Assistant Editor 1995-2002 – Executive Editor 2002-2015
From: Randy Harp, Tribune Editor/Communication Director
During my first staff meeting with Rob and Karri here at the Tribune, our first order of business was to decide the best way to honor the 20 years of service Editor Keith Bassham has given to the Baptist Bible Fellowship and the Baptist Bible Tribune. It did not take long for me to realize the positive impact he has had on this office. Much can be said about Keith’s skill set as an author, editor, or even historian. But if you truly know him, what is more noticeable is his kindness, authenticity, loyalty, and genuine desire to honor Christ with his life.
Keith has been pouring into my life since Homiletics class my junior year at Baptist Bible College. He has continued to influence my life whether through phone calls, emails, visits to his office while I was in Springfield, or having him preach at my church. His ministry will continue at the Tribune if in no other way than through his investment in me personally.
As I read through the tributes submitted it is evident the impact Keith has had not just on this office or on my life but in our entire Fellowship. Proverbs 3:27 states, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.” As you read through these next few pages, I encourage you to take some time to think of ways you have been influenced by Keith’s ministry. If you feel compelled, you can send an email or note of encouragement to the Tribune office and we will make sure he receives it.
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From: Mike Randall, Tribune Editor 1995-2002
With this issue and after 13 years, Keith Bassham is closing out his tenure as the editor of the Baptist Bible Tribune. He began his work as the assistant editor, when I invited him to join the Tribune staff in 1995. He has seen and reported significant events in the history of the BBFI for the past two decades. Now, his departure is a significant event in itself.
I was first attracted to Editor Bassham when I read his well-written articles in the Oklahoma BBF newsletter he edited in the 1990s. It was obvious he could write, but working with him day by day, I became even more aware of his keen intellect. He would often surprise me by his amazing ability to recall something he read or relate some obscure detail of church or BBFI history. Because of this, I gave him the nickname “Univac,” after the computer of the same name. Some may not know this, but to better qualify himself and better serve the BBFI, he studied hard and earned his Master of Science degree in Administrative Studies in 2012 from Missouri State University. “Univac” Bassham is probably one of the most intelligent people I know.
Along with intellect and writing skill, Editor Bassham has always had the heart of a peacemaker. Make no mistake, he is his own man and able to effectively express his opinions. I have observed him standing his ground with those who disagreed with a position or policy he espoused, while he still conveyed a conciliatory demeanor, embracing the common motives and goals shared with his counterpart. He works to cultivate harmony, to do what is best for the common good, even if it means some sacrifice or discomfort on his part. He is a peacemaker.
I have also been impressed with his stewardship. He has operated the Tribune for the past 13 years on a well-thought-out budget, annually approved by the BBFI executive officers. His stewardship has maintained the quality of equipment, quality of operation, quality of design, layout, paper, and printing, without overspending the budget. Almost all the Tribune reserve funds inherited in 2002 are still available, even though all the Fellowship enterprises, including the Tribune, have suffered financially since the economic crash of 2008. In my opinion, all this speaks especially well of the stewardship of our Tribune Editor Keith Bassham.
On a personal level, my wife and I have grown to love Keith and his wife, Shari, more and more over these years. He has become more than a coworker. He is a peer and they are valued friends. We join the thousands of readers of the Tribune, the pastors, missionaries, leaders, and friends of the BBFI in thanking Editor Keith Bassham for all he has done to advance the cause of Christ and edify our souls. We wish Keith and Shari Bassham all God’s best.
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From: Tom Harper, Tribune Assistant Editor 1983-1985, 1990-2006
When Mike Randall became Tribune editor in 1995, I think he had already decided to hire Keith Bassham. But he still asked who might be a good candidate for another assistant editor, and I didn’t hesitate to recommend Keith. No one else had the required mix of talent, background, and recklessness to drop into that spot and make a go of it. Although it’s difficult to remember exactly when we first met, when we did I was immediately impressed by Keith as an intelligent man of integrity, someone who liked study, and didn’t fear questions. And he knew a lot about how to use the language, also, which was important. Plus he seemed really to want the job. Later he remarked that he felt guilty getting paid to have so much fun.
We tried to cure him of those guilt feelings with long proofreading nights and rewrites and budget fights and other things that plague the publishing world, but we never could. We all shared the pressure, and the fun. But when time came to wear the big hat, would the weight of it squash away all that fun?
