3 from Upstate among New Orleans grads
Three South Carolinians were among those who graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary May 16. Todd Sullens of Campobello received the doctor of ministry degree. Sullens is senior pastor at Hamilton Baptist Church, Hamilton, Ga. His home church is Motlow Creek Baptist, Campobello. Michael Patrick Bragg of Inman received the master of divinity with specialization in Christian education degree. Bragg is associate pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Westminster. His home church is Mt. Airy Baptist, Easley. Andrew W. Pressley of Greenville received the master of divinity with specialization in church music degree. Pressley is worship pastor at First Baptist Church, Lacombe, La. His home church is Brushy Creek Baptist, Taylors.
Draper released from hospital
Jimmy Draper was released from the hospital June 11 and is continuing his recovery from strep bacterial meningitis. Draper was president of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1991-2006 and president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1982-84. Prior to his service at LifeWay, Draper was the longtime pastor of the Fort Worth-area First Baptist Church in Euless, Tex.
Discipleship strategy to span ‘birth to heaven’
From newborns to senior adults, the challenge of discipleship is evident at churches each week. To better address the decades of people’s life experiences, LifeWay Christian Resources is introducing LifeSpan, a new strategy to streamline curriculum throughout all the age groups so that the full scope of scripture is communicated. Describing traditional discipleship in many churches as a “potpourri approach,” Bret Robbe, LifeWay’s director of leadership and adult publishing, said Sunday school classes often bounce from one curriculum to another or from one hot topic to the next without considering how those topics connect or whether students are receiving a complete biblical education. LifeWay plans to begin a pilot implementation of the LifeSpan strategy in about 12 churches this fall.
Kelley addresses future of theological education
In an annual “state of the seminary” address, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary president Chuck Kelley cast a vision for an innovative, accessible and technology-driven future of theological education at NOBTS. The seminary’s trustees, during their April 14-15 meeting, and NOBTS administrators explored the seminary’s future in light of both current economic conditions and trends in higher education. In his address, Kelley highlighted both the cost of education and technology as transforming factors for the seminary.
Southeastern to host Ethnodoxology Seminary
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary will host a seminar on multicultural worship and global Christian music July 20-29. The seminar is a collaborative effort involving a team from the International Council of Ethnodoxologists (ICE) and the seminary for church musicians, students, pastors, missionaries and local church members interested in missions, from multicultural congregations in North America to church planting among unreached people groups.
Sacred Music academy opens at Southern
An Academy of Sacred Music has been launched at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to sponsor concerts, lectures and conferences with the goals of more broadly educating and engaging the seminary community. Approved by trustees in April, the academy will promote musical excellence across styles and genres and stimulate scholarly discussion on issues of music in culture, theological reflection on music and music and the arts in worship.