Throughout history, the Lord has raised up particular people and institutions to meet the need of the moment. The Master’s Seminary is such an institution for this generation. I am convinced that no other seminary is better positioned to prepare pastors who will faithfully preach the Word, reach the world, and train others to do the same.
GENERATIONAL IMPACT. From its inception in 1986, The Master’s Seminary has been defined by an unwavering commitment to biblical truth and sound doctrine. That resolve continues today. Three-fourths of the current full-time faculty are alumni of TMS. As those who were trained at the seminary, they are eager to entrust that same truth to faithful men who will teach others also. This generational faithfulness is evident in the seminary’s unwavering stand for truths like the lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the purity of the gospel of grace.
GLOBAL REACH. Through the seminary’s partnership with The Master’s Academy International, TMS is uniquely positioned to strengthen the global church as we train those who will go into the world to train national leaders. Through dozens of pastoral training centers, our alumni are actively engaged in equipping biblical expositors to preach, teach, and pastor in every corner of the globe.
GRACIOUS PROVISION. Through the generosity of ministry partners, the seminary has been able to provide students with unprecedented scholarship opportunities. The high cost of living in Los Angeles presents a challenge for prospective students, which is why TMS provides a tuition-free scholarship for nearly all full-time residential students in the Master of Divinity program.
The fields are ripe for the harvest, ready for the gospel-laborers we train. Our faculty is committed to guarding the truth and teaching it without compromise. Moreover, we have been joined in these efforts by committed ministry partners, like you, who prayerfully and generously support this vital work. We do all of this for the advancement of the gospel and the glory of Christ.
We are so grateful for your prayers and partnership as we train the next generation of God’s heralds.
Yours for the Master,
The Lord saved me in high school by the preaching at a youth conference I attended. I was confronted by the holiness of God, the wickedness of my sin, and my desperate need for a savior. Though I was a genuine believer, my growth was slow and sporadic due to my involvement in biblically tepid churches. In my late twenties, I was introduced to reformed theology through the ministries of John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul. Through the influence of these faithful Bible teachers, I was strengthened in my faith in Christ.
Before coming to The Master’s Seminary, I was a bi-vocational pastor of a small local church. I struggled for about seven years to shepherd that congregation faithfully. I became burdened to seek training that would adequately prepare me for a lifetime of ministry. I spent over a decade studying the Bible and preparing sermons from the Scriptures without training. I needed help because I relied entirely on commentaries and commentators to teach me what a passage meant. I was driven to seminary to learn to study for myself.
I selected The Master’s Seminary for two reasons. First, I attended a Steve Lawson preaching seminar at Littleton Bible Chapel in Denver, CO. During that seminar, I was impressed by the instruction I received and wanted more of it. Secondly, I asked many seminary-trained pastors about their seminary experiences. The TMS graduates I spoke with were the only men who universally affirmed that their seminary training was worth the time, effort, and money.
Genesis 1:21 says that God created the sea monsters and placed them in the sea. This may seem like an odd verse, but this has sustained me through my seminary career. I have been a carpenter my entire life prior to seminary. I have been banging nails and cutting boards for the past twenty-five years and I am good at planning. The difference between a bad carpenter and a good carpenter often comes down to planning, and profit margins are usually determined in the planning phase of any project. Prior to coming to seminary, I had created a plan for how I was going to go to seminary. I was going to move there. I was going to crank this out in three years.
I realized very early on in my seminary career that my plans were in trouble. It was about the second day of class when I failed the Hebrew alphabet quiz. I knew I was in for a long road in front of me. That was the first in a long string of disappointing performances on Hebrew exams over the next one and a half semesters. Regrettably, my other coursework was not going well either. To say that I was questioning my decision and plan to come to seminary would have been an understatement.
But after six months of tedious toil in Hebrew class, we finally got to the Bible. We made it to
Genesis chapter one. Dr. Zhakevich explained the subtle significance of the Hebrew word that translates to sea monsters in Genesis 1:21. He showed the exegetical punch of what that word meant in the Ancient Near Eastern culture. Moses wrote that in the Pentateuch to communicate that God was sovereign over all things, even the types of beings that other Ancient Near Eastern gods would have had to fight against. God merely made this creature and put it in the ocean.
