The Courts Redford
College of
Theology and Ministry
Facilities
The Jim Mellers Center was completely renovated during the 2006-2007 academic year. The substantial redesign of the building's interior has enhanced and upgraded this facility in its ongoing academic function. The Jim Mellers Center has housed the faculty offices and classrooms for The Courts Redford College of Theology & Ministry on the Bolivar Campus of Southwest Baptist University since the 1998-1999 school year. Before that Redford offices and classrooms were in the Mabee Chapel.
Dr. Jack Stanton, Associate Professor of Evangelism and Director of SBU's Institute of Evangelism from 1975 until his retirement in 1998 was instrumental in working toward the establishment of a conference and media resource center designed with facilities for hosting all sorts of special conferences on campus. The Jim Mellers Evangelism and Conference Center was completed in 1984-85. It housed the offices, resources and facilities of the Institute of Evangelism and included several spaces that could also be accomodated for regular academic purposes.
Jim Mellers Center was named in honor of a major benefactor, Jim Mellers, a businessman from Springfield, Missouri. A bronze plaque (see below) has hung in the foyer as a reminder of Jim Mellers' evangelistic vision. The handsome plaque now adorns the front of the building to the left of the main entrance.
A Photographic Record of the Renovation
- Phase I: Evacuation
- Phase II: Storing the Furnishings
- Phase III: Back to Square One
- Phase IV: Starting Over
- Phase V: Glimpses of the Future
- Phase VI: The New Jim Mellers Center Emerges
- Final Phase: Moving back in
- Home Again