news at free will baptist bible college Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, TN, has been the official college of the Free Will Baptist Denomination since 1951. To find out more information about the school, visit their website at www.fwbbc.edu.   Photo: Student Body President Matthew Bracey pictured with Casey Deel.

PROFESSOR NAMED ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR

Mr. David M. Hahn, adjunct music professor at Free Will Baptist Bible College, has been named director of the 77-member Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra (NPO), according to Dr. James Stevens, chair of the FWBBC Music Department. Mr. Hahn has been a violinist with NPO since 2004.

“This is the realization of a dream I have had all my life,” Hahn said. “I look forward to working with this great committed group of musicians.”

The Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra is a volunteer community orchestra. That offers players of differing levels and backgrounds an opportunity to make music together. The NPO performs a diverse mix of repertoire—different genres and styles anchored in the classical tradition.

Dr. Stevens said, “This is a tremendous opportunity for David and an honor for FWBBC to have one of our adjunct music professors honored in this manner.” The orchestra will begin the 2007-2008 season under Hahn’s direction.

A freelance musician since 2001 and part of the FWBBC faculty since 2003, Hahn has worked with numerous publishers including LifeWay, Word Music, Brentwood-Benson Music, and has done editing for Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI). He served three years as senior editor at The Worship Company, and has been on staff at churches in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New York.

David is a tenor studio singer and instrumentalist. He plays guitar, keyboard, and violin. He is a composer, arranger, and producer, and has taught voice for 25 years. He is also a consultant on auditorium sound and lighting. He does music engraving, has performed with orchestras around the nation, and has toured with various ministry teams. Alfred Music recently published Hahn’s new choral anthem, “Keep Me Near the Cross.”

STUDENTS MINISTER IN URUGUAY AND NEW YORK

Thirty students traveled to Uruguay and New York City during the 2007 spring semester to minister and share the gospel. Nine students served in Uruguay, 21 in New York City. Enrollment Counselor Emilee Puckett accompanied the New York contingency, while Missions Program Coordinator Ron Callaway flew to Uruguay with the South American ministry team.

Asked why they chose to stand on New York City streets for a week wearing red smocks emblazoned with “Prayer Changes Things,” FWBBC students agreed that they needed to do something for Christ that required them to get out of their comfort zones. They split up into groups and rode subways to work stations in the Bronx, Harlem, Brooklyn, and several parks.

Miss Puckett said, “We prayed with about 500 people, shared the gospel with more than 300, and led 50 people to Christ.”

The nine-member Uruguay team left the USA with a three-fold purpose: to acquaint students with Free Will Baptists in Uruguay, to meet missionaries laboring there, and to allow the Holy Spirit opportunity to speak with students about future service.

Four students remained in Montevideo with Uruguayan families and gave testimonies in Sunday services. The other five rode a bus six hours to Rivera where they stayed with families, learned about the mission field, and gave testimonies. Both groups cooperated to produce a PowerPoint™ presentation about the work.

Ron Callaway said, “The Uruguayans who hosted students in their homes were apprehensive at first, afraid they would be unable to communicate. However, because of our students’ willingness to adapt, smile, and live like real Christians out of their comfort zones, the pastors and people are eager to host more students next time.”

BRYANT NAMED “OUTSTANDING PASTORAL STUDENT”

Reverend Paul R. Bryant, a 2004 graduate, received the prestigious “Pastoral Ministry Award” during spring commencement exercises at Beeson Divinity School (Birmingham, AL). The award recognizes outstanding achievement in the study of Pastoral Theology and the practice of Christian ministry.  Bryant completed the 96-hour Master of Divinity degree at Beeson, a graduate school with 250 master‘s level students and 40-plus doctoral students.

“My immediate goal is to continue in full-time Christian ministry,” Bryant said. “For the past four years, I’ve served on staff at Madison FWB Church (Madison, AL) under Dr. Richard Hendrix’s leadership in the areas of youth and music. In time, I’d like to pastor, and perhaps one day pursue a doctorate.”

Bryant led two ministry teams from Madison FWB Church on mission trips this summer. The church’s senior high teens traveled to Uruguay while the junior high teens served in special outreach events in Savannah (GA).

FWBBC President Matt Pinson said, “We are so proud of Paul for this significant academic achievement. He has studied hard and continues to be an example of the kind of young men we are training for the Lord’s work. We believe that God’s hand is on Paul Bryant.”

Paul graduated from FWBBC summa cum laude in 2004 with a B.A. degree. He was elected Student Body President by his fellow students and was named Most Outstanding Student by the FWBBC faculty.

He is the son of Rev. Randy and Mrs. Diana Bryant. Randy is clerk of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, executive director of the Florida State Association, and pastor of Ryanwood Fellowship FWB Church in Vero Beach, Florida. Diana is president of Florida Women Active for Christ.

