The Witness-Summer 2015

W THE WITNESS

summer 2015 MID-AMERICA BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

  degrees

 tracks

 connections

new options

 campuses

bright future

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

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s I reflect back on this past academic year, I am thankful for your continued prayer and financial support. With your assistance, we were able to continue our mission to train men to preach the Word of God and all students to evangelize the lost— both here and around the world.

This year, the seminary family experienced a bittersweet moment when long-time faculty member Dr. Jimmy Millikin retired. Dr. Millikin has served at Mid-America, except for a brief absence, since 1973. It is surreal for me to think that we will not have a word of wisdom from Dr. Millikin during our morning faculty prayer meetings. He made me laugh at the start of each school day and at the same time provided conversation rooted in deep biblical truth. I will truly miss Dr. Millikin.

Even as God closes one chapter in the life of the seminary, He always opens another. Beginning this fall, we are excited to now offer fully online degrees. We call our online options “Connected Campus.” I cannot tell you the number of times people have told me they wish they could get a degree from Mid-America, but simply could not relocate. Now, we can provide a solid,

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The Witness | Summer 2015

conservative education to those across the nation and around the world. This option is a great tool for pastors and missionaries who are called to continue serving the Lord right where they are.

There is so much more I can say about the bright future of Mid-America. As we move forward to train men and women for ministry, your prayers and financial support are needed now more than ever.

I want to personally thank those who have remained faithful to us, and I look forward to meeting new friends with the same passion to reach the world for Christ. “To all the world for Jesus’ sake.”

Michael Spradlin President, MABTS

IDEA #21

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HOW TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT MID-AMERICA.

Keep your TEAM MidAmerica memento in your office as a conversation starter about the seminary.

SPREAD THE WORD. JOIN THE TEAM. According to a recent survey, 91% of MidAmerica students heard about MABTS through someone they knew—a pastor, student, alumnus, or other friend of the seminary. In other words, someone like you.

That’s why we’ve introduced TEAM MidAmerica. It’s a growing network of friends of the seminary, all dedicated to helping MidAmerica accomplish our mission. So join the TEAM today. And win for Christ.

JOIN NOW AND RECEIVE YOUR FREE MEMENTO! Sign up at MABTS.EDU/TEAM today, and we’ll send you the special TEAM Mid-America Kit with 40 ways you can help share the good news about Mid-America. Plus, you’ll receive a free gift!

JOIN NOW AT MABTS.EDU/TEAM

What is TEAM Mid-America?

It’s a special team from the seminary family committed to the following goals:

T E A M

elling the Mid-America story. ducating prospective students about our programs and benefits. ssisting the seminary in its mission through prayer and financial support. entoring the called as partners with us.

Discover more about how you can get involved at mabts.edu/TEAM.

I

first became aware of MABTS during my last semester of college in 1972. I had been asked to sing during a local church revival meeting. The visiting preacher told me about a letter he had received from Dr. Gray Allison. The letter told about a new seminary that Dr. Gray was starting the following August. It was to be called The School of the Prophets, to be located in Ruston, Louisiana. The school would be Southern Baptist in orientation and would be distinctive in that the Bible would be taught as the inerrant Word of God. The preacher told me that that school was the place to be.

I had the distinct honor to be one of the original 28 students at MABTS. I was also a member of the first graduating class, the only one before the move to Memphis.

The men I met that first day became close friends. These include John Mahony, Ron Coppock, Randy Crews, Steve Wilkes, and David Skinner. Other men who joined us later and became friends include Tommy Cunningham and Philip Russell.

TWO PARTICULAR EXPERIENCES made a lasting impression on me. The first was my practical missions assignment. One week, after writing down that I had not witnessed to anyone for two straight weeks, I was called to Dr. Gray’s office. He asked me why I hadn’t shared Jesus with anyone in 14 days, and I told him that I had been too

By Thad Hamilton

busy. He then told me, “If you’re too busy to witness even once in two weeks, then you’re too busy to attend seminary here.”

I never again had to report that I had not witnessed to someone sometime during the previous week.

The other lasting memory was in Dr. Beaman’s class. Dr. Beaman (inset photo, far left) was widely considered to be Southern Baptist’s greatest living scholar and made many unique quotes that stick in my mind today. Perhaps the one I enjoyed most was when he was criticizing some liberal pseudo-scholar. He stopped in the middle of his discourse and said, “Am I being mean? Let me be a little meaner!” and he cut loose again.

A LASTING BENEFIT of attending our seminary was that the professors not only taught us the Bible, but also told us the best commentaries on each book in the Bible. This was really helpful and kept me from spending a lot of money on sets of commentaries with only a few strong volumes.

I learned to love our denomination and the reasons to support the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon offerings. After 47 years of evangelistic ministry among Southern Baptists, I can truly say that I would not have been a Southern Baptist were it not for what I learned and experienced at MABTS. This beloved seminary is well worthy of our prayers and financial support. As alumni, we need to realize that someone else prayed and gave to us. We have a debt to repay. Let’s do it for Jesus’ sake!

Class of 1975—MDIV

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many paths

Fall 2015 marks an exciting new era for Mid-America with new options and a bright future. Read on to learn about new degree and study options that will help you go wherever God is leading you. “...That in all things He might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).

 tracks Mid-America is offering NEW degree tracks this fall: Worship track—Lead the local church in worship through a Christ-centered, biblical approach to music and song.

