This year's yearbook, Northland Light, has as its theme "Fishers of Men" to express a theme that typifies any year at Northland International University. Our purpose statement asserts that Northland exists to "prepare the next generation of servant-leaders for Great Commission living." The essence of the Great Commission is fishing for the souls of men as taught by Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:19. Each year, the yearbook staff dedicates the yearbook to someone whose life is an example of the theme chosen. During chapel, the dedication was announced to students and the following dedication appears in the yearbook introduction.
As a school and as individuals, our desire is to be "fishers of men"—just as Jesus Christ called his followers to be in Matthew 4:19. Coach Dennis Scott is one who has dedicated his life to fishing for the souls of men. Within the context of Christian education, he has trained hundreds to use every opportunity to spread the Gospel; as a youth pastor, coach, camp speaker, and community member, he has impacted thousands with the message of the Gospel.
Coach Scott was saved at a Bible club held in his own home when he was four years old. His tenderness toward the Gospel and the will of God has remained with him in the years since. He is known among students and graduates as a coach and teacher who cares about their walk with the Lord more than their athletic performance. He is known and admired in the community as a coach who deals fairly and exemplifies the highest level of integrity. And he is known in his church as a leader of men through the sports ministries he uses to teach and disciple men from every walk of life.
Coach Scott also recognizes that the call to minister is inherently a call to continuous learning. He is dedicated to keeping the tools in his toolbox free of rust and to adding new tools along the way. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Bible and Secondary Education (Math) from Maranatha Baptist Bible College and a Master of Sport Science degree from the United States Sports Academy. He is currently enrolled in the doctoral program at the United States Sports Academy.
Coach Scott and his wife Corinne came to Northland in 1991. Over the past eighteen years, Coach Scott has served as Northland's athletic director, men's basketball coach, men's golf coach, and women's soccer coach. Currently, Coach Scott is serving as the director of Sports Ministries. He is a frequent speaker at educator's conferences, coaching sessions, and sports banquets; and he has conducted summer sports camps for over twenty years. His burden is to change the face of sports ministries. His philosophy that sports should be used to impact rather than to impress is helping coaches worldwide to use their sports opportunities in a new way—to disciple their players and open doors for the Gospel.
We dedicate the 2009 yearbook to Coach Scott for his faithful example as a servant-leader who teaches us what it looks like to live in light of the Great Commission.