Date: Sep 12, 2007
Contact:
Mary Wimberley
,
mlwimber@samford.edu, 205-726-2922
Beeson Honors Two ´Unsung Heroes' At Chapel Service
In a tribute to "unsung heroes, saints of God,"
"We all have persons behind the scenes who helped make us who we are," explained Beeson faculty member Dr. Charles Carter, who introduced his own mentor, 104-year-old Emil Lang of
Lang, who owned a radiator shop, was Carter's Sunday School teacher in 1948 at
Their friendship continued in 1971 when Carter began his 26-year tenure as pastor of
Beeson dean Dr. Timothy George saluted his boyhood pastor, Rev. Sam D. Sharp, who was founding pastor of
Rev. Sharp, age 92, was an engineer with Tennessee Valley Authority before being saved and called to the ministry.
"Sam Sharp influenced hundreds who were inspired by him to commit to the ministry," said George who attended Sharp's church from second grade through grade six. The two have remained close friends ever since.
George, a highly respected theologian who holds a Ph.D. from
He presented his mentor with a framed print of the divinity school's A.Gerow Hodges Chapel dome, which with its "Great Cloud of Witnesses" mural depicts the likenesses of 16 prominent historical leaders of the Christian faith.
"If I had my way, we'd paint you as number 17," George said to Sharp, who was accompanied by his daughter, Pat Lowrance, and grandson, Eddie Lowrance. The younger Lowrance, minister of music and youth at
The program was part of a semester-long series of Beeson chapel services on the theme, "Walking with the Saints."