By Emma Ainsworth
Correspondent
As a part of Blue Mountain Christian University’s 150th anniversary, the University held a two-day celebration line up of special guests, concerts, presentations, and alumni activities.
Jim Futral and Shawn Parker led the sesquicentennial Founders Day Chapel on Friday, Nov. 3. Futral, Mississippi Baptist Convention’s Executive Director-Treasurer Emeritus and Parker, the current Executive Director-Treasurer, shared reflections of BMCU’s past and expectations of BMCU’s future.
Mike Harland, former director of LifeWay Worship Resources and a Dove Award-winning songwriter, composed a choral piece entitled “I Lift My Eyes” to honor the University’s 150 years. It was performed in public for the first time by the University’s Chorale.
The event included a special unveiling of a sculpture on the University’s Hearn Plaza depicting Jesus calming the storm. The sculpture, appropriately named “Be Not Afraid” by artist Mark Hopkins, is a gift to the University.
Barbara McMillin, the University’s president, stated, “We were deeply honored by the presence of so many guests and grateful for the opportunity to celebrate together God’s faithfulness to BMCU for 150 years.”
The Palmer-Donnell House Guild sponsored a concert by Murphy Ridge, a popular bluegrass and gospel band based out of Tennessee, on the lawn of Palmer Donnell House.
Saturday festivities included a scholarship brunch, presentation of BMCU’s homecoming court and several basketball and baseball games.
As a part of BMCU’s continued 150th celebration, a Women’s Conference will be held April 20, 2024 with special guest Karen Kingsbury, a #1 New York Times bestselling author with more than 25 million books in print. Several of Kingsbury’s books have been the subject of Hallmark movies with more projects in development.
Rita Woods Sweatt will also be a guest soloist and speaker at the conference. Sweatt and her husband Lloyd live in Amory where he serves as pastor at the Meadowood Baptist Church.
Ainsworth is the director of the Office of Public Relations at Blue Mountain Christian University. She can be contacted at eainsworth@bmc.edu.
