April 9, 2025
East Texas Baptist University held a special 10th Anniversary Chapel on Monday, April 7, to celebrate a decade of faithful leadership by Dr. J. Blair Blackburn as President of ETBU. The service, which took place in Rogers Spiritual Life Center’s Baker Chapel, brought together students, alumni, faculty, and staff for a morning of worship and reflection on God’s faithfulness to the University during Dr. Blackburn’s administration.
The chapel service featured worship, corporate prayer, and reflections on Dr. Blackburn’s impact on the University. Worship was led by David Berryhill (’94), Music Minister at First Baptist Church Kilgore. He was joined by ETBU music faculty Dr. Chris Smith, Associate Professor of Worship Leadership, and Jonathan Kaan (’04), Assistant Professor of Music, along with alumni and current ETBU Worship leadership, including Zach Ervin (’17, ’18), Abby Jones (’23), Christian McNeal (’19), Shelby McNeal (’19), Abby Taylor, and Carleigh Walker (’22).
Dr. Blackburn’s former pastor and past visiting professor of Christian studies, Pastor Sam Dennis, delivered a special message, encouraging the ETBU community to remain steadfast in their faith and service, citing the “Last Words of David” from 2 Samuel 23. Kendall Powell, Executive Assistant to the President and Co-Coordinator for Women’s Ministry, offered a prayer of blessing over the University, reaffirming the mission and vision that have guided ETBU through the years.
“We are people of the Kingdom of God, called to lead not by our own strength, but through His anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us,” Dennis said. “Friday night at the Gala, Dr. Blackburn shared, ‘I came here to work for God, but I learned that God could do His work through me.’ And friends, that’s the essence of Christian leadership. It’s not about us bringing our own strength to God’s work. It’s about surrendering so fully that He does His work through us. That kind of leadership transforms institutions, lives, and futures.”
Dr. Blackburn’s decade of leadership has been marked by a commitment to ETBU’s Christ-centered mission, academic growth, and spiritual development. The chapel service served as both a reflection on the past decade and an encouragement for the future.
“Today at Chapel, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Dr. Blackburn’s presidential leadership at ETBU,” Dean of Spiritual Life David Griffin said. “It was so special to see the Chapel program feature a number of alumni worship leaders and Pastor Sam Dennis, a great friend of the Blackburn family and of ETBU. Pastor Dennis’ message focused on God’s faithfulness was a great reminder of how God raises up leaders to be used by God for His purposes. God has been faithful to ETBU by empowering and guiding Dr. Blackburn as he serves as our President.”