Bryan alumnus Dr. Don Reed ’63 has officially assumed the role of generosity advisor for the college. He tells potential clients, “As our paths may cross on campus or in your area, I look forward to conversations about our common heritage through Bryan and the opportunity to invest in the future generations of students who seek the Bryan experience.”
With an extensive background in ministry, banking, donor development, and estate design, Dr. Reed is uniquely qualified to offer financial consulting service to the Bryan College family, from alumni to friends of the college.
After graduating from high school at 16, he was introduced to the field of banking. His employer invited him to take advantage of resources provided by the American Institute of Banking to earn college credits, starting with night courses at the University of Buffalo. This was only the beginning of Dr. Reed’s journey. At the bank he spent a year and a half developing his customer service and financial skills at a teller’s window, working with “people from the entire range of socioeconomic wealth.” The bank promoted him to the position of junior loan officer by age 18.
Dr. Reed had planned on attending a Bible school in New York, but through several conversations he was introduced to Bryan College. “Less than a month later, I found myself in Tennessee entering the Bryan experience. This was another one of God’s good surprises, showing me His plan,” said Dr. Reed. At Bryan he was challenged to integrate education with the Bible.
Following his graduation from Bryan with a B.A. in Greek in 1963, Dr. Reed kept pursuing higher learning to answer God’s call on his life toward ministry. This included a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Master of Christian Education from North American Baptist Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Bethel Theological Seminary. During that time the Lord called him to embark on a 43-year career in local church ministry. Here he experienced church staff ministry, church planting, senior pastorate, and regional oversight of 75 churches in northern California.
Now having finished that full-time ministry work, Dr. Reed and his wife, Rae (also from the class of ‘63), are deeply involved with volunteer work: a road that has led back to Bryan College! He said, “Part of the joy in volunteering presently is our work with Bryan. In the later years of local church work, I also took training in major donor development and estate design. The Bryan development staff has graciously provided opportunity to serve in these areas from our current remote location in Arkansas. Periodic visits to the Bryan campus allow contact with individuals for conversations about generosity and Kingdom investment. Other conversations take place through phone calls, emails, etc. This service is one way in which we can repay in part what others did for us to allow us to attend Bryan.”