Waco, TX • 1922
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Biographical Information on C.W. Koller C. W. Koller’s Chronological Milestones • 1896-3-11 ~ Physical Birth at Waco, Texas. • 1905 - Spiritual Birth: “It was at the age of nine that I drew my first breath of `everlasting life.’” • 1902 - 1910 - He attended Waco schools until the eighth grade. • 1913 - He attended Business School at age 17 to learn shorthand and typing. • 1913-21 – He studied book-keeping, higher accountancy, auditing, and commercial law in evening school at a local business college for eight years. • 1912-1920 - Private Secretary; Later Accountant and Administrator of Real Estate • 1918-1919 - World War I - Originally assigned to the 280th Aero Squadron; re-assigned to Squadron C for duty on the Texas Air Base • 1920 – Charles Koller’s call to the ministry! On his 24th birthday he “had a feeling of inner unrest” and “In the course of time the thought came – humanly speaking, from nowhere-- that my life belonged in the ministry.” [For the full story visit “Pointers for Pastors” pages 116-117.]. 1921-1923 ~ CWK at BAYLOR UNIVERSITY – Waco, TX • 1922 • Ordained by Central German Baptist Church of Waco, Tx. (4-12-22) • Leadership Role in B.Y.P.U. • 1923 ~ Graduated with an A.B. Degree as a “Special Student” with highest honors after 27 months of study. • 1955-8-18 ~ Dr. Koller was Honored at Baylor’s Summer Commencement with a Doctor of Laws Degree. His commencement address as reported in the Waco, TX newspaper was: “This is the Day.” • At this C. W. Koller homecoming to Waco for the Baylor University presentation of Honorary Doctor of Laws degree. He preached on August 17, 1955 at his home church, Central Baptist Church of Waco on the 50th Anniversary of his baptism in 1905. “Fiftieth Anniversary of Our Baptism. (Same year of the birth of Judith Schroeder and graduation of Evelyn Koller from Wheaton College.) 1923-1927 ~ 1923-1927 ~ CWK’S & SWBTS ~ Ft. Worth, TX • 1923 Enrolled at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. • 1924 ~ On September 9, 1924 Charles William Koller, a native of Waco, Texas, and Selma Viola Steinhaus of Vickery, Texas were married and lived on the SWBTS campus. • 1926 ~ ThM ~ SWBTS – Class Speaker • 1935 ~ ThD ~ SWBTS [Bound Copy] • 1924 – Marriage to Selma Viola Steinhaus, his “Queen Bee” of 58+ years on September 9. 1921-1927 - Student Pastorates at Wellborn, Riesel, Hallsburg, and Morgan, Texas • 1926 - Th.M. Southwestern Baptist Seminary – Fort Worth, Texas 1927-1938 - Pastor of Clinton Hill Baptist Church- Newark, New Jersey. During his pastorate of “eleven happy and successful years” the church membership more than doubled and missionary giving was greatly increased. • 1931-1932 - Graduate Studies: Drew Seminary, Madison, New Jersey 1 SWBTS ~ Digital of CWK • 1935 - Th.D. (Doctor of Theology) Degree at Southwestern Seminary Dissertation “Practical Bearings of the Teachings of Jesus” • 1937 ~ 10th Anniversary Gift Trip to Europe and the Lands of the Bible. • 1938-2-28 ~ The Baptist Herald (NABC) ~ “Five Hundred Bid the Kollers Farewell at the Clinton Hill Church” after 11 years: • 1927-1938 ~ William Schmidt, Reporter. 1938-1962 – President Charles W. Koller, Ph.D. at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary • 1938-3-11 CWK’s Birthday] Reception for the Kollers as the new NBTS president. • 1951 ~ Copyright of his NBTS class notes for “EXPOSITORY PREACHING WITHOUT NOTES”. He taught the seminary seniors from 1942-1960 • 1955-8-18 ~ Baylor University Commencement Message and Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree. • 1961-1962 ~ Sabbatical Year teaching his Expository Preaching course at Covina, CA Baptist Seminary and pulpit supply in central California. • 1962-2-19 Retirement Banquet & Ceremony of Recognition for 24 years at NBTS with a “President Emeritus” designation. His sermon which was in his home church since 1938, Judson Baptist of Oak Park, IL, was entitled: “The Minister of Tomorrow.” • 1962-5-21 ~ NBTS Commencement awarded the Doctor of Divinity Degree. {SWBTS archives] 1962-1979 ~ Dr. C. W. Koller’s Expository Preaching Authorship & Publications • 1962-February ~ Baker Book House published his classic book, “Expository Preaching Without Notes.” • 1963-1978 ~ Residence in North Park of Chicago. Dr. Koller was kept busy writing books of sermon outlines, pulpit supply, and interim pastorates. • 1966-1971 ~ Former student, Dr. Lloyd Perry enlisted Dr. Koller to teach his Expository Preaching course. Dr. Lloyd M. Perry taught speech and homiletics at Northern Baptist Seminary in 1949-1951.