BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) — A year after the launch of a trade school for “second-chair” ministers, Scott Dawson is no less convinced about the need for it and its capability to fundamentally change training options for those looking to become better equipped in in ministry related to students, worship, production, and coming soon, children.
The donation of a 203,000-square foot, six-story building prompted Dawson, a well-known conference speaker and student ministry evangelist, to lead in establishing the Strength to Stand Institute. Although the building was damaged by a tornado last December, it didn’t prevent an official launch of the Institute with a focus group.
The motivation is “For the called; for the church; for today,” he told radio host Rick Burgess recently on the Rick and Bubba University Podcast.
The focus is on building competency and managing day-to-day ministry logistics for those experiencing a call on their lives and “want[ing] to get out on the front lines” as soon as possible, as prepared as possible.
A Nov. 4 Open House is scheduled for those interested and will be a one-hour preview to meet students and faculty as well as hear the vision behind the Institute, Dawson told Baptist Press.
Those unable to attend the Open House can arrange for a tour of the facility, he added.
Dawson’s 36 years of speaking with students and student ministry leaders placed him in a connected position to help churches find their next youth pastor. Three years ago, he noticed it was harder to identify candidates.
“We couldn’t find them,” he told Burgess, calling it a “drought.”
“We had churches calling us going, ‘Hey, help us. It got up to about … 60 churches that we were looking for that we couldn’t fill the position,” said Dawson. “And I said, ‘Something’s wrong.’”
Approximately 50 students are expected to be enrolled next August, when children’s ministry training will be added. Year 1 of the training takes place in a classroom with the second year spent serving in a local church. Due to high demand, production training is only for one year.
Grants and scholarships have lowered the $16,000 cost per student to $10,000. That places tuition at $500 a month for students to be better prepared for a full-time ministry position in two years.
Dawson, who received his Master of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School, said the Institute isn’t meant to replace seminary education, but only provide another option. As of Nov. 4, there will be 18 part-time instructors to go with the Institute’s two full-time staff members.
Cam Erbrick was a leader in Gardendale (Ala.) First Baptist Church’s student ministry who led Bible studies for up to 60 teenagers. God-given skills for ministry seen in him by his youth pastor and others led to his enrollment at the Institute.
“Caleb [Waid], our youth pastor, asked me to come preach to the students. I was really nervous because I don’t like to speak in front of a ton of people and our church’s youth ministry can have about 200 students. At first I told him I couldn’t do it,” Erbrick said.
Waid encouraged Erbrick to think it over, pointing out that the hesitancy may be just the reason why he should speak.
“I’m lucky to have a person like that,” Erbrick said, “because when I stepped off the stage I felt security and reassurance that this is where I was supposed to be.”
He went on to a summer internship with Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association, where he learned more about the Strength to Stand Institute.
Waid has taught some of the classes Erbrick attends Tuesday through Thursday. One aspect of youth ministry Erbrick has learned is the quickly-changing landscape of relating to different students.
“I had no idea, but there are apparently two different generations – Gen Z and Alpha – in student ministry nowadays,” said Erbrick, who turns 19 next month. “It’s a cool opportunity to speak to that, but also kind of scary, like, do I have to change the way I speak or the tone? It was pretty eye-opening.”
There are now 110 churches – 75 of them with full-time positions – who have contacted the Institute for help. The pipeline may take a minute to fill, but Dawson is hopeful.
“Many churches are using volunteers, or worse, removing the program,” he said if a position such as student pastor goes a long time without being filled. “This an alternative to a traditional educational approach. It’s to launch students to be lifelong learners.”
