The W. Hines Sims Award for 2007 was presented to Bob Burroughs. The following comments were given by Paul Clark, our 2007 conference president, and Dave Briley, Associate Pastor of Worship and Arts for First Baptist Church of Decatur, Alabama, prior to the award presentation. Click to read more about the W. Hines Sims Award.

Paul Clark:

     In 1946, W. Hines Sims became B. B. McKinney's associate and later succeeded him as head of the Church Music Department at the Baptist Sunday School Board following McKinney's death in 1952. The program design for Southern Baptist church music programs appeared in 1948 and was developed by W. Hines Sims. It was stated in four areas:
1. The Local Church Program
2. Associational Music Program
3. The State Music Program
4. The Role of the Sunday School Board

     Under Sims’ leadership there were many firsts, including the first Church Music Leadership Conference at Glorieta in 1953 (the year the assembly opened), the first National Conference of Southern Baptist Musicians in Louisville, Kentucky in 1964, and the addition of many music publications and curriculum pieces for all age groups of church music makers. He was a visionary in the field of church music, an organizer, and an encourager.
The W. Hines Sims Award was created to honor him, and to be presented to "A man or a woman who has made outstanding achievement in the field of church music, either in or out of the Convention."

     This year’s recipient as selected by the Executive Council is Bob Burroughs. Bob was born in Tazewell, Virginia in 1937. He received degrees from Mars Hill College, Oklahoma Baptist University, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

     Bob has served in significant positions represented by all three of the divisions of our conference. He served as a Minister of Music, part time and fulltime, in churches including First Baptist Church, Muskogee, Oklahoma and First Baptist Church, Abilene, Texas among others. Bob has been a professor at Samford University, Mercer University (Atlanta campus), and Palm Beach Atlantic University. Bob then served for eight years as Director of the Music Department for Florida Baptist Convention with responsibilities that included the revival and development of his beloved Florida Baptist Singing Men and Florida Baptist Singing Women. You see behind me one of these groups now under the direction of Terry Williams, one of the Ministers of Music encouraged and ministered to by Bob Burroughs in that role as a state denominational leader.

     Through all of these endeavors Bob Burroughs has been a composer and author. He has somewhere between 1300 and 2000 works in print, depending on which website you refer to. Regardless of the number it is a little like McDonald’s hamburgers claiming 20 billion sold -- we get the idea. It’s a lot of hamburgers. Bob, it’s a lot of compositions. In addition, Bob has compiled numerous ideas in his three books that assist the music leader in approaching responsibilities. And who among us does not know of Bob’s trailblazing in the early days of computer electronic communication right up to present day in publishing the famed Monday Morning Email.
I have asked one who has experienced Bob’s ministry of encouragement directly to share with us a personal word.


Dave Briley:

BOB BURROUGHS – A Visionary and Encourager

     In 1969, I made a decision to enter into fulltime ministry. I was participating in a summer music camp through the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The catalyst of that week - the light bulb moment for me - was a song in a musical titled Now Hear It Again. Some of you may remember it: You’ve heard it before, now hear it again.

     I was fifteen years old, in the Tenth Grade, and the musical touched my life at exactly the right moment the Spirit of God had designed to draw me unto Himself. I had heard the call on my life for several months, and had “heard it before”, and now I was called to “hear it again.” It had significant impact on me then and little did I know, would impact me again some two years later.

     Two years later I would meet the composer of that musical as I was interviewing with Dr. Claude Rhea about the possibility of going to Samford University as a church music major. Dr. Rhea said, "Let me introduce one of our faculty to you – Dave, meet Bob Burroughs!"

     I was awestruck - I was starstruck – here was a real, live composer, and more than that, THE composer of THE song that had touched my life so deeply. The decision to enter Samford had suddenly, in one chance encounter, become so much easier! And of course, after I entered school there, I found myself not only awestruck and starstruck but “problem-struck” in Freshman theory! That was the beginning of, now, 35 years of friendship and love for a man that would become a mentor, friend, encourager – that, of course, being Bob Burroughs.

     Bob had entered my life as a composer of music, but now would become my professor of music. He was the one who taught me the mechanics of music. The ability to know how music was constructed and then the freedom to create music out of that understanding, was a gift I’ll be forever grateful.

     As a student, one of the first things I learned about Bob, was his ability as a worship leader. And this was long before the term “worship leader” or “lead-worshipper” was even thought of. Bob’s ability to create worship environments, worship experiences, worship services, is legendary. Bob was at the forefront of the visual arts and the musical “theater” of worship. His and his beloved Esther’s use of the spoken word complimented with the power of music was a fresh voice when they came onto the scene. Along with many others of that generation, Buryl Red, Ralph Carmichael, Kurt Kaiser, Phillip Landgrave - just to name a few - Bob was leading the way towards a more creative, contemporary, and relevant expression of worship, and, may I say, uncompromising in excellence, quality, and worship authenticity. Bob has always written for the church, and given us the ability through his compositions, his instruction, and his life, to serve the church, not just serve the music.

     Another interesting influence that Bob instilled in me was a keen awareness to always “look your best.” His love of fashion and always looking sharp has stayed with me. The only way to pay for my habit of trying to keep up with Bob was to put myself through college and seminary by working in men’s clothing stores and get that needed discount! And he has continued to be the consummate clothes horse!

     Another small thing, but something that would have a huge impact on me, was Bob’s instruction and encouragement on writing thank you notes. First of all, he demonstrated it by his own example. I have received many “Mr. B” notes in college and it has continued into my adult life. He showed by example to be grateful in every situation and to show that expression to others. This has paid off countless thousands of times in ministry for me. Thank YOU, kind sir!

     Also, as fate would have it - and God’s leadership – Bob and Esther played the role of matchmaker in my life, and encouraged the relationship that I began to have with my then future wife, Glenda. Bob and Esther saw that she was that soul mate and ministry partner long before I saw the light! Their teaching of the Bible to us in small groups, having us in their home, and nurturing us in those formative years have paid rich dividends in our married life.

     It wasn’t just about the music and student-professor relationship. Bob invested his life in his students, and through the years, he and Esther have continued to be a part of our lives, interested in our children, praying for us in time of need, encouraging us as young parents, challenging us in ministry, and inspiring us towards greater creativity and expressions of love for God.

     Bob Burroughs has always demonstrated a passionate love for God, for family, and, in general, a huge love for life itself. It is apparent in his smile, his joy, his music, his instruction, his concern, his care, and I could not exhaust that list tonight.

     I believe I am extremely lucky, as many of you have been the recipient also, to have had a mentor in your life to help shape you, and then to champion you on towards greater service and continue that relationship, even though separated by miles and years. I for one, am profoundly grateful for the impact that that mentor in my life was Bob Burroughs.

     Mr. B – please accept these words from a heart of gratitude for all you have meant to me and my family. God bless you and Esther in the days ahead as you serve Him.
 

Paul Clark:

     Bob Burroughs, you have served and continue to serve well. You inspire us and sometimes flat wear us out with your energy for life, for music-making, for the Church of our Lord. You show us example of loving as a husband of your beloved Esther, as a Dad, and as a Granddad. It is a privilege to present to you an important award that we trust will serve to affirm you in the life you live before us as one who has faithfully passed on the song “for a future generation” Ladies and Gentlemen, Bob Burroughs.