The New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries has announced a new scholarship program designed to invest in the spiritual and educational growth of its houseparents, providing fully funded tuition to the Southern Baptist Convention’s seminaries and colleges. The program seems to reflect NMBCH’s conviction that caring for its children and families is not merely a social service, but a calling that deserves ongoing theological formation and support.
The NMBCH houseparents serve on the Home’s campus, living with and caring for up to eight children in one of the Home’s buildings. They serve for 16 days, followed by eight days on a break.
“We want to invest in those who are investing in our children,” said Serenity Richard, NMBCH Executive Director. “In the end, this scholarship benefits both houseparents and the kids in their care. It’s a win-win.”
A Pathway
Additionally, the Home offers the scholarship because student debt is one of the most commonly cited barriers for those who feel called to ministry. This program offers a feasible path forward: by serving as a houseparent at NMBCH, a couple can earn a fully funded theological education without taking on a single dollar of debt, all while providing a stable, loving home for vulnerable children. Upon graduation, they will not only have no debt but will have years of valuable, hands-on ministry experience.
For New Mexico Baptists, the program opens a door that geography and finances might otherwise keep closed, allowing houseparents to pursue accredited theological education on a schedule that respects the demands of their work and family life.
How it works
Houseparent couples who have completed a six-month probationary period at the Home become eligible to participate, which gives new houseparents time to settle in before taking on the additional commitment of coursework. During the first year, only one spouse may enroll as a full-time student, with the other eligible for part-time enrollment thereafter.
The NMBCH pays 100% of tuition directly to the institution and provides a $300 stipend per semester for required reading materials. No funding is provided for summer or winter terms, a deliberate choice meant to encourage rest and family investment during those seasons. Credit-hour limits keep workloads sustainable: up to 12 hours per semester for undergraduates and 9 hours for graduate students.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Lon Graham and originally published by the Baptist New Mexican.
