‘Welcome Week’ connects new students to community on Seminary Hill

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College (TBC) welcomed new students to Seminary Hill during “Welcome Week,” August 11-13. Daily activities and events provided new students opportunities to connect with their professors and fellow students, learn about the campus and its departments, and prepare for a successful start in their preparation for their ministry callings.

After the Student Life team assisted students with registration and move-in Wednesday morning, students and their families convened for lunches in the Naylor Student Center.

During the TBC lunch, Benjamin M. Skaug, dean of Texas Baptist College, addressed the new students and outlined the school’s core distinctives: Christ-centered, Scripture-driven, and student-focused.

“Christ is the central focus of every single class that you will have,” Skaug said. “Parents, you need to know that you are handing your children off to a group of faculty and administrators and staff who are committed to making sure that your child’s education is absolutely, positively centered in Jesus Christ.”

Through this Christ-centered and Scripture-driven approach, Skaug said he prays their time at Texas Baptist College will be one of transformation.

“I hope you know that you are embarking on a special time at a special place,” Skaug said. “And I hope we can make that commitment to one another. I will give you my best. My question to you is in your classes and social life, as you go to church, will you give us your best? Because I want to see you transformed.”

Both lunches for the seminary and college students featured individuals from various campus departments including Campus Technology, Campus Police, and other student services and student organizations. Each person presented an overview of what service their respective department provides, and how they can be of assistance to students. Departments remained in the Naylor Student Center throughout the week to meet with students and answer any questions they might have.

Later that evening, students came together for a joint college and seminary dinner and a message from President Adam W. Greenway, who welcomed students to an “extraordinary institution” and into a “line of faithfulness” that goes back to the seminary’s founder and first president, B.H. Carroll.

 “We have a comprehensive institution, a full-service institution from our beginning,” Greenway said “You are entering into a line of faithfulness that now includes over 41,000 living alumni, the largest living alumni network of a Southern Baptist Convention-affiliated seminary.”

Greenway encouraged students to make the most of every opportunity to fully prepare for faithful Christian service and Gospel impact.

“We do not believe at Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College in any kind of mediocrity,” Greenway said. “We do not believe in mediocrity in terms of what it means to be a passionate follower and disciple of Christ. We do not believe in mediocrity in terms of when it comes to our academic excellence and our pursuit of biblical and theological knowledge. We are not an institution committed to settling for anything less than God’s best in every way which He calls us to be found faithful.”

“And so realize that this is going to be a period of growth and a period of testing,” Greenway added. “But a period where you will be able to see the Lord do in and through you what perhaps you yourself could have never expected.”

Wednesday evening actives concluded with a special time of worship led by the Texas Baptist College Band, located at the campus gazebo near the student center. Dean of Students Charles Carpenter described such gatherings as a meaningful way to participate in the community of Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College.

In addition to department and student organization exhibits, Student Life also facilitated workshops throughout the week for students to learn how to work with the academic resources available to them, specifically the library, Campus Technology, and the Writing Center.

Sarah Wester from Princeton, Indiana, is pursuing a Master of Theological Studies with an emphasis in cross-cultural missions. She spent time this week visiting with student organization and student services booths, including the World Missions Center. She said Southwestern Seminary was the best choice for preparing for her calling in missions and to put her faith into practice.

“I’m excited to be a part of a school that doesn’t just talk about missions, but does missions,” Wester said, adding that she is looking forward to the Christian community on campus. “It’s amazing to be able to be a part of having that life together—that same mission and same mindset.”

Kyle Canady from Columbus, Georgia, said he is also looking forward to the connections he will make as he pursues a Master of Divinity.

“I thought Southwestern would do the best job of equipping me for ministry,” Canady said. “I decided that the ‘dome’ was going to be home.”

Cameron Wormack, a bachelor of arts student from Connellsville, Pennsylvania, has made the most of Welcome Week’s fellowship opportunities, participating in the recreation activities, and says he is also looking forward to more opportunities for Christian fellowship at TBC. “I am really excited for all the people I get to know, all the brothers and sisters in Christ.”

In addition to other recreation and fellowship activities throughout the week, Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College celebrated the end of Welcome Week with a block party on the Memorial Building lawn. Student Life made available a variety of games, a water bounce house, and a selection of food trucks. New and returning students and their families, as well as faculty and staff, participated to help kick off the start of the semester.