Former SBC President To Speak at Jan. 31 Chapel

Bobby Welch, immediate past president of the Southern Baptist Conference, will be the speaker at Oklahoma Baptist University's first Chapel service of the spring semester on Wednesday, Jan. 31. The 10 a.m. service will be in OBU's Raley Chapel.

Welch was elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2004 and completed consecutive one-year terms in June 2006. As SBC president, he promoted the "'Everyone Can' Kingdom Challenge" for evangelism, urging individuals, churches and associations to "join forces to witness to, win and baptize one million people during one church year."

Welch is the pastor emeritus of the First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, Fla. He serves as pastor from 1974-2006. He is the co-creator of the FAITH/Sunday School Evangelism Strategy widely. FAITH is being used by churches in 49 states and in 13 countries, encompassing four language translations of FAITH materials.

During the Vietnam War, Welch was a Green Beret reconnaissance platoon leader who was shot and given up for dead. He received the Bronze Star with "V" Device for bravery, Purple Heart, Air Medal and other decorations. He left the Army with the rank of captain.

The author of four books, Welch's latest book is titled You, The Warrior Leader: Applying Military Strategy for Victorious Spiritual Warfare. He also has written Evangelism Through the Sunday School, A Journey of Faith; The Sacrificed Life and This Comes First.

A native of Fort Payne, Ala., he earned an undergraduate degree at Jacksonville (Ala.) State University. He received his master's of theology degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and received an honorary doctorate from Palm Beach Atlantic University.

He and his wife, Maudellen, have two married children, Matthew and Haylee, and four grandchildren.