NEWS & PRESS RELEASES
Living a Legacy
What does a living legacy look like? Well, at BBC&S, it looks like Derek Jacobs, Andrew Jackson, Matt Thompson, and Ben Hubble—four grandsons of former presidents Dr. Ernest Pickering, Dr. Mark Jackson, and Dr. Milo Thompson who are preparing for ministry at the College and the Seminary.
Derek, who is the son of Roger ('77) and Dawn (Pickering '77) Jacobs, is in his first year at BBS studying to get his M.Div. after graduating from BBC in 2005. His grandfather 
Dr. Ernest Pickering served as BBC’s president from 1970-1978, and his grandfather Dr. Jack Jacobs was a Bible professor for eight years and now serves as adjunct faculty for BBS.
He chose to attend BBC&S because he felt it would prepare him for ministry. “I wanted to receive the best preparation for ministry that I could, and I knew BBC would prepare me better than any other school. BBC has allowed me to develop relationships with some of the most outstanding men and women of God that I know. Many different faculty members and staff have taken time to talk with me and help me through different issues in my life as well as encourage me to keep striving to know Christ more,” said Derek.
Reflecting on his memories of his Grandpa Pickering, he shared: “I can remember attending my Grandpa Pickering's church in Minneapolis, MN. He pastored Fourth Baptist Church there, and I was only five years old. I never went to children’s church, because I wanted to sit and listen to my Grandpa preach … after the service a lot of times I would go up on stage and put a chair behind the pulpit so I could stand up and pretend like I was preaching. Thankfully, I have about a hundred of his sermons on tape.”
The influence of his grandfather’s life has played a large part in Derek’s life choices. “He is one of the main reasons why I am studying to be in full-time ministry today. My Grandpa Pickering was always a kind and gentle man, but he was also very disciplined. He taught me the importance of loving people but also remaining true to the Word of God and your convictions. He taught me to be true to the text and to study hard, so that I can preach the truth and not simply what I think a passage means,” he said.
After Derek and his wife Lindsay finish school at BBC&S, they hope to go overseas. “I am in the process of lining up an internship in Perm, Russia, for my year internship for seminary. After that, Lindsay and I are planning on going back to Russia full-time as missionaries,” said Derek.
BBC sophomore Andrew Jackson, who is the son of Paul ('78; BBS '81) and Debby (Millheim '78) Jackson, is in the Pastoral Ministry program. His grandfather,
Dr. Mark Jackson, served as president of BBC from 1979-1986.Coming from Raleigh, NC, Andrew is in his second semester at BBC. “BBC was outstandingly recommended to me by many of the people whose opinions I valued most. At the top of that list were my father and mother. Both attended and both highly recommended the school for anyone seriously interested in ministry. I also discovered that many good things were happening at BBC and that it was well-staffed with godly men and women,” he shared.
Although his time here has been brief, it has been a time of growth. “The influence of BBC has been enormous. I came here after two years in a secular university and a year of working full-time. By God’s grace, my life was drastically changed during that year off school. I am thankful for this school because as I have grown there have been R.D.s, R.A.s, roommates, and faculty beside me striving for the same Savior,” said Andrew.
Looking back on time spent with his grandfather, Andrew has many good memories. “I remember visiting my grandparents in Illinois a few times in my childhood. My favorite part of the trip was going to Grandpa’s office. All over the walls and on his desk were the strangest looking things. I would follow him around as he told stories about this ivory tusk or that carved mask. To a ten-year-old boy that kind of stuff is fascinating. Actually, twelve years later, it’s still fascinating,” he said.
His grandfather’s influence still plays an important role in his life today. “It is easy for me to say that my grandfather has influenced me through his character. However, I am realizing more now that walking with God daily is easier said than done. For this reason, I am even more inspired by him as he has consistently shown me a passion and commitment to Christ,” said Andrew.
Although he isn’t sure about future plans, Andrew is committed to what God has next. “This is only my second semester at Bible college. At this point of my life simply knowing that God wants to use me in His ministry is thrilling and new. I plan to attend BBC for the next two years with an open heart to wherever God directs me to serve.”
Matt Thompson, a senior in the Youth Pastor program at BBC, is the son of Dan ('79) and Deb (Ritz '81) Thompson and grandson of Dr. Milo Thompson,
who was president of BBC&S from 1986-2000.Matt chose to attend BBC because of the quality of its Youth Pastor program. “I chose BBC because of the people that are here (both the teachers and the students), because BBC has an outstanding Youth Ministry program, and I thought that this would be the college that would best equip me for my future life in ministry,” he said.During his time at BBC, Matt has benefited from the relationships he has developed. “Many men here at BBC have poured many hours into my life through teaching classes, discipleship, accountability, and spending time each week with me in prayer. Being a R.A. in the dorm has really taught me a lot about how to minister to people and how I can effectively encourage, love, and serve them,” said Matt.
Matt’s favorite memories with his grandfather are from camping trips. “My favorite memory with my grandfather would probably be going up with him and Grandma to their camper in New York and just spending the day with them and eating a burger and some potato salad.”
His grandfather is still a huge influence in Matt’s life. “He has really challenged my thinking lately with what I should do after college. He has been there to encourage me and pray for me as I seek the Lord’s will for my future and is always available to talk whenever I have a question about life, ministry, or marriage,” he shared. Matt has high hopes for the future. “I’m going to graduate from college in May, get married in June, go to seminary, and eventually become a youth pastor and ultimately maybe the president of BBC!”
Ben Hubble, a sophomore in the Pastoral program with an emphasis in missions, is also the grandson of Dr. Milo Thompson. His parents are David ('78; BBS '92, '99) and Susan (Thompson) Hubble. “I chose to attend
BBC because it is a great place to receive biblical ministry training, it has quality professors, and it was close to home,” said Ben.During his time at BBC, Ben has been challenged to make his faith his own. “The professors have caused me to re-evaluate my beliefs and thinking. They have also challenged me to search out for myself what the Bible truly says and what a Christian really looks like,” he said.
Ben shared that he had many good memories of time spent with his grandfather. “There are so many memories of my grandfather and me—it is hard to pick one. But, it was the times where my grandfather and I were able to sit down and talk about everything from canoes to dispensationalism that are fondest to me. He has impacted my life with his godly influence and by always pushing me to follow God’s will no matter what,” said Ben.
After college, Ben hopes to go overseas. “My future plans are, after graduating from BBC, to attend a graduate school with an emphasis on Muslim studies. Some day I hope to be able to serve the Lord in Turkey and Kurdistan.”
As each of these four grandsons can attest, a grandparent’s legacy does live on. A life that is characterized by a commitment to ministry and to Jesus Christ not only influences the lives it intersects, it can also continue or begin a godly heritage that is passed on from generation to generation.
“Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9 NASB).
Posted on: 2/1/2006 3:30:20 PM
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