OAK HILLS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Oak Hills senior MJ Johnson to pursue Christian ministry after graduation

Pioneer Staff Report — Fri, 09 May 2025 12:35:00 GMT

As graduation season arrives each year, the Pioneer features one graduate from each college and high school in the coverage area.

Christian Ministry major MJ Johnson is this year’s featured graduate from Oak Hills Christian College, which will host its commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, in the Schreiber Activity Center gymnasium.

The Pioneer provided Johnson with a series of questions to answer:

Why did you choose to attend Oak Hills?

I chose Oak Hills because of the small class size, Christ-centered environment, involved faculty and staff as well as the beautiful setting.

What piqued your interest in Christian ministry?

At first, I had planned on going into criminal psychology, but after attending Montana Wilderness �� of the Bible, I knew I was more passionate about full-time ministry.

During my time in Montana, I got heavily involved with a youth group on outreach. I fell in love with ministry and realized it was the only thing I truly was passionate about. That's when I began to look for a four-year school.

Have you had a favorite class?

My favorite class has been Integration of Psychology and Theology. Although I do not plan on being a licensed counselor, it has helped me learn how to mentor. This will be vital as I go into ministry.

What activities have you participated in?

In my junior year, I was a student chaplain. I have also been on the worship team all three years I've been here. I also led a women's Bible study as the student chaplain.

What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate, I will be working full-time for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. This is a ministry on public university campuses all over the United States. I will be working with women 18-25, mentoring them and teaching them how to be true disciples of Christ.

What’s been the greatest struggle or hardship you have overcome in your life?

The greatest struggle I've had to overcome was moving to Bemidji. I wanted to be in Montana, but the door was not open for me to stay. The first semester at Oak Hills was hard for me simply because I had a bad attitude.

One night, as I lay in bed in my dorm, God asked me, “Are you trusting me or the place I used to grow you?” I had to admit I was not trusting God. Once I realized this, I began to see that I was where I was for a reason.

The staff and friends I made at Oak Hills were also used to grow me. One cool thing is that the girl who invited me to Chi Alpha, Julia Gill, was a senior that year. If I had stayed in Montana another year, I would not have found Chi Alpha and the job opportunity I have right now.

What do you consider as your greatest achievement?

I view “my” greatest achievement as helping start a Chi Alpha chapter on the Bemidji State campus.. I put “my” in quotes because it is God's achievement. He simply used me as a vessel to accomplish this.

In my three years here, Chi Alpha has tripled in size, but what's more than the quantity is the quality of faith within the students there. If you are looking for a place to find revival on the BSU campus, a great place to be on Monday nights at 7 p.m. in the Crying Wolf Room.

Who is your greatest mentor?

I have had many great mentors over my time at Oak Hills, but one of the most impactful was Alexis Klicker. She was an upperclassman who took me under her wing. We got bagels every Wednesday and talked about life, God and how we are growing. She was my first friend at Oak Hills, and her kindness and wisdom still impact me to this day.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love writing worship music. It's a good way to remind myself of what God has been teaching me. This year, my friend Jaret Page and I have been writing some songs that we hope to share on Spotify soon.

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Oak Hills senior Ariana Vacura prepares for life after graduation

Pioneer Staff Report — Fri, 03 May 2024 13:00:00 GMT

As graduation season arrives each year, the Pioneer features one graduate from each college and high school in the coverage area. Psychology major Ariana Vacura is this year’s featured graduate from Oak Hills Christian College, which will host its commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, in the Schreiber Activity Center gymnasium.

The Pioneer provided Vacura with a series of questions to answer:

Why did you choose to attend Oak Hills?

I wanted to go to a Christian college to be able to build a solid Christian foundation and good Christian friendships. Also, my pastor from my home church is an Oak Hills alum, so he is very well-known on campus.

What piqued your interest in psychology?

I am very interested in why people do certain things or think a certain way, specifically children. I want to help children and the family with mental health diagnoses and treatment and to remind them that they are not alone and they can do it.

Have you had a favorite class?

My favorite class has been Adolescent Psychology because it helped me to understand children and adolescents more, and it helped me understand myself when I was an adolescent.

What activities have you participated in?

I am a photographer at Oak Hills, so I’m at most events photographing. I am also the photographer for all of our sports. Whether I have my camera or not, I’m always cheering on our teams. I volunteer for our events to help set up and take down, and anything in between. I am also part of CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) at Bemidji State University.

