Gray Allison Retires from Mid-America

                                                  Vol. X, No. 6, June/July 1997

Before a tearful chapel audience Dr. B. Gray Allison announced his retirement as President of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Germantown, TN, effective June 30, 1997. Dr. Allison was the founding President of Mid-America in 1972 and served in that capacity for twenty-five years. In his resignation to the trustees, Dr. Allison wrote. "I am sad because for the past twenty-six years I have devoted my life and my energy to the school. It has been an incredible journey. God has allowed me to be a part of the lives of some of His finest young people. With wonder I have seen the graduates fan out across this country and around the world to serve our King. I have rejoiced in the victories that they have won for Him. Now I will be on the sidelines. I have real joy because I know that this is the will of God for me at this time.”

Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary has grown from 28 students in 1972 to cumulative enrollment of 440 students in 1997, with 1,378 graduates serving in 46 states and 51 foreign countries. Dr. Allison led Mid-America to have a threefold emphasis: the Bible, evangelism, and missions. Every professor signs a statement of faith each year affirming verbal plenary inspiration of the Scripture. Every professor is an active witness for the Lord. Students are required to do practical mission assignments in order to receive credit for classes. In the past year, Mid-America students witnessed to 13,721 people and saw 3,454 professions of faith. Since 1972, Mid-America students have led 111,138 people to faith in Jesus Christ.

Dr. Allison plans to continue to do what he has always done, “Try to win people to Christ and preach the Word. I also will be available to serve the new president in any way that he may desire. I do want to have time with my family. I have seven grandchildren who are growing up very rapidly! It will be great to play some golf."

The trustees of MABTS have elected Dr. Michael R. Spradlin as the second president of the Seminary. Dr. Spradlin holds as earned accredited degrees the Bachelor of Arts from Ouachita Baptist University, and the Master of Divinity and the Doctor of Philosophy from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Spradlin has been the Director of the Northeast Branch of MABTS in Schenectady, New York for the past three years. He occupied the office of President beginning July 1.

Dr. Spradlin has asked Dr. Allison to teach evangelism at the Seminary indefinitely. Dr. Allison has accepted the invitation and will teach Personal Evangelism and Church Evangelism in the Fall of 1997. [Mid-America release.]