news at free will baptist bible college     Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, TN, has been the official college of the Free Will Baptist Denomination since 1951. To find out more information about the school, visit their website at www.fwbbc.edu.

Coopers to Teach in Asia

Russell Cooper, 27-year-old director of institutional advancement, will leave the college in August 2009, to teach English in Asia, according to David Williford, vice president for institutional advancement.

Williford said, “Russell will join English Language Institute China (ELIC) late next summer. He is a gifted and committed individual, and he will be greatly missed at the college. We wish him and his wife Bethany God’s very best in their new role.”

Mr. Cooper joined the FWBBC staff in August 2004. He manages the college website, oversees production of ads for publication, consults with ministry team schedules, assists with promotional projects, and performs other duties related to the Advancement Office.

The Oklahoma native said he felt the Lord’s call to become part of ELIC during his freshman year at Hillsdale FWB College, before transferring to FWBBC and graduating in 2004 with a B.S. degree in Church Music. He will continue his duties through next summer.

The Coopers expect to begin fundraising efforts to underwrite their ELIC ministry in November 2008 and hope to complete the process by February 2009. They need to raise $15,000 in cash for each year in Asia and approximately $2,000 in monthly support.

Russell said, “My time at FWBBC has been life-changing and caused me to seek a deep and fulfilling relationship with Christ.”

For more information about ELIC, visit www.ELIC.org.

Theological Symposium Features 11 Papers

Fifty-two people registered for the 2008 Theological Symposium, October 27-28 at Free Will Baptist Bible College. The two-day event sponsored by the Commission for Theological Integrity attracted 11 presenters from a variety of backgrounds, including pastors, college teachers, graduate students, administrators, and more.

The academic papers featured a wide range of topics from “Why Pilate Crucified Jesus” by Paul Harrison to “Arminius and Natural Law” by Andrew Ball to “Learning from the Sixteenth-Century Anabaptists” by Tim Hall to “Confirmation and the Challenge: Thematic Shading and the Theology of the Chronicler” by Garnett Reid, and seven others.

President Matt Pinson said, “We were so pleased to host the annual Theological Symposium at FWBBC. This is a great opportunity for our students to experience first-hand the importance of give-and-take in theological discussions among brothers and sisters. Plus, the Symposium is a platform for innovative, fresh ideas from Free Will Baptist scholars.”

A bound volume of all the papers presented will be available for $20. Make checks out to Commission for Theological Integrity. Send orders to:

Reverend Leroy Forlines
Commission for Theological Integrity
3606 West end Avenue
Nashville, TN 37205

The 2009 Theological Symposium will meet October 19-20 at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore, Oklahoma.

Johnson-Bass Team to Lead FWBBC Relocation Effort

Colonel Mark Johnson has been named chairman of the Campus Relocation Task Force at FWBBC, according to President Matt Pinson. Nashville businessman and Board of Trustees vice chairman Bob Bass will step into Johnson’s previous role as relocation project consultant.

President Pinson said, “Mark Johnson and Bob Bass are two of the finest men I know. We are so pleased to have both these gentlemen providing leadership in our ongoing relocation project.”

Johnson, son of founding FWBBC president L.C. Johnson, has served as campus relocation project consultant since January 2006, and spearheaded efforts to secure a new campus site.
A local businessman, Bass has been active in Middle Tennessee real estate and construction projects for more than two decades. In July, he was elected to a six-year term on the Board of Trustees and serves as vice chairman. He is well known for organizing the spectacular 2006 event, “A Night to Remember,” that brought together more than 600 FWBBC alumni for an extended college homecoming.

Colonel Johnson praised Bass’s selection. “As we prepare to build the new campus, it’s time to bring in someone with a strong construction background as relocation project consultant. God provided the person who has the education, the experience, and the heart necessary to advance the project.”

The 46-year-old Bass is a member of Donelson Free Will Baptist Church (Nashville), a local congregation that recently completed extensive building programs to accommodate numerical growth. Respected in Nashville’s business community for his innovative ideas, he can draw on previous experience to oversee day-to-day operations when the relocation construction phase gets underway.

“I’m honored to serve FWBBC as relocation project consultant,” Bass said. “Mark Johnson did an excellent job positioning the college to launch construction for a new campus. Because of his leadership, we have a beautiful location on which to build and a number of interested buyers for the current campus. This is an historic undertaking for the college, but I’m convinced that God is in it.”

