On Aug. 19, 2019, the board of directors of Elim Bible Institute and College (EBIC) announced the election of its new president, Dr. Fred Antonelli, who will take office on June 1, 2020. Dr. Antonelli will succeed retiring president Rev. Michael Cavanaugh, who will have served eight years as EBIC’s president. Dr. Antonelli will be the eighth president since Elim’s founding in 1924 by Rev. Ivan Q. Spencer.
Elim Bible Institute and College will soon turn 100 years old and resides on the historic campus of the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary founded in 1831 in Lima, New York. Genesee Wesleyan Seminary was formed as a direct result of Charles Finney’s revival crusades in Rochester, New York (September 1830 to March of 1831). It was built 48 years after the end of the American Revolutionary War (1783).
EBIC is the oldest Pentecostal/charismatic Bible college in the state of New York and arguably the oldest charismatic Bible college residing on a campus that has continued to be used as a religious institution since 1831.
Dr. Antonelli is founder/director of Life Counseling Center with offices throughout the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware. He served as a former senior pastor for 23 years and was host of the nationally syndicated Christian teen and young adult radio show “Rock Alive,” heard over both the CBN and SRN radio networks (1993-1999). He has also written numerous articles for national Christian magazines and is the author of two books, Free to Be You and his newest release, Struggling Well (CrossLink Publishing). He supports his position with a bachelor’s in theology, a master’s in clinical counseling and a Ph.D in clinical psychology.
“Dr. A,” as he’s often referred to, is no stranger to EBIC. He was a student there during the charismatic/Jesus People Movement of the late ’60s through early ’80s and has remained connected to both the college and the Elim Fellowship for 47 years.
Dr. Antonelli will assume the presidency of EBIC at a strategic time in the school’s history by broadening its accessibility and historic reputation to the greater body of Christ. Also, he has a deep passion to restore the school’s original two buildings on campus: The Greek-structured College Hall and the main administration building, or Spencer Building—both built in 1831. Elim Bible Institute and College is a fully accredited, famed, Spirit-filled, undergraduate evangelical Bible college with special emphasis on missions, theology, ministry studies, worship and, soon, business, education, mental health and other courses of study. {eoa}
Dr. Antonelli, along with his high school sweetheart and wife of 47 years, Debbie, look forward to “embracing this exciting opportunity for the future of Elim as well as expanding Elim’s historic global impact in graduating students who are eager to minister the gospel of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Visit elim.edu or email [email protected].
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