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BCF GRADUATES READY TO TURN WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2008
Music graduates Laura Grace Tinsley and Natalie Pararo sang during the graduation ceremony.
At The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Graceville, fifty-nine soon to be graduates marched down the center aisle to receive their diplomas and begin another chapter in their desire to follow Christ in areas of ministry and service. Family and friends gathered on December 11 in the BCF Assembly Center to join in the celebration culminating years of study, hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance by the Fall 2008 graduates.
BCF President Thomas A. Kinchen presided over the ceremony as he welcomed guests and recognized family members for their support to the graduates. Also during the proceedings, two new faculty members, Donna Kincaid and Cathy Bugg, signed the "Articles of Faith" ledger signifying their commitment to the Lord and His Word as they teach at BCF.
After a duet by graduating music students, Natalie Pararo and Laura Grace Tinsley, Kinchen brought the graduation address reminding students of those preliminary questions before coming to BCF, "Whether to go to school, where to go to school, how to go to school, and how to get through school?" Once those questions were answered and acted upon, the question then became, "Now where will I go and what will I do?" According to Kinchen there is an even bigger question that will be asked, "What will they say about you when you get there?" Graduates were compelled to go against the more popular norm, "As you stand up for Jesus, some people will stand in opposition to what you have been taught and how you should live; they will even question your motives," declared Kinchen. Referencing the account of Paul in Thessalonians he noted, "Stand up for Jesus Christ and turn the world upside down in the process."
Degrees were then conferred by Kinchen in areas of ministry, missions, divinity, music, Christian counseling, Christian education, Christian studies, contemporary worship ministry, elementary education, leadership, music education, and biblical studies, including two married couples and one international student from Brazil.
BCF Fall 2008 Graduating Class
Front Row: Dr. Kinchen, Carmen Turner (Marshal), Marquita Battles, Sarah Castro, Haley Hodge, Aimee Gaudreau, Malia Parrish, Heather Carter, Emily Whitfield, Amanda Buck, Will Hartley, Krys Peyton, Natalie Pararo, Megan Powell, Katrina Singletary, Marcie Johnson, Yalanda Roberts, Ana Copeland, Amanda Spicer, Dr. Hammack.
Middle Row: Kristy Ottesen, Hope Bridwell, Richard Albritton, Dustin Malphurs, Shannon Parsley, Olon Hyde, Matthew Curry, Patrick Dalstra, Charles Stafford, Robert Mitchell, Jim Stickle, Adam Parker, Paul Whitfield, Eric O'Bryan, John Wise, Amanda Sherman, Laura Grace Tinsley, Dorotha McGuire.
Back Row: Andy Waits, Russell Burns, Grady Booth, Josiah Monks, Slade Stinson, Kevin Fletcher, Al Smith, David Denis, Chris Phillips, Bradley Roper, Nathan Tyler, Dusty Beck, Michael Singletary, Timothy Dudding, Keith Ward, Beverly Mann, Chris Ziglar, Suzanne Whitfield, Brent Gay (Marshal).
Professor Cathy Bugg signs the Articles of Faith during the 2008 BCF Graduation exercise.
BCF graduates Charles Stafford and Sarah Castro look forward to their paths crossing again as they both prepare to serve in areas of ministry in Brazil. Stafford plans to assume the position of President/CEO of Amazon Vision Ministries located in Gainesville, FL. Amazon Vision Ministries is a Missions organization that operates a river boat on the Amazon River in Brazil. They provide opportunities for churches in the United States to participate in short-term mission trips to the Amazon Basin in the area of evangelization, discipleship training, and medical and dental clinics. Castro will assume the position of Director of Operations.
Dr. Donna Kincaid signs the Articles of Faith during the 2008 BCF Graduation exercise.