by jowens | Feb 25, 2013
NASHVILLE, TN—The Welch College Choir will give nine performances March 6 – 12 in a week-long tour making stops in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky. Dr. James Stevens, choir director and chairman of the Welch College Music Department, invites area churches to join with host congregations for the vocal presentations as the College Choir travels east for its annual spring tour.
Spring Tour Schedule
Wednesday, March 6 7:00 p.m. Hardin Valley FWB Knoxville, TN
Thursday, March 7 7:00 p.m. Unity FWB Church Greenville, NC
Friday, March 8 10:30 a.m. Bethel Christian Academy Kinston, NC
Friday, March 8 7:00 p.m. First FWB Church Washington, NC
Saturday, March 9 6:00 p.m. Lebanon FWB Church Effingham, SC
Sunday, March 10 11:00 a.m. Horse Branch FWB Turbeville, SC
Sunday, March 10 6:00 p.m. Temple FWB Darlington, SC
Monday, March 11 7:00 p.m. First FWB Church Bristol, VA
Tuesday, March 12 7:00 p.m. Trinity FWB Church Bowling Green, KY
by jowens | Feb 15, 2013
For Immediate Release
February 15, 2013
Welch College Hosts 32 High School Seniors for Record-breaking Senior Days
NASHVILLE, TN—Thirty-two high school seniors, accompanied by parents and sponsors from 12 states, traveled to Nashville for Welch College’s spring semester Seniors Days, according to Debbie Mouser, director of enrollment services. The Senior Days event, which takes place twice yearly, was held January 31 – February 1, and afforded students the opportunity to experience student life on the campus of Welch College. At 32 visiting students, this marks the highest attended Senior Days in the event’s history.
The 32 seniors represented Tennessee (8), North Carolina (6), Alabama (3), Arkansas (3), Oklahoma (3), Illinois (2), Mississippi (2), Louisiana (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), Ohio (1), and Texas (1).
Registration began at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday January 31, and the closing reception ended at 4:00 p.m. the next day. The twenty-four hours between were filled with events and sessions designed to give the visiting students a brief but informative look into life as a Welch College student. The schedule was brimming with classes, campus tours, breakfast with President Matt Pinson, and informative sessions addressing campus life, academics, and financial aid.
The visiting seniors were asked to fill out a survey highlighting their Senior Days experience. The scores given for all categories were up at this event, according to enrollment staff, with highest marks being given to faculty/staff and student hospitality (4.94/5 and 4.83/5, respectively). Several seniors commented, “It was a fun and informative experience,” and, “This was a great visit. I’m looking forward to attending Welch College this fall.”
Mrs. Mouser said, “It was exciting to have so many quality seniors on campus with us. We are looking forward to having many of them return in August as Welch students. I especially enjoyed getting to interact with parents as they help with the decision-making process. It’s a privilege to share the unique qualities of Welch College with these students and parents.”
Welch College will host its Spring Welcome Days April 18-20. Contact enrollment management at recruit@welch.edu for more information.
by jowens | Feb 13, 2013
Welch College will host its annual FORUM event and Bible Conference March 3 – 5, 2013, and will feature six speakers, according to President Matt Pinson. The theme of this year’s event will be “Culture and the Kingdom.” Speakers will delve into the relevant topic of engaging the surrounding culture with the gospel.
This year’s speakers include Dr. Timothy Tennent, Ken Myers, Jose Rodriguez, Matthew McAffee, Matt Pinson, and Barry Raper.
Dr. Timothy Tennent, president of Asbury Theological Seminary, is a highly regarded preacher, professor, missiologist, and author. Before his inauguration in November of 2009, Dr. Tennent held teaching positions at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Toccoa Falls College. He has also taught and ministered in Eastern Europe and Asia. He and his wife Julie have two children.
Ken Myers, founder and president of Mars Hill Audio, has worked in radio since the age of nineteen. He began working for National Public Radio after completing his B.A. degree in communications, with an emphasis in film theory. He received a Master of Arts degree in Religion from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1979. He is a champion for Christian journalism’s role in engaging the secular worldviews that permeate contemporary society.
