Four Missourians to receive Midwestern Alumni Awards
By James Streicher
May 31, 2005
KANSAS CITY – Four Christian leaders from Missouri will be presented alumni and honorary alumni awards from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary during the seminary’s alumni luncheon June 22, announced seminary President R. Philip Roberts.
Two Missouri pastors will receive this year’s Alumni of the Year award: R. Gary Taylor, a 1967 graduate of Midwestern and senior pastor of the First Baptist Church, O’Fallon, and Rodney Albert, a 1991 graduate of Midwestern and senior pastor of the Hallsville Baptist Church, Hallsville.
“Gary Taylor and Rodney Albert are in the top rank of our alumni,” Roberts said. “Their spiritual leadership, courage and devotion to their Lord make their Alma Mater proud.”
Additionally, Honorary Alumni of the Year awards will be presented to David Clippard, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention, and Gerald R. Davidson, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Arnold.
“Both David Clippard and Gerald Davidson have been exemplary leaders for both MBTS as well as the Heartland of America,” Roberts said. “Their heart for God, His Word and their love for Jesus in addition to those who need Him are examples we applaud. We are honored to list them as officially part of the MBTS family.”
The awards are given each year to recognize those who have excelled in ministry and who have remained prayerfully and financially supportive of the mission of the seminary.
Taylor has extensive state leadership experience, serving as the past president and an Executive Board member for the Missouri Baptist Convention. He is a member of the convention’s Legal Task Force. While he has ministered at First Baptist Church of O’Fallon, the church has baptized more than 1,000 people in more than 15 years. He has also served as a trustee for Hannibal-LaGrange College, Hannibal., and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., and participated in mission work in Korea and Belarus.
Albert has served Missouri churches for more than 19 years of ministry. He is the State Ethics leader for the Southern Baptist Convention and is chairman of the Christian Life Commission for the Missouri Baptist Convention. He has been an active voice for Missouri Southern Baptists to the state legislature, championing pro-life legislation. He also serves as a volunteer chaplain for the Bates County Memorial Hospital and is active in the local ministries of the Butler and Clay-Platte Baptist associations.
Clippard, a native of Missouri, has served as the executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention since 2002. Prior to coming to Missouri convention, he served as associate executive director at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. His pastoral experience includes ministering in three different states. His passion for evangelism and missions has taken him to 10 different countries and involvement in church planting efforts in three states. He is also on the Board of Directors at Evangelism Explosion, founded by D. James Kennedy.
Davidson has pastored First Baptist Church, Arnold, for more than 30 years and recently announced his retirement, effective in 2006. He has pastored church for more than 47 years in three different states. Davidson currently serves as the first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention and is a past president of the Missouri Baptist Convention. Additionally, he has participated in mission work in 13 countries and throughout the United States. He is also a trustee for Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.
The alumni luncheon, held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Nashville, will be in the Music City Ballroom at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, located at 611 Commerce Street. The Renaissance Nashville Hotel is connected to the Convention Center and adjacent to the Gaylord Entertainment Center.
Reservations are required by Friday, June 10 and can be made by contacting Midwestern’s Institutional Advancement office at 816-414-3720 or email IAOffice@mbts.edu. Reserved tickets can be picked up at the Midwestern booth anytime on Tuesday, June 21 during the Convention meetings.