This past summer, I completed my psychology internship at Sanford Behavioral Health in Bemidji where I completed various tasks. One of my favorites was working with Care Coordination, which helps clients navigate mental health care that they are seeking, but don’t know where to begin. I helped with the necessary paperwork the client needed and scheduled them with the best therapist that could help them.

I also worked with Children’s Therapeutic Support Services where we worked in a group setting with activities that helped the clients work on their peer skills and emotion regulation skills. During our free time, we did activities that they enjoyed doing.

What are your plans after graduation?

As of right now, I don’t know what my plans are. I have continually been applying for jobs at mental health counseling centers. I’m continuing to trust God that He has a plan for my life.

What’s been the greatest struggle or hardship you have overcome in your life?

I was born with a physical disability, so I have had many struggles and hardships in my life. The biggest hardship would be getting through this school year at Oak Hills. This fall semester was extremely tough because I was getting hit with one difficult situation after another, so it was really hard to stay focused and motivated to finish school.

What do you consider as your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement is being able to drive and live on my own. Because I have a physical disability, driving and living on my own were obstacles I wasn’t sure I could overcome, but I did.

Who is your greatest mentor?

My mom has been my greatest mentor. She has been able to give me feedback and advice, even if I don’t agree with it, and she has been able to support me through my life.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I enjoy spending time outside, reading my books (not school textbooks), spending time with friends and spending time with God.

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Oak Hills Christian College to host commencement ceremony May 4

Pioneer Staff Report — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:16:46 GMT

Oak Hills Christian College will host its commencement ceremony for the class of 2024 at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, in the Schreiber Activity Center gymnasium.

Friends and family of the graduates are welcome to attend the ceremony with a luncheon to follow.

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Oak Hills Christian College to host variety of homecoming events Sept. 30

Pioneer Staff Report — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:53:24 GMT

BEMIDJI — Oak Hills Christian College will host Homecoming 2023 activities on Saturday, Sept. 30, at the college.

The day will kick off with a Run for the Hills 5K Fundraiser for the Student Grant Fund with registration at 8 a.m. and the run starting at 9 a.m. All participants will receive a T-shirt and medals will be awarded for first, second and third place based on age and gender categories.

Preregistration can be completed at www.oakhills.edu/alumni/events. Cost is $20 per person or $30 per family. Registration the morning of the race will increase to $25 per person. Brunch will follow the 5K.

The afternoon will include inflatables, games and outside activities as well as opportunities to visit with Oak Hills President Martin Giese and other staff. Other activities will include a scavenger hunt, face-painting and workshops with more details becoming available on the Oak Hills website.

The day will finish with an outside barbecue buffet followed by s’mores around the fire pit.

Attendees are encouraged to bring an old piece of Oak Hills Christian College apparel for display during the day, which qualifies someone to be entered into a drawing for an item from Oak Hills’ bookstore.

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Taking the next step: Maggie Maixner plans to stay on at Oak Hills Christian College after graduation

Daltyn Lofstrom — Sat, 06 May 2023 12:00:00 GMT

BEMIDJI — Maggie Maixner isn’t one to plan for the future. Rather, she trusts that the process will lead her to where she needs to be.

“I often find myself thinking ‘What am I going to do in the next couple months?’” Maixner said, “and then as I walk forward, a door has opened for me or an opportunity is presented to me that I love or that teaches me something new.”

Maixner has walked through many doors while attending Oak Hills Christian College, from which she will graduate on May 6.

Earning her bachelor’s degree in applied psychology, Maixner won’t stray too far from her alma mater as she plans to continue working in the college’s admissions office, where she has been a student worker for the past two years.

She doesn’t intend to pursue graduate school unless a specialty piques her interest. She noted previous internship work in counseling, though it wasn’t quite what she was expecting and ultimately, opted to use her degree as a background for other roles.

“I get to work with students and, in a way, counsel them into what they hope for in their future,” Maixner said regarding her admissions work. “It’s still helping them. It’s just not going as much into mental illnesses, but more deciding what’s the best path for their future depending on their life goals.”

Coming to Oak Hills

Maixner’s family moved to the Bemidji area in 2018 when her dad, Ronald, accepted a position at the college as Dean of Student Life.