Jose Rodriguez pastors Ebenezer Free Will Baptist Church (Miami, Florida). The veteran church-planter and pastor has preached nearly twenty years in the Miami area. He graduated from Welch College in 1994 and later received a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and pursued graduate work at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Pastor Rodriguez serves as the primary Spanish interpreter at the Free Will Baptist National Convention.
The 2013 speakers will also include three Welch College faculty members: Mr. Matthew McAffee, Dr. Barry Raper, and President Matt Pinson. These men will bring a campus perspective to the conference and FORUM event. Mr. McAffee serves as Welch College’s Campus Pastor as well as program coordinator of Theological Studies. Dr. Raper is the program coordinator for the Youth and Family Ministry program. President Pinson has served as the college’s president since 2002. He also teaches select Theology and Free Will Baptist History courses.
President Matt Pinson said, “This year’s conference offers a unique opportunity for those involved in Christian ministry to grapple with the nature of the relationship between the church and its unique kingdom culture and the culture of contemporary America. This will be a time of challenging biblical preaching and stimulating discussion about some of the most important ministry challenges of our day.”
The FORUM13/Bible Conference schedule will include a number of workshops and break-out sessions on a variety of subjects. The music of Welch College will also be featured during the conference.
The Classes of 1963 (50 years), 1988 (25 years), and 2003 (10 years) will be honored. The Welch College Alumni Association invites all alumni to attend and reunite with classmates at dinner on Tuesday evening, March 5. Tickets will be available at the Alumni table. Tickets are free but limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
FORUM13/Bible Conference, Sunday through Tuesday, March 3 – 5, is free, with no charge to attend plenary sessions or workshops. Pre-register today at www.welch.edu/FORUM13.
by jowens | Feb 13, 2013
Office of the President J. Matthew Pinson
February 2013
Dear Friend,
A new year is here, and things are abuzz on the campus of Welch College! Despite the challenges of a turbulent economy, we’ve continued undaunted to fulfill our mission. Seeing students on campus, with all their excitement, confirms why we’re here: students—providing an excellent spiritual learning environment where they find their place in God’s world and are equipped to fulfill their callings.
The most exciting development at Welch College—and the reason for this letter—is the process of campus relocation. In 2008 we purchased a 66-acre campus site in the bustling Hendersonville-Gallatin area of Greater Nashville. Then the Great Recession and flat-lining of the Nashville real estate market stalled our plans for selling the West End Campus.
This economic reality changed our sales strategy. We’ve hired two of the best high-end real estate professionals in Nashville: Rick French and Ellen Christianson. They have moved us to a strategy of selling the campus to more than one buyer, rather than marketing it to one big developer. This has involved the staging of our campus sale, enabling us to sell properties earlier that aren’t central to the student experience, so that we won’t have as much property to sell at one time.
This strategy has been successful. We have just completed the first stage of our campus sale (around $2.3 million), having sold Ennis Hall, the Cook Building, the Missionary-in-Residence Home, and the President’s Home. (That means that my family is temporarily living in Pleasant View—where our children attend Pleasant View Christian School—until we complete the sale and build our new campus.)
With our new realtors in place, and with the Nashville real estate market beginning to recover, more buyers are interested in the West End campus than ever. Pray with us that God will bring about the campus sale as quickly as possible, enabling us to move forward with the dream of campus relocation.
The future is promising. Our alumni, churches, and supporters are enthusiastic about our new name. We’re moving forward with the offering of our first-ever online bachelor’s degree in ministry. We have launched a new website, www.welch.edu, and would love for you to visit. Please continue to pray for us as we continue to fulfill our mission for God’s glory and the extension of His Kingdom.
In Christ,
J. Matthew Pinson
President
by jowens | Feb 4, 2013
For Immediate Release
February 4, 2013
Welch College Ministerial Students Attend Ohio Conference and Preach in Area Churches
NASHVILLE, TN—Three Welch College ministerial students attended the January 24 – 26, Ohio Men’s Retreat, and preached in area churches the following Sunday, according to John Murray, Christian service director at Welch College. The students, along with Mr. Murray, travelled to Central Ohio for the three-day retreat at the Heartland Conference Retreat Center, and then separated on Sunday to preach.
