Loyd and his wife, Rebecca, visit with guests at his retirement celebration. Staff photo by Mary Alford
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After 45 years of faithfully serving in college ministry throughout the state, Lynn Loyd is retiring from the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC).
Loyd was celebrated Saturday, Nov. 8, with a retirement party at First Baptist Church in Fayetteville.
Cole Penick, who served as the emcee of the celebration, kicked off the afternoon by referencing Psalm 145:1-13, “I exalt you, my God the King, and bless your name forever and ever. I will bless you every day; I will praise your name forever and ever. The Lord is great and is highly praised; his greatness is unsearchable. One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts. I will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty and your wondrous works. They will proclaim the power of your awe-inspiring acts, and I will declare your greatness. They will give a testimony of your great goodness and will joyfully sing of your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. The Lord is good to everyone; his compassion rests on all he has made. All you have made will thank you, Lord; the faithful will bless you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom and will declare your might, informing all people of your mighty acts and of the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; your rule is for all generations.” (CSB)
Penick said Loyd “exemplifies what it means to live out this beautiful Psalm.”
“Thank you for the way you have taught us God’s word and pointed us to our faithful savior. … We’re so incredibly thankful for God’s work in and through you,” Penick said to Loyd during the event.
Loyd is the longest serving employee with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, having been hired in 1980 to serve as campus minister at Southern Arkansas University (SAU).
He went on to serve as the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) campus minister at the University of Arkansas from 1984 to 2011. He then served 10 years as missions’ consultant for the College + Young Leaders Team of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) before beginning work as the Alumni Relations director for the University of Arkansas BCM in Fayetteville. Additionally, in 2024, Loyd took on the role of interim BCM director at the college until Jared Farley was hired to the position in April 2025.
The 1980 Arkansas Baptist News (ABN) article on the hiring of Lynn reported that Loyd was elected to serve at SAU during an Operating Committee meeting on Aug. 19, 1980. A July 1980 graduate of Southwestern Theological Seminary, Lynn had previously served as music and youth director for First Baptist Church in Sentinel, Oklahoma, and in a similar capacity at Alva and Atwood, Oklahoma.
Loyd was an active member of the Baptist Student Union at East Central Oklahoma University while he was a student. It was during that time that he felt called to full-time Christian ministry. He was ordained to the gospel ministry in November 1979 by the Sentinel church.
Loyd thanked everyone in attendance, saying he was “overwhelmingly humbled and grateful and thankful for everyone who has been a part of my life.”
“The collegiate campus, as you know, is the most strategic mission field in the world. I am so grateful for y’all and the churches who have allowed me to live out my calling as a missionary on campus through BCM,” he said. “This is a time to pass the baton. … I am so grateful for Jared and look forward to incredible things to happen at UA, across our campus, and across our state. God is doing some great things on our campuses through BCM.”
During the celebration, attendees heard from Farley, who shared what is happening on the campus of University of Arkansas, and played a quiz game that focused on Loyd. A few of the folks in attendance shared stories and memories of Loyd from over the years as well as words of encouragement. Some of those who stepped up to the microphone included ABSC Evangelism + Church Health Team Leader Warren Gasaway, David James of the former ABSC College and Young Leaders Team, and Scot Thurman, who served with Loyd at University of Arkansas BCM and now serves on staff at Cross Church.
“Retirement is releasing what has been trusted to you and turning it over to the next generation. … Lynn loves God and loves people. He is a world citizen, Mr. Hospitality, devoted church member, multiplying disciple, and a family first servant leader,” James said. “Lynn is a quiet man whose life speaks loudly.”
Thurman thanked Loyd for the investment in the 30 years he has been in ministry. “Thank you for loving me, teaching me what ministry is, and showing me what it means to serve,” he said.
Gasaway shared he has known Loyd for 30 years. A product of the University of Arkansas BCM, he called himself one of Loyd’s protégés.
“Lynn was very instrumental in my journey coming back from being a prodigal,” Gasway said. When he was 19, Gasaway said he did all the things “you were not supposed to do when you went to college.” He eventually got connected to the BCM and said, “Lynn was that guy in the midst of all that mess who was just faithful, nonjudgemental, and listening and merciful and just a source of light and wisdom in my life.”
“Lynn, you’ve done that for hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of students. That is just who you are. That’s your ministry. Everyone in this room can attest to that, how influential you’ve been in our lives,” Gasaway said. “Today, we honor you. … Thank you for serving the generations. Thank you for speaking God’s word over the generations. Thank you for leading and mobilizing the generations. Thank you for living a life worthy of imitation for the generations. We love you. We’re grateful for you. We give God the glory for the stories He has written through your life. Congratulations, my friend. Thank you, Lord, for Lynn Loyd.”
Loyd’s official retirement is Dec. 31.