San Angelo Pastor Named Truett Seminary Distinguished Alumnus

by Laura A. Cadena, Truett Alumni Association

Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary Alumni Association honored Kyle Truman Reese, pastor of First Baptist Church of San Angelo, with its Distinguished Alumnus Award. The award presentation was made at the Friends of Truett dinner Monday, Nov. 14, during the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) in Austin.

The Truett Distinguished Alumni Award honors a graduate for his or her vision, accomplishments and service to the gospel in both the church and the broader community. The award is presented annually to a graduate whose life work embodies the highest tradition of Baylor's motto, Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana, For Church, For State.

Reese is the second recipient of the Truett Distinguished Alumni Award. The first award was presented to Joseph C. Parker Jr., pastor of David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Austin.

"Kyle Reese truly embodies the best of what Truett Seminary aspires to produce. He is a gifted pastor who has consistently given himself to his family, his church, his community, and to Texas Baptists," said Steve Wells, president of the Truett Alumni Association and senior pastor at South Main Baptist Church, Houston. "His leadership and gracious spirit are an encouragement and an inspiration to me and to his peers."

A graduate of Wayland Baptist University, Reese earned a master's degree from Baylor's Truett Seminary and doctor of ministry from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Illinois.

Reese serves the community of San Angelo through the board of directors for Christian Men's Job Corps, Habitat for Humanity, Downtown Kiwanis Club, and as a Western Little League Baseball coach. In addition, he has served Baptists through the Texas Cooperative Baptist Fellowship board of directors, BGCT Committee to Nominate Institutional Board Members, Worldconnex board of directors, George W. Truett Theological Seminary board of advisers, as an officer of the George W. Truett Alumni Association, Texas Baptists Committed Executive Board, and as a lecturer at Howard Payne University Certificate in Ministry program.

Prior to serving as pastor at First Baptist of San Angelo, Reese served as pastor at First Baptist of Valley Mills, and First Baptist of Mertens.

Also at the dinner, the Truett Alumni Association announced the establishment of the Kyle Lake Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund at Truett Seminary. A Truett graduate, Lake was electrocuted while performing a baptism on Sunday, Oct. 30. Lake served as pastor of University Baptist Church, Waco. To donate to the Kyle Lake Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Truett Seminary, visit www.baylor.edu/onlinegiving.

Located on the Baylor campus, Truett Seminary began classes in August 1994 with 51 students. Since then, the seminary has grown to become home to nearly 400 students and 15 full-time faculty members. Truett offers the master of theological studies degree with dual or joint masters; master of divinity degree with concentrations in global missions, Christian religious education, theology and student ministry; a joint master of divinity/master of music degree through Truett and the Baylor School of Music; a joint master of divinity/master of social work degree through Truett and the Baylor School of Social Work; and the doctor of ministry degree.

The purpose of George W. Truett Theological Seminary is to provide theological education centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and consistent with historic Baptist principles in preparing persons to carry this gospel to the churches and the world.