I was kicked in the teeth and punched in the gut by that message. I realized that my propensity for planning had been a subtle cover for pride my entire life. It was a very righteous-looking cover for pride, and as Dr. Zhakevich was going through that passage, I broke. I went down to the library and wept over my sin. I had been trying to live my life under my own power. I had come to TMS under my own strength; this exegetical observation from Genesis 1:21 was the message I needed. God has used that message to sustain me, and by the grace of God I am slotted to graduate in May 2024.
I recently have been asked to join the pastoral staff in the Children’s Ministry of Grace Community Church. It is a joy to oversee the elementary Sunday School, putting in to practice what seminary has trained me to do every day.
Out of all the lessons seminary taught me, one of the sweetest, yet unexpected, has been to be careful with your plans. God is in control and is the one who plans your steps. Remember and trust in Him who created all things, even the great sea monsters.
Carl Majeski assumed he was too old for seminary. He was in his early fifties. For nearly three decades, he’d worked in pharmaceutical sales. For the last twenty years, he’d sold a cancer medication throughout northeast Pennsylvania. But when he wasn’t working or spending time with his wife and four daughters, he loved to study God’s Word and teach it to others. As that desire grew over the years, he toyed with the idea of going into full-time ministry, but life was busy. His kids were young. It never seemed like the right time. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that God wanted him in seminary. At times, the desire, even the need, for ministry training felt almost like torture, but the older he got, the less feasible a seminary degree seemed to be. Then he met Judy Mattson.
“I’ll never forget standing in line for coffee at the 2022 Shepherds Conference,” Carl said, recounting the life-changing conversation. “One of the volunteers sees my Polish last name [on my lanyard] and we strike up a conversation about Pierogi, a Polish delicacy. As we talk, I mention that I’m not a pastor, I’ve always wanted to go to seminary, but I’m in my 50s now so I assume I’m too old for theological training. Well, she proceeds to tell me that her husband is 68 years old and will be graduating from The Master’s Seminary in May.”
Two months later, DJ Mattson would walk across the stage at Grace Church, become an alumnus of The Master’s Seminary, then as he exited the stage, he would collapse, lose consciousness, and never regain it. The Lord took him to glory the night of his seminary graduation.
God used my chance encounter with Judy and DJ’s story to remove an obstacle in my mind,” Carl said. “Add to that my wife’s encouragement and a pastor and TMS alum at my church, Greg Hauser, offering to be my mentor in the mentor model program at TMS and the path to seminary suddenly became very clear.”
In the fall of 2023, Carl began his second year in the mentor model program at The Master’s Seminary, pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. And he begins this year with financial help. In God’s providence, Carl is the first ever recipient of the brand-new Philippians 1:21 scholarship, established in honor of DJ Mattson. This scholarship is designed for men, like DJ, who come to seminary later in life. To qualify, students must be at least 50 years old.
“As soon as the scholarship was announced, Judy calls me out of the blue,” Carl said. “She tells me about the scholarship and encourages me to apply. Ove the past couple years, I’ve seen the Lord working in countless ways, pointing me to TMS. And now to this wonderful new scholarship.”
Just as DJ cherished seminary, saying in his senior testimony that whatever class he was taking at the time was his favorite, Carl’s long journey to The Master’s Seminary has given him a deeper love for study and an appreciation for what he is learning.
“I was not the best college student,” Carl said, “I went to Temple University to play baseball. Had no interest
in studying. Today, there’s nothing I would rather do, other than spend time with my wife and children, than studying for my classes. I want to learn. I want to understand. God has done something to my heart so that this work is hard, yes, but I love every minute of it.”
Though he is approaching retirement age for many men in his profession, Carl has more passion for work than he ever has, as long as it’s the word of studying and proclaiming God’s truth.
“I’m passionate about what I talk about for my job, but I’m more passionate about the gospel,” Carl said. “That’s what I want to speak of every day. It’s what I want to do with my life. It’s all that matters, and I never want to retire from this calling.”
