A Tribute to Dr. Burrell Dinkins
Dr. Burrell D. Dinkins, former ATS professor, passed away at the age of 91 on January 7, 2025. Here, Rev. Dr. Lyndol Loyd (ATS ’93, ’00) offers his tribute to Burrell. We pray this is a blessing to you. To see the obituary for Dr. Dinkins, please visit this month’s “Obituaries” article or see HERE.
I’ve found making periodic entries in a gratitude journal to be an important spiritual discipline. It is a way for me to bear witness to God’s goodness and intentionally thank God for his blessings. I’m always better for it.
When I learned of the passing of Dr. Burrell Dinkins I knew it was time for a new journal entry. Dr. Dinkins was one of my seminary professors, who became a mentor and dear friend. I first met Burrell in the fall of 1992. Little did I know how impactful his presence in my life would become.
When he joined the ATS faculty Dr. Dinkins quickly established a reputation as a gentle spirit, with a keen intellect and full of wisdom forged in the depth of his relationship with Jesus. Students flocked to his counseling classes for the opportunity to sit at his feet and learn from him. Countless lives were impacted in his classroom or by sitting across from him as a counselor.
When my wife, Joni, and I became engaged, Burrell did our premarital counseling and honored us by officiating our wedding in Estes Chapel. Thirty years later I still use what I learned from him during that time in how I do premarital counseling with couples and what I say when I officiate weddings. His wisdom was that solid and impactful.
Later, when I was a Beeson Pastor, Burrell mentored my dissertation. He guided me through the process of researching, writing and rewriting. He knew when to speak a hard word to me and he knew when and how to encourage me. Burrell was someone with a high IQ, but with an even higher EQ. I benefited greatly from both. I wasn’t the only one. Burrell mentored over 100 doctoral student dissertations over the years.
Burrell also had the uncanny ability to help people discern the voice of God. Once when Joni and I attended an ATS president’s retreat in Naples, Florida, Burrell walked across the room and seemingly out of nowhere said, “I think you need to move to Orlando and start a new church.” With that one statement he turned our world upside down. We didn’t sleep that night because as soon as the words came out of Burrell’s mouth we knew that God was calling us to plant a new church. Only Burrell could have spoken to us that way.
Wisdom was one of Burrell’s spiritual gifts. He taught me things such as to never waste a good crisis and to always let the problem be the problem and to not make the person the problem. He pointed me toward being solution focused. Burrell’s wisdom continues to pay dividends today. I’m a better disciple of Jesus, husband, father, pastor, and friend because of him.
My story is but a single chapter of the book that many others could help write in tribute to Dr. Dinkins. I invite you to join me in expressing gratitude to God for the life and ministry of Dr. Burrell Dinkins.
Burrell Dinkins was the highlight of my counselling career. His approach to Solution-Focused counselling couple with the “Magic Question” guided me to helping people find their way through relational challenges.
If I had to name the top 5 people who have influenced my ministry, he would be on the list. Forever thankful for his example of living out who God has made and called us to be. He also brought God’s healing into my life. I will be forever grateful.
Greg, our daughter Karianne and I were blessed to be neighbors of Burrell and Phyllis while living in Wilmore.
We were included in family birthday dinners, gifted many delicious treats from Burrell’s garden and countless precious times together.
When we received word in the middle of the night that my Dad had unexpectedly passed away in West Virginia, we took a note to the Dinkins back door to let them know what had happened and to ask them to care for our dog in our absence. Burrell met us at the door and said he had been awakened with an urgency that something was wrong, but he didn’t know what, so he had been praying.
To his beloved family, especially to Randy and his daughters that we knew most well, our lives were touched by the great legacy of our precious neighbors, Burrell and Phyllis.
Burrell and his wife Phyllis were dear friends. I can honestly say I probably would not have attended Seminary without his encouragement. He will be missed.
Dr. Dinkins had the smoothest southern voice sharing how to care for people. Thank you for your loving Jesus and people.