[SOC] Argghhh ...

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Ky. Bible College Shuns 666 Phone Number

By ROGER ALFORD, Associated Press Writer 

VANCLEVE, Ky. - A small Appalachian Bible college is fighting to
change its telephone number because the 666 prefix is disturbing to
Christians who recognize it as the biblical mark of the beast.

"People say, 'You're a Bible college and you have 666 in your phone
number?'" said Carlene Light, an office worker at Kentucky Mountain
Bible College. "It's the connotation. No one wants to be part of the
mark of the beast."

The conservative, non-denominational Christian college on a hillside
in eastern Kentucky has been trying for months to persuade a telephone
company to change the number.

Rob Roy MacGregor, the college's vice president for business affairs,
said staff and students want the number changed to a second prefix,
693, that recently was added after all the 666 numbers were taken.

In the biblical book of Revelation, "666" is stamped by Satan into the
foreheads or hands of those marked for eternal damnation during the
last days.

MacGregor said he asked Access Point, a North Carolina-based telephone
company that serves the college, to change the number about six months ago.

"In the secular world, 666 is not a problem," he said. "It is for us." 

Kaye Davis, general counsel for the company, said Friday the phone
company intends to change the number as soon as possible.

"I certainly understand, being a Bible college, that the number 666
would cause some questions," she said.

Christina McBride, 24, a student from Ranier, Ore., said she remembers
being shocked the first time she heard the phone number. She's one of
85 students at the school, which is located 75 miles southeast of Lexington.

___

On the Net:

Kentucky Mountain Bible College: http://www.kmbc.edu/