Trekking from Sheridan, Wyo., Maixner found her place in Bemidji once she began attending Oak Hills in 2019.

“(Sheridan) is very much a ‘rough ‘em up’ town. If you don’t wrangle cows, you’re not good enough,” Maixner said lightheartedly, “so moving to Bemidji and being a person who likes video games, doing art and not just wanting to ride horses all the time, it didn’t make sense to me that that was something I could be.”

Part of finding her niche within her newfound community was being unapologetically herself whether in class or beyond the classroom walls. She took note of her growing confidence since starting at Oak Hills.

“The ability to be quirky, be silly and find friends that want to do all sorts of random things (is how I’ve grown),” she said.

She boasts several types of crafting under her list of skills, but crocheting is one of the main hobbies that she does in her spare time and even to focus on classes.

“I did end up getting tendonitis this past semester, so that stopped (my crocheting) a little bit,” Maixner said, “but I would crochet every single class. I made a lot of stuffed animals … If I wrote notes, I focused on the notes and didn’t actually absorb anything.”

Maixner has even taught potential students how to crochet during college tours, an added bonus of working in admissions.

“I was working as a tutor that year (I started working for admissions) and thought ‘I don’t know if I want to work in admissions because I might be overwhelmed,’” she said, “but then my boss kept getting on my back about working in admissions, so I ended up here.

“I’ve really enjoyed it and it leads on to the next step of my future.”

Aside from her admissions work, she has been involved in various volunteering opportunities with area churches, fulfilling roles with worship teams and maintaining other on-campus involvement.

Learning lessons

During her sophomore year Maixner was Oak Hills’ student activity team leader, an involvement that came with its own set of challenges considering the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

“It was right in the middle of COVID … and when you’re trying to lead activities to get people to come out of their room at a time where everybody’s told to stay away from other people and wear masks, nobody wanted to come,” Maixner reflected. “It was an entire year of feeling like a failure and that I was incapable of doing my job and helping people.”

Maixner faced another challenge with her dad passing away in 2021. The support of other students, professors and mentors at Oak Hills following Ronald’s death provided her with a certain learning lesson.

“Rather than hiding myself away, I learned to open myself up and it’s such a loving community to do that in,” Maixner said, “working through that dynamic of letting people help me and letting people take care of me.”

Such sentiment has led Maixner where she is today: on the cusp of graduation. Once she completes her internship as a teacher’s assistant in the psychology department, she will be stepping through another door as an Oak Hills alumnus.

“I’m just kind of playing the long game at this point and finishing up that internship, but I’m excited to graduate,” Maixner left off. “My main motivation is God and how he leads me and my gifts.”

Oak Hills' commencement will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, in the Schreiber Activity Center gymnasium. An outdoor luncheon will follow the ceremony.

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Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America prepares for its first women’s elk hunt in Colorado

Pioneer Staff Report — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 13:14:00 GMT

BEMIDJI — The Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America is gearing up for its first-ever women’s elk hunt in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

COFA is a faith-based ministry located in Colorado that provides activities for families, adults, and children in the outdoors and has plans of expanding to Minnesota.

Founded in 1986 by a number of outdoor enthusiasts who saw a vision for using the outdoors as a ministry tool for unchurched men, women and children across the nation, they also wanted to provide a space that gave Christians the opportunity for fellowship through events and enjoying the outdoors.

Set to host its yearly men's elk hunting trip in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the group has announced that for the first time ever they will provide a separate camp for women.

Created as part of a new branch of COFA called the Women's Outreach Program, this allows spouses, parents, children and others to hunt together yet stay in a camp designed just for them.

“This year is the first women's hunt and we are so excited. We still have spots open and we want to bring along more women from Minnesota,” said Vice President and Director of Operations Leslie Allen. “That’s what we are hoping to do, meet more women out there and invite them to join us.”

Both the men's and women's camps will be a short distance apart, camping at Ridgeway, Colo., Oct. 27 through Nov. 2.

"COFA’s goal is to build relationships with those that attend a hunt or any event," their website reads. "We want to be able to encourage through the COFA hunts building their spiritual walk and building better marriages, building better relations with their children."

The Women’s Outreach branch of the nonprofit was established in 2020 when founder Mike Brooks saw a need for women to get together to enjoy the outdoors for a time of fellowship.

