Spring semester kicks off with New Student Orientation, Welcome Week activities

The spring 2026 semester commenced at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with the startup of classes on Jan. 12. Students began arriving at Seminary Hill the week prior as residents were welcomed to the dormitories on Jan. 8 for move-in day and first-semester students participated in New Student Orientation on Jan. 9.

New Student Orientation was marked by events across campus welcoming those new to life on Seminary Hill and showing all that it offers. At the connect lunch, a time when new students can eat and fellowship with faculty and staff, provost Madison Grace welcomed the new students to the campus.

“For all of you new students that are here, we are excited that you are here on the campus,” Grace said, encouraging them to get to know those professors who will help them through the upcoming years in pursuit of their academic degrees. “… They work here because they enjoy what they get to study and teach on, but they enjoy students most of all. This is a faculty that’s student focused, and they want to help you be equipped to do what God’s called you to do.”

Grace also took time to pray for the new students, that they would learn well during their time at Southwestern, discern well God’s call in their lives, and then be sent out well when their degrees are completed.

Fnu Limasunep, a student from South Korea pursuing a Master of Divinity in pastoral ministry, said he is looking forward to starting courses at Southwestern.

“I think it’s fun, exciting, anxious,” Limasunep described his feelings of being on campus. “But really being here, being in a new school, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Sarah Johnson, a new student from North Carolina pursuing a Master of Divinity in missions, said she is happy to begin her journey on campus. A second-generation seminary student, she was encouraged to attend by her mother who previously graduated as an online student. However, it was Sarah’s own discerning of the seminary’s reputation that ultimately led her to enrollment.

“I came here because of how well known Southwestern is for having a biblical and missions focus,” Johnson said.

While she began her journey through online classes, move-in day was Johnson’s first time on campus, a day she said was highlighted by the organization and kindness shown by those on staff in the dorms during the move-in process.

“I am really looking forward to classes and all that I know I am going to learn,” Johnson said. “God called me to missions but hasn’t given me a clear answer on what that is going to look like. All I know is that He told me to come here and I look forward to finding out why.”

Seungwon Cho, a new student from India pursuing a Master of Theology, was pleased with the people and professors he met throughout the day.

“Feels like a family,” Cho said.

Arinda Gonzalez or Arlington, Texas, starts her pursuit of a Certificate in Ministry Studies this spring semester.

“I just feel called to just learn more,” Gonzalez said. “So that, whenever, whatever ministry I’m going to start helping with—our youth at my new church—I just want to be better equipped.”

Noelle Zedwick of Denton, Texas, said she had been considering different seminaries after God gave her a desire to go into overseas missions. But touring the Fort Worth campus in the fall of 2025 solidified her decision to join the 5-year program in intercultural studies at Southwestern Seminary.

“It was just very much, ‘Yep, this is the spot where I want to do this,’” Zedwick said of her decision to attend Southwestern, where she has already met faculty members with experience in missions.

Family meetings around the campus gave news students opportunities to meet with the faculty of their particular schools and areas of study that would be mentoring and teaching them throughout their time at Southwestern.

“What stood out from orientation is how personal, kind, and helpful the professors are,” Johnson said of the chance to get to meet the professors. “They were so ready to spend time with students and get to know them individually. I already feel welcomed.”

“It’s been very informative to meet some of the professors and get an insight of what campus life is going to be like this semester as a new student,” Gonzalez said.

A student ministry fair in the Naylor Student Center presented different groups, clubs, and various extracurricular activates the new students could participate in while attending the seminary.

The welcome week activities also included the Church Fair and Worship Night, where the Southwestern community and new students gathered in the Student Center for music and the opportunity to connect with local churches.

“Most importantly, I think everyone in this room would say so, is that you need to find a church, and you need to find a church soon,” Grace encouraged those participating in new student orientation. “And there’s a whole host of churches in this community that are healthy and that are good and want to walk alongside you. Not just to give you opportunities to engage in ministry, but to disciple you so that you can become a better follower of Jesus Christ.”