Commentary: I Was Right About Rudy! – by Don Kirkland

It’s been more than 40 years since my career path in journalism wound its way over to Anderson College from Furman University, where I got my start in Baptist communications. I had no idea where the road would eventually take me, but I knew that God was ordering my steps and all would be well.

Kirkland

At Anderson, I first met and became friends with Rudy Gray. A former star athlete at Crescent High School in Iva, he came to Anderson College with his sights set on a career in sports journalism. He was editor of the college’s newspaper, The Yodler, whose office was across the hall from my office on the third floor of what now is the Merritt Administration Building.

Rudy graduated from Anderson in 1973 and in 1974 I came to Greenville to join the editorial staff of The Baptist Courier.

Rudy enrolled at the University of South Carolina, still pursuing a career in journalism. And he was good at it. Very good.

But as he pursued his chosen career, God pursued him and caught him. He changed the course of Rudy’s life, starting with his course of study. From journalism, he switched to Bible and transferred to then Central Wesleyan College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in biblical studies in 1976.

It was during that period that Unity Baptist Church in Starr was organized (I think in 1975) and was meeting in a former residence that had been modified somewhat to accommodate a congregation. And the church had called Rudy Gray to his first pastorate as Unity’s first pastor. I attended the installation service for Rudy, thankful for the way God had been at work in the life of this former journalist (he worked part-time at AC for the daily Anderson Independent as well as for the college paper) to move him into ministry.

Rudy’s record of service to the South Carolina Baptist Convention coupled with a solid grounding in journalism make him an excellent choice for editor of The Baptist Courier.

Rudy knows the convention from the inside out and is known and respected by South Carolina Baptists statewide. One thing for sure: The new editor will need no introduction to South Carolina Baptists.

The new editor will hit the ground running (and he will need to) to give guidance to, and gain support for, the Courier, which is seeking continued success in its ministry with dwindling financial funding through the Cooperative Program.

Rudy will bring to the position the intellect, energy and experience necessary for a successful editorship.

Forty years ago, I just knew that Rudy Gray had a bright future in journalism. And I was right.