“We use God’s great outdoors to introduce people to Jesus Christ and share the word,” Allen explained. “We do events like hiking, biking, fishing, hunting and camping along with teaching safety, survival classes and higher education courses.”

According to Allen, the group has been traveling to Bemidji once a year for 12 years. Lodging at Camp Oak Hills on the outskirts of Bemidji, COFA offers attendees a fall getaway where they can fish for walleye, enjoy the scenic bike trails, visit Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, trade stories and make new friends.

COFA organizers will have a meeting for anyone interested in hunting elk, mule deer and bear in Colorado at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, in the cafeteria at Camp Oak Hills, 1696 S Camp Road SW, in Bemidji.

In the meeting, attendees will learn more about the ministry, the men’s and women’s elk hunts and how to get signed up. There will also be opportunities for questions afterward and men are invited as well to learn more about the men’s elk hunt in 2023.

“The hunt is a chance to get to know each other and build relationships. It gives us an opportunity to help people," Allen said. "Sometimes when we get out there we find some people are maybe struggling with their marriage, kids, or whatever life throws at you. It's just a great opportunity to help out and teach people how Jesus can help them in their lives.”

For those interested in learning more about the meeting or the women’s annual hunt, contact Leslie Allen at (303) 909-3707 or email her at lesliea@cofausa.org. For information about the men’s hunt, contact Mike Brooks at (303) 880-9878 or email him at mikeb@cofausa.org.

For more information about COFA, visit cofausa.org.

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A strong foundation: Kingdom Builders Christian �� set to open in fall 2022

Daltyn Lofstrom — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 17:07:31 GMT

BEMIDJI — The future opening of the Kingdom Builders Christian �� plays into the founders’ beliefs that Bemidji can never have too many Christian schools.

“What we’re doing is a whole different look at education and teaching kids the value of serving the community,” the school’s principal Jon Ness said at a June 29 open house for the school. “We’re looking at teaching kids how to be the hands and feet of Christ.”

Ness has been described as the “brainchild” of the nondenominational school, the idea which came to him just eight short months ago after one of his friends passed away at the beginning of December 2021.

“(My friend and I) had always kind of joked about starting a school,” Ness said.

Bemidji currently hosts other Christian schools including the nondenominational Heartland Christian Academy and High ��, St. Philip's Catholic �� and St. Mark's Lutheran ��.

Previously being the principal at Heartland Christian High ��, Ness had returned to his teaching position at J.W. Smith Elementary before considering retirement in the education field and focusing on his businesses including Ness Sealcoat Service.

He had no intention of opening a completely new school at the time.

“There was no plan at all. Well, God took a look at me and said, ‘I’ve got more for you to do’ and people started to come to me asking me to do this,” Ness detailed. “It just got to a point where I didn’t have a choice. We had to start this.”

Several church and community members approached Ness wanting to see a Christian school as another schooling option for parents and their students in the Bemidji area.

“When all of these people started coming to me wanting to start one up, I was like ‘let’s see what we can do,’” Ness added. “I truly believe God led me to these people, and it all started with that one friend.”

Set to open this fall on Tuesday, Sept. 6, in tandem with Bemidji Area ��s, Ness believes his calling came at the right time even in the face of all the work that would come with it.

“They tell you it takes three years to start a school. We’re doing it in eight months,” Ness reflected.

As it turns out, eight months is all that was needed.

Board of directors

Ness credits the school’s board of directors for keeping their opening goals in mind and for being strong in their areas of expertise.

“(The board is made up of) community leaders, business owners, entrepreneurs, resort owners, pastors,” he detailed. “It took me about a month to get everybody together and they’re just unbelievable.”

Sarah Karvakko, co-owner of Karvakko Engineering in Bemidji, is the school's board president and found it important to get involved in the school’s planning process.

“I could see a degradation in the public school system over the years. Not to say they’re not good, but there need to be more options,” Karvakko said. “Getting involved with this seemed like the natural fit for me because my family is very involved in our church and we’re really excited to see how this school is going to impact our community for years.”

Other board members include Vice President Brian Lietz, Treasurer Travis Guida, Secretary Sarah Hokuf, and members Tony Merschman, Jason Christiansen, Nicole Nordvik, Kevin Cochran and Marc Jocum.

With the board ready and set, it was time to open a school.

