news at free will baptist bible college   AS THE OFFICIAL COLLEGE of the Free Will Baptist denomination, Free Will Baptist Bible College has been helping students find their place in God's world since 1942. For more information about Free Will Baptist Bible College, please visit www.fwbbc.edu Photo: A quiet moment in Common Grounds (campus coffee shop).

MORGAN, RUSSELL TO ADDRESS GRADUATES

NASHVILLE, TN Two leading pastors, Rob Morgan (TN) and Rusty Russell (NC), are scheduled to challenge the 2007 graduating class in May.

Reverend Robert J. Morgan (pictured at right), pastor of Donelson FWB Church in Nashville and author of more than 25 books, will address the graduates during 10:00 a.m. commencement exercises Friday, May 4.

Wilson, NC, pastor Rusty Russell (pictured below) will bring the baccalaureate message Thursday evening, May 3, at 7:00 p.m. Russell’s daughter Jennifer is a member of the 2007 graduating class.
President J. Matthew Pinson said, “This is such an important occasion for the entire college family, and especially for the graduating seniors. Commencement week always brings us face-to-face with our mission as a college—to educate leaders to serve Christ, His Church, and His world through Biblical thought and life.  We hope that you will join us in this special time of celebration.”

Rob Morgan has led the 1,200-member Donelson FWB Church for 27 years.  A best selling and Gold-Medallion winning writer with 1.5 million books in print, he is a staff writer for Dr. David Jeremiah and Turning Points Magazine.  He graduated from Columbia International University, and earned master’s degrees at Wheaton Graduate School and Luther Rice University.

Rusty Russell completed a bachelor’s degree at FWBBC (1981) before earning master’s degrees at Middle Tennessee State University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He became part of the leadership team at Peace FWB Church in 1993 and senior pastor in 2006.  Rusty has served in five Free Will Baptist churches since 1980.

CHURCH OPERATES COLLEGE FOR A DAY

NASHVILLE, TN First FWB Church in Walnut Ridge, AR, presented a $3,500 check to Free Will Baptist Bible College on December 3, 2006, continuing a long-standing tradition of operating the college for a day.
Pastor Steve Trail, along with church leaders Leroy Scudder and Leo Martin, presented the check to Terry Forrest, pastoral ministry program coordinator, during the church’s 13th annual Bible College Day.

“We are so thankful for the faithful support of friends like First FWB Church in Walnut Ridge,” Reverend Forrest said.  “I was honored to be with Pastor Trail and his congregation for this special moment.”
The concept of a local church operating the college financially for a day was developed by the late Paul Ketteman who served as director of public relations.  The amount is determined by dividing the gift income needed by the college for a year by 365.

KIRKLAND VISITS CLASS

NASHVILLE, TN Premier church musician Camp Kirkland addressed a Choral Arranging class on November 17, according to Dr. James Stevens who chairs the college’s Music Department.  The Franklin, TN-based churchman has emerged as one of the nation’s leading musicians, pioneering the use of instrumental music as a viable medium in the life of church music programs.

Dr. Stevens said, “Camp Kirkland has become one of the most well known Christian choral and instrumental arrangers during the past 20 years.  We were delighted to have him on campus to speak with our music students.”

Kirkland’s lecture included practical choral and instrumental arranging tips.  He also allowed students to listen to recent orchestrations and choral compositions and offered his personal analysis of the pieces. 
Mr. Kirkland began creating an instrumental music program for churches in 1971 while serving at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville (FL).  His program is still a model of excellence in music and effectiveness in ministry.  In addition to being a skilled educator and clinician, Kirkland has enjoyed a brilliant career as anarranger and orchestrator.  He has over a thousand publications in his catalog.

Camp has gone on 20 music mission trips around the world in the past four years.  “Music,” he says, “is an ‘instant magnet’ to connect and build relationships that cross international boundaries and cultures.” 
The Nashville Praise Symphony under the direction of Mr. Kirkland played for the opening of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville on October 7.

123 MAKE DEAN’S LIST

NASHVILLE, TN The 2006 fall semester ended at Free Will Baptist Bible College with 123 students earning academic recognition, according to Provost Greg Ketteman. Thirty-one students made all As and were placed on the President’s List. Ninety-two students earned a B average or higher and were

placed on the Dean’s List. The Dean’s List includes 27 seniors, 23 juniors, 17 sophomores, and 25 freshmen.

JSOT PUBLISHES REID

NASHVILLE, TN The Journal for the Study of the Old Testament (JSOT) published a 4,500-word article by Dr. Garnett Reid, Old Testament professor at Free Will Baptist Bible College, in the December 2006 issue. Reid’s article is titled, “‘Thus You Will Say to Them’: A Cross-Cultural Confessional Polemic in Jeremiah 10:11.”

A frequently published author in denominational and theological journals, Dr. Reid confirmed that the article was first read at the Theological Symposium sponsored by the FWB Commission for Theological Integrity and later submitted as a freelance project to JSOT editors who selected it for publication.

JSOT, established in 1976 and published five times annually, is one of the three leading Old Testament journals in the world and is widely regarded as offering the best in current scholarship on the Old Testament across a range of critical methodologies.  JSOT regularly showcases new and established scholars who pioneer original and creative approaches to the interpretation of Old Testament literature.

Dr. Reid writes the bimonthly Bible study column, “Intersect,” in ONE Magazine.  He has served on the FWBBC faculty since 1982.

34 ATTEND SENIOR DAYS

NASHVILLE, TN Thirty-four students from 11 states gathered on the college campus November 9-11, 2006, for Senior Days, according to Ryan Lewis, director of recruitment.  Nine students came from Virginia, eight from North Carolina, four from Missouri, three each from Florida and Arkansas, two from Illinois, and one each from Oregon, South Caarolina, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Mr. Lewis said, “Eleven of the 34 students made application to enroll at FWBBC in the fall of 2007.  Senior Days continues to be a highly successful event that generates interest among seniors.”

Each student accompanied a personal guide during his stay on the FWBBC campus.  Visiting students attended classes of their choice Friday morning after a series of welcoming activities and events Thursday evening.  Following chapel, they participated in a question and answer time with Ryan Lewis.

Lunch with President J. Matthew Pinson put the students in direct contact with the college’s energetic leader who shared his educational vision and encouraged them to follow God’s.

Mr. Caudill said about the event, “The Senior Days’ guests were exposed to an up-close-and-personal look at FWBBC.  They interacted with our students, quizzed academic advisors, checked out financial options, and enjoyed a special lunch with President Pinson.  All that positive exposure will influence their decision to attend FWBBC.”

STUDENT’S LISTED IN WHO’S WHO

NASHVILLE, TN The 2007 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges will include the names of 14 students from Free Will Baptist Bible College who have been selected as national outstanding campus leaders.

Campus nominating committees and editors of the annual directory have included the names of these students based on their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success.

They join an elite group of students from more than 2,000 institutions of higher learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and several foreign nations. Outstanding students have been honored in the annual directory since it was first published in 1934. Students named this year from Free Will Baptist Bible College are:

Jennifer Altom (TN), Drew Bigley (IL), Ashley Coker (TN), Tonya Corbett (VA), Joshua Detherage (AL)
Carolyn Head (TN), Mark Headrick (MO), David Jones (MS), Jill McAlister (CA), Leslie Meadows (KY)
Bethany Parks (TN), Alan Skiles (AL), Susan Stewart (TN) and Megan Wilfong (MO).