Like Barney Fife, Meredith shares community bulletins, but through Facebook, alerting the citizens of social media about good causes. If Mayberry’s beloved Barney Fife had social media, I’m sure the concerned deputy would post community alerts-road construction, blood drives, city ordinance changes-along with APBs (all-points bulletins) for lost dogs and stolen property. Meredith isn’t just the “mayor of Facebook.” Sometimes he’s the sheriff. Like Barnabas, Meredith makes sure no one is overlooked or underappreciated-a Facebook ministry of encouragement-and I’m grateful. I wish I had you here at KCU! Thank you for being an amazing ambassador for Ozark, the Restoration Movement, and her churches.” When Jeff Greene served as director of alumni and church relations for Kentucky Christian University, he wrote this to Meredith: “Your daily posts of former Ozark faculty/staff, with updates on alumni and current faculty/staff, are fantastic. “Your post about our 57 th anniversary is just the latest of so many ways you’ve blessed us. “Meredith, your ministry of encouragement means so much to so many of us,” says longtime preacher and Ozark alum John Caldwell. Like a proud grandpa, Meredith himself leaves comments on many others’ Facebook pages-“Congratulations!” or “You’re one mighty fine fellow”-and his ministry does not go unnoticed. “On OCC historical posts, they’ll share memories of the event or person mentioned, like Seth Wilson or P.T. “People will leave comments under those posts, words of appreciation for the person highlighted-sometimes 400 or 500 comments,” Meredith says.
Then, among the 3 to 5 posts he makes each day (always with pictures), he’ll mention people’s birthdays, anniversaries, ministry accomplishments, weddings, babies, and milestone moments from Ozark’s past. First thing each morning, he posts a Scripture. Like Barnabas, Meredith shares encouraging news, but through Facebook among the greater Ozark family. He spread so much relational warmth that he was nicknamed Barnabas, or “Mr. In the early church, Joseph of Cyprus loved to share encouraging news: “Saul the persecutor is now a Christian! Gentiles don’t have to become Jews to follow Jesus! Mark the discouraged missionary wants to return to the mission field!” (Acts 9:27 15:24-25 15:37). To describe his ministry, it might be easiest to compare him to three figures of yesteryear, if they were on Facebook. “I quickly learned Facebook was the best way to keep people informed.” After retiring, he’s used his personal Facebook page to build an Ozark-connected community of thousands, and Meredith is the mayor (and pastor) of this online “town.” “After the 2011 Joplin tornado, so many OCC alumni reached out, wanting news,” remembers Meredith. After crisscrossing our country for OCC for almost five decades, he’s built thousands of friendships, and at 82, Meredith still wants to stay connected.
He’s a natural-born connector, and with a mischievous grin, twinkling eyes, tireless work ethic, and heart as big as the Kansas plains, it’s hard not to like Meredith.
Meredith loves Facebook because he loves people. “Some don’t like it because of the political comments, but I want to use it for good.” OCC,” he’s been the college’s single best cheerleader, and when he retired in 2013 at age 73, his ministry didn’t stop. During his 46 years at OCC, Meredith wore many hats: director of nationally known music group Impact Brass, admissions director, alumni director, Preaching-Teaching Convention director, and Ambassador magazine editor. A few years ago, Forbes ran a story headlined, “Abraham Lincoln Filed a Patent for a ‘Paper’ Facebook in 1845.” It claimed the not-yet-president tried to start a newspaper in Springfield, Ill., where citizens could publish pictures and personal tidbits to “keep people aware of others in the town.” The story was a hoax, but it got me thinking: If historical figures used Facebook today, what would that look like?Īmong the 15,000 Ozark Christian College alumni, Meredith Williams is a legend.
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