Fall 2022 Bethel Magazine

Dr. Ralph "Gordon" Bacon ’49 , DJH RI (ONKDUW ,QG SDVVHG DZD\ -XQH DW +XEEDUG +LOO +HDOWKFDUH &HQWHU LQ Elkhart, Ind. %DFRQ ZDV ERUQ $XJ LQ &ROJDWH 1 ' WKH VRQ RI 5DOSK 3DXO DQG 9LROHW 0DH 2UVHU %DFRQ +H JUDGXDWHG IURP &ROJDWH +LJK 6FKRRO DQG then moved to Chicago where he earned a Bachelor of Sacred /LWHUDWXUH GHJUHH IURP 9HQQDUG College. Bacon received a B.A. from Bethel College and pursued additional academic studies at Goshen Biblical Seminary, Wheaton College Graduate School, and the graduate program at Bethel College. Bacon was awarded an honorary 'RFWRU RI 'LYLQLW\ GHJUHH IURP %HWKHO &ROOHJH LQ Bacon served the former 8QLWHG 0LVVLRQDU\ &KXUFK DV D SDVWRU IRU \HDUV GLVWULFW superintendent for six years, and conference secretary for \HDUV 'XULQJ KLV WLPH ZLWK WKH 0LVVLRQDU\ &KXUFK %DFRQ traveled to South America, -DPDLFD DQG +DLWL WR VXUYH\ future ministry for the church LQ WKRVH DUHDV ,Q %DFRQ moved to Carol Stream, Ill., and worked for 20 years with WKH 1DWLRQDO $VVRFLDWLRQ RI Evangelicals as director of ƃHOG VHUYLFHV :KLOH ZLWK 1$( %DFRQ WUDYHOHG WR 6RXWK .RUHD 9LHWQDP +RQJ .RQJ 7KDLODQG DQG WKH 3KLOLSSLQH ,VODQGV IRU WKH ministry of World Relief. )URP XQWLO %DFRQ served as vice president for college relations for Bethel College, increasing the awareness of the College within the Evangelical Community. Bacon moved to Goshen, Ind., LQ ZKHUH KH FRQWLQXHG to preach and serve as pulpit VXSSO\ LQ PDQ\ 0LVVLRQDU\ Churches over the next years. +H PDUULHG 3K\OOLV 0DULH 5HLVHQEXUJ RQ -XQH LQ Sharon,Wis. They were married IRU \HDUV XQWLO 3K\OOLV SDVVHG DZD\ RQ -DQ 7KH couple was a team in ministry. Bacon was known for his sense RI KXPRU ORYH IRU WKH /RUG D ORYH RI WKH 6FULSWXUHV DQG HQMR\HG mentoring young pastors. Bacon is survived by four FKLOGUHQ 5RQDOG 'HERUDK %DFRQ RI 7KH 9LOODJHV )OD 'U -RHO &DURO -HDQ %DFRQ RI 6DQ $QWRQLR 7H[DV 5REHUW &DURO $QQH %DFRQ RI 6ODWHU ,RZD %DUEDUD 'U 'DYLG .OLQJ RI 0LDPL )OD JUDQGFKLOGUHQ JUHDW JUDQGFKLOGUHQ DQG great-great grandson. Jacob Bawa Salka ‘71 , DJH SDVVHG DZD\ 0DUFK LQ 0LQQD 1LJHU 6WDWH 1LJHULD +H ZDV ERUQ LQ 6DOND 1LJHU 6WDWH 1LJHULD RQ 1RYHPEHU +H ZRXOG EHFRPH D UHYHUHG 0LVVLRQDU\ &KXUFK minister, respected educator, and renowned diplomat. From WKH .DPEHUL WULEH KLV VWDWXV as an orphan ironically led to providential opportunities IRU IRUPDO HGXFDWLRQ 'XULQJ school days he turned from tribal animism to Islam, then to &KULVWLDQLW\ +LV HDUO\ DGXOW \HDUV were spent as a teacher, then as D SDVWRU DQG WKH