BOLIVAR, MO – Southwest Baptist University dedicated a classroom in the Jim Mellers Center in honor of John and Ruth Marshall Tuesday, April 22, on the main campus in Bolivar.
Dr. C. Pat Taylor, president of SBU, welcomed all to the dedication ceremony describing John and Ruth as heroes of the University. Dr. Rodney Reeves, dean of Courts Redford College of Theology and Ministry; Dr. Stan Norman, vice president for university relations, and John Edie, SBU donor and executive pastor of Second Baptist Church Springfield expressed their appreciation for John and Ruth’s character and commitment to Christ in their ministry. With many people present who have been touched by John and Ruth’s ministry, Lydia Powers, senior and intercultural studies major, spoke about the many seeds John and Ruth have sown and Powers said this dedication was evidence of the lives they have touched.
According to University officials, John and Ruth were completely surprised by the dedication and expressed their tremendous gratitude all while bringing the focus back to Christ.
John graduated from Central High School in Cape Girardeau, Mo. in 1970 and earned a degree in mathematics from Southeast Missouri State University. Called to ministry at 15, John entered seminary at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and received his masters of divinity within two years. In 1975, one year later, he completed his doctorate.
John has pastored several churches throughout Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi: Airport Baptist Church of Grenada, Miss.; Gosnell Baptist Church of Blytheville, Ark.; First Baptist Church of St. John, Mo.; Garden Baptist in Bridgeton, Mo., and East Side Baptist Church in Fort Smith, Ark. Under John’s leadership, many of these churches have flourished. Gosnell Baptist Church and First Baptist Church were some of the fastest growing churches of their regions, and East Side Baptist Church was among Arkansas’ top 25 churches in baptism. John came to Second Baptist church in Springfield, Mo. In 1995 and the church is one of Missouri’s leading churches in baptisms and sends out hundreds of people on mission trips each year.
John and Ruth have been married since 1971. They have two children and have four grandchildren.
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