By Message Staff
PINEVILLE (LBM) — Ken Hemphill, candidate for president of the Southern Baptist Convention, spoke during the Louisiana College weekly chapel service, March 27, encouraging students to be available as instruments to advance Christ’s kingdom. Afterward, he spent time talking with groups informally and answering questions.
Prior to the chapel message, LC President Rick Brewer introduced Hemphill, emphasizing Hemphill’s passion for the Cooperative Program, which helps reduce tuition costs for students attending the state’s only Baptist college, and endorsing Hemphill for SBC president.
“Dr Hemphill has pastored some great churches,” he continued. “He’s been in ministry over 40 years. He earned seminary degrees from Southern Seminary [master of divinity, doctor of divinity], then he went on to Cambridge, a little school ‘across the pond,’ to get his Ph.D.
“He’s served the Convention in tremendous ways – including as president of one of our seminaries — and he’s written over 45 books,” he added. “But my ‘claim to fame’ about Ken is that he was an awesome football player at Wake Forest University.
“I don’t know he’s as awesome as he tells me he was,” Brewer joked, “but he played football at Wake Forest University.
“It just so happened, many years ago in another lifetime, I served a church where Ken had been the first intern of Mark Corts, Brewer shared, “and Mark always talked about Ken. I knew it was to encourage us to be like Ken, and so I am still trying.
“Maybe I’ll get there one day,” Brewer said laughingly.
“Dr. Hemphill works with one of our great Baptist schools in South Carolina — North Greenville University — where he serves in a tremendous strategic role for them,” Brewer continued.
“Many of you may know that we are supported by our Baptist family. I try to remind you often of that – about Louisiana Baptists’ support for LC,” he said. “We are the only Baptist college in Louisiana. We have placed on your statements, so that every time you see a bill, you’ll read ‘through the generous support of Louisiana Baptists and the Cooperative Program, Louisiana College has maintained its status as one of the most affordable private colleges by reducing your annual tuition and fees by approximately 3,000 dollars.’”
“I know many of you borrow. You have grants. You have scholarships. You stretch. And you work extra jobs to pay your part of the tuition,” he acknowledged. “Just imagine if it was $3,000 more.
“But because of the support of our Convention, the leadership of our pastors, the leadership of (LBC Executive Director) Dr. David Hankins, we are able to keep the price down,” he underscored. “But you see, fundamentally there is a belief [by the LBC] in what we do here. There is a belief [by the LBC] in our mission of preparing graduates and transforming lives.
“Our Baptist family sees us as family members, and a partner in the Great Commission,” Brewer observed. “I am just thrilled that Dr. Hemphill is willing to serve as president of our Southern Baptist Convention, if elected by those who attend the annual meeting in Dallas in June, because I know of his commitment to the local church, to local associations, to state conventions, and to the Cooperative Program – he’s got my vote!”
