Centennial Celebration Welcomes All

A community worship celebration will punctuate Oklahoma Baptist University's Centennial Founders' Day on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. The 6:30 p.m. service will welcome members of the greater OBU community who have supported the university during its first 100 years. 

A special invitation is being extended to members of churches in the Pottawatomie-Lincoln Baptist Association to join in this once-in-a-lifetime event.

"OBU depends heavily on the faithful support of churches in our local Baptist association," said OBU President David Whitlock. "These churches nurture and challenge our students and provide a community for our faculty and staff to grow and to serve. The Centennial Worship Service allows us to celebrate God's blessings together as a family."

Dr. Bob Agee, OBU president emeritus, will deliver the sermon at the service. Agee served as OBU's 13th president from 1982-98, achieving the second-longest tenure of the school's chief executive officers. He led the university to records in student enrollment and achieved significant success in fundraising with three major capital campaigns during his tenure, resulting in new construction, renovation of existing facilities and growth in endowment for scholarships and academic positions. During his administration, OBU began achieving national recognition from U.S. News & World Report. Under his leadership, OBU initiated international programs in China, Russia and Brazil and expanded missions opportunities for students throughout the world. Agee and his wife, Nelle, a retired OBU faculty member, live in Jackson, Tenn.

The program also will feature a combined choir comprised of members from churches in the Pott-Lincoln Baptist Association, as well as remarks from Dr. Russell Cook, director of missions for the association. The music leaders will be Dr. Bill Green, a 1964 OBU graduate and retired worship and music specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, and Dr. Ken Gabrielse, the BGCO's current worship and music specialist. Linda Green, a 1963 OBU graduate, will serve as organist.

More information about OBU's Founders' Day events is available here.