Rick Melson

President @SBUniv Southwest Baptist University and Professor of Leadership

[Rick Melson @RickMelson]

For His Glory and our exceeding joy!

[SWBaptist University @SBUniv]

Inauguration Day was a special celebration as we formally commemorated the beginning of President Melson's leadership at SBU.

Watch this video for a recap of the inauguration ceremony. Congratulations, President @RickMelson! #SBUniv

[Bill Hennessey @Bhenniii]

What a joy to be a part of the @SBUniv graduation festivities!! Congratulations to the graduates, families and faculty! Keep the faith, choose joy, and be a light!

[Rick Melson @RickMelson]

Agreed! Thank you @JimmyScroggins!

[Jimmy Scroggins @JimmyScroggins]

SBC OPTIMISM

I am thankful and generally enthusiastic about where we are in the SBC. I am just one man and I don’t claim to speak for anyone else. 

10 reasons I am optimistic:

1We have a strong cohort of hard-working, theologically solid, evangelistically minded pastors in churches of all sizes. Very encouraging.
2Many of our SBC churches of all sizes are growing and multiplying. There is unprecedented interest in spiritual things right now in our country - especially from young men. I’ve never seen anything like it. Praise God!
3Many of our state conventions are becoming stronger, more connected, more strategic, and more visible. Glad to see it. The more local the connections the better I think.
4We have a solid confession that clarifies important doctrines and unifies us - the BF&M 2000. That document provides the boundaries of our big tent.
5Our seminaries and mission boards are headed by clear, unapologetic conservatives. I don’t worship these guys and I disagree with them from time to time but I am thankful for every one of them. They have difficult jobs. 
6Our mission boards are doing excellent work. They are not perfect. But I believe they are basically effective. I am proud of their leadership and proud of the thousands of missionaries and church planters that we get to support through NAMB and IMB.
7Our seminaries are a tremendous asset. Again - not perfect - but overall - effective. I was educated at SBTS. Almost all of our pastors at Family Church have degrees from SBC seminaries . I am grateful and supportive.
8I do not believe the SBC has a widespread problem with feminism, liberalism, racism, sexual abuse, or women pastors. I definitely do not believe there is any large-scale “leftward drift.”  
9Every pastor I know wants to protect kids every way that we can. Every pastor I know wants to offer the gospel to every person regardless of ethnicity. There is near-universal clarity and biblical unity on gender, sexuality, and family structure. Nearly everyone agrees on what a pastor is and that pastors should be men. 
10If an entity leader is out of step (as some have been)? They can be corrected by their trustees. If a church is out of step (as some are)? They can be corrected at the associational, state, and national levels. Ultimately churches can be voted out. The SBC has a proven willingness to disassociate with churches (even large churches with famous pastors) in egregious and consistent violation of the BF&M2000.

Must we be vigilant about articulating and guarding our conservative commitments? Absolutely.

Are we perfect? Of course not. 

Can we make adjustments or tweak certain things to get better? Of course.

The thing I am most excited about for our Convention of churches is the unprecedented opportunity for gospel advance. It’s happening right now.

We live in the greatest and freeest and most prosperous  country in the history of the world. The SBC is the greatest and most influential network of evangelical churches in the Western World. There is a highly unusual openness to spiritual things in our culture right now. And we have a powerful gospel that really saves.

What a time to be alive. What a time to be Southern Baptist. What a time to serve Jesus.

[SBU Bearcat Athletics @sbubearcats]

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEARS REX BROWN WINNERS!!
#rollcats #sbu @bearcat_bsb

[The Pathway @mbcpathway]

Missouri Baptist Historical Commission again offering scholarship for MBC schools: Deadline is April 22
https://t.co/s9ZU7Qzqqs

[SBU Bearcat Athletics @sbubearcats]

BACK-TO-BACK WINS!!! Bearcats pick up two straight on the road 💪
#RollCats #sbu @bearcat_bsb

[SBC History @SBCHistory]

OTD in 1993 @albertmohler appeared before the student body @SBTS as President Elect. Watch the video from the SBTS digital library as Mohler addresses the Abstract of Principles, his age, women in ministry, and more. https://t.co/lVvBJH7SeA

[SBU Bearcat Athletics @sbubearcats]

COME MEET YOUR NEW WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH THIS TUESDAY!!
#RollCats #SBU

[Andrew T. Walker @AndrewTWalker]

Congratulations to @SBTS alum @patrickrmcginty on the successful launch of the new church he’s helped to plant in College Station, Texas—Harvest Church! Love seeing new Baptist churches started by outstanding young pastors like Patrick!

[SBU Bearcat Athletics @sbubearcats]

Our 15th head men's basketball coach, Tomas Brock!
#RollCats #SBU @bearcat_mbb

[Dr. DVD @drdvd]

https://t.co/fjoy1uLlE7

[SBC History @SBCHistory]

OTD in 1993 @albertmohler was introduced as the president elect @SBTS. Look in this issue of @baptistpress from the SBHLA Archives for several articles about the choice. https://t.co/FPZYpitpgM

[SBU Bearcat Athletics @sbubearcats]

WELCOME, MATT BOLLANT 👏

Coach Bollant joins the Bearcats with 24 years of Head Coaching experience which include 475 total wins, 12 20+ win seasons, and 5 conference titles! It's a great day to be a Bearcat!
#RollCats @bearcats_WBB

https://t.co/SlufL4uj96

[SBU Bearcat Athletics @sbubearcats]

A 15x Missouri State Champion knows how good Coach Bollant is for the Bearcats 😎
@DanRolfes #RollCats

[Rick Melson @RickMelson]

Thank you, @shane_pruitt78, for serving our @SBUniv campus so faithfully! Grateful for you and your work at @NAMB_SBC!

[Shane Pruitt @shane_pruitt78]

What a joy being at @SBUniv the last two days.

Preached chapel, did a discussion with students over my book 9 Common Lies Christians Believe, and got to speak to local church leaders over a lunch.

God is doing awesome things at this University! Thanks for having me @RickMelson and Jonathan Woodyard.

[SBU Bearcat Athletics @sbubearcats]

Tomas Brock coached under @CoachMcCollum for two years at Northwest Missouri State!
#rollcats #sbu

[SBU Bearcat Athletics @sbubearcats]

Come meet your new head men's basketball coach this Friday at 10 a.m.!
#RollCats #sbu @bearcat_mbb

[SBU Bearcat Athletics @sbubearcats]

WELCOME HOME, TOMAS BROCK!

SBU @bearcat_mbb alumni Tomas Brock returns to Bolivar to head the sideline!
#RollCats

https://t.co/qtDKG57ilv

[Dr. Malachi - (Dr. Run) @malachiobrien]

He’s Alive

Sung by Steve Gaines.

This hits different now.

[Paul Hansen @CoachHansen_]

Excited to get rolling today. Ready to coach these guys!!

[SBU Bearcat Athletics @sbubearcats]

BSB: BEARCAT BRAWL GAME 1 GOES TO SBU! Ryne Kaiser throws 8 strikeouts in 7 innings en route to the victory!
#RollCats