Don Anderson served at the GARBC Resource Center from 1984 until his recent departure in December 2007. He has taken a position at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, where he will teach Christian Education subjects and serve as director of communications.
This brings Don’s ministry to a full circle. He was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, and graduated from FBBC in 1974. After earning MDiv and ThM degrees from Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana, Don joined the faculty at Faith in 1978.
“After I left seminary I had a real passion for Hebrew and Old Testament studies,” says Don, “but the only opening Faith had was in Christian Education. During that first year, I could translate Hebrew, but I couldn’t even open a puppet mouth correctly. But after a year of teaching CE, I was hooked.”
David Nettleton, president of FBBC at the time, directly addressed the dangers of hiring a twenty-seven-year-old for such a position. “I am practically staking my reputation on you, because you are so green in the field,” said Nettleton to Anderson during that first year.
It turned out to be a safe choice. Darrell Goemaat and Kevin Mungons have fond memories of sitting in Don’s Christian Education classes in the early 1980s—and now both of us are on the staff of the Baptist Bulletin. At the time, we called him “CE Don” (not to his face!), mainly because he was obsessed with Christian Education. Later we started calling him “RBP Don” (again, not to his face)—but then Regular Baptist Press caught wind of it and hired him away for a new position at the Resource Center in Schaumburg, Illinois.
By the time Paul Tassell recruited Don and Elly Anderson in 1984, they had two young children, James and Becky. Initially Don was hired as editor of Vacation Bible School curriculum. In later years he served as assistant to the national representative and had a key role in planning the annual conferences and directing training seminars. As their children grew older, Elly joined the staff as an administrative assistant.
Don is known as a faithful supporter of the GARBC, and with his departure he carries a big chunk of our tribal memory. He has always been passionate about Baptist church ministry—and as Paul Tassell memorably described Don at the 1986 annual conference, “He’s such a separatist he won’t even eat Graham crackers!”
So it is fitting that the Andersons are returning to their roots, and we wish them the best. His speed dial is still programmed into many of our cell phones, and we’d be grateful if “CE Don” would continue to write for us on occasion.
Download these classic Baptist Bulletin articles by Don Anderson