GOLF TOURNAMENTS RAISE $50,000

Three golf tournaments in three states over a 10-day period raised more than $50,000 for the college, according to David Williford, vice president for institutional advancement. The tournaments were played in Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

“This was a first for us,” Williford said. “But thanks to the good turnout and the positive results, we’re planning more tournaments during the 2007-2008 fiscal year. If you missed this round, you can join us later this fall or next spring.”

Twenty-eight golfers participated in Missouri’s tournament on May 14 in Lebanon. Executive Director Gary Fry and Raytown pastor and FWBBC Board of Trustees’ member Ken Simpson led the group down the fairway.

Seven days later, Greenville pastor Ed Cook headed up the North Carolina tournament as 11 men hit the links in Ayden. Twenty Tennessee golfers joined David Williford on the Hermitage Golf Course near Nashville on May 24.

Each player was responsible for contacting individuals and corporate sponsors to underwrite the fundraising effort. Along with three other local businesses, FWBBC’s primary financial institution, Pinnacle National Bank, sponsored a hole in the Tennessee tournament. Pinnacle is the largest Nashville-based bank in the Greater Nashville area and does business as Pinnacle Financial Partners.

Mr. Williford said, “We spent some quality time with about 60 men in three states. We laughed and enjoyed wonderful fellowship, played a lot of golf, and had more fun than you can imagine while raising money for the college.”

Not all the participants walked the greenways. Wayne Spruill, FWBBC’s director of institutional research, brought his putter and joined the Tennessee golfers in his motorized wheelchair. He sank his first two shots—the first gave his team a birdie, the second a par.

VANDIVORT NAMED VOLLEYBALL COACH

Free Will Baptist Bible College has named Mrs. Deloris Darlene (D.D.) Vandivort as coach of the women’s volleyball team, according to Mike Phillips, the college’s athletic director. She begins her new duties this fall.

Mr. Phillips said, “We’re so pleased that D.D. has agreed to lead the women’s volleyball program. She has an excellent understanding of the game and a strong athletic background.”

Mrs. Vandivort played volleyball nine years in high school and college, and has conducted volleyball camps. She also ran track and taught gymnastics.

“I love the sport,” D.D. said, “and I’m eager to begin the training necessary to compete on the collegiate level. We have a good nucleus of returning players from last year’s team, and we’ll recruit from the current student body as well as incoming freshmen.”

Born in California and raised in rural Missouri, Vandivort graduated from Missouri Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in 1988 as a registered nurse and now works at Nashville’s St. Thomas Hospital. She worked at FWBBC three semesters as student health nurse before serving as a missionary in Ivory Coast, West Africa.

Mrs. Vandivort has training in classical voice, piano, and percussion. She was a member of the National FFA Chorus and has experience in solo performance, choirs, and small musical groups.

VOLUNTEERS SPRUCE UP CAMPUS           

Three volunteer youth groups from Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee spent several days in June working on the Free Will Baptist Bible College campus painting, repairing, and cleaning, according to Ernie Thompson, cleaning operations supervisor.

“These were some of the hardest working young people we’ve ever had on campus,” Mr. Thompson said. “They came during a period of hot, dry days, unpacked, and went right to work. It didn’t matter what needed doing, they took hold and stayed with the project until it was finished.”

The three groups came from First FWB Church (Russellville, AR) with youth leader Allen Pointer, Limestone FWB Church (Limestone, TN) with youth leader Mark Pruett, and Unity FWB Church (Greenville, NC) with youth leader Adam Carnes.

The groups spent long hours painting several campus buildings. They also reupholstered bed headboards, repaired sidewalks, cleaned in the library and administration building, trimmed trees and shrubbery, powerwashed sidewalks and porches, cleaned air conditioner filters and grills, and more.

In addition to their projects at FWBBC, the groups helped out at the Nashville Rescue Mission, assisted with Senior Olympics preparation, assisted Home Missionary Clayton Hampton, and worked at Randall House Publications.

Mr. Thompson said, “We always have great volunteer groups each summer, but this year’s volunteers were something special. We thank the pastors, the excellent sponsors, and the youth leaders for their cooperation and leadership.”

FLAMES ANNOUNCE SCHEDULE

The Free Will Baptist Bible College Flames basketball team will play more than 25 games during the 2007-2008 season, according to Coach Rusty Campbell. The team will travel from Florida to Oklahoma for games and tournament play.

At this point in the season, the Flames are scheduled to play 10 home games in the Picirilli Activities Building on the FWBBC campus. To view the Flames’ schedule, visit www.onemag.org/flames08.pdf