I’m ahead of my story. Keith wasn’t ready for the big hat right away. It was obvious that in time he would be, but the right kind of leader doesn’t start there or assume that he’s there without serious growth and help. Keith had a healthy fear of making a mess of things, and enough genuine humility to spend the requisite time with Mr. Randall and Mr. Combs, and in study and reflection, and in communication with others in the field, and most importantly in prayer and seeking, asking God for the wisdom necessary for what was coming.
And what was coming was tough.
Few people know all the inside, political-type struggles surrounding the executive editor position, but everyone recognizes the influence the position carries. With influence comes the pressure. I was proud to watch Keith stay true to his principles and not succumb to pressures from lots of people who wanted to use the Tribune for lots of peripheral things. And we still had fun.
Those are good memories, but the better memories are long talks in the office about the Bible and family, debates about various topics, creative sessions with the whole team that gave new and better direction to our work … basically all the things that made it worthwhile to hang around with a great editor and friend for 11 years. By the way, nobody has better taste in or more profound knowledge of quality BBQ than Keith.
Along with James O. Combs and Mike Randall, Keith Bassham had marvelous influence in our Fellowship, and on me personally. It was a true privilege to be there when he became Tribune executive editor and watch it all unfold. The entire BBFI, and all of us who worked at the Tribune during his 20 years, are grateful for the honor of it.
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From: Eric Shadle, Tribune Webmaster 1998-2004
I arrived at Baptist Bible College in 1997. Around a year later, I joined the Tribune staff to help expand their online presence and, later, to archive previous issues. It was a fantastic opportunity to work on campus and be involved in what I loved. Yet, little did I know the way this opportunity would impact me.
The first time I met Keith Bassham, he was assistant editor at the time, he had a computer with the side off on his desk. He loved computers and so did I! But our relationship was more than just guys swapping tech ideas. Sometime along the way he decided to invest in me — the type of investment to see a return for God’s kingdom. A mentorship.
The truth was, I had a zeal for God’s Word and little experience. I needed someone to guide me. It was not uncommon for Keith to come to my office and dialogue with me on many of the ideas from the day. Where others might have been too busy to spend time with a Bible college sophomore, he wasn’t! He loved to make me think, especially about the Bible. In many ways, he brought balance to my thinking — allowing me room to explore and at the same time giving me Biblical reminders along the way.
He further shaped my thinking as I sat in his Preaching Workshop class. His love for the proper understanding of God’s Word and preaching couldn’t help but rub off on me. He encouraged his students to find a pulpit to fill for preaching experience. At some point, like many others, I found myself preaching at his pulpit.
I remember one time greatly enjoying an office prank. My partner in crime and I finally took it too far and Mr. Bassham confronted us. Later that evening, as I asked his forgiveness, he assured me all was fine. As best I remember, he said something like, “Well, it was funny!” I remember thinking how gracious he was. He made his point yet reinforced that everything was okay.
As my family started and our first child came, balancing graduate school, work, and home life was a challenge. Through all of this, Keith was there as much more than a boss — he wanted me to succeed. He was wise in not taking the load from me, but seemed to be monitoring my progress. I’m sure he knew it was part of God’s working in my life and it served a purpose for me.
Our family arrived as missionaries in Ethiopia over six years ago. We are amazed how God used so many relationships to prepare us for such a diverse place. For me, one of those relationships was with Mr. Bassham — not only working alongside of but being mentored by a man who loved God and people. When you get around those types of people, it changes you.
Let me tell you today, Bro. Bassham, what I didn’t quite realize then. Thank you for teaching me the balance in life and ministry. Thank you for teaching me to have a love for God’s Word and preaching. Thank you for teaching me that investing in others for God’s kingdom is always worth it. Thanks for the mentorship!
Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
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From: Karri Joy Perry, Director of Office Services 2002-present
When I accepted the job at the Tribune 13 years ago, I really felt God was opening the door for me to be in full-time ministry. And having grown up in a missionary/pastor’s home, I was excited to serve people in ministry. Yet, I never thought of how God would use this job and specifically Keith Bassham to teach and minister to my family and me.
When I started here, I was hired to handle bookkeeping, subscriptions, and office work. However, either because our staff was decreasing or because he saw potential in me, Keith began training me to edit the Tribune. Being the wordsmith and writer he is, he had lots of experience and wisdom to pass down to me — the inverted pyramid method of writing news articles, how not to bury a lead, how to use demonstratives sparingly, etc.
