Looking like she just graduated from high school, 38-year-old Faithe Beam was officially installed as the first woman campus minister in the history of Campbell University on Tuesday, Feb. 13.”This is a truly special day for Campbell University,” said Dr. Dennis Bazemore, vice president for Student Life. “Not only does it mark a new era in campus ministry, an area that has been so vital to Campbell, but the administration is very excited to welcome a woman to the job. We see a special spirit in Faithe that will be a blessing to our students, faculty and staff.”Beam, whose name is an acronym for her personality, radiated excitement and enthusiasm.”There have been many times in my life when I’ve felt I’ve been on holy ground—when my husband and I decided to marry; when I held my son for the first time and today,” she said.As Campus Minister, Beam will be responsible for the planning and implementation of undergraduate worship services (CUW) twice a week during the academic year, offer pastoral counseling to students and provide leadership to various ministries on campus, as well as help facilitate missions and outreach opportunities for Campbell students.”My main goal this first semester is to build relationships and learn how the office works,” she said. “Then I want to sit down with students and envision what we can do to meet the needs of the campus.”A graduate of Appalachian State University, Beam served as Minister of Music and Education at Zion Baptist Church in Shelby, N.C. for nine years. She went on to receive a Master of Divinity from Campbell Divinity School in 2003 and served as director of Student Services for the Divinity School, coordinating worship and fellowship activities for students since 2002.Beam and her husband Tom, who works with the Baptist Men as consultant for Children and Youth Ministries, adopted a son Patrick from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2005. She is candid about balancing her roles as campus minister, wife and mother to her 20-month-old son.”I want to be a resource for the students, to meet their academic and personal needs, but I also want to be a good mother and a good wife,” she said. “While there are still some barriers to women in ministry, the opportunities to serve are endless. I just hope I’m the first in a long line of women ministers at Campbell.”Beam replaces Terry-Michael Newell, who left the Campus Minister’s Office in December after 10 years of service to pursue further training in pastoral counseling. He will be teaching an adjunct course at the Divinity School.Photo Copy: Faithe Beam, Campbell University’s newest campus minister.
Beam installed as campus minister at Campbell