THE APOSTLE PAUL INSTRUCTS US THAT GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER (2 COR. 9:7). THE MINISTRY OF THE MASTER’S SEMINARY COULD NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT OUR MINISTRY PARTNERS.
MEN AND WOMEN FROM EVERY STATE, AND EVEN ABROAD, GIVE CHEERFULLY AND SACRIFICIALLY TO INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE CHURCH. ALTHOUGH UNNOTICED BY THE WORLD, GOD SEES THEIR GENEROSITY AND USES IT FOR GOSPEL IMPACT IN THE STATES AND ABROAD.
WE’RE SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR MINISTRY PARTNERS.
YOU TRAIN MEN FOR GOSPEL MINISTRY.
It is a blessing to be sharpened by God’s word under godly men. Every time I step on campus, I am reminded it’s only by grace that I have this unique privilege. Studying at The Master’s Seminary is a mercy I do not deserve. Receiving a scholarship alleviated the financial load of a family of five, allowing me to simultaneously study and care for my wife and children. Thank you, TMS ministry partners. Your generosity will bear much fruit for the glory of God.
I want to thank you sincerely for your generosity. There are so many good causes you could have given to, but I am particularly grateful that you chose this one. Because of your support, I am able to become better equipped to serve the Lord and His church. Your gift directly benefits me, but it doesn’t stop there as the Word is preached and the gospel is shared in the community. I thank you for your decision to make that investment!
Thank you so much for your kingdom-mindedness and generosity! I pray that I would follow your example to not lay up treasures where moth and dust destroy, but to lay up treasures in heaven.
As a young man with few means, I know I speak for many others when I say that the opportunity to attend a wonderful seminary like TMS is unparalleled. I am grateful beyond words for your generous giving.
Thank you for giving to the seminary. Because of your financial support and prayers, you are helping many current and prospective students pursue the necessary training to preach and teach God’s Word with passion and clarity. Your generous spirit impacts not only the students, but also their families, friends, and future churches around the world.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” 2 Cor 13:14
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Faculty Spotlight with
PLEASE SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY WITH US.
HOW DID THE LORD SAVE YOU?
I was raised in a Christian home where I heard the gospel from an early age and learned the truths of Scripture. Grace Community Church played a key role in impressing upon me this teaching. In the eighth grade I came to the realization that if I am to call myself a Christian, then I need to live as a Christian. Understanding then that I am a sinner in need of God’s grace led me to repentance and submission to Christ.
YOU HAVE WORKED AT DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS PRIOR TO TMS. TELL US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES.
In God’s providence, I taught Modern Hebrew, Biblical
Hebrew, and other courses at various institutions of higher education—UCLA, University of Texas in Austin, Columbia University in New York City, and Princeton University in New Jersey. Through these teaching experiences, God provided me with the chance to gain a stronger grounding in pedagogy as well as the chance to tailor that pedagogy to very different types of students. This background has prepared me to train the very diverse group of students at TMS to use the original languages to study the Word of God and to bring it to all parts of the world.
WHAT LED YOU TO TRANSITION TO TEACH AT TMS?
The wise and kind providence of God led me to The
Master’s Seminary. I left California in 2006 to do graduate work in Semitic languages—Hebrew, Aramaic, Akkadian, and others—and all the years that I was studying and then working, God was preparing me for a position at TMS. My studies in the original languages of the Bible and the commitment of TMS to train men to study the Word in the original languages aligned perfectly. Therefore, when an opportunity opened up for me to join TMS in 2022 and to apply my education and experience in a context that trained men for ministry, I knew that God was moving me to TMS. In God’s kindness, I was able to become part of a seminary that I support and love, return to GCC where I can serve in my home church, and be near my family.
HOW IS TEACHING AT TMS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER INSTITUTIONS?
While I have enjoyed teaching at various institutions, teaching at TMS has been especially rewarding. The focus of TMS to teach the depths of the Word of God is a distinct privilege and joy. Working with other faculty who display warmth and encouragement has been a blessing. There is a tangible sense of camaraderie among the faculty, staff, and students. This environment of unity is rooted in the fact that the institution does not exist solely for an academic purpose. Rather, the main focus is to produce men who would minister the Word of God to others.
