Dr. Larry Oats | A Mentor of Maranatha
In the journey of any hero, you will find a prevalent character that is essential to the success of the entire story – the guide. No, not a tour guide, I mean a life guide – a mentor. Think of your favorite movie or novel for a moment. Most likely, there’s an older character who is revered by the other characters, but is shrouded in mystery.
The character imparts both wisdom and perspective but never takes center stage in the storyline. The mentor, or guide, has already completed his or her journey, and is now positioned to help your favorite characters succeed. This character provides the training, the encouragement, and the guidance to lead the hero to greater lengths than the hero could reach on his own. The guide is the one who unlocks the potential of the hero to accomplish even what the guide could not.
A Mentor of Maranatha
On the campus of Maranatha, there is a man that seems to act as such a mentor or guide. He resides in the office where the founder, Dr. Cedarholm, once sat. All students pass, but few enter, and many wonder of his past. There are whispers of his grand adventures, vast experiences, and heralded accomplishments.
You could say Dr. Larry Oats is on the Mt. Rushmore of Maranatha. He has watched God write his story through the annals of MBU, and he continues to passionately guide his students toward accomplishing and enjoying the story God is writing in their lives. Those students receive the wisdom and investment of a man who personifies leadership development.
Before He Was Dr.
Dr. Larry Oats began his story at Maranatha as a student – one of the first actually. He transferred to Maranatha Baptist Bible College from Pillsbury in Minnesota in 1968 as a junior in college. In his senior year, due to a novel situation and schedule conflicts, Larry was called on to teach 1st year Greek. He recalls the conversation with Dr. Cedarholm about the Greek class:
“So Dr. Cedarholm called me into his office and asked me (a third-year Greek student) if I would be willing to teach first year Greek. I asked him if I could pray and think about it, and he said, ‘No, not really. You would need to start tomorrow.’”
The next day, he became a teacher, and he continued to teach as he finished his MA in Bible.
A Year Away
With a desire to pastor, Oats planned to get his Master of Divinity through Maranatha. However, Maranatha’s MDiv program wouldn’t begin for another year, so to further prepare for possible future ministry, Larry and his wife Colleen decided to get experience in Christian education. What he did not know was that God was working in his heart through these few years to ignite a passion for teaching in an academic setting that would be used for years to come.
Back to Maranatha
When he returned to Maranatha in 1972 to complete his MDiv, Larry continued to teach at the undergraduate level, and when Dr. Cedarholm opened up the Academy in the final year of his MDiv studies, guess who was asked to be the principal? Well sort of.
“Dr. Cedarholm asked me to serve as the Vice Principal (I was too young to be the “Principal,” even though I did all the work – the man designated “Principal” was that in name only).”
Dr. Versatility
As the Lord directed in Larry and Colleen’s life, Larry continued to minister at Maranatha – in almost every capacity. Over the course of his ministry, Dr. Larry Oats has served as:
- Garbage Truck Driver
- Security Guard
- Admissions Worker
- Student Recruiter
- Director of IT
- Publications Agent
- Business Office Employee
- Director of Yearbook
- Director of Public Relations
- Academy Principal
- Founder of the Financial Aid Office
- Dean of Students
- Founder of the Development Office
- Dean of Women (long story)
- Bible Professor
- Dean of the College of Bible and Church Ministries
- Interim President
- Dean of the Seminary
Throughout his service, he has seen it all. When he started there was no student handbook.
“We were told that we knew how to behave, so as long as there were no problems, there would be no student handbook. Well, that did not last long. In fact, up until about a decade or so ago, I could probably put a name in front of every rule in the handbook.”
A Lifetime at MBU
He has seen policies change and departments grow. He has driven into runaway cows and started fires in closed parks. And through it all, he helped the organization grow and ministries expand.
But greatest of all, Dr. Larry Oats has been transformed by the Word of God in his own life and used by God to joyfully see the lives of countless students “get it.” He serves his Savior, his local church, and his university with joy, humility, and passion. At Maranatha he was developed into a leader, and now he has developed leaders of his own for almost 50 years.
So even if you never get to know him personally, remember this challenge from one of Maranatha’s greatest mentors – Dr. Larry Oats.
“Your years at Maranatha will be some of the best of your life. You will find lifelong friends. You will be tested mentally, financially, emotionally, maybe even physically, but these tests will prepare you for a life of sacrifice and ministry. Enjoy your time, don’t get caught up in complaints over little things or things you might view to be “unbiblical” or “unkind”: God has put you here for His reasons, under these exact circumstances (even the coronavirus), because he knows it is what you need now to prepare you for tomorrow. Revel in what God is doing in you.”