- Baptist Press - https://www.baptistpress.com -

Fruitland’s new president to assume office Nov. 15

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HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (BP)–Kenneth Ridings, a former pastor who also has taught preaching the past 29 years at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute, will assume the presidency of the school Nov. 15.
Ridings will succeed Randy Kilby, who died of a heart attack in February. The 200-student Baptist-related Bible institute is located in Hendersonville, N.C.
Ridings, 62, led Grassy Branch (N.C.) Baptist Church for 23 years until leaving the pastorate last year to devote full time to preaching and teaching in revivals and conferences. Ridings also has served as second vice president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina the past year.
Ridings was recommended for the presidency by Fruitland’s board of directors, and the recommendation was affirmed by the state convention’s general board Sept. 30.
Leon Hawks, Fruitland’s board chairman, praised Ridings as an excellent preacher whose commitment and teaching at the Bible institute over the years had inspired hundreds of men to become good pastors and preachers.
As president, Ridings said he wants to continue the vision Kilby had for Fruitland “and make it an instrument for teaching preachers who share the gospel with the world.”
Ridings is a graduate of North Greenville (S.C.) College, Furman University in Greenville and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C.