Dr. Jerry Shields Recognized as Distinguished Alumnus at Hardin-Simmons University

ABILENE, TX (05/23/2011)(readMedia)-- Dr. Jerry Shields, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Colorado City, was honored as the 2011 Logsdon Distinguished Alumnus at an awards ceremony at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon Chapel.

"From time to time, faculty members will say of a particular student 'She or He is going to do well'...on numerous occasions, I have made that very observation of Jerry Shields," said Dr. Don Williford, Interim Dean of HSU's Logsdon School of Theology. "And I am not the only faculty member to hold and express that conviction," Williford added.

Shields, who earned his Bachelor of Arts in Applied Theology, Master of Arts in Religion, and Master of Divinity degrees while studying in the university and seminary programs of HSU's Logsdon School of Theology, is one of a select group of HSU graduates chosen by Logsdon faculty to receive the school's highest recognition of character and commitment to vocational Christian ministry.

While a ministry student at Logsdon, Shields served as graduate assistant, regularly teaching classes, aiding faculty in research, and assisting his peers who struggled with research and writing as a tutor. As a pastor and minister, Williford praised Shields' commitment to ministry service as a model for others, highlighting his servant-oriented approach to ministry leadership, his compassionate practice of building meaningful relationships within the community, and his skill as a preacher and teacher.

"Jerry was the most broadly accomplished GA I have ever had," said Williford, "and is someone whom I would count it a blessing to have as my pastor."

Previous to Shields' service in Colorado City, he served as pastor at Glen Cove Baptist Church, in Glen Cove, and East Side Baptist Church in Comanche. Shields completed his doctoral work at Abilene Christian University in 2009. He and his wife, Kay, whom he met while they were undergraduate students at HSU, have two sons, Caleb and Clayton. Jerry is the son of Dr. James and Corrine Shields of Abilene.