Rev. Dr. Jeremy L. Spencer serves as pastor of Odessa Baptist Church in Odessa, NY 1. What was your life or faith or ministry journey before coming to seminary and how did you decide to attend Central? I grew up in the home of an American Baptist minister who served small churches in the Midwest,...
Traci, tell us about your Central origin story. How did you come to be a student at Central? What led you to Central? I was accepted into Central in January of 2014 and took my first class that summer. Rev. Dr. Julie Kilmer was the interim pastor at my home church. I shared with her...
Gyounghee ‘Gina’ Lee had been serving as a social worker in Chicago when she felt a tug from the Holy Spirit to make a change within her life and ministry. While serving immigrant families and the elderly as a social worker, she found herself wanting to harness the power of faith to assist individuals and...
CJ, tell us about your Central origin story. How did you come to be a student? What led you to Central? My journey into theological education has been a long, winding road with many deep valleys of discovery, exhilarating peaks of joy, and pitstops to ponder. After completing undergrad (BA in Religion, Faith International University),...
As I get to know the Central Baptist Theological Seminary community, I want you to hear some of the amazing stories that I am hearing. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff, board members, and supporters and sharing an interview on my blog, THIS IS CENTRAL. I invite you...
Check out the latest alumni spotlight of one of our newest Central alums, LeAundra Stewart-Boyice, MDiv'21, in her own words! Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I was involved in a ministry planted by my wife, Rev. Dionne Boyice, which housed people who have been morally injured by the church. Although COVID brought about an abrupt cease...
이 은희님은 2014년 센트럴 졸업생의 추천과 더불어 신학 공부에 대한 열정으로 센트럴에 지원하였습니다. 또한, 센트럴의 온라인을 통한 뛰어난 교육도 중요한 지원 계기가 되었다고 합니다. 이 은희님은 2020 겨울 신학석사과정을 마치고 현재 어스틴한인장로교회에서 어린이 사역을 맡고 계십니다. 다른 학생들과 마찬가지로, 이 은희님도 팬데믹 기간동안 많은 어려움을 겪어야 했습니다. 센트럴 학생들은 경제적인 어려움, 건강상의 염려, 이에 더하여...
Lal* began his ministry as a pastor at a church in Myanmar in 1992. He enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry program at Central Seminary in 2015 to continue developing his ministerial gifts to serve his congregation of over 2,000 members. In 2018, he completed his dissertation, Spiritual Formation for Chin Immigrants, and graduated from...
As I get to know the Central Baptist Theological Seminary community, I want you to hear some of the amazing stories that I am hearing. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff, board members, and supporters and sharing an interview on my blog, THIS IS CENTRAL. I invite you...
As I get to know the Central Baptist Theological Seminary community, I want you to hear some of the amazing stories that I am hearing. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff, board members, and supporters and sharing an interview on my blog, THIS IS CENTRAL. I invite you...
As I get to know the Central Baptist Theological Seminary community, I want you to hear some of the amazing stories that I am hearing. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff, board members, and supporters and sharing an interview on my blog, THIS IS CENTRAL. I invite you...
As I get to know the Central Baptist Theological Seminary community, I want you to hear some of the amazing stories that I am hearing. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff, board members, and supporters and sharing an interview on my blog, THIS IS CENTRAL. I invite you...
As I get to know the Central Baptist Theological Seminary community, I want you to hear some of the amazing stories that I am hearing. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff, board members, and supporters and sharing an interview on my blog, THIS IS CENTRAL. I invite you...
As I get to know the Central Baptist Theological Seminary community, I want you to hear some of the amazing stories that I am hearing. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff, board members, and supporters and sharing an interview on my blog, THIS IS CENTRAL. I invite you...
As I get to know the Central Baptist Theological Seminary community, I want you to hear some of the amazing stories that I am hearing. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff, board members, and supporters and sharing an interview on my blog, THIS IS CENTRAL. I invite you...
Rev. Dr. Joshua Paszkiewicz, BCPC, BCCC Executive Director of the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council Josh’s history with Central Seminary goes back to 2017 when he first came to Central as a visiting student to complete a couple of classes to transfer into a local seminary at which he was completing an MA in Religion....
As I get to know the Central Baptist Theological Seminary community, I want you to hear some of the amazing stories that I am hearing. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff, board members, and supporters and sharing an interview on my blog, THIS IS CENTRAL. I invite you...
