Brad Johnson, MABTS graduate, wears several hats here at Mid-America. Recently, he has been spending more time in the newly installed recording studio on campus.
One of his projects is called “Ten Minutes With”. Check out the blog here.
I am in an amazing period of learning in my life. I get to sit under professors that guide me and challenge me for several hours in the morning and then in the afternoon put those things into practice as we work with Hispanics. One of those places in which we put into practice what we’re learning is Bent Tree.
Bent Tree is an apartment complex in which we are working. We had our first service/interest meeting a few weeks ago. I was fairly certain no one would show up. I was envisioning us gringos staring at each other for the evening. I was wrong.
Five adults and five kiddos showed up. Three families were represented. It was a blast. We’ve had two more services since then and a few more come each time.
We’re working our way through Charles Brock’s Buenas Nuevas Para Ti.
We’re studying the book of Hebrews in New Testament 2.
It’s a tough book, but amazing at the same time. Mike Baker is working through some of the more difficult passages in the book with us.
I wrote yesterday about what MABTS is known for but shouldn’t be. Today I’m going to write about what MABTS should be known for and isn’t (for the most part).
From the beginning Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary strived to train people not only in theological matters, but in the practical outworkings of theology in everyday ministry. In other words, the founders of MABTS, weren’t satisfied in relegating training for ministry to a classroom and theoretical debates. So, a system of practical ministry integration was born.
The practical missions program was put into place; and it’s really simple.
Every student is required to participate in two hours of ministry a week.
Every student is required to walk with someone through the Gospel message once a week.
Every student is held accountable to completing this requirement.
The experience and habit of putting into practice what goes on in the classroom is potentially soul-shaking for a student. It was for me. In starting at MABTS I suddenly found myself in an intense classroom setting dealing with new ideas and new ways of seeing the world. Most people have had the experience of being challenged by a teacher. Far fewer have been able to step out of the classroom and into people’s lives and continue the process of working out what they just wrestled with in theory.
This is what MABTS should be known for. For me, it is what has been the fertilizing agent in my growth in and toward Christ these past two years.
There is no doubt that MABTS is known for it’s tie-wearing policy. For a lot of folks, that’s the first thing they think about when they hear Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. That’s unfortunate because MABTS has some amazing things to bring to the table when it comes to training for ministry. The dress code is a secondary issue that sometimes has a tendency to become more important than it really is.
Truthfully, it was one of the only things that I knew about this school when I was first considering it.
Last week Dr. Spradlin announced a historic change MABTS policy. Ties are no longer required. Many were overjoyed. Some were disappointed. And a few were mostly concerned with the fried catfish that awaited them in the cafeteria.
Ties or no ties, Mid-America is an effective and fruitful center for training ministers. What we look like on the outside is important (business casual from now on, by the way), but not near as important as the the day in and day out business of walking in obedience to Christ and full of the Holy Spirit as we seek to be his hands and feet in Memphis and beyond.
Warm weather means a lot more congregating at Mid-America Student Housing. A few nights ago we fired up some grills and enjoyed a warm evening of food and friends.
The community in which we get to participate here at MABTS is one of the things for which I am most grateful. It is amazing.
We use Logos at Mid-America. It’s a bit on the expensive side. But it is an amazing piece of software. One great thing about it is the digital library that is included. It provides a way to sample books to which I may have never been exposed.
Two that have been particularly useful to me are The Necessity of Prayer by E.M. Bounds and Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon. I read this from Morning and Evening today:
Faith is our walk, but fellowship sensibly felt is our rest. Faith is the road, but communion with Jesus is the well from which the pilgrim drinks.
