Five grads honored in TBC commencement June 13

by AMY DAVIS
TENNESSEE BIBLE COLLEGE

COOKEVILLE — It was an evening of good cheer and celebration as family and friends of the Tennessee Bible College class of 2008 gathered for commencement exercises on June 13.

The new graduates include Michael Hogan of Pine Bluff, Ark. (master of theology); Kenneth Mears of McMinnville, Tenn. (bachelor's degree in religious education); Christopher Thomas of Cookeville, Tenn. (two-year diploma); and Midea Liao and Helen Wang, both of Wuhan, China (two-year diploma).

"This year's graduation program went off in an excellent way," said TBC President Malcolm Hill. "We graduated some of the very finest students we've had in the history of the school, and I expect to hear great things in the future about the work they do to make the world better, utilizing the experience and knowledge they gained at Tennessee Bible College."

Graduate Michael Hogan, who earned his master's degree through TBC's distance learning program, has been preaching 12 years and currently ministers at Hazel Street Church of Christ in Arkansas. He is married to Anita Hogan and has two children, Brandon and Ashley. His plans now are to pursue the doctor of theology degree at TBC.

Kenneth Mears, also a TBC distance learning student, received a bachelor's degree in religious education. A preacher for 46 years, he now serves at Ivy Bluff Church of Christ in Woodbury, Tenn. He is married to Carol Mears. He said of the distance learning program: "It offers the opportunity to study while continuing full-time work. It also saves on gas."

Campus students Christopher Thomas, Midea Liao and Helen Wang earned TBC's two-year diploma.

New TBC alumni . . . The Tennessee Bible College class of 2008 includes, from left, Kenneth Mears of McMinnville (bachelor's degree in religious education); Helen Wang and Midea Liao, both of Wuhan, China (two-year diploma); Christopher Thomas of Cookeville (two-year diploma); and Michael Hogan of Pine Bluff, Ark. (master's degree in theology). The graduates were honored during commencement exercises on June 13.

Thomas, who is married to Tonya Thomas, is also majoring in psychology and business at Tennessee Tech University. He said the best part of his TBC experience was "the wonderful lifelong friends I've made and a much greater appreciation for God and His works."

Liao and Wang came to TBC in January 2007 from Wuhan, China. Both plan to continue with their Bible education in the fall in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in religious education.

Liao said of her TBC experience so far: "I have a big spiritual family, which helps me grow spiritually in Christ. I have the seeds of the knowledge of God and will sow them over the world and let more people know the good news. I love the brothers and sisters I have here, and I love Tennessee Bible College."

This year's graduation exercise marked the 20th for TBC, the first being in 1982. Since then, a total of 86 have graduated from all programs. TBC now has alumni in 15 states and three foreign countries.

Malcolm Hill said, "My prayer is that the Lord will send us more students, male and female, and that we can train them in such a way as to be a tremendous blessing to the world."

Tennessee Bible College, located at 1616 McCulley Road in Cookeville, was established in 1975 and is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to award the bachelor's degree in religious education, master's and doctorate degrees in theology, and a two-year diploma. Free Bible correspondence courses are also offered. 

More more information, call (931)526-2616, e-mail TBC (see address below) or visit www.tn-biblecollege.edu.