Southern Wesleyan University President Todd Voss, left, and Religion Professor Bob Black, right, presented Rev. Tom Harding with the Virgil A. Mitchell Excellence in Pastoral Ministry award during Trustees chapel April 10 at the university’s campus in Central. Harding is senior pastor of ALIVE Wesleyan Church in Central.

CENTRAL — Rev. Tom Harding, senior pastor of ALIVE Wesleyan Church in Central and a 1991 Southern Wesleyan University graduate, received the Virgil A. Mitchell Excellence in Pastoral Ministry award during Trustees chapel April 10 at the university’s Central campus.

Harding recalled the encouragement he received from Dr. Virgil Mitchell over the years.

“He was my chaplain when I attended this university. He was a constant source of encouragement and prayer as we began this ministry that’s now known as ALIVE,” Harding said, adding that Mitchell was on the board that ordained him into ministry.

Harding started his ministry while attending SWU, leading the Youth and Young Adults group at ALIVE, when it was known as First Wesleyan. He received degrees from Southern Wesleyan in Christian Ministries and Bible and a master of divinity degree at Asbury Theological Seminary. Harding went on to serve churches in Kentucky and North Carolina before returning to Central in 2005.

“He came here to reach spiritually hungry people in Pickens County and beyond. God has blessed that ministry beyond all expectation,” said Bob Black, religion professor, as he announced this year’s award winner. Black noted that nearly 1,300 attended Easter Sunday services in ALIVE’s new building on Chastain Road. He added that ALIVE’s former facility on Wesleyan Drive will become the Nicholson-Mitchell Christian Ministry Center, where the university will prepare a new generation of ministry leaders.

“I serve an amazing group of Christ followers who have boldly embraced a fresh vision from the Lord even when it’s been difficult,” Harding said.

The award is named for Mitchell, who graduated from the university when it was known as Wesleyan Methodist College and went on to serve as general superintendent of The Wesleyan Church. He returned to the university to serve as chaplain and special assistant to the president. Mitchell married Mary Parks, his college sweetheart, in March 1937 and they shared 69 years of marriage and three children. He died in 2006.

The purpose of the Mitchell Award is to encourage excellence in ministry, enhance the importance of pastoral ministry, to recognize service to the church and support of Southern Wesleyan University, to emphasize the value of ministerial training offered at Southern Wesleyan University and to exalt the greatest preacher of them all – the Lord Jesus Christ.