Biblical Counseling track—Features a biblical or nouthetic approach to counseling, relying on the sufficiency of Christ and of the Scriptures.

Christian Education track— Essential skills for Christian education leadership roles in the church.

 connections The same high quality academic training you find in the classroom at MidAmerica is now available online. Take one course, or you can now take an entire degree— 100% online, 100% accredited, and 100% Mid-America. Our new “Connected Campus” connects you to our world-class faculty, student community, and your future. To learn more, visit MABTS.edu/ConnectedCampus.

connected campus

one purpose   degrees Beginning with Fall 2015, Mid-America has reorganized its degree lineup to better meet the needs of students and churches. Dr. Mike Spradlin, President, says, “The new changes will open more doors for ministry for the best trained ministers in the world—the Mid-America alumni.”

Associate Degree

• Divinity • Christian Education • Applied Science (NE Campus only)

Bachelor of Arts

• Christian Studies

Master of Arts

• Christian Education • Theology • Worship

Master of Divinity

• Pastoral Ministries • Christian Education • Missions • Biblical Counseling

Doctor of Ministry

• Practical Theology

• Pastoral Ministries • Biblical Counseling • Expository Preaching

• Missiology

• International • North American

• Christian Education

Doctor of Philosophy • Old Testament • New Testament • Church History • Missions • Theology • Practical Theology

• Pastoral Ministries • Biblical Counseling

• Education

 campuses In addition to the new “Connected Campus,” allowing you to pursue theological training from anywhere in the world, MABTS continues to offer residential programs in Memphis and the Northeast (Schenectady, New York).

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MID-AMERICA INTRODUCES THE ALUMNI & FRIENDS LEGACY WALKWAY. This beautiful brick pathway will be constructed on the west side of the campus behind our library. It’s a memorable way to leave your legacy while you support the next generation of students. All proceeds from the sale of Legacy Walkway bricks will help pave the way for future students. You may purchase as many bricks as you would like for $100 each. With four lines of text, you can include your name, degree, and year of graduation. Or you may want to honor or memorialize a friend, family member, or church. A limited number are available, so order yours online today. Simply go to

mabts.edu/legacywalkway.

Mid-America at SBC Mid-America hosted 150 alumni and friends on June 16 at our annual luncheon during the Southern Baptist Convention. The MABTS booth in the Exhibit Hall was also well-received.

the journal Focusing on biblical counseling, the annual Mid-America Journal was published in April. You can also view it online. Look under “Resources� at MABTS.edu.

graduation Congratulations to the 44 students who graduated from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in May.

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By Duffy Guyton Chief Development Officer MABTS

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hroughout our seminary’s history, the Lord has strategically placed godly servants who provide wisdom, expertise, and service in the area of financial advancement. Created by the Board of Trustees in 1979, the MABTS Development Council is a group of such servants—Christian lay people from different professions, backgrounds, and geographic regions who assist the President and Development Office in obtaining support for the operations of the school.

These mighty servants communicate the history, programs, needs, and distinctive qualities of the seminary to potential supporters. The seminary has been blessed to have two chairs in its history: Morris Mills (1978–2013) and Fred Rawlinson (2013–present). The Lord uses this mighty group to raise lasting friends for the seminary.

Along with other specific projects throughout the year, the Development Council oversees the annual MABTS Golf Classic. The tournament is designed to raise funds for the “Morris Mills Development Council Scholarship Fund.”

THE FOLLOWING REPORT is from Development Council Chairman, Fred Rawlinson: Around 12:00 noon, May 11, in what is known in golf circles as a “shotgun” start, 20 teams comprised of 80 golfers drove from the tees at Colonial Country Club, and, by doing so, set in motion the Fourth Annual Mid-America Golf Classic. Teams represented both

the business community and area Baptist churches. A trophy named in honor of beloved development council member Bob Fargarson was awarded to the Baptist church posting the lowest score. A team representing Bellevue Baptist Church won the Fargarson Memorial Award.

GOD IS TO BE PRAISED for the success of this year’s tournament. An early morning rainstorm gave way to clearing skies and cool breezes by tee time. Praise Him! God is to be praised also for His Spirit moving through Development Council members. Countless hours of dedicated service and a multitude of prayers resulted in tasks well done.

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE STUDENTS and future students. We were blessed to have 10 current students play on this year’s teams. Mark Thompson, current PHD student and golf participant, wrote the following note to me: “Thank you for allowing me to play in the MABTS Golf Tournament. I enjoyed meeting a number of people who love and invest in MABTS. I am eternally grateful to the Lord for allowing me to be a student twice at MABTS. Again, thank you for your generosity.”

The Chairman would like to personally extend sincere appreciation to the golf committee members. To serve alongside these godly men was an inspiration and a true blessing. The golf committee members include Larry Anderson, Sr., Larry Anderson, Jr., Terry Brimhall, Ken Bridges, Jerry Flynt, Bill McGaughey, Bill McNeil, Bryan Powers, Jim Waggener, Rick Williams, and Jimmie Williams.

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P.O. Box 2350 • Cordova, TN 38088-2350

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