MID-AMERICA BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

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THE WITNESS

The Witness | SPRING 20152

Michael Spradlin President, MABTS

I simply love my Mid-America family! As I observe the dire condition of our world, and even some churches, my

appreciation for our donors, alumni, students, and faculty grows deeper with each passing year. I am truly thankful for the support you continue to give us and am amazed at your generosity in our journey to train men and women to fulfill the Great Commission. As many of you know, I have a passion for the game of basketball and have coached for many years—and I like to win. This means I must create a team that understands the playbook and then executes the play with accuracy and precision. Similarly, I feel that the

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTseminary family is like a team; we have one playbook, the Bible, and one main goal, to win the lost to Christ. I am gratefully asking your help to ensure that our seminary remains both fiscally and spiritually healthy. Your financial support is crucial to our mission of equipping students for the ministry and teaching them the discipline of soul winning. Also, please pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to work through our seminary family as we further the Kingdom of Christ together until Jesus either calls us home or He first returns.

JOIN THE TEAMWIN FOR CHRISTFact 1: According to a recent survey, 91% of Mid-America students heard about MABTS through someone they knew—a pastor, student, alumnus, or other friend of the seminary. In other words, someone like you.Fact 2: Every Mid-America student is essentially on a 70% scholarship thanks to the generous support of our donors. Getting the picture? Mid-America is a team. Faculty. Students. Alumni. Supporters. All working together towards one goal: taking the Gospel to all the world for Jesus’ sake. That’s why we’re introducing TEAM Mid-America. It’s a network of friends of the seminary, all dedicated to helping Mid-America accomplish our mission. Join the TEAM. And win for Christ.

What is TEAM Mid-America?It’s a special team from the seminary family committed to the following goals:

T—Telling the Mid-America story.

E—Educating prospective students about our

programs and benefits.

A—Assisting the seminary in its mission through prayer

and financial support.

M—Mentoring the called as partners with us.

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

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Personal evangelism

Expository preaching

Love of missions

A s I come to the end of my PHD work in Church History, I am truly grateful for the years I have spent at

MABTS. When I worked on my Master of Divinity degree in the early ‘90s, my main focus was to finish seminary. I did not take the time to cherish my educational experience and build relationships with the professors and students. When I began to pray where God wanted me to work on my PHD, my sights were set on a different school. Ultimately, God led me back to MABTS. I determined that my second seminary experience would be better than the first and sought to make the most of each day. Getting to know my professors and classmates sitting around a seminar table or eating lunch together was invaluable. Further, the opportunity to worship with fellow students and faculty during Founders’ Days was refreshing and helped prepare my mind and heart for the new semester. THREE THINGS STAND OUT when thinking about my time at MABTS. First, I am grateful for the training I received in personal evangelism. I can confidently take my Bible and show someone how they can trust Christ as their Savior. Second, I learned the importance and value of expository preaching. Last, I am grateful for the love of missions that

God placed in my heart. I do not know what the future holds or where God will send me, but I do know that God wants me to train pastors overseas and to invest in men and women preparing for ministry. I BELIEVE THAT MABTS is the greatest seminary in the world. God is moving in the hearts of men and women here to impact the world for Him. Please know that your prayers and financial gifts are helping our students become better ministers and missionaries who share the love of Christ with a lost world. I encourage you to give as generously and as often as you can to this great institution.

The Witness | SPRING 2015 5

By Mark ThompsonClass of 1993—MDIVClass of 2015—PHD

know that your prayers and financial gifts are helping our students become better ministers and missionaries who share the love of Christ.

Mid-America prepares students for whatever ministry God has down the road. So beginning

with the Fall 2015 semester, we’re introducing new degree programs that offer options for custom-tailoring a path of study that will lead students wherever He calls.

WORSHIP TRACK—Lead the local church in worshipping our Lord through a Christ-centered biblical approach to music and song.

COUNSELING TRACK—Features a biblical or nouthetic approach to counseling in which students have confidence in and rely on the sufficiency of Christ and of the Scriptures.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION TRACK— Essential skills for Christian education leadership roles in the church, including education administration, staff relationships, leadership development, teaching, educational curriculum, age-group ministries, women’s ministry, program evaluation, evangelism, and missions.

Beginning this fall, Mid-America is offering new degrees in Church

Ministries with tracks available

in Worship, Counseling, and

Christian Education.

MASTER OF ARTS IN CHURCH MINISTRIES

ASSOCIATE OF CHURCH MINISTRIES

W

CO

CE

MCMMASTER OF CHURCH MINISTRIES

WCOCE

WCOCE

WCOCE

MACM

ACM

DID YOU KNOW MID-AMERICA ALSO OFFERS A BACHELOR DEGREE?Like all our degrees, the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies (BACS) is a fully accredited degree that equips students for ministry.

LEARN MORE—CONTACT THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE OR VISIT MABTS.EDU.

NEW!

7The Witness | SPRING 2015

DID YOU KNOW MID-AMERICA ALSO OFFERS A BACHELOR DEGREE?Like all our degrees, the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies (BACS) is a fully accredited degree that equips students for ministry.

9The Witness | SPRING 2015

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.

By Duffy GuytonChief Development Officer MABTS

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His Treasure Principle Benefiting The Entire

Seminary Family

WE ARE REFRESHED by others who live their lives in direct obedience to the Lord. On a personal note, my heart has been forever shaped by these humble servants. These men and women are prayer warriors who faithfully pray for our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Students have experienced the Lord’s provision through the ministry of these faithful servants. Tuition, immediate needs, restricted and non-restricted gifts have all been generated through the many who have attended throughout the years, as well. When one’s treasure is in Heaven, it unlocks the heart to genuinely worship the Lord

and benefits His entire seminary family. We are grateful for all who have attended, and we look forward to meeting new friends at future SonRise Breakfasts. Please join us this Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. The cost is only $5 for breakfast. Then at 7:00, Dr. Spradlin continues his expository excavation currently of the book of Luke.

The Witness | SPRING 2015

When one’s treasure is in Heaven, it unlocks the heart to genuinely worship the Lord and benefits His entire seminary family.

I n 1 Samuel 13:14, the Lord identifies a distinction of biblical leadership as being “a man after His own heart.” The Lord uses the

contrite and humble to glorify Himself. The seminary has been blessed since its inception by His vessels using their financial resources to honor Him where He is at work. It is evident that God uses His mighty saints whose treasures are in Heaven. When one’s heart lives the biblical principal of godly treasure, selflessness permeates his life and reflects Christ’s grace, mercy, and ever-loving kindness. ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS at 6:30 for many years, friends of the seminary gather for the SonRise Breakfast. It’s packed with great food, fellowship, and worship through His Word. This special ministry continues as Dr. Spradlin goes verse by verse through books of the Bible. Many share how they have grown and experienced His Word in a deeper fashion in their lives. These special friends faithfully attend and recruit others to start their day in His Word together with fellow believers. Every new day begins with a glorious morning. Lamentations 3:23 reminds us that His mercy and His faithfulness are “new every morning.”

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