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SBC DIGEST: NAMB webinar on ‘sending culture’; Duncan joins SWBTS faculty; Leavell College launches house system

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NAMB webinar helps collegiate leaders create “sending culture”

By Brandon Elrod

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Paul Worcester, national director of collegiate evangelism with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), hosted a webinar called “Creating a Sending Culture in your Collegiate Ministry” Nov. 18. Nearly 500 collegiate leaders registered to participate.

Several speakers from NAMB and The Summit Church in Durham, N.C., spoke during the virtual meeting, including lead pastor and current Southern Baptist Convention president J.D. Greear.

In opening the webinar, Worcester encouraged and challenged those listening with a brief message from Matthew 9 focused on the way Jesus described the harvest and the need for laborers to share the message of the Gospel.

“The problem is not with the harvest. The problem is a lack of laborers,” Worcester said. “There is a direct connection to how many laborers we raise up and send out as a ministry and how big our impact is for God’s kingdom.”

Greear, the keynote speaker, discussed how The Summit Church, with its proximity to several different colleges in the Raleigh-Durham area, developed a sending culture within their church among college students.

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Read the full story here [3].


Longtime music ministry leader Jon Duncan joins SWBTS faculty

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) – Jon Duncan, a longtime denominational music ministry leader, has been appointed senior professor of church music and worship in the School of Church Music and Worship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

“I’m very pleased by the addition of Dr. Jon Duncan to the faculty of the School of Church Music and Worship as senior professor,” SWBTS President Adam W. Greenway said. “Dr. Duncan brings a wealth of ministry experience at two state Baptist conventions, where his impact has touched the lives of thousands in music ministry in the churches and throughout our denomination. I’m delighted to welcome this legacy Southwesterner to begin a new chapter of ministry as senior professor investing in the next generation of future music and worship ministers at Southwestern Seminary.”

Joseph R. Crider, dean of the School of Church Music and Worship, said, “I am thrilled and honored to welcome to our faculty someone of Jon’s vast experience and expertise. He is an astute worship theologian, a wonderful musician and choral conductor, and a pastor to pastors. I can’t think of anyone more well-suited to help us with our new initiatives in the D.Ed.Min. in Christian Worship.”

In his role, effective January 2021, Duncan will teach courses and provide direction to the Doctor of Educational Ministries in Worship degree.

Duncan joins the faculty with more than 40 years of local church and denominational service, primarily in Oklahoma and Georgia. Since 2002, he has served as the worship consultant and catalyst for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, overseeing ministry consultants who worked with local churches in all areas of worship ministry needs.

Read the full story here [4].


Leavell College launches house system

By Gary D. Myers

NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Leavell College at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary launched a new initiative to promote fellowship and community and foster spiritual growth among undergraduate students – the house system.

During the launch meeting and house placement event Nov. 16, NOBTS and Leavell College President Jamie Dew challenged the students to make the most of this new opportunity. He said that the House System can reshape and reenergize the college experience at Leavell College, but will only reach its potential if students support the effort.

“If we do this right and do this well, the House System will change everything about Leavell College,” Dew said. “For the house system to work, you, the students, have to buy into it. You, the students, have to pour yourselves into these communities. The administration … we are behind you 100 percent. We are willing to make the changes needed to empower this.”

Patterned after the college systems at Oxford and Cambridge, the house system will impact every aspect of the Leavell College student’s experience. From discipleship to missions, from fellowship to friendly completion, the house system will enhance the student experience at Leavell College.

“The house system helps to round out Leavell College by connecting academics, fellowship, missions and ministry, and just good fun,” said Thomas Strong III, dean of Leavell College. “The house system will provide a great framework for the life of a Leavell College student. The excitement that has been generated by the system already has been noticeable. “

Each undergraduate student was placed in one of three houses named for historic Christian leaders who exemplify the values listed in the school’s mission statement, which reads: “Leavell College prepares servants to walk with Christ, proclaim His truth, and fulfill His mission.”

Read the full story here [5].