When Delron was dean of Indiana Christian University, he assisted Dr. Tunde Bakare in opening an affiliate Bible college in his church in Lagos, Nigeria. After a few years of operation, it was decided that, rather than having a full-time school, a series of intensive short courses would better fill the needs of the students. As a result, a new approach called CLASSIIIC was developed. The program’s name is an acrostic for the full title: Christian Leadership Advanced Strategic Service Intensive Interactive Interdenominational Course. Even though this is quite a “mouthful,” every aspect of the title is incorporated into the annual five-day course which is taught by Dr. Bakare, Delron, and one or two selected guest teachers each year. Beginning in 2006, Delron has traveled to Nigeria every year except for one year when it was decided that it was unwise to bring in an international speaker due to civil unrest in the country. After the 2020 edition was canceled due to the pandemic, it wasn’t until this September that the course was able to be resumed.
This year’s in-person attendance consisted of more than six hundred Christian, business, and political leaders from Nigeria and approximately one hundred and fifty online participants from around the country and abroad. The theme for the week was “The Triumphant Rebirth of Hope” with Delron focusing on the book of Job which, other than the Psalms, has more mention of hope than any other book in the Bible. He also demonstrated how the message of hope in the Psalms penetrated the history of Israel as it went through stages of idolatry, destruction, captivity, and revival. Of course, the resurrection of Jesus was emphasized as the apex of reborn hope. Dr. Bakare’s explanation of the rebirth of hope came from the story of Naomi in the book of Ruth, describing how she lost everything but experienced a miraculous restoration. In the sessions taught by guest speakers, the message of the rebirth of hope was illustrated form the book of Esther which records the account of a planned genocide that turned out to put the oppressed Jewish residents of Persia in the “driver’s seat” of the empire.
One special moment came when Delron was able to present a video from the mayor of Colorado Springs who was born in the city of Lagos where the conference was held. He also presented Dr. Bakare with a challenge metal from the mayor to recognize his great accomplishments in so many arenas of influence in Nigeria.
