Brock Brown

Brock Brown plans to pursue his calling with a Master of Divinity degree.

When Brock Brown sings, members of the audience will often remark how they didn’t just hear the words, they felt them.

“All night, all day, angels watching over me, my Lord. All night, all day, angels watching over me.”

Brown performed “All Night, All Day” at the same commencement ceremony in which he earned a musical arts degree with a minor in education. He has sung at numerous OBU Division of Music events and others but was asked if something was different about that day. 

“Since being at OBU, my walk with God has increased significantly,” Brown said. “OBU showed me through experiences what it means to have a true and personal relationship that can be unique — that is, moving beyond that which is the norm and experiencing Christ every day with fresh eyes, an open heart, and an intuitive mind.”

Brown said that day was significant for multiple reasons.

During Brown’s college years, his father passed away.

“That moment was indeed special to me for a couple of reasons,” Brown said. “One being that I performed with the thought of family who would’ve wanted to be present, my dad and both sets of grandparents. Another was being able to glance out into the audience to see my mom and my three older siblings smiling back at me, celebrating with me the accomplishments.”

Brown said that while on Bison Hill, God worked in his life and showed him the potential he has to help others and to bring glory to His name.

He now plans to attend seminary to complete a Master of Divinity degree.

At OBU, he has been a meaningful instrument through years of choir and vocal performance. He shared his strong and mature voice through performances in OBU’s University Chorale and special concerts on campus and in the community. He served as the director of OBU’s Gospel Choir and served as the music director for Union Missionary Baptist Church in Shawnee.

Brown first heard about OBU while a student at Westmoore High School in Oklahoma City. A student teacher and a junior high choir teacher were Bison alumni who made an impression on Brown. At the same time, his choral experiences in high school continued to reinforce his interest in music. He was selected to Oklahoma’s All-State Choir for all four years of high school and was also selected multiple years to perform in the Mixed All-State Choir and the State Jazz Ensemble.

During his early school years, Brown sensed a particular leaning towards ministry. He always loved church and studying the Bible. In that pursuit, he shadowed his pastor to understand ministry better. For Brown, the ministry decision was yet to be confirmed in his heart as he continued to ponder questions in his mind and before the Lord.

As a junior in high school, Brown came to OBU for a campus tour, and he recalls sitting in a mock class as part of the day’s tour. Dr. David Gambo, a professor from the Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry, was his teacher in the course that day.

Brown said, “I specifically remember that all the questions in my mind were answered through Dr. Gambo’s teaching… every one of them. On that day, my vocational calling to ministry was confirmed. I also knew then that OBU was my choice for college.”

“I benefited so much as a student here. In addition to the rigorous core classes and my entire education, the music program is comprehensive and cumulative,” Brown said.

Life on Bison Hill was never dull for Brown. He served as president of OBU’s Black Student Union beginning with his sophomore year.

“I am grateful for the opportunity I had to contribute to a healthy environment of kingdom diversity on campus. Our organization has played a vital role in helping to create awareness of Black culture among our students, faculty, and staff. This has been accomplished through hosting campus events and specific emphases, speakers, celebrations, and the addition of a vice-president for university culture on the executive cabinet,” he said. “OBU has taught me the value of serving others and making a difference. I have grown in the realm of servant leadership. And, as I think of the meaning of a future shaper, I think about being an agent of change. It means being an instrument that shapes someone else’s life for the better.”

With school and with the loss of his father, Brown did a lot of deep thinking.

“I questioned, prayed, and contemplated death and the thought of eternal life,” he said. “Through my philosophy course and the influence of my professors and OBU student ministry director, Dr. Matt Kearns, I moved closer to God and deeper in my faith. I also gave myself the gift of time and grace in the process.”

When he reflects overall on his years at OBU, Brown has a “footprints in the sand” perspective where God’s presence all along becomes more and more clear.

“To be as transparent as possible, earning my degree meant that the work I put in canceled out every thought of doubt/negativity from either myself or others about my capability,” Brown said “It also meant that the work that I did was ultimately not in vain and God recognized it for His glory.”