The group departed from campus at 6 a.m. on a brisk, 19-degree Thursday morning, January 24. They arrived in Marengo, Ohio at 2:00 p.m. where they met with over 400 other men of varying ages for the retreat. “The Ohio Men’s Retreat was refreshing and challenging. Every age was represented, and the altar was full each day,” Mr. Murray said.
On Sunday, the group split up to preach at their respective churches. In all, the preaching team ministered to over three hundred people.
Noah Demerchant, a Welch College Sophomore from New Brunswick, Canada, said, “I really enjoyed speaking at New Hope Free Will Baptist Church (Chillicothe). The congregation was friendly and welcoming.”
Walther Hernandez, Welch College Sophomore from Kearneysville, West Virginia, said, “Sciotodale Free Will Baptist Church (Portsmouth) was a great church to visit. They made me feel right at home. This was a trip to remember.”
Dustin Walters, Welch College Sophomore from Winfield, Alabama, said, “From the onset of our journey north, God began to bless. The men’s retreat was a time of spiritual refreshing. The wonderful people from Porter Free Will Baptist Church (Portsmouth, Ohio) are very interested in and appreciative of the work of Welch College.”
Mr. John Murray, Christian service director, said, “The people at Harrison Free Will Baptist Church (Minford) were so welcoming. I felt liberty in preaching.”
The trip ended with the students and Mr. Murray returning to campus at 7:30 Sunday evening, January 27, having travelled nearly 1,000 miles in the four-day trip. Mr. Murray said of the weekend, “In spite of having one of our preachers not be able to go with us due to sickness, we had a wonderful trip. The snow and frigid temperature in no way cooled down the exciting weekend. It is always a privilege to work with our student-preachers.”
The next preaching trip is planned for February 2 – 3, and will be to Tupelo, Mississippi. The last trip of the semester will be to East Tennessee and is set for early April.
by jowens | Jan 24, 2013
NASHVILLE, TN—Mrs. Lynsey Riggs, administrative assistant to the provost at Welch College since 2010, has resigned effective February 1, 2013, according to Provost Greg Ketteman. She and her husband Jacob will relocate to Royal Oak, Michigan in February where Jacob will serve as associate pastor at Central Free Will Baptist Church.
Mrs. Riggs is a 2008 Welch College graduate. She went on to receive her Master’s degree in Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University in May 2012.
During her senior year, she began working with the college’s institutional advancement staff. She also worked in the Enrollment Management office for a time before being named administrative assistant in September 2010.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity I’ve had to serve in different areas at Welch College over the last five years,” Lynsey said. “I enjoyed helping students and getting to know the faculty and staff. It’s been a privilege to learn and grow under such great leaders during my time here. I will miss my Welch family very much, but we are excited to begin our new ministry in Royal Oak.”
Dr. Ketteman, Welch College provost, said, “Mrs. Lynsey Riggs has served Welch College with excellence, providing pleasant, professional, prompt attention to students, visitors, staff, faculty, and administrators. She has been invaluable in the college’s transition to a web-based, digital student information system, and in management of many important college processes such as the college catalog, new-student registration, and commencement. We have come to depend on Mrs. Riggs; her strong skills and outstanding work ethic will be greatly missed. We pray for God’s richest blessings on the Riggs’ new ministry in Michigan.”
Lynsey is the third member of her immediate family to attend Welch College. Her father Mark Stripling graduated from the college in 1986. He pastors First Free Will Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and serves on the Welch College Board of Trustees. Her mother Debbie Landers Stripling also attended the college, graduating in 1983.
“Lynsey amazes me,” said Jack Williams, director of communications at Welch College. “She’s a self-starter. She’s creative and dependable and meets deadlines with no excuses. She’s one-of-a-kind and greets every day with a smile and a can-do attitude. I already miss her.”
