Rory Lee

Rory R. Lee (born April 14, 1949) is a Southern Baptist clergyman, educator, and former college administrator and president who has been since 2004 the executive director of Baptist Children's Village, a statewide ministry based in Ridgeland, Mississippi, which provides group homes for children along with psychological and spiritual counseling for families.

Background

In 1971, Lee received his bachelor's degree in Bible studies from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi, where he was already working as an admissions counselor while still studying for his degree. In 1973, he obtained his master's degree in counseling from MC. Thereafter, he became the dean of men and from 1976 to 1994 the bi-vocational pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Hazlehurst in Copiah County south of the capital city of Jackson. During his tenure at Antioch, the church grew in membership, missions, stewardship, and Bible studies. In the meantime, Lee in 1984

Lee and his wife, Janet, have two children, Lauren and Lacey.

At LCU, Lee worked for the construction of new facilities on campus, the addition of two new sports to the athletic program, and an increase in the number of faculty members with terminal degrees in their field.

Baptist Children's Village

After seven years, Lee left LCU to assume his current position in Ridgeland in Madison County in the Jackson metropolitan area as the executive director of the Baptist Children's Village, which provides short-term and long-term care for abandoned, neglected, or abused children. Lee said that his duties can make one "very sad and very angry. But we’ve learned not to dwell on those negative feelings. Instead, we focus on showing Christ's love not only to the children, but also to their families. This is a healing ministry." Lee said that his life goal is to have "no repeat customers" and to eliminate the need for a facility like Baptist Children's Village.

Lee said that his preparation for his ministerial and administrative duties came through his longstanding ties to Mississippi College, which in 2011 named him "Alumnus of the Year".