Trustees at New Orleans Baptist Seminary added an Islamic studies instructor and welcomed two presidential appointments during an Oct. 10 meeting.
Bayne Pounds
Jerry Pounds
Page BrooksAfter the election of Page Brooks as instructor in theology and Islamic studies, NOBTS president Chuck Kelley announced the appointment of Jerry Pounds as professor of discipleship and assistant to the president, and Bayne Pounds as assistant professor of Christian education and director of institutional reports. All three are former staff members of First Baptist Church, Spartanburg.
Brooks is in the dissertation phase of his Ph.D. studies at NOBTS. He was serving as an instructor during the fall semester under presidential appointment. Brooks also is the seminary’s director of student enlistment.
“With Islam emerging as one of the major worldviews confronting Christianity, we see great value in adding Page Brooks as our second faculty member with expertise in Islamic studies,” NOBTS provost Steve Lemke said. “He and Michael Edens will develop a strong Islamic studies program. In regard to teaching theology, Page brings an unusually rich blend of experience as a pastor, a large church staff member, a military chaplain, a college teacher and a seminary teacher to the theology classroom.”
Brooks served as associate minister of adult ministries at First Baptist Church in Spartanburg before joining the faculty. From 2001-2005, he was senior pastor of Rio Vista Baptist Church in metro New Orleans. He also is a chaplain in the Army National Guard and Reserve. His teaching experience includes service as an adjunct faculty member at NOBTS from 2003-2007 and an instructor in Christian studies at North Greenville University from 2005-2007.
Brooks holds master of divinity and master of theology degrees from NOBTS and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Auburn University in Alabama. In addition to his current Ph.D. studies, Brooks is pursuing a master of theology degree in missiology and religious studies from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa.
Jerry Pounds returns to the NOBTS faculty after five years as president of Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Ga. He taught Christian education at NOBTS from 1988-1994 and again from 1997-2002. Pounds served as vice president for development at the seminary from 2000-2002.
He holds a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, a master of religious education degree from NOBTS and a bachelor of arts degree from Samford University in Alabama.
In addition to his teaching background, Pounds served as associate pastor of administration at First Baptist Church in Spartanburg from 1994-1997. He has served as an interim pastor at five churches and has led youth groups at six churches.
Pounds has authored or co-authored 12 books, including “Discover the Winning Edge.” He also served as the editor in the youth section of the discipleship training department at the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources) from 1982-1985.
Bayne Pounds’ teaching experience, meanwhile, includes service on the NOBTS faculty from 2000-2002, six years of adjunct teaching at NOBTS and two years as an adjunct professor at Carson-Newman College in Tennessee. She also has been a guest faculty member at the Women’s Ministry Institute at Southern Baptist Seminary. During her time on the NOBTS faculty, Pounds served as co-director of the women’s ministry program.
From 1994-1997, Pounds served as the director of single adult ministries at First Baptist Church in Spartanburg. She is also a frequent conference leader in areas of youth discipleship and ministerial liability.
Pounds holds doctor of philosophy and master of religious education degrees from NOBTS and a bachelor of arts from Samford.
“It is rare to find new faculty members who have the remarkable experience in Christian education that Jerry and Bayne Pounds bring to our faculty,” Lemke said of the couple. “We are excited about the contribution they are going to make in the lives of our students.”