A Biblical emphasis

Kingdom Builders will host grades 4-8 at the former Lincoln Elementary �� attached to Mt. Zion Church, located at 414 Lincoln Ave SE, in Nymore. While grades 9-12 will be housed in the Valley View Building on the Oak Hills Christian College campus.

According to Ness, Mt. Zion purchased the former Lincoln site in 1999 and is allowing KBCS to rent the space they need, which includes 10 classrooms, office spaces and other rooms that may be repurposed as additional offices or a gymnasium.

“We’re just thankful to Mt. Zion for opening up their building to us because it’s a beautiful facility,” Karvakko said. “It’s going to do exactly what we need it to do.”

Formerly housing Heartland Christian High �� before changing locations, Ness emphasized the Post-secondary Enrollment Options that will come for Kingdom Builders upperclassmen making use of Valley View.

“The eleventh and twelfth graders can walk right across the parking lot and take PSEO classes at Oak Hills,” Ness mentioned. “We’re trying to work together with Oak Hills on a lot of stuff, so it’s pretty exciting.”

Ness also anticipates bringing in community members to teach students practical and recreational tasks. He has already been in touch with an auto mechanic who is interested in visiting with students along with a golf coach.

The emphasis on post-secondary preparation, a curriculum with a Biblical foundation and small class sizes convinced Leah Bratlien to onboard as one of KBCS’ classroom teachers originally coming from the Bemidji Area �� District.

“I was looking to make a switch, not only to a Christian school but just a smaller size in the classroom,” Bratlien detailed. “Raising kids with a strong Biblical foundation and also to help others and make a difference is very important.”

The fine details

For this fall, Ness would like to see 60 students enrolled in grades 4-8 and between 20 to 30 students in grades 9-12.

There will be a flat tuition rate of $5,500 a year or $615 a month, though, a “multiple child discount” will be available for families, and no other fees will be tacked onto the bill.

“As a parent, I hate coming home every day and hearing, ‘dad, I need $20 for this and that,’ so we’re doing a set fee. No computer fees, no volunteer fees. You pay this amount and that’s what it is,” Ness said.

KBCS will offer Chromebooks for all students, and collaboration with Bemidji Area ��s will allow KBCS students to participate in district activities.

Busing will also be available to and from Bemidji Middle ��.

Hot lunches will not be provided this school year, though, the school hopes to offer catered options for purchase on select days.

�� hours will run similar to other area schools.

Future hopes

Just two months prior to opening, Ness is looking ahead not only to September but the following school years as the school solidifies its place in the community.

“In five years, I’d like to see this place full with around 250 to 300 kids and at least half of them on full scholarships,” Ness said. “A lot of people giving donations will help to fund scholarships and you can do a donation much like a ‘fund your own student’ type of thing. I don’t want anybody not to be able to come here because they can’t afford it.”

Karvakko has similar aspirations.

“Our big goal is having our own building, a facility where we can have all the necessities like a gym and a cafeteria, and get us all on one campus,” Karvakko said. “Maybe that’s in five years, maybe it’s 10. But you have to take baby steps.”

Bratlien hopes that increased enrollment will warrant adding grades K-3 in the future, but whatever the future holds, Ness figures it will come easy.

“When I’m doing things, it’s always hard work. (Opening the school) has been the easiest thing,” Ness said. “Everything that has happened, happened because of God. It’s not me. This is all about God and it’s amazing.”

Kingdom Builders welcomes donations along with volunteer opportunities. More information can be found at www.kingdombuildersschool.org or on the Kingdom Builders Christian �� Facebook page.

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Oak Hills Christian College recognizes 22 graduates as class of 2022

Pioneer Staff Report — Tue, 17 May 2022 18:56:48 GMT

BEMIDJI — Oak Hills Christian College held its graduation ceremony for its class of 2022, which recognized 22 graduates earning certificates and associate or bachelor's degrees on May 7.

Of these graduates, five students graduated as the first recipients of the college's new Rural Leadership and Ministry certificate program.

A video recording of the ceremony can be viewed on the Oak Hills Christian College YouTube channel.

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Returning to her roots: Oak Hills graduate Makayla Kameroff to pursue work in Alaska

Daltyn Lofstrom — Sat, 07 May 2022 12:00:00 GMT

BEMIDJI — Graduating from Oak Hills Christian College on May 7, Makayla Kameroff will soon return to her Alaskan roots.

