ECHOES / WINTER 2004 3

Volume 59 Number 4(USPS) 041-960 Winter 2004

PUBLISHERThomas A. Kinchen, President

MANAGING EDITORCharles R. ParkerVice President for

Institutional Advancement

EDITORHeather L. Stewart

Director of Information Services

PhotographerMike A. SmithArt Coordinator

Cover Photo: BCF’s musicdepartment presents a

Christmas Extravaganza.

Photo by Brandi Smith. Coverdesign by Heather Stewart.

Echoes is published quarterlyby The Baptist College of

Florida, 5400 College Drive,Graceville, Florida 32440-1898.

Periodical postage paid atGraceville, Florida and addi-

tional offices.

If you know someone whowould like to receive Echoes,please send name and addressto BCF, Echoes Editor, 5400

College Drive, Graceville, FL32440-1898.

POSTMASTER:SEND ADDRESS

CORRECTIONS TO:BCF

5400 COLLEGE DRIVEGRACEVILLE, FL

32440-1898

Statement of MissionThe purpose of The Baptist

College of Florida shall be topromote, provide for, operateand control a program of edu-

cation and training for ministersand other religious workers.

The college shall operate as acoeducational, post-secondaryinstitution awarding associateand baccalaureate degrees in

the fields of theology, Christianeducation, church music,

Christian counseling, leadershipand education.

ECHOES

Dear Friends,

I am excited about our Special Year EndEdition of Echoes. This gives me one more

opportunity to share with you some of the blessings and joy of thecampus during this most wonderful time. As I have told you before,I just enter into a sentimental stupor during the holidays.

This year has provided many very special blessings for The BaptistCollege of Florida. I want to be quick to thank our Lord for all ofthese. I am well aware that He uses people in His blessings. Somany of you have been our Lord’s agents for blessing the collegeduring 2004. Thank You. Thank you for being who you are. Thankyou for doing what you have done. Thank you for your prayers andfriendship in the years ahead.

This issue of Echoes is full of the sights of the holidays. I only wishthat we had the sound for you. It has been a time of celebration forall of us. We hosted the Holiday Homecoming on the Fridayevening before Thanksgiving, and it was a wonderful success. Therain lifted just long enough for the festivities. Please mark your cal-endar for November 18, 2005 so that you can attend this great eventnext year. The Christmas Extravaganza was superb! It was the bestproduction that I can remember at the college. Hats Off to Dr. Odomand all of those who worked so hard to make this a most meaning-ful time of celebration of the true meaning of the Christmas season.

I am especially grateful to our December 2004 graduating class fortheir class project. The scholarship for Dr. and Mrs. Lee is a mostappropriate honor for two special people. As the Lees are continualblessings to the college, the scholarship will serve to bless studentsfor years to come.

Please note the upcoming events for the spring conference sched-ule. This is a fantastic line-up. We would be delighted to see you atany or all of these events.

God Bless You,

From The PresidentA Sentimental

Stupor

2 ECHOES / WINTER 2004

BCF Music Department Presents a

Christmas Extravaganza

e has walked the halls of TheBaptist College (BCF) for over 35years, bringing with him each day

a zeal for both the Word of God and his stu-dents.

Even today with wavering health as hefights a personal battle with cancer, he canalways be found with a smile on his faceencouraging students in their faith andwork.

So, when it was time for BCF's fall sen-ior class to choose a class project, theycould think of none more appropriate thanto honor this man who has touched theirlives so profoundly with the establishmentof a scholarship in his honor to continue hislegacy at BCF well into the future.

Dr. Lee's journey at BCF began in 1969,just 16 years after the campus made themove from Lakeland to the rural communi-ty of Graceville in the Florida panhandle asBaptist Bible Institute. He has seen the col-lege through two name changes, three pres-idents, and over 100 semesters.

While working at the college he has con-tinued to serve the local church as interimpastor for 42 churches in Georgia, Alabamaand Florida from 1969 to 2004. He has alsowritten numerous publications.

As Senior Professor of Old Testament heis known for his tough classes including lec-tures that tediously expound verse by versethrough each book of the Bible.

"Dr. Lee's classes were very demandingand challenging but the rewards far out-weighed the demand because he makes theOld Testament come to life," recalls nowBCF assistant professor leadership Dr.David Coggins of his days of study underDr. Lee.

