The Omnibus

Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: In the Spotlight

Media Credit: Nicole Heitmann Dr. Dave Bennett, associate professor of Evangelism, has served as a faculty member at Southwest Baptist University for seven years and will retire after this semester.

Dr. Dave Bennett, associate professor of Evangelism has served at Southwest Baptist University for seven years and will retire at the close of this semester.
Bennett graduated from Southwest Baptist College in 1958 and graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1963.
"When I was a college student, I pastored on the weekends and preached revivals," said Bennett.
During his time in seminary, Bennett worked for Youth for Christ and became a youth minister.
"During that time I married, started a family and graduated from Southwestern Theological Seminary in 1967 with a master of divinity," said Bennett.
Bennett and his wife Tige have four children.
"On April Fool's Day it will be 47 years," said Bennett.
After seminary, Bennett worked as a campus minister at Arizona State and Missouri State University.
"After I left Arizona State I became the national youth evangelism director for the Home Mission Board, now North American Mission Board," said Bennett.
Bennett became the university preacher and ministered to several hundred Texas Tech students every Sunday.
Bennett led summer mission teams in beach ministry during several summers in the 1970s to New Jersey and Daytona Beach, Fla.
Bennett and his family spent time ministering to Native Americans.
"We camped, cooked, slept and sat on the ground for 10 months to be with the Indians," said Bennett.
Bennett served as bi-vocational pastor of a small church in Durango, Colo.
He ran a sign painting business called "Speedy Signs: Fastest Signs in the West."
It was during this time that painting became an important part of Bennett's life.
He became a gallery artist and began to share his passion for art.
"During those years, I was able to be a missionary to the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid in 1980," said Bennett.
Although home missions has been important to Bennett, he has also volunteered on short term trips to Canada, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Mexico, Guam and Belarus.
"I believe we're all called to do missions," said Bennett. "It's a spiritual thrill to meet my spiritual grandchildren and great grandchildren. It's a thrill to help do the great commission."

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