OVER THE YEARS, HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE VERACITY OF SCRIPTURE THROUGH YOUR STUDIES?
As I consider my previous years of study and work, I can see the providential hand of God guiding me every step of the way, just as God promises to do in Scripture. From studying Hebrew in my undergrad, to living in Israel for two years, to doing a PhD in Comparative Semitics, and ultimately to joining the faculty at TMS, God has been leading me to where I am today. Just as God called Israel to “remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you” (Deut 8:2), so am I reminded that each stepping
stone was specifically laid before me to lead me to where I needed to be in the past and where I need to be now.
TALK ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENTS AT TMS AS YOU HELP THEM PREPARE FOR GOSPEL MINISTRY. WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME HIGHLIGHTS?
A key highlight of teaching at TMS is to learn about the ministries each student is involved in. It is clear that the main aim of the training provided by the seminary is gospel-focused—to teach men to handle the Word of God accurately as they serve in every part of the world. An awareness that these men have given up various career paths to devote their lives to bringing the Word to others is an encouragement for me to invest my strength in preparing the men for their current and future ministries that have eternal value.
HOW CAN PEOPLE PRAY FOR OUR FACULTY?
Pray that the TMS faculty would continue to be a powerful instrument in the hand of God to bring His Word to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).
DR. PHIL ZHAKEVICH serves as Assistant Professor of Old Testament at The Master’s Seminary. He teaches courses in Hebrew grammar and exegesis, along with Th.M. level classes in the Old Testament. After being raised at Grace Community Church, he received his B.A. from UCLA and studied Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. From there, he pursued his Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and comparative Semitic languages at the University of Texas at Austin. His dissertation examined the tools Israelite scribes used to faithfully transcribe the text of Scripture. Before becoming a full-time professor at The Master’s Seminary, Philip taught Modern and Biblical Hebrew at Princeton University.
Nathan LeMaster
Filled with ancient mysteries and tragedies, the Old Testament both intimidates and intrigues modern readers. Yet the Old Testament contains the foundational tenants of the Christian faith, composing the bulk of the Bible’s Narrative of Redemption. In this first volume of his Old Testament Survey (Genesis to Esther), Nathan LeMaster helps the reader navigate these crucial passages, demonstrating the relevancy, intricacy, and intentionality of the Old Testament, reigniting a passion for its study.
Kevin Zuber
A study of the biblical doctrines related to personal eschatology— the eternal destination of every person. Kevin Zuber addresses the true nature of the heavenly realm and the thorny issue of eternal punishment, as well as refuting such unbiblical ideas as soul sleep, purgatory, and annihilationism.
Irv Busenitz
Preaching the Minor Prophets is an effort to help New Testament Christians rediscover the Old Testament prophets. For each of the Twelve, resources are provided for preachers, such as sermon outlines, propositional statements, summaries of the text, and relevant applications and conclusions. This is a vital resource for preachers everywhere.
John MacArthur & Nathan Busenitz
John MacArthur & Nathan Busenitz supply a thorough biblical response to contemporary issues like gender identity, government authority, deconstruction of faith, critical race theory, and more. Each chapter illuminates how the principles of God’s Word equip you to honor Him in an increasingly corrupt world. You’ll also be encouraged by the profound hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ—the only remedy for humanity’s brokenness. Right Thinking for a Culture in Chaos encourages you to ground your convictions in Christ and His all-sufficient Word.
John MacArthur
A number of recent New York Times bestsellers have readers thinking about the reality of heaven. Yet their pictures of life in heaven cover the range from comical to curious, from mystical to fictitious― with maybe some biblical truth thrown in. But if heaven is in our future, we really need to know more about what lies ahead―more about what’s real and what’s not. Now in paperback, pastor John MacArthur takes us through the pages of Scripture, exploring the wonders of heaven, angels, and eternal life.
John MacArthur
No eschatology is complete or true which does not embrace the prophecy of Zechariah. Written to comfort Israel after the remnant’s return from Babylon, Zechariah’s message assured the Israelites that the Lord had not abandoned His people. Filled with visions, prophecies, signs, and vivid imagery, this revelation traces the flow of history to its climax when Christ will reign over the earth from His throne in Jerusalem. Zechariah predicted the coming of Alexander the Great, the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, the tyranny of the Antichrist, the battle of Armageddon, and the millennial reign of Christ. His message is needed for our hearts today, and this commentary makes that message accessible for all believers.
