Justin Wainscott
I
first met Justin Wainscott (M.Div. ’05) when he was an undergraduate
student at Union University considering how he would respond to God’s call on
his life and where he would go to seminary. Even then I sensed that he
was “Beeson material.” Along with being an excellent student, he had a
passion for ministry, for preaching, and for the serious study of God’s
Word. I encouraged him to apply to our Master of Divinity program and
after a period of prayer and discernment, he did so. As I expected,
Justin turned out to be a superb student at Beeson. He was held in high
esteem by all our faculty and elected by his student peers to serve as the
president of our Beeson student body.
After graduating from Beeson,
Justin could have pursued a Ph.D., but the pull toward pastoral ministry was
strong in his life. He served for three years as pastor at Pleasant
Plains Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee while also teaching Bible and Latin
at a nearby Christian academy. Two years ago he was called to be the
teaching pastor at First Baptist Church of Paducah, Kentucky where he now lives
with his wife Anna and their brand new (four months old) baby daughter, Ella.
I recently asked Justin how he
thought his time at Beeson had shaped his perspective on ministry. He
mentioned three things: first, the strong focus on biblical languages and
Scriptural exegesis encouraged him toward a holistic Gospel and Christ-centered
preaching; second, relational learning—sitting at the feet of world-class
scholars and also sharing coffee or a meal with them on a regular basis; and,
last, the interdenominational context which encouraged him to value his own
Baptist tradition all the more while learning to appreciate other evangelical
traditions. In this sense, Justin said, “Beeson made me more of a
catholic (with a little “c”) Christian.” The three things that Justin
said about his own experience at Beeson I have also heard from many other alums
and I think this is truly one of the gifts to the Body of Christ that is Beeson
Divinity School.
People sometimes ask me why we
make such a big deal about chapel services and regular community worship here
at Beeson. The reason is because the worship of God, shared in community,
shapes us in ways we do not often realize at the time. Anyone who has
visited Hodges Chapel knows that it is more than a place to meet—it is a sermon
in stone. Its cruciform shape preaches a sermon all its own as we sense
the presence of Christ in art and architecture, in silence, light, and
music. At the center of the dome mural of this sacred space is a painting
of Christ surrounded by the heavenly host, his arms stretching out to embrace
the world with the nail prints in his hands. This painting meant a great
deal to Justin while he was a student at Beeson and he has recently written a
hymn text based on it. He dedicated this hymn to Beeson faculty and wrote
it to be sung to the tune AZMON (“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”).
With his permission, I am pleased to share it with you.
Christ's Atoning Wounds
M. Justin Wainscott, © 2009
In
honor of the faculty of Beeson Divinity School
That sacred stream which ever flows,
Flows from the Savior's wounds,
Does in the souls of saints compose
Sweet, Christ-exalting tunes.
So let the saints in chorus flood
This place with songs of praise;
And sing of Christ's redeeming blood,
And marvel at his grace.
The precious wounds of Christ above -
His hands, his feet, his side -
Stand as a witness to his love
For us, his ransomed bride.
Those wounds which paid our sinful debt
Remove all grounds for pride;
For God's requirements all were met
When Christ our Savior died.
So let us boast in him alone,
And in the wounds he bears;
Since he who sits on heaven's throne
Those sacred scars still wears.
And when before that throne we stand,
And on our Savior gaze;
We'll truly come to understand,
His wounds deserve our praise.
Please pray for Justin Wainscott, for his family and his ministry in Paducah.
