October 23, 2017
Current and future East Texas Baptist University students, who have earned a bachelor's degree from ETBU, are called to full-time ministry, and are active members at Texas Baptists (BGCT) churches, will be provided a full-tuition graduate scholarship to the ETBU School of Christian Studies. The University has developed the scholarship program to encourage and equip students, who are considering or preparing for a call to vocational Christian ministry.
"For many of our Texas Baptists students preparing for Christian ministry, this gracious gift from ETBU will allow them to continue preparations for their calling," ETBU Assistant Provost Emily Prevost said. "Several have already expressed that this scholarship is an answer to prayer about how to pursue further education for ministry."
ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn has officially announced the new initiative in partnership with the BGCT's graduate ministry scholarship. As a BGCT institution of higher education, ETBU annually receives generous funding support from the BGCT for operations and ministry student scholarships. As a part of the University's mission to prepare students for God's calling in their lives, ETBU has long been a partner with the Texas Baptists (BGCT) in educating students for ministry. Since the 1940s, East Texas Baptist has offered bachelor's degrees in Religion. The ETBU School of Christian Studies began offering master's degrees in the Fall of 2011.
"Texas Baptists have long enjoyed our relationship with ETBU and are grateful for the University's continued commitment to affordable Christian higher education," Texas Baptists Executive Director David Hardage shared. "On behalf of the next generation of ministers and missionaries, I say thanks!"
Under the new initiative, any current ETBU undergraduate student, who completes his or her bachelor's degree at the University and is an active member of a Texas Baptists (BGCT) church, will be eligible for free tuition in the Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) and Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM) programs.
"Acquiring knowledge is a significant part of clarifying one's call to ministry," ETBU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Thomas Sanders said. "A great source of both biblical and ministerial knowledge is a graduate theological education. This new opportunity for our ministry students and our BGCT churches is but another example of the mission of ETBU to equip Christian servant leaders for service to God and humanity."
The scholarship program is ETBU's commitment to give back to Texas Baptists churches by helping to make a more affordable path for students to prepare for the gospel ministry. Dr. Blackburn recently announced the scholarship program to current ministry students in which he encouraged students to pursue continued preparation for their calling to ministry through "sound biblical and theological training alongside practical ministry experiences."
Learn more about the ETBU's Master of Arts in Religion and Master of Arts in Christian Ministry.