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 President Matt Pinson announced today that this year’s Strong and Courageous Award will be presented to Dr. Doug and Linda Varnado at the college’s annual banquet celebrating Christian faith in Sumner County.
Dr. Doug Varnado, a native of South Carolina, is the lead pastor of Community Church of Hendersonville, a role he has filled since 1992. Varnado is well known in the Sumner County community as a pastor, educator, missionary, and humanitarian. He has served on the boards of Cumberland Crisis Pregnancy Center, Mission Discovery, Hendersonville Samaritan Association, Nation’s University, and the Community Pastor’s Association. Dr. Varnado is retiring this year from his position as pastor of Community Church after thirty years of service.
Linda Varnado grew up in Georgia and moved to New Zealand as a teenager to assist her parents, who were church planters. Linda spent much of her career serving as a missionary and educator. She is most known for her work in children’s ministry and as a leader in her church’s ministry, FRIENDS Love Local. FRIENDS is a compassion ministry that serves the local church and community by equipping and energizing members to be the hands and feet of Christ to those within and outside of the church.
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 $200,000 for student scholarships at Welch. Past Strong and Courageous award winners are: Rev. David Landrith (posthumously), Dr. David and Congressman Diane Black, Bob and Karen Goodall, and Dr. Charles Lea.
The event will be held in Celorio Hall on the campus of Welch College, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. To be a part of this special event, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at Welch College (615-675-5302) or email Davida Black at dblack@welch.edu.
Please be in prayer for the family of Dr. Milton Fields, who passed away yesterday after an extended illness. Dr. Fields joined the Welch faculty in 1994 as chairman of the Teacher Education Department. He served as Academic Dean (1998-2006), Vice President for Institutional Planning (2006–2011), and a member of the President’s Leadership Team. He retired in May 2011.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 1, at Skelton Funeral Home of Reform, Alabama. Visitation will be one hour prior and immediately following the service.
81 Welch Students Receive President’s and Provost’s Recognition for Fall Semester
Gallatin, TN—The fall 2022 semester at Welch College ended with 81 students receiving academic recognition, according to Provost Matthew McAffee. This honor roll includes online and adult studies students whose fall courses ended in December. “We are proud of these students and their hard work in academics last semester,” McAffee said. “We believe that one important aspect of preparation for Christian leadership is the pursuit excellence in academic study. These students have distinguished themselves in this regard, and we commend them for it.”
Twenty-eight made all A’s and were placed on the President’s List—16 seniors, 4 juniors, 7 sophomores, and 1 freshman. Fifty-three earned a 3.25 GPA and all A’s and B’s and were placed on the Provost’s list—21 seniors, 9 juniors, 9 sophomores, and 14 freshmen.
Welch College Receives High Athletic Awards from the NCCAA
GALLATIN, TN—The National Christian College Athletic Association distributed the men’s and women’s basketball awards at the National Basketball Championship Tournament in Joplin, Missouri, on March 8–9. Welch College Athletic Director and head men’s basketball coach Greg Fawbush was named the National Coach of the Year for the NCCAA II men’s division. This award was his second significant award this season, following his being named Mideast Region Coach of the year on February 23, in Lansing, Michigan. Coach Fawbush led the Flames to a nineteen-win season and helped the Flames to be ranked in the top ten on two separate occasions this season.
Abby Bragg received the Dr. Marti MacCullough Award for the NCCAA II women’s division. This award, representing the NCCAA’s Game Plan for Life initiative, is the highest one given each year. Although it includes athletic accolades, it is primarily based on Christian character and leadership. Abby is the all-time leading scorer for the Lady Flames and was First Team All-American last season. Maci Bowman and Olivia Delk were also named to the Second Team All-American.
These awards finished off a historic year for the Welch College athletic program. Mitchell Moody received the Elvin and Joyce King Award in cross country in November 2022, which is the highest award given in cross country by the NCCAA. The cross country team also had three runners qualify for the national meet: Mitchell Moody, Nathan Shute, and Hannah Barnes. Moody also won the first Welch College Invitational race held in September 2022.
The Lady Flames volleyball team made history by winning the regional tournament and qualifying for the national tournament. Ashleigh Sage was named regional player of the year and First Team All-American. Meg Gates and Michaela Pinkerman were named Second Team All-Region. Kenadee Osbourne made the all-regional honorable mention team.
The Lady Flames basketball team was ranked in the top ten in every ranking this year. They also received several awards: Olivia Delk, First Team All-Region, Regional Newcomer of the Year, and Second Team All-American; Macey Bowman, First Team All-Region and Second Team All-American; Abby Bragg, Second All-Region and Game Plan for Life award winner; Faithe Johnstone, regional freshman of the year.
The Flames basketball team won nineteen games for the first time since returning to full-time NCCAA play. They were ranked in the top ten twice throughout and produced two five-game winning streaks throughout the season. JC Chapman was named to the First Team All-Region, EJ Byrd made Third Team All-Region, and DJ Estes was named to the regional honorable mention team. “This was a historic year for the athletic program at Welch College,” Fawbush said. “We had two athletes receive the highest awards in their respective sports from the NCCAA. We also had three All-Americans and a regional championship. The historic year is attributed to the hard work of our coaches: Katie Bryan, Emma Guthrie, Matt Bracey, Jon Wilson, Malik Mims, Claire Ryan, and Joy Brown. Our players embraced our culture this year, and God honored their hard work.”
For more information regarding Welch athletics, contact Greg Fawbush at gfawbush@welch.edu or visit our website at welchathletics.com.
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.
