President Lee Royce Salutes Mississippi Baptist Convention

President Lee Royce Speaks at 2014 Mississippi Baptist Convention

Leaders of Mississippi College, William Carey University and Blue Mountain College are singing out of the same hymnal.

They all deeply appreciate the generous support their institutions receive from the Mississippi Baptist Convention each year.

At the group’s 2014 meeting in Jackson, MC President Lee Royce on Wednesday expressed his thanks to the convention for their long-time support of the three thriving Baptist institutions.

Each year, the Mississippi Baptist Convention provides about $7 million in its Cooperative Program to enhance the mission of MC, William Carey, and Blue Mountain.

With more than two dozen Mississippi College students joining him for his address at First Baptist Church Jackson, Royce said he’s amazed by the strong cooperation of leaders at the three schools.

Blue Mountain President Barbara McMillan and William Carey President Tommy King were among those in the audience of hundreds of guests applauding Dr. Royce’s remarks as well as a video showcasing Mississippi College.

Starting his 13^th year as the Christian university’s president, Royce has seen enrollment climb to more than 5,050 students this fall. “U.S. News& World Report” in September rated Mississippi College No. 4 among the South’s regional universities in its “Great Schools, Great Prices” category. MC gained a spot in 8^th place in a survey of America’s 50 most affordable Christian colleges by Christian Universities Online.

Since becoming president in 2002, Dr. Royce told convention-goers he’s delighted that more than 800 MC students made decisions to become followers of Jesus Christ.

Mississippi College students were pleased to be part of the state’s largest gathering of Mississippi Baptists.

“It was exciting to see the people who have supported us,” said MC freshman Emma Reeves, 18, of Birmingham, Alabama.

Funds from the Mississippi Baptist Convention help pay for student scholarships, mission trips and other needs at the Baptist colleges located in three different regions of the state.

Moments before exiting First Baptist Church, Mississippi College freshman Lucas Scarborough, 18, recalled he was attending orientation at Louisiana Tech in August with his classes fully paid for. But something just didn’t feel right about the West Monroe, Louisiana resident being a student on the Ruston campus. “I didn’t feel called to go there.”

After praying about it, Lucas withdrew from Louisiana Tech and left the Bayou State to enroll as a Christian Studies major this fall at Mississippi College. “God opened up doors.”

Several MC leaders attended the convention’s closing day of business in Mississippi’s capital city on October 29. They included Eric Pratt, vice president for Christian Development, Wayne VanHorn, dean of the School of Christian Studies & the Arts, and Steve Stanford, vice president for administration and government relations on the Clinton campus.

In brief remarks to convention messengers, VanHorn offered his appreciation to Mississippi church leaders for “sending us your young people. We thank you.”