news at welch college   Welch College (formerly Free Will Baptist Bible College) in Nashville, TN, 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.

 

Former Welch College Board Chairman With the Lord

Reverend Gene Outland, former Welch College Board of Trustees chairman, died Saturday, May 9, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 80 years old.

A 1957 graduate, Mr. Outland loved Welch College. His late wife, Peggy, as well as their daughter Angela and her husband Mark Trotter, also attended Welch. His granddaughter, Audrey Trotter Jordan, graduated Friday, May 8, summa cum laude from Welch College, with the honor of being named Most Outstanding Student.

Mr. Outland was elected to the Welch College Board of Trustees in July 1996. He served 12 years on the board and was chairman 2006-2008. He pastored churches in North Carolina, Illinois, and Tennessee.

Former Vice President for Financial Affairs Tom Sass said, “Brother Outland was a great man of God...His great, deep love exhibited for the Lord, for family, and for his college are wonderful, loving, giving examples of what it means to be Christ-like through life.”

Welch College President Matt Pinson said, “No one loved Welch College more than Gene Outland. I saw this personally when he served on our Board of Trustees, especially during the two years he served as chairman. Even after he fulfilled his term on the board, he called weekly to inquire of the wellbeing of the college and to let me know he was praying for me and for the college. He was truly an outstanding man of God with a servant’s heart.”

A celebration of Mr. Outland’s life was held Friday, May 15, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Vice President for Church Relations Retires

Reverend Gary Fry (pictured below), vice president for Church Relations since February, 2012, announced his retirement from Welch College in August. Mr. Fry served the college establishing and developing relationships with churches across the nation in an effort to raise awareness of the college’s needs while also looking for ways the college could be of service to pastors and churches. In addition to traveling for the college, he served as public relations coach for traveling music groups and also worked to promote the online program.

Before coming to Welch, Mr. Fry, a 1972 Welch College graduate, served as the Missouri State Association executive director, pastored Mountain Grove Free Will Baptist Church for 23 years, and served on the Welch College Board of Trustees for 12 years, ten as chairman.

Fry said, “I have certainly enjoyed my time at Welch. There is not a better group of people with which to work. Were it not for my failing health, I would continue to serve the Lord here. These are exciting times at the college. We have a growing student body, and there is a great spirit on campus. The administration and board are moving the college forward toward relocation. It’s a great day to be a part of the Welch family!”

President Matt Pinson said, “We are saddened to see Brother Fry retire. Gary Fry represents what Welch College is all about. His service as a member and chairman of the Board of Trustees, and now as a vice president, have been outstanding. He has served, and will continue to serve, as a valued advisor and friend to me and the college. His commitment to Welch College and his understanding of its mission are second to none.”

Vice President for Institutional Advancement David Williford said, “Gary Fry has been a friend, a confidant, a counselor, and an outstanding representative for Welch College. On a personal level, I will miss him. On a professional level, all of us will miss his insight, wisdom, and the skills he brought to bear as he shared Welch’s story with the churches of our denomination. Gary served faithfully in spite of health issues that often made it difficult on him. My prayer is that God will give him a fruitful ministry in his retirement years, because, even though Gary will be slowing his pace, he will never cease to labor in the work of the kingdom.”

Reverend Fry and his wife Shirley plan to make their home in Mountain Grove, Missouri, where he will provide pulpit supply and continue to represent Welch College as a regional representative.