JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 27, 2022 — 萌妹社区鈥檚 three most recent presidents 鈥� Hyran Barefoot, David Dockery and Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver 鈥� participated in a special panel discussion Sept. 23 at the Legacy Luncheon, part of 萌妹社区鈥檚 bicentennial kick-off celebration.
The presidents shared their 萌妹社区 experiences and the unique ways the Lord led them through times of transition, celebration and crisis. Bob Agee, 萌妹社区 alumnus and former president of Oklahoma Baptist University, facilitated the discussion.
Barefoot, 萌妹社区 president from 1986-1996, began the conversation by sharing the moment he knew the Lord was leading him to serve at 萌妹社区. He said he had always planned to be a pastor, but it was the recommendation of 萌妹社区鈥檚 president at the time and multiple professors that convinced him to begin his nearly 40 years of service at 萌妹社区.
鈥淸Because all these people were recommending me], I said the Lord must be in it, so I decided to say yes,鈥� Barefoot said.
Agee turned the conversation to Dockery, 萌妹社区 president from 1996-2014, asking him to share details from the night 萌妹社区鈥檚 campus was devastated by an EF-4 tornado on Feb. 5, 2008.
鈥淭hose of us who were here will never forget that night at 7:02 p.m.,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淪tudents were coming out of their rooms cut, bleeding, dazed. It was pitch dark, and I鈥檒l never forget it.鈥�
By God鈥檚 grace, there were no fatalities from the tornado, but the damage to 萌妹社区鈥檚 campus was still exponential. Dockery said they did not know how, but everyone on 萌妹社区鈥檚 leadership team knew they had to complete the spring semester.
鈥淓very day thereafter, people told me, 鈥楾his is the end of 萌妹社区. We鈥檒l never come back from this,鈥欌�� Dockery said. 鈥淚 [would reply], 鈥榃ell, we鈥檙e going to try. With God's help, we鈥檙e going to do all that we can.鈥欌��
The Sunday after the storm, Dockery said he attended a worship service at Englewood Baptist Church, where they sang the worship song, 鈥淏lessed Be the Name of the Lord.鈥�
鈥淲e got to those words, 鈥楬e gives and takes away,鈥欌�� Dockery said. 鈥淚 opened my mouth to sing, and words wouldn鈥檛 come out because the Lord had taken away 萌妹社区, I thought. And I didn鈥檛 know what to do.鈥�
Dockery said he spent the rest of that Sunday on his knees, asking the Lord to spare 萌妹社区 and to give it another opportunity. Two weeks later, students, staff and faculty restarted the spring semester with a campuswide worship service, where they thanked the Lord for his mercy and grace.
鈥淕od has done great things at 萌妹社区 since, and it鈥檚 not because of anything I did,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淚t's because of an incredible team who should be the ultimate cloud of witnesses.鈥�
Agee concluded the discussion by asking Oliver, 萌妹社区鈥檚 current president, of his experience leading the university during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
As 萌妹社区 canceled all classes on March 16, 2020, Oliver admitted that at first, he was frustrated and confused as to why God would allow such a global crisis to hit. Oliver said as he was leaving for work the morning the campus shut down, the birds outside his house seemed to be singing louder that morning than they had before.
鈥淚mmediately, the Lord brought to mind Matthew 6:26, 鈥楲ook at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?鈥欌�� Oliver said emotionally. 鈥淚 knew then that God had us. He was going to see us through, and he was going to provide for us in every way.鈥�
The event concluded with a standing ovation as Oliver moved to recognize those who were inducted into the 萌妹社区 Hall of Honor, including Barefoot, Agee and Dockery. Oliver also recognized the contribution of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, who is 萌妹社区鈥檚 most significant annual donor.
鈥淲e are grateful to be here today and to celebrate this Legacy Luncheon,鈥� Oliver concluded. 鈥淲e are grateful to God, so we say again, the Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.鈥