HENDERSON, Tenn. (BNC) — The Freed-Hardeman University Board of Trustees selected David Shannon, preacher with the Mount Juliet, Tenn., congregation, as the 16th president of FHU at their meeting Friday, April 21. He will begin his duties this summer, according to a press release yesterday. Continue reading “David Shannon chosen as 16th FHU president, reactions positive”
Video: ‘When the tree is down, the seed is still alive’
KELLER, Tex. (BNC) — In a recent sermon, Cory Collins surveyed the great religious apostasy and noted that people appeared throughout history to proclaim the seed of the word of God.
“Did that departure mean the death of authentic Christianity? Or did the true faith, like seeds in the ground, remain alive but dormant? Would biblical teaching ever resurface and grow again? Thankfully, the answer is, yes, as men of courage began to study, question, challenge, and teach. May we do the same!” Continue reading “Video: ‘When the tree is down, the seed is still alive’”
Heritage Christian chooses semester theme: ‘Be transformed’
FLORENCE, Ala. (BNC) — The Fall, 2016, semester at Heritage Christian University will carry the theme “Be Transformed,” based on Romans 12:2, according to a Heritage News email sent Aug. 22. Continue reading “Heritage Christian chooses semester theme: ‘Be transformed’”
Beautiful day for the graduating class at Freed Hardeman University
HENDERSON, TENN., (BNC) by Jamie Suiter — In spite of a cold snap and what we call in West Tennessee a “Blackberry Winter” Freed Hardeman University (FHU) in Henderson had a beautiful sunny day for their graduating class of approximately 250 students.
Three of these students were from the new Dixon, Tenn., facilities. Nineteen states were represented and three different countries. Two students were from Canada, one from Uganda and one was an American living in Singapore who completed his Master of Ministry with the online program.
Jay Lockheart , pulpit minister and an elder for the Whitehouse church in Whitehouse, Tex., spoke at the commencement in the Loyd Auditorium. Jay and his wife Arlene Carter Lockheart met while attending Freed Hardeman College. Brother Lockheart has done work with Truth For Today in Searcy, Ark., and was host of the popular television broadcast “The Search” in Tyler, Tex., from 1985-2007.
One of his outstanding quotes given to the class was, “As you prepare to leave these sacred halls of a university that we love so much and you go to make your mark on the world, you will go as those who have learned to make a living, but you’ll also go as those who have learned how to live. No greater life could we live than the life of a servant. Wherever you go, go as a great servant.” (From the Jackson Sun, Jackson Tenn.)
I asked one of the graduates, Drew Crews of Samburg, Tenn., to give us his assessment of the four years he spent at FHU and he gave this heart-stirring statement.
“The money I spent to attend Freed-Hardeman University was well worth it. My teachers, whether they taught Bible or biology, were top-notch, and helped me to think critically about the world around me and also how to think and live as Christ would. That pertains to every teacher I had at Freed, didn’t matter what subject they taught. More than anything, the growth I experienced while at Freed is what really means the most to me.
“The friends I made during my time there are amazing. I know I can talk to them about anything and know they will be there for me. I think back to all of the crazy, fun things we did late at night in the dorm when we should have been asleep or studying that we still talk and laugh about to this day. I also recall the deep, meaningful talks I had with them, as well. One time, my friends and I stayed up until 3 am talking about faith, and it was awesome. While at Freed, I found a desire to want to know more about God, and love him and others the way he loves me and you. I found a desire to serve others for his glory.
“My worldview has expanded, and my thirst for knowledge of God and his word has grown. I wouldn’t change a thing about my time at Freed. I think if you are serious about challenging your faith, growing spiritually, and learning how to live as Christ would in any occupation you choose, then going to Freed-Hardeman University. Don’t let the cost scare you. You are going to be so glad you invested your money into a Freed-Hardeman education.”
Dedicated to God and Learning
CHENNAI, India (BNC) — The R. Sevya Nayak family are dedicated to the Lord and to learning. The four children are all first in their class at school. Like most children in India, they sit on the floor to study.
Sevya, the father, is a teacher and translator at the Chennai Teacher Training School. He is a graduate of the school himself. Originally a Hindu, he said that when a member of the Lord’s church in Andhra Pradesh showed him Psalm 115:2-8 he understood who the real God of heaven and earth is. Sevya has worked after class hours as a guard and maintenance man to earn extra money to help support their extended family on both sides.
Lali, the mother, teaches weaving to the female students at CTTS on Sunday afternoons. The school has a community service program that teaches various skills to adults and children who live near the school. Lali has a sister and a brother-in-law who attended CTTS.
