Whatever your future occupation may be, we want you to know that life is about God. That’s why we dedicate ourselves to the spiritual formation of our students.
At Welch College, you will be part of a community where students and professors know who you are.
Our students love it here, and you will too! You will have a great time making friendships that last a lifetime while learning in a safe, wholesome environment.
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College conferred degrees on 57 students in its May 3 Commencement ceremony, according to Provost Matthew McAffee. Commencement exercises were held in the Student Activities center. The gymnasium space was converted into a 700-plus seating auditorium for the Baccalaureate service on Thursday evening, May 2, and the Commencement ceremony on Friday morning, May 3. The college awarded degrees in multiple programs, including associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, the Master of Arts degree in Theology and Ministry, the Master of Arts in Teaching degree, and the Master of Divinity degree.
The Honorable John J. DeBerry, Jr., Senior Advisor to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, delivered the Commencement address. Dr. Will Beauchamp, pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church of Tampa in Seffner, Florida, delivered the Baccalaureate sermon.
President Matt Pinson recognized Angie Edgmon, Financial Aid Coordinator, and Tina Tolbert, Assistant Professor of Speech, for their twenty-five years of service. Dr. Etta Patterson (Associate Undergraduate Dean of the School of Education), Christopher Talbot (Program Coordinator for the Youth and Family Ministry), and Frank Thornsbury (Program Coordinator for English) were recognized for their ten years of faithful service as a faculty member.
Dr. Ian Hawkins, Assistant Professor of Biology and Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, was named Teacher of the Year. The college also awarded the Academic Advisor of the Year to Dr. Barry Raper, Associate Professor of Ministry and Dean of Welch Divinity School.
The college congratulates the 2024 graduating class and commends them to the service of Christ and the transformational work of His kingdom.
Associate of Science Degrees
Sarah Elena Bernui Hendersonville, Tennessee Business
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College is now enrolling students in a new Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Organizational Leadership, with classes beginning this fall, according to Dr. Greg Ketteman, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives.
Designed for leaders of non-profit and for-profit organizations, the interdisciplinary program aims to provide organizational leaders with graduate education in the art and science of Christian leadership, inspiring professional excellence through integration of biblical thought and life.
The 33-hour degree program will be delivered in a 100% online format, accessible to busy Christian men and women who serve as leaders in nonprofits, businesses, communities, athletics and recreation, educational organizations, and ministries.
Dr. Greg Ketteman will serve as coordinator of the new program. In addition to his doctorate in educational leadership, his background in organizational leadership includes doctoral-level study in Public Administration, more than 15 years as a school administrator, and 18 years of executive leadership in higher education.
“We’re so excited about this new program,” Ketteman said. “There has never been a greater need for Christian leaders with integrity who live out the timeless, unchanging truths of Scripture. We believe that the M.A. in Organizational Leadership will strategically position strong, well-prepared, servant-leaders to serve God in building His kingdom.”
The first courses in the degree will begin in September 2024. For more information, visit welch.edu/MAOL or contact Dr. Greg Ketteman at gketteman@welch.edu. Apply now online at welch.edu/MAOLapply.
GALLATIN, TN—John J. DeBerry, Jr., Senior Advisor to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, and Dr. Will Beauchamp, pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church of Tampa, Seffner, Florida, will address the Welch College graduating class of 2024 on May 2–3. Beauchamp will bring the baccalaureate sermon Thursday evening, May 2, at 7:00 p.m. DeBerry will address the graduates during the commencement ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 3.
John J. DeBerry, Jr., is a native of rural West Tennessee who served for twenty-six years as a state representative in the Tennessee House of Representatives. He currently serves as Senior Advisor to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. DeBerry graduated from Freed-Hardeman University and the University of Memphis. A distinguished representative to the Tennessee House, he served in a number of influential roles, including Speaker Pro Tempore. His leadership has emphasized character and the values of the Christian tradition and has focused on education and mentoring young people. He was married to his late wife Georgia for 40 years. They had two children, now grown, Chevida and Victoria.
Will Beauchamp, a 1994 Welch graduate, has served on the college’s Board of Trustees for the past twelve years, five as vice-chairman. A Florida native, he has been pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church of Tampa since 2012. He holds a master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a doctorate from Liberty University. In addition to serving as a Welch trustee, Beauchamp has been active in service to the Free Will Baptist denomination, especially in the Florida State Association. He and his wife Jennifer, whom he met at Welch, have been married for 29 years and have two daughters, Cadence, a Welch graduate, and Emory.
