美國基督教効力會基督書院創辦人
賈嘉美博士
一生全然擺上為主所用
賈嘉美博士於民前14年出生於美國宣教士家庭，自幼隨雙親至中國淮陰縣清江浦宣教，因此能用流暢中文朗讀聖經與分享聖經真理，講道大有能力，吸引不同年齡人士。賈博士於中學畢業後返美完成大學教育，民國10年偕同新婚妻子 Louise Garrett Graham 搭船抵華，展開中國的教育事工；民國16年適逢中國軍閥與戰亂，在美國政府的催促下離華；然賈博士心繫中國，於民國18年再度返回中國。民國25年返美休假其間，竟遇中國戰火綿延，使他的中國行耽擱了15年之久。民國37年與他結褵27載之妻安息主懷，傷心之餘轉而全心投入各地的教會講道及各處的研經會，在一次的研經會中，邂逅 Sarah Chapel 女士，於民國39年結婚。
葛理翰牧師（Rev. Billy Graham）是賈博士決定來台灣宣教的關鍵人物，在葛牧師的鼓勵下，於民國39年偕新婚妻子（Sarah Graham）來台，展開他在台灣的宣教事工。賈博士抵台初期，見當時臺灣青年學子失學者眾且無基督教大學，有了「興學」的意念，於是積極到美國各地教會傳遞台灣青年的需要。民國46年向英商怡和公司購得座落於淡水鎮埔頂約二公頃的土地，開始興學，創立仿效美國基督教大學的基督教文理學院，並到各地教會傳遞基督教高等教育的理念。民國48年在美國加州申請設立「美國加州美國基督教効力會」作為在台灣推廣基督教教育事工的據點。於民國55年春季奉內政部核准設立「美國基督教効力會基督書院」，簡稱「基督書院」，以「敬畏耶和華為智慧的開端」為校訓。
賈博士帶領全校宣教士及教職員，忠心認真的擺上，用愛心、耐心、嚴謹的態度，教導並引領學生進入真理與知識的殿堂。許多學生因此而生命更新並與神建立美好關係，更有不少基督徒學生畢業後成為全職的牧者或宣教士，或投入不同領域的教會事工。賈博士深盼有更多的青年學子有機會接受基督教高等教育，奔波於美國、台灣各處，籌募推展事工之需求。在學期間每一個主日，也帶著學生到各教會分享信息、見證與獻詩，讓更多人意識到接受基督教教育是有價值的，並樂意推薦青年學子到基督書院就讀。
與賈博士感情深厚、同心創辦基督書院的賈師母，於民國67年因罹患癌症安息主懷，之後與認識多年的宣教士樂一女士（Louise Hunter）在基督書院結婚。民國71年因病息了世上的工，歸回天家。他的學生遍及各領域，因具有基督教的世界觀及人生觀，在工作崗位上都有美好的見證及優異的表現。
賈博士是一位精力充沛、急性子、馬不停蹄、殷勤工作的人，他一生是精彩的、有意義的、無虛度的，是神所重用的僕人，更可說是台灣基督教高等教育的推手。
Dr. James R. Graham was the son of missionary parents who for many years served the Lord faithfully in the Province of Kiangsu in mainland China. Although he was born in the United States while his parents were on furlough, he was less than a year old when they took him back with them to grow up in China. China became his home, and the Chinese were his people. He remained in Kiangsu until he was ready to attend college in the United States.
During his eight years in America at that time, there were offers of teaching jobs and other opportunities for work in that country. But the Lord wanted him in China, and God heard the prayers of his parents who were still serving Christ in Kiangsu. At about the age of twenty-four, he returned to China with his young wife to open a new Christian high school. They served together on the mainland for about twelve years, then returned to the U.S. for their second furlough, bringing with them their family of five children.
During the war years, missionaries were not permitted to go to the Far East. Dr. Graham preached in churches and conferences in many cities in the U.S. for several years, then moved his family to Wheaton, Illinois, where he taught Bible and Missions at Wheaton College. Later, hoping soon to return to China, he moved to Southern California, where he founded a church and served as its pastor. Later, because he was invited by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek to preach to the Chinese troops on the mainland, he was given permission by the U.S. government to go to China without his family. He sailed from San Francisco on December 7, 1941, not knowing that on that same day Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was to be bombed by the Japanese. The ship on which he had sailed returned at once to California, where he continued to serve the church which he had founded and to preach in other cities.
By the time the war had ended and missionaries were returning to the Far East, Dr. Graham's beloved wife was seriously ill, and late in 1948 the Lord took her Home to Heaven. A few years later, he married Sarah Graham. His friend Dr. Billy Graham encouraged him to go to Taiwan to serve the Lord in this free land among the Chinese people whom he loved so much. In 1950, he moved to Taiwan where he preached the Gospel to the soldiers on many military bases, in churches throughout the island, and on Christian radio broadcasts.
At that time, colleges and universities were too few in Taiwan. Dr. Graham saw the great need for a school where young people could be trained academically and at the same time taught to fear the true and living God. He knew so well that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." In 1954, with God's help, he founded Chung Yuan College of Science and Engineering, which was later to become Chung Yuan University. And in 1959, he founded Christ's College, a liberal arts college where many students have learned to love and to trust the Savior.
After the death of Sarah Graham early in 1978, the Lord gave to Dr. Graham another helpmate, and he continued to serve Him on this beautiful campus as long as he was able. He retired as College president and as professor of Bible in late January of 1981, and on June 18th of 1982, God took His faithful servant Home to Heaven at the age of 84 after a long life of fruitful service. On the China mainland, in the United States, and here in Free China, he had been greatly used to influence thousands of people for Christ. To God be the glory!
臺北基督學院65週年歷史文物展-傳承永續