The oldest daughter, Zena, who is 16, hopes to go to medical college when she graduates from secondary school. Sister Beth Johnson has taught the three older children in her Sunday school class since they were small. When Zena was three, she could say 85 memory verses in English, just one of their five languages. When she was four, she could say all the books of the Bible with their categories, the days of creation, the judges, the sons of Jacob, the 10 plagues and label with crayon which tribe settled in which part of Israel.
The oldest son, Samuel, who is 14, could recite all 176 verses of Psalm 119 when he was nine years old. Now that Samuel is older, his class is taught by one of the men in the congregation. Yet he still likes to recite Scripture he has memorized to his former teacher. Recently he asked sister Johnson if he could recite some memory work to her after her ladies’ class on Sunday afternoon. To her surprise, he recited the entire book of Hebrews and only had to be corrected in a place or two!
The second son, Saxon, who is 12, also recited memory work for sister Johnson that day, a substantial portion of Psalm 119, which he hopes to recite in its entirety soon. Sister Johnson commented, “Their zeal and ability are incredible. Since they all must study in the same room, they have to learn to focus well amid distractions. What a joy it is to work with children like this! Please pray with me that they will be able to understand and teach as well as they can memorize.”
The youngest daughter, Naomi, age 7, also makes the highest grades in her class at school. Inspired by her older brothers and sister, she is also learning Psalm 119 and recites portions of 5-10 verses at a time to sister Johnson.
The children studying while their mother is weaving.
Kids! If the Bible is our sword …
TAUBATÉ, Brazil (BNC) by Vicki Matheny — Are you flexible? I’m teaching a Bible class on Sunday morning in Taubaté for six-year-old Mateus Santos. He’s learning the books of the New Testament.
Mateus had forgotten to study for the class the previous week. Tears started to flow just before class when he realized he was not prepared. Continue reading “Kids! If the Bible is our sword …”
Saints learn to integrate faith and work
TIRANA, Albania (BNC) by Bledar Valca — The congregation organized an event on the integration of faith and work Jan. 20-22.
Work plays such an important part of our lives. If we spend only 40 hours a week in work (I know very few people who do that these days), that would mean that 25% of our time is spent at work. Continue reading “Saints learn to integrate faith and work”
Preaching school starts in the Philippines
SAMAR, Philippines (BNC) by James D. Suiter — The Samar School of Preaching started the first week’s session Jan. 2016 with eleven students. This has been a dream of Edwin Inso, a native of Samar, and supporters for several years, to have such a tool to reach the lost souls on the island for Christ. Continue reading “Preaching school starts in the Philippines”
150 Attend Four Seas Lectureship
SINGAPORE (BNc) — From 25 to 28 November 2015 more than 150 attended the 8th annual Four Seas Lectureship of the Four Seas College of Bible and Missions. Those present on the last day are pictured above.
Lectures were held daily from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on “Living Soberly and Righteously.” The afternoon schedule included a separate lecture for men and women.
Twenty-two lessons were presented by these speakers from America, Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Four Seas College owns and operates the third floor of the building of the Jurong church of Christ.
Concurrently with the lectureship, gospel meetings were held in the evenings at the Jurong and the Lim Ah Pin Road congregations. The themes of these meetings respectively were “World in crisis” and “Answers to life’s greatest questions.” Preaching was done by Billy Bland, Tim Burroughs, Dennis Johnson, Larry Keele and Glen Tattersall.
The school was founded in 1965 as Malaysia Christian College. It was renamed Four Seas College of Bible and Missions in 1967. For 50 years the school has been training men to be preachers and women to be workers in the Lord’s kingdom.
The school has about 20 full-time students each year, enrolled in a two-year course covering every book of the Bible and including other related subjects. In recent years students have attended from Australia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
Peter Chin is President, Patrick Swayne is Dean of Academics, Eddie Ee is Dean of Students and Pooi Fun Chin is secretary and librarian.
Singapore is a hypermodern city-state located at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula.
