by jowens | Sep 11, 2015
Dear Friend of Welch College,
It was exciting last Friday to walk out on the new campus after grading had been done on the site to reveal where each building will be located. I walked the campus and prayed a prayer of thanks to God for bringing us to this point, and I prayed for His providential guidance of the entire construction and transition process.
I am writing to ask you to pray intently for this process as well. Pray particularly for two things:
(1) the Building on the Legacy campaign to raise necessary funds for campus relocation and (2) the timely completion of the construction project.
First, on the capital campaign front, I am excited to report that we received our first pledge in the public phase of the Building on the Legacy campaign—an anonymous pledge for $110,000. Praise the Lord with us for this first strong campaign pledge!
Second, pray for the timely completion of the project. We announced in June our hope to start the fall semester 2016 on the new campus, but stated that we knew it might be January of 2017. Our contractors believed, up until September 1, that a fall 2016 opening was possible, but they notified us last week of an updated project completion date of November 2016. Thus, we plan to move in December and January and begin the spring semester in late January 2017 (please see the tentative schedule below).
This contingency plan was already one of the options agreed on by the buyer of our West End property, who has been notified that we will stay on campus a few more months, and he has adjusted his plans accordingly.
Our contractors indicated that the new completion date is the result of the slow initiation of site work, owing primarily to delayed responses from subcontractors who are working in a surging Middle Tennessee construction market and a longer-than-usual site survey process.
Please continue to pray for us as we navigate the new complexities of a campus relocation and transition, and pray for us as we get out among Welch supporters and raise funds for the new campus of Welch College.
Sincerely,
Matt Pinson
President
Tentative Revised Calendar, 2016-2017 Academic Year:
West End Campus: Classes Begin August 16, 2016; End of fall term November 16, 2016
Gallatin Campus: Classes Begin January 24, 2017; End of spring term and Commencement May 19, 2017
by jowens | Sep 4, 2015
Dr. Peter J. Williams, Warden of Tyndale House, Cambridge University, England, will deliver a series of guest lectures during the 2015 Leroy Forlines Lectures at Welch College, according to President Matt Pinson. The presentations are scheduled for September 22, 9:00-12:00, in Memorial Auditorium on the Welch campus.
The Leroy Forlines Lectures began in 1993 at Welch College as a means of bringing well known speakers to campus who could address challenging issues of the day related to theology, philosophy, worldviews, global evangelism, and other topics.
Peter J. Williams earned his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. at Cambridge University studying ancient languages related to the Bible. Williams originally planned to become a Bible translator, but after seeing how many students of the Bible did not recognize its authority, Williams decided to change his professional direction and become an evangelical scholar in order to advance confessional scholarship.
After receiving his Ph.D., Williams accepted a post-doctoral position in the Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge University from 1997-1998 and thereafter taught Hebrew and Old Testament at Cambridge as an Affiliated Lecturer and as a Research Fellow in Old Testament at Tyndale House, a college of Cambridge University (1998-2003). Williams then transitioned to teaching New Testament at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
Williams received the position as Warden of the Tyndale House four years later. He now acts as Warden and as an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies at the University of Aberdeen. Williams is married to Kathryn and they have two children, Magdalena and Leo.
“What a privilege it is to have Dr. Williams on our campus to deliver the Forlines Lectures,” President Pinson said. “His scholarly ability is surpassed only by his love for the Bible and his commitment to its authority in a postmodern age. It will be a distinct honor having him on our campus and learning from him.”
by jowens | Aug 19, 2015
Donnie Stevanus has been named the interim Men’s Head Basketball Coach at Welch College. A Southern Illinois native, Stevanus graduated from Welch College in 1993 with a B.S. in teacher education. He was a member of the Flames basketball team while a student at Welch.
Stevanus has taught Physical Education and Health in Metro Nashville Public Schools since the fall of 1994, having coached basketball for several age groups ranging from elementary to high school. He lives in Cheatham County, TN, with his wife of 20 years, Leah (Plunkett) and their four daughters, Elizabeth (who will be a freshman at Welch this fall), Mary Grace, Georgia, and Chloe.
Donnie serves as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Bethel Free Will Baptist Church in Ashland City, TN. “My faith in Jesus Christ is the most important part of who I am,” Stevanus said. “And my hope for the Flames is that they will be examples of what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31: ‘Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God’—Soli Deo Gloria!”
“We are blessed to have found such a strong coach so late in the summer,” said Flames’ Athletic Director, Gary Turner. “Donnie will be a perfect fit for us. His experience and background will be a great asset for Welch College.”
by jowens | Aug 18, 2015
Derek Altom, a 2007 graduate of Welch College will be joining the advancement team at Welch College in October as office manager for the Office of Institutional Advancement. An Indiana native, Derek has held ministry positions in Alabama and Oklahoma. He served as youth and children’s pastor at New Oak Grove Free Will Baptist Church, Nauvoo, Alabama, and most recently as senior pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church, Ada, Oklahoma.