Read more about the relocation project at www.fwbbc.edu.

Sean Warren to Direct General Baptist Missions

Sean Warren, former Missionary-in-Residence, has been named director of International Missions for the General Association of General Baptists headquartered in Poplar Bluff, MO. He begins his duties April 1, 2009, and will become the lead director in October. The Warrens will relocate to Missouri after Sean’s wife Jill completes her responsibilities as women’s resident director at FWBBC next spring.

President Matt Pinson said, “What a tremendous opportunity for Sean and Jill to impact the world for the cause of Christ. We wish them God’s best as they take this important step in ministry.”

The Warrens are 1996 FWBBC graduates. Sean later earned a master’s degree at Columbia International University. The Warrens served as missionaries in France before coming to FWBBC. Sean has developed a worldwide reputation as a photographer and served four years as director of education at the Nashville Rescue Mission. The couple has two children, Sophia (7) and Lola (3), and anticipate the arrival of their third child next May.

General Baptists and Free Will Baptists have worked closely for more than 200 years, sharing doctrinal views and a vision for world evangelism. General Baptists number more than 85,000 constituents and 800 churches in the United States, and operate Oakland City University in Indiana.

Stevens and Greenwood Featured in Concert

Dr. James Stevens, chairman of the Music Department, and noted country musician Lee Greenwood were featured during a September 14 gospel music concert at First Baptist Church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

Dr. Stevens said, “The grand piano was moved to the center of the stage, and I played as the choir sang 10 numbers—in mostly a Southern Gospel style presentation. The church was packed, and we had a wonderful evening of music and fellowship.”

Greenwood sang with the choir and orchestra as Stevens played, “I Bowed on My Knees and Cried Holy.” After the choir presentation, Mr. Greenwood sang a number of his well-known hits, including “God Bless the U.S.A.”

A frequent presenter at national and international music events, Dr. Stevens has won numerous ASCAP awards for composition and written more than 300 songs. He has been a member of the FWBBC faculty since 2004.

PHOTO: James Stevens (L) and Lee Greenwood.

College Kicks Off Senior Days Events

Ten high school seniors from four states attended the first 2008-2009 “Senior Days” event October 16-18.

Jeff Caudill, director of enrollment services, said, “This was an important time for seniors who are deciding where they will attend college. We set up a schedule to visit actual classes, interact with current students, ask questions of academic advisors, and meet President Matt Pinson.”

The seniors stayed in FWBBC dormitories, and each had a personal student guide to help navigate the campus and answer questions. A special luncheon gave them personal access to the president who fielded questions and explained the mission of the college.

Lynsey Riggs, enrollment management secretary, said, “Senior Days is a great way for prospective students to see what FWBBC campus life is all about. Four of the 10 visitors applied to FWBBC, and we expect others to send in their applications soon.”

PHOTO: President Matt Pinson answers questions during Senior Days luncheon.

Darrell Holley Publishes English Grammar

Dr. Darrell Holley, chairman of the English and Speech Department recently published a handbook of grammar and composition with an accompanying workbook. Provost Greg Ketteman said, “We use Dr. Holley’s grammar and composition texts in our freshman English classes. They are some of the finest works in this field of study.”

After printing the book, Randall House Publications sent complimentary copies of Holley’s Fundamentals of English Grammar and Composition and Workbook to the chairmen of English departments in 200 colleges across North America.

“This grammar and composition is designed for college freshmen,” Dr. Holley said. “Too many freshmen are simply not ready for college-level work, and these texts will help bridge that gap.”

Holley plans to publish an advanced English grammar and workbook in 2009. He published Churchill’s Literary Allusions (McFarland and Company) in 1987.

A Florida native, Dr. Holley holds the Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in English from Florida State University, and the B.S. degree in secondary education from Pensacola Christian College. His academic interests include literature of the English Renaissance and Reformation, the Latin language, and the history of English.

Those who wish to discuss Dr. Holley’s textbook may contact him at dholley@fwbbc.edu or by phone (615) 844-5267. To order copies of the books from Randall House, call toll-free (800) 877-7030 or visit www.randallhouse.com.