is stare seemed to penetrate right through you! That’s no lie nor an exaggeration. How scary was it? Well, in my freshman year in downtown Boston at Greater Boston

Academy two of my female classmates knew it well. He called them both into his office for a minor infraction and before he and they could sit down they were sobbing like babies! Their wails were so disconcerting he told them if they would just stop, they could leave! They promptly did and he promptly dismissed them without a word of discipline! His name? Richard Hammond. He was the principal of Greater Boston Academy for approximately twenty-seven years! Yes, twenty-seven years!

To some, he ruled with an iron fist. To others, yes, a bit iron fisted, but with a velvet glove. His hand could be heavy but he possessed a huge heart that exceeded everything else about him. He had the heart of His Friend, Jesus Christ. I came, in my four years under his tutelage, to realize and acknowledge that it was because he was “tick with his Savior,” very much so.

We boys had a somewhat similar experience with Mr. Hammond. One day we were convened for study hall in the school chapel on the second floor, all thirty or forty of us. First, one boy began to tap his toe, followed by another and then another until the whole assembly was a thunderous noise. A lone male teacher, our temporary supervisor, was mincemeat. He tried to quiet us but to no avail. Suddenly, the back chapel door burst open! It was Mr. Hammond striding full steam into the chapel. He didn’t say a word! Didn’t have to. He just stared. In a split second you could hear a pin drop. We never thought to try that course of action again. He could be tough. But he was fair.

How tough? Well, midway through my senior year he dismissed me from the school. Sacked me. Kicked me out. You may wonder how such a person came to have such a great influence on me? The most profound Christian influence of any other educator, many good and wonderful ones among them? Well that’s the rest of the story!

Mr. Hammond was an intelligent person, very academically inclined and serious about life. It was also said of him that “he didn’t indulge fools.” Especially ones who were breakers of the law. I fell into that specific category, unfortunately. My senior year a group of friends and I decided on a “little” adventure during Christmas break. In my days at Greater Boston Academy it was located in the heart of downtown Boston. Specifically, Newberry Street. No one, neither faculty nor students lived nearby. (Technically, there was an apartment attached to the school but that fact had nothing to do with this story.) For the most part it was a deserted locale in the evenings and holidays. A great temptation for mischievous boys. Fools, actually!

So one evening we broke into the school to play a game of basketball. We had a great time. If one can observe such as a Christian teenager. However, a man, contacted to resurface the floor, happened by that evening and spotted us. He only recognized one of us . . . moi! Thus, a few days later, the first day back to school, I found myself in Mr. Hammond’s office under the glare of his stare. He asserted, rather bluntly, “Bill, you and your friends broke into the school and Mr. So and So spotted you as among the trespassers. I’d like to know who the others were.” I sat silently and defiantly or at least tried to give him the impression I couldn’t be intimidated. No way was I about to become a squealer. Ha! “Well, Bill” he continued, “if you’re not wanting to share those names with me, you are dismissed as a student here.” With that I was gone. (He probably had prayer with me. After all, he was a godly man.)

I went to my locker, cleaned it out and headed to the local subway stop and home. I was somewhat happy that I could spend the last semester of my secondary academic year in the local public high school. And good riddance to Christian education. And a fond farewell to a crusty and mean principal. Or so I thought!

I thought I had seen the last of Greater Boston Academy and its principal. But, to my chagrin that was not to be. (Thank goodness!) The very next day I went to the local high school to enroll for my final semester of secondary education. Ah, but it wasn’t that simple. In going over my class record they discovered I lacked sufficient credits to graduate that June. .I would have to take an additional semester or two in order to receive a diploma from their institution. Ugh! Double ugh! Now I was in deep trouble-with both my parents and my schooling. There was just no way I wanted to face my father and mother with this unexpected bit of information nor was their good in waiting another year before I was academically qualified to apply for college admission.

What to do? I made a reluctant decision, a tough one, to ask my friends if they minded me mentioning their names to the principal. To my relief none of them cared. Since they were not fellow students they all felt Mr. Hammond could do nothing to them. I entered the halls of Greater Boston Academy soon thereafter with my proverbial tail between my legs. Gave the principal the names and was immediately reinstated as a student (in good standing). It was over. It was done.

But not, by God’s grace, with Richard Hammond. The good times, more than ever, were just beginning! He was to become my greatest blessing among all those who had a salvific influence upon my soul, the many others I will yet mention elsewhere. As incredible as it may sound during my second year of teaching on the secondary level in Michigan I received a call from Richard Hammond. It went something like this, “Bill, I am wondering if you be interested in becoming part of our teaching staff next year here at Greater Boston Academy?” What? Was I hearing correctly? Well, at that point such an invitation did not totally surprise me. I, the former dismissed/sacked student, had become good friends with the person who had become a mentor to me. Especially on a spiritual level.

Soon after my reinstatement as a student I came to see Richard Hammond as a giant of faith. He not only talked the talk, he also walked the walk. His care, his compassion, his genuine interest in his students won over my heart. Scores and scores, under his guidance, for example, were the recipients of his fundraising which made it financially possible for them to continue to be enrolled. Countless numbers of his former students continued, even for decades, to receive his letters and phone calls of encouragement. Yes, he was consumed with Christian education and it’s great value to the church and ministry for Jesus Christ. That conviction never ceased right to his last breath! We remained great friends through my seminary days and pastoral ministry. He married Melanie and me. When he died I was asked to travel to California to conduct his funeral. He had wanted me to be the one to speak. Such, was a humbling thought. I admit . . . I was one of his surprises!

Yes, we are comprised of every person we have ever met. In my application, Richard Hammond is one of those who made a major contribution to my Christian life. I am deeply indebted to him . . . for eternity.

I am profoundly grateful for Christian education as it is articulated in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I believe it to be a significant gift, especially important in these turbulent times. I hope, you reader, also sense it’s integral status to the millions who have already graced its classrooms throughout the world in our history and to the millions who are currently enrolled.

 

Bill Brace, a pastor for over forty years, is currently the president of the Ken & Mabel Brace Foundation, a non-profit, with the objective of donating funds to SDA elementary and secondary schools throughout North America.