SBI to honor its trailblazers

Special to The Pew

Throughout Black History month in February, Southern Bible Institute will honor servant leaders who directed and shaped the SBI legacy that started during segregated times.

Southern Bible will honor Charles Reed, Norman Robinson and Robert D. Reed this month in separate services. All services will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the Southern Bible Institute, 7200 South Hampton Road in Dallas. The Rev. Kennon Tenison of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church is the slated guest speaker on Feb. 10. On Feb. 17, Norman L. Robinson is the honoree with James Thompson of Mount Olive Bible Church is the guest speaker. The Rev. Johnny Smith of Mount Moriah Church will pay homage to Robert Reed on Feb. 24.

The iInstitute was started in 1927 during a time when African Americans were not allowed to attend white seminary schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The first three presidents of Southern Bible Institute, Edmund Ironside, Henderson Fox and Gordon Mumford were white.

"The commitment of these men can be described as nothing less than legendary," said Norman L. Robinson, senior pastor of Mount Olive Bible Church and a former SBI student and board member. "In a day and time of segregation, they made sure that Southern Bible Institute was there for men and women of all races and colors. Members of the black community were not allowed to enroll or attend the faith-based institutions in Dallas. But SBI was then and remains today as a beacon, welcoming everyone."

Charles L. Reed was the first black teacher, first black academic dean and first black SBI board member. Charles L. Reed, a retired senior pastor from Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, credits Fox, "with the audacity to integrate the SBI staff when he named me as a teacher in 1966. But then Fox said I pushed and prodded until half our staff and board was black," Charles Reed added.
 

"Pastor N. L. Robinson, Pastor Robert Reed and Pastor Charles Reed are men of character and dedication to the vision of Southern Bible Institute," said Martin Hawkins, Southern Bible Institute president. "They have been blessed to minister to medium to large congregations in the Dallas area and have instructed discipleship programs to educate students. Their leadership styles as Servant Leaders has contributed to and provided stability to SBI through their time, talent and treasure for the past 50 -plus years. We honor them for their undaunted service."

 The pastors will also be placed in the SBI "Cloud of Witnesses" (Hall of Fame) during the SBI gala banquet at 7 p.m. on April 29 at the Hilton Anatole.