2008 Woodie Awards
Southern Seminary grad Mathis finds new home at NGU
Issue date: 10/6/05 Section: News
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Staff Writer
Huge University of Kentucky basketball fan, graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and patron of the romantic comedy, Dr. Donny Mathis is the newest addition to the Christian Studies department.
"This past spring following my graduation from seminary, I was really unsure of where God was leading me to serve his kingdom," said Mathis.
This summer, Mathis received a call from Dr. Walter Johnson, Christian studies division chair, about the possibility of serving at North Greenville. Within a week, he interviewed with Johnson, Dr. Anita Bowles, executive director for academics, and Dr. Jimmy Epting, president. "I had a fantastic visit and was so excited to hear Dr. Epting's vision for the school," said Mathis.
When Johnson offered him the opportunity to teach in the Christian Studies Department, he "jumped at the chance" to serve at North Greenville.
Mathis grew up as a pastor's son in Corbin, Ky. He graduated from Corbin High School, where he was Student Council president, held a starting position on the baseball team and was class valedictorian.
Mathis did his undergraduate work at the University of Kentucky where he majored in mechanical engineering. He graduated in May 1994. After completing his undergraduate degree, he began his studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Divinity in May 1997 and a Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament language, literature and theology in December 2004.
While he was completing his doctoral dissertation, he taught Hermeneutics and New Testament classes at Boyce College and Elementary Greek at Southern.
Mathis recently married the former Amber Reynolds, an Alabama native on Sept. 24. Mathis first met Amber when she was a student in his Elementary Greek class at Southern. Mathis says he was impressed by the fact that Amber knew all about SEC football, but was concerned that she was a New York Yankee fan since he is a die-hard Red Sox fan.
The couple moved here from Louisville, Kentucky, where Amber Mathis worked as the secretary for the senior vice-president for institutional relations and was a student in the School of Theology.
This semester, Mathis is teaching a book study of Acts, three New Testament Survey courses and a class of Intermediate Greek.
"I really enjoy each one of these courses and am very excited about teaching a book study in Galatians next spring," said Mathis.
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