Ruford Hodges, director of the office of Baptist collegiate ministries of the State Board of Missions (SBOM) since 1988, retired Dec. 31, 1999.
Hodges was instrumental in forming partnerships with other Southeastern state conventions and developing ministries across state lines.
CrossRoads, a collegiate conference held every three years with neighboring states, was first held in 1995, with Hodges as chairman.
He also collaborated with other states in planning workshops for campus ministers.
Hodges supervised a staff of 19 campus ministers and two associates. Of these 21 professionals, Hodges brought 14 of them to Alabama during his 11 years as director.
Stephen Thompson, campus minister at Auburn University, noted Ruford’s personal ministry to his staff.
“I was always appreciative of his interest in not only my professional life but my personal life as well. Family was of great interest to him,” Thompson said.
“Ruford has given exemplary service in Alabama Baptist life and, previous to that, at the Foreign Mission Board,” said Rick Lance, executive director of the SBOM. “He has a strong commitment to collegiate ministry, which I’m sure he will continue to demonstrate during retirement.”
Hodges’ career included work as campus minister at the University of Alabama at Huntsville, Alabama A&M and The University of Alabama.
(ABSC)
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