EPISODE 1: THE DRIVE TRAIN If your ministry is going to endure, you need to know how to navigate doctrinal disagreements within your local congregation and with other pastors, churches, and Christian leaders. To do that well, you have to know how to practice what’s often been called theological triage. This episode looks at how John MacArthur has practiced this kind of triage throughout his ministry.
EPISODE 2: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JESUS This episode goes back to the year 1988, a pivotal time in John MacArthur’s ministry, when a book he published became a runaway bestseller by offering a complete answer to the central question “What is the gospel that Jesus preached?”
EPISODE 3: WHEN BELIEVERS STOP BELIEVING What marks the path from faith to apostacy? This episode traces what John MacArthur has learned, then taught for decades, about apostacy, what happens when believers stop believing, and how all of us can be sure that once we are truly saved, God will never let us go.
EPISODE 4: FRIENDSHIP AND THE FINISH LINE To endure, believers need friends who will, as J.C. Ryle said, “halve their sorrows and double their joys.” This episode explores how John has prioritized friendship during his ministry.
In September, the MacArthur Center for Expository Preaching launched season three of its top-rated podcast. This season is called The Enduring: The Timeless and Fruitful Ministry of John MacArthur. These nine episodes draw lessons from John’s 54 years, and counting, as the pastor of Grace Community Church. Why has his ministry stood the test of time? What are the ingredients of that kind of long-term faithfulness? Season three answers those questions and shows pastors, and all believers, what it takes to keep going in the Christian life and persevere through any trial or setback.
You can listen to this new season, or previous seasons of the MacArthur Center podcast, wherever you get your podcasts. You can also hear each episode at MACARTHURCENTER.ORG/THE-EXPOSITOR .
EPISODE 5: REACHING THE NEXT GENERATION No ministry will endure if it isn’t passed on to the next generation. John MacArthur’s always invested in young people, and in his approach, we see an example of biblical, effective youth ministry.
EPISODE 6: THE END OF ALL THINGS Hope fuels endurance. And for the Christian, there’s no greater hope than the second coming of Jesus Christ. This episode looks at how John MacArthur’s approached this controversial topic.
EPISODE 7: CHARISMATIC CHAOS Since the early years of his ministry, John MacArthur’s been willing to publicly criticize the charismatic movement. This episode explains why and looks at the sufficiency of Scripture as a response to this popular movement and as a foundation of an enduring ministry.
EPISODE 8: TECHNOLOGY AND THE MINISTRY John MacArthur doesn’t own a computer. He writes his sermons with a pen. Yet technology has shaped his ministry in profound ways. And in the 21st century, every faithful pastor, and Christian, is going to need to think wisely about technology if they want to have an enduring ministry.
EPISODE 9: THE FAMILY An effective ministry begins at home, in how a pastor leads his wife and family. This episode looks at the central role John’s home life has had in his enduring ministry.
The MacArthur Center Podcast is currently the primary source of outreach for the Center. This documentary-style podcast tells the compelling story of how John MacArthur became synonymous with expository preaching. It was created to encourage, educate, and equip expositors around the globe to faithfully preach the word.
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At The Master’s Seminary, the Spanish Education Department has a faculty of highly trained pastor-theologians dedicated to preparing men to teach the Scriptures around the world. By God’s grace, many of these men that are studying with us are from America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, and are involved in our many programs. These programs include the Institute of Expositors (IDEX), Master in Biblical Ministry (MMB), and Master in Divinity (MDiv).
IDEX provides high-level education at an affordable cost that seeks to train current and future church leaders. This year alone more than 700 new courses were purchased. A highlight of this non-accredited program is the support that local pastors find to train their leaders at their own pace and in their own context. Currently, there are 5 local churches that we know of that are using IDEX in this way.
