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Preview conference gives students a taste of Southern Seminary
May 01, 2006
By Garrett E. Wishall
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Preview conference gives students a taste of Southern Seminary
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The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary hosted nearly 100 prospective students and their guests during the Southern Seminary Preview Conference, April 20-22.
Prospective students visited classes, toured the campus and got to see the seminary in action according to Scott Davis, director of admissions.
"There is great value for students who take the time to visit the campus," he said. "They get to sense the seriousness with which we view our calling to provide theological education — from our professors to our ambassadors. They have the opportunity to sit in on classes, meet the faculty and administration, talk with current students — all for the purpose of personally reflecting upon God's grace and mercy in saving them and calling them to His service in Christian leadership."
April 21 was the heart of the conference, beginning with an information fair in Heritage Hall. Conference guests enjoyed a luncheon where Davis gave an overview of the seminary, and the dean of each school made a presentation.
In the evening, following a formal dinner, students had the opportunity to interact with R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Seminary, and Russell Moore, vice president of academic administration and dean of the school of theology. Davis said the after dinner dialogue time, when prospective students were able to ask Mohler and Moore questions, offers a unique and valuable opportunity.
"This is the only formal time that Dr. Mohler gets to spend with our prospective students and so he is eager to give them some helpful advice on what to look for and what to avoid as one searches out theological education," he said. "Students are also able to ask anything — from questions related to school to questions regarding the sovereignty of God and family planning to a critique of 'old' versus 'new' covenant theology."
President and Mrs. Mary Mohler hosted all of the conference guests at a dessert reception in their home following the dialogue session.
April 22, Moore challenged attendees with a message on preparing for ministry. Douglas Walker, senior vice president for Institutional Relations, followed with a presentation on understanding God's call to ministry.
Davis said the goal of the conference was to honor attendees and help them discern God's will.
"Should the attendees enroll or not, we want to honor all of them as special guests and provide good practical advice on the call to ministry, life in seminary and the importance of ministerial leadership," he said. "This is one of the most tangible ways that the seminary has a personal ministry to hundreds of potential students each year."
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