Page 14 - LRCC June 2022 Focus

MEMBER NEWS

Great Lakes Christian College

President Retires After 23 Years

By Elizabeth Yassick, Kolt Communication, Inc.

reat Lakes Christian College (GLCC) said farewell
to its beloved president, Larry Carter, who retired
Gafter 23 years. When he started teaching at GLCC
in 1995, Larry was also a pastor in Grand Rapids. He
balanced his pastoral work and teaching, taking on more
classes as the years went on. In 1999, the former GLCC
president approached him with news that he would be
retiring and told Carter he thought he should be the next
president.

Carter
For the last two decades, Carter has been mentoring and
building relationships with his students. A significant
part of his presidency was his open-door policy, which allowed students to
come in and talk with no appointment necessary. He took time to get to
know every student
individually to guide
them to carry out the
GLCC mission. For
most years, Carter
also selected a new
student to mentor
each semester and
met with them every A Leadership
week.
Book with a
“I was a pastor for 27 years and I can’t take that hat off, so I’m pastor and
president,” said Carter. TWIS T

Carter recognizes that most college-age students are at a time in their
life when they start to question their beliefs and think more deeply about
religion. During his presidency, he aimed to serve as a guide to help them
grow into servant leaders.

“I found that college kids are at a crossroad moment in their lives,” said Carter.
“They are making big decisions about what they believe. I saw that firsthand
as a professor and I wanted to be part of that.”

Carter also used policies to guide GLCC students. He has always emphasized
the importance of having a foundation of knowledge that can help guide
decision-making, so he actively endorsed a policy that requires all graduates
to have majored in Bible theology in addition to the major they chose. He
believes this biblical foundation produces the best people and citizens.

As Carter enjoys his retirement, he says he won’t miss having the burden
of the college on his shoulders, but he will miss being a mentor for these Author: Ross Woodstock
students who are preparing to take the next step as servant leaders in the Executive Coach and
church and world. Leadership Consultant
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Dr. Frank Weller, who graduated from GLCC in 1989, began as the new
president on June 1. He was previously the senior minister at the South
Lansing Christian Church for 14 years. l

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