As I get to know the Central Baptist Theological Seminary community, I want you to hear some of the amazing stories that I am hearing. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff, board members, and supporters, and each week I am sharing an interview on my blog, THIS IS...
Central Baptist Theological Seminary is a very unique place and is blessed with faculty and students and support staff who are very competent and clearly demonstrate Christ-like behavior in their work assignments and personal interaction with one another. As a teacher of Interpersonal Skills, I am amazed at the diversity of students I have in my classes and...
As I get to know the Central Baptist Theological Seminary community, I want you to hear some of the amazing stories that I am hearing. To share those stories with you I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff, board members, and supporters, and each week I am sharing an interview on my blog, THIS IS...
Recently, Central Seminary Grant Officer, the Rev. Dr. Angie Jackson, reflected on the joy of working with Central students: Working with students – whether through grant programs, as a ministry mentor, or in the classroom – is one of my greatest joys. I love witnessing their unfolding vocations and ministries as they matriculate through seminary and emerge...
As I get to know the Central Baptist Theological Seminary community, I want you to hear some of the amazing stories that I am hearing. To share those stories with you I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff, board members, and supporters, and each week I am sharing an interview on my blog, THIS IS...
Rev. Bethany Ruhl Reflects on the training she received as an MDiv student at Central: During this critical time of COVID-19, Central has prepared me to lead by giving me a great clinical ethics background. I am well-grounded and knowledgeable as I chair the Ethics Committee of Saint Luke’s Crittenton Children’s Center. Pandemic times bring...
In my first week as president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, I quickly realized that there are stories from the Central community that need to be heard—not just by me but by all who love and are committed to the seminary. To share those stories with you I will “interview” students, alums, faculty, staff, board...
In my first week as president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, I quickly realized that there are stories from the Central community that need to be heard—not just by me but by all who love and are committed to the seminary. To share those stories with you I will “interview” students, alums, faculty, staff, board...
Reflection from Michael Vollbrecht, Pastor of Peace United Church of Christ in Alma, Kansas, and post-graduate intern at Kansas Interfaith Action When I began my Master of Divinity program at Central in the summer of 2016, I could not have envisioned the many life-changing experiences that have both deepened my calling and helped me to...
In my first week as president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, I quickly realized that there are stories from the Central community that need to be heard—not just by me but by all who love and are committed to the seminary. To share those stories with you I will “interview” students, alums, faculty, staff, board...
In my first week as president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, I quickly realized that there are stories from the Central community that need to be heard—not heard just by me but by all who love and are committed to the seminary. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff,...
In my first week as president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, I quickly realized that there are stories from the Central community that need to be heard—not heard just by me but by all who love and are committed to the seminary. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff,...
In my first week as president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, I quickly realized that there are stories from the Central community that need to be heard—not heard just by me but by all who love and are committed to the seminary. To share those stories with you, I am “interviewing” students, alums, faculty, staff,...
A Reflection from WLI MDiv student Angela Zimmerman 10-Online classes have taught me knowledge can be very successfully transmitted without physical proximity. 9-Zoom – Two years of using Zoom in class has made me the Zoom Queen of my church. I can host meetings and help others as they struggle to figure out how to...
In my first week as president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, I quickly realized that there are stories from the Central community that need to be heard—not heard just by me but by all who love and are committed to the seminary. To share those stories with you, I will “interview” students, alums, faculty, staff,...
Last Saturday marked the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Memorial events occurred at each site, as well as at Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The whole nation paused to remember, each person in their own way. I spent part of the day listening to NPR's coverage, including interviews with...
(한글 Click to read in Korean) It’s been hard to practice online preaching during the pandemic. As we preachers are familiar with preaching in the brick-and-mortar church with actual people in it (i.e., in-person preaching), preaching in the empty church or office to the digital screen (i.e., online preaching or digital preaching) has been really...
(Click to read in English) 팬데믹 가운데 온라인 설교하기가 매우 힘들었습니다. 교회 본당 안에서 회중과 눈과 마음을 맞추며 설교하는 것이 익숙한 설교자들에게, 회중 없는 본당에서 혹은 교회 사무실에서 무미건조한 카메라를 보며 설교하는 것이 상당히 곤혹스러웠던 것입니다. 무엇보다 온라인 설교가 어려웠던 것은 온라인 설교를 갑작스럽게 시작해야 했기 때문일 것입니다. 별다른 장비의 준비나 마음의 준비 없이, 어쩔...
