For those responding to the call to ministry, Alabama Baptist colleges and organizations offer many academic and financial opportunities to help prepare them for a life of Christian service.
Alabama’s three Baptist institutions — Judson College in Marion, Samford University in Birmingham and the University of Mobile (UM) — provide a wide range of major and minor courses of study to prepare undergraduate students for both ministerial work and graduate school.
James Barnette’s advice to these students is to study subjects they are passionate about.
“I think anything you major in will contribute toward you and your ministry in some way,” said Barnette, professor of religion and director of the pre-ministerial scholars program at Samford. “My philosophy is that students should consider what God has placed into their minds and hearts that really energizes them and then see how far they can take that passion.”
Barnette, who advises students interested in ministerial vocations, said the multitude of options for major and minor studies makes it difficult for today’s students not to find their niche, regardless of the college they attend.
At Samford, for example, students can pursue a major or minor in religion, as well as majors and minors in everything from music to economics. Judson students have the option of majoring in religious studies, as well as minoring in ministry skills and church music. For more information about Samford’s programs, visit www.samford.edu and for more information about Judson, visit www.judson.edu.
At UM, students will find majors in theology and worship leadership. According to UM’s Web site, www.umobile.edu, the theology major is designed to prepare students “for service as a pastor or staff member in a local congregation,” as well as for further study in seminary or graduate school.
“We want to foster scholars with ‘hot hearts’ — with the passion to lead local churches in carrying out the Great Commission,” said Cecil Taylor, dean of the school of Christian studies.
The worship leadership program is another way the university helps train the next generation of evangelical leaders, Taylor said. Whether taken as a major or minor course of study, the program offers students the opportunity to combine theological studies with practical techniques for leading others in worship.
“Our goal is to produce ministers who are competent to lead people in worship in local churches, all sizes, and all styles of worship,” Taylor said.
In some cases, students don’t have to travel far to pursue graduate studies.
UM offers a master of arts degree in biblical/theological studies or marriage and family counseling.
Taylor said the master’s program appeals to nontraditional students and people who live in driving proximity of the campus.
He noted that the program meets International Mission Board requirements for a master’s degree.
Beeson Divinity School at Samford offers several graduate programs for Christian vocations as well, including the master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees. The master of divinity combines “academic and practical training to prepare pastors for full-time ministry,” according to Beeson’s Web site, www.beesondivinity.com. The curriculum for this program comprises biblical, historical and theological studies, as well as spiritual formation and ministry leadership development.
The doctor of ministry program is open to students who have already earned a master’s degree and who have a minimum of three years’ experience in a pastorate or other professional ministry. It is designed to “enhance understanding and to improve skills of the minister whether in the local congregation or some related field,” according to the Web site.
Several southern Baptist seminaries also provide graduate studies for ministerial students with satellite campuses and extension centers around the Southeastern United States. For more information, visit www.sbc.net/aboutus/sem.asp.
Both public and private universities, including seminaries, are continuing to expand their online courses as well, giving students the ability to take courses from any location in the world. Even as more opportunities arise, students continue to face concerns about how to pay for their education, especially at private colleges and universities.
Melba Maudlin, assistant director of financial aid at Samford, said the university works diligently to help students find the funds they need for school. Some might think that ministerial students or those pursuing religion-oriented courses of study would be ineligible for federal financial aid, but that is not the case, she said.
“All students, no matter what their chosen degree, are eligible for federal aid as long as they complete the federal forms,” Maudlin said. “Even if you are going into the ministry, you are not exempt from federal aid if you qualify for need-based funds.”
She said every university has a cost of attendance index, which is the total expenses required to attend the school, including tuition, fees, room and board, books, travel and incidental expenses.
Financial aid departments help students combine resources needed to pay for college, including parental contributions, federal funds, grants and scholarships.
At private Baptist colleges, many scholarships are available for students planning a career in the ministry.
“Lots of our endowed funds are directed to students who are going into pastoral ministry or international missions,” Maudlin said.
In fact, earlier this year, Samford created the pre-ministerial scholars program for students who feel called to full-time ministry in traditional church-related positions. School officials plan to offer the scholarships to as many as 50 students over the next several academic years.
UM has had a similar program for about 20 years, school officials said. The Church Ministry Grant, formerly called Church Vocational Grant, is designed to assist students preparing for careers as full-time vocational staff members within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). UM awarded 51 grants for the 2007–2008 academic year.
UM also offers Church Service Grants, a program started in fall 2007, to assist students who are not part of an SBC church but are in a “New Testament church.” Eleven grants were awarded during the 2007–2008 school year.
Scholarships and grants are also available from state Baptist organizations. The Baptist Foundation of Alabama administers several scholarship funds from various sources and offers a limited number of scholarships for full-time college and seminary students who are residents of Alabama and members of an Alabama Baptist church. For more information, visit www.tbfa.org/scholarship.html.
The Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union provides some scholarship assistance for women attending Southern Baptist seminaries or divinity schools. Applicants must be residents of Alabama or the daughter of a Southern Baptist representative from or serving in Alabama. They must also be full-time students preparing to enter a Southern Baptist church-related vocation. Grants are made based on available funds and the applicant’s involvement in church work. For more information, visit www.alawoman.com/alabama_wmu_scholarships.htm.
Taylor said students should depend on God to provide the finances needed to earn their degrees practice the faith they preach.
“God pays the bills for what He orders,” Taylor said. “I tell them to go as far as God has gifted them to go. The more education you have, the more doors that open.” (ABP contributed)
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