Shelby Shopper Shelby NC
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Thursday, January 19-January 25, 2023 www.shelbyinfo.com 704/484-1047 - shelby shopper & info - Page 15 Gardner-Webb Univer- sity President Dr. William Downs announced that Gardner-Webb alumnus, Dr. Josh Parrott, will serve as the new Vice President and University Chaplain for Christian Life and Service. Selected after a national search by a committee representing the Gardner- Webb community, Parrott will begin on Feb. 15. The Christian life of the University is a priority for Downs, who elevated the Vice President position to cabinet-level in 2019. As a member of the President's cabinet, Parrott will report directly to Downs. "I'm so very pleased to appoint Dr. Parrott to this incredibly important position at our University, and we are eager to welcome him back to his alma mater in February," praised Downs. "Josh knows and loves Gardner-Webb, he under- stands the myriad oppor- tunities and challenges of Christian higher education, and he is fully committed to ministering to students from diverse backgrounds. Everyone who meets Josh will quickly realize that his approach is positive and optimistic, that his energy level is sky high, and that he will be both visible and engaged in advancing GWU's mission." For Parrott, who cur- rently lives in Eutawville, S.C., accepting the position is like "coming home." He noted, "I am proud to have earned my religious stud- ies degree from Gardner- Webb in 2003, and I am grateful for my professors who stirred within me a love for learning. My love for this University and my love for campus ministry began in the Fall of 1999. As a freshman, I was involved in off-campus ministries to the local nursing home and homeless shelter, and it was through these minis- tries that I met Brantley, my wife." Parrott said as he begins his new role at Gardner- Webb, he will work closely with the ministers in the Office of Christian Life and Service to continue provid- ing strong spiritual care for all members of the cam- pus community. "We want to offer a ministry of pres- ence, build caring relation- ships with our faculty, staff, and students, and proclaim the excellencies of God all along the way," he af- firmed. "Our task will be to 'honor Christ the Lord as holy' (1 Peter 4:15), and make sure that in all things 'God is glorified' (1 Peter 5:11). I would like to thank President Downs and each member of the search com- mittee for their time and dili- gence during this process." Parrott received his Master of Divinity in pas- toral ministry with biblical languages notation in 2006 from Southeastern Bap- tist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. He earned his Master of Theol- ogy in biblical studies with a concentration in New Testament in 2007, also from Southeastern. His the- sis was on "The Gospel of Luke, the Kingdom of God, and Those of Low Status in Society: An Analysis of a Special Lukan Motif." In 2020, he graduated from Liberty University School of Divinity in Lynchburg, Va., with a Doctor of Philosophy in theology and apologet- ics with a concentration in biblical studies. His dis- sertation was titled "Posi- tive and Negative Uses of the Exodus Motif in Biblical Prophetic and Apocalyptic Literature." From 2007 to 2020, Par- rott was associate profes- sor of religion at Louisburg College, a private school in North Carolina. He taught Old Testament, New Tes- tament, World Religions, Religion in America, The Bible Yesterday and Today, Philosophy, Public Speak- ing, Reading, and College Success Seminar. He was responsible for promoting biblical and spiritual growth, character development and critical thinking at this faith- based institution. Parrott named new GWU vice president DR. JOSH PARROTT I'm always excited about the times I get to go on an extended hunting or fi shing trip. The expectations are always high and the opportunity to go with a friend makes the miles pass quickly and the laughs come in abundance. I just returned from my fi nal deer hunting trip of the year. Each day of this four-day hunt offered its own challenges, and hours in the tree stand made nights in a warm bed even more comfortable. We fought cold and windy days along with discovering we were too early for the rut. By the last day my mind was drifting toward home. I was tired of fi ghting the elements, tired of battling my bodies urge to stay in bed, and tired of being away from family. I wanted to go home. As I refl ected on my desire to leave, I was reminded of a lesson I had learned earlier in life – one that helped me understand more about death and dying. Over the years I have stood at the bedside of many of the elderly who were sick and dying. Many of them were battling all sorts of illness or disease. Instead of continuing to fi ght, their desire was simple. They wanted to go home. Not to their brick-and-mortar earthly dwelling but to their heavenly home. As a young man I never understood why anyone would trade life for death. As an older man, I do. It was not that these men and women wished to cease to live but it was that they wished to live in a better place; one that promised a new body and where most of their loved ones were waiting. It was sort of like my hunting trip. It was not that I did not love to deer hunt but when it came right down to it what I really loved more than anything was at home. And not only could I be with the ones I loved, but I could also do it without facing the battles I was looking at right now. You may have an elderly loved one who is fi ghting a battle of sickness. You may think they have lost their desire to live. For a Christian that is far from the truth. They have not lost their desire to live, only their desire to do it here. Remember, God always heals. Sometimes He does it here and sometimes He does it in Heaven. By By Gary Miller Gary Miller Aiming Outdoorsmen Toward Christ Make sure to get my new book, full of these articles. Outdoor Truths Volume Four. I also speak at wild-game dinners and men's events for churches and associations. gary@outdoortruths.org GARY MILLER It may be cold outside but the MARKET is HOT! HOT! BUY OR SELL YOUR PROPERTY HERE! Since 1984 503 N. Lafayette Street Shelby, NC 704-484-1047 "Cleveland County's Community Newspaper"