by jowens | May 6, 2016
Welch College conferred degrees on 49 students from 15 states in commencement exercises at Memorial Auditorium on Friday, May 6, according to President Matt Pinson. Students completed degrees in multiple programs ranging from two-year associate’s degrees to four-year bachelor’s degrees. Forty-nine percent of the class graduated with honors.
Rev. Keith Burden, Executive Secretary of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, delivered the commencement address. He challenged graduates to be the best they can be, to take responsibility for their actions, and expect great things from God and attempt great things for God.
Jeff Nichols, executive pastor of The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville, Tennessee, presented Thursday evening’s baccalaureate sermon. He relayed to graduates that they were made by God who knows their future and to look at their years of preparation with patience for the future.
Welch College Pastoral Ministry Coordinator Dr. Barry Raper was named Academic Advisor of the Year. President Matt Pinson also recognized Christian Service Director John Murray for 25 years of faithful service to Welch College.
The college commends to you and to the work of the Lord the members of the 2016 graduating class.
Associate of Science Degrees
Adam Heath Giles
Ashland City, TN
Business
Kenneth Mark Murphy
Kannapolis, NC
Ministry
David Alan Robinson
Lexington, NC
Ministry
Keith Michael Stegall
Moline, IL
Ministry
Elisabeth Grace Webster
Norfolk, VA
Nursing
Bachelor of Science Degrees
Erik Mark Armstrong
Red Bay, AL
Youth and Family Ministry
Nathaniel Bacon Brimer**
Norfolk, VA
General Christian Ministry
Rachel Ann Burns
Springfield, OH
Child Development and Learning
Licensure K-5
Sunni Coral Champion
Florence, AL
General Christian Ministry
Lim Nhial Chol
Nashville, TN
Exercise Science
Shelby Faith Cominskie*
Virginia Beach, VA
Child Development and Learning
Licensure K-5
Nathaniel Austin Deel**
Antioch, TN
History
Licensure 6-12 in History and English
Leah Carol Dell**
Ashland City, TN
Child Development and Learning
Licensure K-5
Hannah Renee Driggers**
Scranton, SC
English
Licensure 6-12
Joshua Daniel Dunbar*
Russellville, AR
Business Administration
Youth and Family Ministry
Hanna Alicia Dunham*
Wheelersburg, OH
Child Development and Learning
Licensure K-5
George Hudson Shaw Dunlap
Nashville, TN
Exercise Science
Taylor Rebecca Greer
Manassas, VA
English
Licensure 6-12
Nathaniel Matthew Hagood
Whitesburg, TN
General Christian Ministry
Benjamin Corey Hobbs
Willow Spring, NC
General Christian Ministry
Carl M. Hooper**
Waverly, TN
General Christian Ministry
Michael Edward Hunt**
Wagoner, OK
General Christian Ministry
Gabriel Thomas Kear
Chula Vista, CA
Business Administration
Allison Ruth Lewis
Chicago, IL
Early Childhood
Emily Jane Lute
Warren, MI
Business Administration
Jessica Wey Melvin**
Mt. Juliet, TN
Exercise Science
Caroline Elizabeth Merkh
Nashville, TN
Business Administration
Caleb Luke Milling*
Ashland City, TN
General Christian Ministry
John Daniel Newland**
Joelton, TN
Music Performance
Leslie Blake Nichols*
Old Hickory, TN
Exercise Science
Melissa Taylor Owen
Canton, GA
Business Administration
Emily Jane Parrish***
Washington, NC
Psychology
Amy Michelle Pickett**
Pocahontas, AR
Early Childhood Education
Licensure PreK-3
Andrew Evan Pierce
Tupelo, MS
General Christian Ministry
David Andrew Reeves*
Owensboro, KY
Business Administration
Adison Kyler Showalter*
Butler, GA
General Christian Ministry
Caleb Ryan Smith
Mount Holly, NC
Youth and Family Ministry
Wayne Thomas Smith*
Fort Lawn, SC
General Christian Ministry
Paula Melinda Stonerock***
Columbus, OH
Child Development and Learning
Licensure K-5
Larissa Cheree Thomas***
Greenwood, AR
Psychology
Gregory Wayne Tucker
Huntsville, AL
Pastoral Ministry
Tracye Shawnette Tucker
Franklin, TN
General Christian Ministry
Zachary Adam Vickery*
Taylor, AL
General Christian Ministry
James Victor
Francis Creek, WI
Physical Education
Bachelor of Arts Degrees
Stephen Dempsey Bozeman**
Butler, GA
History
Nathaniel Austin Deel**
Antioch, TN
English
Cameron Michael Edwards
Cane Ridge, TN
English
Michael David Hollis***
Washington, NC
Pastoral Ministry
Brittany La Shae Walker*
Spruce Pine, AL
Missions
Dustin Michael Walters
Hamilton, AL
Pastoral Ministry
*** Summa Cum Laude
** Magna Cum Laude
* Cum Laude
by jowens | May 6, 2016
Dear Friend of Welch College,
God is doing great things in the ministry of Welch College as we move forward with campus construction and plans for relocation. I am writing to give you a brief update on campus relocation and the Building on the Legacy capital campaign.