The MMB started back in Fall of 2017 with 40 students enrolling, surpassing our initial goal of 25. For fall 2023 there was a total of 154 online students. Retention has been the focus of our efforts in this program, and recently, through personal contact with the students, we have been able to track and minimize the margin of drop-offs, which is a common problem in any online program.
The online MDiv Spanish program was prompted by the need to continue training at a higher level for our MMB graduates. As of Fall 2023 we have a total of 45 students. Out of these 45 students, 6 international and 1 local student were able to come to study on campus.
We seek to encourage Spanish-speaking men, through conferences and social media, to consider our Spanish programs at TMS to further their knowledge in sound theology, expository preaching, and biblical philosophy of ministry. The faculty and staff have participated in more than 30 conferences throughout this year, equipping and encouraging our students and their churches. Locally, TMS in Spanish assists churches with training. We have developed two initiatives known as Intensivos Ministeriales and Sociedad Teológica Cristiana (STC).
It is clear that The Spanish Education Department is making a big impact both locally and globally. Recently, 4 international students who graduated from our programs have been placed in churches around the world to supply the need of preachers and pastors with sound doctrine and biblical ministry.
JAMES HOLT, Master of Divinity
James serves as an Associate Pastor at Grace Church of Orange in Orange, CA. He is responsible for Spanish ministries and outreach. He also oversees the adult ministries of the church, equipping the church through teaching, discipleship, and leadership training.
KALLE LIMIT, Master of Divinity
Kalle serves as the pastor of Shepherd’s Church (Karjase Kogudus) in Tartu, Estonia. Having planted the church in early 2023, Kalle is passionate about seeing the gospel spread throughout Estonia. In addition to preaching at his local church, he is involved in training up other men to do the work of the ministry and plant healthy churches all throughout the country.
MAX MEGEE, Master of Divinity
Max serves as an associate pastor at Bible Church of Owasso in Owasso, Oklahoma. Ministering alongside four other TMS alumni, Max preaches regularly at the college and young adult ministry. He also oversees the church’s outreach ministry.
MARIO ALBERTO TAPIA VARGAS, Master of Biblical Ministry
Mario is a bi-vocational pastor in Monterey, Mexico. The MMB equipped him to preach God’s word and shepherd God’s flock more effectively. There is a great need for more biblical churches throughout Mexico.
ERIC SIPES, Doctor of Ministry
Eric serves as the senior pastor at Calvary Bible Church in Columbus, Ohio. Before beginning to serve at Calvary in 2010, he and his wife were involved in church planting, missions, music ministry, evangelism, and pastoral work. In addition to his responsibilities at Calvary, he is involved in equipping leaders at Reaching & Teaching.
DAVID ZADOK, Doctor of Ministry
David is the pastor of Grace and Truth Congregation in Israel. He also is the director of Ha Gefen Publishing, a publishing company that is producing biblical resources in modern Hebrew.
“The sermons & lessons caught my attention. God’s Word is captivating when it’s taught faithfully. Every Sunday is expositional & contextual preaching. Every week, the truth & wisdom of the Bible is put on display. Not just in teaching - in action too.”
“Biblically sound teaching, loving and caring congregation and leadership team. I love calling this church home.”
“For sound Biblical teaching and Christ centered fellowship, there’s no better place to be! The pastor brings God’s Word to life each Sunday. Come with an open mind and a heart ready to hear God speak to you through His Word.”
“Wonderful, Bible-preaching church. I’ve been attending here for over 20 years, and I’ve absolutely loved it. The teaching is always fantastic, the people are very warm and welcoming, and there are plenty of options for kids, teens, college students, adults, seniors and more. Most importantly, everything is biblically based.”
“This church is a beautiful expression of the body of Christ. The members truly love and serve one another. The pastor is an incredibly gifted teacher, and the truth is poured out through him.”
“On Sunday, teaching & preaching God’s Word is the main emphasis and is done with excellence. The worship is very God-focused.”
“Best church I’ve ever been a part of!! They love Jesus and others well! This church is alive, united, and on fire for Christ! I have learned and grown in my faith more since coming here than ever before.”
