For Immediate Release
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.