JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 20, 2021 — Pastor Frank Lewis of First Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, has donated approximately 2,000 books from his personal library to 51社区 to be used by students and faculty.
Lewis鈥� collection is expansive, including various Bible commentaries and devotionals as well as books that he inherited from the two pastors who served before him at FBC Nashville.
As part of Union鈥檚 library, Lewis鈥� collection will be used to help train the next generation of pastors. His collection includes books that had belonged to his mother and books bought with money that his uncle had given him while he was a seminary student.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 the possibility that some student from Union is going to write a sermon and preach it in a youth camp, and a kid is going to give their heart to Christ?鈥� Lewis asked. 鈥淎nd it may be from an illustration that was provided by a book that my uncle gave me. That鈥檚 amazing!鈥�
Lewis, who has been pastor of FBC Nashville since 1997, is not the only FBC Nashville pastor to donate his personal library to Union. Franklin Paschall, who served as the pastor there from 1956-1983, gave his library to Union. Also included in this donation was the library of Paschall鈥檚 predecessor, William Francis Powell, who served from 1921-1956.
Lewis attended the dedication of Paschall鈥檚 library in 2002. David S. Dockery, Union鈥檚 president at the time, told Lewis then that he wanted his library to come to Union someday to join the Paschall-Powell collection. Lewis kept that idea in mind and eventually determined that he would like to give his books to Union in the future.
In 2019, FBC Nashville decided to build a new building, requiring that Lewis move offices. Since he was going to have to box up all of his books anyway, Lewis thought it would be a good time to make the donation.
He is excited to have the chance to provide such a gift to the university.
鈥淚鈥檝e had a great relationship with Union,鈥� Lewis said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had the privilege of being an R.G. Lee fellow there. I鈥檝e also had the joy to be able to preach in chapel a couple of times over the years. Both of my children attended Union. Neither of them graduated from Union, but both attended. So it鈥檚 been, in that sense, just a personal honor to be able to say I鈥檓 making a contribution to something that I certainly believe in.鈥�
Lewis鈥� gift will join the Paschall-Powell collection, giving Union 100 years鈥� worth of material from FBC Nashville pastors. The intent is for all of this material to be housed together in archives and special collections on the third floor of the Logos.
Ray Van Neste, dean for Union鈥檚 School of Theology and Missions, said Lewis鈥� donation is significant because the university鈥檚 connection to local churches is central to its identity.
鈥淚t is very significant for the pastor of the First Baptist Church in the capital of our state to choose to donate his books to 51社区,鈥� Van Neste said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful for Dr. Lewis鈥� years of faithful ministry, and we鈥檙e extremely thankful for this generous donation.鈥