Ministerial Financial Assistance Program (MFAP)

The Ministry Scholarship awarded by East Texas Baptist University, in cooperation with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, provides financial assistance to Baptist students who are preparing for church related vocational Christian ministry. The Ministry Scholarship applies to tuition only for all eligible applicants.

Requirements for Eligibility are as follows:
1) - Planning to pursue church related vocational Christian ministry, as evidenced by personal testimony;
2) - Certified by a Baptist church, either by ordination, license, or statement of certification;
3) - First-year recipients may be certified by any Baptist church; beginning with the second-year, recipients must be certified by BGCT cooperating church.
4) - Submission of forms required by the office of In-Service Guidance that provides evidence, by way of written testimony of recipient and the pastor of a local cooperating Baptist church, of the student's involvement with, support of, and commitment to a local cooperating Baptist church.
5) - Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 to be eligible to receive financial assistance.

The following completed documents are required to make initial application for the Ministry Scholarship:
1) - Ministry Scholarship application;
2) - Church Certification form;
3) - Letter of recommendation and support from the pastor of the certifying church.

These documents are to be filed prior to the beginning of the semester for which the scholarship application is being made.

Eligibility for the Ministry Scholarship must be reviewed and reaffirmed annually. The student will complete a renewal application prior to May 1 each year.
 
Please note that qualifying students who accept this Ministry Scholarship assistance are required to successfully complete RLGN 2340, "Ministry Formations," at some point in their studies at East Texas Baptist University, preferably before the completion of sixty (60) semester hours.  In addition, scholarship recipients are to successfully complete a Religion Internship (RLGN 4350) during their senior year. If a student fails to complete these two required religion courses, repayment of the Ministry Scholarship may be required.  

 

Participation in monthly AIM meetings and peer groups is required of all scholarship recipients.  These meetings are planned in order to provide additional resources for enhancing vocational ministry skills.  Four meetings are held in each of the Fall and Spring semesters with ministry students required to attend at least three of the four meetings each semester.  Any ministry student will forfeit his or her ministry scholarship for the following and succeeding semesters, unless he or she completes a make-up assignment.  Forms and instructions for AIM meeting make-ups are available in the office of the School of Christian Studies. 

 

     For more information contact:

     Office of Ministry Guidance

     In-Service Guidance Director: Dr. Dane Fowlkes

     School of Christian Studies

     903-923-2180

     Fax: 903-923-2077

     christianstudies@etbu.edu

 

To assist our current and graduating students with ministry placement, we have established the following:

1.  Students may post a resume with Leader Connect, a free resume matching service provided by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.  Students will be able to access the service by going to www.bgct.org and then clicking on Leader Connect (http://baptistministermatching.com/).  Or, you may prefer to call either Tom Lane (214.828.5171) or Linda Wear (214.887.5454)

2.  Students may read and consider position postings by area churches as displayed in the Spiritual Development Office in the Ornelas Spiritual Life Center.  Students may then contact directly the appropriate person listed as the contact person for the church. Contact the Spiritual Development office at: (903.923.2173); Fax: 903-927-4448; Email: mbender@etbu.edu

3.  Students may examine position postings on the ETBU website by going to www.etbu.edu and then clicking on Student employment (/Employment/student_jobs.htm).  For more information, contact Mr. Bob Flannery in the Office of Advising (903.923-2076).