A SHORT HISTORY OF BEAR CHAPEL
In 1930, local members of the churches of Christ purchased property near Southwest
Missouri State Teachers College, now Missouri State University (MSU), to minister to students
on the campus. In September of 1959, under the leadership of John Wilson, South National
Church of Christ Youth Minister, the program officially became an approved campus religious
organization. In 1961, Epsilon Chi was formed. This arrangement allowed students to take
Bible courses at the Bible Chair, receive credit through Harding College, and to be able to
transfer the credits to the state college. The first courses were offered during the fall semester,
1961, with about 15 students enrolled.
In 1967 a new facility was constructed at the corner of Florence and Madison.
University Hall is still standing. During the 1960s more than 1000 students enrolled in courses
at the Bible Chair. In 1969 SMS created a Religious Studies Department and began to accept
these courses in fulfillment of a university humanities requirement.
John Wilson was succeeded by Jim Cannon and Tom Jones as Christian Student Center
Directors. Rapid growth was experienced as the focus shifted from academics to evangelism.
In the early 1970s, I (Rob Daniel) first became aware that Springfield was a dynamic
center of ministry to young adults while attending a retreat at Springfield’s HoJos. I was asked
to pick up a thousand newspapers and transport them back to Central Missouri State in
Warrensburg. I remember thinking those newspapers were apparently written for hippies. At
the time I was a young single Air Force officer stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base. I
understand students also hosted a weekly television series on KMTC-TV entitled “Herald of
Truth/Campus Edition.”
Early in the 1990s, South National sold its properties to Southwest Missouri State. The
Christian Student Center moved across the street to our present facility. When Monroe Street
became Bear Boulevard and the official entrance to MSU, we changed our name to Bear
Chapel. Bear Boulevard ends in our parking lot, caddy corner to MSU’s Welcome Center.
At the suggestion East Sunshine and East Grand Church of Christ Elders, the Christian
Support Center, a 50l(c)(3) non-profit corporation was formed in May 2006 and took ownership
of the building on August 24, 2006. A note of appreciation to Dr. Andy and Shelia Wright for
donating the earnest money for the purchase. Also of historic interest is that the first user fee
was by The Caring People for a tent sale on the South Lawn. JoDee Herschend, founder of The
Caring People, a ministry to single mothers, was assisted by her husband Pete and his brother
Jack (all co-owners of Silver Dollar City) and students in pitching the tent. The Christian Student
Center remains a MSU recognized student organization housed in Bear Chapel.
BEAR CHAPEL’S PURPOSE STATEMENT: To provide an inviting, visible entry point
and a nurturing support structure, primarily in collegiate communities, to the saving,
transformational power of Jesus Christ and citizenship in His kingdom.
In 1930, local members of the churches of Christ purchased property near Southwest
Missouri State Teachers College, now Missouri State University (MSU), to minister to students
on the campus. In September of 1959, under the leadership of John Wilson, South National
Church of Christ Youth Minister, the program officially became an approved campus religious
organization. In 1961, Epsilon Chi was formed. This arrangement allowed students to take
Bible courses at the Bible Chair, receive credit through Harding College, and to be able to
transfer the credits to the state college. The first courses were offered during the fall semester,
1961, with about 15 students enrolled.
In 1967 a new facility was constructed at the corner of Florence and Madison.
University Hall is still standing. During the 1960s more than 1000 students enrolled in courses
at the Bible Chair. In 1969 SMS created a Religious Studies Department and began to accept
these courses in fulfillment of a university humanities requirement.
John Wilson was succeeded by Jim Cannon and Tom Jones as Christian Student Center
Directors. Rapid growth was experienced as the focus shifted from academics to evangelism.
In the early 1970s, I (Rob Daniel) first became aware that Springfield was a dynamic
center of ministry to young adults while attending a retreat at Springfield’s HoJos. I was asked
to pick up a thousand newspapers and transport them back to Central Missouri State in
Warrensburg. I remember thinking those newspapers were apparently written for hippies. At
the time I was a young single Air Force officer stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base. I
understand students also hosted a weekly television series on KMTC-TV entitled “Herald of
Truth/Campus Edition.”
Early in the 1990s, South National sold its properties to Southwest Missouri State. The
Christian Student Center moved across the street to our present facility. When Monroe Street
became Bear Boulevard and the official entrance to MSU, we changed our name to Bear
Chapel. Bear Boulevard ends in our parking lot, caddy corner to MSU’s Welcome Center.
At the suggestion East Sunshine and East Grand Church of Christ Elders, the Christian
Support Center, a 50l(c)(3) non-profit corporation was formed in May 2006 and took ownership
of the building on August 24, 2006. A note of appreciation to Dr. Andy and Shelia Wright for
donating the earnest money for the purchase. Also of historic interest is that the first user fee
was by The Caring People for a tent sale on the South Lawn. JoDee Herschend, founder of The
Caring People, a ministry to single mothers, was assisted by her husband Pete and his brother
Jack (all co-owners of Silver Dollar City) and students in pitching the tent. The Christian Student
Center remains a MSU recognized student organization housed in Bear Chapel.
BEAR CHAPEL’S PURPOSE STATEMENT: To provide an inviting, visible entry point
and a nurturing support structure, primarily in collegiate communities, to the saving,
transformational power of Jesus Christ and citizenship in His kingdom.