“My family and I have been attending for about 2 years now and come from a different cultural background. The church is very welcoming, but that’s not the reason why we attended. What stands out is they take the Bible seriously and practice what the Word of God says. If you’re looking for sound doctrine, a body of believers that walk alongside you, discipleship, and expository teaching, this is the church for you.”
When Dr. Eric Zeller came to what was then The Master’s College in 1997, his plans included little more than completing the school’s institute program. He expected to take a host of Bible classes and leave in one academic year.
That’s because Zeller loved computers. He’d learned to write HTML as the internet was beginning to boom and had already been hired as a teenager by a large software company.
He intended to climb the ranks, but as a new Christian, he also wanted to deepen his faith. Hence his pitstop at TMC.
God had other plans, though. Zeller ultimately stayed at TMC, fell in love with missions, attended The Master’s Seminary, and went on to become president of the first-ever evangelical seminary on the Arabian Peninsula.
“The Lord was pulling me in the direction of being in some kind of full-time ministry,” says Zeller,
who has served as president of Gulf Theological Seminary in Dubai since 2020. “I didn’t know what that looked like, but I wanted to stay at TMC and explore what that meant.”
Classes and dorm life during Zeller’s first year at TMC impacted him tremendously. For the first time in his life, he was surrounded by people serious about their faith and “doing something” with that faith. One conversation in particular that year changed the trajectory of Zeller’s future.
A friend, Matt Gilbert, mentioned that he was leading a short-term missions trip to Italy in the summer, and he needed more men to go.
Gilbert, who now serves as a board member at the University and Seminary, urged Zeller, saying, “Today is the last day to sign up. I need you to go to King Hall right now to fill out the paperwork.” Zeller had no summer plans, so he agreed. “Why not?” he thought. “That sounds fun.”
In reality, the trip was much more than that. Zeller’s mindset shifted dramatically as he worked with church planters in a small Italian village. “Seeing these normal people give their lives to spread the gospel opened my eyes to see, ‘Maybe this is something I should think about doing,’” Zeller says.
In the end, Zeller decided to stay at TMC and enroll in the biblical languages program. He also attended the school’s Israel Bible Extension Program (IBEX), where he met a young woman, Heather, who shared his newfound desire for missions. They fell in love, got married shortly after graduation, and now have five children.
After Zeller graduated from TMC in 2000 and The Master’s Seminary in 2003, he moved to Texas, where he served as an associate pastor at a newly planted church. In the long term, however, Eric and Heather wanted to be involved in theological education overseas, training pastors and church planters to preach the gospel in their native context. That opportunity came first in 2013 in Delhi, India — where Zeller helped establish a seminary program — and then in Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), two years later.
Zeller says the UAE is uniquely positioned for gospel fruitfulness, in part, because the country largely consists of temporary expats. In other words, many men in the UAE could be trained in the Scriptures before they return to their homes across the world to faithfully teach God’s Word.
To that end, in connection with Redeemer Church of Dubai, Zeller helped launch what was originally called the “Gulf Training Center” in 2016. He taught courses on exegesis, hermeneutics, and the New Testament and led the growing ministry team. As news about the fledgling training center spread, the number of students quickly increased. “It basically doubled every year for the first four or five years,” Zeller says. “We’re up around 150 now.”
In 2020 the training center took on a new name: Gulf Theological Seminary, and the board of directors asked Zeller to serve as the first president.
The seminary’s mission, however, remained the same: “to equip pastors, church planters, and lay leaders to multiply faithful churches in the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and Africa.” So far, the school has trained men — many of whom were brand new Christians — from the Philippines, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, the Netherlands, Croatia, and Canada, among other countries. “As we see the hunger that students have for the Word, and the incredible variety of countries they’re going back to, we really feel like God is doing something here,” Zeller says.
The going hasn’t always been smooth. “There are a lot of challenges in running an organization like this,” Zeller says. “I think the challenge really is living with perseverance and encouragement, being hopeful and trusting that God is doing something through days that don’t feel productive. I have to remind myself to look back at these last 10 years and the ways the Lord has worked.”
Ultimately, Zeller believes this is just the beginning.
“I think the next decade is going to be 20 times more fruitful than the last decade,” Zeller says. “We can’t wait to see what the Lord is going to do.”