Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

‘Seminary Day’ provides ‘win-win’ for aspiring pastors and churches

  • March 22, 2022
  • Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
  • Latest News, North Carolina
(Unsplash.com)

‘Seminary Day’ provides ‘win-win’ for aspiring pastors and churches

Dave Heller still remembers how challenging it was to find opportunities to preach after answering a call to the ministry more than 40 years ago.

Based on his own experience, Heller frequently looks for ways to give aspiring pastors the chance to preach whenever he can. That’s one reason why he dedicated a recent Sunday to giving seminary students a chance to preach in churches that are part of the Columbus Baptist Association.

“We’ve used seminary students for pulpit supply for several years,” said Heller, who has served as the associational mission strategist in the Columbus association for more than seven years. “We thought it would be a good idea to set aside a day and have a group of students come down and preach in our churches.”

Heller put out a call to local churches and worked with the administration at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, to sponsor the first official “Seminary Day” in the association.

Sixteen churches signed on, and during that Sunday in February, students from SEBTS along with faculty and staff traveled to the Columbus Baptist Association offices in Whiteville.

The day started with breakfast at the association offices, where students met the pastors of the churches where they would be preaching that morning. The pastors took the students to the churches and out to lunch after the morning worship services before returning to the association offices for a time of fellowship and conversation about how the day went.

For some students, it was the first time they had preached during a worship service. Two people also trusted Christ as Savior through the messages that were shared that day.

Andrew Davis, who is pursuing a master of divinity in preaching and pastoral ministry, preached a message from Luke 18 on the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector at Peace Baptist Church in Whiteville. It was Davis’ first time preaching to a congregation and afterward, a man came forward to place his faith in Christ.

“I am still processing this miracle,” Davis said. “This was both humbling and encouraging to me knowing that if I remain faithful to the mission God has given me, He will use His Word to save sinners. The Lord used this day to propel me forward in faithfulness.”

‘Win-win’

Brock Drumm, who is also pursuing a master of divinity in preaching and pastoral ministry, preached from Psalm 84 at Pleasant Plains Baptist Church in Whiteville. Pleasant Plains is currently without a pastor and after the service, members of the congregation inquired about whether Drumm would consider becoming a candidate for the pastorate.

“That was such an honor for them to ask, because that was not something I was expecting,” Drumm said.

Heller said he’s heard nothing but positive feedback from churches, pastors and congregants where seminary students preached. He called the day a “win-win” for everyone involved.

“The students benefit from having an opportunity to preach,” Heller said. “The churches benefit from meeting and hearing from the students and seeing how their Cooperative Program dollars are being used. It was a great day all the way around.”

Cooperative Program giving supports a number of local, state, national and international missions and ministry efforts. Those efforts involve training future ministers and missionaries through theological education at six seminaries across the country that include SEBTS.

Looking ahead

After talking with fellow pastors who participated in the “Seminary Day” event, one pastor said, “If this is the kind of students that Southeastern is training up today, our future with our churches is in good shape.”

Based on feedback from the day, Heller said he plans to work with SEBTS officials to hold a “Seminary Day” event once a semester. The next one is already scheduled for Sept. 25.

Heller also said he hopes to see even more of the 53 churches in the Columbus association participate in the future. He would love to see other associations across the state host similar events.

“It’s not hard to do,” Heller said. “It’s really easy. There are tremendous benefits to the churches and the students, and it strengthens the relationship and bond that we have with the seminary that’s located right here in our own state.”

SEBTS President Danny Akin expressed his appreciation to the Columbus Baptist Association and its affiliated churches for hosting the event.

“I cannot say thank you enough,” Akin said. “And that they intend to do this again speaks volumes of their love and support of these God-called ministers of the gospel. It is a great joy and privilege to partner with the churches of North Carolina.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — Chad Austin wrote this article that was first published on Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s website.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87
    Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87
    March 22, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Churches more financially equipped to weather hardships, study shows
    Churches more financially equipped to weather hardships, study shows
    March 22, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Tony Wolfe elected new SCBC executive director-treasurer
    Tony Wolfe elected new SCBC executive director-treasurer
    March 22, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87

Samuel Shahid, professor of missions in the Islamic Studies program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1998–2013, died March 2. He was 87 years old.

a stack of money sitting on top of a laptop computer

Churches more financially equipped to weather hardships, study shows

After enduring difficult economic seasons recently, churches are better prepared for financial rainy days than they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A Lifeway Research study

Tony Wolfe elected new SCBC executive director-treasurer

South Carolina Baptist Convention messengers unanimously elected Tony Wolfe as the new executive director-treasurer Monday afternoon (March 20) in a special called meeting at Shandon

person holding black iphone 5

Could potential TikTok ban impact online outreach?

As the social media app TikTok continues to raise security concerns, some churches and ministries would face a significant shift in outreach strategy if the

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel