Alumni News

From Russell Payne, class of 1984:

God is blessing us here at Coulson. We have voted to build a new sanctuary which will seat about 440. I also would like to share that a few years ago I was blessed to take some classes at Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN. In the so many of the class studies on contemporary theology I was always ahead of the teacher because of what Dr. Anderson had taught at Graham. He and Dr. Sartell had a profound influence on my life and I shall forever be thankful to God for that.

The Board of Directors of Hebron Colony Ministries, a Christian ministry to suffering drug and alcohol addicts, will be meeting on February 9, 2001. The docket will include the selection of an opening date for the new women's ministry in Santee, South Carolina. This new ministry will house more than twice the number of women previously housed at Grace Home in Boone. The men's ministry at Boone North Carolina has also recently been increased by 30%. We might expect a late Winter or early Spring 2001 date to be set for the opening at Santee. Selection for a director for the Santee women's project is proceeding at the present time.

Sherry and I are still in Naples, Florida. We have been here since 1986. I served as the Assistant Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church from 1986-1993. In February of 1993 Covenant Pres, Marco Island Pres, and our presbytery started a church plant and I became the church planter of Cypress Wood Presbyterian Church. Our church meet in an elementary school for 6 1/2 years. Then in July 1999 we moved into our first sanctuary. The Lord has been faithful to us. There is no greater joy than to see unchurched people come to Christ and grow in him. Sherry has been given a ministry which she dearly loves. She served as the WIC President of our Presbytery (Southwest Florida), and now she is on the Women's Advisory Committee for the Denomination. She has recently begun to meet with the churches in our state to help them establish women's ministries in their churches.

We have three children. Jay is 14. He loves piano and now competes in the local music club. Abby is 10. She is a natural artist and enjoys singing in the Philharmonic choral. Nathan is 8 and is the athlete of the family. Abby and Nathan are being home schooled by mom. When we came to Florida, we did not expect to be here so long. We miss the mountains and the people of Virginia and Tennessee. But the Lord has called us here. He has given us a wonderful church family and this is now home. I look forward to reading news from others.

King Counts is a 1978 graduate of Graham Bible College. King completed his M.Div., M.A. (Family Therapy), and D.Min. degrees at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He also did graduate studies at the University of Southern Mississippi and completed additional graduate training for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. King is the founding pastor of the Mountain View Presbyterian Church (PCA) and an adjunct professor of Bible and Philosophy for Covenant College's Quest Program in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is married to the former Angela Clark (Class of 1979) and has three children.

Angela Clark Counts is a 1979 graduate of Graham Bible College. She married Dr. King Counts (class of 78) a PCA pastor and part-time Bible professor, and has three children. Angela completed her B.S. degree in Organizational Management at Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Georgia and serves as an academic advisor for Covenant College's Quest program.

News from Graham Bible College Alumni