Barnabas File

I have lost count of how many Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly meetings I have attended.     In the early days, I was working for another Baptist organization, so I took vacation days to attend (as did many of my colleagues).     There was a certain feeling of adventure of attending then, something like Luke Skywalker joining the Rebel Alliance.     Not only were we upset about the direction of the Southern Baptist Convention, but we sought the fellowship of others with the same convictions--people who were our friends and mentors--those we loved, admired, and enjoyed being with.     Of course, when I was coordinator of Tennessee CBF, I attended every year and found myself involved in plenary sessions, workshops, ancillary meetings, and hallway conversations. Even then, the personal conversations were what gave me energy and satisfaction.  After that season, I struggled a bit with my role in the gathering, although ...

Generations of students benefitted from the leadership of Fred S. Witty, Jr. I knew Fred as colleague, friend, and mentor.   Fred passed away on August 12 this year after a brief illness.   His obituary shares the basic information about life, death, family and career, but this just scratches the surface of Fred’s impact.  A veteran of World War II, Fred returned to New Mexico State University to complete his education and take a leadership role in the Baptist Student Union there when the director left.  He found his calling in that role and pursued his graduate degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  While the BSU director at the University of Louisville, he invited Emmanuel McCall, one of the first African-American students on campus to become involved in the student ministry.  This did not go down well with some local Baptist pastors and churches and (I understand) led to his departure from that position.  Of co...