Once she snags her bachelor’s degree in applied psychology, she will take up a summer position for Covenant Youth of Alaska, a ministry that offers youth summer camp opportunities.

“It’s a summer camp where I get to hang out with kids every week, but it’s not a basic camp that you can just drive to. It’s definitely an Alaskan camp where you have to use a plane, a smaller plane and a boat to get there,” Kameroff said with a laugh.

As of April, Kameroff was also in the process of being interviewed by the Portland Rescue Mission, a ministry that focuses on helping people affected by homelessness, addiction and other plights.

“I would basically make myself available as an asset for people to work through their addictions, conduct Bible studies and whatever else they need me to do,” Kameroff added.

Making the leap

A 2020 graduate of Alaska Christian College, Kameroff learned about Oak Hills from a recruiter who visited her community college.

“They talked about how OHCC was a small community feel with pretty small class sizes and a great student-to-teacher ratio,” Kameroff said. “It fit perfectly at the time.”

Not exactly knowing her field of study until her junior year, Kameroff settled on psychology after weighing it against a business degree and considering her hopes to help people in her future career.

“I’m incredibly indecisive, but I didn’t want to choose business so psychology was pretty much for me,” Kameroff said. “After taking the courses, I fell in love with the field. It worked out great because I’ve always wanted to help people, and I think psychology is one of the greatest ways to help someone else.”

In particular, Kameroff’s favorite class was Group Process as it gave the class a chance to conduct mock group therapy sessions and observe how close the students became from the beginning to the end of the class.

“At the beginning, no one really talked to each other and we were all in our own little bubbles,” Kameroff mentioned. “Then the last day of class, we were sharing our deepest, darkest secrets.”

Opening up was an initial struggle for Kameroff at the start of her time at Oak Hills, which coincided with the coronavirus pandemic.

“Leaving a place I was comfortable with along with my friends and family, then going to a place where I couldn’t make such great relationships because of social distancing and wearing masks made that first semester so hard,” Kameroff said. “I remember sitting on the floor weeping because it was just terrible.”

She admitted to only talking to one other person outside of classes, somebody else from Alaska. This changed after the fall 2020 semester, however, with help from her personal mentor and OHCC’s Associate Dean of Student Life, Kierlyn Fritz.

“I reached out to Kierlyn, who made it so much easier for me to come out of my shell, do fun activities and be part of a team,” Kameroff added. “After that first semester, I just became completely comfortable introducing who I am to other people. It was just a really big learning curve for me coming down (to Minnesota) from Alaska. All of it was new.”

On a mission

Kameroff has since become active on campus, including playing volleyball for the Oak Hills Wolfpack, being a resident assistant and being part of the student activity leadership team last year.

Most recently, she took part in a March mission trip to Honduras as part of Operation Christmas Child, providing aid and supplies to churches across the country.

“I was part of the volunteer group last year and this year, I actually got to be a part of it in person,” Kameroff said. “Packing boxes, distributing them to churches across Honduras and visiting kids at local villages was really neat.”

On the off chance she has spare time, Kameroff enjoys searching for hiking trails and taking her hammock along for the journey. She also enjoys painting and drawing and describes herself as a coffee connoisseur.

“I came back from Honduras and grabbed, like, three bags of fresh coffee beans,” Kameroff said. “I absolutely love my coffee at a certain temperature, done with the right gauge, using different percolators or pour-overs or French press. All of that jazz.”

Despite her immediate plans of summer work for Covenant Youth of Alaska and other job interviews in the works, Kameroff isn’t rushing to find a permanent position and opts for a more laissez-faire approach in terms of finding the right opportunity.

“I went into 2022 thinking I wasn’t going to make any long-term decisions and didn’t want to plan what’s going to happen the rest of this year,” Kameroff said. “Funnily enough, most everything has been working out that way. I’m figuring out what’s available and just flying by the seat of my pants.”

Oak Hills' commencement will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, in the college gymnasium.

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Oak Hills Christian College celebrates 75th anniversary

Daltyn Lofstrom — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 19:09:00 GMT

BEMIDJI — What started as a 14-acre camp purchased for $250 in 1925 now has a 75-year legacy as Oak Hills Christian College.

