Photo by: Henoc Kivuye
From teaching Greek to teaching tennis, Distinguished Professor of Bible Stafford North is a jack-of-all trades. When he came to teach at Oklahoma Christian College in Bartlesville in 1952, North was 21 years old. He never left.
North has since served in various positions. He has assisted Oklahoma Christian in making nationally recognized strides in technology and wrote a history of the university. Besides his work as a professor, North has preached across the world – from Poland and Brazil to congregations around the corner.
Called a “legend” by his students, Stafford North has touched innumerable lives during his tenure at Oklahoma Christian. Now celebrating his 60th year teaching on campus, North sat down and discussed his lengthy career with The Talon.
What has been the driving factor to teach for 60 years?
North: I started when I was young. I had opportunities to go other places and do other things, but I have a strong commitment to what a Christian university can do, … the good it can do in the lives of kids who come here and the churches where they go. I think everyone should ask the question, “Where can I best serve the Lord?” and I felt like this was where I could do the most good. I enjoy preaching, but I thought training preachers and training people for what they can do when they leave here would ultimately be the way I could make the best contribution.
You have had a wide presence on campus through the years. What sort of offices have you held?
North: When I first came I taught speech; later I taught Bible classes and Greek, tennis and sponsored the school newspaper. I was in administration for 38 years – starting out as dean of instruction, then coordinator of administrators as dean of the college, then 20 years as executive vice president. Working in administration was a lot of pressure and lot of things you had to do that were not that pleasant, but they had to be done and you get a satisfaction from filling that role. However, teaching is what I enjoy most.
What has been your most important teaching philosophy over the decades?
North: Very early on, I came to understand how important it is to have clear objectives in the class. I state my objectives very clearly and then I build the course to help students achieve those objectives. Nobody in my class ever wonders, ‘What am I supposed to know?’ or, ‘What will be on the final?’ These are the objectives that I want you to know, and here’s how we’re going to help you learn that. Obviously, I want students along the way to learn how to study, and learn how to learn and to be challenged intellectually. The courses I’ve taught have varied a lot.
How has teaching impacted your life?
North: It’s given me a sense of satisfaction of doing what fits my skill set and what I am able to do. It is always satisfying to do what you think fits you best. Since I’ve had various roles in teaching and administration, I’ve grown a lot over the years. There were a lot of things I had to learn on the fly. It’s been satisfying to do those things that you feel like are contributing to a good cause. All of my children went here, and some of my grandkids, so we have some alumni in our family.
What has been the most rewarding part about teaching for OC?
North: I think the most rewarding thing about teaching is seeing the students we’ve taught to go out and do what you’ve taught them to do, whether it be as missionaries, preachers, youth ministers or workers in the church. I don’t go anywhere where I don’t find alumni. That’s really why we’re here – to produce alumni that go out and do what we’ve taught them to do, and that’s the most rewarding thing.
What do you hope your legacy on this campus will be?
North: I think the main thing I hope is that my time here has helped us stay on course for what we’re really here to do, which is to prepare people spiritually. I hope that I’ve helped to keep that foremost in what we do. I hope what I’ve done for the last 60 years will help keep that going.
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