By Heather Campbell, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – “God will bless us beyond measure,” said the Rev. Darren Gaddis at chapel/convocation program Wednesday, Jan. 31 at Campbellsville Baptist Church.
Gaddis, president of Kentucky Baptist Convention and pastor of Central Baptist Church in Corbin, Ky., spoke about the purpose and direction that God has for every person.
During his address to the students, faculty and staff of Campbellsville University, Gaddis remembered the time while he was in Poland during the September 11th attacks on America.
“It was different to be away from home and to come back and hear everyone saying ‘God bless America,’” said Gaddis. He believed that so few people really experience God’s blessings because we are not like Abram who lifted up his eyes and received the blessings, said Gaddis.
“We can experience God’s blessings but He wants to know you intimately,” he said.
Gaddis gave four key points to guide us when receiving God’s blessings.
“Do not seek God’s blessing selfishly, look beyond what is to what could be, seek a God-given blessing and if God gives you a vision, lay claim to it,” he said.
He discussed the ways in which God has blessed him since he put away his previous desires of being in the film industry and sought after God’s will.
“God stands ready to bless you. Do you see it?” he challenged.
Gaddis is a 1993 graduate of the University of West Florida in Pensacola with a bachelor of arts degree in communications. He received his master’s of divinity in Biblical languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1997.
Previously, he has served as pastor of Liberty Point Baptist Church in Cadiz, Ky.
Since 2002, he has been pastor at Central Baptist Church and has served as director of evangelism and moderator for the South-Union Mt. Zion Association, chairman of the Celebration of the Cumberlands Crusade and as a trustee for the Laurel Lake Baptist Campground.
He has also been president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention since 2006 and was second vice-president of the KBC. Other involvements include KBC Committee on Nominations from 2003-2004, the Kentucky Ethics League Trustee Board since 2004, the KBC Committee on Constitution and Bylaws since 2005, the High Impact Advisory Team since 2005 and the University of the Cumberlands Church Advisory Board since 2006.
Gaddis, a native of Owensboro, Ky., is married to Jennifer Burnette of Paducah, Ky.
He and his wife have two children, Leah Gayle and Ethan Kendrick, and are expecting their third child, Meredith Leigh, in April 2007.
Campbellsville University, now celebrating her Centennial year, is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,310 students who represent 100 Kentucky counties, 32 states and 28 foreign nations. Listed in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” 14 consecutive years as one of the leading Southern master’s colleges and universities, Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his eighth year as president.