If you do NOT want to help prevent clergy sexual abuse, STOP READING NOW and go do something else. Especially if you do NOT want victims of clergy sexual abuse to come to you for help, STOP READING NOW. And whatever you do, NEVER get training regarding what to do about clergy sexual abuse. Just...
과연 코로나 시대가 우리에게 주는 의미는 무엇일까? 다양한 분야의 전문가들이 각자의 전문 분야에서 그 의미를 분석하고 대안을 제시하는 노력은 당분간 지속될 것이다. 1년여년 전 막 팬데믹이 시작되면서 주변의 성도님들이 이러한 시대에 대한 명확한 메시지를 목회자들이 전해 주면 좋겠다는 요청을 적지 않게 받았다. 그러나, 여전히 코로나 시대의 중심지점을 통과하면서도 개인적으로 그러한 질문을 가지고 이런 저런 묵상과...
At our May Third Thursday Lunch and Learn, Dr. Wallace Hartsfield led us in a discussion of The Poor Left Behind During Exile: An Untold Biblical Story. Here's the recording in case you missed it. There will be no Lunch and Learn in June, but join us again on July 15 as Dr. Sheryl Stewart...
지난 해 시작된 코로나가 빠르게 전 세계를 강타하며 우리는 모두 감옥에 갇혀버렸다. 평범했던 일상을 빼앗긴 채 지난 일년을 어둡고 슬픈 소식들을 들으며 보냈다. 언제쯤 빼앗긴 일상을 되찾을 수 있을까? 아직은 누구도 확실한 답을 할 수 없지만 코로나 감옥에 갇힌 온 세상에 올해도 봄은 여전히 찾아왔다. 집 앞 노란 개나리를 시작으로 수선화, 매화, 벚꽃 뿐만 아니라...
On April 15, 2021 at Central's first Third Thursdays Lunch & Learn Dr. David May led an eager group of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and board members in extolling the virtues of using fountain pens. Enjoy the conversation and register to join us on May 20 at noon (CST) with Dr. Wallace Hartsfield! Register today...
Central Seminary is a community blessed with students, faculty, and staff from a diversity of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Currently, the majority of our students are of Asian background, due to a thriving Korean-language program, collaborative Doctor of Ministry programs with institutions in both Myanmar and South Korea, and immigrant and international students from both...
Every morning one of the first things I do is check my newsfeed to see what is happening in Myanmar. Having visited there many times to teach at a partner seminary and thereby having had the privilege of meeting many teaching colleagues and students from across the country, I feel heartsick to see the violence...
“일년? 벌써?” 얼마 전 아침에 출근해서 이메일을 열어보니 필자가 원목으로 사역하고 있는 병원의 병원장이 코비드19 팬데믹을 선포한지 일년이 되는 날이라며 병원의 전 직원들에게 그동안 수고했고 감사하다는 메세지를 보내왔다. 처음 팬데믹이 선포되고 병원에 코로나 환자들이 입원하기 시작했을때 모두들 긴장하고 불안해 했던 기억이 생생하다. 코로나로 인해 늘어났던 사망 환자들, 방문자 제한 정책 때문에 사랑하는 가족의 임종을 지킬...
Hwagu Kang (구약학) 잠깐이면 지나가리라 예상했던 코비드 19 팬데믹 상황은 벌써 일 년을 훌쩍 넘기고 있지만, 일상으로의 회복은 여전히 요원해 보인다. 전염병은 하나님께서 특정한 나라를 향해 주신 심판이라는 주장도 있었지만, 이 상황은 전 세계에 보편적으로 일어나는 현상이 되고 말았다. 코비드 19 이전에도 유사한 전염병은 계속되어 왔음을 우리는 잘 알고 있다. 문제는 그러한 전염병이 반복적으로 인류를...
Misong Kim 김미성 (시애틀분교 디렉터) 시애틀 분교는 우리 센트럴 분교 중 가장 오래된 분교들 중의 하나로 많은 졸업생들을 배출해 낸 분교입니다. 그동안 우리 분교 출신으로는 경제학 박사도 있고, 한의사 박사과정에 있다 오신 자매도 있고, 아동 미술치료 석사학위를 가진 분과 약사로 일을 하시다가 자녀 교육을 위해 미국에 들어오신 분도 계십니다. 그런가 하면 평범한 주부들도 있습니다. 가장...