In celebration of the college’s 75th anniversary since its founding in 1946, alumni, staff and friends of the college gathered for a day of reminiscence and activities on Saturday, March 26.

The day started off with 5K races followed by a brunch. Various recreational activities took up the afternoon culminating in a question-and-answer session with Oak Hills chaplain Matt Graf, Biblical studies director Gale Struthers, president Martin Giese and former president Mark Hovestol.

The day’s events concluded with a banquet with Christian comedian Daren Streblow from the Duluth area as the entertainment.

“We’re thrilled to be here, to watch God at work and to continue the legacy that we’ve inherited from our predecessors,” Giese said during the Q&A. “That’s what today is about. All of us who have served at Oak Hills stand on the shoulders of others who went before us.”

From camp to college

Wilbur Sheridan Cummings moved to Bemidji in 1920 with hopes to develop a camp ministry.

With the support of an advisory and prayer support group, Cummings and his wife accrued $250 to purchase 14 acres of land overlooking Lake Marquette in September 1925.

While several acquisitions of land have brought the total current acreage to nearly 200, the Oak Hills Fellowship was incorporated to make use of the modest amount of land the Cummings’ had purchased to realize their vision at the time.

After some successful summer camps, Cummings passed away in 1932 from a brain tumor, though his ambition to create a Bible Institute lived on with other leaders wanting to build a Bible training school in the area.

In a report to the Oak Hills Fellowship Board in 1944, Superintendent James Schreiber wrote, “the thought in establishing such a school of training is that Northwoods young people, especially, who in many cases would not get down south to the larger schools of training, might receive a course of instruction at Oak Hills that would fit them for better service in their Northwoods communities as Sunday �� teachers, young people’s leaders and personal soul winners.”

In November 1945, the board approved the management of a long-term Bible school headed by Principal Donald Wagner come October 1946.

Once October rolled around, the Oak Hills Christian Training �� was ready for its first class.

The early years

Oak Hills Christian Training �� began in the summer buildings of Camp Oak Hills and welcomed 13 students and seven instructors.

Music courses were initially required for all students with Arthur Anderson taking the helm as the first music instructor. He would continue to direct the Oak Hills Choir from 1947 to 1962.

On April 8, 1949, the first graduation took place in the Bemidji High �� Auditorium where seven students were recognized. These included Lois Conat, Bessie Degerman, J. B. Fuller, Gladys Fuller, John Green Jr., Robert Grover and Gene James.

At this time, the cost for tuition at Oak Hills was $50 per term while room and board was $7 per week. Students could have $1.50 deducted from room and board if they completed daily domestic work including dishwashing, shoveling snow or cleaning bathrooms.

The school’s first motto, “Personalized Bible training for effective Christian living and service,” was adopted in 1953.

In 1954, tuition increased to $60 per term with room and board costing $8 a week. All students were expected to do domestic work at this point with an additional $4 a week being tacked onto room and board if a student refused work.

A time of growth

Oak Hills’ enrollment crept up steadily and exceeded 60 students by 1960 after averaging around 40 students years prior.

The campus also underwent some expansion throughout the 1950s with the construction of two dorm buildings and an addition of a central heating plant to the �� Building, which would be renamed to the Administration Building until its demolition in July 2015.

The college added five areas of emphasis to the Bible major in 1956 giving students an option to focus on in-depth Bible study, Christian education, missions, general education or ministry.

The class of 1961 inducted 13 graduates into the Alumni Association of the newly-named Oak Hills Bible Institute. Significant growth throughout the 1960s saw 63 enrolled students at the beginning of the decade and a near-doubling to 115 students by 1969.

Tuition was $75 per term in 1962, the same year the southeast shore of Lake Marquette was developed as the site of Camp Oak Hills.

Robert Thompson became Oak Hills president in 1968, and the college’s nine-month school terms for two-year degrees took effect. These replaced the school’s previous 12-week terms from October to early April.

The campus Fellowship Center was dedicated in December 1970, and May 1971 saw the first graduation held on the Oak Hills campus in this building.

Challenges and change

Oak Hills faced some financial challenges in 1982 when an audit showed a $183,842 deficit in operational funds. Cost-cutting measures included releasing some short-term and permanent staff members from their positions.

The board of trustees discussed the college’s financial struggles and long-term frugality at an August 1982 board meeting, shortly after which President Thompson announced his resignation.

