Posted by Mary Wimberley on 2009-02-27

Samford University's Beeson Divinity School has honored Bessemer minister Reginald Calvert as its 2009 Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Alumnus of the Year.

Calvert, pastor of New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Bessemer, received his M.Div. degree at Beeson in 2005. While a student, he was selected by the Beeson faculty as the school's 2005 outstanding student preacher.

He has served the Bessemer church for almost 10 years with his wife, Karla, who is an integral part of his ministry.

Calvert is assistant dean and a certified instructor in the Mount Pilgrim District Congress of Christian Education, and an instructor in the Certificate of Progress program of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A.

He has taught and preached at conferences sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention and the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A. He has served as a chaplain at Baptist Medical Center Princeton and has participated in various mission efforts.

Calvert received the M.Div. Alumnus of the Year plaque from Beeson dean Dr. Timothy George on Feb. 24 during the school's William E. Conger, Jr., Lectures on Biblical Preaching.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.