Calling it a “historic new initiative,” Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Adam W. Greenway announced in a video released Thursday (Aug. 11) that beginning with the fall 2022 semester, SWBTS will provide a full tuition scholarship to all International Mission Board missionaries enrolled in the seminary’s degree programs at the master’s and the doctoral level.
‘Lowering financial barriers’
“Our mission is to penetrate the darkness of lostness around the globe with the light of the gospel, and we are committed to lowering financial barriers to that service while providing the very best theological education to prepare you to live your calling for more faithful service,” Greenway said.
“We believe that those of you who have given your lives to serving on the frontlines around the world,” he noted, “are worthy of this type of investment on our part so that you may, indeed, fulfill your calling.”
Joined in the video by IMB President Paul Chitwood, Greenway also announced students who are current IMB applicants who have yet to receive appointments will have 100% of their tuition covered for a 36-hour master of theological studies degree, which meets the mission board’s theological education requirements for missionary appointment.
‘Unprecedented step’
Chitwood noted theological education is “one fundamental mark” required of IMB missionaries who serve on the mission field.
He called Southwestern Seminary’s tuition announcement an “unprecedented step” as the institution makes “theological education more accessible and more affordable for those who are preparing to serve on the mission field as well as for those who are already serving on the mission field.”
A “trained missionary force is a more effective missionary force,” Greenway said, while also noting the tuition scholarship “is made possible because of generous ministry partners who support Southwestern Seminary.”
Sending more
“Since its founding in 1908,” Southwestern Seminary noted, the seminary “has trained more missionaries for service through the IMB than any other seminary in Southern Baptist history.”
Chitwood added, “I’m certain that this full tuition scholarship for IMB missionaries, and those in the appointment process, will result in more missionaries getting overseas with more training, more quickly, and more free of financial worries all for the purpose of them being more effective at getting the Gospel to more people.”
He encouraged existing missionary personnel and candidates who are trying to meet the IMB’s theological education requirements to “take advantage of this historic opportunity” at Southwestern Seminary.
Southwestern Seminary’s fall 2022 academic semester begins Aug. 15.
More information about the tuition scholarship, and the application process to Southwestern Seminary, can be found at swbts.edu/imb.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Ashley Allen and originally published by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