Kyungpan Kim (목회학적 관점) 코로나 펜데믹이 시작된 지도 벌써 1년 여의 시간이 지나가고 있다. 그렇게 기다리던 백신개발 성공이라는 기쁜 소식도 잠시일 뿐 세계 곳곳에서 들려오는 코로나 재확산 소식은 우리를 더 암울하게 만든다. 확진자 수가 나라마다 마치 경쟁이라도 하듯이 매일 기록이 갱신되고 있다. 일상은 점점 더 제한을 받게 되고, 그로 인해 경제는 내리막길로 치닫고 있다. 정말...
The events of recent days have been disheartening. The destructive disrespect, threats of execution, and overt violence by those attempting to overthrow democratic processes at the U.S. Capitol remain stunning. Continued online calls for more violence in the days ahead are worrisome. And it was heart-sinking to see Christian banners and symbols, along with those...
As I write this, it is the first day after Epiphany 2021, the first day after the U.S. Capitol building was stormed by those seeking to disrupt and overturn the formal counting of presidential electoral votes. I find some comfort in today's scripture reading for our daily Morning Prayers. ...
Sam S. Bang (신학적 관점) 지난 3월 11일 세계보건기구 (WHO)가 팬데믹을 선언하자, 많은 사람들이 Covid-19 팬데믹이 종말의 징조라고 떠들기 시작했다. 인류의 타락에 대한 하나님의 심판이며, 마지막 회개의 기회라고 주장하는 이들도 종종 보았다. 심각한 자연재해, 기근, 팬데믹과 같은 전염병들이 닥치면, 기독교인들은 재림의 때가 가까웠고, 종말의 대 환난이 시작된다는 생각을 쉽게 하게 된다. 물론, 그리스도인들은 주님의 오심을...
Shinchan Jeong (설교학적 관점) 한 세기에 한번 있을 팬데믹이 만연하고, 기후 변화로 인해 세계 곳곳에서 재난사건들이 빈번해 져가고 있다. 팬데믹이 장기화 되면서 미국의 경제가 불확실해지고 사회적으로 취약한 지역이 더 열악한 상황으로 치닫게 되며 경제적 불균형이 점점 더 심화되고 있다. 교회의 상황도 크게 다르지 않다. 온라인 예배로 전환하면서 대형교회의 전문 사역자들과 뛰어난 영상 기술력으로 준비되어진 예배에...
Kwangsup Shin (선교학적 관점) 코로나 바이러스의 세계적 확산은 정치, 경제, 사회, 문화 등 인류의 삶에 엄청난 고통과 변화를 야기했고, 그리스도인 공동체의 삶과 사역도 예외는 아니다. 예배당을 중심으로 모이기에 힘쓰던 교회들의 대면 예배가 닫히거나 제한되고, 다양한 모임과 사역들은 중단되거나 축소되었고, 많은 그리스도인 리더들은 이러한 상황과 앞으로의 전망에 대한 깊은 염려와 위기감을 가지고 있다. 그러나, 위기의 순간...
윤영혁 (달라스분교 디렉터) 약 20년전에 처음 유학길에 도착한 달라스 공항에 대한 인상이 아직도 기억에 생생하다. 그 때가 8월달이었는데 공항 밖으로 나왔을 때 피부로 느꼈던 뜨거운 공기와 건조함은 아직도 잊혀지지 않을 정도로 강렬하게 달라스에 대한 첫 인상으로 남아 있다. 한국을 떠나 미국 생활은 처음이었기에 모든 게 낯설었지만 가장 이질적으로 다가온 것은 달라스-포트워스 지역이 속한 텍사스의 황량하고...
Election day is finally here. It has been years and months and weeks and days of increasing political anxiety, and now election day is here. A recent Harris Poll conducted for the American Psychological Association (APA) found that 68% of Americans are experiencing considerable stress related to election anxiety. While that's high, I wonder...
by Ruth Rosell "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live." Deuteronomy 30: 19 These words are found in a narrative that records the final instructions Moses gave the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan River to enter a new land. He...
Proverbs 15: 1, 18 (NRSV) A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife, but those who are slow to anger calm contention. When emojis first became a thing, I wasn’t impressed and didn’t use them. Now, I use emojis probably 25...
Hyo Jun Kim (기독교교육 관점) 코비드19는 우리 모두의 일상생활을 바꾸어 놓았을 뿐만 아니라, 교회 공동체의 신앙생활을 비대면 온라인 예배와 온라인 교육으로 바꾸어 놓았다. 또한 사회적 거리두기로 인해서 우리의 생활은 타인과의 접촉뿐만 아니라 성도들과의 교제까지도 접촉을 줄이라는 사회적 권고를 받으며 공공의 덕을 세우기 위한 책임으로까지 받아들여지고 있다. 올해 미국에서 2월초에 시작된 초기만 해도 상황은 금방 호전될 것이라는...
