APRIL 2006 - DARRELL HAIRSTON
Darrell Hairston ’91 is a native of Lexington, NC. He entered Roanoke in the
fall of 1987. When he graduated four years later, he moved to Louisville, KY, to
become associate minister with North 35th Street Church of Christ. In 1995 the
church ordained him, and in 1996 he became the senior minister. Much of his
ministry there was with young people in outreach programs. That ministry
concluded in 2001. In 2002, under the auspices of the Eastern North Carolina
Christian Men’s Fellowship, he helped plan Rehoboth Victory Christian Church in
Elizabeth City. Darrell cites Ephesians 3:20 as his favorite text: “Now to Him
who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His
power that is at work within us” (NIV). He loves to preach because he loves
“seeing the power of the Gospel transform broken lives. You have not gone too
far or fallen too low that the Gospel of Jesus Christ cannot reach you.” Darrell
and his wife, the former Caprice Jones ’92, have one child, Destiny.
MARCH 2006 - TIMOTHY A. TURNER
Tim Turner '83 began ministering to youth while he was still in college
(Geneva Park, Chesapeake, VA). From 1984 to 1990 he was associate minister with
Macedonia Christian Church in Williamston, NC; from 1990 to 1994, campus
minister with Campus Christian Fellowship at East Carolina University in
Greenville, NC. He then preached at Old Ford (Washington, NC, 1994-1997) and Mt.
Pleasant (Greenville, 1997-2000). It was during this ministry that Hurricane
Floyd struck Eastern North Carolina with devastating flooding, and the Mt.
Pleasant church ministered to many victims with goods and services. In 2000 Tim
became the lead minister with a new church, Christ's Church (Winterville, NC),
which has experienced great physical and spiritual growth. Tim's favorite quote
is from Jonathan Edwards, the fiery eighteenth century preacher, "I go out to
preach with two propositions in mind. First, every person ought to give his life
to Christ. Second, whether or not anyone else gives Him his life, I will give
Him mine." He says that he loves to preach because "I know that I am limited in
what I can do . . . . I have faults and weaknesses. . . . But when I preach, I
sense that God is using me for something beyond my abilities or strengths.
Something is happening that can only be explained through the Holy Spirit. God
uses His Word to change people's lives. And He has given me the grace to be used
as a part of that process. It is both humbling and fulfilling." He and the
former Christy Wynn have two daughters, Alyssa (12) and Sydney (8).
FEBRUARY 2006 - THOM PERRY
Thom Perry '62 grew up on
campus as a "staff kid." His father, Walker Perry, was one of RBC's
founding teachers. He graduated from the local high school and enrolled
in Roanoke. Thom was ordained in 1962 at Everetts Church of Christ,
Pinetown, NC. His ministries have included Gum Neck, Columbia, NC, while
a student, and churches in six states since then: North Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio, Florida, South Carolina, and Mississippi. Since 1999
he has served West Belhaven Church of Christ, Belhaven, NC, which was
the first congregation he served after graduating (1962-1964). Thom
cites Ephesians 4:11-16 as his favorite text, and has used "speaking the
truth in love" from verse 15 as a motto for his ministry. His favorite
quote is "The church is looking for methods; God is looking for better
men" (author unknown). When asked why he loved being a preacher, he
said, "I love Jesus and delight in making Him known to those who do not
know Him. I love the Word and sharing the Word with others." He and the
former Dana Ketron have two children, Doug and Tara, and six
grandchildren.
JANUARY 2006 - C. LAMAR TILLMAN
Lamar Tillman '56, entered Roanoke
from a little mission church being served by a student (Melvin Styons). In his
freshman year, he began a ministry with Kilkenny (Fairfield, NC) and preached
for two other churches before graduating. He then preached for Jarvisburg
(Harbinger, NC), where he met and married Susan Sawyer. He served churches in
Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, and West Virginia, returning to the King, NC, area in
1977. He was serving Capella Church of Christ in King (1990-2005) when he
retired from full-time ministry last year. During his years of service, Lamar
also took additional schooling at Johnson Bible College and worked three years
with Revival Fires as an evangelist and as East Coast Director. When asked why
he loves being a preacher, he said, "I love the feel that the Spirit empowers me
with when God's people unite in prayer behind the evangelist. I feel what He
promised His people, the power of the Spirit and Word working through me." He
and Sue have three children, Jennifer (deceased), Curtis ex'82, and Tommy.
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