Thompson clarified his resignation was not because of the meeting’s discussion topic, but because “(my wife Joye) and I are making our best effort to understand and fulfill the will of God.”

David Smith would take over the presidency in 1983, during which the college would once again be renamed to Oak Hills Bible College in 1986.

Fall 1986 saw the start of the college’s new four-year Bachelor’s program, which was expected to aid in student recruitment. Enrollment had dropped from 152 students in 1982 to 95 students in 1985.

The Schreiber Activity Center was constructed in 1988 in honor of James Schreiber who had served Oak Hills from 1932 to 1961 and was an active athlete. James’ wife Jemima, who served as acting superintendent in 1932, would pass away this year with James dying in 1996.

The new activity center allowed for graduation ceremonies to take place in the gymnasium as well as the formation of the men’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams in 1996. They initially competed in the Manitoba Christian College Athletic Association and took on their current name, the “Wolfpack.”

Recent developments

Shortly after President Mark Hovestol’s resignation in 1998, Oak Hills Christian College took on its current name.

The college then saw a slew of changing leadership, particularly the presidents.

Four presidents would head the college in a span of nine years from 1998 to 2007. These included Interim Gene Hovee, Tom Bower, Interim David Smith and Dan Clausen.

Steven Hostetter would become interim president in May 2007 and be appointed in October 2008, the first time in Oak Hills’ history an interim president was appointed to the position.

With goals to grow student enrollment, Hostetter presented “Vision 2009,” which aimed to increase enrollment to 200 full-time equivalent students by fall 2009.

The board of directors decided against pursuing this goal due to its expense and stated that Vision 2009 “is not a requirement or demand, but that we should be working toward that goal. It was suggested that we implement some of the things that do not cost much and put the plan on a two-to-three year timeline.”

A significant development in the summer of 2009 included the reopening of Camp Oak Hills, which had been leased by Concordia Language Villages from 1982 to 2003 and used by SPLASH Camp Ministry from 2004 to 2008.

The Mokahum Ministry Center near Cass Lake also offered its first classes to Native American students in September 2009 after the Oak Hills Center for Indian Ministries gained ownership of the property.

Like other area colleges, the coronavirus pandemic disrupted Oak Hills’ spring 2020 semester with several events being canceled or switched to virtual delivery.

Future hopes

Having returned to normal operations, the college is looking back at the past 75 years while looking ahead to the next 75.

Reflecting on the college’s core values, Giese pointed to some “non-negotiables” as OHCC progresses into the 2020s.

“There are many historically Christian colleges going back to the early days of our nation who began well and finished secular,” Giese said. “There’s tremendous pressure to compromise for the sake of institutional survival. Oak Hills will not.”

In terms of enrollment, Giese would like to see a five-year increase from the college's current enrollment of 95 students to 200 through diversifying outreach methods and promoting different degree options.

He pointed to OHCC’s rural leadership and ministry certificate, which targets mid-career church leaders and the program's first six graduates will graduate in May.

“Oak Hills, since its inception, held up the banner that every vocation is a ministry,” Giese said. “It’s intriguing to me and also very satisfying that we are beginning to fill a crying need among predominantly rural churches for leadership.”

With 26 current degree options, Hovestol spoke to the Biblical foundation of each program and the role it plays in recruitment.

“We’ve very serious about the Scriptures, very serious about taking Christ seriously, very serious about creating a community where people can grow, where people can lead with vocation and also impact their world,” Hovestol said. “That’s the kind of student we’re looking for.”

Recognizing college costs, Giese highlighted OHCC’s “academic partnership agreement” with Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania that allows a student to earn their bachelor’s at Oak Hills and continue on to Lancaster’s graduate programs with online courses being offered to both online and on-campus Oak Hills students.

“There are price points beyond us,” Giese said. “The boost that our undergraduate students get from our student grant fund and various prayer partners sets the stage. It’s amazing how God will make further education possible in a way that gets His work done. What God sponsors, God can afford.”

With various recruitment and retention efforts in place, Graf hopes students will feel a sense of community once they set foot at Oak Hills for years to come.

“For students who thought they were going to leave after one year on our campus, they start to feel God tug at their heart,” Graf said. “I hope all students will feel this sense of community and of God in their relationships so that they’ll want to stick around and see what else God has to offer.”

More information can be found at www.oakhills.edu.

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