[NBTS Year Books “The Northern”]. • 1974 ~ Crescendo Book Publishers of Dallas, TX published his “POINTERS FOR PASTORS” which was a collection of wise suggestions gleaned from his years in the ministry. Pages 115-144 is the only autobiographical material authored by Dr. Koller. “HIGHLIGHTS OF A HAPPY MINISTRY” mostly covers his call to the ministry up to the opening day of his 24 years at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1938. • 1976-3-1 ~ Dr. William R. Myers, the seventh president of NBTS, hosted the Koller family for an NBTS Evangelism Banquet for Dr. Koller’s sermon: “Evangelism At Its Best.” This session was followed with a surprise 80th Birthday Celebration with tributes from alumni & faculty. A bound copy of “A BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE” which contained just under 200 greetings from the NBTS alumni family was presented on that occasion. During Dr. Koller’s active retirement years he served 6 churches as interim pastor in California, Kansas City, Kansas, and in the Chicago area. • 1962-5-21 ~ NBTS Commencement awarded the Doctor of Divinity Degree. {SWBTS archives] 1979-1983 ~ “Tents Toward The Sunrise Years Residence in Decatur, Illinois. During these years he conducted Expository Preaching Workshops in Central Illinois. He also taught Bible Classes at the First Baptist Church and provided pulpit supply at FBC and in area churches. 2 SWBTS ~ Digital of CWK • 1982, June ~ Dr. Koller delivered his last NBTS Chapel Address at the invitation of Dr. William Myers. He also autographed copies of his “Pointers for Pastors” for students who were at the chapel service. • 1982-8-15 ~ Dr. Koller preached his last sermon from Ephesians 4:1-3 & 30-32 with the title: “Living In The Foothills of Heaven.” He had preached it at Judson Baptist Church, Foster Avenue Baptist Church (NABC), Forest Glen Baptist Church, Central Baptist Church (NABC) of Waco for their 50th reunion of the B.Y. P.U. on November 20, 1977, at the FBC of Keokuk, IA (with our Reeve family present on 12-28-77.), at FBC of Moweaqua, IL on 7-12-81 and finally at the Old Stonington Baptist Church south of Decatur on August 15, 1982. • 1983-2-20 ~ Early Sunday morning at 3:20 a.m. Selma Viola Steinhaus Koller began her residence in the CELESTIAL CITY from Decatur, Illinois. Her funeral was conducted in Waco, Texas and she was buried in the Waco Memorial Gardens. They had been married for 58 years. • 1983-5-19 ~ Dr. Charles W. Koller joined his “Queen Bee” in heaven. The funeral was held at the First Baptist Church of Oak Park, Illinois on May 23, 1983 with Dr. William R. Myers (NBTS President) preaching the memorial meditation. The Graveside Service was held at the Waco Memorial Gardens where he was buried by his wife, Selma, on Tuesday, May 24, 1983. 1983 ~ The funeral bulletin for Dr. Koller offered this suggestion: “MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS may be directed to the Dr. Charles W. Koller Memorial Chair of Preaching at the NORTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY of Lombard, Illinois. • The official announcement of the NBTS chair of preaching in part included the following: “Charles W. Koller (1896-1983) “In 1938, Dr. Koller left the pastorate to become the fourth president of Northern Baptist Seminary. During his twenty-four-year tenure, the size of Northern’s campus and student body grew dramatically. In a time of denominational turmoil, Koller put his energies into training leaders. Over the years, he shaped hundreds of such leaders, including a number of seminary presidents and professors, theologians, founders of parachurch organizations, religious publishers, outstanding pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and military chaplains.” “Thus, possibly no single person had more direct and indirect influence on the post-World War II ‘evangelical renaissance’ than Dr. Koller.” “For countless students and people in the pew, Koller was best known for his preaching. He taught a course in Senior preaching for many years; and his book, Expository Preaching Without Notes went through over a dozen printings (by 1983), was translated into a number of foreign languages, and shaped two generations of preachers. His book has a new title (How to Preach Without Notes) and is still influencing the way people preach.” Northern is honored to recognize Dr. Koller’s enduring legacy in the Charles W. Koller Chair of Preaching and Communication.” The announcement concluded with a picture of Dr. Koller and this quote: “The Christian cause rises and falls with the quality of its preaching.” • 2001-3-8 ~ Installation of the most recent CWK Chair of Preaching professor, Dr. Michael Quicke, was held at the Lombard, IL campus of NBTS. In a personal letter to the Reeve family on June 21, 2012 Dr. Quicke wrote these kind words to us: “I have never once taken for granted the high honor of being the C. W. Koller Professor at Northern, and have been humbled by the continuing legacy of this great man of God.” • 2013 ~ At Northern Seminary’s 100th Anniversary (1913-12013) their centennial historian provided this information about the almost quarter of a century “Koller Years - the Koller Era”. “Leadership, Expansion, and Accreditation – The Second 25 Years 1938-1962 ~ Jun 10, 2013 ~ Series: 100” 3 SWBTS ~ Digital of CWK “President Taft, the dedicated faculty, and the Board of Trustees guided Northern through the challenging years of the Great Depression.