박규석 (휴스턴분교 디렉터) 踏雪野中去 不須胡亂行 今日我行蹟 遂作後人程 “눈 덮인 들판을 걸어갈 때 모름지기 함부로 걷지 마라. 오늘 걷는 나의 발자국은 반드시 뒷사람의 이정표가 될 것이니” 조선후기 문신 이양연의 한시입니다. 이 시는 백범 김구 선생님이 평생 자신의 좌우명으로 삼고 애송해서 더 유명해진 시입니다. 앞서 길을 걷는 리더자나 직분이 있는 사람이 어떤 자세로 살아가야 하는지에 대한 많은...
Gyounghee Lee (상담 관점) 코로나19 바이러스로 인해 외부 활동이 제한되는 비대면 사회속에서 살아가게 되면서, 한 집에 사는 가족들은 제한된 한 공간안에서 더 많은 시간을 함께 지내는 상황이 되었습니다. 즉 코로나 사태로 인해 부모들은 실업상태이거나 혹은 재택근무를 하는 상황이 되기도 하고, 많은 학령기 자녀들은 학교에 등교하지 못하고 집에서 화상수업을 하며, 많은 대학생 자녀들까지도 집으로 돌아와 함께 가족과...
Hyung Joong Kim (Austin Site Director) (한글 Click to read in Korean) I arrived early at the Austin branch church to participate in chapel. When I arrived, my ears heard the phrase, “Look only to the Lord.” I stopped because I wanted to experience each verse of praise lyrics. When I entered the chapel filled...
김형중 (어스틴분교 디렉터) (Click to read in English) 채플에 참여하기 위해 어스틴분교에 일찍 도착했다. “주만 바라볼지라!” 찬양이 울려 퍼지고 있었다. 아름다운 찬양에 가던 발걸음 잠시 멈춰 세워 마음을 내려 놓았다. 가사 한 구절 한 구절을 생각하며 곡조에 마음을 담아 하늘의 은혜를 다운로드 받고 싶었기 때문이다. 찬양이 끝나기를 기다렸다. 주님의 사랑을 가득 채워 예배당으로 들어서자마자 깜짝 놀랐다....
SungMin Hong (신약관점) 1. “인류 역사에 이런 일이 또 있었을까?”는 물음이 자연스레 찾아오는 지금이다. 세계를 초토화시킨 전쟁들도, 전염병들도, 기근과 자연재해들도 이렇게까지 사람들을 가두었던 적은 별로 없었던 것 같다. 새로운 현상이다. 생존을 위해 착용하는 마스크는 시대를 아우르는 새로운 패션이 되어버렸고, “사회적 거리두기”라는 신조어가 생겼으며 많은 회의와 심지어 학교들이 온라인으로 비대면 수업을 하고 있다. 그야말로 새로운 일상 즉...
By Tarris Rosell I was raised on a farm up in Minnesota by Fundamentalist Depression-era parents. Among the many rules taught by words and deeds was that you don’t buy what you can’t afford. And never accrue debt. Save enough to buy a car when it’s needed, and then only buy the car that costs...
Reflection from Alum Ray Henson, Chaplain Resident, VA Hospital, Nashville, TN My journey into ministry has been a little bumpy but filled with amazing and almost miraculous interventions. The story of it begins about ten years ago when I came to the Nashville VA Hospital to be nearby when a veteran friend of mine...
Soo Jung Kim (구약관점 2) COVID 19이라는 단어가 검색어 상위권을 차지한 채 우리들 삶에 침투한 지 어언 반년이 지나고 있다. 개개인에게 많은 책임을 요구하지만, 결코 어느 개인도 혼자서는 풀 수 없는, 우리를 팍팍하게 하는 이 공동체 문제에 대해 오늘은 민수기 12장에서 교훈을 얻고자 한다. 민수기 12장은 이스라엘 백성이 약속의 땅을 향해 행진하던 중 어느 광야에서...
2020–and all it has brought with it–has been the most difficult and challenging time of my life. I find myself trying to figure out how to parent two small children, maintain my full-time teaching position at Clemson University, and continue on my seminary journey. Our family has experienced loss in several profound ways: job, preschool,...
