulder and he jumped out of his skin!!!  Saw a lot of double standards that really bugged me, and gave me an attitude.

And then you started dating the Hacker of Hackers. 

He was/is a closet liberal!!!

I had heard that he came out of the closet. 

He came out of the TUNNEL. 

That would be McSpadden!

 

[Allen45Fan]

Always attended Public Schools. Got saved July of 73 went to Bible College August of 74.  I wanted to wait a year but Joe Combs was preaching a revival at my church and said come on now, you can get a job in the Chicago area.  Didn't finish which I regret to this day. I just couldn't adjust to the study habits that I needed to. My biggest mistake was putting the Bus Ministry ahead of getting my degree.  I messed up. Wish I could go back and start over. Glad I went and met some of the people I know today.  Glad I got to experience some of the things I did back then. I don’t blame the College or anyone else.  One morning Dr. Evans, Duke Morales, and my self was eating breakfast at Sauzer’s (spelling wrong) on corner of 30 & 41 and I remember him saying  “ You can run a bus route back home”.  The rest is history.

 

[RAIDER]

Always attended Public Schools. Got saved July of 73 went to Bible College August of 74.  I wanted to wait a year but Joe Combs was preaching a revival at my church and said come on now, you can get a job in the Chicago area.  Didn't finish which I regret to this day. I just couldn't adjust to the study habits that I needed to. My biggest mistake was putting the Bus Ministry ahead of getting my degree.  I messed up. Wish I could go back and start over. Glad I went and met some of the people I know today.  Glad I got to experience some of the things I did back then. I don’t blame the College or anyone else.  One morning Dr. Evans, Duke Morales, and my self was eating breakfast at Sauzer’s (spelling wrong) on corner of 30 & 41 and I remember him saying  “ You can run a bus route back home”.  The rest is history.

Unfortunately your story is not unique.  While the bus ministry is required for one year, it needed to be put in its proper place.  In my 4 years at HAC I saw many students sleeping in classes, failing classes, and basically out in left field because they thought they came to HAC to work a bus route instead of get an education.  HAC should have had some guidance counselors to help balance some of this.

 

[RAIDER]

Let's turn back the clock.  Let's go back to your days as a HAC student.  Let's start with your freshman year and work our way to graduation (if you made it that far). 

I'm not just asking about grades.  I'm not just asking about ministries.  Feel free to add that information if you like.  I'm wondering how you behaved.  I'm wondering about your adherence to the rules.  I'm asking about your attitude.  I'm asking about your perspective of HAC/FBCH while you were there.  What were you like as a student?

I realize this will probably take a few posts from most.  It will take some thinking.  Remember, you must throw away your current feelings about HAC/FBCH and put yourself back as a college student.  Let's go back, have some fun, and find out who you were.

In my first post I described my freshman year.  Things changed for me at the end of that year.  I was in Division 5 which was Roger Casteel's division.  As I mentioned, I was extremely faithful as a bus worker.  Toward the end of the year Casteel asked my if I would consider being a bus captain.  He informed me that I would need to stay during the summer if I wanted that "position".  That wasn't going to happen, so I declined.  Casteel's demeanor toward me changed.  I couldn't believe it.  He became a bit of a jerk.  It was at that point that I determined that I was going to try another ministry the following year.

My sophomore year I joined the Youth Bible Club Ministry.  It was fantastic!  We would meet at the youth building on Saturday morning and head to our Bible Club area.  We had a new area and were able to get a good group together every Saturday.  We saw great growth and it was very enjoyable.  We actually got back to college in time to enjoy an activity if we so chose.

That was probably the single greatest decision that I made at HAC.  From that point on I told others that I would not join the bus ministry my first year.  Get to know people and find a normal bus captain and join his route.

 

[kaba]

Let's turn back the clock.  Let's go back to your days as a HAC student.  Let's start with your freshman year and work our way to graduation (if you made it that far). 

I'm not just asking about grades.  I'm not just asking about ministries.  Feel free to add that information if you like.  I'm wondering how you behaved.  I'm wondering about your adherence to the rules.  I'm asking about your attitude.  I'm asking about your perspective of HAC/FBCH while you were there.  What were you like as a student?

I realize this will probably take a few posts from most.  It will take some thinking.  Remember, you must throw away your current feelings about HAC/FBCH and put yourself back as a college student.  Let's go back, have some fun, and find out who you were.