But his teaching went far beyond job skills, living out God’s Word in front of me and helping me love God and others more. One verse he taught me to apply was, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). No matter who called or how rude the person may have been, Mr. Bassham tried to show grace. In fact, I once asked him why he took the calls of one of our more difficult and regular callers. He explained he had learned from Mike Randall to comfort the feebleminded. (So thank you Mr. Randall, you taught Keith an invaluable lesson he in turn taught me.)
I observed Keith more than once listening to and comforting a widow, widower, or someone who was brokenhearted, and at times that person was me. He was never too busy, he never considered himself too important.
He also has given me a new appreciation for and taught me how to honor those who have gone before us. From the way I observed Keith interact with Mr. Randall and Mr. Combs, to publishing “60 Years Ago in the Baptist Bible Tribune,” to seeking wisdom and prayer from our veteran pastors and missionaries, Keith has taught me humility and how to love and appreciate those who worked to build what we all enjoy today.
But above all, Keith has taught me just a little bit of what the love of our Father looks like. Thirteen years has brought many changes in my life, and during each of them Keith has been a listening ear, a man with wise counsel, someone who would give and sacrifice anything he could to help. He cared. He loved. He served.
In fact, if you’ll allow me to take a verse a little out of context (since I understand the Tribune office is not a church), Mr. Bassham has exemplified 1 Peter 5: 2-3: “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
I know the Tribune has been a ministry to Keith, but it differs from pastoring because you rarely see how you’re affecting and helping those around you. I hope and pray that through my family and me, Keith has seen some of the fruits of his labor.
Thank you for investing in me Bro. Bassham! I will always be thankful for the lessons you have taught me and for the friendship you’ve provided.
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From Rob Walker, Tribune Assistant Editor 2006-present
Diplomacy: skill in managing negotiations or handling people so there is little or no ill will.
Long before 1796, when the word diplomacy was added to the English language, the apostle Paul expressed the concept in his epistle to the believers at Rome. Chapter 12 of Romans gives a detailed charge regarding personal conduct … to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think (verse 3) … be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love (verse 10) … not slothful in business (verse 11) … given to hospitality (verse 13) … rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep (verse 15) … mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate (verse 16) … if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men (verse 18).
As I reflect upon my nine years at the Tribune working for Keith Bassham, I am privileged to have worked alongside such a gracious and diplomatic spirit. Keith did not manage the Tribune as if it were a soapbox for his preferences and opinions (and yes, he has a few). His approach was well-expressed in his instructions to me as the Tribune photographer. At Fellowship gatherings, he directed my work with the camera so the Tribune could reflect the whole community that is the Baptist Bible Fellowship — fledglings and veterans, missionaries and church planters, the unknowns and the well-knowns — they all had a place in his vision for the Tribune. In the office, he often explained his editorial decisions and the background information behind why he chose to travel in a certain direction with the material. Each explanation was an investment in my understanding of Fellowship history and the purpose of the Tribune. He didn’t just tell me what to do, he taught me what to do. And he was willing to make the same investment in just about anyone who walked in his office door.
Visitors to Keith’s office often noted the loaded bookshelves covering the walls and joked about how smart he must be. Now, as I write this, many of those books have taken up residence in boxes not far from my desk awaiting moving day. With each squawk of the packing-tape dispenser, I am reminded that it was not the large library that made Keith wise. As the degrees and framed accolades come off his office wall, I understand that it was not his education or achievements that brought him respect. For me, the two green fabric-covered swivel chairs that sit in front of his desk say it all.
In those chairs I received words of both admonishment and appreciation from Keith, while never feeling belittled or blandished. I sat in those chairs as he expressed care for my family and an interest in my well-being that was beyond gracious. I would like to think that the way he treated me was because of who I am as a Tribune employee, but the fact is, he treated me that way because of who he is. And it’s how he treated the wide spectrum of people who stopped by to sit in those green chairs or called to speak with him. His counsel was wise, his willingness to listen was invaluable, and his transparency was refreshing.
Keith Bassham truly has the heart of a diplomat. As a man of God, he personifies the attributes of Romans 12, and his work within the BBFI speaks to his wisdom in handling people and affairs. The example he set will continue to be an influence in my life and I will always be grateful to have served with him.
To see the entire tribute to Keith Bassham along with photos, click here.