By: Brian G. Chilton | January 16, 2021
Chad Fultz was a giant man of the faith. Physically, he stood around 6’5” and hailed from the mountains of Tennessee. Larger than his frame was his love for Christ. I first met Chad in-person during an intensive with Dr. Randall Price at Liberty University as part of the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics. While most everyone else in the class was dressed in professional business attire, Chad was known to come to class wearing his overalls, especially on Fridays when everything was more casual in nature. Chad had a deep voice, comparable to the great Adrian Rogers, with a steep Tennessee dialect. Don’t let the dialect fool you, Chad was a wise and highly intelligent man. He would engage in theological debates while colorfully speaking about how one theologian “whooped up” on the anti-Christian scholar in written form.
When I first met Chad, he approached me and shook my hand. I looked up at him and thought, “Wow! That’s a big guy!” When he approached me, he said, “Are you THE Brian Chilton?” I said hesitantly, “I am.” He shocked me with his reply, “I cannot believe I am shaking hands with THE Brian Chilton!” He continued, “I have read your articles and heard your podcasts. I can’t believe that I am in class with THE Brian Chilton!” Even though I was a foot shorter than Chad, he made me feel like I was nine-feet-tall. But that was Chad. Chad elevated those around him. He encouraged everyone he met. Even when he and his family shared a meal with me at Cookout, they made me feel like the guest of honor.
The Liberty community received word yesterday that Chad had lost his fight with COVID-19 due to complications associated with the virus. While the Liberty University and Bellator Christi communities mourn the loss of Chad, we know that he is celebrating in heaven. I believe it is quite possible that we might have gatherings in heaven likened to the in-person intensives. Perhaps, we will have conferences listening to the heroes of the faith from times past. After visiting with Jesus, I envision Chad even now talking with the prophet Elijah asking him what it was like to “whoop up” on the prophets of Ba’al and Asherah.
In a world full of pretentiousness and hate, we could use a lot more Chad Fultzes. While my heart is broken over the loss of a good friend and colleague, I take comfort in the fact that I will one day see my buddy from Tennessee again. The next time, we will have a larger-scale intensive with the saints and heroes of the faith in that celestial university of God’s kingdom. While he claimed it was an honor to meet me, it was truly an honor for this country boy from the hills of North Carolina to meet THE Chad Fultz.
Brian G. Chilton is the founder of BellatorChristi.com, the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast, and the author of the Layman’s Manual on Christian Apologetics. Brian is a Ph.D. Candidate at Liberty University in the Theology and Apologetics Program. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and received certification in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Brian is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has served in pastoral ministry for nearly 20 years. He currently serves as a clinical chaplain.
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