While at Welch, Derek was a four-year member of the college choir, traveling three years on college ministry teams. He served as student body worship leader his senior year.
Altom is married to Jennifer Bryan Altom, also a 2007 Welch graduate. Derek and Jennifer are the proud parents of four children, Stephen, Larry, Josiah, and Silas.
“Welch College has invested so much in my development academically, professionally, and spiritually. It excites me to have the opportunity to return and begin doing the same for the people of our denomination, especially with those students who are training at Welch. I believe in the mission of the college and am looking forward to working with the great men and women who minister at Welch,” Altom said.
Mike Edwards, director of the annual fund, said, “I am thrilled to have Derek join the advancement team. Welch College is blessed to have him come on board. I was Derek’s pastor during his teen and early college years. I’ve watched him grow and become a disciplined spiritual leader, loving husband, and caring dad. His love and enthusiasm for Welch College is contagious. I look forward to working with Derek.”
David Williford, vice president for Institutional Advancement said “We are excited that Derek is joining our team. He was a part of this office as a student worker and also as a ministry team representative. He is a man of the highest integrity. We are pleased to have him join us once again.”
by jowens | Aug 12, 2015
For Immediate Release
The Welch College Music Department has released a recording entitled How Great Thou Art. The CD features the music of the 33-voice Welch College Choir under the direction of Dr. James M. Stevens, chairman of the Music Department, as well as the 10-voice Rejoice!ministry team directed by Music Department faculty member Mark Lancaster.
The CD features 13 songs, nine performed by the College Choir and four by Rejoice!, and the fusion of music from traditional, contemporary, and gospel genres.
The CD was produced by John G. Elliott, owner of Galestorm Music Inc. Elliott is well known for his work in writing, performing, and producing in the Christian music industry. He has been featured with such artists as Steve Green and Ricky Skaggs, and has written numerous best-selling songs such as Embrace the Cross and Romans Doxology. The album was recorded at Ricky Skaggs’ studio, Skaggs Place Studio, and was engineered by Lee Groitch.
Production of the CD was made possible with funds donated by the Welch College Alumni Association. Association president Mike Edwards said, “Once again, the Welch College alumni have stepped up. Their generous giving and support of Welch College students made this project possible. This is more than just a choir CD; it is a ministry tool. I want to thank the Alumni Association for supporting this project.”
Music Department chairman Dr. James M. Stevens said, “With some of the most talented students we’ve ever had, hard work over a long period of time, and some great songs, I hope and believe that this will be a CD that will touch the hearts of people around the world with music that Free Will Baptists can be proud of.“
The CDs are available for preview, purchase, and download at the following:
Welch College Website: welch.edu/HowGreatThouArt
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/how-great-thou-art-music-welch/id1021790058
Amazon Music: http://www.amazon.com/How-Great-Thou-Art-College/dp/B0129UUSN2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1438340911&sr=8-2&keywords=welch+college+choir
The following form can also be filled out to receive CDs by mail: https://welch.secure.agroup.com/ChoirCD
by jowens | Jul 15, 2015
On Tuesday, July 14, Welch College faculty, staff, students, and administration gathered with alumni, denominational leaders, friends, and members and representatives of the Gallatin and Sumner County government and community to celebrate the groundbreaking of Welch College’s Gallatin campus. Due to weather issues, the event was held at Station Camp High School. Attendance totaled close to 350.
Speakers at the event included Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown and Keith Burden, executive secretary of the National Association of Free Will Baptists. Mayor Brown graciously welcomed the Welch College family to the Gallatin community and expects a great relationship between the college and the community moving forward. Burden highlighted the long journey to this point reminding listeners that those things that come quick and easy rarely produce the level of appreciation and satisfaction found in things that require patience and hard work. He praised Welch College’s long history of producing students to take leadership positions in the Free Will Baptist denomination.
Welch President Matt Pinson also addressed attendees thanking those that laid the groundwork throughout the years to make a move possible, as well as those who continue to work to make the move a success. He invited all attendees to gather at the campus property, where Mayor Brown and Keith Burden, members of the Welch College Board of Trustees, contractor Paul Eitel of Focus Design Builders, architect Jim Sherrer of Design Development Architects, Free Will Baptist Foundation CEO David Brown, and members of the president’s Leadership Team and Relocation Task Force broke ground and posed for pictures.
Chairman of the Welch College Board of Trustees Terry Pierce closed the ceremony with prayer, asking God’s blessing on the project and dedicating the site to the Lord’s work.
The ceremony was recorded and can be viewed, along with pictures, on the college’s Facebook page. For more information about the Building on the Legacy campaign and relocation visit buildingonthelegacy.com
