We will share snippets from the history that Mr. Pinkston is writing and will ultimately publish the entire series of documents—a record of God’s grace and goodness. Here is a glimpse of what God has done….
The founding of Bob Jones Academy is, understandably, tied to the founding of Bob Jones College. To understand the beginnings of BJA one must know about the reasons for and the history of BJC.
In the early 1900s, the teaching of evolution was flourishing in American colleges and was creeping into the high school curriculum. This was true not only of the state schools but also of church-founded and -supported colleges. Evolutionary instruction was influencing young people, causing them to reject the Bible and God….
“Honey, I don’t know,” replied her husband. “There are many fine schools and some good Christian schools…but I don’t know of any one that exactly suits me in educating my boy” (Turner, 20).
In April of 1925 while traveling to southern Florida for a vacation, Mrs. Jones was surprised by her husband’s stating, “Mary Gaston, I’m going to found a school.”
“Robert, are you crazy?” she replied. “Honey, you don’t know anything about a school. You’re not an educator. You can’t found a school.”
“I know I can’t, but God can!” (Turner, 23)
On September 14, 1927, the school opened with six main buildings: a women’s dormitory, two men’s dormitories, a faculty building, an administration/classroom building, and a dining hall. Starting a tradition that has become a trademark of the school, 85 college and 47 high school students attended the first opening evangelistic service. Over 40 students came forward for salvation or to deal with spiritual matters on the opening night” (Turner, 37, 38).
And so, because of the prompting of God and the faith of one man, the College—along with Bob Jones Academy—was founded.
Turner, D.L. (2002). Standing Without Apology. Greenville, SC: BJU Press.