New TBC students

by Amy Davis

COOKEVILLE -- Todd Gasaway of Byrdstown and Richard Copeland of Cookeville were recently accepted by Tennessee Bible College to begin course work for the 2006 fall quarter. John Ward of Livingston, previously a part-time student, has now assumed full-time status at the college.

Gasaway and Ward are working toward a bachelor's degree in religious education. Copeland is pursuing a two-year preacher's certificate.

Gasaway, son of Emery and Helen Gasaway of Laporte, Ind., is a 1987 graduate of Elston High School in Indiana. He is a member of Byrdstown First Christian Church.

He said he wanted to attend TBC because of his interest in youth ministry.

"I had a lot to learn, so I figured this was a good place to start," he said.

Copeland is the son of Paula Copeland of Cookeville. He graduated from Cookeville High School in 1994 and is a member of Sycamore Church of Christ in Cookeville.

Copeland said he is pursuing studies at TBC because "I wanted to learn about the Bible, and I want to be a full-time preacher."

It's always been a dream of his, he said.

Ward, son of Jack and Joyce Ward of Livingston, is a 2005 graduate of Livingston Academy. He is a member of West End Church of Christ in Livingston.

He chose to attend TBC because "I just wanted to learn more about the Bible and felt that I could do that better here."

His future plans?

"Eventually, I'd like to be a preacher or just learn how I can better help in any way in the church," he said.

Tennessee Bible College also has four new students in its distance learning program. They are Jeremy Hassler of Crossville; David Boyd of Kershaw, S.C.; Barry Felluer of Columbus, Ohio; and Thomas Harrelson of Mcleansville, N.C.

Tennessee Bible College, which was established in 1975, is located at 1616 McCulley Road in Cookeville. The college is dedicated to training Bible preachers and Christian workers in Bible doctrine, apologetics and evangelism and is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to confer a bachelor's degree in religious education; master's and doctorate degrees in theology; and a two-year preacher's certificate. Scholarships are available to those who qualify. For more information, call (931) 526-2616.