CTTS building surrounded by flood water
CHENNAI, India (BNC) — The building of the Chennai Teacher Training School has remained safe so far although surrounded by flood waters. Continue reading “CTTS building surrounded by flood water”
Young evangelist teaches Indians, Filipinos agricultural self-support
STURGIS, Ky. (BNC) by James D. Suiter — Audie Cherry grew up with a passion for the Lord’s church and agriculture. He purposefully pursued a degree in agriculture in order to use it to help other evangelists around the globe. Audie is only 23 and has not had his degree long, but he has been working hard to make this objective a reality and instill in other gospel preachers knowledge, so they will have the freedom of being self-supportive. I asked about the agenda for his recent trip to India. This was his reply. Continue reading “Young evangelist teaches Indians, Filipinos agricultural self-support”
As ‘Christian’ council members, brotherhood colleges quiet on same-sex controversy
USA (BNC) — World Magazine reported Aug 14 that several evangelical educational institutions threaten to leave the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) after two member colleges signaled they would hire faculty and staff in same-sex marriages. Continue reading “As ‘Christian’ council members, brotherhood colleges quiet on same-sex controversy”
Louisiana movie shooter listed Faulkner University on LinkedIn profile
(BNC) — Fox News Channel today showed a recovered LinkedIn profile of John Russell Houser, the gunman who killed two people July 23 in a movie theater in Lafayette, La., which showed that Houser listed his education as Faulkner University. Continue reading “Louisiana movie shooter listed Faulkner University on LinkedIn profile”
Child watches biblical movie: ‘Jesus rose from the gravy’
OWATONNA, Minn. (BNC) — Gospel preacher Dan Mayfield was watching two-year-old Rush, one of his 11 grandchildren, as the child watched the movie, “A.D. The Bible Continues.” Continue reading “Child watches biblical movie: ‘Jesus rose from the gravy’”
Heritage reports baptisms, library growth, teaching abroad
FLORENCE, Ala. (BNC) by Bill Bagents — Heritage Christian University alumnus Bobby Leek reported eight additional baptisms recently at the Whiteville Correctional Facility near Memphis, where he serves as chaplain.
HCU board member Wayne Barrier and adjunct faculty member Janet Barrier report an excellent teaching visit to Vietnam. Wayne and alumnus Ricky Berger also report encouraging reception of their recent teaching in Myanmar. Continue reading “Heritage reports baptisms, library growth, teaching abroad”
Three Faulkner athletes to be charged in murder of fourth
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (BNC) — Three Faulkner University athletes were arrested today, according to WSFA TV, and will be charged with the murder of a fourth athlete, Ryan Brooks, 19.
According to Montgomery Police, all four were attempting to break into a home with the intent to commit robbery, when one of the students was shot and killed by the homeowner. Continue reading “Three Faulkner athletes to be charged in murder of fourth”
FHU cancels Bill Cosby for banquet appearance, confirms Ben Carson
HENDERSON, Tenn. (BNC) — Claims of sexual harrassment by speaker Bill Cosby caused Freed-Hardeman University to cancel his appearance at their annual benefit dinner Dec. 5. At the same time, the university announced today that potential 2016 US presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson had been secured as Cosby’s replacement. Continue reading “FHU cancels Bill Cosby for banquet appearance, confirms Ben Carson”
Armed insurgents take over Ukrainian Bible training center during Sunday morning worship
GORLUVKA, Ukraine (BNc) — A Bible training building doubling as a worship location was taken over by armed insurgents this morning (US time) during worship, Howell Ferguson, Stateside Coordinator of the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver, said on Facebook.
Howell quotes eyewitness Olga Paziura, who described what happened.
“During the morning worship service in Gorlovka (the church I attend), armed men (they called themselves the troops of the Russian Federation) came in and demanded we leave as they were seizing control of the building for their own purposes. After much negotiation, we were given two hours to remove the contents from the building that we wanted and the rest would be destroyed. And they also told us that this building now belongs to Russian Federation. While we were taking out stuff they watched us standing there with the guns. We were not able to take out the everything. The TV, washing machines, fridges were left there. We all together started to take everything out. It took about three hours to carry most of the stuff out. Then it took another three hours to load two trucks. So it was just very shocking and stressful. Some girls lost counsciousness and started crying. It is good that they didn’t take us hostage because it could be possible in fact. Anyway now it passed and I’m at home but I still cannot believe in what happened.”
Howell preaches with the North Jackson church of Christ in Jackson, Tenn., and works with the extension program of BVBID.
The building is used for the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Ukraine and for Christian worship and activities of the Central church of Christ in Gorluvka. Continue reading “Armed insurgents take over Ukrainian Bible training center during Sunday morning worship”
Preacher to work with ‘world’s largest youth group’
LOUISVILLE, Ken. (BNc) — Ben Giselbach, preacher with the Cedar Springs congregation, announced May 19 on his blog that he will move to Montgomery, Ala., in July to begin work with the Lads to Leaders program for youth. Continue reading “Preacher to work with ‘world’s largest youth group’”
Man arrested for terrorist threats against Faulkner University
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (BNc) — A local TV station reported on its website today that a man had made terrorist threats against an individual at Faulkner University as well as a general threat against students and staff. Continue reading “Man arrested for terrorist threats against Faulkner University”