The Malibu Miracle: A Memoir

Little George Pepperdine College was at a crossroads. The college founded in 1937 was in serious financial trouble and burdened with limited options for growth. With a cloudy future the college turned to a former history professor, M. Norvel Young, to provide new leadership and inspiration. A dynamic and charismatic Tennessean, Dr. Young was a man of vision and faith and a love for Pepperdine but he needed the energy of a partner. The challenges were so great that even an extraordinary man with a supportive and talented wife could not possibly do it alone. He needed a sounding board, a confidant; someone to dare him to think bolder. Bill Banowsky was a Texan. Born and raised by God fearing parents, he was smart, athletic, and a leader. At David Lipscomb College in Nashville he was class president, baseball star and BMOC. He was born to lead and M. Norvel Young had found his partner. Thus began the Malibu miracle not with land or construction equipment but with faith and works of faithful men inspired by God. As with biblical miracles, the richness of a recounting is not only in the results but also the events, characters, conflicts, and culture. In his telling of the story, Dr. Banowsky gives us the broad perspective and the deep insights. Most of all he sees God using simple humans again for his purposes in incredible ways. ? Ronald Reagan, who found a kindred spirit in Pepperdine and rallied much needed support. ? Blanche Seaver, whose wealth and faithfulness supplied the financial resources to make big things possible ? Numerous men and women who stepped on stage at just the right time to perform their role Looking at the campus today and knowing Pepperdine's ranking as a world class university it would be easy to believe that it just bloomed out of the mountains. The results are incredible but the journey is even more impressive. This is the story told by an eyewitness who testifies that the natural was unnatural and stands as a tribute to God.