Campbellsville University

Campbellsville University’s Church Relations Council fall meeting held on campus

Campbellsville University’s Church Relations Council fall meeting held on campus

08/18/2014

Certificates were given to CU Church Relations Council members who have served on the Executive Committee, thanking them for their service to the Church Relations Council.From left, front row – Dr. John Chowning, the Rev. J.W. Hatfield, the Rev. Kenny Rager, the Rev. Michael Caldwell, Mrs. Helen Henderson and Mrs. Grace Gristow and Dr. Mike O’Neal. From left, back row – Dr. Joseph L. Owens, the Rev. Bill Patterson, the Rev. David Cozart, Dr. Joel Carwile, Mrs. Anna Mary Byrdwell, the Rev. Steve Sholar, the Rev. Kyle Franklin, the Rev. Wilburn Bonta, the Rev. Matthew Smyzer and CU President Michael V. Carter. ( Campbellsville University Photo by Linda Waggener)

Certificates were given to CU Church Relations Council members who have served on the Executive Committee, thanking them for their service to the Church Relations Council.From left, front row – Dr. John Chowning, the Rev. J.W. Hatfield, the Rev. Kenny Rager, the Rev. Michael Caldwell, Mrs. Helen Henderson and Mrs. Grace Gristow and Dr. Mike O’Neal. From left, back row – Dr. Joseph L. Owens, the Rev. Bill Patterson, the Rev. David Cozart, Dr. Joel Carwile, Mrs. Anna Mary Byrdwell, the Rev. Steve Sholar, the Rev. Kyle Franklin, the Rev. Wilburn Bonta, the Rev. Matthew Smyzer and CU President Michael V. Carter. ( Campbellsville University Photo by Linda Waggener)

Aug. 18, 2014
For Immediate Release

By Linda Waggener, marketing and media relations coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Campbellsville University president Michael V. Carter welcomed members to the fall Church Relations Council (CRC) meeting with an update on the busiest summer in the life of the university from mission outreach to new academic programs starting this fall and expanding sports areas to meet student interest.

Carter said to think of CU's history and mission as online student numbers grow, and CU has the challenge of how to provide the same experience to them as to on-campus students. He said, “In order to meet this need and keep to the Christ-centered commitment, the School of Theology has developed a new online chapel and the university is now able to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to Campbellsville University students all around the world.”

Dr. Joseph L. Owens, chair of the Board of Trustees and pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Lexington; and Dr. Mike O'Neal, CRC chair, member of the Board of Trustees and pastor of Campbellsville Baptist Church, both spoke to the group. They welcomed the incoming 2015 chairman of the CRC, the Rev. Steve Scholar, pastor of Edgewood Baptist Church, Nicholasville, Ky.; and chair-elect Dr. Joel Carwile, senior pastor at Valley View Church, Louisville, Ky., who will serve in 2016.

Dr. John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president, brought greetings and prayer needs before CRC members. He said that in his 25 years of service to Campbellsville University, he is grateful for the great contributions of the three presidents he's known, Drs. W. R. Davenport, Ken Winters and Carter.

A newly formed Outreach Team was introduced as CU forms a dedicated group to work directly with churches. Leaders are Dr. Tony Cunha, dean of the School of Music; Dr. Ted Taylor, director of FIRST CLASS, church outreach and parent relations; and the Rev. Ed Pavy, director of campus ministries. They will be in contact with churches to help as needed to assist with weekend ministry teams, Disciple Now teams, student and/or faculty speakers, faculty-led church ministry training events, student testimonies, athletics ministry and music.

Reports were also given by Dr. Darlene Eastridge, dean of the Carver School of Social Work and Counseling; Benji Kelly, vice president for development; Jim Hardy, assistant athletic director; Pavy; Dr. John Hurtgen, dean of the School of Theology; and Debbie Carter, assistant professor of social work, who shared information about the newly organized CU Women's Alliance.

CU nursing student Laura Thomas, just back from mission trip to Haiti, gave her testimony and asked that everyone please share in every possible way.

Certificates were given to CU Church Relations Council members who have served on the Executive Committee for 2014, thanking them for their service to the Church Relations Council.Included in the recipients were: the Rev. J.W. Hatfield, CRC former chair, DOM of the Central Baptist Association; the Rev. Kenny Rager, chair, campus ministries committee for 2015 and pastor, Life Community Church in Owensboro, Ky.; the Rev. Michael Caldwell, chair, public relations committee for 2015 and pastor Pleasant Union Baptist Church in Campbellsville; Mrs. Helen Henderson, CRC Secretary for 2015; Mrs. Grace Gristow, CRC member at large for 2015; Dr. Mike O'Neal, chair of the CRC for 2014 and senior pastor of Campbellsville Baptist Church; the Rev. Bill Patterson, CRC Member at Large for 2015; DOM of Green Valley Baptist Association; the Rev. David Cozart, chair, Academic Committee for 2015; Program Director of the Fayette County Fatherhood Initiative at the Lexington Leadership Foundation; Dr. Joel Carwile, Chair-Elect for CRC 2015, Senior Pastor at Valley View Church in Louisville, Ky.; Mrs. Anna Mary Byrdwell, Chair, Development Committee; retired from KBC; the Rev. Steve Sholar, Chair CRC 2015 and pastor of Edgewood Baptist Church, Nicholasville, Ky.; the Rev. Kyle Franklin, CRC member at large for 2015, pastor at Pellville Baptist Church in Hawesville, Ky.; the Rev. Wilburn Bonta, CRC member at large for 2015, DOM of Russell Creek Baptist Association; and the Rev. Matthew Smyzer, CRC Former Chair, executive director of the Baptist Fellowship Center and pastor of Beargrass Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.