news at welch college   Welch College in Gallatin, Tennessee, has been the official college of the Free Will Baptist Denomination since 1942. To find out more information about the school, visit www.Welch.edu.

Wayne Spruill With the Lord

Mr. Wayne Spruill, director of Institutional Research at Welch College, died November 9, 2022, in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was 72 years of age.

Wayne and his wife, Brenda Sanders Spruill, met while they were students at Welch College, where Wayne was also honored by fellow students to be elected as student body president. Both graduated from Welch in 1972, Wayne with an emphasis in business. Spruill was a businessman and managed several Christian bookstores over the decades, including Randall Bookstore and Zondervan Family Bookstores.

Wayne began working at Welch in 2004 as the director of Institutional Research and was instrumental in collecting and categorizing data for accreditation purposes. He remained active in this part-time position at the time of his death. During his time at the college, he also managed the campus bookstore and snackshop and served as advisor to the college yearbook, the Lumen, from 2007-2021.

Welch College appreciates Spruill’s dedicated service and his love for his alma mater. He is survived by his wife Brenda, their four children, Kevin Spruill (NC), Carol Holland (TN), Beth Spruill (TN), Carl Spruill (HI), and ten grandchildren.

Spruill never let his long-term battle with Muscular Dystrophy hinder his work ethic. Since being confined to a wheelchair in the early 2000s, he became known as the “Rolling Deacon.” Perhaps his daughter-in-law Cynthia phrased it best when she said he is now “walking with Jesus.”

A memorial service was held in the Welch College Celorio Hall Auditorium November 19, 2022.

Welch College Press Publishes Secularism and the American Republic

“Before we let the radical left tear down all the statues of our American founders, we need to read Forlines’ insightful book. Thank God for this book, and for these United States of America!” That’s what Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said about Secularism and the American Republic, the most recent book released by Welch College Press.

The volume was written by the late F. Leroy Forlines, long-time scholar of theology and culture and professor at Welch College. Forlines poured himself into the volume during the last years of his life. In the book, he argues against the secularist idea of strict church-state separation, opting instead for the reasonable accommodation of church and state.

“We stand desperately in need of a fresh recognition” that America’s founders did not support “secularism as a master ideology superseding all religious assertions and commitments,” writes Wilfred McClay, University of Oklahoma history professor, in his endorsement of Forlines’ book. “We are extremely fortunate to have the benefit of Forlines’ careful and nuanced discussion of the varied meanings of ‘secularism’ as applied to the early Republic, and by extension, to today’s America.”

The book was edited by Matthew Steven Bracey, vice provost for academic administration at Welch, who teaches courses in law and culture. “The myth of seventeenth-century American secularism became federally enshrined in the American legal system through the decisions of Everson v. Board of Education and McCollum v. Board of Education,” Bracey notes. “A key piece of evidence the justices in these cases used was a letter penned by Thomas Jefferson in which he referred to a ‘wall’ between church and state.

Forlines doesn’t dispute the letter but contends the secularist interpretation of Jefferson’s words is mistaken and the founders supported the accommodation of church and state. Forlines justifies this interpretation based on Jefferson’s writings and example, as well as the history of the movement of secularism and legal history. I’m so glad we can finally make Forlines’ groundbreaking research available.”

Several scholars have lauded the book. For example, Mark Coppenger, retired professor of Christian philosophy and ethics at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, remarked, “This Forlines volume…is a treasure. I wish I’d had it on hand when I was teaching my church-state relations courses.” People interested in the book may purchase it at welch.edu/welchpress.

Welch Hosts Missions Conference

October 9-11, 2022, students, faculty, staff, and guests gathered to participate in the Welch Missions Conference for the first time since 2018 due to COVID. Each conference speaker addressed the theme “Until the Whole World Hears."

Ron Callaway, former Welch missions professor, opened the conference Sunday evening preaching on “The Mandate of Missions.” Sam McVay, church relations officer at North American Ministries, spoke Monday morning on “The Urgency of Missions,” followed by Instructor of Ministry Jose Rodriguez on Monday evening, who explored the theme “The Church on Mission.” IM Director Clint Morgan preached Tuesday morning on “The Result of Missions,” while Neil Gilliland, former IM director of mobilization and member care, concluded the conference Tuesday evening with “A Heart for Missions.”

During each service, the songs and Scripture readings focused on God’s heart for His creation and what Christ accomplished to provide salvation for all people. Tuesday morning’s service enjoyed an international emphasis with Scripture read and song sung in Bulgarian, French, Japanese, and Spanish.

Not only were the messages stirring, but eight seminars offered on Monday and Tuesday also gave attendees opportunities to hear and see how God is working around the world, and how He wants His people to be involved in His missio Dei, God’s mission of redemption for every people group. Missionaries, pastors, and Christian workers shared opportunities for short-term missions trips, teaching English overseas, teaching in international schools, and ministering to immigrants and international students here in the United States. Sessions also addressed the roles women play in missions, and how to overcome hardships, stress, and sickness in ministry.

Seminars and services were well-attended and enjoyed. One student said she appreciated the emphasis on reaching internationals both here and abroad. Another student enjoyed hearing everyone’s impressions of the conference, recalling: “You could see people’s eyes being opened to the importance of missions.”

Throughout history, God has worked to redeem all humanity, and He has used many Christians to help fulfill His plan. Our prayer is God will continue working in the lives of students at Welch College to reach those still unreached with the gospel.

About the Writer: Tim Johnson is program coordinator for Intercultural Studies and a former missionary to Spain with IM, Inc. Learn more: welch.edu and iminc.org.