$125,000 gift to assist students

Despite the present circumstance Southwestern Seminary finds itself walking through, ministry partners have not forgotten their unwavering focus: students. An unexpected gift in the amount of $125,000 arrived this week to equip students to prepare for the mission field. Countless other ministry partners have communicated over the past two weeks that though they may be confused and demonstrate an array of emotions, they remain fully committed to equipping Southwestern Seminary students for their God-called ministry assignments.

Travis Trawick, vice president for Institutional Advancement, has the privilege of helping ministry partners marry their Spirit-led passions and biblical generosity with the needs at Southwestern Seminary. Reflecting on this recent gift, he says, “Receiving this special gift was a reminder of an often-forgotten aspect in our Lord’s providential plan. While the generosity of Southwestern ministry partners who made this expression catches those of us working in the seminary’s 110th year by surprise, the view from heaven must be altogether different. 

“Our Lord has, perhaps, sent with this gift a message that He holds the key to the seminary’s ongoing success and provision. He provided the means of the gift and touched the hearts of the donors to make such a provision. We give thanks to God both for His provision of this gift and for this reminder that His hand of blessing sustains Southwestern Seminary. We simply could not train Gospel ministers without these acts of grace in behalf of our students.”

Southwestern Seminary does not accept any Title IV Federal Aid. Hence, Cooperative Program funding and scholarships are essential for supporting the educational preparation of students.

“Scholarships might mean money, but what they really reveal is a heart and vision for God’s work around the world,” says Kyle Walker, vice president for student services. “These dollars will be exchanged into the currency of trained men and women sent to the ends of the earth to transform countless lives with the Gospel. The work lives on at Southwestern, and gifts like this one make it possible.”

Since 1908, Southwestern Seminary has existed to assist the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention by biblically educating God-called men and women for ministries that fulfill the Great Commission and glorify God. In the past 110 years, the seminary has trained and commissioned more than 45,000 graduates to serve in local churches and mission fields around the world. To support a student, visit swbts.edu/give.