ST. LOUIS – Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will open an extension center at The Journey church here in August.
“St. Louis is a strategic city for the Kingdom, and it is a strategic city for Midwestern Seminary,” Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Seminary, said. “We are most pleased to serve the churches in the region through our new St. Louis extension center. Whether in Kansas City, St. Louis or any other city, Midwestern Seminary is determined to train the next generation of pastors, ministers and missionaries for the church.”
This fall, the seminary will offer two courses at the new extension center, taught by John Mark Yeats, the dean of Midwestern Seminary’s college: “Theology I,” Aug. 18-Oct. 6, and “History of Christianity II,” Oct. 13 – Dec. 8. Classes will meet each Monday during these periods from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
“I am super excited to be teaching there as part of our Ministry Training Network,” Yeats said. “This gives us an opportunity to reach into an area where, up to this point, we haven’t had as much of a presence.”
The format for the extension center classes, offered for eight weeks per course on Mondays only, may benefit pastors and other potential students, who are unable to enroll in traditional courses that require them to leave their offices twice every week for 16 weeks.
Earlier this year, The Journey partnered with the Midwestern Training Network, a seminary initiative that connects theological education with the local churches. The network provides training especially for church planting, preaching and pastoral ministry, and leadership. All classes at the new St. Louis extension center can be applied toward studies within the Midwestern Training Network, although students do not need to participate in the network in order to enroll.
“Anyone who has interest … would be more than welcome to register to attend,” Yeats said. To learn more about Midwestern’s new seminary extension program in St. Louis or to enroll, visit the Midwestern website at www.mbts.edu/stlouis.