Giving Tuesday – scheduled for November 30, 2021 – is a year-round global movement that inspires millions of people to give and celebrate the impact of their generosity at a grass-root level. As a participating non-profit, The Bible Seminary (TBS) has set a one-day fundraising goal of $50,000 to help fund the school’s mission to help nurture a biblically literate populace via comprehensive, strategic, Bible-based training experiences.
As an independent institution of higher education, TBS does not receive any money from the local, state, or federal government, nor does it participate in federal student loan programs. Rather, the accredited, private, non-denominational school provides high quality education to students with the help of amazing donors who help fund approximately 86% of the annual budget each year.
TBS distinctives include a high commitment to graduating all students with ZERO ($0) seminary debt, a goal met by all 79 alumni so far. The doctrinal and ethos statements are based on seven core values – the Lordship of Christ, the Bible as the fully true Word of God, Prayer, Unreached Peoples, the Local Church, Community, and Compassion. The seminary also focuses on experiential education that directly engages graduate students in mentored local church or para-church ministry throughout their degree programs, and provides cutting-edge ministry resource tools, community-based experiences that include on-site visits with regional ministry professionals, and annual archaeological and study tour opportunities such as trips to the Holy Land and excavating at Tel Shiloh and other historical sites in Israel.
As students engage in comprehensive, strategic studies of all 66 books of the Bible along with instruction in historical, theological, and practical disciplines critical to developing professional skills for life and ministry, they in turn serve in ministry leadership in communities near and far every week.
For example, Master of Divinity student, Nathan (and Abby), have served in Asia-Pacific for 9 years helping bring the Gospel to unreached people in the 10-40 Window, translating God’s Word into local languages, helping plant churches, and making disciples. They help supply jungle teams thru small bush plane flights, print teaching materials, help patients who need medical care, and handle finances for the organization. Nathan also teaches through the Bible chronologically at local churches and writes, “I’m furthering my study of God’s Word at The Bible Seminary in order to become a better teacher and disciple maker while serving the Lord here in Asia-Pacific.”
Master of Divinity student, Nikki Johnson, is a decorated soldier and Commissioned Officer who serves in the U.S. Army as a Doctor of Psychiatry and Chief Innovation Officer based in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. As she prepares for a ministry counseling career after military retirement, she writes, “I have been in ministry for years teaching (and) look forward to growing far beyond where I am now.”
Donations support these types of apprenticeships that combine theory and practice where students learn to do ministry while also actively engaging in ministry. As one graduate perceptively noted, what students learn in class each week shows up in churches every weekend!
This is certainly true for John Sherrill, Master of Arts in Biblical Studies student who serves as the founding and Lead Pastor of Declaration Church in Spring, Texas. A musician and songwriter who led worship for Breakaway at Texas A&M for 3 years, signed a songwriting deal with Integrity Music, and served as Worship Leader at several churches, John writes, “I’d like to become the ‘best me’ I can for our people (and) always feel the desire to be able to understand the Bible better and be able to teach to the best of my ability.” He adds, “A call to ministry is a lifetime of learning. I want (people) to see that being a leader is truly being a learner.”
TBS students range in age from late teens to octogenarian and up. Georgia Strong, a career real estate agent and broker who serves as a volunteer leader in community ministries like Keturah’s Haven, writes, “At 68 years old I began to fulfill a lifetime dream of completing my undergraduate degree and to continue studying to earn a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies. This unique dual degree program has made that possible. I am so grateful. There is a spirit of excellence in everything The Bible Seminary does. By offering classes live in classrooms on campus and at various churches in regional areas, as well as synchronously or asynchronously online, TBS has extended the opportunity to participate to those who would love the education but are not able to attend in person. This is a warm and inviting family atmosphere where those who are serious about their education can thrive and achieve their goals, knowing they are participating in a program of excellence.”
TBS leaders and faculty include world-renowned professionals who are experts in their fields. They represent a diverse range of denominational and non-denominational backgrounds and have a wide range of experience serving as pastors and church planters, missionaries, and non-profit leaders, as well as archaeologists, authors, business leaders and owners, counselors, educators, lawyers, linguists, pharmacists, and more.
Donating to TBS during November as part of GivingTuesday will help support these and others engaged in teaching and learning through the following degree and certificate programs:
- Master of Divinity (84 credit hours)
- Master of Arts in Biblical History and Archaeology (60 hours)
- Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (60 hours)
- Master of Arts in Biblical Languages and Culture (54 hours)
- Master of Arts in Church History and Theology (48 hours)
- Dual Degree Completion
- Vocational Ministry Certificate (27 hours)
- Bible Certificate (10 hours)
TBS is exploring adding several new degree programs, including a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling (both licensure and non-licensure), Christian Education, Leadership, Media Production, and Missions. The seminary is also hoping to raise enough to improve components of the Distance Education technology.
The Bible Seminary is a 501(c)(3) institution of higher education incorporated in Texas in 2010, an Accredited member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), an approved CEU provider by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), an Accredited member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), holds a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, and is ranked a 2021 Top-Rated Non-Profit by Great Nonprofits.
For more information, visit TheBibleSeminary.edu or listen to The Bible Seminary’s “Cultivating Biblical Leaders” podcast on Apple Podcasts. To support TBS by participating in GivingTuesday, visit TheBibleSeminary.edu/gt.
