欧美视频

BOLIVAR, Mo. 鈥� 欧美视频 celebrated the inauguration of Richard J. Melson, Ph.D., as its 26th president in a ceremony Wednesday, March 2, in Mabee Chapel on the Bolivar campus. 

The inauguration formally commemorates the beginning of Dr. Melson鈥檚 leadership at 欧美视频, while celebrating the University鈥檚 rich history and reaffirming the University鈥檚 mission of being a Christ-centered, caring academic community preparing students to be servant leaders in a global society. 

欧美视频鈥檚 Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni and other delegates participated in the event. 

Dr. Nathan Wright, division of business head, associate professor of business administration and faculty senate president at 欧美视频, as well as a member of the presidential search committee, recalled his first impressions of Dr. Melson during the committee鈥檚 initial/virtual interview with him.

A few highlights in the notes Wright took during that interview included: 鈥淕ood communicator;鈥� 鈥淧assionate about servant-leadership;鈥� 鈥淪tands unapologetically on his biblical convictions;鈥� and 鈥淲ill be a tremendous ambassador for 欧美视频.鈥�

鈥淚 am grateful for Dr. Melson鈥檚 heart to point faculty and staff to serve our students to God鈥檚 glory and our joy,鈥� Wright said. 鈥淢ore than anything, 欧美视频 needs its president to be the spiritual leader for the university. Dr. Melson is the spiritual leader 欧美视频 desperately needs.鈥�

Perspectives were given by U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt; Dr. C. Pat Taylor, president emeritus of 欧美视频; Mayor of the City of Bolivar, Christopher D. Warwick; Jon Nelson, president of the Missouri Baptist Convention; John L. Yeats, executive director of the MBC; Nathan Wright, 欧美视频 Faculty Senate President; Chance Bedell, Staff Council president; and Tyler Eads, Senior Ambassador of the President. 

Charlie Waldburger, business writer and strategist, presented a scripture reading, followed by the introduction of Dr. Melson by Dr. Rick Mann, professor of leadership and strategy and director of MBA/DBA programs at Trevecca Nazarene University. Dr. Jerry L. Gillis Jr., lead pastor of The Chapel in Buffalo, N.Y., delivered the inaugural message. 

鈥淭he prestigious role you鈥檙e now inhabiting, Dr. Melson, is one filled with promise and hope for the future, while also carrying with it the heavy weight of responsibility,鈥� Gillis said. 鈥淭he proverbial phrase is, in this moment, perfectly apt: 鈥榃ith great power comes great responsibility.鈥�

鈥淢y appeal with that statement is to Christians because it makes me think of Christ. We think of Jesus here, not because he made this statement but because he answers the larger question that this statement begs: If great power comes with great responsibility, then what exactly is that power and responsibility for? I would suggest to you the great power and responsibility are for the purpose of demonstrating the humble and sacrificial heart of God.鈥�

Gillis pointed to Jesus鈥� last week on Earth when he was privately ministering to His disciples. They met and ate together for one last time in the upper room, after which Jesus humbled himself and washed the feet of the disciples.

鈥淢ay the humble heart of God in you, Dr. Melson, surprise people,鈥� Gillis said. 鈥淢ay your humility be unapologetic for King Jesus that breeds a culture of humility on this campus and beyond. And may your surprising humility, your power used for service be a model for every student and faculty member that will experience your life. In fact, may what they experience actually be the life of Jesus in you. 

鈥淪o, Dr. Melson 鈥� Rick 鈥� may you lead this university with the strength and grace of Jesus. May your heart always be pure and may your feet be willingly dirty, so that others may be clean.鈥�

During the presidential investiture, Dr. Melson was presented with the presidential medallion and chain of office by David Brown, vice-chairman of 欧美视频鈥檚 Board of Trustees. 

鈥淚t is my great pleasure, as vice chair of the 欧美视频 Board of Trustees, to install you in the office of President of 欧美视频 with all of its requisite rights, privileges and responsibilities,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淏y accepting the presidential medallion, you accept the charge to serve the Lord in this position with diligence, dedication, vision and integrity as you carry out the duties as president of Southwest Baptist University.鈥�

In his inauguration speech, Dr. Melson emphasized that 欧美视频 stands unapologetically as a Christ-centered university.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not merely an academic institution comprised of Christian faculty, staff and students. Rather, we鈥檙e a Christ-centered institution, rooted in biblical orthodoxy and scholarly orthopraxy and committed to the holistic development of every student,鈥� Dr. Melson said. 

鈥溑访朗悠� is uniquely positioned as a caring, academic community to support students in a partnership of transformational learning, growth in the context of biblical truth, intentional discipleship, committed to equipping graduates to become those biblical servant leaders who glorify God and make him known. They go out and make an impact in the world for Christ. As I like to say, 鈥榳e are making world-changers at 欧美视频.鈥欌��

Dr. Melson has had the opportunity to meet 欧美视频 alumni from several decades and has enjoyed hearing their stories. 

鈥淓very alumni story has one common theme 鈥� the meaningful relationships with faculty, staff and students who made a transformational impact on your life that created a lifelong bond to the SWBC/欧美视频 Bearcat family,鈥� Dr. Melson said. 鈥淭his is the outcome of a Christ-centered, caring academic community. Each of those alumni have been pointed to Christ by fellow students, by faculty and by staff.

鈥溑访朗悠� alumni are leading and serving around the world, in every sphere of society, from healthcare to finance, from the pulpit to the halls of justice, from social work to the legislature, from the classroom to the boardroom, and everywhere in between 鈥� each one of them are on mission to know Christ and to make Him known.

鈥淪o, today, 欧美视频 family, let us rise to the challenges before us. Let us take hold of the opportunities that await us, and let us lead 欧美视频 to its greatest days ahead, all for God鈥檚 glory and our exceeding joy.鈥�

Dr. Douglas C. Walker, III, retired higher education administrator, gave the inaugural blessing.

Dr. Melson was elected as the 26th President of 欧美视频 on Aug. 19, 2021 and began his service on Sept. 7, 2021. He brings more than 25 years of transformational leadership to 欧美视频. He joined 欧美视频 from Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio, where he served as vice president for advancement and associate professor of business administration since July 2016. 

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Photo 1: Dr. Richard J. Melson (center) is presented as 欧美视频鈥檚 26th president at the Inauguration Ceremony. 

Photo 2: 欧美视频 President Emeritus Dr. C. Pat Taylor, 欧美视频鈥檚 24th president, gives the invocation. 

Photo 3: Dr. Douglas C. Walker, III (right) gives the Prayer of Consecration over 欧美视频 President Dr. Richard J. Melson. 

*Published: 3-2-2022