By Jessica Faulkner, Assistant Vice President for Communications & Marketing
Central Baptist College marked a significant moment in its 74-year history as faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends gathered to inaugurate Dr. Jeremy Langley as the institution’s 10th president.
The ceremony, held in Burgess Auditorium, blended celebration with worship, reflecting the CBC’s Christ-centered mission and heritage. Throughout the day, speakers and participants pointed not only to a new season of leadership but to what Dr. Langley described as the sustaining foundation of the institution.
“It is my strong desire to remind us all of the only thing that has sustained CBC for the last 74 years — the goodness and the faithfulness of God,” Langley said during his inaugural address.
The day began with a private luncheon honoring Langley’s family and close friends. CBC leaders and guests gathered for a time of fellowship ahead of the formal ceremony, with Vice President for Advancement Duffy Guyton offering a welcome and prayer.
The inauguration ceremony opened with a hymn arrangement by the CBC band, setting a reflective tone for the afternoon. Board of Trustees Chairman Jake McCandless welcomed attendees and emphasized the importance of the moment in the life of the college.
An invocation was delivered by Dr. Eric Goble, pastor of Brister Baptist Church in Emerson, and was followed by greetings from former presidents Charles Attebery and Terry Kimbrow. Both men reflected on the CBC’s legacy and expressed confidence in its future.
A central moment in the ceremony was the presentation of the presidential medallion, symbolizing the authority and responsibility entrusted to the office. The medallion, featuring the historic campus column and inscribed with the names of past presidents, represents the CBC’s enduring commitment to “Faith and Learning.”
Scripture was read by Tony Crocker, past president of the BMA of Arkansas, anchoring the ceremony in God’s Word, and a prayer of installation was led by Ed Stephenson, pastor of Springhill Baptist Church in Greenbrier, where Langley and his family are members. The CBC Worship Choir then led in worship with “Fly Away” and “He’s Never Failed Me Yet,” reinforcing a theme that would echo throughout the afternoon.
Referencing the choir’s selection, Langley connected the testimony of the song to the institution itself.
“That testimony does not belong to one person or one generation,” he said. “It is the testimony of Central Baptist College.”
In his address, Langley framed the moment not as a beginning from scratch, but as a continuation of a legacy built through decades of faithfulness.
“We do not begin from scratch,” he said. “We begin from a legacy.”
He pointed to both the present momentum and the present responsibility, noting growth in enrollment and renewed energy across campus, while emphasizing the importance of stewardship in the current season.
“There is a sense that something is happening here,” Langley said. “And yet, we are called to be faithful in this moment… We are called to steward what God has given us today.”
Throughout the address, Langley outlined three commitments he believes will shape the future of Central Baptist College:
• Faithfulness to mission
• Excellence in all areas, and
• Intentional investment in people.
“We will not drift. We will not dilute. We will not compromise,” he said, emphasizing CBC’s commitment to remain firmly grounded in Scripture.
He also highlighted the spiritual impact of the institution, noting that 11 students had made professions of faith during the current semester and calling the CBC community to continued prayer and gospel focus.
“Our confidence is not rooted in strategy alone,” Langley said. “It is rooted in the character of God.”
Langley concluded by issuing a charge to students, faculty, staff, and church partners to remain united in purpose and committed to the mission of Christ-centered education.
“I stand here to issue an invitation,” he said, calling the CBC community to move forward together in faith.
The ceremony concluded with the congregation standing to sing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” led by Ross Burgess and accompanied by Sharon Duncan. The hymn served as both a closing moment of worship and a unifying declaration.
A benediction was delivered by Dustin Wisely, pastor of First Baptist Church in Magnolia, and guests were then invited to a reception on the campus lawn, where they continued celebrating the occasion with fellowship.
For CBC, the day represented more than a leadership transition. It served as a reaffirmation of its mission and a reminder of the foundation upon which it stands.
As Langley summarized, the story of CBC is not ultimately about any one person or moment, but about a faithful God who continues to guide its future.
