GALLATIN, TN—The annual Strong and CourageousBanquet benefiting student scholarships at Welch College recently took place in Celorio Hall on Welch’s campus, according to Tim Owen, Director of the Welch Fund and coordinator of the event.
“The inspiration for the banquet comes from the charge given in Joshua 1:9 to be strong and very courageous as Joshua leads the children of Israel,” Owen said. “This year’s banquet continued this emphasis, encouraging and challenging guests to have this defining characteristic in all facets of life. The event’s generous sponsors and donors provided $60,000 in support of student scholarships at Welch.”
Event patrons enjoyed an opening reception hosted by President and Mrs. Matt Pinson in the Presidents Dining Room in Celorio Hall. Renowned Nashville eye surgeon Dr. Ming Wang performed several pieces on the Chinese violin (erhu) accompanied by Mr. Carlos Enrique. Elaine Park Pugh and Chris Davis offered refreshing testimonies about the impact that Welch College has made in their lives as students, and the Rejoice! Ministry Team provided inspirational music during the banquet.
Special recognitions included a Healthcare Excellence award and the naming of the 2021 Strong and Courageous recipient. Dr. Ming Wang was recognized as the recipient of a special healthcare award for his continued dedication to helping patients in the United States and countries worldwide with sight restoration surgeries.
The Strong and Courageous award is presented annually to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service to their profession while advancing kingdom principles. This year’s award was presented to the event’s originator, Dr. Charles Lea. David Williford, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, underscored Dr. Lea’s faith and leadership, noting examples of Dr. Lea’s exemplary life as one who is strong and courageous. Dr. Lea recently retired from Welch as Special Assistant to the President.
A number of sponsors provided generous gifts to help students attend Welch. This year’s Platinum Sponsors ($10,000) included the Free Will Baptist Foundation and FirstBank, Goodlettsville. Gold sponsors ($5,000) included Goodall Homes, Sumner Regional Medical Center, and David and Diane Black. A number of Silver Sponsors ($2,500), Bronze Sponsors ($750), and other donors also contributed to the scholarship goal.
“Welch College is grateful for the support of the Sumner County community and the 2021 Strong and Courageous sponsors,” Owen noted. “Together, we are making a difference in students’ lives and impacting our county and communities.”
For more information on Welch, visit www.welch.edu. To support the mission of Welch College, visit
Welch College is excited to announce that the Honorable John Rose, Congressman of Tennessee’s 6thCongressional District, will be speaking at the 2019 Strong and Courageous banquet sponsored by Sumner Regional Medical Center and HighPoint Health System. The event, held on the campus of Welch College, honors the Christian faith that is a vital part of the Sumner County community. The banquet will feature entertainment, an inspirational message, and presentation of the 2019 Strong and Courageous award. The event will take place on Monday evening, May 13, 2019, at 7:00.
This second annual banquet highlights Christians in the community who work to have a positive impact on their work, neighborhood, and community through their strong and courageous faith. Dr. Matt Pinson, President of Welch College, said, “We are happy that Congressman Rose will share a challenge at our Strong and Courageous banquet. He has worked diligently to make the community and state a better place in which to live.”
The Welch College Rejoice!ensemble and Dr. James Stevens, Chairman of the Welch Music Department, will provide inspirational music before Congressman Rose presents his address. John Rose is an eighth generation farmer from Cookeville, TN. He has a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness economics, a Master of Science in agricultural economics, as well as a Juris Doctorate. He co-founded Transcender Corporation which earned the Music City Future 50 Award five consecutive years, and currently owns Boson Software, LLC which trains IT professionals across the country. Congressman Rose has also served as Commissioner of Agriculture for Tennessee since 2002 and has chaired the Tennessee State Fair Association since 2010.
For more information on sponsorships for this event, contact Derek Altom, 615-675-5262, or go to the event website at welch.edu/strongandcourageous. Proceeds from the event will support student scholarships at Welch College.
Welch College offers over 40 different programs of study with degrees at the Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s levels. The college partners with other higher education institutions to offer unique programs of study in traditional and online settings. Welch participates in both the Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect scholarship financial aid programs. U.S. News and World Report has consistently ranked Welch as one of the outstanding colleges in the South.
Welch College is delighted to announce that Sumner Regional Medical Center will be the Naming Sponsor of the second annual Strong and Courageous banquet on May 13.
Sumner Regional has provided quality healthcare to the Sumner County community for 60 years. Their partnership with Welch College for the Strong and Courageous event is a significant way for them to recognize local people of faith who continue to make an impact through excellence in their work, their neighborhood, and their community displaying strong kingdom values.
Dr. Charles Lea, Special Assistant to the President at Welch, said, “Sumner Regional Medical Center and their HighPoint partners provide outstanding healthcare and contribute in many ways to the physical, moral, and spiritual health of the greater Sumner County community. We are extremely pleased to welcome Sumner Regional as our naming sponsor this year.”
Strong and Courageous 2019 presented by Sumner Regional Medical Center will be held on the Welch College campus on Monday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m. It will be an exciting evening of entertainment, inspirational speaking, and the presentation of the 2019 Strong and Courageous award.
For more information or for tickets to the event, please contact Derek Altom at 615.675.5262 or go to the event website at welch.edu/strongandcourageous. Proceeds from the event will support student scholarships at Welch College. For more information on Sumner Regional Medical Center, visit mysumnermedical.com.
Welch College President Matt Pinson announced today a new event to celebrate the Christian faith in our community: Strong and Courageous. The event, May 15 at 7:00 p.m. on the Welch College campus, will include entertainment, inspirational speakers, and the awarding of the Strong and Courageous award.
“The inspiration for the event comes from the charge given to Joshua in Joshua 1:9 for him to be strong and very courageous as he leads the children of Israel,” Pinson remarked. “Likewise today, Christians who continue to be strong and courageous in their faith positively affect their work, neighborhood, and community with Kingdom values.”
Headlining the entertainment for the evening will be Ricky and Sharon Skaggs. Also featured will be musical performances by the Welch College ensemble Rejoice! and other musical talent at Welch. These musical performances will provide a setting for inspirational challenges by individuals such as noted physician and scientist Dr. Ming Wang.
Pinson said, “Ricky and Sharon Skaggs are residents of Sumner County who have dedicated their lives not only to writing and producing outstanding music, but also to sharing with others the impact of Christ upon their lives. They are great examples of combining faith, work, and life. We are also privileged to hear from Dr. Ming Wang, a compelling speaker whose career has ably demonstrated the integration of faith, science, and community impact.”
Sponsorship opportunities as well as individual tickets remain available. To learn more, contact Derek Altom at 615.675.5262 or go to the event website at welch.edu/strongandcourageous/. Proceeds from the event will support student scholarships at Welch College.
Welch College offers over 40 different programs of study with degrees at the Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s levels. The college partners with other higher education institutions to offer unique programs of study in traditional and online settings. Welch participates in both the Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect scholarship financial aid programs. U.S. News and World Report has consistently ranked Welch as one of the outstanding colleges in the South.
Welch College is excited to announce that the Honorable John Rose, Congressman of Tennessee’s 6thCongressional District, will be speaking at the 2019 Strong and Courageous banquet sponsored by Sumner Regional Medical Center and HighPoint Health System. The event, held on the campus of Welch College, honors the Christian faith that is a vital part of the Sumner County community. The banquet will feature entertainment, an inspirational message, and presentation of the 2019 Strong and Courageous award. The event will take place on Monday evening, May 13, 2019, at 7:00.