To learn more about Welch College, visit welch.edu.
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College President Matt Pinson announced today that this year’s Strong and Courageous award will be presented to Jerry Moll at the college’s annual banquet celebrating Christian faith in the Sumner County community.
Moll, a thirty-year resident of Middle Tennessee, originally from Michigan, holds two master’s degrees from Indiana University—Bloomington. He also is a graduate of the United States Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management and the Academy for Organization Management. Rev. Moll served as an Administrative Assistant to the Indiana Speaker of the House, a chamber of commerce president, and as a franchised auto dealer.
For the last fifteen years, Moll has been the Founder and CEO of Living Sent Ministries, a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping leaders at all levels to serve and lead like Jesus. He is married to Ramona with two daughters, Lily and Katie, and is grateful to call Hendersonville, Tennessee his home.
Welch College’s annual Strong and Courageous banquet is a scholarship event to raise funds for Sumner County students. Strong and Courageous has raised almost $250,000 for student scholarships at Welch. Past award winners are: Rev. David Landrith (posthumous), Dr. David and Congressman Diane Black, Bob and Karen Goodall, Dr. Charles Lea, and Doug and Linda Varnado.
To support this event, contact the Office for Institutional Advancement at Welch College (615-675-5255) or visit welch.edu.
Gallatin, TN—The fall 2023 semester at Welch College ended with 68 students receiving academic recognition, according to Provost Matthew McAffee. This honor list includes both online and Enriched Adult Studies students whose fall courses ended in early December. “We congratulate the academic achievement of these students,” McAffee said. “They have worked hard in an effort to exemplify excellence in their vocation as students.”
Twenty-two made all A’s and were placed on the President’s List—9 seniors, 5 juniors, 4 sophomores, and 4 freshmen. Forty-six earned a 3.25 GPA and all A’s and B’s and were placed on the Provost’s list—21 seniors, 8 juniors, 10 sophomores, and 7 freshmen.
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College Provost and Old Testament professor Dr. Matthew McAffee recently co-authored the latest Hebrew textbook with B&H Academic, Going Deeper with Biblical Hebrew, according to Matt Pinson, president of Welch College.
Miles V. Van Pelt, the Alan Hayes Belcher Jr. Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Language at Reformed Theological Seminary, said in his endorsement that the book “provides students with a guided tour of the more advanced wonders of biblical Hebrew. The authors are to be commended for their excellent work, and students will be grateful for this tremendous resource as it deepens their ability to read, study, and teach the Old Testament.”
McAffee co-authored the book with H. H. Hardy II, who teaches Old Testament at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. They wrote the book to equip second-year Hebrew students with the tools necessary to advance in their understanding and use of the Hebrew language in ministry.
The book fills a niche in the Hebrew language tools market, dominated by beginning and more advanced reference grammars. Students of biblical Hebrew often struggle through the intermediate level of their language acquisition given the limited resources available for this stage of the learning process.
“Going Deeper with Biblical Hebrew combines textual criticism, grammar, syntax, and exegesis all in one volume,” McAffee said. “It’s intentionally designed as a teaching resource benefiting teachers and students alike. Its easy-to-use format includes grammatical lessons, exegetical insights, practice exercises, guided readings from the Hebrew text, vocabulary, and more.”
“The book represents a collaborative culmination from our years of teaching Hebrew in the classroom,” he continued. “As a one-stop shop, intermediate-level teaching grammar, this work is unique among Hebrew teaching resources. We’re happy to make this contribution to the field and hope it will serve students well in their preparation for Christian ministry.”
Other scholars endorsing the book include Bill T. Arnold of Asbury Theological Seminary and Dominick S. Hernández of Talbot School of Theology at Biola University.
“Dr. McAffee has garnered an outstanding reputation at Welch among students, parents, and faculty colleagues alike,” Pinson said. “As Provost, Dean of Welch Divinity School, and Professor of Old Testament, he brings to the table a wonderful combination of scholarship, teaching, and leadership, always delivered with a humble heart for the ministry of the gospel.”
“This book is the latest in a long line of books that Dr. McAffee will produce,” Pinson continued. “It demonstrates Welch’s commitment to biblical studies and the high academic quality we value here.”
Those interested in the book may purchase it at B&H Academic and Amazon.