"He helped to lay a foundation of studyin the Old Testament that is still a benefit tome in ministry."

Despite his all business attitude in lec-ture, his love for the students is obvious andthey respond in kind.

In the fall of 2003 after being diagnosedwith sarcoma cancer early in the year, one

of Dr. Lee's students traveled around cam-pus with a video camera recording greetingsand well-wishes from students, faculty andstaff which she then sent to Dr. Lee at histreatment center in Texas to lift his spirits.

Now nearly two years into his battlewith cancer, he continues to make it to cam-pus as often as possible although he wasunable to teach his classes this fall.

However, the long-time fixture on thecampus is stillhelping to moldthe ministers oftomorrow.

"Dr. Lee has apassion for theword of God . . .and a passion forteaching . . . and apassion for stu-dents . . . and forthe Lord," explainsBCF senior David Rathel who presented thescholarship to Lee and wife, Joyce, duringthe Dec. 1 ceremony.

"We figured the best thing we could dois to help the students he loves so much,"said Rathel.

As the couple walked to the stage toreceive the plaque of recognition, the con-gregation stood in ovation with tears in theireyes.

"We established this scholarship to rec-

ognize you not only as a teacher, but as afriend," said Rebekah Fries who presentedthe plaque as emotion hung thick in the air.

True to form, Dr. Lee was not short ofwords for the occasion congratulating andencouraging the graduates.

"You have not gotten here coasting oreasily. It has been difficult work andendurance, but . . . you're life is going tomake a great difference in our world for

Jesus Christ," said therevered professor.

"For the pastyears I have buried myheart and my life in thisinstitution. I love it andGod has ordained it," hefinished.

BCF PresidentDr. Thomas A. Kinchenconcluded the remarksstating, "Dr. Lee has

made an impression on you and it is one ofrighteousness." "Dr. Lee, we love you andGod bless you."

The Dr. J.W. and Joyce Lee endowedscholarship will each year provide tuitionassistance to one Biblical Studies majorpreparing for Christian vocation. Donationsmay be made to the scholarship fund bycalling the office of InstitutionalAdvancement at 800-328-2660, ext. 416.

4 ECHOES / WINTER 2004 ECHOES / WINTER 2004 5

There are a few

people in each

person's life who truly

make a difference,

leave a legacy and

change lives forever.

For thousands of

students and the

members of 49 area

churches, this person

is Dr. J.W. Lee.

LegacyThe

c o n t i n u e s

Legacy

H

Support the LegacyIf you would like to contribute to this scholarship,

please use the attached envelope.Designate on the envelope and your check

“Dr. J.W. and Joyce Lee Scholarship.”

For more information, call 800-328-2660,ext. 416 or e-mail ksluke@baptistcollege.edu.

All donations are tax deductible.

The lights were twinkling and thesound of music filled the air asyoung and old alike meandered

through The Baptist College ofFlorida's (BCF) Heritage Village at thisyear's Holiday Homecoming.

The November 19 event drew a largecrowd of visitors to the turn of the cen-tury collection of homes, churches anda one-room school house that make upthe village.

Picket fences were adorned withgreenery and lights, and each buildingwas decorated with old-fashioned deco-rations for the holiday season.

Several musical groups entertainedthe crowds from the center court withsouthern gospel music including theBasford Brothers Quartet and theMount Gilead Quartet. A visit to the oldPrimitive Baptist Church brought thesound of Christmas tunes played byBCF's own College Winds.

Around every corner visitors foundold-fashioned artisans demonstratingtheir craft. Children gathered through-out the night around the husband andwife team of Tom and Pam Thompsonwho were stationed in front of the gal-ley style Carlton House. Tom sat craft-ing baskets from thin strips of wood, askill which has garnered him acclaimthroughout northwest Florida.

Little girls watched enthralled asPam helped them make dolls out of cornshucks while keeping a watchful eye onher nearby wash pot where her brew ofhomemade lye soap simmered over apropane cooker.

Later after she poured up the mix-ture, the children stood in wonder as she

let them feel how soft the finished barbecame.

A sweet smell filling the air drewvisitors to the opposite side of the vil-lage where they found a quilter and ablacksmith at work before stumblingupon the origin of the sweet aroma atthe cane syrup kettle.

