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The ADVANCE, October 26, 2022/Page 12A
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Photo by Makaylee Randolph
RELAXED ATMOSPHERE — Former UGA Head Coach Mark Richt (far left), Kevin "Chap
py" Hines (center), and Brewton-Parker College President Dr. Steve Echols (far right)
sat together onstage for a relaxed and inspirational address to attendees of the BPC
President's Gala on Thursday, October 20.
Richt Offers Inspiration
At BPC President’s Gala
By Makaylee Randolph
Staff Writer
mrandolphadvance@gmail.com
Former University of
Georgia Head Coach Mark
Richt and his brother-in-
law Kevin “Chappy” Hines
inspired attendees at the
Brewton-Parker College
(BPC) President’s Gala on
October 20 with stories of
the past and perspectives
on the future.
Richt began his por
tion of the event with ac
counts of his youthful years
including college football
recruiting as a quarterback,
his persistent attempts to
become an athlete with
in the National Football
League (NFL), and the
transition from player to
coach.
He also shared with
the audience that he be
came a Christian after
tragedy struck while he
was coaching as an assis
tant quarterbacks coach at
Florida State University.
He recalled an incident in
which a player, offensive
tackle Pablo Lopez, was
shot and killed at a party.
“The team and coaches
were all in the locker room
the next day after Pablo
was killed. [Coach Bobby
Bowden] started speak
ing about God and eter
nity, and invited the guys to
come into his office if they
had questions or needed to
talk about things. I knew he
meant the players, but soon
after, I went into his office,
prayed, and became a be
liever in Christ,” he remi
nisced.
Hines added to this
story, sharing how Richt’s
experience with this sort
of tragedy had led him to
be able to speak the same
message of faith and hope
to various schools facing
similar situations. He refer
enced the Jefferson County
football team, most re
cently, that had one of its
players murdered earlier
this month. “They called
and asked if Mark would
be willing to talk to the
coaches and team because
he had been through the
exact same thing,” Hines
emphasized.
Richt continued to
share about his faith and
how the situations he faced
had affected his faith. He
discussed his health strug
gles, such as the heart at
tack he suffered in 2019
and his 2021 Parkinson’s
Disease diagnosis, and
shared his perspective on
hope and mortality. When
reflecting on his experience
during the heart attack,
Richt informed the crowd
of his thoughts and feel
ings as he felt he was dying.
“All of a sudden, everything
went black,” he said as he
described the scene of the
ambulance and operating
room. “I was thinking ‘this
is it,’ but guess what I felt? I
felt peace. I remember say
ing ‘Here I come, Jesus.’”
According to Richt, he
is aware that his Parkinson’s
Disease will truly com
plicate his life, eventually
leaving him feeling trapped
in his body. Yet, Richt told
the crowd of BPC support
ers and staff that he was
not wishing or praying for
healing or for that illness
to leave him. “If my hope is
based on temporal things,
if it is based on what is go
ing to happen to me on
this earth...I cannot face
this life. But knowing that
when I go to Heaven, I will
be filled with God’s glory
and have a new heavenly
body... that’s what I put my
hope in.”
Richt ended his sec
tion of the event with com
ments on the Brewton-
Parker College mission
statement, which reads,
“As a comprehensive Geor
gia Baptist institution,
Brewton-Parker College
provides liberal arts and
professional programs in
a learning community of
shared Christian values.
Through the application of
biblical truth in scholarship
and a co-curricular focus
on character, servant lead
ership, and cultural engage
ment, the college strives to
provide a transformational
experience that equips the
whole student for lifelong
learning and service in
Christ.”
Richt said, “I know
you all are trying to equip
people to become basi
cally evangelists of the gos
pel through whatever area
they choose to study. You
are trying to teach people
that when you love Jesus,
there’s a difference in how
you act. There are eternal
things you can invest in on
this earth, and this college
is truly one.”
The night also featured
a testimony on the Col
lege’s effect on the lives of
alumni, a performance by
the college’s ensemble, and
a few words from Presi
dent Dr. Steve Echols, who
thanked all attendees for
support the institution.
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH, AUGUST — Toombs Central Elementary School has named
their Student of the Month award recipients for August, These students have stood out
to teachers and staff for their dedication and hard work. (L to R): Front Row: Everest
Anderson (Kindergarten), Oaklee Calhoun (1st grade), Gunner Rountree (2nd grade)
Caroline Braddy (Pre-K), Back Row:Yareli Giron (5th grade), Hannah Aguado (3rd
grade), Charlotte Garrett (4th grade).
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH, SEPTEMBER — Toombs Central Elementary School has
named their Student of the Month award recipients for September. These students
have stood out to teach
ers and staff for their dedi
cation and hard work. (L
to R): Front Row: Franco
Tinoco (Pre-K), Summer
Mclendon (Kindergar
ten), Ashelynn Love (5th
grade), Back Row: Remy
Rubio (1st grade), Kevin
Salazar (4th grade), Walk
er Nabb (3rd grade). Not
pictured: Emilee Ascenc-
io (2nd grade).
This week on
Vv
2022 INDIAN AUCTION
3
VIDALIA HIGH
SCHOOL
November 2022
Doors Open 5PM
Silent Auction 5pm-6:45pm
Live Auction 7pm
Tickets $io
Available at Vidalia High School &
Heather Mead d Georgia First Bank
All Proceeds Support Vidalia Athletics
' . -
MOWER FINANCING
MINIMUM FINANCE AMOUNT $3,500
Vidalia Small Engine Senvice
Straight Talk
with
Wilson Johnson
Guests:
Wendell Dixon
Bobby Dixon, Jr.
Live
and
Local
*
s ^ A free community event
^ for the kids. Candy and
toys will be given to all
^ ' who attend.
Saturday, October 29
5-7 p.m.
Higgston City Park,
Higgston, GA
Kids of all ages
are invited to attend