By Rebekah Southwood, student news writer
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| Dr. Joe Early, Jr. |
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Dr. Joe Early, Jr., assistant professor of theology at Campbellsville University and an up-and-coming Baptist historian, will speak at Campbellsville University’s Baptist Heritage Lecture Series. The event will be held Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the CU Banquet Hall of the Badgett Academic Support Center, 110 University Drive, Campbellsville.
The lectured, titled “The Apocalyptic Beliefs of Thomas Helwys,” is free and open to the public.
Early’s book “The Life and Writings of Thomas Helwys: The First English Baptist” was published in 2009 by Mercer University Press.
It is the mission of Campbellsville University through the Baptist Heritage Lecture Series to promote the study, discussion and research of Baptist historical events, theological distinctives, traditions and leaders who are unique and essential to understanding who Baptists are.
Early received his bachelor degree in political science from Cumberland College in 2003. He went on to earn his master of divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1997. Then in 2002, he finished his doctorate of philosophy from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Waco, Texas.
To expand upon his educational accomplishments, Early is trilingual speaking in English, German and French.
He holds professional memberships at Baptist History and Heritage, American Academy of Religions, East Texas Historical Association, West Texas Historical Association, Texas Historical Association and Tennessee Baptist Historical Association.
He has also written several books on Baptist history including: “The Building of a Church: The Centennial History of South Main Baptist Church, Houston, Texas,” “A Texas Baptist History Sourcebook,” “A Handbook of Texas Baptist Biography,” “A Texas Baptist Power Struggle: The Hayden Controversy” and “Readings in Baptist History.”
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master’s degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.