EVERS AND WICKER TO PREACH IN CHAPEL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 17, 2008

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The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Graceville is pleased to have Fred Evers, Pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Tifton, GA, back in chapel on October 27 and Hayes Wicker, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Naples, FL, preaching October 28-29. Chapel services begin at 10 a.m. in the R. G. Lee Chapel.

Called into the ministry as a teenager, Evers' journey of preparation includes a Bachelor of Arts from Criswell College, a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. With thirty-four years of ministerial experience, Evers has served as pastor of Northside Baptist Church since June, 1999, and currently holds the position of Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention. Evers maintains an active preaching schedule beyond his Northside congregation.

A Mississippi native, Wicker was called into the ministry in 1965 and has devoted his life to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Grand Canyon University and a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Wicker has served churches in Alabama, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Florida.

Since his arrival as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Naples in March 1992, church membership, Sunday School attendance, and baptisms have increased by the thousands. Under his leadership, the church has successfully planted over 100 house churches in India, two Spanish churches and one Romanian church in Naples, and started the First Baptist Academy, a private K-12 school at the church. Wicker has served as President of the Pastors' Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention, a trustee of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and on the Committee of Nominations and Committee of Credentials for the Southern Baptist Convention. Wicker has also been a Guest Chaplain at the United States Senate.

Wicker has contributed to the authorship of five books in Christian life: Directions, Preaching with Passion, The Wedding Collection, Discipleship Sermons, and the Disciples Study Bible (I and II Chronicles).

The public is invited to join faculty, staff, and students as Evers and Wicker come to preach the Word of God at The Baptist College of Florida. For more information on upcoming chapel speakers, please contact 800.328.2660 ext. 446.