Smoke billowed in the cold night airas the syrup made of cane juice groundjust a few hours earlier at the village

cooked to perfection. Those who heldout until the end were rewarded with ataste of the perfected syrup to completethe blissful night.

The event is a long-standing tradi-tion at the college previously held thefirst weekend of December as "VillageChristmas." This year organizers movedthe event to November and changed thename to "Holiday Homecoming" tokick off the holiday season.

6 ECHOES / WINTER 2004 ECHOES / WINTER 2004 7

People & Events

alumninews

Stay inTouch

1970’sRon Roberts (77) iscurrently serving asAssociate Pastor atSummerville BaptistChurch in PhenixCity, AL. Ron may bereached by mail at3500 SummervilleRoad Phenix City,AL 36867, by phoneat 706-327-1171 orby e-mail torlroberts@knology.net.

1980’sMark Chamberlin(84) is currently serv-ing as senior pastor atHilltop BaptistChurch in ChulaVista, CA. He andwife, Anna (85), maybe reached by mail at1190 Neptune DriveChula Vista, CA91911 or by phone at619-271-6578.

1990’sPeter (99) and AmyKeough and threechildren Haden,Austin and Kaitlyn

have relocated to FortPolk, LA where Peteris currently assignedto the First Battalion(Airborne) 509thInfantry Regiment asthe BattalionChaplain. The familymay be reached bymail at 5975-AHarrell Place, Ft.Polk, LA 71459, byphone at 337-537-8195, or by e-mail toKeoughs5@ aol.com.

Mark McDowell(96) is currently serv-ing as senior pastor atFirst Baptist Churchin Brandywine, WV.Mark may be reachedby mail at PO Box 89Brandywine, WV26802, by phone at304-249-5767 or bye-mail to pastormcdowell@hotmail.com.

Roger Culpepper(98) may be reachedby mail at 463 SE71st Street Starke, FL32656.

2000’sJo Marin (03) is cur-rently serving asyouth pastor atFriendship BaptistChurch in FortWorth, TX whileworking toward aMaster of Divinitydegree atSouthwestern BaptistTheological Seminaryin Fort Worth, TX. Jocan be reached bymail at 4318 S.Henderson Avenue#202 Fort Worth, TX76115, by phone at801-301-7293, or bye-mail tocjmarin@charter.net.

Jeff Stading (01) iscurrently serving assenior pastor atSalem Baptist Churchin Tampa, FL. Jeffcan be reached bymail at 1712 EastBusch Blvd. Tampa,FL 33612, by phoneat 813-935-0738, orby e-mail to jstad-ing@verizon.net.

Kyle (00) and CaraLuke (01) and sonGaret have relocatedto Dothan, AL. Theymay be reached bymail at 116 ElmwoodDrive Dothan, AL36303 or by phone at334-699-3158. Kylewill graduate with aMaster’s degree inPublic Administra-tion from FloridaState University inDecember 2004.

Todd (03) and FaitheWard have relocatedto Lake Wylie, SouthCarolina where Toddis serving as Ministerof Music for LakeWylie BaptistChurch. They may bereached at 5415Highway 557, LakeWylie, SouthCarolina 29710.

Danny (02), Shae(02) and MadisonHeath are now serv-ing at First BaptistChurch, La Place asfull time Minister ofMusic. Danny will

graduate from NewOrleans BaptistTheological Seminarywith a Masters ofMusic in ChurchMusic in Decemberof 2004.

Shaun Braley (04)has been named asthe Music Assistantfor the Church MusicDivision at TheBaptist College ofFlorida. Shaun andwife, Alison (04), areboth serving atBethlehem BaptistChurch in Bonifay,Florida. The Braley’smay be reached at712 North VarnerStreet, Bonifay,Florida 32425 or byphone at (850) 547-2424

DeathsEugene Phillips whoattended BCF 1957-59 passed onSeptember 12, 2004.

with fellow alumni

The Basford Brothers Quartet entertained a large crowd with SouthernGospel favorites during the annual Holiday Homecoming event at BCF.

Pam Thompson, right, spent the brisk night surrounded by wide-eyed littlegirls intrigued by the crafting of corn shuck dolls.

Christmas of OldHoliday Homecoming reminiscent of

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