Friday, October 11, 2002
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Friday, October 11, 2002 |
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Sharpsburg preacher is a man of many books By CAROLYN
CARY
One of Coweta County's most prolific authors is tucked away in the eastern part of the county at one of the county's most historic churches. The establishment of the Sharpsburg Baptist Church goes back to the 1830s and the most recent sanctuary was built last year. Its preacher has a Th.D. in theology and a PhD. in literature. The Sharpsburg Baptist Church is served by a minister who loves Latin and Greek, is well-traveled and who has just written his 102nd book. The Rev. Dr. Watson E. Mills has served the church since January, 1981. A native of Virginia, he was reared in Richmond. He has taught out-of-state until 1979, and until this year, he served at Mercer University. Here he taught religion, Greek, and New Testament Literature, as well as serving as vice-president for research and publication. He has just retired as professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Mercer. Dr. Mills wrote his first book in 1972 and this year book number 102 was published. They cover subjects from speaking in tongues, New Testament Greek, perspectives on religious studies, and bibliographies on almost every book in the Bible. In 1991, he was winner of the Literary Market Place Award for the best scholarly reference published in North American in 1990. Entitled "Mercer Dictionary of the Bible," it is now in its 5th printing. There is also a European edition marketed in the United Kingdom. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my 21 years preaching at Sharpsburg Baptist," he said. "I moved to Sharpsburg several years ago, and look forward to serving here for many more years." Dr. Mills has one son, an attorney in Atlanta, and a granddaughter, seven months old. The church is located at 6413 Highway 54 and can be reached at 770-251-6963.
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