Welch College Adds Two New Junior Faculty

Apr 7, 2014

NASHVILLE, TN—This fall Welch College will add two new junior faculty members to its teaching roster, according to Provost Greg Ketteman. Chris Talbot will teach Youth and Family Ministry and Frank Thornsbury will teach English.

“Welch College has a rich history of employing fine young Christian adults who spend their lives in diligent service to God in this ministry,” Dr. Ketteman said. “God uses the freshness and strength of these willing servants to revitalize and refresh the work of Welch College. After observing these young men as students and leaders, we look forward to working with new junior faculty members Chris Talbot and Frank Thornsbury as they bring willing hearts, the freshness and strength of youth, and sharpened, God-given intellects into the ministry of Welch College.”

Talbot, minister of students at Unity Free Will Baptist Church in Greenville, NC, will begin teaching in the Youth and Family program. Originally from Michigan, Talbot is a Welch College graduate, completing the Bachelor of Science degree in pastoral ministry in 2012, and is slated to complete his master’s degree in Christian Ministry from Grace Theological Seminary in May.

Talbot has served in his current youth role since 2012. Before that he served as an associate pastor in Alabama. He also served three years (two full-time, one part-time) as recruitment/enrollment counselor at Welch, representing the college across the denomination in camps, youth retreats, and other venues.

Named to “Who’s Who Among American College and University Students,” Talbot has an impressive ministry of writing and speaking. He blogs at TheHSF.com and has blogged for FWB21.com. He is also a contributor to the interdenominational youth ministry website Rootedministry.com. He plans to pursue a doctorate. He is married to Rebekah (Ayers), a Welch graduate and music teacher who was elected “Most Outstanding Student” by the Welch faculty her senior year.

Eastern Kentucky native Frank Thornsbury will become an instructor in the English program. He is a recent Welch College history graduate who will complete his master’s degree in English at Valparaiso University this summer. Twice elected student body president at Welch, he was named “Best All Around Boy” by his peers his senior year.

Thornsbury jump-started Welch College’s involvement in the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature. He was elected best student senator by his peers from more than 80 colleges and universities in Tennessee, as well as receiving the Carlisle Award, the organization’s top honor. He has also served as a campaign manager and staffer in a number of Kentucky state political campaigns.

With interests in linguistics, hermeneutics, and the great books of Western Civilization, Thornsbury will serve as a strong addition to the humanities faculty at Welch. He has plans to obtain his doctorate.

“I’m excited about these two new, young faculty members,” said Welch president Matt Pinson.  “Chris Talbot and Frank Thornsbury are just the sort of teachers we need at Welch College. They’re both energetic and zealous about the gospel, and they wed that zeal to a commitment to the discipleship of the mind. What’s more, they’re dyed-in-the-wool Free Will Baptists who will winsomely appeal to the broad spectrum of students in our denomination.”

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