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.

Matthew Barrett Delivers Forlines Lectures November 9-10

Dr. Matthew Barrett, Professor of Christian Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, delivered a series of guest lectures during the 2023 Leroy Forlines Lectures at Welch College, according to President Matt Pinson. Barrett’s topic was “The Reformation as Renewal.”

The Leroy Forlines Lectures began at Welch College in 1993 as a means of bringing well-known speakers to campus to address challenging issues of the day related to theology, philosophy, worldview, world missions, and other topics. The lecture series was named for the late F. Leroy Forlines, long-time Welch professor and dean. The lectureship, which has not been held in the past few years, was reinstated by means of a generous endowment by Forlines’ wife, Dr. Fay Forlines.

“What a privilege it was to host Dr. Barrett on our campus for the Forlines Lectures,” President Pinson said. “He is one of the most distinguished young scholars in the conservative Protestant movement, and it was a distinct honor having him on our campus and learning from him.”

Founder and editor of Credo magazine and host of Credo Podcast, Barrett has been published widely, including books such as Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit (Baker); None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God (Baker); God’s Word Alone: The Authority of Scripture (Zondervan); Canon, Covenant, and Christology: Rethinking Jesus and the Scriptures of Israel (IVP); 40 Questions about Salvation (Kregel), and most recently The Reformation as Renewal (Zondervan). Currently, he is devoting the next several years to writing The Doctrine of God (Baker).

Originally from California, Barrett holds a B.A. from Biola University and an M.Div. and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Elizabeth have four children.

2024 Rejoice! Ministry Team Announced

The 2023–2024 Rejoice! Ministry Team has been selected, according to Daniel Webster, the team’s musical director. “After vocal and instrumental auditions and interviews, we have finalized this year’s team,” Webster said. “We had a great number of quality musicians to choose from, but we finally selected these students to represent us this year.”

Female members of the 12-member team are Malena Campis, Elly Crabtree, Cheyenne Lewis, Abigail McAffee, Brook Proctor, and Rachel Wilkerson. Male members include Marc Edgmon, Silas Houser, Camden Lewis, Jacob Robertson, and Landon Wolfe. Reilly Holloman will serve as the sound technician.

Todd Parrish, vice president for Institutional Advancement, said, “We are excited to introduce the 2023–2024 Rejoice! Ministry Team. Their musical ability, along with their desire to serve Christ and share His gospel, will make them great representatives for the kingdom and Welch College.”