The Second Miracle of Maranatha
Maranatha alumni are familiar with what is called the "Miracle of Maranatha," the story of Maranatha's founding and the incredible way God used Dr. B. Myron Cedarholm to help start the college. Less familiar, but equally demonstrative of God's omnipotent guidance, is the "Second Miracle of Maranatha," the story of Maranatha's preservation and the wondrous way God used Dr. Arno Q. Weniger Jr. to lead Maranatha to economic health and academic excellence. It is the story of how God preserved this institution when man could not.
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Dr. Arno Weniger,
Maranatha's Second
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When Dr. Weniger assumed the presidency in 1983, the College was finishing its 15th year. There were definite challenges to be faced. Enrollment had declined. Interest rates had ballooned, causing enormous financial burdens from construction loans and delinquent student loans secured by the college. Student/faculty ratios were unbalanced. Maintenance costs on aging buildings were so high that drastic attention was needed. In short, Maranatha needed another miracle.
God had already prepared a leader for Maranatha's second miracle. Difficult and unpopular decisions needed to be made. Through prior success and personal hardships, Dr. Weniger possessed the qualities and characteristics needed to face this enormous challenge. This was evident in an early administrative meeting in which failure looked inevitable. Upon reviewing the budget, which revealed that the college would not come close to breaking even, Dr. Weniger's comment was, "Well, let's get to work, guys. God won't bless a pity party." He left that meeting to deliver an upbeat challenge to the faculty and staff on the faithfulness of God.
Everyone shouldered part of the load in the resurrection of the college. Maintenance crews could not be hired, so faculty took up the slack. One day as Dr. John Brock was showing a prospective student around the campus, they came upon a re-tiling project. The tile layer got off his knees to greet the visitor. Wiping his hands, he came over and said, "Welcome to Maranatha. I'm Arno Weniger, President of the college."
Gradually the corner was turned. Enrollment grew, the student spirit was rekindled, and major academic credibility was achieved through the accreditation process.
Maranatha is not one man's school. It is God's school to train workers for His harvest. He miraculously established it through Dr. Cedarholm's leadership and miraculously preserved it through the leadership of Dr. Weniger. We now look with anticipation for the miracles yet to come.