A former Samford University administrator and current Birmingham resident was one of three individuals recognized for their work as musicians by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
William R. O’Brien received a distinguished service award from the school of church music at Southwestern Seminary Feb. 22. O’Brien is the founding director of the Global Center at Samford, where he served as a professor of missions, beginning in 1991. Prior to that position, O’Brien served as executive vice president of the then-Foreign Mission Board.
Also recognized were C.L. Bass, a professor of music theory at Southwestern and Bob Burroughts, director of the church music department of the Florida Baptist Convention.
“I think these recipients have been wonderful role models for musicians everywhere,” said Benjamin Harlan, Southwestern dean of the school of church music, during a luncheon to honor the three. “We’re fortunate they have chosen church music to be the area in which they have blessed us so greatly.”
O’Brien and his wife, Dellanna, were appointed as missionaries by the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) in 1962, the year after he received his bachelor of church music from Southwestern. From 1963 till 1974, they served as music missionaries to Indonesia.
Doing pioneer music ministry in the country, the O’Briens gave piano and choral concerts, taught music classes and helped begin Baptist television work in Indonesia with concerts aired quarterly.
Dellanna O’Brien served as executive director of the national Woman’s Missionary Union 1989-99.
(BP)
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