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FROM THE SEMINARIES: Gateway names distinguished alumni; Leavell College student receives leadership scholarship


Gateway names Mark Wyatt & Kelly King as distinguished alumni

ONTARIO, Calif. (BP) — Gateway Seminary has named Mark Wyatt of California Baptist University and Kelly King of LifeWay Christian Resources as 2019 Distinguished Alumni.

The two will be honored June 12 during Gateway’s alumni and friends luncheon at the Southern Baptist Convention in Birmingham, Ala.

“We are proud of the outstanding accomplishment Mark and Kelly have shown throughout their careers as they exemplified a commitment to shaping leaders and expanding God’s Kingdom around the world,” Gateway President Jeff Iorg said.

Mark Wyatt

Wyatt has served as vice president for marketing and communication at California Baptist University since 2002, leading a staff responsible for branding, advertising, public relations, publications and internet marketing activities. Wyatt also oversees the use of campus facilities by campus groups and external clients.

Prior to joining the CBU administration, Wyatt served more than 18 years as chief communications officer for the California Southern Baptist Convention and editor of the California Southern Baptist newspaper, and he has served as a pastor. His nearly 40 years of experience in higher education administration, communications, journalism and media include 14 years as a radio and television news reporter and anchor.

Wyatt holds a doctor of ministry degree in executive leadership from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, now Gateway Seminary; a master of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.; and a bachelor of fine arts degree in theatre arts from Valdosta State University in Georgia.

Wyatt and his wife Jean have been married 47 years and reside in Riverside, Calif. They have three adult children and nine grandchildren.

Kelly King

King has served as women’s ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources since 2016, coordinating training events for women in leadership. She previously was the women’s missions and ministries specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma for more than 11 years.

Prior to her denominational role, she was the women’s ministry director at Council Road Baptist Church in metro Oklahoma City. She currently leads the women’s ministry as a volunteer at Green Hill Church in Mt. Juliet, Tenn.

She holds a master of theology degree from Gateway Seminary.

King and her husband Vic have been married 30 years and have served together in ministry teaching students and young adults. They have two adult children.

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Leavell College student receives leadership scholarship

NEW ORLEANS (BP) — Matthew Louis Hall, a student at Leavell College of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, has been named as the recipient of a leadership and service scholarship from the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (LAICU).

The LAICU scholarship is named for Norman Francis, whose 46-year tenure as president of Xavier University in New Orleans (1968-2015) made him the nation’s longest-serving college president. The $3,000 scholarship is awarded to a student at an LAICU institution exemplifying the qualities of leadership and service as “continuously demonstrated by Dr. Norman Francis.”

Hall, a rising senior, has “a vibrant personality so that he is known by all,” said Thomas Strong, dean of Leavell College. “He has demonstrated that he is a man of integrity who is passionate about his studies. I am confident that God has great plans for Matthew — he is one full of potential that is both being realized and will be realized throughout his life.”

With a calling to church planting, Hall hopes to serve in Portland, Ore., with his wife Rebekah as a North American Mission Board SEND pastor. He is majoring in Christian ministry with music and general education minors.

Hall’s name was submitted to LAICU by the NOBTS selection committee of Craig Garrett, NOBTS associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students; Michael Wang, financial aid director; Bo Rice, dean of graduate studies; and Strong.

“Matthew rose quickly to the top of the list and was a unanimous selection,” Garrett said.

LAICU represents Louisiana’s 10 regionally accredited nonprofit private colleges and universities encompassing more than 26,000 students. Leavell College has an enrollment of 1,550 on campus, at its extension centers and online.

    About the Author

  • SBC Seminary & BP Staff

    Cassity Potter writes for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; Art Toalston is senior editor of Baptist Press, the SBC’s news service; Alex Sibley writes for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; and S. Craig Sanders writes for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

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