Skip to main content
OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

Adams to Present Gaskin Lecture Feb. 29

February 25, 2016

Dr. Randy Adams will deliver Oklahoma Baptist University’s Gaskin Lecture Monday, Feb. 29, at 10 a.m. The lecture will take place in the upper level of OBU’s Geiger Center. The title of the lecture is, “The Growth and Contributions of the Ethnic Congregations in Oklahoma History.”

Friends of Dr. J.M. Gaskin and advocates for the preservation of Baptist history and heritage in the state of Oklahoma established the J.M. Gaskin Lectureship. The objective of the lectureship is to provide and sustain a series of lectures that will preserve and promote the study of Oklahoma Baptist history and heritage. Gaskin has written 15 books about Oklahoma Baptists, and he provided the major impetus for Oklahoma Baptist research and publication over the last four decades.

Gaskin served as the BGCO’s first historical director. Known as “Mr. Oklahoma Baptist History,” he led in forming the Oklahoma Baptist Historical Commission in 1952 and was elected as the organization's first historical secretary in 1953. He also served as the founding president of the Oklahoma Baptist Historical Society in 1956 and was the editor of the Oklahoma Baptist Chronicle, beginning with its launch in 1958 through spring 1998.

Dr. Adams has been executive director-treasurer of the Northwest Baptist Convention in Vancouver, Washington, since May 2013. Prior to that he served on the leadership team for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma from 2004-13. He has pastored three churches, including First Baptist Church of McAlester, Oklahoma, from 1994-2004.

Born in Idaho and raised in Montana, Adams earned a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from Montana Tech and both an MDIV and Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  From 2002-12, he served on the board of trustees for Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.  He served as board chairman from 2009-11.

His published works include numerous articles on leadership, missions, evangelism, and preaching, including "Preaching from 1 & 2 Thessalonians" published in the Southwestern Journal of Theology. He also authored a workbook for new believers, titled "Following Jesus From the Beginning," part of MY316 evangelism materials.

Randy and his wife, Paula, have two sons, Rett and Luke, and a daughter-in-law, Jessica.