WILSON, N.C. — August 17, 2017 — Long revered as a dynamic speaker with a compelling message that motivates young and older alike, Dr. Tony Campolo will bring his wit and wisdom to share with the Barton campus community on Monday, Sept. 18. His presentation, to be held in the newly renovated Howard Chapel on campus, is titled “Coming Together In A World That’s Falling Apart.” The program will begin at 7 p.m., and the community is invited to attend. There is no charge for the event. A book signing will follow the program, and books will be available for purchase.
“Tony Campolo has long been one of my favorite modern day prophets,” shared the Reverend Jamie C. Eubanks, chaplain of the college. “He uses humor and wit, and, at times, shock and awe to challenge his audiences to really think about what it means ‘to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.’ His challenge to us to be the change we want to see in the world is a message from which our students can benefit. In the midst of the many voices crying out in the wilderness vying for our attention, Campolo has been, and continues to be, one who pushes, plucks, calms, and challenges us to be better than we are.”
Dr. Campolo is professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University and a former faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Eastern College and earned a Ph.D. from Temple University. As founder and president of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, Dr. Campolo has worked for 40 years to create, nurture and support programs for “at-risk” children in cities across North America, and has helped establish schools and universities in several developing countries.
More recently, Dr. Campolo has provided leadership for the progressive Christian movement, Red Letter Christians, as well as the Campolo Center for Ministry, a program that provides support to those the church has called to full-time ministry. In addition, he has served as a media commentator on religious, social and political matters, having appeared as a guest on a number of television programs, including: The Colbert Report, Nightline, Crossfire, The Charlie Rose Show, CNN News and MSNBC News. He co-hosted his own television series, “Hashing It Out,” on the Odyssey Network, and he currently hosts “Across The Pond,” a weekly program on the Premier Christian Radio Network in England.
In November 2012, Dr. Campolo received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Youth Worker’s Convention. The wording on the award captures the essence of his life’s work: “Award of Lifetime Achievement is proudly presented to Tony Campolo who has defined and courageously pioneered what is means to encourage, care and lead students, possessing the qualities that inspire us and provoke us to continue the journey into the future with boldness and confidence. As a result of Tony’s life of ministry and leadership he has left a legacy of encouragement and hope to youth workers and students everywhere.”
Dr. Campolo has authored numerous books, including the most recent, “Why I Left, Why I Stayed,” a collaboration with his son, Bart Campolo, published in February.
An ordained minister, Dr. Campolo has served American Baptist Churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Peggy, live near Philadelphia. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Dr. Campolo will also be on hand to join Barton students at their “Life Matters” dinner earlier in the evening at 6 p.m., where the discussion topic will be vocation. This meal, open only to Barton students, will be coordinated through the Office of the Chaplain. Advance attendance confirmation is required as seating will be limited.
Please contact the Reverend Jamie C. Eubanks, chaplain of the college, at 252-399-6368 or jceubanks@barton.edu for information about Barton’s “Life Matters” student dinner or for questions regarding Dr. Campolo’s upcoming presentation.
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