Nine years ago, my family and I accepted Hartland’s invitation to lead this wonderful institution! Dr. Colin Standish, the faithful pioneer and founding president of Hartland Institute, welcomed us with a firm belief that God had led in the selection process of Hartland’s second president. I was humbled by the trust and support that Dr. Standish and the board of directors bestowed upon my family and me. Even though I never felt that I was an adequate replacement for Dr. Standish, I did not doubt God’s leading due to the abundant evidence He provided in response to each one of our individual and collective prayers.
In April of 2011, Dr. Standish graciously stepped down from his role as president. However, he continued to teach, travel, speak, write, counsel, and provide support for many more years. Dr. Standish was a man of firm convictions, yet he was always kind, compassionate, and considerate. He was respectful of the opinions of others; however, he based his decisions on principles derived from the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. Until his mental and physical abilities no longer allowed him, he continued to serve as a board member and president emeritus, providing counsel to the administrative committee.
Although Dr. Standish is no longer with us, his legacy lives on in the lives of men and women inspired by his life and in the thousands of pages that he wrote. He is survived by his wife Cheryl, whom we are honored to have living on our campus, and by his children, Nigel Standish and Alexandra Kang.
Today, I hold the privilege and responsibility of keeping lit the torch that Dr. Standish passed on, the torch of proclaiming the everlasting gospel—the three angels’ messages. My goal as president is to inspire young people to dedicate their lives to the proclamation of the gospel in this final judgment hour and thus preserve Dr. Standish’s legacy. His vision for Hartland was that it would be a stronghold of biblical truth and of the Spirit of Prophecy. It was to be a “school of the prophets,” educating youth to be missionaries and leaders in both self-supporting work and denominational work. By God’s grace, this vision will be carried forward.