This past spring the trustees at SEBTS named me professor of evangelism and student ministry. The combo makes a lot of sense albeit less than conventional (hey, I tend to be less than conventional). After all, 80-90% of people who come to Christ in the US do so before age 20.
This fall to “kick off” (yes, that is genius considering football season is beginning-my creativity is ridiculous) our new focus on student ministry training in the undergrad, masters, and doctoral programs, we at SEBTS are hosting a one day Student Ministry Summit.
The day starts with chapel (although a few are coming at 9 with prospective students) at 10 AM. The Chad Lister Band, who travel with me doing youth events across the country and is made of students/grads of The College at Southeastern (Chad Lister, Josh Reid, Tyler Mount), will be leading worship. Dean Bruce Ashford, who has spearheaded the push to teach student pastors in our college and has been the main encouragement for my new role, will be presiding. I will be speaking about the great opportunity before us with the MIllennial generation.
Lunch follows hosted by Student Leadership University and its president Brent Crowe, who also happens to be a two time graduate of SEBTS. Sign up soon so we will have an accurate number for lunch at http://sebts.edu/news-resources/conferences/student_ministry_summit.aspx.
Brent will discuss our fall 2010 event Leadership Rocks, and I will unveil our student ministry approach at the luncheon.
Afterword we will have a forum on student ministry. I will be presiding, and some of the finest leaders in student ministry today will field your questions: Matt Lawson, SEBTS grad and student pastor at FBC Woodstock, GA; Jeff Stockdale, one of the great student pastors of our time who serves the rapidly growing Hibernia Baptist Church near Jecksonville, FL; and Jeff Pratt, a long time friend who now serves LIfeway Christian Resources.
We already have people coming from at least eight states. Hotel information is available at the website. Join the movement of student ministry at SEBTS!
