Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary & Training Future Ministers
If you’ve never had the privilege of spending a couple of days at one of our six Southern Baptist Seminaries, you’ve missed a blessing! God is working in a miraculous way in the lives of young men and women who are preparing for ministry at those campuses.
Last year, my husband, Steve, spoke in chapel at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth; his alma mater), at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville) and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Wake Forest NC). As we traveled to each of them, I marvelled at the uniqueness of each one, and the quality and commitment of their faculty and students.
We’ve also had the privilege of visiting at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (New Orleans) and Golden Gate Theological Seminary (San Francisco) in the past.
The only SBC seminary we’d never seen–until last week–was Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City MO. The MBTS campus is beautifully situated on a hill overlooking Kansas City, and the students and faculty on that campus are amazing. It is obvious that God is at work there, and the atmosphere is charged with an enthusiasm about sharing Jesus. The school had invited several state executive directors for informational meetings about the school, and Steve was invited to share a word about Indiana Baptists during their chapel service. President Dr. Philip Roberts and his wife, Anya, were wonderful hosts and we enjoyed hearing their heart for preparing future Christian leaders.
If you’ve been following the path of Hurricane Gustav, you may know that New Orleans seminary was evacuated. Their preparation for such an event is extraordinary, however, and seminary classes continue via Internet until students return later this week. God’s work must go on! An email from Dr. Rhonda Kelley, President’s wife, says “Thank you very much for your prayers. We feel them. God has been faithful to protect us.” Check their website for updates, and keep on praying for NOBTS.
Our Cooperative Program dollars are well-invested in these six academic training institutions dedicated to teaching future ministers.
I also had the privilege of visiting the campus of the Cuba Baptist Seminary in Cuba this spring, where training has exploded off the campus. We heard personal testimonies of men who spent many years of their lives in prison because they were seminary students. I was on Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary’s campus last month to take a graduate class, and observed a beautiful campus with an enormous commitment to God. Steve and I were at Kiev Theological Seminary last year and were enthralled with our IMB missionaries teaching church planting to Ukrainian pastors. God is raising up many committed young people to vocational Christian ministry across our globe, and He is using seminaries across our world to train and inspire them for service to God.
Pray for our seminary leaders and students! Encourage them. I’ve pasted a chapter of ways to encourage seminarians from my book, Fresh Ideas-1000 Ways to Grow a Thriving and Energetic Church. (pasted below)
RECENT PUBLISHED ARTICLES:
“Fresh Ideas” articles were published this week in the Illinois Baptist and The Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Witness.
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SEMINARY STUDENTS
“I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
God’s called them. We’ll encourage them. Need fresh ideas to lift up seminary students from your church?
Recognize Them
Encourage the church to faithfully pray for church members who are called to fulltime ministry by occasionally printing a list of seminary students in your church newsletter or church bulletin.
Send-Off
Plan a celebration reception after the business meeting when your church votes to endorse a seminary student.
Report
When the seminary students are home for holidays, ask them to share testimonies in a Sunday School department, teach a Bible class or to speak at a church event. The pastor may choose to invite the seminary student to preach occasionally.
Still Miss Ya!
As a church, class or individual, keep in touch with seminary students frequently. Personally write a monthly note, or assign months to several church members. Send care packages. Order pizza delivered during finals.
Purchase a Bible commentary set and send one book monthly. Mail a congratulations card after each semester. Send a singing telegram.
Whatever it takes, assure that student that your church is praying.
Internship
Invite a seminary student to work in your church as a ministry intern this summer. If a seminary is near your church, strive to create full- or part-time ministry positions for students. The church will be blessed, the student will benefit, and God’s kingdom will be impacted. Our church’s members who attended seminary had a standing invitation to serve as summer interns.
Scholarships and Gifts
Students preparing for ministry are worthy of your generous investment.
Offer to help with a book purchase for a seminary student, or establish one-time or ongoing scholarships through the seminary financial aid office. Consider assisting with funding for the seminary student to attend a Christian conference or an overseas mission trip.
“Adopt” an International Seminary Student
Ask the nearest seminary for the name of a ministerial student from another country, and then develop a supportive friendship.
First Pastorate Shower
A graduating seminary student, who grew up in your church, has accepted his first full-time pastorate. Give him a book shower! Every young minister needs commentaries, Bible dictionaries, Christian magazine subscriptions, current Christian books and other resources.
Inform
Use seminary bulletin inserts to inform your church about the important ministry of your denomination’s seminaries.
Dear Mr. President
If your pastor or ministry staff attended seminary, write that seminary President to tell how your church has benefited and to express your appreciation.
Recognize Their Calling And Commitment
Students complete a four-year college degree before seminary, and then the M.Div seminary degree requires an additional three years of challenging graduate level courses. Seminary is hard work. One of the greatest blessings that God can give a church is to call its members into vocational ministry. Invest in them!
An excerpt from Fresh Ideas–1000 Ways to Grow a Thriving and Energetic Church (B&H ‘07)