NOBTS Society for Women in Scholarship

Loving God “with all your mind” (Luke 10:27) is at the heart of the newly launched NOBTS Society for Women in Scholarship.

“With over 40 women in our doctoral programs and many more in graduate programs, there was a huge need to provide a community for women to encourage and support each other in their callings,” said Dr. Emily Dean, faculty advisor.

The Society supports members as they contribute to the academy, providing a network to encourage and strengthen scholarly practices.

All degree programs are open to women. Degrees that specialize in ministry to women are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well. New this year are the M.Div. with a specialization in Ministry to Women and the M.A., Ministry to Women.

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Spanish Distance Learning Program

For Spanish-speaking students seeking a bachelor of arts degree, the new Spanish Distance Education Program at NOBTS and Leavell College makes earning a degree easier.

Using video conferencing software, online livetaught classes in Spanish are now available to serve students regardless of where they live and serve. The delivery system allows students to interact with the class in “real time” while providing students the option to view recorded lectures at their convenience.

Fabio Castellanos, director, said the initiative is unique.

"For years there has been a gap in theological education in Spanish,” Castellanos said. “Several institutions offer basic education at the certificate level and then jump to the Master's degree in Theological Studies. NOBTS is a pioneer in providing an answer to this need with the Associate in Christian Ministry and Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry programs."

NOBTS and Leavell College offer classes taught in Spanish from the certificate level up through the Master of Theological Studies degree. For many years, Leavell College has offered an in-person Spanish undergraduate program, but with the video conferencing delivery system NOLA2YouFLEX opportunity and flexibility come together.

“Now, from anywhere and at any time, whoever wants to be prepared for the ministry or the academy in Spanish has two solid allies in New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College,” Castellanos said.

Hurricane Ida September 2021

Hurricane Ida swept over the campus on Sunday, Aug.29, leaving behind trees down, roof damage, and power outages.

Main campus classes were suspended during the first week following the storm to allow students time to establish longer-than-expected evacuation locations. President Jamie Dew kept the campus family apprised of the situation as well as resources and aid available via daily video updates.

Main campus classes relaunched September 7th in a virtual format and, following the restoration of power, offices reopened September 13th with on-campus classes returning September 20th.

New Church Planting Degrees

Broaden Impact at Home and Abroad

Church Planting, both in North America and in the international setting, is the focus of two new master degrees approved this year.

The Master of Arts in Church Planting, coupled with the work of the new North American Mission Board Church Planting Center at NOBTS, will provide an immediate boost to church planting and mission efforts in New Orleans and will resonate well beyond the city as church planters are trained and sent out to serve throughout North America. George Ross, church planting professor and NAMB Send Missionary, said the center has already hosted hundreds of church planters and missionaries and is being used as a training base for future missionaries and church planters.

The M. Div. in International Church Planting, newly separated out from the current M.Div. in Church Planting, focuses on the unique needs of church planting in the international setting and provides IMB-commissioned students the option of completing the degree while serving on the field.

BY GARY D. MYERS

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary announced the appointment of Greg Mathias to lead a relaunch of the school’s Global Missions Center. Mathias was elected to the faculty as associate professor of global missions during the fall trustee meeting.

NOBTS and Leavell College President Jamie Dew began using the phrase “prepare here, serve anywhere” to describe the aim of the seminary’s programs when he arrived at NOBTS in 2019. Dew has worked to create a campus atmosphere that prepares students to serve wherever God calls. The school’s mission statement was updated to include “fulfill His mission” to indicate the commitment to global mission efforts. The appointment of Mathias and the reinvestment in the missions center are part of the seminary’s efforts to prioritize mission preparation and encourage more students to be a part of fulfilling God’s mission throughout the world.

These moves represent a response to the ambitious missionary placement goals set by the IMB.

“I was thrilled to learn of the relaunch of the Global Missions Center at NOBTS and the appointment of a former IMB missionary to lead it,” IMB president Paul Chitwood said. “This move is further proof that Dr. Dew is serious about New Orleans becoming a ‘prepare here, serve anywhere’ seminary.

“At IMB, we have set a goal to increase our overseas mission force by an additional 500 missionaries by 2025,” Chitwood said. “Reaching that goal depends on many things but none more important than having trained and qualified candidates who can serve through IMB. The Global Missions Center at NOBTS will help us meet this goal of more trained workers for the harvest fields among the nations. More importantly, it will ensure that more of the lost and hurting around the world receive help and hope.”

Dew said the renewed missions focus is designed to embrace and support Chitwood’s ambitious vision for missionary deployment.

“If we need 500 new missionaries per year to reach IMB goals, then it is time for NOBTS to step up and do the very best she can for the Great Commission,” Dew said. “The hiring of Greg Mathias, the relaunch of our Global Missions Center, and the new scholarship offerings we are giving are major steps we can take towards that end. It’s my prayer that in the years to come future missionaries will come to prepare on our campus, and that they will then go to the nations.” MISSIONARY SCHOLARSHIPS

Included in the mission-focused initiatives announced at NOBTS and Leavell College are new and expanded scholarships for current college missionaries, the children of missionaries, and returning Journeyman/ ISC missionaries. The school’s 50 percent tuition scholarship for active missionaries for International Mission Board (IMB) personnel has been expanded to include active North American Mission Board (NAMB) and now covers on-campus, distance and online courses (undergraduate and graduate). A 30 percent tuition doctoral scholarship has been established for active IMB and NAMB missionaries. NOBTS and Leavell College established a 100 percent tuition and enrollment fee scholarship for children of active missionaries and a 25 percent scholarship for children of retired missionaries. Returning Journeyman/ISC missionaries also will receive a 50 percent scholarship.

NEW OPTION FOR IMB TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

RELOCATION & RELAUNCH OF CENTER

The Global Missions Center’s relaunch and reinvestment efforts will include establishing dedicated office space on the first floor of the Hardin Student Center (HSC). Previously housed in a faculty office, the center will now be located in the hub of campus activity along with the North American Mission Board’s new Church Planting Center. Dew said he believes that Mathias and George Ross (director of the NAMB center) will lead the charge to reinvigorate the missions focus on campus. In addition to the role of mission promotion on campus, Mathias also will plan and lead overseas mission experiences for students.

“The new Global Missions Center space will place this important initiative in the heart of our campus and student life,” Dew said. “As students prepare here, they will be better equipped to serve anywhere.”

The seminary also received word that Leavell College’s "Thrive: Ministry Wives Certificate" has been approved as a way to train wives of future missionaries. Thrive, launched in 2020 under the leadership of Tara Dew, is an eight-course academic program taught by credentialed faculty and faculty wives. Those who wish to complete the IMB spouse theological requirement will enroll in four additional courses in the new "Thrive +” program. For more information about Thrive, please visit www. prepareher.com/thrive.

“We are thrilled to partner with the IMB and prepare the whole family for ministry and missions,” Tara Dew said. “Our Thrive classes are designed specifically for ministry and missionary wives, so that they can prepare here to serve anywhere.”