In my first post I described my freshman year.  Things changed for me at the end of that year.  I was in Division 5 which was Roger Casteel's division.  As I mentioned, I was extremely faithful as a bus worker.  Toward the end of the year Casteel asked my if I would consider being a bus captain.  He informed me that I would need to stay during the summer if I wanted that "position".  That wasn't going to happen, so I declined.  Casteel's demeanor toward me changed.  I couldn't believe it.  He became a bit of a jerk.  It was at that point that I determined that I was going to try another ministry the following year.

My sophomore year I joined the Youth Bible Club Ministry.  It was fantastic!  We would meet at the youth building on Saturday morning and head to our Bible Club area.  We had a new area and were able to get a good group together every Saturday.  We saw great growth and it was very enjoyable.  We actually got back to college in time to enjoy an activity if we so chose.

That was probably the single greatest decision that I made at HAC.  From that point on I told others that I would not join the bus ministry my first year.  Get to know people and find a normal bus captain and join his route.

Looking back on it, I know Roger (and his followers) were rather mean to those that did not get the results they did, or did not visit like they did. But I liked working on his bus and if DRHAC hadnt falsely accused him of something he might still be on facebook, and I could still be in touch with him.

 

[Norefund]

So, quitting something actually benefited you.

Let's turn back the clock.  Let's go back to your days as a HAC student.  Let's start with your freshman year and work our way to graduation (if you made it that far). 

I'm not just asking about grades.  I'm not just asking about ministries.  Feel free to add that information if you like.  I'm wondering how you behaved.  I'm wondering about your adherence to the rules.  I'm asking about your attitude.  I'm asking about your perspective of HAC/FBCH while you were there.  What were you like as a student?

I realize this will probably take a few posts from most.  It will take some thinking.  Remember, you must throw away your current feelings about HAC/FBCH and put yourself back as a college student.  Let's go back, have some fun, and find out who you were.

In my first post I described my freshman year.  Things changed for me at the end of that year.  I was in Division 5 which was Roger Casteel's division.  As I mentioned, I was extremely faithful as a bus worker.  Toward the end of the year Casteel asked my if I would consider being a bus captain.  He informed me that I would need to stay during the summer if I wanted that "position".  That wasn't going to happen, so I declined.  Casteel's demeanor toward me changed.  I couldn't believe it.  He became a bit of a jerk.  It was at that point that I determined that I was going to try another ministry the following year.

My sophomore year I joined the Youth Bible Club Ministry.  It was fantastic!  We would meet at the youth building on Saturday morning and head to our Bible Club area.  We had a new area and were able to get a good group together every Saturday.  We saw great growth and it was very enjoyable.  We actually got back to college in time to enjoy an activity if we so chose.

That was probably the single greatest decision that I made at HAC.  From that point on I told others that I would not join the bus ministry my first year.  Get to know people and find a normal bus captain and join his route.

 

[16KJV11]

Let's turn back the clock.  Let's go back to your days as a HAC student.  Let's start with your freshman year and work our way to graduation (if you made it that far). 

I'm not just asking about grades.  I'm not just asking about ministries.  Feel free to add that information if you like.  I'm wondering how you behaved.  I'm wondering about your adherence to the rules.  I'm asking about your attitude.  I'm asking about your perspective of HAC/FBCH while you were there.  What were you like as a student?

I realize this will probably take a few posts from most.  It will take some thinking.  Remember, you must throw away your current feelings about HAC/FBCH and put yourself back as a college student.  Let's go back, have some fun, and find out who you were.

In my first post I described my freshman year.  Things changed for me at the end of that year.  I was in Division 5 which was Roger Casteel's division.  As I mentioned, I was extremely faithful as a bus worker.  Toward the end of the year Casteel asked my if I would consider being a bus captain.  He informed me that I would need to stay during the summer if I wanted that "position".  That wasn't going to happen, so I declined.  Casteel's demeanor toward me changed.  I couldn't believe it.  He became a bit of a jerk.  It was at that point that I determined that I was going to try another ministry the following year.

My sophomore year I joined the Youth Bible Club Ministry.  It was fantastic!  We would meet at the youth building on Saturday morning and head to our Bible Club area.  We had a new area and were able to get a good group together every Saturday.  We saw great growth and it was very enjoyable.  We actually got back to college in time to enjoy an activity if we so chose.

That was probably the single greatest decision that I made at HAC.  From that point on I told others that I would not join the bus ministry my first year.  Get to know people and find a normal bus captain and join his route.

Looking back on it, I know Roger (and his followers) were rather mean to those that did not get the results they did, or did not visit like they did. But I liked working on his bus and if DRHAC hadnt falsely accused him of something he might still be on facebook, and I could still be in touch with him.

So that's what happened to him....