Prospective students get a taste of ‘home at the dome’ during Preview Day, Fall Festival

The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Scarborough College hosted more than 100 prospective students and families for Fall Preview Day, Oct. 25. On the Fort Worth campus in pursuit of God’s calling on their lives, the prospective Southwesterners had the opportunity to hear testimonies from current students, meet with faculty, and experience student life on Seminary Hill, where “ministry begins now.”

Preview Day began in Truett Auditorium with a time of worship and a special message from President Adam W. Greenway. As a Southwestern Seminary alumnus, Greenway reflected on his own time as a Master of Divinity student 20 years ago, and how the seminary impacted his own life and ministry.

Greenway admitted, however, “Never in my wildest dreams did I think that the Lord, in His kindness, would allow me to, as I like to say, come ‘home to the dome’ to serve as only the ninth person in the history of Christianity to become president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.”

Greenway added that it is the students of Southwestern Seminary—past, present, and future—who shape the institution’s identity. “At the core of who we are at Southwestern Seminary, we are about students,” he said.

New students can expect to work diligently alongside professors and peers to receive a robust theological education, Greenway said, so they might be better prepared to fully serve the Kingdom of God.

“One of the things we are particularly committed to here at Southwestern Seminary is theological education in the context of a worshiping, learning, vibrant community,” he explained. “We are very committed to strengthen what happens here on this campus.”

“It is a new day at Southwestern Seminary,” Greenway concluded. “My prayer truly is that God, in His kindness, would bring many of you ‘home to the dome’ here at Southwestern Seminary.”

The remainder of Preview Day featured numerous additional opportunities for prospective students to experience life as a Southwesterner. They toured the historic campus, participated in a classroom experience, and heard from a panel of current students. During a catered lunch, prospective students sat with professors to discuss their potential future of theological education at Southwestern Seminary.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Administration Randy L. Stinson addressed the luncheon attendees. He said he loved being in a room with prospective students because they serve as “evidence for me that God is building His church.”

Stinson challenged prospective students to consider moving to Fort Worth to pursue a residential education in order to have a more enriching experience studying with the seminary’s “world-class” faculty in person.

“You’re not coming here to just study with talking heads,” Stinson said. “People in the room are the people who are going to be involved in your life—not just in the classroom, but outside of the classroom.”

Southwestern Seminary is devoted to creating a robust academic and student life experience, Stinson said. “We want you to make this ‘dome your home.’ When you do, we will come alongside you and make sure that not only are you prepared in the classroom, but you will be prepared to live a life for the Gospel and commend yourself to the people whom you serve with great endurance.”

As Preview Day concluded, Southwestern Seminary hosted a Fall Festival for the entire seminary family. Larger than ever before, the festival had as its backdrop the newly cleaned dome of the B.H. Carroll Memorial Building.

Despite frigid temperatures, Southwesterners gathered to enjoy a festive evening of carnival rides, games, food, and a fireworks show above the Memorial Building.

Dean of Students Charles Carpenter says the evening afforded prospective students a taste of what it means to be a Southwesterner both in and outside the classroom.

“Fall Festival enlivens the Southwestern Seminary and Scarborough College community to see our campus as more than an academic institution, but as a family of faith who enjoys one another,” he said. “When new students come on campus, I pray that they will feel a sense of belonging and envision themselves here.”

Such events are just one aspect contributing to the rich community experience both Stinson and Greenway say they envision for the seminary.

“[We are] trying to do all that we can to help this place be a place to where families feel welcomed, they feel safe, they feel connected together in the task of preparation for Christian ministry and mission,” Greenway says.

“We want this to be the happiest place in God’s Kingdom, and the place where people will forge those memories in terms of their time here on Seminary Hill as they prepare to go forth and to go to the nations.”