ƃUVW 1LJHULDQ SULQFLSDO RI +DXVD %LEOH 6FKRRO in Salka. Theological studies LQ 1LJHULD 8QLWHG 0LVVLRQDU\ Church Theological College DW ,ORULQ DQG 1RUWK $PHULFD %HWKHO &ROOHJH ,QG DQG Emmanuel Bible College Ontario, WKHQ 7ULQLW\ (YDQJHOLFDO 'LYLQLW\ 6FKRRO SUHSDUHG KLP IRU WZLQ roles as president of the United 0LVVLRQDU\ &KXUFK 7KHRORJLFDO &ROOHJH LQ ,ORULQ 1LJHULD DQG senior pastor of thousands at College Chapel in Ilorin. Further VWXGLHV DW 0LFKLJDQ 6WDWH 8QLYHUVLW\ 0 $ 3K ' SUHFHGHG his presidency of the United 0LVVLRQDU\ &KXUFK RI $IULFD WKH ƃUVW LQGLJHQRXV SUHVLGHQW DQG RWKHU PDMRU DSSRLQWPHQWV including permanent secretary and commissioner of health, commissioner of education, registrar of Federal University of 7HFKQRORJ\ FKDLUPDQ RI 1LJHU State Scholarship Board, director of the United Bank of Africa, and 1LJHULDQ DPEDVVDGRU WR 6SDLQ the Vatican, and the Republic of Chad.While in Spain he hosted (OL]DEHWK ,, 4XHHQ RI (QJODQG 7KH 1LJHULDQ JRYHUQPHQW awarded him with special honors and he was honored with the $PEDVVDGRUŠV 0HULW $ZDUG FRQIHUUHG E\ 3RSH -RKQ 3DXO ,, Ambassador Bawa's life, ministry, and leadership are marked by humility, integrity, piety, and enthusiasm for Christian mission. Bethel College selected Bawa as its Alumnus of the <HDU LQ DQG KH EURXJKW the commencement address LQ ,Q %DZD TXLHWO\ declined nomination to become secretary general of the United 1DWLRQV +H LQVWHDG VHUYHG IRU D GHFDGH DV D EHORYHG visiting professor of religion at %HWKHO &ROOHJH ,Q KH ZDV QDPHG 6HQLRU 3URIHVVRU RI WKH Year, and, upon his resignation IURP %HWKHO +RQRUDU\ 9LVLWLQJ 3URIHVVRU $̃HU UHWXUQLQJ WR 1LJHULD WR establish a Christian trade school, he was named chair of the Governor's Advisory Council IRU 1LJHU 6WDWH DV ZHOO %DZD DQG his wife, Rose, had six children. 7KH 'LYLVLRQ RI 5HOLJLRQ DQG 3KLORVRSK\ DW %HWKHO YRWHG XQDQLPRXVO\ LQ WR QDPH WKHLU FRQIHUHQFH URRP D̃HU their gracious and esteemed colleague, Jacob Bawa Salka. Copies of his biography are DYDLODEOH IURP WKH $OXPQL 2ƅFH Retha Joy Singell Blocher ’68 , DJH SDVVHG DZD\ -XO\ 2022, surrounded by her family DQG ORYHG RQHV DW KRPH D̃HU D VKRUW LOOQHVV 6KH ZDV GHƃQLWHO\ looking forward to seeing Jesus and those she loved who had proceeded her in death. She was ERUQ LQ /DNH 7RZQVKLS $VKODQG &RXQW\ 2KLR RQ $XJ +HU KXVEDQG 7KH 5HYHUHQG -XQLRU /HUR\ %ORFKHU SURFHHGHG KHU LQ GHDWK RQ $SULO 7KH\ ZHUH PDUULHG -DQ KLV SDUHQWVŠ WK ZHGGLQJ anniversary. Together they served their community at IN MEMORY 26 %(7+(/81,9(56,7< ('8̌0$*$=,1(