UMs Bryant heads to Criswell College

UMs Bryant heads to Criswell College

James W. Bryant, professor of religion at the University of Mobile, is leaving his position there to assume the role as vice president of academic affairs of Criswell College in Dallas, Texas. In 1969, Bryant served as the founding dean of the Criswell Bible Institute, now Criswell College.

Bryant received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wheaton College and a master of divinity degree and doctor of theology degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1999, he was awarded an honorary doctor of divinity from Criswell College in honor of his “distinguished service in the cause of Jesus Christ as a pastor, author and theological educator and as founding academic dean of Criswell Bible Institute.”

While at Criswell College, Bryant also served as minister of evangelism and church organization at First Baptist Church, Dallas, where W.A. Criswell was pastor.

Five years later, in 1973, he returned to the pastorate, first serving at Hoffmantown Baptist Church in Albuquerque, N.M., 1973-1977; pastor of Sagamore Hill Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, 1977-1983; and pastor of Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith, Ark., 1983-1989.

He served as executive vice president and then as president of Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, Ga., 1991-1993, then joined the faculty of the University of Mobile.

Bryant is the author of six books, including “The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament” which has been translated into Swahili and used in Southern Baptist seminaries in Africa.