Waldo E. Harder
Encyclopedia
Waldo Elmer Harder was the sixth president
of Grace University
(then Grace Bible Institute) in Omaha, Nebraska
, USA. He held an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College
and M.A. and Th.M. degrees from Columbia Bible College and Seminary
. He also studied at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
in Chicago.
His career marks his commitments to Christian missions and Christian education. He worked as a missionary among the Hopi
people of Arizona from 1943-1946. He was the first superintendent of Berean Academy, a private Christian secondary school in Elbing, Kansas
. From 1951 through 1961 he directed the Institut Biblique, a pastoral training institute of the Communauté Mennonite au Congo (then Congo Inland Mission) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (then Belgian Congo
). The Institute Biblique is also known as the Kalonda Bible Institute and is located at Kalonda Station, just north of Tshikapa
on the east bank of the Kasai River
.
From 1961 to 1971, Waldo Harder served as president of Grace University. His administration was marked by record enrollments, facilities expansion including Schmidt Hall (men's dorm) and a new student center, and the first broadcasts of the school's radio station, KGBI-FM
.
In 1971, he resigned from Grace and returned to mission work in Africa. Health issues required him to return to the United States in 1973, and he died in 1976. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton, Kansas
.
The Harder dormitory on Grace University campus is named after him.
African Inter-Mennonite Mission: http://www.aimmintl.org/home.htm
Communauté Mennonite au Congo: http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/C654035.html
Grace University: http://www.graceuniversity.edu/
Radio Station KGBI-FM: http://www.kgbifm.com/
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Grace University
Grace University
Grace University is a private Bible college located in Omaha, Nebraska. The university includes three separate colleges: Grace College of the Bible, Grace College of Graduate Studies, and Grace College of Continuing Education.-History:...
(then Grace Bible Institute) in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, USA. He held an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
and M.A. and Th.M. degrees from Columbia Bible College and Seminary
Columbia International University
Columbia International University is a Christian institution of higher education located in Columbia, South Carolina. The university is recognized for its emphasis upon spiritual formation, biblical authority and world evangelization.-History:...
. He also studied at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary is a seminary located in Lombard, Illinois, USA, near Chicago. It was founded in 1913 by the Second Baptist Church of Chicago to prepare students for church leadership, and it continues to represent a theologically conservative alternative within its...
in Chicago.
His career marks his commitments to Christian missions and Christian education. He worked as a missionary among the Hopi
Hopi
The Hopi are a federally recognized tribe of indigenous Native American people, who primarily live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. The Hopi area according to the 2000 census has a population of 6,946 people. Their Hopi language is one of the 30 of the Uto-Aztecan language...
people of Arizona from 1943-1946. He was the first superintendent of Berean Academy, a private Christian secondary school in Elbing, Kansas
Elbing, Kansas
Elbing is a city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. It is named after the city Elbląg in northern Poland, formerly Prussia. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 229.-History:...
. From 1951 through 1961 he directed the Institut Biblique, a pastoral training institute of the Communauté Mennonite au Congo (then Congo Inland Mission) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (then Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
). The Institute Biblique is also known as the Kalonda Bible Institute and is located at Kalonda Station, just north of Tshikapa
Tshikapa
Tshikapa is a city in Kasaï District in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located about 40 miles north of the Angolan border and 120 miles west of province capital Kananga at the confluence of the Tshikapa and Kasai rivers. According to records published by the Utrecht University...
on the east bank of the Kasai River
Kasai River
The Kasai River is a tributary of the Congo River, located in central Africa. The river begins in Angola and serves as the border between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo , then flows into the DRC, where it joins the Congo northeast of Kinshasa. The Kasai's tributaries include the...
.
From 1961 to 1971, Waldo Harder served as president of Grace University. His administration was marked by record enrollments, facilities expansion including Schmidt Hall (men's dorm) and a new student center, and the first broadcasts of the school's radio station, KGBI-FM
KGBI-FM
KGBI-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Christian format. Licensed to Omaha, Nebraska, USA, the station serves the Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska area. The station is currently owned by Pennsylvania Media Associates, Inc...
.
In 1971, he resigned from Grace and returned to mission work in Africa. Health issues required him to return to the United States in 1973, and he died in 1976. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton, Kansas
Newton, Kansas
Newton is a city in and the county seat of Harvey County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 19,132. Newton is located north of Wichita and is included in the Wichita metropolitan statistical area...
.
The Harder dormitory on Grace University campus is named after him.
External links
Berean Academy: http://www.bereanwarriors.org/17.htmAfrican Inter-Mennonite Mission: http://www.aimmintl.org/home.htm
Communauté Mennonite au Congo: http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/C654035.html
Grace University: http://www.graceuniversity.edu/
Radio Station KGBI-FM: http://www.kgbifm.com/