Ninety-nine years ago, Nora Chambers taught the first class at…

Ninety-nine years ago, Nora Chambers taught the first class at Bible Training School, now Lee University. Illinois native Chambers and her husband, Fred, joined the Church of God at the invitation of R.G. Spurling, who licensed her as an evangelist in 1910. When the General Assembly authorized a school in November 1917, General Overseer A.J. Tomlinson informed Nora, “Sister Chambers, you have been selected to teach the Bible Training School, and we want you to begin January 1.” She later acknowledged, “I insisted that a man should be chosen for that position, but finally consented when all my suggestions met opposition.” Recognizing the spiritual responsibility of teaching, she reflected, “I felt such a load settle over me the first morning we opened the school. I didn’t think I could carry it, but as the students prepared their lessons, I prayed. Soon I felt the presence of an unseen guest. He assured me that He would be with us and help us, and He did.”