Albert Mohler, Brad Ryan to Address Welch Graduates
GALLATIN, TN—Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Brad Ryan, pastor of Ina Free Will Baptist Church in Ina, Illinois, will address the Welch College graduating class of 2023 on May 4–5. Ryan will bring the baccalaureate sermon Thursday evening, May 4, at 7:00 p.m. Mohler will address the graduates during the commencement exercises at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, May 5.
Dr. Albert Mohler serves as president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and is recognized as one of the most prominent leaders and intellectuals of the American evangelical movement. Mohler, a theologian and ordained minister, speaks to pressing contemporary questions from the vantage point of a Christian worldview. He has authored several books, the most recent of which is Tell Me the Stories of Jesus: The Explosive Power of Jesus’ Parables (Thomas Nelson). Mohler and his wife Mary have two children, Kate and Christopher, and three grandchildren, Benjamin, Henry, and Margaret.
Illinois native Brad Ryan was raised in the home of a Free Will Baptist pastor. A 1995 graduate of Welch College, he now serves on the college’s Board of Trustees. He has served as pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church of Ina since 2001. In addition to serving as a Welch trustee, Ryan serves the Free Will Baptist denomination, especially the Illinois state association, in various capacities. He and his wife Tommi Jo, daughter of president emeritus Dr. Tom Malone and his late wife Mrs. Verna Malone, have four children: Claire, a Welch graduate who also received her M.A.T. from Welch; Kendal, a Welch graduate; Olivia, a member of the 2023 Welch graduating class; and Jack, who intends to enroll at Welch in the fall.
To learn more about Welch College, visit welch.edu.
GALLATIN—The Welch College Choir will conduct a three-state spring tour March 8-14, according to Todd Parrish, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. The twenty-member choir, directed by Dr. James Stevens, Dean of Welch’s School of Music, will minister in five churches.
The tour program, Bless the Lord!, will consist of sacred choral selections and gospel songs designed to evangelize and encourage.
“We invite local churches and youth groups to mark their calendars and make every effort to attend a service in their area,” Parrish said. “We ask that people join us in praying for the health and safety of the choir as they use their spring break to travel and present God’s Word through music. Pray with us that God’s Spirit would be evident in every service.”
Spring Tour Schedule
For more information about Welch College, please visit www.welch.edu.
GALLATIN, TN—The album Song in the Night, featuring the 1979 Free Will Baptist Bible College (now Welch College) Choir, has been made available in digital format. The recording features the songs of Doug Little arranged for the College Choir, includes such favorites as “He’s Been So Good to Me” and “Now I Belong to Him.”
Todd Parrish, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, said, “In the history of the Free Will Baptist denomination, few people have been more closely associated with or have contributed more to the music of our movement than Doug Little. Without a doubt, he has given our denomination a rich musical gift that will last for generations.” Little, a widely known pastor and denominational leader, has had a strong relationship with Welch for many years, having graduated from and taught at the college and having served on the Welch Board of Trustees as a member and board chairman.
Understanding finances can be difficult for a beginning college student. Many try not to get involved with the process, causing them to make simple mistakes that can cause problems later in their academic career. Getting involved in your finances early on and learning how to budget in a way that works for you can not only be beneficial for student life but also for life after college.
The first thing one needs to do when it comes to picking a college is to obviously pick the college that works best. If it is in state, you have the option of deciding whether you want to be a commuter or a dorm student. You can decide which would be better for you financially by talking to the school’s financial aid department. They are there to help, so don’t be nervous to ask them all your questions! When you talk to your financial advisor, you can decide what works for you and your family. This especially pertains to finding out if student loans need to be taken into account.
To help pay for tuition, loans, or even just a quick food run with your friends, you can always pick up a small part-time job. One of the best options for this can be found right on your campus. Try to reach out to your professors and office workers to see if there is anything you can do on campus to earn some extra cash. Campus jobs can be beneficial when it comes to working sound your class schedule. However, this does not mean that off-campus jobs are unattainable. Most colleges are located near busy towns and cities that always have places looking for college students to work. Some of the best on-campus jobs at Welch are in the enrollment office, the cafeteria, or the library. There are also lots of off-campus jobs located in Hendersonville and Gallatin, including daycare centers, the Shops at Indian lake, and even at your local church!
Another tip to keep you on track to be more financially stable is that whenever you are hanging out with friends, opt for more affordable places to eat. Some great recommendations that are located near Welch are Taco Bell, Panda Express, and, one of my personal favorites, Casa Vieja. This also applies to cool and affordable hangout spots. There are a multitude of coffee shops that are perfect for catching up with friends and helping out your wallet. Skip Starbucks and try out Black Press or Stompin’ Grounds.
The last tip to help with financial woes is to try to write out a budget to make sure you don’t get behind on bills. Overspending on things can really drain your bank account. So, it’s important to try to budget what you can. It’s also important not to stress out about this! You are learning a new life skill, and it’s okay to make mistakes! It’s also important to realize that what might work for someone else might not work for you. You have to find your special way of handling money.
One way of finding your financial groove is to find a good budgeting app. I would highly recommend Evernote. It is free and very simple to use. It also offers many different features so you can stylize your lists as needed. You can even keep track of your to-do lists. Another app that is more aimed toward financial organization is the EveryDollar app . It keeps all of your bills and adds up how much you need to save each month. It will also remind you when your bills are due each month. There are loads of different options out there to help you become more organized. Try something different out each month until you find your perfect match!
Bethany McClain Hired as Administrative Assistant for Teacher Education and M.A.T. Program
GALLATIN, TN—Miss Bethany McClain has been hired to assume a newly structured role in Teacher Education that includes the role of the TE institutional licensure officer recently vacated by Mrs. Jena Simpson, according to Dr. Greg Ketteman, vice president for Strategic Initiatives. Miss McClain will assume responsibilities as Administrative Assistant for the Master of Arts in Teaching and undergraduate Education program and will also provide some assistance in the Academic Office.
Mrs. Jennifer Thompson will assume Mrs. Jena Simpson’s responsibilities with Welch Online Studies along with her role as administrative assistant for Adult Studies. Mrs. Thompson will continue her role as Liaison for Welch Dual Enrollment.
Miss McClain is a California native. She graduated from Bethany Christian School in Wasco, CA. She worked for Chick-fil-A in Bakersfield, CA, before being employed by Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) in Hendersonville, TN. Her work with ACE included Convention Office Secretary for national meetings in Indiana and Pennsylvania and ACE Learning Center Supervisor. She recently completed an Associate of Arts degree and is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Welch College.
Miss McClain is a member of Hendersonville Free Will Baptist Church, where she has served as a children’s church worker. One of her hobbies is Taekwondo.
