In honor of Black History Month, we celebrate Dr. Terriel Byrd, whose legacy at PBA is one of faith, leadership, and dedication to Christian higher education. Dr. Byrd, PBA board member and retired professor of Urban Ministry, grew up in Oxford, Ohio, a small college town outside of Cincinnati. When he was just 22 years old, newly married and attending Cincinatti Bible College and Seminary, he was asked to pastor his local church, where he began his early ministry journey. One day several years into his pastoral career, Dr. Byrd received a call from Dr. Ken Mahanes, former Vice President of Religious Life at PBA, inviting him to teach at the University. Initially, Dr. Byrd declined the offer. However, Dr. Mahanes held the position open for a year, and after much prayer, Dr. Byrd moved to West Palm Beach to begin his teaching career at PBA – a year after their initial phone call. After a long and fruitful career at PBA, Dr. Byrd retired and now serves PBA in a different capacity – on the Board of Trustees. Below, Dr. Byrd shares more of his story, the impactful figures in his life, why he believes Christian higher education is important, what Black History Month means to him and more.
What led you to PBA?
After finishing Bible college, I enrolled in Miami University (Ohio) to earn a Master of Religion degree. Then, I went to seminary to work on a Master of Divinity degree. It was during that time that I was called to pastor another church in Cincinnati, Ohio called Inspirational Baptist Church. I thought I would be at that church until I retired, but one day I got a call from Dr. Ken Mahanes, who got my information from a friend of mine. Dr. Mahanes explained that he was taking on a new position at PBA where he would become the dean, and he was looking for professors who had both academic training and practical ministry training and wanted me to consider taking the role. I actually told him I didn’t think I could do it–-my church was about to break ground on a new building, and I didn’t think it was the right time to leave. Dr. Mahanes told me he would hold the position for me for one year and contact me then–-and sure enough he did. So, after much prayer, I realized that I was burnt out and it was time for me to move to something else. So, having my wife’s consent, we moved from Cincinnati to West Palm Beach. And that’s the beginning of my journey to PBA.
You recently retired from PBA and now serve on the Board of Trustees. What inspired you to serve in that capacity?
First of all, I was so impressed with Dr. Schwinn. She was such an inspiration, and I loved her vision. I was inspired by her big dreams, and beyond that, I was inspired by the character and the ethos of the board and the University as a whole. PBA’s Christ-first philosophy is such a foundational piece of the board, Dr. Schwinn, and her cabinet, and I thought, ‘Wow, I would like to be a part of that.’ They seem to have the right idea when it comes to Christian values, Biblical faith, and an appreciation for the primacy of God’s word in our activity. It was not a difficult thing for me to decide.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of serving at PBA, both as a professor and now on the board?
The most rewarding aspect to me is the opportunity that I have had to work with students. I think that’s the central reason I was there – to be able to pour into young minds and help nurture, cultivate and inform young people. For me, it was such a humbling experience to be able to teach other people, particularly young people. The most significant part of my journey at PBA was the intersection between professor and student. That seems to be the path that has always led me to a kind of hopefulness. That was a true joy.
Why do you believe Christian higher education is important?
Our society has been threatened by the influx of a secular culture. I think that the Christian college might be the last vestige of hope that we have for training people who have a spiritual, Christian-principled worldview. We may be sending students into the world who could help lead the world into a better horizon for doing what is good and what is right.
Who inspires you?
I guess the easy answer is Jesus. But after that, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. helped inspire me. I never met him – I was only in the fourth grade when he was assassinated, but one of his colleagues, Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, was pastoring in Cincinnati at the time I was called to pastor a church there. Reverend Shuttlesworth contacted me to introduce himself to me since I was a new pastor in the city. I learned the important aspects of his life and his work with Dr. King, and later on he actually came to speak at PBA. It was such a treat for our students to sit with someone who actually walked with, marched with and worked with Dr. King. Reverend Shuttlesworth became a mentor to me, and he is the reason I have such a love for studying the Civil Rights movement.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
For me, Black History Month represents American history. I see it as an element of American history that should not be seen as something exclusive to American history, but very much inclusive, and a part of the whole of American history.
