TOUCHING THE WORLD FROM VIDALIA, GEORGIA
rev. buc
Touching...
the world from Vidalia,
Georgia
BY TAYLOR HEREFORD BPC DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
PHOTOS BY ASHLEY BYRD (’10) BPC MARKETING STAFF
With his Bible clutched firmly to his side, Rev. athletics. It was his time in BSU and MA that
Bucky Kennedy (AA ’85) eagerly took the stand out as favorite memories.
podium to bring the gospel to hundreds of
Brewton-Parker College students at a recent “I was part of a three-person team from BSU
fall semester chapel service. The senior pastor that would travel the state of Georgia over the
of the First Baptist Church of Vidalia fondly summer promoting BPC. Jennifer Brooks and
recalled sitting in a similar chapel service 23 Kevin Wallace would sing and I would preach,”
years earlier, a brand new Christian, soaking up he said. “One summer we traveled 8,500 miles
the Word of God. all over the state with this program. It was
amazing.”
“I remember sitting in the (Gates Hall)
Auditorium – right above Dr. Smith’s current As part of MA, Kennedy attended his first-ever
office – hearing preachers like Ike Reighard Evangelism Conference with 12 other MA
and Nelson Price bring the Word,” Kennedy told students. He had only been a Christian for
the students. “That is definitely one of my about a year, but he remembers the experience
favorite memories as a BPC student.” as opening his eyes to a deeper appreciation
for ministry.
Today, as one of the leading pastors in the
Georgia Baptist Convention (GBC), Kennedy’s “We went to Mable White Baptist Church in
leadership of FBC Vidalia has resulted in Macon and got to hear Bailey Smith, E.V. Hill,
significant church growth since he accepted the and Sam Cathey preach during that
pastorate in 2003. His conversational, conference,” he said. “I had never been
sometimes humorous yet firm delivery of the exposed to something like that before and
Word each Sunday reaches a wide and very remembered thinking that all church needed to
diverse audience – those who attend regular be like that.”
church services, listen through live radio, or
download his sermons via the church website. After graduating from BPC, which was only a
two-year school at the time, Kennedy returned
No matter where or how God may be presently to Georgia Southern where he earned a
using Kennedy and his congregation to spread bachelor’s degree in commercial recreation.
the Good News of Jesus Christ, Kennedy is From there he attended Mid-America Baptist
quick to point to his time at BPC as a key Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tenn., and
foundational component to the success of his was on the recreation staff at Bellevue Baptist
overall ministry. But to know how Kennedy Church in Memphis, led by the late Rev. Adrian
became a BPC student is to understand the Rogers. After attending Mid-America, Kennedy
love of an earthly father to his son. traveled for several years as an evangelist
before working with youth at churches in
“My mom and dad met at BPC while they were Arkansas and Georgia.
students,” Kennedy recalls. “So when I had
gotten into some trouble as a student at Kennedy’s first pastorate came in 1994 when
Georgia Southern, my dad gave me a choice. he accepted the call to Riverbend Baptist
He said I could either attend BPC or enlist in the Church in Gainesville, Ga. After shepherding
Army. I chose BPC.” the Riverbend congregation for nine years, he
accepted God’s call on his life to become the
As a new student and believer in Christ – he pastor of FBC Vidalia.
was saved November 28, 1983 – Kennedy
quickly immersed himself into BPC’s college As his ministry approaches its 25th anniversary,
life. He was active in the college’s Baptist Kennedy acknowledges the assistance and
Student Union (BSU), Concert Choir, the encouragement of several people who have
Ministerial Association (MA) and intramural played significant roles in helping him to mature
6 THE LAMP FALL 2007
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