I want to thank you for your prayers for the Building on the Legacy campaign for campus relocation. The early stages of the campaign have been more successful than we had ever dreamed possible. We currently have about $8 million in cash and commitments (about $6.5 million of that in cash) toward the Building on the Legacy campaign. We give thanks and praise to God for His bountiful blessing!
These early blessings will allow us to increase our campaign goal to $14.4 million (our original goal was $6.5 million). This will enable us to build a full auditorium/chapel, which was left out of the original first-phase plans for the campus. It will also allow us to be debt-free after the completion of the five-year campaign.
I encourage you to go to BuildingontheLegacy.com to read more about our campaign and see the latest videos of campus construction. We thank you, our alumni, friends, and supporters, for your prayers and support thus far, and we ask you to join us in this campaign for the relocation of Welch College, as we continue Building on the Legacy!
In Christ,
J.Matthew Pinson
President
by jowens | May 2, 2016
Dr. Jack Williams, former communications director at Welch College, died suddenly April 29. He was 73. Reverend Williams suffered a stroke in November 2012, from which he fought hard to recover.
Williams graduated from Welch College in 1966. He received his M.A. from Sacramento Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Louisiana Baptist University. Dr. Williams served 27 years as editor of Contact, the official publication of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, and 24 years as convention coordinator, plus eight years as academic dean at California Christian College. He pastored in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Louisiana. He also served on the Free Will Baptist Historical Commission.
Jack came to Welch in 2005 as the director of communications and served there until 2014. His knowledge of the college history and Free Will Baptist history made him a perfect fit for writing and editing. Welch President Matt Pinson said, “Jack Williams was just the man we needed when he came to Welch. In addition to his first-rate writing and editing, he brought to the table a deep love for the Free Will Baptist denomination and the college, as well as a keen understanding of our history and culture. He was a great encourager to me personally.”
He is survived by his wife Janis; daughter, Dr. Rebecca Deel (Recardo), Business teacher at Welch; son, Brad Williams (Tina); and four grandchildren, Austin and Andrew Deel (both Welch students) and Kristen and Kullen Williams; sister, Carol Mariche; and brother, Jerry Williams. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Kyler Williams.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, May 4, 7:00 p.m. at Woodbine Funeral Home Hickory Chapel (5852 Nolensville Road, Nashville, TN 37211) with visitation prior at 5:00.
by jowens | Mar 25, 2016
By Josh Owens, Director of Media and Marketing
Nashville, TN—Stephen Beck, principal of the Free Will Baptist Christian School in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, has been hired as a full-time faculty member in Teacher Education at Welch College, according to Provost Greg Ketteman.
Beck will assume the position this fall as Dr. Thurman Pate shifts to a part-time role, the beginning of a planned, phased retirement. Pate began serving the college in 1999 as chairman of the department of Teacher Education. “Dr. Pate’s wife’s healthcare needs are a primary consideration in the timing of this change,” Ketteman said. “Mrs. Ann Pate, who herself served 14 years as a faculty member in the TE department, and Dr. Pate have been such a blessing to the TE Department at Welch for a combined 30 years. Dr. Pate will continue to teach some courses and serve as mentor to Mr. Beck. He is excited about the future of the department and pleased to see Stephen in this position.”
“Stephen started out as an engineer.” said Ketteman. “While attending Vanderbilt University, where he received his B.S. in engineering with minors in math and computer science in 1997, he took Bible and missions courses at Welch, where he met his wife Rejyna.”
Beck, an ordained minister and the grandson of Welch’s founding president Dr. L. C. Johnson, served as an engineer for a defense contractor in Huntsville, AL, until sensing a calling to the school in the Virgin Islands, where he also served as associate pastor of the Free Will Baptist Church there. In that capacity, he was appointed an associate home missionary with Free Will Baptist North American Ministries. In addition to his administrative and pastoral work, he coached championship soccer and cross-country teams.
“The college has long envisioned offering a program for math teachers,” Ketteman said. “Having Stephen here will allow us to pursue that goal. He will teach full-time in the department and take over many of Dr. Pate’s administrative duties as well. Our plan is to have Dr. Etta Patterson serve as interim chairman of the department while Stephen completes his doctorate, after which time he will assume the chair of the department.”
Beck completed most of his coursework toward a master’s degree in engineering at the University of Alabama in Hunstville. He holds a master’s degree in mathematics education from the University of Virgin Islands, where he is an adjunct assistant professor in mathematics.
President Matt Pinson said, “I am delighted that Stephen Beck will join our Welch team. He has an ideal mix of administrative background, ministry experience, and fit with Welch’s mission. Plus, he has the public relations skills to recruit students, build the program, and relate to accrediting and approval agencies. He’s not only qualified, but he also combines deep spirituality with a hunger for truth and intellectual curiosity.”
Stephen, Rejyna, and their five children, Opal Ruth (12), James Foster (12), Stephen Linton (10), Samuel Fletcher (9), and Charlotte Grace (6), will move to Nashville this summer, when he will assume his new role.
